Ian Philabaum is the Director of Legal Organizing for Innovation Law Lab and has spent nearly the past decade in assisting immigrants through his work at ILL. He has been at the forefront in the push against the proliferation of ICE detention throughout our country. He has assisted children and families in detention. He has worked to fight against the human rights violations that occur in immigration detention including inhumane medical treatment, labor exploitation and physical and psychological abuse.

Behind the ingenuity and leadership of Stephen Manning, Innovation Law Lab was founded to harness the power of technology, law, and activism all in a single organization to end the mass incarceration of children and mothers with limited due process, if any, and in inhumane conditions. Innovation Law Lab leverages the work of coders, lawyers, and activists in order to end isolation and exploitation of immigrants and refugees, build permanent pathways to immigrant inclusion, and advance justice.

Since its founding, Innovation Law Lab’s work has advanced the cause of justice. Based in Portland, Oregon, Law Lab has team members in Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Texas, Washington, and Mexico. Ian joins me to discuss his pathway to immigration advocacy, stories from the frontlines and the critical work of ILL and their partner organizations. 

Representing immigrants in their deportation proceedings can be a challenge, but it can be even more formidable when your client is Mahmoud Khalil. Mr. Khalil, a lawful permanent resident of the U.S., was arrested by the Trump administration after being a prominent member of the Israel/Gaza war protests at Columbia University.  He was detained in Louisiana for three months before a federal judge ruled that he must be released to his wife and newborn baby son. Two of the key members of his legal team, Marc Van Der Hout & Johnny Sinodis, join me to discuss his case (note: the interview was recorded prior to last week's decision ordering Mr. Khalil deported to Algeria or Syria). They also talk about their own backgrounds and why they have dedicated their professional careers to helping immigrants.

Mr. Van Der Hout, one of the most recognized attorneys in the field, has made a career of fighting for the most marginalized in our society. He is the former national president of the National Lawyers Guild and his high-impact litigation has made an indelible mark on precedent case law. He is based in San Francisco as the founding member of Van Der Hout, LLP.

Mr. Sinodis is a partner at Van Der Hout LLP. He has built a reputation as an incredible advocate for human rights as an expert in removal defense, appeals, the immigration consequences of criminal convictions, and federal court litigation. Prior to joining Van Der Hout, he practiced at Salvatierra Law Group in Phoenix, Arizona, where he handled criminal and immigration cases, and regularly represented individuals who were subjected to racially discriminatory policing practices in Maricopa County, Arizona.

Running brings great health benefits for many, but for Dr. Michael Lokale it brought him opportunity and a chance at the American dream. Dr. Lokale was born and raised in a remote tribal village, Kitale, Kenya to corn farmers. He witnessed many people die of preventable diseases. The lack of medical care motivated him to become a doctor and his intention was to go back to Kenya and help improve the healthcare in his native land, but, like the Boston Marathon, life has many twists and turns.

Dr. Lokale knew that he could get a top-notch education in the United States, but getting a scholarship would be a necessity to reach the finish line. His cousin, Paul Ereng, surprised the world in the 1988 Olympics in Seoul when he came out of nowhere to win the gold medal in the 800 meter race. Paul knew how important it was to use your best skills to get your foot in the door as he ran for the University of Virginia and received his bachelors degree. Paul told Dr. Lokale how to apply for an athletic scholarship. He applied and was awarded a four-year scholarship to Virginia Military Institute.

Warning: This is only the halfway mark of this marathon of a story.

In 2003, with his combination of athletic and academic excellence, Dr. Lokale received the prestigious Rhodes scholarship. At the time, he was only the 10th VMI graduate to ever receive this award. To put it into perspective, the previous VMI awardee was in 1967. His next stop: Oxford University in England where he got to mingle with the Queen of England and Nelson Mandela. Most importantly, he met his future wife Kathy who was also studying there.

Dr. Lokale returned to the U.S. after Oxford to attend the University of Virginia School of Medicine. He now resides in Oro Valley, Arizona where he keeps people healthier and happier. On a regular basis, Dr. Lokale returns to Kenya to volunteer at a clinic in the town where he grew up. His career finish line is still far away, but he has already won a gold medal in lifetime accomplishments!

Kavan Hazeli is an associate professor of aerospace and mechanical engineering at the University of Arizona, with a joint appointment in the Biomedical Engineering Department and the College of Optical Sciences. An immigrant from Iran, Hazeli received the 2020 National Science Foundation (NSF) CAREER Award in 2020. 

He joins me to talk about his immigrant story and path to running his own research group. He also discusses the impact of government funding cuts, unfair targeting of foreign students and how it has and will impact critical research. Professor Hazeli's research group is active in designing, characterizing, and optimizing multi-functional materials built by additive manufacturing techniques, focusing on materials performance and failure mechanisms under fatigue, impact, and thermomechanical loading. 

