Maggie Elmore
@mjelmore.bsky.social
Historian of migration, borders, and immigration policy. Also religion. Reluctant runner. Food person. Cat person. Dog person. Special needs advocate.
Pinned
Maggie Elmore
@mjelmore.bsky.social
· Nov 27
In the Shadow of the Law: The Hanigan Case and the Genesis of the Immigrant Rights Movement
One August afternoon in 1976, a group of men building a fence on a family ranch in Agua Prieta, Mexico, looked up to see a young man limping toward them. N
academic.oup.com
academic.oup.com/jah/article-...
My JAH article on how anti-immigrant violence in the borderlands contributed to the human rights movement: the Hanigan case shows us the ways undocumented people and their advocates have defended migrants’ human and civil rights in the face of unspeakable violence
My JAH article on how anti-immigrant violence in the borderlands contributed to the human rights movement: the Hanigan case shows us the ways undocumented people and their advocates have defended migrants’ human and civil rights in the face of unspeakable violence
Reposted by Maggie Elmore
Former UVA president Jim Ryan, who resigned over the summer due to pressure from the Trump Administration, just shared this 12-page letter with the Faculty Senate, detailing his experience with the Board of Visitors and DOJ.
It's a surreal--and troubling--read.
drive.google.com/file/d/1Is6x...
It's a surreal--and troubling--read.
drive.google.com/file/d/1Is6x...
November 14, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Former UVA president Jim Ryan, who resigned over the summer due to pressure from the Trump Administration, just shared this 12-page letter with the Faculty Senate, detailing his experience with the Board of Visitors and DOJ.
It's a surreal--and troubling--read.
drive.google.com/file/d/1Is6x...
It's a surreal--and troubling--read.
drive.google.com/file/d/1Is6x...
Reposted by Maggie Elmore
Immigration was a major theme of the meeting, but the language of the statement came together at the last minute.
religionnews.com/2025/11/12/a...
religionnews.com/2025/11/12/a...
At meeting, US Catholic bishops say they oppose ‘indiscriminate mass deportation of people’
(RNS) — The bishops approved an immigration statement with 216 in favor, five opposed and three abstentions.
religionnews.com
November 13, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Immigration was a major theme of the meeting, but the language of the statement came together at the last minute.
religionnews.com/2025/11/12/a...
religionnews.com/2025/11/12/a...
The U.S. hierarchy has not always come to the aid of migrants, but since the early 2000s, it has become increasingly unflinching in its defense of migrant rights. My current book project explains how migrants helped the church uphold the basic tenets of its faith
“This unyielding commitment to deporting people and curtailing legal immigration plus the unprecedented funding for immigration enforcement has created a situation unlike anything we have seen previously,”
Catholic's launch new program in defense of migrants
www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2025/...
Catholic's launch new program in defense of migrants
www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2025/...
Catholic bishops launch new program in defense of migrants
At their first business meeting since the Trump administration crackdown began, church leaders resolved to combat the fear they detect among their adherents.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 12, 2025 at 7:39 PM
The U.S. hierarchy has not always come to the aid of migrants, but since the early 2000s, it has become increasingly unflinching in its defense of migrant rights. My current book project explains how migrants helped the church uphold the basic tenets of its faith
Reposted by Maggie Elmore
“This unyielding commitment to deporting people and curtailing legal immigration plus the unprecedented funding for immigration enforcement has created a situation unlike anything we have seen previously,”
Catholic's launch new program in defense of migrants
www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2025/...
Catholic's launch new program in defense of migrants
www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2025/...
Catholic bishops launch new program in defense of migrants
At their first business meeting since the Trump administration crackdown began, church leaders resolved to combat the fear they detect among their adherents.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 12, 2025 at 7:31 PM
“This unyielding commitment to deporting people and curtailing legal immigration plus the unprecedented funding for immigration enforcement has created a situation unlike anything we have seen previously,”
Catholic's launch new program in defense of migrants
www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2025/...
Catholic's launch new program in defense of migrants
www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2025/...
Reposted by Maggie Elmore
Coming up TODAY! Join us at 5pm ET for a Future of the Past webinar on the history of deportation in the US.
Register: https://ow.ly/8si450Xh6zP
Register: https://ow.ly/8si450Xh6zP
October 30, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Coming up TODAY! Join us at 5pm ET for a Future of the Past webinar on the history of deportation in the US.
