Unlocked: How Government Works

Unlocked: Who Enforces America's Immigration Laws?

Unlocked: How Government Works

Show Notes

On this episode of "Unlocked," host Nancy Gibbs taps Syracuse University professor and leading immigration policy expert Austin Kocher to help break down the complex world of immigration enforcement in the United States, and untangle the roles of agencies like Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and Homeland Security. They discuss the challenges journalists face on the immigration beat, and the importance of verifying data and centering immigrants' real stories when reporting on this issue.

More from Unlocked: How Government Works

Nov 5, 2025

Former Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick joins host Nancy Gibbs for a deep dive on the National Guard—covering everything from how and when they can be deployed to who holds command and who foots the bill. Drawing from his own experiences calling up the Guard during the Boston Marathon Bombing, Governor Patrick explains the chain of authority and the complex decision-making and coordination involved between state and federal authorities.

Oct 15, 2025

Former FCC Chair Tom Wheeler sits down with Nancy Gibbs to discuss how the Federal Communications Commission has historically regulated what Americans see and hear. Wheeler explains how longstanding norms are being tested by the current administration and why it's more important than ever for journalists and the public to understand both the legal limits of the agency's powers and the civil liberties those limits were designed to protect.

Oct 8, 2025

What is a class action lawsuit, and what role might this type of litigation play in the shaping of US law and policy? On this episode of Unlocked, Harvard Law Professor William Rubenstein joins host Nancy Gibbs to discuss how these cases work, the types of issues they address, and what questions reporters should be asking when covering class action lawsuits.

Sep 3, 2025

On this episode of Unlocked, Shorenstein Center Director Nancy Gibbs talks with Dr. Paul Offit, Director of the Vaccine Education Center and an attending physician in the Division of Infectious Diseases at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, about how vaccines get from the research lab to the doctor's office and the federal policies and practices that guide immunization in the United States. Dr. Offit explains the rigorous process behind vaccine approval, the role of advisory committees, and how safety is monitored over time.

Jul 23, 2025

On this episode of Unlocked, host Nancy Gibbs talks with Juliette Kayyem, former Assistant Secretary for Intergovernmental Affairs at the Department of Homeland Security under President Obama, about the legal complexities surrounding immigration enforcement in the United States. From detention and deportation procedures to what happens at the border, Kayyem breaks down the rights afforded to citizens and non-citizens alike and the limits of government power.

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