Jason De León is Professor of Anthropology and Chicana, Chicano, and Central American Studies and Director of the Cotsen Institute of Archaeology at the University of California, Los Angeles. He is also Executive Director of the Undocumented Migration Project, a 501(c)(3) research, arts, and education collective that seeks to raise awareness about migration issues globally while also assisting families of missing migrants be reunited with their loved ones. He is a 2017 MacArthur Foundation Fellow and author of the award-winning book The Land of Open Graves: Living and Dying on the Migrant Trail. His upcoming book, Soldiers and Kings: Survival and Hope in the World of Human Smuggling, is an in-depth exploration of the human smuggling industry. Over seven years, De León embedded himself with a group of smugglers moving migrants across Mexico, providing a unique perspective on their lives and work. The book focuses on the character-driven narrative of one coyote who falls in love and attempts to leave the world of smuggling. It sheds light on the lower-level foot soldiers entering the smuggling business, as well as the morally conflicted gang leaders overseeing diverse crews of guides and informants along the migrant trail. The narrative is described as heart-wrenching and intimate, challenging stereotypes and providing a groundbreaking glimpse into a challenging and often misunderstood global industry.