Register: https://ow.ly/8si450Xh6zP
Register: https://ow.ly/8si450Xh6zP
Reposted by Maggie Elmore
“‘Catholic social teaching is on the side of the immigrant,’ explained the Rev Raymond Riding, a Catholic missionary in Tucson, Arizona, who has been ministering to relatives of detained immigrants.”
YOU HEAR THAT, JD
YOU HEAR THAT, JD
“Across the country, faith groups have formed a defense team for immigrants, at a time of rising pressures to remove them, and have essentially created an underground railroad of help to uphold church teachings.” www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
As Trump cracks down, faith groups step up for immigrants: ‘What has happened to our heart?’
Nuns, bishops and laity from California to Texas have created a network of help to uphold church teachings
www.theguardian.com
October 28, 2025 at 8:57 PM
“‘Catholic social teaching is on the side of the immigrant,’ explained the Rev Raymond Riding, a Catholic missionary in Tucson, Arizona, who has been ministering to relatives of detained immigrants.”
YOU HEAR THAT, JD
YOU HEAR THAT, JD
Reposted by Maggie Elmore
The Catholic Church showed up in Chicago on Saturday. And, we need to keep showing up.
"They are afraid of people of faith."
religionnews.com/2025/10/15/i...
"They are afraid of people of faith."
religionnews.com/2025/10/15/i...
ICE turned away the body of Christ. Catholics must keep showing up anyway.
(RNS) — Catholics processed in prayer had hoped to send eight people into a Chicago-area ICE facility to distribute Holy Communion.
religionnews.com
October 15, 2025 at 6:29 PM
The Catholic Church showed up in Chicago on Saturday. And, we need to keep showing up.
"They are afraid of people of faith."
religionnews.com/2025/10/15/i...
"They are afraid of people of faith."
religionnews.com/2025/10/15/i...
Reposted by Maggie Elmore
As @rns.org documented in August, apparent ICE/federal immigration agents have conducted operations near or even *on the grounds* of churches at least 10 times this year so far.
One LA pastor personally confronted agents on her church property, demanding they leave. religionnews.com/2025/08/04/w...
One LA pastor personally confronted agents on her church property, demanding they leave. religionnews.com/2025/08/04/w...
October 13, 2025 at 8:31 PM
As @rns.org documented in August, apparent ICE/federal immigration agents have conducted operations near or even *on the grounds* of churches at least 10 times this year so far.
One LA pastor personally confronted agents on her church property, demanding they leave. religionnews.com/2025/08/04/w...
One LA pastor personally confronted agents on her church property, demanding they leave. religionnews.com/2025/08/04/w...
I am honored that “In the Shadow of the Law” has received the WHA’s Bolton-Cutter Award.
The article shows how one case illuminates the fragile border between law and humanity - a line we’re still redrawing.
Grateful for readers & colleagues who believe rigorous research & justice go together.
The article shows how one case illuminates the fragile border between law and humanity - a line we’re still redrawing.
Grateful for readers & colleagues who believe rigorous research & justice go together.
In the Shadow of the Law: The Hanigan Case and the Genesis of the Immigrant Rights Movement
One August afternoon in 1976, a group of men building a fence on a family ranch in Agua Prieta, Mexico, looked up to see a young man limping toward them. N
doi.org
October 13, 2025 at 2:43 PM
I am honored that “In the Shadow of the Law” has received the WHA’s Bolton-Cutter Award.
The article shows how one case illuminates the fragile border between law and humanity - a line we’re still redrawing.
Grateful for readers & colleagues who believe rigorous research & justice go together.
The article shows how one case illuminates the fragile border between law and humanity - a line we’re still redrawing.
Grateful for readers & colleagues who believe rigorous research & justice go together.
Reposted by Maggie Elmore
Trump demands release of hostages in front of the UN, as his regime captures and disappears 1800 detainees.
More than 1800 detainees are missing after the closure of Alligator Alcatraz. Their families and lawyers can’t find them and they’ve vanished from the ICE database. Feels like this should be a much bigger story www.miamiherald.com/news/local/i...
Hundreds of Alligator Alcatraz detainees drop off the grid after leaving site
As of the end of August, the whereabouts of two-thirds of more than 1,800 men detained at Alligator Alcatraz during the month of July could not be determined by the Miami Herald.
www.miamiherald.com
September 23, 2025 at 7:14 PM
Trump demands release of hostages in front of the UN, as his regime captures and disappears 1800 detainees.
