Understanding Immigration

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FAIR's bi-weekly podcast bringing you the most important news about immigration hosted by Communications Specialist Matthew Tragesser, Government Relations Associate Preston Huennekens, and Director of Research Spencer Raley.

Federation for American Immigration Reform

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    • May 27, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • monthly NEW EPISODES
    • 27m AVG DURATION
    • 92 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Understanding Immigration

    Eli Crane on the path forward for immigration reform in the U.S.

    Play Episode Listen Later May 27, 2025 21:09


    Congressman Eli Crane sits down with Art del Cueto to discuss the reconciliation package providing billions in funding to support border security and immigration enforcement, how the military can help with border security efforts, and what the path forward looks like for immigration reform. ★ Support this podcast ★

    On the Ground in Arizona and in Congress

    Play Episode Listen Later May 6, 2025 21:42


    Congressman Andy Biggs sits down with Art del Cueto to discuss border security and immigration on the ground in Arizona, how to raise awareness of the need for immigration reforms in Congress, and making sure that the Trump administration gets the resources needed to control our borders and remove the millions of illegal aliens in the country. ★ Support this podcast ★

    Trump & Congress Full Steam Ahead Securing Our Borders

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 27, 2025 24:34


    Congressman Kevin Hern (R-Okla.) discusses President Trump's Executive Orders and border security policy reforms in Congress with FAIR's Executive Director, Julie Kirchner. ★ Support this podcast ★

    Policy Reforms Need to be Key Part of Congressional Agenda

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 21, 2025 31:57


    Congressman Chip Roy (R-Texas), discusses border security funding and policy reforms on the horizon in the 119th Congress with FAIR's Executive Director, Julie Kirchner. ★ Support this podcast ★

    NC Approves Cooperation with ICE, Overriding Gov's Open-Border Policies

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 21, 2024 12:49


    Rockingham, North Carolina Sheriff Sam Page on the state's House and Senate vote to override Governor Cooper's (D) veto of House Bill 10 which requires state and local law enforcement to honor immigration detainers. ★ Support this podcast ★

    Mass Catch-and-Release Policies, Illegal Alien Criminals and Alternatives to Detention

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 22, 2024 29:45


    Congressman Byron Donalds (R-Fla.), discusses the burdens that illegal immigration is placing on American taxpayers and how Alternatives to Detention can help keep track of the millions of illegal aliens in the country with FAIR's Executive Director, Julie Kirchner.  ★ Support this podcast ★

    Terror Suspects and Surging Northern Border Encounters

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 19, 2024 31:08


    Congressman Mike Kelly (R-Pa.), Co-Chairman of the Northern Border Security Caucus, discusses surging encounters at the northern border and the rising numbers of potential terrorists encountered with FAIR's Executive Director, Julie Kirchner.  ★ Support this podcast ★

    Biden Admin Pushes Amnesty as Costs of Illegal Immigration Explode

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 9, 2024 33:02


    Congressman Jodey Arrington (R-Texas) discusses the costs of illegal immigration and state efforts to secure our borders in the face of federal inaction with FAIR's Executive Director, Julie Kirchner. ★ Support this podcast ★

    Biden Admin Fails to Secure Border While Illegal Alien Crime Reports Rise - Rep. Nancy Mace

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 29, 2024 17:26


    Congresswoman Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) discusses how to hold the Biden Administration accountable for not securing our borders or enforcing our immigration laws, and Congress failing to enact border security reforms with FAIR's Executive Director, Julie Kirchner. ★ Support this podcast ★

    How Illegal Alien Accused of Killing Mom of 5 Was Captured - Maryland Sheriff

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 24, 2024 17:13


    Sheriff Jeff Ghaler sits down with FAIR's Shari Rendall to discuss the arrest of an illegal alien in the horrific rape and murder of Rachel Morin, a mom of five. ★ Support this podcast ★

    Former US Ambassador to Mexico on the migrant and drug crisis, and the country's new president

