Divided by the Wall

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The construction of a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border has ignited intense debate in America, exemplified by a recent funding impasse that led to the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. In the Arizona borderlands, predominantly white American citizens have organized for decades, with some aiding undocumented immigrants while others support law enforcement in apprehending them. Activists on both sides often lack a personal connection to the issue, raising questions about their passionate involvement in immigration and border politics. This comparative study explores the motivations of progressive pro-immigrant activists and conservative immigration-restrictionists, based on twenty months of ethnographic research with five grassroots organizations. Emine Fidan Elcioglu reveals that immigration politics serves as a proxy for class inequality struggles among white Americans. Activists aim not only to change immigration rules but also to undergo personal transformation. The study highlights how variations in social class and intersectional identity influence concerns about state power. As activists strategize to reshape state authority, they also seek self-transformation. Provocative and balanced, this work challenges conventional understandings of immigration politics amid rising inequality and insecurity.