Reposted by Maggie Elmore
Are you writing your first book on immigration history? Then apply for our Immigration History Manuscript Workshop and present your work in progress at OAH 2026. Applications due Sept 30. More info at z.umn.edu/ManuscriptWorkshop @oah.org @iehs.bsky.social @migrationcollab.bsky.social
September 9, 2025 at 6:14 PM
Are you writing your first book on immigration history? Then apply for our Immigration History Manuscript Workshop and present your work in progress at OAH 2026. Applications due Sept 30. More info at z.umn.edu/ManuscriptWorkshop @oah.org @iehs.bsky.social @migrationcollab.bsky.social
Reposted by Maggie Elmore
At a Georgetown University roundtable, Catholic leaders underscored the gravity of the threats immigrants are currently facing as the Trump administration escalates its mass detainment and deportation efforts.
religionnews.com/2025/09/12/c...
religionnews.com/2025/09/12/c...
Catholic bishops call immigration crackdown a 'category 4 storm'
WASHINGTON (RNS) — Before the Georgetown roundtable, El Paso Bishop Mark Seitz told RNS he is questioning whether Catholics can, in good conscience, join ICE.
religionnews.com
September 12, 2025 at 11:00 PM
At a Georgetown University roundtable, Catholic leaders underscored the gravity of the threats immigrants are currently facing as the Trump administration escalates its mass detainment and deportation efforts.
religionnews.com/2025/09/12/c...
religionnews.com/2025/09/12/c...
Reposted by Maggie Elmore
SSN member discussion of how scholars can bring their expertise & research to enhance public understanding & inform immigration policy. We'll be joined by @reichlinmelnick.bsky.social & by SSN members Elizabeth Aranda & Ernesto Castañeda @scholars.org scholars.my.salesforce-sites.com/event/home/s...
August 8, 2025 at 11:36 PM
SSN member discussion of how scholars can bring their expertise & research to enhance public understanding & inform immigration policy. We'll be joined by @reichlinmelnick.bsky.social & by SSN members Elizabeth Aranda & Ernesto Castañeda @scholars.org scholars.my.salesforce-sites.com/event/home/s...
“Republicans in charge of the House Committee on Homeland Security have recently launched a probe investigating NGOs for facilitating illegal activity by aiding migrants. Among the alleged offenders are the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and Catholic Charities”…
Undocumented immigrants provide many of the services we’ve all come to take for granted.
No amount of xenophobic ranting can change that basic fact about our economy.
www.commonwealmagazine.org/immigration-...
No amount of xenophobic ranting can change that basic fact about our economy.
www.commonwealmagazine.org/immigration-...
Immigration Insanity
Trump may waffle about how much economic damage he’s willing to inflict in order to rid the country of undocumented immigrants, but his hateful rhetoric has a logic and momentum of its own.
www.commonwealmagazine.org
June 30, 2025 at 10:46 PM
“Republicans in charge of the House Committee on Homeland Security have recently launched a probe investigating NGOs for facilitating illegal activity by aiding migrants. Among the alleged offenders are the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and Catholic Charities”…
Reposted by Maggie Elmore
🗃️ I read the article and agree with @kawulf.bsky.social. I would add a few points in support:
This article is premised on a basic misunderstanding of the historical research process. It’s important to note that, as far as I can tell, the author of the article is not a professional historian, i.e.
This article is premised on a basic misunderstanding of the historical research process. It’s important to note that, as far as I can tell, the author of the article is not a professional historian, i.e.
This piece is worth reading/ wrestling with. imho.
1. AI can't do original research and thinking; it recombines (often badly) so may be most potent for digestible popular history. That's worth worrying about separately. 1/ www.nytimes.com/2025/06/16/m...
1. AI can't do original research and thinking; it recombines (often badly) so may be most potent for digestible popular history. That's worth worrying about separately. 1/ www.nytimes.com/2025/06/16/m...
A.I. Is Poised to Rewrite History. Literally.
www.nytimes.com
June 16, 2025 at 3:37 PM
🗃️ I read the article and agree with @kawulf.bsky.social. I would add a few points in support:
This article is premised on a basic misunderstanding of the historical research process. It’s important to note that, as far as I can tell, the author of the article is not a professional historian, i.e.
This article is premised on a basic misunderstanding of the historical research process. It’s important to note that, as far as I can tell, the author of the article is not a professional historian, i.e.
Doing the actual cognitive work is intrinsic to learning and developing critical thinking processes. AI can’t do that for you.
We (@designed_future and I) are most definitely not the same:
Me: take the time I need to read 1 book and LEARN.
