Adam Goodman

Joining the discussion is Adam Goodman, an associate professor at the University of Illinois Chicago and author of The Deportation Machine: America’s Long History of Expelling Immigrants. He delves into the origins and operations of ICE, revealing its extensive powers and the fear it instills in communities. Goodman also highlights the collaboration between immigration agencies and private contractors, raising ethical concerns. The conversation touches on the historical context of immigration enforcement and how policies have evolved, particularly under the Trump administration.

Delia Ramirez, a Democratic congresswoman from Illinois, talks about her groundbreaking DHS Use of Force Oversight Act aimed at imposing accountability and pushing for de-escalation in DHS conduct. Meanwhile, historian Adam Goodman traces the troubling history of U.S. immigration enforcement, revealing how bureaucratic incentives drive deportations and transform ICE into a partisan enforcement body. Together, they spotlight the national backlash against ICE's actions in Minnesota and emphasize the need for sustained public activism to reshape immigration policy.

Adam Goodman, an assistant professor at the University of Illinois Chicago and author of The Deportation Machine, delves into America's long history of immigrant deportation. He reveals three key mechanisms of expulsion, emphasizing how most deportations are informal processes rather than courtroom decisions. Goodman connects historical deportation tactics to contemporary issues like the prison-industrial complex and anti-immigrant sentiments, urging a reevaluation of systemic change within policing and activism. His insights bridge past injustices with present-day challenges.