Reece Jones Books

This powerful and meticulously argued work reveals that immigration crackdowns have always aimed to uphold the racist notion of a white America. Recent anti-immigration policies, including the border wall and the Muslim ban, prompt a critical inquiry into their origins. Despite the myth of the U.S. as a nation of immigrants, a long history of immigration restrictions fueled by the fear of non-white newcomers exists. From the arrival of the first slave ship in 1619, the foundation of the United States was built on the dual principles of open immigration for Northern European whites and the exclusion of slaves, Native Americans, and other immigrants. The author’s extensive research uncovers the racist and xenophobic roots of U.S. immigration policy, linking historical events like the Chinese Exclusion laws of the 1880s and the nativism of the 1920s to contemporary anti-immigration sentiments, including the “Build the Wall” rhetoric from 2016. The narrative introduces a cast of anti-immigration figures who have mainstreamed fringe ideas about “white genocide.” Through gripping stories and detailed analysis of significant immigration cases, the author examines the connections between hate groups and the Republican Party, revealing the deep-seated intersection of white supremacy and anti-immigration bias, as well as the enduring impacts on U.S. law.

The book critically examines the historical and ongoing influence of white racial politics on American immigration policies, tracing the evolution from the Chinese Exclusion Act to contemporary restrictions under the Trump administration. It highlights how these policies reflect systemic racism and explores the implications for immigrant communities and American society as a whole. Through this lens, the author sheds light on the complexities of race, immigration, and national identity in the United States.

Late one July night in 2020, armed men, identified only by the word POLICE written across their uniforms, began snatching supporters of Black Lives Matter off the street in Portland, Oregon, and placing them in unmarked vans. These mysterious actions were not carried out by local law enforcement or even right-wing terrorists, but by the US Border Patrol. Why was the Border Patrol operating so far from the boundaries of the United States? What were they doing at a protest that had nothing to do with immigration or the border? Nobody Is Protected: How the Border Patrol Became the Most Dangerous Police Force in the United States is the untold story of how, through a series of landmark but largely unknown decisions, the Supreme Court has dramatically curtailed the Fourth Amendment of the Constitution in service of policing borders. The Border Patrol exercises exceptional powers to conduct warrantless stops and interrogations within one hundred miles of land borders or coastlines, an area that includes nine of the ten largest cities and two thirds of the American population. Mapping the Border Patrol's history from its bigoted and violent Wild West beginnings through the legal precedents that have unleashed today's militarized force, Reece Jones reveals the shocking true stories and characters behind its most dangerous policies.

The book explores the alarming actions of the US Border Patrol during the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests in Portland, where agents operated far beyond their typical jurisdiction. It reveals how the Border Patrol, legally allowed to act within a vast "Constitution Free Zone," has increasingly curtailed Fourth Amendment rights. The narrative delves into the agency's troubling history, highlighting its culture of violence and racism, and the implications of its unchecked power in policing, making the case for urgent scrutiny of its role in American society.

A major new exploration of the refugee crisis, focusing on how borders are formed and policed