John Washington is a freelance journalist and translator. He is a frequent contributor to The Nation, where he writes about immigration and criminal justice. He has translated numerous books, including The Beast and The Story of Vicente, Who Murdered His Mother, His Father, and His Sister: Life and Death in Juárez, both published by Verso Books. Find more of his writing at www.jblackburnwashington.com and follow him on Twitter at @jbwashing.