Advertise on podcast: The Raid

Actress and activist, Diane Guerrero candidly reveals details of the night immigration officials deported her parents, leaving her without her family at age 14. Diane Guerrero is an actress and activist best known for her roles in Orange Is the New Black, Jane the Virgin, Doom Patrol and Encanto — but her most important story has nothing to do with Hollywood. When she was fourteen years old, she came home from school to find her parents gone. Immigration officers had arrested them while she was away. No government agency called to check on her. No social worker came to the door. As the only U.S. citizen in her immediate family, she was left to navigate the rest of her childhood alone, taken in by friends' parents, building a life from nothing. For years she kept it secret. Today she is one of the most prominent voices in the country on the human cost of deportation, and what it means to be left behind.  https://www.instagram.com/dianexguerrero/  https://theraidpodcast.org/ Disclaimer: The statements and opinions expressed by the host or participants on this program are solely their own and do not necessarily represent those of the distributor of the program and any person or entity affiliated with said distributor ("distributor's affiliates").  The distributor and distributor's affiliates are not responsible for, and shall not be liable for, the statements and opinions expressed by the host or participants, or for any content that appears on the program.    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Former Border Patrol Agent, Jenn Budd is back on the podcast to offer her new book that dives into the federal law enforcement agencies known as ICE and US Border Patrol as only an insider can. She helps to explain why we are seeing so much violence and lawlessness by these agencies and offers methods to abolish or reform them.  The book is entitled, ICE - What Everyone Needs to Know and available here: https://www.booktopia.com.au/ice-jenn-budd/ebook/9781956474954.html  https://theraidpodcast.org/ Disclaimer: The statements and opinions expressed by the host or participants on this program are solely their own and do not necessarily represent those of the distributor of the program and any person or entity affiliated with said distributor ("distributor's affiliates").  The distributor and distributor's affiliates are not responsible for, and shall not be liable for, the statements and opinions expressed by the host or participants, or for any content that appears on the program.    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On the podcast is Victor Picard. He's the Edwin Baker Professor of media policy and political economy at the University of Pennsylvania's Annenberg School for communication, where he co-directs the Media Inequality and Change Center. His research explores the intersections of U.S. and global media, activism and politics, media history, democratic theory, and communications policy. John Carlos Frey and Victor discuss the current media landscape and how the very fabric of democracy is being threatened by a suppression of the First Amendment and unprecedented multi-media merger deals. Accurate information about the immigration raids and news in general is getting harder to come by. An eye-opening episode of The Raid by industry insiders.  https://www.asc.upenn.edu/people/faculty/victor-pickard-phd  https://theraidpodcast.org/ Disclaimer: The statements and opinions expressed by the host or participants on this program are solely their own and do not necessarily represent those of the distributor of the program and any person or entity affiliated with said distributor ("distributor's affiliates").  The distributor and distributor's affiliates are not responsible for, and shall not be liable for, the statements and opinions expressed by the host or participants, or for any content that appears on the program.    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Tito Rodriguez he is the co-founder of the Local Hearts Foundation. The foundation focuses on helping at-risk families and underserved communities in the greater Los Angeles area. Tito's organization went into overdrive during the ICE Raids in Los Angeles when immigrants were afraid to leave their homes for fear of being taken and deported. They stopped going to work or taking their kids to school. Tito saw the need as people were going hungry. Tito's faith led him to provide for those who have become politically marginalized and believes, "God doesn't care if you have papers..." The Local Hearts Foundation provided free groceries and supplies. Tito earned the name, 'The Hood Santa' because he was delivering items in neighborhoods most people won't go. Even though the Los Angeles raids are no longer in the headlines, the need is still great as people are constantly being kidnapped by ICE.  https://www.localheartsfoundation.org/ https://theraidpodcast.org/ Disclaimer: The statements and opinions expressed by the host or participants on this program are solely their own and do not necessarily represent those of the distributor of the program and any person or entity affiliated with said distributor ("distributor's affiliates").  The distributor and distributor's affiliates are not responsible for, and shall not be liable for, the statements and opinions expressed by the host or participants, or for any content that appears on the program.    