For years, immigration has been at the forefront of policy discussions and political debates. For today’s episode, we explore the criminalization of immigration policy by interviewing Dr. Felicia Arriaga, a tenure-track Assistant Professor of Sociology in the criminology concentration at Appalachian State University. We begin the interview by discussing Dr. Arriaga’s work as a publicly engaged sociologist (32:15). We then have a conversation about the South as a new immigrant destination (39:02), the criminalization of immigration (45:13), and whether or not there is a link between immigration and crime (51:45). Next, we explore the role of local law enforcement agencies in the criminalization of immigration (55:45), the tension between cost and effectiveness of local initiatives (1:03:20), how crimmigration impacts individuals and families (1:07:55), and immigrants’ perceptions of law enforcement (1:16:56). We close the interview by discussing policy solutions and recommendations to address the harms caused by the criminalization of immigration (1:19:35) and resources to gain more insight into the politics of immigration policy in the United States (1:29:06). 

Other Topics Include: 

5:35 - BhD “Oh Lawd” news

29:00 - introduction of the topic

32:15 - Learn more about Dr. Felicia Arriaga 

1:37:00 - How to Connect with Dr. Felicia Arriaga 

Resources: 

Dr. Felicia Arriaga Faculty Website - https://soc.appstate.edu/faculty-staff/felicia-arriaga-phd 

Twitter: @FeliciaArriaga

Migrant Justice Platform - https://www.migrantjusticeplatform.org/ 

We Are Here Because You Were There - https://www.carnegie.org/topics/topic-articles/immigration/we-are-here-because-you-were-there/ 

Welcoming New Americans? Local Governments and Immigrant Incorporation - https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/W/bo28551595.html    

United Airlines bans couple arrested for allegedly traveling to Hawaii knowing they tested positive for Covid-19 - https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/covid-hawaii-couple-arrest/index.html 

CDC's New Numbers Show Black Americans and Other People of Color Dying at Higher Rates From COVID-19 Than It Previously Reported - https://www.theroot.com/cdc-acknowledges-black-and-latino-americans-dying-at-hi-1845816843 

House passes historic bill to decriminalize cannabis - https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/congress-takes-historic-bill-decriminalize-cannabis-n1249905 

Trump administration must accept new DACA applications, judge orders - https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/04/politics/daca-applications-order/index.html