Waiting for the Immigration Raids, Again
Jan 17, 2025
Five years ago, we interviewed a woman who asked that we call her Herminia. It was the summer of 2019, just as former President Donald J. Trump — then in his first term — ordered nationwide raids to round up and deport undocumented immigrants. Herminia feared she was on the list.
In the end, she was never arrested. A few days ago, we called Herminia back. We asked what has happened to her since Trump left office, and how she is preparing for a second Trump term — in which he has pledged to put the deportation of people like her at the center of his presidency.
On today's episode:
Herminia, an undocumented immigrant who has been living in the United States with her husband and children for more than two decades. (Herminia is not her real name.)
Background reading:
- We first spoke to Herminia in 2019. Listen to that interview.
- Here’s what we know about the situation at the U.S.-Mexico border.
Across the U.S., there has been widespread anxiety about Trump’s promises to deport immigrants. Some schools are readying educators and immigrant families for a potential wave of deportations.
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You can listen to the episode here.