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On January 3rd, 2026, a 55-year-old man named Geraldo Lunas Campos was standing in line at an immigration detention facility in El Paso, Texas, waiting for his asthma medication. He never got it. Instead, he was taken to a solitary confinement cell, held down by guards, and died. He said "I can't breathe" — in Spanish — more than once. The government said he tried to kill himself. The county medical examiner said otherwise. The official cause of death: asphyxia due to neck and torso compression. Manner of death: homicide. He is one of 47 people who have died in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody since January 2025 — the deadliest period in the history of the American immigration detention system in more than two decades. In this episode of The Raid, investigative journalist John Carlos Frey goes inside the numbers, the names, and the cover stories. From Geraldo Lunas Campos to Roxsana Hernández — a transgender asylum seeker beaten in a New Mexico private prison — to a 19-year-old indigenous Mexican teenager who died weeks after being detained on charges his family says were fabricated, Frey documents a pattern of medical neglect, physical abuse, deliberate obstruction, and institutional impunity that spans administrations and has never been fully reckoned with.  The Raid is independently produced and available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart, Audible, and all major platforms. New episodes every week.  Visit https://theraidpodcast.org/ Disclaimer: The statements and opinions expressed by the host or participants on this program are solely their own and do not necessarily represent those of the distributor of the program and any person or entity affiliated with said distributor ("distributor's affiliates").  The distributor and distributor's affiliates are not responsible for, and shall not be liable for, the statements and opinions expressed by the host or participants, or for any content that appears on the program.    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Dr. Paul Ong is a Professor Emeritus at UCLA. He has been analyzing the data from across the country pertaining to the ICE raids. Dr. Ong discusses his findings in detail with John Carlos Frey in this illuminating podcast. According to Ong, the current administration is not only reshaping our immigration system with the ongoing mass deportation campaign, but also the demographic make-up of the United States. This podcast is in depth and eye opening.  https://luskin.ucla.edu/person/paul-ong  https://luskin.ucla.edu/ong-on-the-current-state-of-immigration-enforcement  https://theraidpodcast.org/ Disclaimer: The statements and opinions expressed by the host or participants on this program are solely their own and do not necessarily represent those of the distributor of the program and any person or entity affiliated with said distributor ("distributor's affiliates").  The distributor and distributor's affiliates are not responsible for, and shall not be liable for, the statements and opinions expressed by the host or participants, or for any content that appears on the program.      Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Flock cameras, ring cameras, face recognition technology and license plate readers are just some of the technology ICE is using to surveil people across the country. Technology coupled with shared data with federal agencies and law enforcement create an unprecedented surveillance state and dragnet. It appears this vast system is not just for locating undocumented immigrants.  Wendy Fry is a seasoned reporter for Cal Matters investigating the use of license plate readers throughout Southern California and their implications. She joins John Carlos Frey on this eye-opening podcast to discuss her reporting and questionable tactics used by the federal government.  https://calmatters.org/justice/2026/02/alpr-border-patrol-caltrans/  https://theraidpodcast.org/ Disclaimer: The statements and opinions expressed by the host or participants on this program are solely their own and do not necessarily represent those of the distributor of the program and any person or entity affiliated with said distributor ("distributor's affiliates").  The distributor and distributor's affiliates are not responsible for, and shall not be liable for, the statements and opinions expressed by the host or participants, or for any content that appears on the program.      Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

