Mae M. Ngai

About the Author

Mae M. Ngai is a distinguished historian and professor of history at Columbia University, where she specializes in the intersections of immigration, citizenship, and race in twentieth-century America. Her groundbreaking scholarship challenges conventional narratives of national identity by examining the legal and social constructions of illegality and belonging. Ngai's work draws on extensive archival research to illuminate the human stories behind policy debates, offering nuanced insights into how immigration laws have shaped modern American society. With a PhD from Columbia, she has held fellowships from prestigious institutions and continues to influence public discourse on immigration through her incisive analyses and public lectures. Her contributions extend beyond academia, informing policy discussions and cultural understandings of America's diverse population.