Who Was Ismael Ayala?

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7
PROGRAM #10920 12:00 PM PT

Who Was Ismael Ayala? 

Ismael Ayala died while in ICE custody at a detention center in California. Although the official cause of death has not been disclosed, his family claims that guards ignored his pleas for help when he began feeling ill. His case brings the number of migrant deaths in immigration custody to 14 during Trump’s second term. What are the Ayala family’s allegations? What is known about the circumstances of his death? What support is the family receiving? Why so many deaths?

Guest: Victor Nieblas-Pardis, Attorney, AILA national past president and professor, Loyola Law School at Loyola Marymount University, City of Industry, CA;excerpts from recent statements by Jesús Eduardo Arias, lawyer representing the family of Ismael Ayala; and Lucia Uribe Martinez, Ismael’s mother.

The H-2A Visa Trap. More and more foreign workers are coming to the U.S. on H-2A visas to fill agricultural jobs, amid a decline in local labor and stricter immigration policies. The program promises fair wages and decent housing. But an investigation by ProPublica reveals a stark contrast. Who truly benefits from this visa system? Why does the current administration promote it as a viable work option? What real-life stories expose the gap between promises and the exploitation workers often endure?

Guest: Lucas Benitez, Co-founder, Coalition of Immokalee Workers, Immokalee, FL.

Is DACA Reopening? The Trump administration has announced plans to reopen DACA, which has been closed to new applicants since 2021. If approved by a federal judge, the program would once again offer work permits and residency, except in Texas. What compelled authorities to make this move? What are the details of the proposal? What hopes does this announcement spark? And what doubts or concerns do potential applicants still face?

Guest: Adonias Arevalo, Chief of staff, PoderLatinx, Miami, FL.

Photo: BBC World Service/Flickr

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