John Carlos Frey takes a look at the history of the top three officials within the Department of Homeland Security running the mass deportation campaign after the firing of Kristi Noem. Each has a questionable past making confidence in DHS questionable. Frey contends not much will change now that Noem is gone.  https://theraidpodcast.org/  https://www.finance.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/letter_to_dhs_regarding_rodney_scottpdf.pdf  https://rollcall.com/2018/08/10/ethics-committee-orders-markwayne-mullin-to-pay-back-40000/#:~:text=The%20Office%20of%20Congressional%20Ethics,Fontelo%20contributed%20to%20this%20report.  https://nevadacurrent.com/2025/02/27/repub/private-prison-giant-sees-1b-ice-contract-as-start-of-unprecedented-opportunities-under-trump/#:~:text=By:%20Ariana%20Figueroa%20%2D%20February%2027%2C%202025%202:45%20pm&text=WASHINGTON%20%E2%80%94%20U.S.%20Immigration%20and%20Customs,and%20executive%20chairman%20of%20GEO.  https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/R48704 Disclaimer: The statements and opinions expressed by the host or participants on this program are solely their own and do not necessarily represent those of the distributor of the program and any person or entity affiliated with said distributor ("distributor's affiliates").  The distributor and distributor's affiliates are not responsible for, and shall not be liable for, the statements and opinions expressed by the host or participants, or for any content that appears on the program.    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Over the past year, through a series of executive orders, asylum cases have all but halted. Asylum was a legal method of fleeing persecution and fear of life to find safe harbor in the United States. In the recent past, the process to gain asylum had been lengthy and grueling for most applicants with the vast majority of applicants being rejected but now it appears the doors have closed, altogether. In this episode of the The Raid, Maria Salguero an attorney from Immigrant Legal Defense Center specializing in asylum law, speaks candidly about the ever-changing landscape for asylum seekers and how many are now being barred from applying or detained and even deported.  https://www.sbimmigrantdefense.org/  https://theraidpodcast.org/ Disclaimer: The statements and opinions expressed by the host or participants on this program are solely their own and do not necessarily represent those of the distributor of the program and any person or entity affiliated with said distributor ("distributor's affiliates").  The distributor and distributor's affiliates are not responsible for, and shall not be liable for, the statements and opinions expressed by the host or participants, or for any content that appears on the program.    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the nation’s leading authority on child health, has repeatedly and unequivocally opposed the detention of children for immigration purposes; in fact, the AAP’s leadership recently reiterated that all children held in immigration detention should be immediately released, and these facilities should be permanently shuttered.” On the podcast is Barbara Rodriguez. She's the health reporter for the digital publication, "The 19th". She recently published an article entitled, " These pediatrician moms have a shared message: Release all children in immigration detention" The article is a conversation with pediatrician moms who see the inherent dangers in incarcerating children. Barbara has been a journalist for nearly 20 years, reporting from statehouses, a presidential campaign trail and doctor's offices during the early days of the global pandemic. https://19thnews.org/2026/03/pediatrician-moms-children-health-immigration-detention/ https://static1.squarespace.com/static/614d500305bc5541f50c3baf/t/69a1effc5cc09a2d4ea92656/1772220412407/End+Child+Detention+Letter+with+signatures+Feb+26+2026.pdf https://theraidpodcast.org/ Disclaimer: The statements and opinions expressed by the host or participants on this program are solely their own and do not necessarily represent those of the distributor of the program and any person or entity affiliated with said distributor ("distributor's affiliates").  The distributor and distributor's affiliates are not responsible for, and shall not be liable for, the statements and opinions expressed by the host or participants, or for any content that appears on the program.     Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

John Carlos Frey takes a deep look into the separation of parents from their children during the mass deportation effort. Children are being abandoned against what used to be standard procedure that considered the plight of children during deportation proceedings. The numbers are alarming and worse than any other family separation tactic in the past.  https://theraidpodcast.org/  https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/report/family-separation-policy/#:~:text=In%20the%20spring%20and%20summer,been%20reunited%20with%20their%20parents.  https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/mar/19/trump-deportation-children-trauma https://www.ilrc.org/community-resources/know-your-rights/step-step-family-preparedness-plan#:~:text=Make%20sure%20to%20write%20down,find%20someone%20in%20ICE%20custody.  https://phr.org/our-work/resources/what-about-my-children-family-separation-among-parents-deported-to-honduras/ Disclaimer: The statements and opinions expressed by the host or participants on this program are solely their own and do not necessarily represent those of the distributor of the program and any person or entity affiliated with said distributor ("distributor's affiliates").  The distributor and distributor's affiliates are not responsible for, and shall not be liable for, the statements and opinions expressed by the host or participants, or for any content that appears on the program.    