This study is rooted in the author's belief that the restriction of the free movement of people is perverse, that systems erected to judge the validity of claim are generally self-serving and inadequate, and that fear overcomes the idea of open borders. The book takes Canada as its main focus.

Barsky maintains that we can and should be doing better than we're doing and that eliminating barriers from persons who would move if they could might be a small step in that direction, if only becasue it would mean that populations wouldn't necessarily have to be subjected to the lunatic ideas of power-mongerers or hurtful economic systems, because they would simply move to another, more comfortable, space.

Interpreting refugee discourse - from discourse analysis to inter-cultural communication
claimants from the former Soviet Union - from European standards to the American dream
claimants from Israel - a threat to the Jewish identity?
claimants from Peru - persecution in "America" and flight to Canada
claimants from Pakistan - constraints of state intervention
conclusion - theorizing obstacles to female claims. Appendices: questionnaire
profile of claimants
refugee organizations and document centres.