ICE, White Nationalism, and Who Gets to Be American

ICE, White Nationalism, and Who Gets to Be American

Author: Lydje Lahens January 30, 2026 Duration: 44:51
Badly Governed
HealthHealth & FitnessFitnessMentalScienceSocial

When immigration, policing, and white supremacy collide, whole communities pay the price. This episode of Badly Governed breaks down how ICE raids, white nationalism, and the U.S. criminal legal system work together to target Black and Brown people under the banner of “public safety” and “border security.” We look directly at who gets labeled a criminal, who is treated as worthy of protection, and how state violence is justified through racialized fear.

Our guest, Amy “Amy Mac” McDonald—content creator and host of the Foolish Optimist podcast- joins us to talk about the real‑life impact of immigration enforcement: unannounced raids, families living in constant fear, and neighborhoods reshaped by detention and deportation. Together, we examine how white privilege structures every step of this process and why dismantling that power is essential for any honest conversation about ICE, mass incarceration, and who truly gets to belong in America.

Resources:

Triolo, T. (2025). The empathy gap: It is Black and White. Self-published.

Support the podcast:

Donation: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted...

Buy something: https://lahensnet.creator-spring.com/

References:

Pillai, A., Pillai, D., & Artiga, S. (2025, September 30). Health issues for immigrants in detention centers. KFF. https://www.kff.org/racial-equity-and-health-policy/health-issues-for-immigrants-in-detention-centers/

Pinedo, M., & Valdez, C. R. (2020). Immigration enforcement policies and the mental health of US citizens: Findings from a comparative analysis. American Journal of Community Psychology, 66(3–4), 427–439. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajcp.12464

Credits:

Host & Executive Producer: Lydje Lahens

Producer: Lydje Lahens

Writers: Lydje Lahens and Amy McDonald

Videographer: Anthony Schultz

Digital Copy Editor: Lydje Lahens

Social Media Graphics & Management: Lydje Lahens & Dream Big

Web Developer: Lotin Enterprise (https://www.lotin.net)

Video Editors & Shorts: KINGRIQUOSUAVE

Branding: Zozimus

Keywords:

#whiteprivilege #whitenationalism #whitesupremacy #ICEraids #ICEimmigrationraids #immigrationenforcement #deportationintheUnitedStates #familyseparation #immigrationandcriminaljustice #criminallegalsystemandrace #racialprofiling #antiBlackracism #racisminimmigration#Americancitizenshipandrace #BlackandBrowncommunities #stateviolenceandpolicing #abolitionistperspectivesonICE #podcastaboutwhiteprivilege #podcastaboutimmigration #socialjusticepodcast #BadlyGovernedpodcast #AmyMcDonald #FoolishOptimist


Hosted by Lydje Lahens, Badly Governed is a conversation series that digs into the often messy intersection of our personal well-being and the societies we live in. Each episode moves beyond abstract debate, grounding discussions in tangible realities by speaking with community organizers, scientists, healthcare workers, and policy thinkers. You’ll hear how systemic issues directly shape individual health, fitness routines, and mental resilience. The dialogue explores the science behind social phenomena and questions how our communities are structured, seeking clarity within complex topics. This podcast creates a space where these interconnected themes-spanning health, science, and social structures-are examined not in isolation, but as parts of a whole. It’s for anyone curious about the underlying forces governing daily life and looking for thoughtful perspectives that link personal experience to broader collective challenges. The conversations are candid and geared toward understanding, offering listeners a nuanced audio landscape to explore how we navigate a world that often feels, as the title suggests, imperfectly managed.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 10

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