Hazeli's research group is developing camera-based technology that integrates advanced 3D imaging, AI, and cloud connectivity to assess human movement and biomechanics. This technology quantifies motion and posture metrics allowing the team to investigate joint functionality, range of motion, and overall posture, delivering actionable performance data for orthopedic specialists, sports medicine, and physical therapy professionals. Additionally, by continuously learning from gait and posture patterns, their work aims to predict fall risk in elderly populations, supporting early intervention and personalized care.

At a time where immigration steals the headlines almost every day, Professor Leah Ndimurwimo focuses her research on migration and refugee studies. She is a recognized expert on international human rights and, in particular, South African and international law. Professor Ndimurwimo works at Nelson Mandela University, but is currently a Fulbright research scholar at the University of Arizona. 

She is an author and co-author of peer-reviewed publications on violations of human rights in Africa. Leah joins me to talk about her research, her background and the current state of migration in our world.

Parastoo Zahedi knows what it is like to immigrate to the United States. Her own experiences in coming here from Iran has been a key reason why she became an immigration attorney: she wanted to help other attain the American dream and she has done so in many different ways. Since graduating from Georgetown Law School in 1988, Parastoo has become a recognized expert in immigration law and her law practice represents clients in a wide spectrum of matters including: Adjustment of status (green card processing) and naturalization, asylum and refugee status, detention and bond, cancellation of removal, waivers of inadmissibility, immigration consequences of criminal convictions, Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) petitions, and federal court litigation. She has also handled business immigration matters in the context of obtaining both nonimmigrant visas(L1A/L1B, H1B/H3, H2B,  O, P, E) as well as immigrant petitions for all employment categories including the Extraordinary Ability category.

Parastoo has served as a leader in the American Immigration Lawyers Association community in different capacities and has been awarded for her pro bono work. She has also published numerous articles on a variety of immigration issues and spoken on them as well.

In this episode, Parastoo discusses her path to the U.S. and her journey into immigration law and how she manages this practice in the environment we live in today.

Anatoly "Tola" Molotkov is a writer, composer, filmmaker and visual artist, and a co-founder of the Inflectionist poetry movement. He was born in St. Petersburg, Russia and immigrated to the U.S. in 1990 while writing predominantly in Russian at that time. He gradually learned to read and write in English while reading books like J.D. Salinger's "The Catcher in the Rye." A few years after arriving in the U.S., Tola transitioned to writing completely in English and he is now the author of several novels, short story and poetry collections. He is the winner of the 2008 E. M. Koeppel Short Fiction Award for his story "Round Trip", which was nominated for a Pushcart. In this episode of Immigration Ain't Easy, we discuss Tola's journey to the U.S., the process by which he immigrated and his path to becoming a published writer.

Tola's other fiction and poetry has appeared in over twenty publications, both in print and online. His most recent novel, A Bag Full of Stones, is a literary crime story that examines the targeting of immigrants via right-wing violence in 2019 America. The book will be published on May 29, 2025, and can be ordered here: https://www.amazon.com/Bag-Full-Stones-Molotkov-ebook/dp/B0DQSLPF78

Babak Akhlaghi has waited well over a decade to finally see his brother, Kaveh, arrive in the United States. The wait has been excruciating, unnecessary and a prime example of how the U.S. immigration system fails the best and brightest. Kaveh Akhlaghi is a renowned architect based in Iran who has seen his ability to get a work visa inexplicably delayed year-after-year and resulted in repeated federal litigation. Babak, who works in Washington DC as a patent attorney, has not lost hope that Kaveh will someday receive his O-1 extraordinary ability visa. 

Assisting Kaveh throughout this frustrating process is Amy Maldonado, a nationally recognized immigration attorney. Along with providing details about Kaveh's case, Amy speaks to me about her own career and how she inadvertently became one of the top sports immigration attorneys in our field representing numerous major league baseball franchises and their players. While Kaveh's case still remains incomplete, and the current administration makes the future even more murky, both Amy and Babak hold out hope that he will someday arrive on these shores.

Rodrigo López grew up in Mexico during an era when Fernandomania spread across the country. López was one of a generation of Mexican children who emulated the late Fernando Valenzuela, an all-time great pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Inspired by Valenzuela's success and fame, Rodrigo became a pitcher and eventually made his way to the United States where he worked hard to make the major leagues in 2000. He went on to pitch in the majors for six different teams over 12 years. In his rookie season, he was the runner-up for the American League Rookie of the Year.

After retiring from baseball, Rodrigo was hired as the color commentator for the Arizona Diamondbacks' Spanish language radio broadcasts. He has held that position for a over ten seasons. He joins me in this episode to talk about his inspiration, Fernando Valenzuela, who also became a known color commentator for the Dodgers. He also speaks about his journey to the United States and some of the challenges his family faced coming to watch him pitch.

