My Boy Will Die of Sorrow

"My Boy Will Die of Sorrow is a visceral, behind the scenes account of the human impacts of our immigration system, from the inner machinations at the height of the family separation crisis to the cruelties faced by immigrants and their families every single day. At a time where harrowing immigration headlines dominate our news, this book is an intimate invitation to join Olivares through his firsthand experience as an immigrant and an advocate on the frontlines. It's an invitation every American should be honored to receive, and those who accompany him on this journey will undoubtedly walk away better for it."

“A riveting account of the immigrant’s experience under Zero Tolerance and an inspiring story of the author’s journey from humble beginnings in Mexico to Yale Law to human rights lawyer, My Boy Will Die of Sorrow is probing, necessary, and enlightening. An essential work from an important voice in the national conversation on immigration and human rights.”

“Everyone should understand the horrors of family separation as told by the man who stood against a wave of crushing atrocities at a defining moment in American history… a heart wrenching account of suffering, loss, and hope.” —Laura Peña, Director of Racial and Economic Justice, the Texas Civil Rights Project

“A captivating, intimate portrayal of one of the human rights crises of our time. My Boy Will Die of Sorrow brings to life the human plight of the men, women and children who make the dangerous journey across borders, which often gets lost in the debates around immigration policies, and tells the moving stories of families caught in what is perhaps the most militarized border of the continent… I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a fresh perspective that goes deep behind the headlines of immigration, borders, and family separation.”—Felipe González Morales, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Migrants

"Efrén Olivares’ My Son Will Die of Sorrow wakes readers from political overwhelm through his warmth and humanity, even as he discusses the deeply tragic events surrounding the Trump administration’s Zero Tolerance policy that separated children from their parents at the U.S. border... the book engenders feelings of hope and galvanized action."—Latino Book Review

“A powerful mix of human rights memoir and examination of America’s flawed immigration policies…[Olivares’s] account includes interviews with immigrants alongside analyses of complicated legal processes and a history of the southern border….A harrowing firsthand account of inhumane immigration policies with which we all must come to terms.”—Kirkus Reviews (starred)

“Part memoir, part exploration of the racism inherent in U.S. immigration policy, and part tribute to the families who have suffered at the hands of the U.S. government, My Boy Will Die of Sorrow is a thought-provoking look at the soul of the United States.”
 —Booklist

"an informative and gut-wrenching indictment of the state of the U.S. immigration policy. This vital resource and collection of testimonies can serve to keep the recent horrors it depicts from disappearing into the past."—Shelf Awareness