Immigration. It’s in the news, it’s in the headlines, it’s a political flashpoint. It generates a lot of sound and fury, a lot of strong ideas and raised voices. And for most of us, it can be hard to sort through all that noise and understand – what is actually going on? What’s legal for people to do, and what’s not? How do U.S. immigration rules affect people’s lives? What is it like to deal with the barriers – both seen and unseen – to people who want to stay in the U.S.?

On this podcast, we explore the world of U.S. immigration – from issues that come up in the news like the border, and separation of families, to things you may have heard less about, like the strange and secret world of the immigration courts – to uncover how all of it works, Along the way we talk with lots of people with stories to tell about how immigration has impacted their lives.

Hosts Lindsay Goldford Gray and Jennie Guilfoyle work together at a nonprofit called VECINA, that empowers immigrant justice advocates through mentoring attorneys, educating communities, and mobilizing volunteers.