Originally hailing from Senegal, Aly Wane came to the United States with a diplomatic visa at the tender age of 9-years-old. His mother hoped that the United States would provide him with an excellent education and future opportunities. Eventually on a student visa, Aly received two educations: 

1) An education through academia and 

2) An education on how difficult, rigid and cruel the U.S. immigration system is. 

After following all the rules, he found himself in a terrible predicament after his mother tragically died overseas: without lawful status and trapped in a country that he considered his "home". He could not even go abroad to pay his respects to his mother. Had he left, he would likely never be able to return to the U.S. He chose to remain in the U.S., his adopted homeland.

While many would remain disillusioned by this situation and go underground, Aly regrouped and found a new purpose. Living in Syracuse, New York, he came out publicly in 2012 as undocumented and became a community and human rights organizer. Aly has focused his advocacy on antiwar, economic justice, racial and immigrant justice.  He has become an active voice for peace and humanity. His organizing has been connected with numerous organizations including the American Friends Service Committee, the Workers' Center of Central NY, Syracuse Peace Council, the Black Immigration Network, the UndocuBlack Network and the Black Alliance for Just Immigration. He has also served on the Board of the Alliance of Communities Transforming Syracuse, a politically progressive interfaith organization.  

While Aly has been placed in a difficult position, he has always been about helping others and the community. We should all strive to be like Aly.

David Asser is a jack of all trades. A man of many talents and skills. He has been a comedian, an actor, a television and film producer/director/writer, an attorney, and even the Press Secretary and Spokesperson of the Justice Department of The Netherlands in The Hague and as an International Policy Advisor for the Dutch Immigration and Naturalization Service. What David has more than all else is a huge heart and a desire to help immigrants find what he once did: The American dream. 

David was born in Amsterdam and lived in the Netherlands until 1986 when he moved to the United States for a few years before returning to his homeland to pursue a career in theatre, film and television. He succeeded in those industries for several years before shifting to a markedly different field: working for the Dutch government where he was involved in numerous high-profile cases and evolving immigration issues in Europe.

In 1999, David immigrated to the US permanently and has since been working in the immigration law field where he has a diverse background that covers a wide spectrum of legal issues including deportation matters, litigation in federal court, asylum, business immigration, temporary visas, family based immigration and international mobility.

David has received numerous honors for his pro bono work. He is a well-respected mentor to many peers. His son, Ben, has followed him into the law and says the following about his father: "Growing up around my father, I always marveled at his compassion, understanding, and tenacity when assisting his immigration clients. To his clients, he was not just a lawyer, he was a pillar of strength – a reminder that even if it seemed that hope was lost, he would do everything he could to provide a light at the end of the tunnel. While I will be focusing my practice on transactional law, I will aim to be more than a lawyer, but a pillar of strength for my clients."

Akash Desai immigrated to the United States, but that process was not overly difficult in comparison to his struggles to retain high-skilled foreign workers in this country. Akash is the Co-CEO of CyFlare, a fast-growing cybersecurity solutions company based in West Seneca, New York. In this episode, Akash speaks about the trials and tribulations of being an executive in the high tech industry and the difficulties in trying to get work visas, like the elusive H-1B, for international talent. The insight provided by Akash illustrates how many companies are forced to decide between taking a much costlier and uncertain route of trying to keep foreign nationals legally in the U.S. versus having them work remotely from abroad. The modern U.S. immigration system often provides more of an incentive for companies to have their employees work offshore. 

Akash is joined by Danielle "Dani" Rizzo, a highly recognized immigration lawyer who discusses her own journey in the immigration law field. She also provides  details about how difficult it is for U.S.-based businesses to get the proper work visas for much needed foreign workers and the absurdities of the process to keep them legally in the U.S.  

This episode serves as just another cry for better legal pathways for both U.S. employers and foreign employees.

Professor Ilya Somin from George Mason University emigrated as a refugee from the former Soviet Union to the United States with his parents in 1979. The family was assisted in this move by the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society and were resettled in Westport, Connecticut. The Somin family eventually settled in Lexington, Massachusetts. After some difficulty with assimilation to the United States, Professor Somin found an appreciation for debate and eventually attended Amherst College, Harvard University (M.A. in political science) and Yale University (law).

Professor Somin is now one of the preeminent scholars in constitutional law. He also focuses his research on property law, democratic theory, federalism, and migration rights.  Professor Somin is published in numerous scholarly journals, consistently interviewed by major media and his writings have been widely cited to by numerous courts including the U.S. Supreme Court. 

He is the author of Free to Move: Foot Voting, Migration, and Political Freedom (Oxford University Press,  revised and expanded edition, 2022), Democracy and Political Ignorance: Why Smaller Government is Smarter (Stanford University Press, revised and expanded second edition, 2016), and The Grasping Hand: “Kelo v. City of New London” and the Limits of Eminent Domain (University of Chicago Press, 2015, rev. paperback ed., 2016). Professor Somin is the B. Kenneth Simon Chair in Constitutional Studies at the Cato Institute.

