Only in America with Ali Noorani

What really drives the immigration debate? It’s people, not politics. Join us for “Only in America” from the National Immigration Forum to hear how Americans from all walks of life and from across the political spectrum are experiencing changes in their communities as a result of immigration. Faith leaders, law enforcement officials, business owners and others speak openly about the way culture, identity and values are shaping and defining our country, and they offer a constructive way forward in the immigration debate.

Our Final Episode 02/09/2022

Our Final Episode It’s our final episode! This week, we look back at our favorite memories, clips, and episodes from the podcast. Featured guests include and , , and many others. We hope you enjoy this look back at a great pod. Thank you to all our guests and everyone who helped make this happen! Please visit our and for more stories and information about the National Immigration Forum. /episode/index/show/onlyinamerica/id/22078031

Ithaca isn’t just Gorges – it's Welcoming! 02/02/2022

Ithaca isn’t just Gorges – it's Welcoming! It’s another virtual road trip – this week to Ithaca. And don't forget your mittens because it's cold out there! This week we are joined by from She details their origin story, the organization’s current challenges, and what she hopes for Ithaca and IWR in the future. Check out their to learn more about how to help IWR and some /episode/index/show/onlyinamerica/id/21999035

What’s Next for Refugee Resettlement in 2022? 01/26/2022

What’s Next for Refugee Resettlement in 2022? President Biden inherited an emaciated resettlement and asylum program from former President Trump, whose administration enacted blatantly anti-immigrant, anti-refugee and anti-asylum policies throughout its four years. This week we look at the path forward for those affected by America’s archaic immigration system - and what you can do to help make changes for immigrants and their families in our communities. We hear from , President and CEO of , Director of Policy and Practice at , and a Policy Analyst at the If you liked what you heard here, please be sure to check out the on our page. /episode/index/show/onlyinamerica/id/21905987

President Biden’s Year in Review 01/19/2022

President Biden’s Year in Review It’s President Biden’s one-year anniversary in the White House. This week we look at the progress for immigration advocacy and how that bodes for those still hoping for reforms now. We speak with , Vice President for policy and director of immigration at the Niskanen Center, and Policy and Advocacy Manager at the Forum. Also be sure to check out the Forum’s recent white paper, for a rundown of the progress we’ve seen – and the work that still has to be done. /episode/index/show/onlyinamerica/id/21829607

Dairy Farming in the 21st century 01/12/2022

Dairy Farming in the 21st century The supply chain has now become a big part of our national discussion. And a large, cheese-sized hunk of those goods are related to dairy farming. But without immigrant employees, like many agribusinesses, dairy farms across the country wouldn’t be able to function. This week, we take a look at America’s dairy farms and how they’re embracing their immigrant workforce. We speak with Ohio Dairy Farmer, Kathy Davis, and Mercedes Falk, the president of Puentes. /episode/index/show/onlyinamerica/id/21744677

Olympic Dreams 3 12/28/2021

Olympic Dreams 3 The Olympics are a unique opportunity to celebrate both individual victories and our collective unity. And this week we went for the gold! Ali speaks with former Olympian and refugee Makorobondo “Dee” Salukombo about learning to love running and his work starting Project Kirotshe a program that pays children in Congo’s school fees as they train and run races throughout Eastern Africa. /episode/index/show/onlyinamerica/id/21577937

Sikh Captain America 12/28/2021

Sikh Captain America We are back! Thank you for joining us after our brief break. Not all heroes wear capes, but this one does wear a Captain America costume. Vishavjit Singh is a writer, artist, creator of Sikhtoons, and Sikh Captain America. He uses his powers of building bridges and storytelling to fight intolerance and have difficult conversations to create understanding. He tells us his origin story and about his new animated film, “American Sikh”, an animated short about seeking acceptance in an intolera /episode/index/show/onlyinamerica/id/21578033

A Country of Welcome 12/28/2021

A Country of Welcome President Biden’s decision to raise the refugee ceiling to 62,500 came after a broad range of voices urged the administration to reconsider their initial decision to keep the ceiling at the historically low 15,000 set by President Trump. Ali speaks with Edafe Okporo, a global gay rights activist and executive director of the RDJ Refugee Shelter in Harlem and Jenny Yang, Senior Vice President of Advocacy and Policy at World Relief. /episode/index/show/onlyinamerica/id/21578120

Fugees Academy 12/28/2021

Fugees Academy For Luma Mufleh, soccer has always been a passion. This week we hear how she combined that love for the pitch with providing education to young refugees in Ohio and Georgia. We also hear from educators and students at Fugees Academy about why this school is so important for both its students and the refugee community at large. /episode/index/show/onlyinamerica/id/21578207

