DeCONSTRUCTED: An Insider's View of Illegal Immigration and the Building Trades

By Loren C. Steffy and Stan Marek

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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.

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.

"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."

"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."