In this episode he discusses his childhood as a new immigrant and the opportunities provided to him and his family in their new country. He talks about journey from not being able to speak or read English to becoming one of the top constitutional law experts in the country. The discussion also delves into some of the constitutional crises the U.S. currently faces.

Sahra Hirsi was exiled from her native Somalia in the early 1990's. She lived in a refugee camp in Kenya for around 15 years before finally resettling in the United States. She arrived in Tucson, Arizona with a new lease on life and was provided support from wonderful advocates such as Barbara Eiswerth and the Ishkashitaa Refugee Network. 

Sahra took full advantage of her opportunity and she attended the University of Arizona and went on to open several businesses that have created a multitude of jobs. She also has made an emphasis of her ventures to provide jobs and support to new refugees arriving in the Tucson community. In 2014, Sahra was awarded the title "Woman of the Year" by the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. 

In this podcast interview she speaks about her life before arriving on our soil and how difficult it was to be a displaced refugee. As humble as they come, she speaks to her success as an entrepreneur and community advocate. Sahra is a shining example of why refugees, amongst other immigrants, are so important to our economy.

Safwat Saleem joins me in this episode to talk about his journey from Pakistan to the United States and how immigrant themes are prevalent in his artwork. Safwat  is a multidisciplinary artist with a key focus on cultural loss resulting from assimilation. As described on his website, "Safwat’s body of work weaves together themes of preservation, desire to belong, resistance and  joy as an immigrant father raising a multiracial child in the American Southwest."

Safwat, now a Pakistani-American, talks about his arrival in the U.S. as an F-1 student visa holder attending college in Mississippi and the cultural differences that came with living there as a practicing Muslim. He speaks of his motivations to become an artist and how he uses satire as a tool to challenge perceptions. Safwat art is multidimensional as he uses graphic design, illustration and writing to film and sound. 

Safwat believes in using his art for social impact and has collaborated with non-profit and change-making organizations like Fine Acts, 18 Million Rising, RUN AAPI, SAADA and TED. 

Safwat is a pizza connoisseur and that makes him a-OK in my book!  

Ira Kurzban's last name has become synonymous with the field of immigration law. He published the first edition of the Kurzban's Immigration Law Sourcebook in 1990 and it quickly became one of the most respected treatises on U.S. immigration law. Nineteen editions later, the book is universally used by private immigration lawyers, government lawyers, judges, policy makers and countless immigration advocates as one of the primary sources of U.S. immigration law and policy.

Mr. Kurzban is much more than just a book, however, and in this podcast we discuss the incredible civil rights litigation he has engaged in. Most notably, his work on behalf of Haitian citizens. He has received countless awards and recognition for his work on behalf of immigrants and the legal community. 

Mr. Kurzban is also one of the founders of Immigrants’ List, the first pro-immigrant bipartisan political action committee in the United States.

THIS IS PART 2 OF A 2-PART AFTER SCHOOL SPECIAL EPISODE

In this final part of our discussion, we delve more into the loving bond between Alejandra and Jesus and how her deportation case made it even stronger. 

Life is complicated. One thing that we know is nobody's perfect (besides Donald Trump). Alejandra Pablos learned the hard way after being detained for two years at the Eloy Detention Center and she's hoping for a second chance. 

While Ale was born on side of the border and her brother, Jesus Magaña was born on the other side. Jesus, a U.S. citizen. Ale, who lived in the U.S. for nearly her entire life, finally realized she was not a U.S. citizen in her teens. She eventually became a permanent resident but after a difficult time that resulted in convictions for DUI and drug possession, Ale found herself in deportation proceedings in 2011. Ale has become an important voice in immigrant and women's reproductive health rights. Jesus, a veteran of the Air Force, is now a licensed social worker who helps immigrants by evaluating their mental health. While Jesus and Ale have many differences and their pasts are remarkably distinct, they have one strong commonality: Saving Ale from deportation. The two talk with me about their childhoods, the bond that has strengthened as they've grown and their fight to keep Ale in the United States. 

Dr. Goldman's notes: Only Jesus cried...

Life is complicated. One thing that we know is nobody's perfect (besides Donald Trump). Alejandra Pablos learned the hard way after being detained for two years at the Eloy Detention Center and she's hoping for a second chance. 

While Ale was born on side of the border and her brother, Jesus Magaña was born on the other side. Jesus, a U.S. citizen. Ale, who lived in the U.S. for nearly her entire life, finally realized she was not a U.S. citizen in her teens. She eventually became a permanent resident but after a difficult time that resulted in convictions for DUI and drug possession, Ale found herself in deportation proceedings in 2011. Ale has become an important voice in immigrant and women's reproductive health rights. Jesus, a veteran of the Air Force, is now a licensed social worker who helps immigrants by evaluating their mental health. While Jesus and Ale have many differences and their pasts are remarkably distinct, they have one strong commonality: Saving Ale from deportation. The two talk with me about their childhoods, the bond that has strengthened as they've grown and their fight to keep Ale in the United States. 

