Immigration Nerds

Lieutenant Colonel Mona Johnson dreamed of a world where a Muslim woman could be treated as an equal. After escaping a politically divided Egypt, she and her family lived in exile in Saudi Arabia before immigrating to the US in 1960. But assimilating into American culture was far from easy, as she and her family experienced unending discrimination compelling them to change their name in order to blend in with society. Defying years of prejudice and gender inequality, Johnson became most likely the first immigrant Arab-Muslim woman to serve in the US Armed Forces and rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel.

https://www.amazon.com/Not-Created-Equal-Immigrant-Equality/dp/1734731702

Author and Assistant Professor at University of Illinois at Chicago, Adam Goodman joins. We discuss “The Deportation Machine: America's Long History with Expelling Immigrants”. Deportation Machine takes an intersectional approach into how authorities have largely used three main mechanisms of expulsion to exert tremendous control over people's lives, determining who can enter the country and regulating who the state allows to remain.

Collecting private information from foreign travelers has sizabley increased over the past year. From collecting social media passwords of visa holders to taking DNA samples of travelers at the border.

On July 31st, the U.S. Department of Labor announced it had reached an agreement with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security allowing both agencies to freely share immigrant petition and data records among each other. This latest agreement adds to the growing evidence of privacy erosion. Today we document this occurrence and look at examples of administrative actions from the past year that has brought us to this point.

Journalist and Author, Jessica Goudeau joins the podcast.

The welcoming and acceptance of immigrants and refugees has been central to America’s identity for centuries–yet America has periodically turned its back at the times of greatest humanitarian need. After the Last Border is an intimate look at the lives of two women as they struggle for the twenty-first century American dream, having won the “golden ticket” to settle as refugees in Austin, Texas. Beyond policy, beyond politics, what is the lived experiences of the people that are so often debated about. Jessica tells the story of the unwavering spirit of two.

Book: After the Last Border: Two Families and the Story of Refuge in America

Release: August 4, 2020

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/572566/after-the-last-border-by-jessica-goudeau/

In last week's episode we didn't get a chance to discuss exactly how international students are driving innovation within the university setting. Today, to give us this inside look from a faculty perspective is Senior Vice President of Research at Emory University, Dr. Deborah Watkins Bruner.

Footnote:  This episode was recorded before the settlement agreement. However, we capture great insight into international students ongoing contributions to new discoveries in cancer research and covid-19 vaccines.

In a settlement on Tuesday, July 14th DHS and ICE rescinded the policy barring international students from taking 100% of their courses online, threatening their visa status in America. Managing Director of Erickson Immigration Group, Hiba Anver joins to share the significance of this victory and what may be in store for university students next.

Ranzo D, the Creator of "The Black Experience in Japan" joins the podcast. He travels throughout predominately Asian countries and interviews Black immigrants on their experience. A narrative not globally covered, yet is rich in insight. Ranzo shares his personal journey, why he decided to create his platform, and what he has learned from his unique interactions with Black immigrants throughout the eastern world.

Usha-Tummala -Narra is the Ph.D. Program Director of Counseling Psychology for Boston College. She’s currently conducting research on mental health and trauma within immigrant communities. We discuss The various effects that can occur when adjusting to a different culture, what mental and emotional cost that may take place, her approach to treatment, and how society and culture can better tend to immigrant needs in order to help smooth their transition to a new country.