I met the author at a conference of Arizona Professional Writers, and over lunch, we recognized our common interest in immigration politics—my focus was on Guatemala, and hers was on Arizona. Although her book is fiction, it’s based on the events surrounding “America’s Toughest Sheriff,” who served as Sheriff of Maricopa County from 1993 to 2016. I met Sheriff Arpaio at a wedding where I was the best man, and he seemed like a jovial, personable guy. He gained national attention on a segment on 60 Minutes, which highlighted Tent City, Pink Underwear, and illegal immigration sweeps and traffic stops targeting Latinos. But behind this amiable façade was a darker reality, which Marshall unravels in her book.
The book offers a compelling examination of Arizona’s immigration politics, viewed through the lens of civil liberties and constitutional rights, while exploring the dynamics between institutional power and individual rights. It uses Arizona’s immigration enforcement policies to understand how democratic institutions can be weaponized against vulnerable populations.
The author’s story explores the consequences of Arizona’s controversial immigration laws, examining how political opportunism intersects with public concerns about border security. Marshall’s focus remains steadfast on the constitutional implications of these policies, particularly their impact on Fourth Amendment protections against unreasonable searches and seizures, as well as Fourteenth Amendment guarantees of equal protection under the law.
Revered journalist and news anchor Walter Cronkite is often quoted, and the Cronkite Auditorium at Arizona State University is the backdrop for many scenes depicting the role of the media in shaping public understanding of political issues. The invocation of Cronkite’s integrity serves as an inspiration and contrast to the current communications practices.
The motivation for writing the book stemmed from an incident in 2008 when Marshall bailed a young man out of jail after he was arrested for applauding at a public meeting. When she watched a video of the arrest, she began to appreciate how one elected official (the Sheriff) with so many at his beck and call could abuse his power.
Marshall’s motivation for writing the book stemmed from her professional commitment to civil liberties and constitutional rights. This passion explains the energy to attempt such a comprehensive analysis and perspective.
The book represents a balance between readability and scholarly vigor. Her tenure as director of the Arizona Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) provided insight into the legal challenges arising from the State’s immigration policies. Her legal background is especially relevant given the constitutional issues and the role of federal courts in reviewing state immigration policies.
Towards the end of the book, the section on “Propaganda Techniques and Political Analysis” provides a framework for analyzing the impact of immigration policies on the distribution and exercise of political power. It highlights the rhetorical strategies employed by various political actors to advance their broader agendas. By examining how immigration became a tool for political mobilization, Marshall helps us understand how politicians can manipulate democratic institutions to serve narrow partisan interests rather than the broader public welfare.
Although published in 2012, the book was updated and republished in 2023, allowing the author to incorporate the results of ongoing political debates and the outcomes of various court cases. The real-life Sheriff was convicted of criminal contempt of court, and although President Trump pardoned him, his actions cost Maricopa County taxpayers over $300 million in legal fees.
The author was able to include more details on how Arizona’s immigration policies became the testing ground for broader questions about civil liberties, due process, and the limitations of power, making it especially timely given today’s ongoing debate and civil strife around how to deal with immigration.
The author’s writing is highly readable and succeeds in making complex constitutional and political issues understandable to a general audience while maintaining sufficient analytical rigor to inform policy discussions. Marshall’s passion for justice and human rights drives a narrative that combines legal analysis with human interest-based storytelling. The book represents both historical documentation and contemporary analysis, contributing to the ongoing debate on the proper balance between security concerns and constitutional rights in our democracy, which is currently under attack.
Former Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard sums up the importance of the book:
A suspenseful storyline in A Dry Hate: Power Versus The People brings current events to life as author Nancy Marshall weaves fact into fiction, providing realistic, sometimes sympathetic characters and motives. In addition, she provides an excellent backdrop of First Amendment issues and a display of power and propaganda in action — an easy and worthwhile read for those who want to understand Arizona immigration politics…
About the Author:
Nancy Marshall is the award-winning author of both a children’s book, A Rattler’s Tale (2021), award from NFPW for children’s fiction, 2022, and for A Dry Hate (2023), after First Place for fiction from NFPW (2024) and First Place for fiction, Arizona Author’s Association (2024
Marshall was born in New York, graduated from Smith College (MA), and obtained a master’s in teaching from Wesleyan (CT) and her law degree from Rutgers University (Newark, NJ). She spent several years teaching high school history and political science and also served as a field officer with the New York State Division of Civil Rights.
Upon completing her JD at Rutgers University (Newark, NJ), Marshall moved to Arizona, where she served for almost five years as Executive Director of the Arizona Civil Liberties Union. She has long had an abiding concern for fairness and justice, both for humans and for our wild brethren in the National Forests, reflected in one of her books, A Rattler’s Tale.
