The Human Cost of Immigration Policy: A Conversation with Jordan Salama
In recent years, debates over immigration policy have often been framed in abstract terms — numbers, borders, and political rhetoric — obscuring the lived realities of the people most affected. In this conversation, Jordan Salama, a frequent contributor to The New Yorker, brings those human stories back into focus. In articles ranging from “The Candy Sellers” (New York Magazine) to “A Mexican Couple in California Plans to Self-Deport—and Leave Their Kids Behind” (The New Yorker), Salama explores how immigration policies shape daily life — determining where families sleep, whether children can attend school safely, and how communities navigate uncertainty. His work centers on individuals living at the margins of policy decisions, illuminating the emotional, social, and moral costs that rarely make headlines. Moderated by Lou Chen, CEO of INTEMPO, this conversation will examine what it means to tell these stories with care, how narrative journalism can deepen public understanding, and why listening to migrant voices is essential in moments of political polarization.
Copies of Jordan's debut book, Every Day the River Changes, will be available for purchase and signing.
Presented by INTEMPO in partnership with the Ferguson Library and Building One Community.
The Human Cost of Immigration Policy: A Conversation with Jordan Salama
In recent years, debates over immigration policy have often been framed in abstract terms — numbers, borders, and political rhetoric — obscuring the lived realities of the people most affected. In this conversation, Jordan Salama, a frequent contributor to The New Yorker, brings those human stories back into focus. In articles ranging from “The Candy Sellers” (New York Magazine) to “A Mexican Couple in California Plans to Self-Deport—and Leave Their Kids Behind” (The New Yorker), Salama explores how immigration policies shape daily life — determining where families sleep, whether children can attend school safely, and how communities navigate uncertainty. His work centers on individuals living at the margins of policy decisions, illuminating the emotional, social, and moral costs that rarely make headlines. Moderated by Lou Chen, CEO of INTEMPO, this conversation will examine what it means to tell these stories with care, how narrative journalism can deepen public understanding, and why listening to migrant voices is essential in moments of political polarization.
Copies of Jordan's debut book, Every Day the River Changes, will be available for purchase and signing.
Presented by INTEMPO in partnership with the Ferguson Library and Building One Community.