Dr. Goldman's notes: Only Jesus cried...

THIS IS PART 1 OF A 2-PART AFTER SCHOOL SPECIAL EPISODE

Mark Shmueli lets his compassion propel his desire to help other humans. He has been in the trenches assisting immigrants for over twenty years and been outspoken regarding xenophobic policies that directly hurt the U.S. immigrant population and others trying to reach our shores. Mark has been the representative of the Maryland State Bar Association on the Governor’s Commission to Study the Impact of Immigrants in Maryland Mark co-authored its 2012 final report. In this interview, he speaks about the influences that helped shape his career in immigration law, including his own family's immigrant past. Mark also speaks about his leadership to push for more progressive immigration policies and reforms and his fight against restrictionist policies such as the Muslim travel ban. Mark summarizes his desire to help others: 

"My dedication to justice, human rights and family unity shape my work. I am extremely fortunate to meet so many extraordinary people and to help them to achieve their dreams of living in the US. 

At my core I do not believe that borders should separate families, keep people from safety or prevent people from working where they want and employers from hiring the workers they want or need. That is what drives me to fight for my clients."

Anyone who wants the facts on immigration controls, policing and border enforcement must follow/subscribe to Dr. Austin Kocher on social media and through his writings on Substack. He is a must follow! His research and data has been widely cited to and noted in both academic and media publications. Dr. Kocher is a geographer and Assistant Research Professor in the Office of Research and Creative Activity in the S.I. Newhouse of Public Communication at Syracuse University (GO ORANGE!!!). He was previously at the Civic Research Data Lab (CRDL) and the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC), a research lab at Syracuse University that uses Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests to study the U.S. immigration enforcement apparatus. In this interview we discuss Dr. Kocher's unconventional path to becoming a well-known expert on immigration enforcement. 

He may have recently retired but you haven't heard the last of Douglas "Doug" Rivlin when it comes to progressive U.S. immigration policies and advocacy. For over thirty years, Doug has been an important voice for the immigrant community. After getting his start in the immigrant rights domain, along with Frank Sharry, as the Director of Communications for the National Immigration Forum, he became the Deputy Chief of Staff for Rep. Luis V. Gutierrez (D-IL). Doug has worked tirelessly for immigration reforms that would keep immigrant families together, create more legal opportunities for foreign nationals to immigrate and bring more compassion to our often cruel and unforgiving system. After his work for Rep. Gutierrez, he became the Senior Director of Communication for America’s Voice and America’s Voice Education Fund. In this interview Doug talks about his professional journey and how, although he recently retired, he remains an important voice for the voiceless. You can follow Doug on Bluesky.

Colorado state representative Naquetta Ricks' immigrant story has been a primary influence in her decision to enter the political arena. Rep. Ricks is the first African immigrant to be elected to the Colorado General Assembly, and the first Liberian American to be elected to any state legislature. At 13 years old she was forced to flee civil war in Liberia, and her family settled in Aurora, Colorado. Thanks to the 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA), which included the amnesty program, Rep. Ricks received legal status. 

She is the owner and operator of a successful small mortgage brokerage business and is the founder and President of the African Chamber of Commerce, Colorado USA. As a leading Black woman in business and politics, she works tirelessly to improve her community by helping build economic opportunities, and by championing the rights of immigrants and refugees.

Myles Traphagen is the ultimate champion for migrant rights: for insects, animals and humans. He is a recognized advocate for the conservation and protection of our ecology in the face of human-created devastation. Myles is consistently cited to and quoted by numerous media organizations when it comes to the negative impact of the border wall on the natural environment on the U.S./Mexico border. As the Borderlands Program Coordinator for the Wildlands Network, Myles is the foremost expert on the borderlands region with a focus on channeling collaborative efforts to maintain and restore habitat for species like jaguar, black bear and Sonoran pronghorn. His critical research has documented dramatic reductions in wildlife crossings through border walls compared to vehicle barriers and highlights the urgent need for mitigation strategies to preserve biodiversity and restore wildlife connectivity in the region. He is an important voice against the border wall and other human-made barriers.

Myles also serves as an important advocate for the rights of migrants who travel through the Southwest border and speaks about his experiences in assisting them. His perspective is extremely important and he embodies the MLK, Jr. quote: "let's build bridges, not walls." Please join me and listen to Myles' story and his unique experiences working on the border for the common good. 

