Impossible Subjects

Mae Ngai's Impossible Subjects explores the origins and evolution of the concept of the "illegal alien" in American law and society, revealing how immigration restrictions from the 1920s reshaped ideas of race, citizenship, and national borders. Through detailed archival research and historical portraits, the book examines how immigration policies created new categories of racial difference and established the legal and social realities for those considered illegally present in the U.S. This compelling study offers a profound understanding of how these policies continue to influence contemporary debates on multiculturalism and national identity.