What’s happening at the Southern Border 12/28/2021

What’s happening at the Southern Border There are reports of a backlog of thousands of people willing to take a chance. And those turned back usually wait a bit in Mexico and try again. So how does the number of people attempting to cross the border this year compare to previous years? What are these individuals and families facing? And what approaches can we take to start addressing these issues? /episode/index/show/onlyinamerica/id/21578303

Behind the film: “The Infiltrators” 12/22/2021

Behind the film: “The Infiltrators” The new film “The Infiltrators” tells the true story of young immigrants who are detained by the Border Patrol and thrown into a shadowy for-profit detention center. This week we chatted with the filmmakers, Alex Rivera and Cristina Ibarra. Both received MacArthur fellowships and join us to talk about their story, the making of the film, and their future projects. /episode/index/show/onlyinamerica/id/21575996

Fugees Academy, Pt. II 12/15/2021

Fugees Academy, Pt. II It’s Part 2 of our visit to the Fugees Academy in Ohio. This week, we hear from students and faculty about what it was like at the school after the 2016 election, their advice for those new to the U.S., and what they look forward to for the future (spoiler: 9th grade is hopefully better than 8th). /episode/index/show/onlyinamerica/id/21494627

Fugees Academy 12/08/2021

What is ‘Great Replacement’ Theory and how can we push back against it? 12/01/2021

What is ‘Great Replacement’ Theory and how can we push back against it? It’s a bigoted ideology that has led to hate and violence – and to U.S. laws and fringe political movements. But why does it continue to shape immigration policies and pop up in cable news and social media? This week we speak to Alan Cross, a Southern Baptist pastor, and author who has written extensively on the role of the church in race relations. Be sure to check out our in-depth explainer and resource page about the ‘Great Replacement’ theory’s origins, misconceptions a /episode/index/show/onlyinamerica/id/21337667

Welcoming Afghans, Part VI 11/24/2021

Welcoming Afghans, Part VI This week, we bring you the story of a diverse coalition made up of former presidents, business coalition leaders, and many more working together to help Afghan evacuees. In the last episode of our “Welcoming Afghans” series, we talk to Nazanin Ash, CEO of Welcome.us and Nadia Hashimi a member of the National Welcome Council at Welcome.us. /episode/index/show/onlyinamerica/id/21272360

Welcoming Afghans, Part V 11/17/2021

Welcoming Afghans, Part V Picture this: 2 veterans helping Afghan evacuees find safety and build new lives in Ohio using mostly social media and fundraising sites. In one of the most moving and engaging episodes we’ve had yet, Matt Carpenter and Rick Stockburger detail their mission to help 150 people evacuate Afghanistan this fall. They also detail what some of these evacuees are facing coming to the US as well as stories of working and fighting alongside Afghan nationals in the hopes of building a more democratic Afghanistan. /episode/index/show/onlyinamerica/id/21193265

Welcoming Afghans, Part IV: Veterans Day 11/10/2021

Welcoming Afghans, Part IV: Veterans Day Veterans Day is a day to celebrate those who have served and are serving in the Armed Forces – and their commitment to the effort to welcome Afghans to America is no exception. In this week’s episode, we look at how the military community has stepped up to the challenge of welcoming new arrivals – and how these connections, along with new legislation, can set Afghans up for success. We speak this week with Margaret Stock, Nazanin Ash, Nadia Hashimi. /episode/index/show/onlyinamerica/id/21121877

Welcoming Afghans Part III 11/03/2021

Welcoming Afghans Part III Through digital and in-person efforts, countless people around the U.S. continue to help Afghan evacuees resettle in their new community. This week we bring you stories from two local organizations helping in a big way. /episode/index/show/onlyinamerica/id/21038447

Welcoming Afghans Part II 10/26/2021

Welcoming Afghans Part II This week, the story of one organization that is showing up in a big way for Afghan evacuees: The International Institute of Akron has been welcoming immigrants and refugees to Akron for over 100 years, but recent changes in the refugee ceiling – and then the military withdrawal from Afghanistan this year – has changed their work in big ways. In the second part of our multi-part series about helping Afghan evacuees, we speak with Madhu Sharma, the Executive Director of The International /episode/index/show/onlyinamerica/id/20948009

Welcoming Afghans, Part I 10/20/2021

Welcoming Afghans, Part I Thousands of Afghan evacuees are still unmoored months after the U.S withdrawal from Afghanistan. Many remain on military bases in the U.S. and across the world. Their stories don’t end with evacuation - in fact, it’s just the beginning of a resettlement process that requires a formidable amount of planning, resources, and cooperation across communities. In our first episode, we speak to Bri Stensrud, Director of Women of Welcome. /episode/index/show/onlyinamerica/id/20881877

