Consider This from NPR: Undocumented Workers Brace for ICE Raids and Mass Deportation Under Trump

Release Date: November 25, 2024

In this gripping episode of NPR’s “Consider This,” host Ari Shapiro delves into the escalating tension surrounding immigration enforcement in the United States, particularly focusing on the impending ICE raids and mass deportations under the Trump administration. Through personal narratives, expert analysis, and firsthand accounts, the episode paints a comprehensive picture of the profound impact these policies have on individuals and communities alike.

1. Trump’s Aggressive Immigration Agenda

The episode opens with a discussion on President Elect Trump’s campaign emphasis on immigration. Shapiro highlights Trump's commitment to what he calls "the largest deportation operation in the history of the United States."

Ari Shapiro [00:01]: "The issue that President Elect Trump hammered most on the campaign trail was immigration."

Cliff Johnson [00:06]: "We will begin the largest deportation operation in the history of the United States."

Trump’s strategy extends beyond securing the border and targeting individuals with violent criminal records. The administration plans to intensify workplace raids, targeting undocumented workers irrespective of their proximity to the border.

Ari Shapiro [00:11]: "He's also preparing to resume workplace raids, arresting people who may have been in the country for years far from the border."

2. The Resurgence of Workplace Raids

Tom Homan, Trump’s appointed border czar and former acting director of ICE, underscores the administration’s rationale for these raids.

Tom Homan [00:31]: "Where do operations have to happen? Where do we find most victims of sex trafficking and forced labor trafficking? At work sites."

These operations mirror those from Trump’s first term, indicating a persistent and intensified approach to immigration enforcement.

3. Personal Toll on Communities: Stories from Morton, Mississippi

The heart of the episode centers on Morton, Mississippi, a small town deeply affected by ICE’s aggressive policies. Shapiro introduces Patty, a local business owner whose life was upended by a mass raid in 2019.

Patty [00:45]: "In my 19 years living here, I've never seen anything on a scale so big."

The 2019 raid saw ICE arresting 680 individuals employed at local chicken processing plants, leaving the community in fear of further interventions.

Patty [01:11]: "This is a small town, so people are really suffering. The Latino community here was holding up the chicken plant. Not anymore."

Patty’s personal anguish is palpable as she describes the daily fear her family endures.

Patty [02:08]: "Whenever I leave the house, my little boy worries if I'll come home. He cries."

4. The Return of ICE Raids and Tom Homan’s Role

With Trump reinstating Tom Homan as the border czar, the threat of renewed raids looms large.

Tom Homan [02:50]: "I'm pissed off about what this administration did to the most secure board in my lifetime. So I'm going to go back and do what I can to fix it."

Shapiro juxtaposes past raids with current preparations, illustrating a community bracing for potential repeat offenses.

5. Legal and Corporate Accountability

Cliff Johnson, an immigration attorney and director of the MacArthur Justice Center, provides critical insights into the legal ramifications of these raids.

Cliff Johnson [04:36]: "Families were torn apart. People were terrified because of an investigation that purportedly was focused on chicken processing companies... but the evidence... were actual human beings who'd been living here among us for years."

Johnson questions the effectiveness and intent behind targeting workers instead of higher-level corporate executives, noting a lack of severe repercussions for company leaders.

Cliff Johnson [06:09]: "The notion that the corporations themselves or anybody high up in the corporations having been prosecuted and sent to prison or punished severely, that's just not what this was about."

6. Community Mobilization and Preparedness

In response to past raids, communities like Morton have since organized to mitigate future impacts. Johnson details the proactive measures taken to support undocumented individuals.

Cliff Johnson [07:55]: "There are people who have literal raid packets, information... where they can keep their identification documents together, where they have a plan for the care of their children..."

These grassroots efforts, primarily led by immigrant women, aim to create a resilient support network to prevent families from being torn apart unexpectedly.

7. The Broader Impact on Society

Addressing the contentious debate on immigration enforcement, Johnson emphasizes the extensive societal repercussions of mass deportations.

Cliff Johnson [09:07]: "There are tremendous implications for taking the people who are already here and ripping them away from their local communities and from their families... It affects the local businesses... The richness of our culture and community in places like small town Mississippi are negatively impacted."

He argues that while securing borders and enforcing immigration laws are important, the human cost and community fragmentation present significant drawbacks that must be considered.

Conclusion

Ari Shapiro concludes by reflecting on the enduring legacy of the 2019 raids and the uncertain future under Trump’s administration. The episode underscores the delicate balance between national security and humanitarian considerations, urging listeners to contemplate the real human stories behind immigration policies.

Ari Shapiro [03:02]: "The ice raid of Mississippi chicken plants upended lives five years ago. Now people in the town of Morton are preparing for the possibility of a sequel."

Production Credits:

• Produced by Tyler Bartlam, Brianna Scott, Connor Donovan, and Mark Rivers
• Edited by Courtney Dorning and Sarah Handel
• Original reporting by Gus Contreras and Dave Blanchard
• Executive Producer: Sami Yenigun

Final Note: This episode of “Consider This” offers a profound exploration of the intersection between immigration policy and community stability, providing listeners with an in-depth understanding of the ongoing challenges faced by undocumented workers and their neighbors.