Abigail Fisher Williamson is assistant professor of political science and public policy and law at Trinity College.
Williamson puts forth an interesting and counterintuitive line of argument: local elected officials are professionally motivated to respond positively to immigrants, but this positive response can incite public opinion in a negative direction toward immigrants. In this dynamic, she highlights the central role of the politics of framing immigrants either as worthy individuals working hard at jobs nobody wants or as undeserving newcomers who are getting special advantages and taking jobs away from locals. --John Mollenkopf, Graduate Center, CUNY Williamson has gathered a very impressive body of research that presents novel insights about both local politics regarding immigrants and the role of localities in helping immigrants to incorporate. Her book presents a timely and thought-provoking contribution for courses on urban politics, immigration, and race and ethnicity in the United States. --Heather Silber Mohamed, Clark University