Intelligence Squared

American Nightmare: Chinatown's People Smuggling Empire

Feb 17, 2023

Patrick Radden Keefe, an acclaimed investigative journalist and staff writer for The New Yorker, discusses the enigmatic Sister Ping, a middle-aged woman from Fujian province who ran a thriving human smuggling operation in New York's Chinatown. Keefe delves into the complexities of her dual identity as a community hero and criminal, the harsh realities immigrants face, and the implications of American immigration policies. He also shares insights from his work in a documentary on artistic activism, blending personal stories with broader societal issues.

47:36

Episode guests

Patrick Radden Keefe

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Intro

2min

Life and Legacy of Sister Ping

8min

The Rise of Sister Ping: Smuggling and Survival

16min

The Godmother of Chinatown

7min

An Unexpected Connection: Corresponding with a Convicted Smuggler

2min

Revisiting the American Dream: Immigration and Reality

5min

Exploring Secret Worlds: Transgressors and the Underground Economy

3min

Investigative journalist Patrick Radden Keefe joins us on the podcast to tell the story of an unlikely criminal mastermind, Sister Ping - a middle-aged, hardworking woman who is highly respected among her community. Originally from Fujian province, China, for years she runs an incredibly lucrative people smuggling business from New York's Chinatown until she comes into trouble with violent gangsters and then later the FBI. In conversation with our host Poppy Damon, they discuss immigration, the dark underbelly of the American Dream, and the questions of who gets to stay. They also speak about Patrick's involvement in the Oscar-nominated documentary starring Nan Goldin and directed by Laura Poitras, All The Beauty And The Bloodshed.

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