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 10, 2024 55:56


    FAIR's Executive Director Julie Kirchner speaks with Christopher Landau, the former US ambassador to Mexico from 2019-2021. This podcast covers:• the issues facing Mexico and how their role in migration has changedthe policies that worked under the previous administration, including Remain in Mexico and Title 42. • Mexico's relationship with China, the drug crisis from fentanyl and precursor chemicals shipped from China and manufactured by cartels south of the US border before being smuggled into the US• the direction of U.S.-Mexico relations in light of their newly elected president, Claudia Sheinbaum ★ Support this podcast ★

    How States Can Hold Biden Admin Accountable for Border Crisis

    Play Episode Listen Later May 4, 2024 40:19


    Congressman Dan Bishop (R-N.C.) discusses how states can hold the Biden Administration accountable for not securing our border, and the Senate failing to hold an impeachment trial for DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas with FAIR's Executive Director, Julie Kirchner. ★ Support this podcast ★

    Mayorkas Impeachment Heading to Senate

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 4, 2024 23:10


    Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah) discusses the impeachment of DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Schumer's attempts in the Senate to block a full impeachment trial with FAIR's Executive Director, Julie Kirchner. ★ Support this podcast ★

    Schumer attempts to block Mayorkas impeachment trial

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 6, 2024 18:21


    Senator Roger Marshall (R-Kansas) discusses the Biden Administration's border crisis and attempts in the Senate to block an impeachment trial of DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas with FAIR's Executive Director, Julie Kirchner. ★ Support this podcast ★

    Congressman Chip Roy on How to Stop the Biden Administration's Border Crisis

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 4, 2023 23:28


    Congressman Chip Roy (R-Texas) discusses the Biden Administration's border crisis and negotiations in Congress to secure our borders as part of a foreign aid package with FAIR's Executive Director, Julie Kirchner. ★ Support this podcast ★

    Congressman Brian Babin on the Biden Administration's Border Crisis

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 31, 2023 21:57


    Congressman Brian Babin (R-Texas) discusses the Biden Administration's border crisis and ongoing discussions in Congress to secure our borders as part of a funding package with FAIR's Executive Director, Julie Kirchner.  ★ Support this podcast ★

    Tucson Sector Slammed with Skyrocketing Border Crossings

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 31, 2023 27:22


    Sheriff Mark Lamb of Pinal County, AZ shares with FAIR how the cartels are using Biden's border crisis to their advantage to traffic people and drugs through his county to everywhere, USA ★ Support this podcast ★

    What has changed about southern border crossers in the past decade?

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 22, 2023 13:22


    Idaho state Senator Phil Hart discusses his recent trips to the southwest border and how things are different from trips he made years ago. ★ Support this podcast ★

    Biden's Border Crisis and Impeaching DHS Secretary Mayorkas

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 8, 2023 16:24


    Congressman Pat Fallon (TX-04) discusses how the Biden Administration's border crisis is impacting his home state of Texas and his resolution to impeach Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. ★ Support this podcast ★

    Unsustainable Methods of Staffing at DHS

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 9, 2023 15:04


    Congressman Glenn Grothman (WI-06), Chairman of the Subcommittee on National Security, the Border, and Foreign Affairs on the House Oversight Committee discusses a hearing his subcommittee held on the Department of Homeland Security Inspector General Report, which raises red flags about the “unsustainable” methods of staffing at Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement and their impact on morale. ★ Support this podcast ★

    A Bi-partisan Bill to Protect American Workers

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 25, 2023 11:30


    Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) discusses the bipartisan H-1B, L-1 visa reform legislation that he and Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) have been pushing to "reduce fraud and abuse, provide protections for American workers and visa holders and require more transparency in the recruitment of foreign workers" with FAIR's Executive Director, Julie Kirchner. ★ Support this podcast ★

    Biden's Disastrous Border Policies' Role in Increasing Child Abuse

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 28, 2023 31:17


    FAIR's Senior Fellow and Former Acting Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Mark Morgan joins FAIR President Dan Stein to discuss factors leading to the surge in unaccompanied alien children under Biden, including the 1997 Flores Settlement and 2008 Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA). ★ Support this podcast ★

    The True Fiscal Cost of Illegal Immigration

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 19, 2023 24:48


    FAIR's director of research Spencer Raley talks about our latest study finding illegal immigration costs American taxpayers at least $151 BILLION annually!Read the report here:https://www.fairus.org/issue/publications-resources/fiscal-burden-illegal-immigration-united-states-taxpayers-2023 ★ Support this podcast ★

