Keita is a young, undocumented runner from Zantoroland who flees to Freedom State. He hides in the marginalized community of AfricTown while training for high-stakes marathons. His ultimate goal is to win enough prize money to pay a massive ransom for his sister's release. He struggles with severe health issues during races but uses his father's advice to sing through the physical pain.

Lula operates as the powerful madam of the Bombay Booty brothel and landlord of numerous homes in AfricTown. She functions as the community's unofficial queen, extracting steep prices and loyalty from the undocumented people she houses. She provides necessary resources and protection for the marginalized residents while dealing in illicit businesses and harboring deep secrets.

Viola is a disabled, Black, and gay sports journalist who aspires to break into hard news. She uses a wheelchair after a childhood accident and is fiercely determined to uncover the truth about systemic corruption. She investigates the sudden disappearance of a young sex worker, bringing her into direct conflict with powerful political figures.

Rocco serves as the Minister of Immigration for Freedom State. He is a former used-car salesman who represents the conservative Family Party. Initially holding heavily prejudiced views against the undocumented population, he begins to see the political system's deep hypocrisy as he becomes entangled with the reality of AfricTown's residents.

Candace is a confident Black police officer from AfricTown who competes heavily in marathons. She asserts her authority in a male-dominated profession while quietly fighting systemic prejudice. She takes a strong interest in Keita, offering him protection and resources while maintaining a dominant posture in their relationship.

John is a fifteen-year-old boy living alone in an AfricTown shipping container because his mother requires psychiatric hospitalization. As the first Black student at his gifted academy, he feels insecure about his mixed-race identity. He wins a camera through an essay contest and uses it to film a documentary about his community, capturing critical evidence of government corruption.

Ivernia is an elderly, wealthy white woman living in Freedom State. She strongly opposes her country's cruel treatment of marginalized people and frequently subverts the system by issuing library cards to undocumented residents. Her independence is threatened by her opportunistic son, who attempts to declare her incompetent, but she fights back by offering Keita a safe haven in her home.

Graeme serves as the Prime Minister of Freedom State and a leading figure in the conservative Family Party. He publicly promotes harsh anti-immigrant and pro-deportation policies to secure his political base. Privately, he solicits the services of undocumented sex workers and fiercely protects hidden details about his own heritage that could ruin his career.

Anton is a former Olympic shot-putter who works as a highly exploitative sports agent. He manages promising marathon runners from Zantoroland, holding them captive through heavy contracts and by confiscating their passports. He forces his clients to hand over most of their earnings so he can slowly pay off his massive tax debts.

Charity is Keita's highly intelligent older sister who gains acceptance to Harvard University. Following her parents' sudden deaths during a period of political upheaval, she is captured by the Zantoroland government. She is held in a harsh prison facility to extort a massive ransom from Keita.

Hassane, commonly known as Yoyo, is an internationally published journalist and intellectual living in Zantoroland. He writes bravely about the disenfranchised Faloo people despite the extreme danger involved. He refuses to compromise his morals to write an autobiography for a corrupt dictator, choosing instead to risk his life for his principles.

Lena is Keita's devoted and highly protective mother. She exhibits immense bravery by confronting masked attackers who storm their house during a violent coup d'état. The extreme stress of protecting her children during the home invasion triggers a fatal medical emergency.

Yvette is a young sex worker operating out of the Bombay Booty brothel in AfricTown. She accepts risky assignments and lower pay in hopes of earning her official citizenship paperwork. Her sudden disappearance after interacting with a powerful government official sparks a widespread journalistic investigation.

Darlene is a sex worker in AfricTown who shares a close friendship with Yvette. She witnesses the terrifying abduction of her friend and becomes desperately afraid for her own safety. She seeks leverage against government officials to secure her citizenship and escape the dangerous community.

Jimmy is Ivernia's greedy and unsupportive son. He actively attempts to have his mother's independence revoked so he can control her assets. He steals her household items and reports her to the authorities when he suspects she is breaking the law.

Geoffrey is the highly conservative young assistant to Prime Minister Wellington. He dedicates himself to the Family Party's harsh anti-immigrant platform and works tirelessly to execute his boss's discriminatory political directives.

Saunders is a violent operative who conducts secret business for Prime Minister Wellington. He extorts information about undocumented immigrants hiding in Freedom State and utilizes firearms and intimidation to ensure sports agents comply with his demands.

DeNorval is a former emergency room chief who fled Zantoroland after being persecuted for his sexuality. He now resides in an AfricTown shipping container, where he uses his medical expertise to provide quiet, unofficial care to the marginalized community.

Mrs. Peters is Yvette's grieving mother. She seeks assistance from the press after receiving a suspicious official notice claiming her daughter died of natural causes in a foreign prison.

Mike is the demanding editor of the local newspaper where Viola works. He attempts to restrict Viola strictly to the sports beat and actively discourages her from writing investigative news stories about refugees.

June is the capable assistant working in Rocco Calder's immigration office. She holds hidden ties to AfricTown and quietly gathers crucial information to help the protagonists bypass government surveillance.

Devlin is a constable working for the Freedom State police department. He enforces the nation's strict anti-immigrant laws by treating refugees as common criminals. He clashes with journalists who attempt to document the harsh removal processes at the city borders.