4: Why Is a Nation Built by Immigrants Still So Afraid of Immigrants?

Thank you to everyone who helped bring this episode together. As of the episode’s release on January 20, 2026, Danny Quach remains detained in a facility in Houston, Texas. After four months, his family and advocates have received little to no information about his status or any timeline for release or deportation to Vietnam. Guest Information Al Nodarse, Friend of DannyMary Quach, Wife of Danny Go Fund Me to Support Danny and His Family: https://gofund.me/993e46405Recording and ProductionOriginal Music: Rainezra @rainezra and Vews @pointofvewsAudio Editing by: Kye Gilmer @residual_audio Learn More/SourcesThe following materials were referenced or informed this episode. Links are provided for transparency and further reading.KATU News story about Dannyhttps://katu.com/news/local/lake-oswego-rallies-for-detained-man-facing-deportation-to-vietnam-danny-quach-al-nodarse-vietnam-immigrant-baker-bakery-freedom-for-4-danny-happy-sparrow-lake-oswego-bakery-business-owner-immigration-ice-detentionReutersFour migrants die in US immigration custody over first 10 days of 2026https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/four-migrants-die-us-ice-custody-over-first-10-days-2026-2026-01-12/ReutersFatal ICE shooting in Minneapolis sparks national protestshttps://www.reuters.com/world/us/fatal-ice-shooting-minneapolis-activist-sets-stage-national-protests-2026-01-10/The GuardianUS immigration agents shot at people 16 times under Trump’s crackdownhttps://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jan/07/trump-immigration-ice-shootingsThe GuardianWill ICE agent face consequences for Renee Nicole Good’s killinghttps://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jan/10/will-ice-agent-face-consequences-renee-nicole-goodThe Guardian2025 was ICE’s deadliest year in two decadeshttps://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2026/jan/04/ice-2025-deaths-timelineWashington PostMedical examiner believes death of man in ICE custody was homicidehttps://www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/2026/01/15/ice-detention-death-homicide/American Immigration CouncilImmigration Detention Expansion in Trump’s Second Termhttps://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/immigration-detention-report.pdfACLU / Physicians for Human RightsDeadly Failures: Preventable Deaths in U.S. Immigration Detentionhttps://www.aclu.org/publications/deadly-failures-preventable-deaths-in-us-immigrant-detentionProject On Government OversightICE Inspections Plummeted as Detentions Soared in 2025https://www.pogo.org/investigates/ice-inspections-plummeted-as-detentions-soared-in-2025PBS NewsHourA dozen undocumented workers were fired from a Trump golf coursehttps://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/a-dozen-undocumented-workers-were-fired-from-a-trump-golf-course-what-happens-nowThe WeekA pipeline of undocumented immigrants reportedly helped build and maintain Trump’s New Jersey golf clubhttps://theweek.com/speedreads/822758/pipeline-undocumented-immigrants-reportedly-helped-build-maintain-trumps-new-jersey-golf-clubThe Statute of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation Passenger Search Websitehttps://www.statueofliberty.org/discover/passenger-ship-search/U.S. Code, Asylum (8 U.S.C. § 1158). Legal text defining asylum eligibility and procedure https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/8/1158American Immigration Council, Asylum in the United States. Overview of the Refugee Act of 1980 https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/fact-sheet/asylum-united-states/USCIS, Refugees and Asylum. Official explanation of the process and legal context https://www.uscis.gov/humanitarian/refugees-asylumOffice of Refugee Resettlement, The Refugee Act of 1980. Policy guidance https://acf.gov/orr/policy-guidance/refugee-actNational Constitution Center, Wong Kim Ark decision and Fourteenth Amendment contexthttps://constitutioncenter.org/blog/a-look-back-at-the-wong-kim-ark-decisionOyez, United States v. Wong Kim Ark. Case summaryhttps://www.oyez.org/cases/1850-1900/169us649NAPABA, Wong Kim Ark upheld birthright citizenshiphttps://www.napaba.org/page/wong_kim_arkOrganization of American Historians, Historical overview of birthright citizenship and exclusion politicshttps://www.oah.org/tah/asian-american-and-pacific-islander-history/from-wong-kim-ark-to-the-japanese-american-incarceration-asian-americans-and-the-racial-limits-of-birthright-citizenship/U.S. National Archives, Japanese American incarceration during World War II. Government background and documentary materialshttps://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/japanese-relocationSupreme Court History, Wong Kim Ark context including Ex parte Endo and incarceration referenceshttps://civics.supremecourthistory.org/article/united-states-v-wong-kim-ark/USCIS, Immigration and Nationality Act overview. Foundational post-1952 immigration lawhttps://www.uscis.gov/laws-and-policy/legislation/immigration-and-nationality-actSupport the showAll American Why is independently produced and listener supported.If you value conversations that center nuance...