Earlier this week, I had the privilege of speaking with Sarah Towle about her remarkable new book, Crossing the Line: Finding America in the Borderlands. The conversation was as rich and moving as the book itself—full of insight, moral clarity, and the kind of grounded optimism that comes from being in the trenches of human rights work. I’m excited to share the full audio of our discussion with you here.
Sarah and I talked about the brokenness of the U.S. immigration system, yes—but also about the people who refuse to look away. Drawing from extensive on-the-ground research along the U.S.-Mexico border, Sarah brings readers into contact with the individuals and communities who are doing the real work of welcome and resistance.
In our conversation, she reflected on her role as an author and advocate, the outsized contribution of women to both humanitarian aid and migrant survival, and why storytelling matters in a landscape flooded with rhetoric. And we talked about language—why slogans like “Save Asylum” often fall flat, and why simple, human truths resonate more deeply. As Sarah put it, “The cruelty is not okay. Their hope knows no borders. And they’re coming despite the dangers—because staying is worse.”
If you're interested in immigration, public policy, or just trying to understand how we got here and what we can do differently, I hope you’ll listen. Sarah’s voice is a powerful one, and this conversation reminded me again that we all have a role to play—even if it looks different for each of us.
Get Crossing the Line from the publisher’s page, Amazon, or reach out to Sarah directly. The website that the companies the book at https://sarahtowle.com is a powerful resource for references and further reading.
Support Public Scholarship
This newsletter is only possible because of your support. If you believe in keeping this work free and open to the public, consider becoming a paid subscriber. You can read more about the mission and focus of this newsletter and learn why, after three years, I finally decided to offer a paid option. If you already support this newsletter financially, thank you.
Share this post