Sikh Captain America 10/13/2021

Sikh Captain America We are back! Thank you for joining us after our brief break. /episode/index/show/onlyinamerica/id/20804177

What do borders mean in a globalized world? 08/11/2021

What do borders mean in a globalized world? This week we look at the symbolism and substance of borders. We’ve covered the US/Mexico border previously, but this time we take a large look at borderlands and what those lines mean for the people living on either side. /episode/index/show/onlyinamerica/id/20106245

Reconciliation and Immigration Reform 08/04/2021

Reconciliation and Immigration Reform Immigration reform for Dreamers could be on the horizon, but what does achieving it through budget reconciliation mean for future immigration reform efforts? This week we speak to Bill Kristol director of Defending Democracy Together. Our conversation looks at what the potentially $3.5 trillion budget package would really mean for DACA and other immigration laws as well as the future of bipartisan legislation. /episode/index/show/onlyinamerica/id/20033024

Olympic Dreams: Makorobondo “Dee” Salukombo 07/28/2021

Olympic Dreams: Makorobondo “Dee” Salukombo The Olympics are a unique opportunity to celebrate both individual victories and our collective unity. And this week we went for the gold! Ali speaks with former Olympian and refugee Makorobondo “Dee” Salukombo about learning to love running and his work starting Project Kirotshe a program that pays children in Congo’s school fees as they train and run races throughout Eastern Africa. /episode/index/show/onlyinamerica/id/19958477

Fútbol is Life: The Curbside Cup 07/20/2021

Fútbol is Life: The Curbside Cup As the Olympics approach and we collectively turn our TVs to feats of athleticism, we highlight another way sports brings people together. This week’s episode features the co-founders of the Curbside Cup – a soccer tournament for refugee children in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Terri Sheldon and Jean Bosco Tuyisenge tell the story of how the tournament came together and how soccer led to new possibilities. /episode/index/show/onlyinamerica/id/19874213

Immigrants are Essential to Economic Recovery 07/14/2021

Immigrants are Essential to Economic Recovery Driving through neighborhoods across the country, you could see the effects. Shuttered storefronts. Quiet business districts. Not to mention the stories of families who have scraped by day after day, over the last year. In this episode, we check bring stories of immigrant business owners and workers who have been essential to the response and recovery to COVID-19. Ali speaks with Ramiro Cavazos, Issaka Kouraogo and Lawrence Yoo for our episode this week. /episode/index/show/onlyinamerica/id/19807541

Immigrant Heritage: The Stories behind the Numbers Pt. 2 06/16/2021

Immigrant Heritage: The Stories behind the Numbers Pt. 2 Our celebration of Immigration Heritage Month continues! And as much as Immigrant Heritage Month is a joyful occasion, it’s also an opportunity to remember how much more work there is to be done. For part 2, we revisit some of last week’s guests -- and talk to some new ones -- to hear more about their heritage and how it informs their sense of being American. We are joined by guests Jessica Astudillo, Eric Kwak, Farah Larrieux, and Edilsa Lopez. /episode/index/show/onlyinamerica/id/19500131

Immigrant Heritage: The Stories behind the Numbers 06/09/2021

Immigrant Heritage: The Stories behind the Numbers It’s Immigrant Heritage Month! And for the next two weeks, we’ll be sharing stories that shine a light on the contributions of immigrants – those who came here to work hard, seek opportunities or find protection – and what their experiences and recent research can tell us about the American Identity and American attitudes towards immigration. We hear this week from, Jessica Astudillo, Emily Ekins, Farah Larrieux, and Edilsa Lopez. /episode/index/show/onlyinamerica/id/19419266

Field Notes: Utah – Chief Mike Brown 06/02/2021

Field Notes: Utah – Chief Mike Brown In the final stop on our virtual road trip through Utah, we talk to Salt Lake City Police Chief Mike Brown. Chief Brown discusses how his department is building a pathway for a diverse range of young people, including DACA recipients, to get involved in a career in law enforcement. /episode/index/show/onlyinamerica/id/19330196

Field Notes: Utah – Mayor Jenny Wilson 05/26/2021

Field Notes: Utah – Mayor Jenny Wilson In Utah, where the immigrant population has grown significantly in recent decades, federal policies are only the beginning of a conversation that can play out much more meaningfully at the local level. Utah’s changing demographics have presented new challenges – and new opportunities. /episode/index/show/onlyinamerica/id/19250957

Only in America with Ali Noorani

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