

The Lives Ruined by Trump's Deportation Machine
21 snips Apr 3, 2025
Jonathan Blitzer, a New Yorker staff writer and immigration expert, joins Nick Miroff from The Atlantic to delve into the devastating realities of Trump-era deportations. They share alarming stories of innocent individuals, including the harrowing case of Andri José, seeking asylum after escaping persecution. The discussion highlights the dehumanizing conditions in U.S. immigration detention and the misinterpretation of tattoos as gang affiliation leading to wrongful deportations. These personal narratives expose the profound impact of immigration policies on families and communities.
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Andri's Asylum Case
- Andri José Hernández Romero, a Venezuelan makeup artist, sought asylum in the U.S.
- He faced harassment for being gay and not supporting the Venezuelan regime.
Tattoos and Gang Affiliation
- U.S. border agents use tattoos as indicators of gang affiliation, particularly focusing on Venezuelan gangs.
- However, tattoos don't reliably correlate with criminal activity.
Andri's Detention
- Despite passing the credible fear interview, Andri remained detained due to his crown tattoos.
- These tattoos were misinterpreted as gang symbols.