Ehadj (El) Ndoye embodies the phrase "giving back". He immigrated from Senegal as a student and found a permanent home and community in Tucson, Arizona. However, El never forgot his roots and in 2010 he founded "The Forgotten Children", a non-profit geared towards helping the street children (talibè) in Senegal by achieving goals of self-sufficiency. What began as a means of providing clothes and other necessities to the orphaned, impoverished and homeless children in M'bour Senegal, West Africa, became a larger mission. Behind El's leadership, they established a boarding school that would provide safe housing, nourishment and education for these children in dire need. El published his memoir, Dream On, Seydou: A Memoir Of A Senegalese Immigrant, where you can learn about his life story, the motivation behind his non-profit organization and how they took a desolate plot of land and turned it into a place of education and safety for some of the most vulnerable in our world. His story serves as an inspiration for all and he has now helped many Senegalese orphans get an education and a chance at opportunity and success.

The 1st Annual Immigration Condemnation Awards. In this episode I review some of the most ridiculous stories about our government in 2024 from immigration lawyers. At the conclusion, I name a winner of the most absurd story. Let's air our grievances on this December 23rd and never forget that Festivus is for the rest of us!!

Andrew Fels and Natalie Cadwalader-Schultheis are human rights attorneys who bring a voice to the voiceless. Through litigation and research they are exposing the U.S. government's violations of international law and unlawful use of inhumane policies that force migrants into situations where they disappear and/or die. 

Natalie and Andrew join me to discuss how this occurs under the current enforcement construct and how the U.S. Border Patrol and ICE are complicit in these acts. In one study conducted by Natalie and Diego F. Leal they collected and analyzed data from 117 respondents and found that 73 percent who were in BP custody experienced an enforced disappearance as they were unable to make phone calls and were offered no reliable publicly accessible locator system to be located by. Both lawyers are exposing these human rights violations and, in turn, hope to push for more transparency by the U.S. government. Their efforts could save lives and prevent these agencies from functioning as a secret police.

Imagine being separated from family in your native country for 30 years. No ability to visit them and return to the U.S. Samantha “Sam” Ramirez-Herrera lived this and finally got the opportunity to visit her native land and family thanks to a special travel permit called "advance parole". As a filmmaker, the DACA recipient and immigration rights advocate documented the trip to Mexico in a beautiful film called "El Regreso". The film is described: "Against the vibrant visual backdrop of Mexico's Day Of The Dead, "El Regreso" explores rebirth through the lens of one dreamer's awakening."

In our interview, Sam provides a candid look into her evolution from being an undocumented  child to having DACA and becoming a filmmaker/entrepreneur who has created over a hundred jobs in the process. Sam will not be deterred by the haters in our society and provides a refreshing perspective on life as an immigrant with no current path to citizenship.

At a time where disinformation runs rampant throughout the United States, David Bier is a source of the truth when it comes to the immigration system. He provides a wealth of data through his research and his publications have been widely cited to. David is the director of immigration studies at the Cato Institute and has testified before House and Senate committees. If you think U.S. immigration in the 21st century is "easy", David will prove you wrong. Before you listen to this episode, here's a multiple choice question for you (answer is in our discussion):

How long did David estimate it can take an Indian immigrant with an advanced degree to get a green card (EB-2) through the modern-day legal employment-based system?

a) between 15-20 years
b) between 30-40 years 
c) 50+ years
d) 150+ years

Part 2 of 2 of my interview with Carlos Pérez David. 

Carlos created one of the world's most iconic logos: the Apple logo. As an immigrant from Mexico, Carlos has also become a recognized Chicano artist who has been influenced by artists of the Mexican, Chicano and Indigenous art movements. He is a community activist and this is represented through his artistic process. Carlos has some incredible tales of working with Rob Janoff and his design team, while collaborating with Steve Jobs. You'll also learn about his immigration story, how he honed his creative skills and his championing of human rights. Carlos will lighten your day! 

You may not know Carlos Pérez David, but you definitely have seen the fruits of his labor. In 1977, while working for marketing firm Regis McKenna, Carlos created one of the world's most iconic logos: the Apple logo. As an immigrant from Mexico, Carlos has also become a recognized Chicano artist who has been influenced by artists of the Mexican, Chicano and Indigenous art movements. He is a community activist and this is represented through his artistic process. Carlos has some incredible tales of working with Rob Janoff and his design team, while collaborating with Steve Jobs. You'll also learn about his immigration story, how he honed his creative skills and his championing of human rights. Carlos will lighten your day! This episode is part 1 of 2.

Sidney "Sevek" Finkel refused to die in the Holocaust and he refuses to let his story of survival and the terrors of the genocide disappear. He authored a memoir "The Boy Who Refused to Die" and has told his story to thousands, including over 300 different schools. His daughter, Ruth Finkel Wade, has also made certain that his story is never forgotten. She published a book, "The Ones Who Remember: Second-Generation Voices of the Holocaust", which provides an intimate look at the impact the Holocaust had on his personal life and their relationship.

