The Cost of Being Undocumented

One Woman's Reckoning with America's Inhumane Math

De: Alix Dick, Antero Garcia

Narrado por: Diana Bustelo

An undocumented activist and a social scientist come together to tally of the structural costs of undocumented life

An inhumane math pervades this country: even as our government extracts labor and often taxes from undocumented workers, it excludes these same workers from its social safety net. As a result, these essential workers struggle to get their own basic needs met, from healthcare to education, from freedom of association to the ability to drive to work without looking for ICE in the rearview mirror.

When Alix Dick's family found themselves in the crosshairs of cartel violence in Sinaloa, Mexico, she and her siblings were forced to flee to the U.S. Many of the scenes that she shares are difficult and unforgettable: escaping from a relationship in which her partner threatened to report her to immigration; getting root canals done in an underground dental clinic. But there are moments of triumph, too: founding her own nonprofit; working on films that tell important stories; and working with her co-author Dr. Garcia to tell her story in a framework that lays bare the realities of structural oppression.

As Alix and Antero tally the costs of undocumented life, they present a final bill of what is owed to the immigrant community. In this way, their book flips the traditional narrative about the economics of immigration on its head.

Reseñas de la Crítica

“A formidable yet wholly accessible and relatable exposé of the unconscionable cost of undocumented immigration. An essential addition to all nonfiction collections.”
—Booklist, Starred Review

“Part harrowing memoir, part rigorous case study, this makes for an eye-opening glimpse of undocumented life in America.”
—Publishers Weekly

“This book demands to be read. Alix divulges things you’re not supposed to say but that should be said. . . . This book is profound, and it feels like a gut punch (in the best way possible) page after page.”
—Prisca Dorcas Mojica Rodríguez, author of Tías and Primas: On Knowing and Loving the Women Who Raise Us

“Just as America owes the undocumented an enormous debt, we are forever indebted to Alix Dick and Antero Garcia for writing this powerful, moving, and brave account.”
—Reece Jones, author of White Borders: The History of Race and Immigration in the United States from Chinese Exclusion to the Border Wall

“A powerful portrayal of the unrelenting struggles faced by undocumented individuals, particularly Mexicanas, in the United States . . . Alix offers a voice of validation and empowerment to Latina girls everywhere.”
—Elizabeth Camarillo Gutierrez, author of My Side of the River: A Memoir

“In a time of rising xenophobia, Alix Dick courageously shares her story—her fears and her dreams, her struggles, her determination, and her heart. The Cost of Being Undocumented is a deeply intimate accounting of the economic, mental, and physical toll of living as an undocumented person in the United States.”
—Jessica Lander, author of Making Americans: Stories of Historic Struggles, New Ideas, and Inspiration in Immigrant Education

“Straightforward and unflinching, The Cost of Being Undocumented expertly weaves together Alix’s specific story with relevant research to expose systemic hypocrisies and offer a clarion call to build a society that recognizes the full humanity and dignity of every individual.”
—Randy Ribay, author of Everything We Never Had

A must read for immigrants, undocumented folks and allies

The Cost of Being Undocumented highlights the struggles that undocumented immigrants face. Undocumented people are overlooked, underpaid, overexploited all while living in fear. It reminded me of my own struggle when I was undocumented. Although I came as a baby, I related to Alix’s experience of having people use her status against her, being sexually harassed, and having health issues. It brought up my own traumas and I reflected on the similarities and differences that we experienced. The part about the dental care is so relatable. How much money you make is directly tied to the quality of services you get. Thank you for this book.

Amazing

It is a gift for our community. This is the first time I feel seen in a book 🙂

MUST READ!!!

Honest and heartfelt. A story ALL must hear. Alix’s vulnerable storytelling is relatable and genuine. The knowledge and research behind this is exceptional with nuanced reflections and a delicate awareness. AMAZING!

Stunning account unlike any others of undocumented life

This is likely the most significant piece ever written about the undocumented. It exposes how Americans have been sucking on the tits of undocumented immigrants while vilifiing them. It is a raw and tender love story of a girl transformed to a brilliant artist and thinker.