Seattle, Washington, 2019. Attorney and single mom Laura Holban is an immigrant herself, guiding clients through a Kafkaesque system of ever-changing rules, where overworked judges make life-shattering decisions in minutes. Laura’s newest client is Emilio Ramirez, who was arrested in front of his sons at their high school and thrown in detention.
When Laura files for his asylum, false criminal charges prevent his release. Someone is following his family, and an ICE prosecutor threatens to revoke Laura’s US citizenship. None of it makes sense—until Laura uncovers a deadly conspiracy involving ICE, stolen data, and human trafficking. Which puts her daughter and Emilio’s sons in serious danger. Not to mention Laura and Emilio themselves.
Extreme Vetting was published on February 7, 2023 by Ooligan Press (Portland State University). The story was inspired by two criminal cases prosecuted in Washington State where ICE officials were sentenced to prison for defrauding undocumented immigrants. See a list of Frequently Asked Questions here.
Signed copies can be purchased from Madison Books, 2022 finalist for Publishers Weekly’s Bookstore of the Year Award. Paperback copies are available at bookstores everywhere and can be requested from local libraries.