In this episode, 93-year-old Sidney recalls his heartbreaking immigration journey from liberation to being one of the orphaned Windermere Children, who were taken to England to be re-integrated into society after surviving the Holocaust. He also discusses his newfound life in the United States. Both Sidney and Ruth provide a fascinating conversation about their lives and how we should never forget the horrors of the Holocaust and never let it happen again. 

Zayed (aka "theZlawyer") learned about the complexities in our immigration system as a child when he helped his father attempt to naturalize and become a U.S. citizen. As an adult, that dream was finally realized by his father with Zayed as his lawyer. Zayed is now a lawyer based in Phoenix and part of his law practice focuses on immigration matters. As a Palestinian, he provides a personal perspective on the ongoing Israel-Hamas war and the emotional and human toll it has taken on himself and his family. Zayed has lost innocent family members who were killed in the conflict. Zayed maintains a semblance of sanity through all this by his sense of humor and fun personality which is exemplified by his numerous TikToks that educate the public on legal issues (he has over 300,000 followers). 

Francisco Romero has been a significant part of the generational change we have seen in Spanish radio sports broadcasting.  Growing up in Nogales, Sonora, Mexico, and speaking very little English, he never envisioned that his life's journey would take him from our neighboring country to now calling play-by-play for the Houston Astros. His ascent in the sports media industry has been deliberate as he has worked for six Major League Baseball teams and has broadcasted for other sports franchises. Romero and his broadcast partner, Alex Treviño, are one of the longest tenured broadcast duos in Major League Baseball. Along the way he befriended a personal hero, the late Fernando Valenzuela.

Come listen along to Francisco's story!

Ana Valenzuela wanted to solve a big problem. She completed high school and struggled to afford higher education due to her undocumented status. Attending Pima Community College in Tucson, Arizona she realized that this issue impacted dozens of other students. With limited resources available and undaunted by this problem, Ana co-founded  ScholarshipsA-Z, an organization that works to make higher education accessible to all students regardless of immigration status. ScholarshipsA-Z has helped hundreds of students locate scholarships and financial assistance for 15 years. It has also empowered undocumented youth and their families with vital knowledge and empowerment. Please support ScholarshipsA-Z here: https://scholarshipsaz.org/donate/

Neena Dutta is a Jill of all trades. She is an immigrant from the United Kingdom who found herself on a F-1 student visa going to college in the middle of nowhere, U.S.A. This began a journey where she attended law school, became an immigration lawyer, got her green card and U.S. citizenship, invested in a successful bar and now is a CEO of a construction company. Who said immigrants are stealing jobs from Americans? Neena is creating them. Please join me and get inspired by Neena's story!

Juan Escalante personifies "self-preservation." He has had to overcome many obstacles throughout his life and he has persevered, primarily due to his own advocacy. Juan came to the United States from Venezuela with his family following the election of Hugo Chavez. Unfortunately, poor legal advice by an attorney left his family without legal status in the U.S. and Juan's journey to find a legal path began. Juan's story is an example of how delicate the immigration process can be and how one error or piece of bad advice can send you down the wrong path. He is a champion of the DREAM Act and DACA. Juan has thrived because of DACA and he still is fighting to keep it in existence.

Immigration Attorney Steven Brown loves the work he does. This motivates him to zealously advocate on behalf of his clientele, which consists of primarily employers, investors and individuals seeking employment-based immigration opportunities. Steven grew up in Virginia and became enamored with Texas where he has settled down and helps direct a successful multi-dimensional immigration law office. He knows all about consumer protection and uses this to drive his support for the oft-deceived immigrant population. 

Steven is a partner at Reddy Neumann Brown PC in Houston. Listen in as he discusses the struggles employment-based immigrant and non-immigrant visa applicants face on a regular basis. You can also follow Steven at @AttyStevenBrown on X (and on other social media platforms).

Chef Nicolás Lopez's name has become synonymous with top Spanish cuisine. He oversees all culinary operations at Mercado Little Spain, a 35,000 sq ft Spanish food hall (with three full-service restaurants, bars, numerous other food and retail kiosks) in New York City. He is a protégé of Chef José Andrés and works with the world renowned restauranteur. Chef Nico was also instrumental in overseeing the creation of 136,000 meals provided for the non-profit World Central Kitchen during the pandemic to help feed those in need. Chef Nico and his fabulous attorney, Ava Benach, join me to share both their life stories and inspirations for the important work they do. NOTE: Chef Nico has a demanding work schedule so he had to call in from the kitchen. Some of the sound did not come through but it is worth a listen!

When they went to law school, Jodi Goodwin and Chuck Kuck didn't realize their destinies and life's work would be helping immigrants and becoming two of the top lawyers in this complicated field of law. They join me to discuss their journey to becoming immigration lawyers, what motivates them to keep fighting the good fight, some of the ridiculous things they've witnessed the government do, and what they think the future holds. 

