Immigration Ain't Easy
This podcast offers a variety of perspectives and stories on modern-day U.S. immigration, aiming to bring some levity to an often serious topic. Episodes include interviews with individuals who have attempted to navigate the U.S. immigration system, whether successfully or not, as well as conversations with immigration lawyers and other experts. The show also features a weekly review of the wild and ridiculous actions taken by the U.S. government regarding immigration. Overall, it provides an informative yet entertaining look at a complex and challenging subject.
Episodes
Immigration Ain't Easy Ep. 44: Ian Philabaum, Innovation Law Lab
Send us Fan MailIan 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 o
Immigration Ain't Easy Ep. 43: Attorneys Marc Van Der Hout & Johnny Sinodis
Send us Fan MailRepresenting 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
Immigration Ain't Easy Ep. 42: Dr. Michael Lokale
Send us Fan MailRunning 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
Immigration Ain't Easy Ep. 41: Kavan Hazeli, Associate Professor of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Arizona
Send us Fan MailKavan 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 h
Immigration Ain't Easy Ep. 40: Professor Leah Ndimurwimo, International Human Rights Expert
Send us Fan MailAt 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 o
Immigration Ain't Easy Ep. 39: Immigrant and Immigration Attorney Parastoo Zahedi
Send us Fan MailParastoo 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 l
Immigration Ain't Easy Ep. 38: Author Anatoly "Tola" Molotkov
Send us Fan MailAnatoly "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
Immigration Ain't Easy Ep. 37: Patent Attorney Babak Akhlaghi and Immigration Attorney Amy Maldonado
Send us Fan MailBabak 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
Immigration Ain't Easy Ep. 36: Former MLB pitcher and current color commentator Rodrigo López
Send us Fan MailRodrigo 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 t
Immigration Ain't Easy Ep. 35- Human Rights Organizer Aly Wane
Send us Fan MailOriginally 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 t
Immigration Ain't Easy Ep. 34- Immigration Attorney & "Renaissance Man" David Asser
Send us Fan MailDavid 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 t
Immigration Ain't Easy Ep. 33- Entrepreneur Akash Desai and Attorney Danielle Rizzo
Send us Fan MailAkash 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 t
Immigration Ain't Easy Ep. 32- Legal Scholar Professor Ilya Somin
Send us Fan MailProfessor 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 Unite
Immigration Ain't Easy Ep. 31- Somali Refugee and Entrepreneur Sahra Hirsi
Send us Fan MailSahra 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 oppor
Immigration Ain't Easy Ep. 30: Multidisciplinary Artist Safwat Saleem
Send us Fan MailSafwat 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 an
Immigration Ain't Easy Ep. 29: Immigration & Civil Rights Attorney Ira Kurzban
Send us Fan MailIra 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
Immigration Ain't Easy Ep. 28: Part 2 of Dr. Goldman's Family Therapy with siblings Alejandra Pablos & Jesus Magaña
Send us Fan MailTHIS IS PART 2 OF A 2-PART AFTER SCHOOL SPECIAL EPISODEIn 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 Elo
Immigration Ain't Easy Ep. 27: Dr. Goldman's Family Therapy with siblings Alejandra Pablos & Jesus Magaña
Send us Fan MailLife 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.
Immigration Ain't Easy Ep. 26: Attorney and Human Rights Advocate Mark Shmueli
Send us Fan MailMark 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
Immigration Ain't Easy Ep. 25- Political and Legal Geographer Austin Kocher
Send us Fan MailAnyone 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 Researc
Immigration Ain't Easy Ep. 24: Douglas Rivlin, Important Longtime Voice for Immigration Reform
Send us Fan MailHe 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 Nationa
Immigration Ain't Easy Ep. 23: Colorado State Rep. and Trailblazer Naquetta Ricks
Send us Fan MailColorado 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 sett
Immigration Ain't Easy Ep. 22: Myles Traphagen, Borderlands Program Coordinator for the Wildlands Network
Send us Fan MailMyles 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./
Immigration Ain't Easy Ep. 21: Elhadj Ndoye, Founder of the non-profit "The Forgotten Children"
Send us Fan MailEhadj (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
Immigration Ain't Easy Ep. 20: A Festivus Celebration!
Send us Fan MailThe 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!!
Immigration Ain't Easy Ep. 19: Andrew Fels & Natalie Cadwalader-Schultheis About Enforced Disappearances
Send us Fan MailAndrew 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
Immigration Ain't Easy Ep. 18: Filmmaker and Advocate Samantha “Sam” Ramirez-Herrera
Send us Fan MailImagine 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 tr
Immigration Ain't Easy Ep. 17: Immigration Policy Expert David J. Bier
Send us Fan MailAt 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
Immigration Ain't Easy Ep. 16: Apple Logo Creator and Chicano Artist Carlos Pérez David (part 2 of 2)
Send us Fan MailPart 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
Immigration Ain't Easy Ep. 16: Apple Logo Creator and Chicano Artist Carlos Pérez David (part 1 of 2)
Send us Fan MailYou 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 move
Immigration Ain't Easy Ep. 15: Holocaust Survivor Sidney "Sevek" Finkel and his daughter, Ruth Finkel Wade
Send us Fan MailSidney "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 publi
Immigration Ain't Easy Ep. 14: Attorney and TikTok Sensation Zayed Al-Sayyed
Send us Fan MailZayed (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
Immigration Ain't Easy Ep. 13: Houston Astros Spanish Play-By-Play Broadcaster Francisco Romero
Send us Fan MailFrancisco 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 ha
Immigration Ain't Easy Ep. 12: Ana Valenzuela, Co-Founder of ScholarshipsA-Z
Send us Fan MailAna 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
Immigration Ain't Easy Ep. 11: Immigration Attorney/Bar Owner/Construction Biz Owner Neena Dutta
Send us Fan MailNeena 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 immigran
Immigration Ain't Easy Ep. 10: Juan Escalante
Send us Fan MailJuan 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&apo
Immigration Ain't Easy Ep. 9: Immigration Attorney Steven Brown
Send us Fan MailImmigration 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 immigrat
Immigration Ain't Easy Ep. 8: Chef Nico Lopez from Mercado Little Spain and his immigration lawyer Ava Benach
Send us Fan MailChef 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 instru
Immigration Ain't Easy Ep. 7: Immigration Lawyers Jodi Goodwin & Chuck Kuck
Send us Fan MailWhen 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 witn
Immigration Ain't East Ep. 6: Ahmad Wakili, Afghan Judge gets Asylum!
Send us Fan MailAhmad 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 r
Immigration Ain't Easy Ep. 5: Jenn Budd, Border Patrol Agent Turned Immigrant Rights Activist
Send us Fan MailJenn 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 Bo
Immigration Ain't Easy Ep. 4: Cynthia Magallanes, From DACA to US Citizen
Send us Fan MailCynthia 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 wh
Immigration Ain't Easy Ep. 3: Simba Rusita (Burundi) Awaits Asylum Interview
Send us Fan MailSimba 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 famil
Immigration Ain't Easy Ep. 2: Sgt Talib Abdoulaye and Attorney Beth Boyer
Send us Fan MailSgt. 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
Immigration Ain't Easy Ep. 1- Erick Lastarria
Send us Fan MailErick 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.
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