The Brian Lehrer Show 100 Years of 100 Things: Immigrant Detention
Apr 28, 2025
Ana Raquel Minian, a Stanford history professor and author of 'In the Shadow of Liberty,' dives deep into the century-long history of immigrant detention in the U.S. She connects modern family separation policies to historical practices, revealing how past legislation like the Chinese Exclusion Act shaped today’s immigration laws. Personal stories highlight the emotional impact on families, including accounts of World War II internments and the struggles faced by Vietnamese refugees. Minian’s insights shed light on the complex narrative of immigrant experiences in America.
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Origins of U.S. Immigration Laws
- Federal immigration restriction laws began effectively with the Chinese Exclusion Act in 1882, after previously unenforced laws.
- Before this, there were essentially no enforced federal immigration limits, allowing wide open migration into the U.S.
Wong Kim Ark's Citizenship Case
- Wong Kim Ark was born in San Francisco in 1873 and challenged the government to confirm his birthright citizenship.
- The Supreme Court ruled he was American-born and entitled to citizenship under the 14th Amendment despite racism against Chinese ancestry.
Mass Deportations in the 1930s
- During the 1930s Great Depression, up to 2 million people of Mexican descent, many U.S. citizens, were rounded up and expelled.
- Courts did not protect citizens, and Mexicans were treated as disposable labor depending on economic needs.