Editor’s Note: This interview first appeared in Path Finders, an email newsletter from the Daily Yonder. Each week, Path Finders features a Q&A with a rural thinker, creator, or doer. Like what you see here? You can join the mailing list at the bottom of this article and receive more conversations like this in your inbox each week.
Brianna Nofil’s historical mission is to uncover how America built...
**Steelman:** Nofil’s work provides a compelling historical account of how rural America became entangled in the immigration detention system, highlighting the economic vulnerabilities and federal strategies that shaped this relationship. Her research is grounded in archival evidence and local reporting, offering a nuanced view of both collaboration and resistance in rural communities.
**Pattern Scan:** The narrative reveals how federal agencies exploit rural desperation, framing detention cente...