Podcast Summary: What A Day – "Why Some Migrants Say They'll Self-Deport"

Podcast Information:

• Title: What A Day
• Host: Crooked Media (Hosted by Josie Duffy Rice in place of Jane Coaston)
• Description: Aiming to provide listeners with in-depth reporting and substantive analysis on the pressing issues each morning, steering clear of hype and groupthink. New episodes are released every weekday at 5:00 a.m. EST on podcast apps and YouTube.
• Episode Title: Why Some Migrants Say They'll Self-Deport
• Release Date: April 28, 2025

1. Introduction

In this episode of What A Day, Josie Duffy Rice delves into the escalating immigration crackdown under the Trump administration, focusing on the controversial phenomenon of self-deportation among migrants. The discussion is enriched with recent events, expert insights, and personal stories that illustrate the human impact of stringent immigration policies.

2. Trump's Assault on Immigrants

A. Arrest of Judge Hannah Dugan

The episode opens with distressing news about the Trump administration's growing antagonism towards the judiciary. On Friday, FBI agents arrested Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Hannah Dugan for allegedly misleading federal agents during an immigration enforcement operation. The FBI claimed that Judge Dugan instructed an undocumented immigrant to exit through a side door, allowing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to apprehend her in the main hallway. This incident underscores the administration's aggressive stance against judicial impartiality.

B. Mass Arrests by ICE in Florida

Following Judge Dugan's arrest, ICE officials announced the detention of nearly 800 individuals in Florida within four days. ICE touted this as a landmark partnership with state and local law enforcement aimed at enhancing national security. However, critics argue that such mass arrests prioritize deportations over addressing substantive criminal activities.

C. Deportation of U.S. Citizens, Including Children

One of the most shocking revelations discussed is the deportation of three U.S. citizen children aged 2, 4, and 7 on Friday, alongside their undocumented mothers. The Washington Post reported that one of the children suffering from stage four cancer was deported without access to necessary medical treatments or the ability to consult their doctors. When questioned on Meet the Press, Secretary of State Marco Rubio [02:02] responded:

Marco Rubio: "If those children are U.S. Citizens, they can come back into the United States if there's their father or someone here who wants to assume them. But ultimately, who was deported was their mother... That's misleading."

Rubio's defense was met with skepticism, especially as one of the children's fathers contended that ICE agents had limited communication with the mother during her custody, exacerbating fears about the administration's disregard for due process.

D. Constitutional Violations and Administrative Strategy

Josie Duffy Rice emphasizes that deporting citizens without due process is a severe constitutional breach. The administration's relentless deportation campaigns are portrayed as intentional measures to instill fear within immigrant communities, signaling that both undocumented individuals and their relatives could be targets. Television and social media advertisements are being used to coerce voluntary departures, a tactic reminiscent of Republican strategies dating back to at least Mitt Romney's 2012 presidential campaign.

3. Self-Deportation as a Response

A. Historical Context and Emergence

The concept of self-deportation, where migrants choose to leave the U.S. voluntarily to avoid forcible removal, is not new in Republican rhetoric. However, under Trump's administration, these policies have gained unprecedented traction, leading to actual instances of self-deportation.

B. Insights from Expert Rebecca Plevin

Rebecca Plevin, who covers equity for the Los Angeles Times, provides an in-depth analysis of why some migrants are opting to leave the country. She attributes the phenomenon primarily to fear instilled by aggressive immigration enforcement. Plevin conducted interviews with individuals contemplating self-deportation, revealing personal motivations and experiences.

