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Nancy HiemstraAssociate Professor, Director of Undergraduate StudiesWomen's‚ Gender‚ and Sexuality StudiesCollege of Arts and Sciences
Biography
Nancy Hiemstra is a political geographer whose research focuses on U.S. immigration enforcement policies. In particular, she studies:
- U.S. detention and deportation - Hiemstra's 2025 co-authored (with Dr. Deirdre Conlon, Leeds University) book, Immigration Detention Inc: The Big Business of Locking Up Migrants, focuses on the industries and money-making opportunities linked to the operation of immigration detention facilities. Her 2019 book, Detain and Deport: The Chaotic U.S. Immigration Enforcement Regime, details the history, operation, and rationales of the U.S. detention and deportation system, and its consequences in Ecuador.
- Consequences of U.S immigration enforcement policies in Latin America - Hiemstra traces the influence and intervention of the U.S. government in Latin American policies and practices regarding immigration enforcement and U.S.-bound migrants.
- Patterns and causes of Latin American immigration, with special expertise on Ecuador.
- Narratives / discourses around immigration in U.S. politics and public life
She is a member of the Scholar Strategy Network.
Education
- PhD, Maxwell School, Syracuse University
- MA, University of Oregon
- BA, University of Virginia
News Highlights
June 26, 2025Listen to Nancy Hiemstra and Deirdre Conlon Discuss Their New Book: "Immigration Detention
Inc."Austin KocherRead ArticleApril 26, 2025"Understanding Reproduction in Social Contexts"Caitlin Killian/"Player FM"Read ArticleJanuary 24, 2025Trump utilizes emergency powers on deportations but will need Congress' help for moreThe National News DeskRead ArticleApril 1, 2024How imagery of White women victims is being used to stoke anti-immigrant fearTucson SentinelRead ArticleImmigration Detention Inc.: The Big Business of Locking up MigrantsPluto PressRead Article