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Alvaro Huerta is the Director of Litigation and Advocacy for Immigrant Defenders Law Center. The organization has recently filed suit against the Adelanto immigrant detention facility in Southern California. The lawsuit alleges, "People have been forced to live in unsanitary conditions and subjected to punitive isolation and neglect, conditions that would be considered abuse in almost any other setting. It specifically challenges the denial of basic necessities at the facility—including medical and mental health care, access to the outdoors, adequate nutrition and water, and sanitary living conditions." Alvaro is on the podcast to talk about the lawsuit, conditions at the Adelanto detention facility and in general, the way migrants are treated in facilities across the country. https://www.immdef.org/blog/ltvice_filing https://theraidpodcast.org/ Disclaimer: The statements and opinions expressed by the host or participants on this program are solely their own and do not necessarily represent those of the distributor of the program and any person or entity affiliated with said distributor ("distributor's affiliates").  The distributor and distributor's affiliates are not responsible for, and shall not be liable for, the statements and opinions expressed by the host or participants, or for any content that appears on the program.       Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Back on the podcast is journalist, Nick Schwellenbach. He's a Senior Investigator at Pogo Investigates, the news reporting division of the Project on Government Oversight. John Carlos Frey and Nick discuss a recent article Nick coauthored entitled Ice, Inc. The Top Companies Profiting from Trump's Immigration Crackdown.  They discuss the companies most closely associated with the massive deportation machine and their lobbying efforts to get a bigger and bigger piece of the contract pie. Companies such as Palantir, CSI Aviation, Geo Group, Core Civic and Acquisition Logistics have been awarded massive contracts to implement the deportations. They also lobby and donate millions to political campaigns and PACs. https://www.pogo.org/investigates/ice-inc-the-top-companies-profiting-from-trumps-immigration-crackdown https://theraidpodcast.org/ Disclaimer: The statements and opinions expressed by the host or participants on this program are solely their own and do not necessarily represent those of the distributor of the program and any person or entity affiliated with said distributor ("distributor's affiliates").  The distributor and distributor's affiliates are not responsible for, and shall not be liable for, the statements and opinions expressed by the host or participants, or for any content that appears on the program.    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In March 2025, a year ago this month, the United States deported 238 Venezuelans to El Salvador, to be immediately and indefinitely imprisoned without trial and without convictions, prison sentences nor release dates. Human Rights Watch considered this practice a violation of national and international laws, and especially human rights violations. In this episode John Carlos Frey summarizes this flashpoint of the deportation agenda and how we have continued to violate the constitution since then.  https://theraidpodcast.org/  https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2026/03/15/trump-el-salvador-cecot-deportations/  https://www.nilc.org/resources/tracking-the-cecot-disappearances/  https://www.hrw.org/news/2026/03/16/us/el-salvador-deportees-forcibly-disappeared Disclaimer: The statements and opinions expressed by the host or participants on this program are solely their own and do not necessarily represent those of the distributor of the program and any person or entity affiliated with said distributor ("distributor's affiliates").  The distributor and distributor's affiliates are not responsible for, and shall not be liable for, the statements and opinions expressed by the host or participants, or for any content that appears on the program.      Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Anat Shenker-Osorio is a prominent American political strategist, messaging consultant, and researcher specializing in communication strategies for progressive causes. She is best known for her work on the Race-Class Narrative Project and for founding ASO Communications, where she advises global campaigns. She has presented her work to such groups as the Congressional Progressive Caucus the ACLU, Ford Foundation, and Open Society Foundations. Her commentary frequently appears in such major outlets as The New York Times, Rolling Stone and The Atlantic. Anat shares with John Carlos Frey how to communicate an effective strategy for immigrant rights against what she calls is an authoritarian regime and also share about new growing coalition of immigrant rights advocates called, Brave of US.  https://braveofus.com/  https://asocommunications.com/  https://theraidpodcast.org/ Disclaimer: The statements and opinions expressed by the host or participants on this program are solely their own and do not necessarily represent those of the distributor of the program and any person or entity affiliated with said distributor ("distributor's affiliates").  The distributor and distributor's affiliates are not responsible for, and shall not be liable for, the statements and opinions expressed by the host or participants, or for any content that appears on the program.    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.