You: don’t read and don’t learn.
🗃️
Me: take the time I need to read 1 book and LEARN.
You: don’t read and don’t learn.
🗃️
Reposting with alt text
June 15, 2025 at 8:21 PM
Doing the actual cognitive work is intrinsic to learning and developing critical thinking processes. AI can’t do that for you.
Reposted by Maggie Elmore
The first U.S. bishop appointed by Pope Leo XIV—a refugee himself—is mobilizing priests to accompany migrants at immigration court on June 20.
(Via Christopher Hale)
(Via Christopher Hale)
June 13, 2025 at 2:52 AM
The first U.S. bishop appointed by Pope Leo XIV—a refugee himself—is mobilizing priests to accompany migrants at immigration court on June 20.
(Via Christopher Hale)
(Via Christopher Hale)
Can testify about the importance of this book! I’ve also taught it and it challenges students in all the best ways to rethink what they know about urban history, the South, and immigration
Shameless plug on the 5-year anniversary of my first book! Looking for a U.S. history that covers segregation in the post-Jim Crow South, foreign relations, international students, Asian Americans, and urban hist? Consider 📗 Redefining the Immigrant South!📗 uncpress.org/book/9781469... #skystorians
Books
Browse our titles
uncpress.org
May 16, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Can testify about the importance of this book! I’ve also taught it and it challenges students in all the best ways to rethink what they know about urban history, the South, and immigration
Reposted by Maggie Elmore
my latest in “Commonweal” on the transition from Francis to Leo XIV
www.commonwealmagazine.org/leo-pope-xiv...
www.commonwealmagazine.org/leo-pope-xiv...
Young American
Pope Leo XIV is his own man. But his election is a sign of continuity—on Vatican II, on Francis, and on synodality.
www.commonwealmagazine.org
May 15, 2025 at 6:54 AM
my latest in “Commonweal” on the transition from Francis to Leo XIV
www.commonwealmagazine.org/leo-pope-xiv...
www.commonwealmagazine.org/leo-pope-xiv...
Reposted by Maggie Elmore
That perfect moment when Pope Francis stopped the car to embrace Sophie Cruz. I cried my fuckin eyes out. After all the pain this country puts migrants through, this moment the little Mexican girl broke through was ... everything (video cred: AP). He was a real one. Obit below.
April 21, 2025 at 11:09 AM
That perfect moment when Pope Francis stopped the car to embrace Sophie Cruz. I cried my fuckin eyes out. After all the pain this country puts migrants through, this moment the little Mexican girl broke through was ... everything (video cred: AP). He was a real one. Obit below.
Reposted by Maggie Elmore
My book is in print! Yay! 🎉 The official publication date is May 20th, but a few copies arrived today from @dukepress.bsky.social. Thanks to everyone that helped me tell these stories! I am posting a link yo the book and a 30% discount code below.
April 16, 2025 at 2:21 PM
My book is in print! Yay! 🎉 The official publication date is May 20th, but a few copies arrived today from @dukepress.bsky.social. Thanks to everyone that helped me tell these stories! I am posting a link yo the book and a 30% discount code below.
On the same day that SCOTUS issued a ruling making all people in the U.S. less safe, Catholic bishops ended their century-long partnership with the U.S. federal gov’t after the Trump admin cancelled federal grants for refugee resettlement services. religionnews.com/2025/04/07/c...
Catholic bishops say they will no longer partner with US on refugee work and children's services
(RNS) — The announcement comes after months of uncertainty and antagonism about reimbursing Catholic agencies for their work with refugees.
religionnews.com
April 8, 2025 at 4:22 PM
On the same day that SCOTUS issued a ruling making all people in the U.S. less safe, Catholic bishops ended their century-long partnership with the U.S. federal gov’t after the Trump admin cancelled federal grants for refugee resettlement services. religionnews.com/2025/04/07/c...
Today’s news from the USCCB will impact tens of thousands of people who will lose access to lifesaving resettlement services. www.usccb.org/news/2025/go...
The Government’s Decisions Have Forced USCCB to Reconsider How to Serve the Needs of Those Seeking Safe Harbor from Violence and Persecution, says Archbishop Broglio
Today, the USCCB announced its decision not to renew the cooperative agreements with the federal government related to children’s services and refugee supp...
www.usccb.org
April 7, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Today’s news from the USCCB will impact tens of thousands of people who will lose access to lifesaving resettlement services. www.usccb.org/news/2025/go...