THREE. The Human Costs of the Business of Deportation

Abstract

This chapter uncovers the web of public and private actors that drive the deportation machine. It investigates the human costs of policies that prioritize punishment and profits over the well-being of people. It also examines the physical process of deportation that offers important insights into both the history of the immigrant experience and immigration policy. The chapter focuses on domestic politics and foreign affairs as driving forces behind the immigration policy and its implementation. It analyzes the history of the business of deportation, revealing that interpenetrating public and private relations have decisively shaped enforcement practices, with devastating consequences for migrants.