Ahmad Wakili was a judge in Afghanistan who sentenced Taliban members at Bagram Air Base.  He fled for his life after the withdrawal of the United States military in August 2021. Fortunate enough to get on a plane, he sought refuge in the United States but faced a lengthy separation from his wife and newborn daughter. Did they finally reunite? Did Ahmad get asylum? 
What about the rest of his family that he had to leave back in Afghanistan?

Please check out this episode and get inspired by Ahmad's story!

Jenn Budd went from high-ranking Border Patrol Agent to immigrant rights activist. Her odyssey didn’t come without life-altering experiences including the survival of horrific hazing, sexual harassment and a sexual assault while serving in the Border Patrol. This episode delves into Jenn’s survival from mental health struggles that stemmed primarily from her several years in the Border Patrol. Jenn has courageously blown the whistle on the pervasive abuses by the Border Patrol. She details this in her memoir, “Against the Wall”. Her outspokenness has received high praise from many in the human rights community and beyond.

In Jenn’s words: “I was a Senior Patrol Agent with the US Border Patrol in San Diego, a Senior Intelligence Agent at San Diego Sector Headquarters and an Acting Supervisory Border Patrol Agent from 1995 to 2001 when I resigned in protest due to the rampant corruption and brutality I witnessed on a daily basis. After nearly 30 years of border experience on both sides of the issues, I have come to the realization that our immigration policies have created an intentional brutal obstacle of death for asylum seekers. Though I used to wear the green uniform in pride, I have come to realize that the US is violating human rights and committing human atrocities with their immigration systems. This includes detaining non-criminal immigrants, intentionally limiting legal pathways to immigration that then force people to cross in the most dangerous of terrain, deterrence policies that do not deter but intentionally kill migrants, deadly pursuits that kill innocent Americans as well as migrants, inhumane open air detention sites, and child separation. My goal is to expose the truth about our brutal immigration policies and the criminality of the US Border Patrol.”

If you want to purchase Jenn’s book: https://heliotropebooks.com/books/against-the-wall-my-journey-from-border-patrol-agent-to-immigration-rights-activist/

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode covers subject-matter that may be triggering to some. It involves discussion of sexual assault, hazing, suicide and mental health struggles.

Cynthia Magallanes is a survivor. Plain and simple. She was brought into the U.S. as a four-year-old. Cynthia went from being an undocumented child to gaining DACA status and then her green card and, ultimately, U.S. citizenship. She became a naturalized citizen on June 14, 2024. Cynthia uses her own experience with childhood sexual abuse to help empower other women and children who have been sexually abused, exploited or trafficked. She has dedicated her life's work to helping victims heal.

In April, 2022, she published The Princess Who Forgot Her Name, a children's book to help children heal after trauma. Cynthia's story is inspiring and demonstrates what one can do when given the opportunity, such as DACA, and a platform in the United States. 

Simba Rusita grew up in Burundi and survived numerous coup d'états. After receiving a his bachelor degree from The University of London South Bank University, he went back to Burundi to try and help to economically develop his native land. However, after the last coup attempt, he finally fled for his life and came to the United States for refuge. He is separated from his family while awaiting his asylum interview (already waiting over a year and it is uncertain when the interview will come). 

Simba has over 20 years of experience working with Businesses and NGO’s in five different countries on three different continents. He is currently on the Board of Directors for the Iskashitaa Refugee Network. Iskashitaa creates opportunities to integrate United Nations refugees into the Southern Arizona community while educating the public, strengthening the local food system, reducing local food waste, and increasing food security. 

For more information about Iskashitaa or if you want to make contribution go here: https://www.iskashitaa.org/about-us

Sgt. Talib Abdoulaye came to the U.S. as a refugee from Chad when he was 12 years old. Over a decade later, as a Sargent in the U.S. Army, he returned to adopt his five half-siblings (all minors) after the untimely passing of his mother during childbirth. Bringing them to the U.S. was complicated and, thankfully, a pro bono lawyer named Beth Boyer came to the rescue! All 5 children received humanitarian parole are now live safely with Sgt. Abdoulaye thanks to Ms. Boyer and Senator Mark Kelly's office. I interview both Ms. Boyer and Sgt. Abdoulaye about this story. Taking on 5 adoptees comes with significant challenges, especially while proudly serving in our military. A gofundme has been organized for his family, if you would like to contribute: https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__gofund.me_153f8a16&d=DwMFaQ&c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&r=Zd4au5_5bSgMp-JQAaRz8S0DUDzWm7Sq8qZ0XldVmHI&m=wDc19umWZRsdOeHwGvTHepMaUH3jsAQr5COCNIn-RTyviXzIXetJLn7SFOmnPffE&s=ZkfvmWEqzJ8upTTgdHFpBlSpxlCro58rZ-SgRIuGEyE&e=

Erick Lastarria is an immigrant from Lima, Peru who arrived in the U.S. in September 1997 at 18 years old. After a long journey, he is getting close to finally achieving his American dream. This episode is dedicated to the memory of Richard Hartwell.