    The Nautical Border Crisis

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 3, 2023 22:50


    ​@DelphFishing joined Understanding Immigration this week to talk about the Floridian Border Crisis. See Delph fishings social channels here:https://ovou.me/yopefazayifusaqoVisit their website:https://www.delphfishing.com/ ★ Support this podcast ★

    Deputy Killed by Illegal Alien in Colorado

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 15, 2023 17:06


    FAIR State and Local Director Shari Rendall and Law Enforcement Relations Manager Susan Tully speak with Weld County, Colorado Sheriff Steve Reams about an off-duty deputy who was killed by an illegal alien in a hit-and-run accident. ★ Support this podcast ★

    Protecting Children from the Border Crisis

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 19, 2022 28:18


    ⚠️LISTENER DISCRETION ADVISED⚠️ Today's Understanding Immigration gives a look into how every town in America is a border town as Sheriff Grossnickle and County Attorney Erramouspe go in depth about a case involving an illegal alien in their town in Sweetwater County, Wyoming. https://k2radio.com/rock-springs-man-sentenced-to-125-years-for-kidnapping-and-sexual-assault/ https://www.facebook.com/swcountysheriff

    Breaking Down the Border Crisis with Rob Law

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 15, 2022 25:19


    America First Policy Institute's Rob Law discussing fentanyl poisonings, Afghan evacuees, and the border crisis https://americafirstpolicy.com/latest/20221025-fy-2022-by-the-numbers https://americafirstpolicy.com/latest/20221101-fentanyl-fatalities-in-perspective

    Borderline Insanity with Jennie Taer

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 18, 2022 26:26


    The Daily Caller's Jennie Taer joins us to discuss her recent reporting from Guatemala. She told us about her conversation with Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei, Afghan migrants making the journey north, and showed us conditions inside of a Guatemalan facility for those who were deported from the US. https://dailycaller.com/2022/11/03/border-immigration-amazon-microsoft/

    Judicial Current Events

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 5, 2022 34:51


    Matt O'Brien, Director of Investigations for Immigration Reform Law Institute and FAIR's Press Secretary Ron Kovach discuss the latest judicial current events in immigration law and news.

    American Schools Going Bankrupt - the Elephant in the Classroom

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 21, 2022 27:57


    FAIR's recent report which can be found here: https://www.fairus.org/issue/illegal-immigration/elephant-classroom-mass-immigration-imposing-colossal-cost-and-challenges outlines the fiscal burden of the massive unfunded mandate imposed by the federal government: the requirement to educate millions of illegal aliens, the school-age children of illegal aliens, and unassimilated/unvetted refugees. The struggle to fund programs for students with limited English proficiency (LEP) represents a major drain on school budgets as they redirect resources away from American citizens to support English learner programs for this cohort.

    Hold Their Feet to the Fire Radio Row 2022

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 1, 2022 63:01


    Interviews with Rep. Brian Babin (TX-36), former Acting ICE Director Tony Pham, spokesperson for National Border Patrol Council Art Del Cueto, and Angel Mom from Advocates for Victims of Illegal Alien Crime Sabine Durden-Coulter from the nation's capital at our annual radio row event.

    The IRS, the American People and Biden's Crumbling Narrative

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 15, 2022 27:07


    FAIR's Preston Huennekens and Ron Kovach discuss the latest trending immigration stories from legislation, to polling, to the Biden administration's remarks about the situation at the border.

    The Purge at The Executive Office for Immigration Review

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 30, 2022 32:46


    The Biden administration removes several immigration judges for purely political reasons. We sit down with one of these jurists, Matt O'Brien who previously worked at USCIS and FAIR and now holds the position of director of investigation at the Immigration Reform Law Institute.

    SCOTUS Decisions and Texas' Response

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 15, 2022 28:15


    In this episode, we discuss the Supreme Court's decision to give the Biden Administration the greenlight to end the Trump-era "Remain In Mexico" policy and Governor Abbott's executive order which authorizes the Texas National Guard and Department of Public Safety to bring illegal aliens to the ports of entry at the southern border.

