Detailed Summary of "Letters from an American" Podcast Episode: April 26, 2025

Hosted by Heather Cox Richardson

1. Current Immigration Enforcement and Deportations

The April 26, 2025 episode of "Letters from an American" delves into recent and distressing actions by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Heather Cox Richardson opens the discussion with a harrowing account of ICE deporting young U.S. citizens from Louisiana to Honduras.

• Deportation of U.S. Children: Heather narrates the tragic deportation of three U.S. children, aged 2, 4, and 7, from Louisiana to Honduras. These children were separated from their mothers, who were arrested during their routine immigration proceedings. Notably, one of the children was battling stage 4 cancer and was sent abroad without necessary medical care or consultation with doctors. Richardson highlights, "[...] the government claims the mothers chose to take their U.S. citizen children with them," but raises concerns about the lack of legal communication and oversight, referencing the Washington Post's coverage: “Because ICE refused to let the women talk to their lawyers, there is only the agent's word for how events transpired” (02:15).

• Case of Heidi Sanchez: Another poignant case involves Heidi Sanchez, a Cuban-born mother of a 1-year-old who was still breastfeeding at the time of her deportation. Sanchez was detained during a scheduled check-in with ICE in March, leading to her deportation while her U.S.-born child remained in the country with the father, a U.S. citizen. Richardson underscores the emotional and legal complexities, stating, “ICE agents sent four US citizens, including a 10-year-old with brain cancer, to Mexico when they deported their undocumented parents” (04:45).

2. Trump's Policy on Birthright Citizenship

A significant portion of the episode examines former President Donald J. Trump's efforts to redefine birthright citizenship in the United States.

• Executive Order on Citizenship: In May 2023, Trump, reelected in 2024, fulfilled a campaign promise by signing an executive order titled "Protecting the Meaning and Value of American Citizenship." This order aimed to revoke automatic citizenship for children born in the U.S. to parents who were unlawfully present. Heather explains, “The order specified that it would not take effect for 30 days if it had been in effect when Trump's rival for the White House, Vice President Kamala Harris, was born” (10:30), highlighting the political maneuvering behind the policy.

• Implications and Criticisms: Richardson critiques the executive order, describing it as “a perversion of our history” and emphasizing the foundational American principle of equal rights regardless of origin. She argues that such directives undermine the inclusive spirit enshrined in the Constitution, reflecting on historical efforts to expand citizenship and equality.

3. Historical Foundations of U.S. Citizenship

Richardson provides a comprehensive historical context to understand the evolution of U.S. citizenship laws and policies.

• 19th-Century Ideals: The episode traces back to the 19th century, where the United States established fundamental laws advocating for equal rights. Richardson notes, “In the 19th century, the United States enshrined in its fundamental law the idea that there would not be different levels of rights in this country” (15:00), highlighting the Republican Party's formation in the 1850s to oppose racial discrimination.

• 14th Amendment and Its Intent: The discussion moves to the post-Civil War era, focusing on the 14th Amendment. Despite President Andrew Johnson’s veto of the 1866 Civil Rights Bill, which sought to declare all born in the U.S. as citizens regardless of race, Congress incorporated aspects of Johnson’s feedback into the 14th Amendment. Heather elucidates, “The first sentence of the 14th Amendment reads, 'All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside'" (20:20), emphasizing its role in overturning the Dred Scott decision and asserting citizenship regardless of race.

4. The Wong Kim Ark Case and Birthright Citizenship

A pivotal moment in the history of U.S. citizenship addressed by Richardson is the Wong Kim Ark case.

• Background of Wong Kim Ark: Born around 1873 to Chinese parents in San Francisco, Wong faced deportation despite his U.S. birth. His parents, merchants, temporarily returned to China, and upon his return to the U.S., he was denied entry by customs officials who labeled him a Chinese subject (24:10).

• Supreme Court Decision: Wong’s lawsuit ascended to the U.S. Supreme Court, resulting in the landmark 1898 decision U.S. v. Wong Kim Ark. The Court ruled that Wong was a U.S. citizen by birthright, affirming that "all persons born in the United States" are citizens, a principle that has endured. Richardson remarks, “That decision has stood ever since, as a majority of Americans have recognized the principle behind the citizenship clause” (28:35), reinforcing the enduring nature of birthright citizenship.

5. Ronald Reagan’s Vision of Inclusive American Citizenship

Concluding the episode, Heather Cox Richardson reflects on Ronald Reagan’s last speech, underscoring the enduring American ethos of inclusivity and opportunity.

• Reagan’s Speech on Citizenship: On his final day in office, Reagan contrasted America’s openness with other nations’ restrictive citizenship practices. He proclaimed, “Anyone from any corner of the earth can come to live in America and become an American” (32:50), highlighting the nation's strength derived from its diverse population.

• Importance of New Americans: Richardson echoes Reagan’s sentiments, stressing that "By doing so we continuously renew and enrich our nation. We're a nation forever young, forever bursting with energy and new ideas," (34:15) emphasizing that the U.S.'s leadership on the global stage is intrinsically linked to its policy of welcoming immigrants.

Conclusion

Heather Cox Richardson's April 26, 2025 episode of "Letters from an American" meticulously examines the tensions surrounding U.S. immigration policies, particularly focusing on the repercussions of reversing established birthright citizenship. By intertwining current events with historical analysis, Richardson eloquently argues for the preservation of inclusive citizenship as a cornerstone of American identity and global leadership. The episode serves as a compelling narrative on the ongoing struggle between restrictive immigration practices and the foundational American values of equality and opportunity for all.

Attributions:

• Heather Cox Richardson provides a narrative framework throughout the episode, interweaving journalistic reports from sources like Rolling Stone and The Washington Post to substantiate claims about ICE's actions.
• Historical references are drawn from congressional records and past Supreme Court cases to contextualize current policies.
• Records of presidential speeches, notably Ronald Reagan’s, are cited to illustrate the enduring American belief in inclusive citizenship.

Production Credits:

• Written and Read By: Heather Cox Richardson
• Produced By: Soundscape Productions, Dedham, MA
• Music Composed By: Michael Moss