Straight White American Jesus ICE is Detaining Holocaust Survivors
Nov 17, 2025
This episode delves into the heartbreaking story of a Holocaust survivor facing deportation after decades in the U.S., highlighting the cruelty of ICE's policies. It addresses shocking restrictions on clergy access to detainees, raising critical questions about religious freedom. The discussion connects these cases to broader themes of religious populism and civil liberties in America. Listeners are invited to reflect on the unequal application of religious rights and witness peaceful interfaith protests contrasted with more violent expressions of faith.
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Holocaust Survivor Detained In Old Age
- Paul John Bajerski arrived in the U.S. as a toddler after his Polish family survived Nazi concentration camps and lived here for decades without citizenship.
- ICE detained him in his late 70s, moved him between facilities, and his health and access to care rapidly declined while detained.
Detention Conditions Worsened His Health
- After surrendering to ICE, Bajerski endured long bus rides, medication disruptions, falls from his wheelchair, and reported neglect by guards.
- Detention conditions included limited phone access, few hot meals, poor sanitation, and little medical care.
Clergy Told Not To Pray At Broadview
- At Broadview in Chicago, clergy and faith leaders were told they could not pray for or with detainees on federal property near the facility.
- DHS later clarified limits apply to certain federal property, but detainees and witnesses report longer holds and poor treatment inside the processing center.