Podcast Summary: Kat on the Loose

Episode: BORDER ANGELS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR JESUS GONZALEZ
Host: Kat Zammuto
Guest: Jesus Gonzalez, Executive Director of Border Angels
Date: November 27, 2024

Main Theme

This episode of "Kat on the Loose" features a deeply human and timely conversation with Jesus Gonzalez, Executive Director of Border Angels, a nonprofit advocating for human rights, humane immigration reform, and social justice at the US-Mexico border. Prompted by renewed fears and tension post-2024 US election and with the looming threat of mass deportations under president-elect Trump, the discussion focuses on the real stories, challenges, and policies impacting immigrants, particularly those risking their lives to enter the US.

Key Discussion Points

1. Setting the Scene: The Current Immigration Climate

• Heightened Fears After the Election
  • With Trump’s election and discussions of mass deportations and using the military, immigration anxieties have risen anew. Many immigrants—both documented and undocumented—fear for their futures.
  • Quote: “There’s a great sense of fear and concern for what happens next... There’s a history in this country of mass deportations.” – Jesus Gonzalez (06:31)
• Sanctuary Cities as a Source of Hope
  • Los Angeles recently declared itself a sanctuary city, refusing to provide funds to aid deportations, a move seen as empowering in the face of harsh rhetoric.
  • Quote: “If half of the country is in support of the Trump policies, I want to remind everyone that half of the country is not.” – Jesus Gonzalez (07:58)

2. The Human Perspective: Why People Risk Everything

• Desperation and Danger
  • Migrants risk their lives out of dire necessity—fleeing violence, poverty, persecution, or cartels.
  • Quote: “People put themselves at such great risk... all they want is an opportunity for a good life.” – Jesus Gonzalez (10:02)
• Misconceptions About Migrants
  • The stereotype of migrants as criminals is widely inaccurate. Only a small minority may fit this label; most seek safety, jobs, family, and hope.
  • Migration across the southern border is not limited to Mexicans; people come from all over the world, including Ukraine, Haiti, China, and Venezuela.
  • Quote: “The stereotype of criminals... is also related to Latinos… That perception of one particular group is just not true.” – Jesus Gonzalez (17:43)

3. Border Angels: Humanitarian Work on the Ground

• Water Drop Program
  • Volunteers trek into the desert to leave water and food along migrant routes. Many lives have been saved, with survivors returning to volunteer.
  • Quote: “We’re out there leaving water and food... people have found the food and water and come back to us and said, ‘Thank you, you saved my life.’” – Jesus Gonzalez (14:59)
  • Volunteers look for signs of migrant activity (like left-behind trash), clean up, and resupply—facing harsh environments similar to those depicted in Kat’s film "40 Days."
• Day Labor Outreach and Family Reunification
  • The organization's work includes helping those in detention centers obtain bonds to await court dates with family, and special programs to advocate for separated children.
• Support in Tijuana and Educational Initiatives
  • Border Angels also aids shelters in Tijuana and educates immigrants and the public about rights and humanitarian realities.

4. Detention Centers, Legal Complexities, and Case by Case Reform

• Systemic Backlog and Dehumanization
  • Courts are overwhelmed, causing long detention periods. Border Angels posts bonds so people can stay with family while awaiting court.
  • Quote: “The majority of people who we help by giving them that bond do show up to court... They don’t go into hiding.” – Jesus Gonzalez (31:08)
• Cases Are Not One-Size-Fits-All
  • Kat argues for individualized decisions rather than blanket policies. Jesus agrees in principle but notes the complexity and volume make it unrealistic under current systems.
  • Quote: “It’s unfortunate, but it is too simple… millions of people are being impacted.” – Jesus Gonzalez (26:07)

5. Compassion vs. Legality: The Ethics of Aid

• Responding to Criticism
  • Some legal immigrants feel organizations like Border Angels foster illegal entry, but Jesus points out that every immigrant journey relies on community support.
  • Quote: “My family gave up everything... there were community organizations to help us... That’s all Border Angels is doing.” – Jesus Gonzalez (35:33)
• Moral Imperative
  • Even those who oppose illegal immigration are urged to consider the humanity and hardship of those making the journey. “If you see someone hurt, you don’t walk away,” says Jesus, emphasizing basic human decency (38:14).

6. Children and Families: Programs for the Most Vulnerable

• Green Card for Kids
  • Border Angels connects children in detention centers to legal help, enabling some to receive green cards. Donations fund attorney fees and services.
  • Quote: “It’s really near and dear to my heart... these kids... need services for a very long time.” – Jesus Gonzalez (43:30)

7. Education, Advocacy, and The Power of Storytelling

• Upcoming Documentaries and Films
  • Both Kat and Border Angels are involved in storytelling—Kat with her new film "40 Days," and Border Angels via an in-house documentary sharing real migration stories.
  • Quote: “It shows them as human beings, it shows them as families... just human beings like you and I, having good days and bad days and still feeling hope.” – Jesus Gonzalez (47:41)
• Engagement Across the Political Spectrum
  • Kat urges all listeners, regardless of political stance, to educate themselves about immigration before forming opinions, highlighting the importance of empathy and context.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Hope and Participation
  • “I encourage everyone to participate at whatever level they can—volunteering, giving money, talking to government officials... do it with kindness.” – Jesus Gonzalez (22:37)
• On the Plight of Immigrant Workers
  • “If you’re against immigration, go pick your tomato... Americans do not want to work in the farms.” – Kat Zammuto (54:08)
• Closing Call for Humanity
  • “Become a Border Angel. That doesn’t mean you have to volunteer for me… just become a border angel wherever you are.” – Jesus Gonzalez (50:40)

Key Timestamps

• 05:00 – Kat introduces why this topic and Jesus' input are so important post-election.
• 06:31 – Jesus describes the mood at the border after the election.
• 10:02 – Jesus shares personal immigrant experience and empathy for new arrivals.
• 14:59 – Impact and stories from the water drop program.
• 17:43 – Debunking stereotypes: migrants come from many nations, not just Mexico.
• 22:37 – Jesus on tangible ways people can support immigration reform.
• 26:07 – Challenges of case-by-case immigration reform.
• 31:08 – Positive outcomes: most people released on bond do follow the legal process.
• 35:33 – The necessity and history of community support for immigrants.
• 43:30 – Details on the Green Card for Kids initiative.
• 47:41 – The power of film and documentary to share immigrant stories.
• 50:40 – Jesus’s closing message: “Become a Border Angel.”

Conclusion

Tone: Compassionate, unfiltered, and pragmatic, with firsthand stories and a focus on practical solutions.

Takeaways:

• Immigration issues remain complex, emotional, and urgent, especially amid evolving US political stances.
• Border Angels responds with humanity through direct aid, legal advocacy, and education—offering a model for compassion over polarization.
• Empathy and education are essential; listeners are encouraged to learn, volunteer, and approach the conversation with humanity.

Resources:

• Border Angels: borderangels.org
• 24/7 Hotline: 619-487-0249
• Film "40 Days" (upcoming) and Border Angels Documentary (website for teasers and future streaming)

“I appreciate that we live in a country where we can express our opinion, whether we agree or disagree. I just ask people to be kind… and nothing more.” – Jesus Gonzalez (49:30)