Is 'The Leavers' Based On A True Story Or Real Events?

I recently read 'The Leavers' and dug into its background. While the novel isn't a direct retelling of true events, it's heavily inspired by real immigration struggles. Lisa Ko based the story on actual cases of undocumented parents being separated from their children, particularly drawing from a 2009 New York Times article about a Chinese immigrant deported without his son. The emotional core of the book—the trauma of displacement and cultural identity crisis—mirrors countless real-life experiences. Ko's research involved interviewing adoptees and immigrant families, which gives the fictional narrative an authentic weight. The details about visa overstays, detention centers, and adoption bureaucracy all reflect documented realities of the U.S. immigration system.

Having studied Asian American literature, I see 'The Leavers' as a composite truth. It blends real immigration patterns from Fujian Province—where many work undocumented in U.S. restaurants—with fictional characters. The chain migration aspect is accurate; many immigrants overstay visas to repay smugglers, just like Polly does.

Ko's depiction of adoption agencies exploiting birth mothers reflects real controversies. Some agencies profit from placing Asian children with white families, often sidelining birth parents' rights. The book's portrayal of Daniel's identity crisis echoes adoptee memoirs I've read, where cultural displacement causes lasting trauma.

The most chillingly realistic part is the deportation sequence. Unlike dramatic Hollywood scenes, Polly's removal happens abruptly during a routine check-in, mirroring actual ICE tactics. The lack of goodbyes or preparation for Deming feels authentic to real parent-child separations at borders.

As someone who follows immigration literature closely, 'The Leavers' stands out for how it fictionalizes systemic issues. The protagonist Deming's story isn't a specific true story, but every element comes from researched realities. The mass deportation of Chinese restaurant workers in the 2000s actually happened, with ICE raids splitting families overnight. Ko took these fragments of truth and wove them into a cohesive narrative.

The adoption angle particularly resonates with real cases. There's a documented pattern of transnational adoptees struggling with dual identities, just like Deming does when he becomes Daniel. The private adoption system's lack of oversight, shown through Daniel's adoptive parents, mirrors real criticisms about cultural erasure in transracial adoptions.

What makes the book feel 'true' is its attention to bureaucratic details. The months-long detention of Deming's mother Polly mirrors actual detention center conditions. The way Polly's legal rights are violated—denied phone calls, rushed hearings—comes straight from advocacy group reports. Ko even includes subtle nods to real policies, like the 1996 immigration laws that made deportation easier.