cover of episode What the Media Get Wrong About Immigration

What the Media Get Wrong About Immigration

2024/7/12
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Iyad el-Baghdadi
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Jonathan Blitzer
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Jonathan Blitzer认为，美国媒体对中美洲移民危机的报道存在误区，常常将问题简单化，只关注华盛顿的政治决策和边境局势，而忽略了其深层历史原因和美国长期政策的影响。他指出，移民危机并非孤立事件，而是与美国冷战时期在中美洲扶持右翼政权、干涉内战等政策密切相关，这些政策导致了大量难民涌入美国。此外，自1990年以来，美国移民系统长期缺乏改革，也加剧了边境压力。Blitzer认为，要理解移民危机，必须将目光放长远，看到美国与中美洲之间长期以来复杂且难以分割的关系。

Deep Dive

Chapters
Jonathan Blitzer discusses how U.S. foreign policy during the Cold War contributed to the current immigration crisis. The 1980 Refugee Act, while intending to offer protection, coincided with U.S. support for right-wing regimes in Central America, leading to displacement and asylum seekers. This, coupled with the 1996 immigration law, created a large undocumented population trapped in the U.S. due to stricter deportation rules and limited pathways to legal status.
  • U.S. foreign policy during the Cold War contributed to the current immigration crisis.
  • The 1980 Refugee Act coincided with U.S. support for right-wing regimes in Central America.
  • The 1996 immigration law created a large undocumented population trapped in the U.S.

Shownotes Transcript

Immigration is one of the most important issues in this year’s presidential election. This week, On the Media traces how root causes of mass migration from Central America to the United States over the past decade stem back to the Cold War. Plus, a deep dive on terms like “colonialism” and “decolonization,” and what they mean in the context of Israel-Palestine.

[01:00] Host Brooke Gladstone speaks with Jonathan Blitzer), who covers immigration for The New Yorker and is author of the book, Everyone Who Is Gone Is Here), about how the root causes of mass migration from Central America to the United States over the past decade stem back to the Cold War. This interview originally aired on our February 2, 2024 show.

[15:30] Brooke continues her conversation with Jonathan Blitzer) about how the past and future of Central America and the United States are inextricable, and the far-reaching consequences of Congress’ refusal to reform the immigration system since 1990. This interview originally aired on our February 2, 2024 show.

[30:58] Brooke Gladstone speaks with Iyad el-Baghdadi), a Palestinian human rights activist, writer, and co-author of The Middle East Crisis Factory), about the value of historical parallels to describe the conflict in Palestine, and why the precise meanings behind words like “decolonization” and “colonialism” are crucial. This interview originally aired on our March 8, 2024 show.

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