    The Most Apprehensions in American History

    Play Episode Listen Later May 27, 2022 23:38


    April shattered border apprehension numbers - they were the most in U.S. history. What is the state of the southern border, and will President Biden do anything to address the crisis?

    Border Security Blueprint for Congress

    Play Episode Listen Later May 12, 2022 25:22


    Dozens of groups, including FAIR, mobilize to provide an immigration blueprint for the 118th Congress

    The 2021 Illegal Alien Population

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 27, 2022 33:47


    In this episode FAIR's Research team breaks down our latest report which pegs the illegal alien population at 15.5 million as of the end of 2021, and discusses how much this cohort costs American taxpayers. Here's the report: https://www.fairus.org/issue/illegal-immigration/2021-update-how-many-illegal-aliens-live-united-states

    The ICE Fiscal Year 2021 Report

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 18, 2022 18:11


    The ICE Fiscal Year 2021 Report is available and the information in it is stunning. Under Biden's watch, ICE is effectively abolished.

    The Ukraine Crisis

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 4, 2022 21:40


    In this episode we discuss the crisis in Ukraine from Russia's invasion and what to expect from the Biden administration's use of Temporary Protected Status.

    Congressman Pat Fallon (TX-04) and the ALIEN Act

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 24, 2022 25:33


    Congressman Pat Fallon (TX-04) discusses his new bill, the ALIEN Act, and the impact it would have on the ongoing border crisis.

    Did Biden Abolish ICE?

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 18, 2022 17:30


    In FAIR's 50th episode of the Understanding Immigration podcast, we review recently obtained ICE removal data from FY 2021 which shows that the Biden administration is clearly refusing to enforce our immigration laws.

    Former Border Patrol Chief Rodney Scott

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 4, 2022 20:35


    We speak with former Border Patrol Chief Rodney Scott, who is now a distinguished senior fellow for border security at the Texas Public Policy Foundation, about the declining morale of his former agency and the continuing border crisis.

    The Texas Synagogue Attack and Alien Voting

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 21, 2022 32:37


    Preston Huennekens, FAIR's government relations manager and Jason Peña from our research department discuss illegal alien voting in New York, benefits for illegal aliens in California, and how the Texas synagogue terrorist entered the United States.

    Predictions for 2022

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 7, 2022 28:22


    In the first episode of 2022, we discuss our predictions for migrant apprehension numbers and what the Biden administration and Congress might do (or not do) to address the growing immigration issues in the United States.

    Omicron Shutdown and 2021 in Review

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 3, 2021 24:48


    In this episode, we discuss the new Covid variant, Omicron, and the Biden administration's hypocritical travel bans. We reflect on the most significant immigration policies and news from 2021 as well.

    Record-Breaking Apprehensions and the Chris Magnus Hearing

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 29, 2021 29:35


    In this episode we talk about the all-time high number of illegal aliens crossing the border and President Biden's nomination of an open borders, sanctuary city advocate to lead Customs and Border Protection. https://www.immigrationreform.com/2021/10/20/bidens-customs-and-border-protection-pick-admits-that-the-administrations-policies-need-to-change/

    Changes in ICE Policy and Current Events

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 15, 2021 35:50


    In this episode we discuss why thousands of Haitians are arriving in Del Rio, Texas, and how the Biden administration's new policies protect illegal aliens from deportation and end all worksite enforcement.

    FAIR's 14th Annual Hold Their Feet to the Fire Radio Row

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 4, 2021 53:47


    A special episode from FAIR's 14th annual radio row event, Hold Their Feet to the Fire, where more than 60 radio hosts broadcasted from DC to hold politicians accountable for the crisis at the border and poor U.S. immigration policies. Interview guests included lawmakers, sheriffs, immigration experts, angel families, and many others. In this episode we interview FAIR President Dan Stein, Sheriff Sam Page of Rockingham NC, Rob Law - Director of Regulatory Affairs and Policy for the Center for Immigration Studies, and Mark Morgan - Former Acting Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Check out FAIR's Facebook and Twitter accounts for more interviews with other distinguished guests from this special event which will continue to be posted throughout the week!

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