Overview

Essential reading for anyone who wants to understand the roots of today’s immigration debate—and what it will take to fix it. Step behind the headlines and into the heart of America’s immigration debate with Deconstructed—the definitive account of how the U.S. turned immigration into a crisis, and how we can chart a path forward. Through the eyes of Stan Marek, a third-generation construction executive and tireless advocate for sensible immigration reform, Deconstructed reveals how decades of policy failures have reshaped not just the construction industry, but the American workforce itself. From the bustling jobsites of Houston to the halls of Congress, this book traces the real-world impact of laws that forced millions into the shadows—hurting workers, businesses, and the broader economy. Follow the Marek family’s journey from Czech immigrants seeking a better life in Texas to builders of one of the Southwest’s largest specialty contractors. Their story mirrors the evolution of America’s immigration system—from the open arms of Ellis Island to the complex, often contradictory rules that define today’s debate. Through personal anecdotes and historical insight, Deconstructed brings to life the people behind the policies. Deconstructed doesn’t just recount how immigration became “illegal”—it challenges the myths that fuel division and offers a pragmatic blueprint for reform. Learn why the labor shortages in construction and other industries can’t be solved by politics as usual, and how bringing workers out of the shadows benefits everyone—from the jobsite to Main Street.

Full Product Details

9781734082227

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Reviews

A clear-headed, cogent, and essential explanation of the many problems posed by the prevalence of undocumented workers in the construction industry, grounded in a review of the schizophrenic, often xenophobic history of U.S. immigration policies. --Patricia Bernstein, author of Ten Dollars to Hate: The Texas Man Who Fought the Klan Cover blurb (10/29/2020 12:00:00 AM) In this engrossing analysis, Loren Steffy tells the story of how Stan Marek came to be one of Houston's most highly respected and tenacious advocates for rational immigration reform. The compelling stories and persuasive arguments in this excellent book are a must-read for anyone concerned about the prospects for Houston and America as the twenty-first century unfolds. --Stephen L. Klineberg, Ph.D., professor emeritus of sociology at Rice University, author of Prophetic City: Houston on the Cusp of a Changing America Cover blurb (10/29/2020 12:00:00 AM)

Author Information

Loren Steffy is a writer-at-large for Texas Monthly, executive producer for Rational Middle Media and managing director for the communications firm 30 Point Strategies, where he heads the 30 Point Press Publishing imprint. He is the author of four other nonfiction books. Stan Marek is the president and chief executive officer of the Marek Family of Companies, one of the largest interior contractors in the Southwest. He is a frequent contributor to the Houston Chronicle and blogs such as Construction Citizen.

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