C. Personal Stories: Celeste and Elena

• Celeste's Story: Celeste, a 19-year-old from Peru who overstayed her tourist visa, has been working in low-wage jobs despite her background in graphic design. She has consistently paid taxes, hoping for immigration reform. However, witnessing deportation flights and fearing a forcible removal has led her to plan returning to Peru by the end of the year. [05:36]

  Rebecca Plevin: "She's really fearful that she would be deported in the same way... she's made the decision that she's going to keep working for a couple months, save some money, and then return to Peru by the end of the year." [05:36]

• Elena's Story: Elena, a grandmother from Mexico with U.S. citizen grandchildren, feels unsafe after witnessing ICE operations and receiving warnings at her local store. Despite owning land in Chiapas, she is devastated at the thought of leaving her U.S.-born grandchildren behind. [07:34]

  Rebecca Plevin: "She really wants to see her grandchildren again... even if it takes 10 years, she'd rather leave now, get her affairs in order and then be able to come back legally." [12:47]

D. Impact of California's Policies

Despite California's reputation for protecting undocumented immigrants and providing access to social services, the state's efforts are insufficient to counteract federal immigration enforcement. Plevin cites a UC Davis professor who explains that the administration's policies are designed to create widespread fear, overriding state-level protections.

E. Immigrant Rights Advocates' Responses

Advocates are caught between empowering communities and acknowledging that some individuals may choose self-deportation for their safety. They emphasize supporting legal rights and providing community backing without discouraging migrants from leaving if they feel unsafe.

4. Other News Covered in the Episode

A. Pope Francis' Passing

Pope Francis was laid to rest in Rome after his passing last week. A public funeral service at St. Peter's Basilica saw over a quarter million attendees. His burial at St. Mary Major's Basilica marks the first time a pope has been interred outside the Vatican in centuries. Cardinal Giovanni Battista Rey delivered a eulogy highlighting Francis as a champion for the marginalized.

B. Trump’s Shift on the Russia-Ukraine Conflict

In a notable development, President Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Following the meeting, Trump criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin, suggesting that Putin might not desire to cease aggression against Ukraine and may need to be dealt with differently. Trump further elaborated [17:33]:

Trump: "Yeah, dude, I've been trying to tell you, man."

Secretary of State Marco Rubio [18:56] provided a cautious response:

Marco Rubio: "We have multiple options... but we don't want to get to that point. The president... wants a peace deal."

However, escalating Russian drone attacks have complicated the situation, with Ukrainian officials reporting increased casualties.

C. Reversal of Visa Registrations for International Students

In a surprising turn, the White House reinstated visa registrations for over 4,000 international students whose statuses had been terminated under previous policies. Despite this reversal, the Justice Department indicated that new policies might allow future purges of these records, leaving students in a precarious state.

D. Trump’s Historical Disapproval Ratings

As Trump marks 100 days back in office, his approval ratings are at historic lows. Polls from CNN SSRS, ABC News Washington Post Ipsos, and the New York Times Siena College survey show approval ratings ranging between 39% and 42%, with significant majorities disapproving of his handling of the economy, foreign relations, and immigration. Notably, Generation Z exhibits a high disapproval rate, with an NBC News poll revealing a 2-to-1 ratio against Trump among this demographic.

5. Conclusion

The episode of What A Day provides a comprehensive examination of the Trump administration's aggressive immigration policies and their profound effects on both undocumented migrants and U.S. citizens. Through expert analysis, personal narratives, and up-to-date news coverage, listeners gain a nuanced understanding of the complexities surrounding self-deportation and the broader implications for American society. The episode underscores the human cost of policy-driven fear and the urgent need for balanced immigration reform.

Notable Quotes:

• Marco Rubio [02:02]: "If those children are U.S. Citizens, they can come back into the United States if there's their father or someone here who wants to assume them... That's misleading."

• Rebecca Plevin [05:36]: "She's really fearful that she would be deported in the same way... she's made the decision that she's going to keep working for a couple months, save some money, and then return to Peru by the end of the year."

• Rebecca Plevin [12:47]: "She really wants to see her grandchildren again... even if it takes 10 years, she'd rather leave now, get her affairs in order and then be able to come back legally."

• Marco Rubio [18:56]: "We have multiple options... but we don't want to get to that point. The president... wants a peace deal."

Additional Resources: For more detailed reporting by Rebecca Plevin, listeners can refer to the show notes linked in the podcast episode.

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