The Deconstructionists

This episode dismantles the most persistent myths surrounding immigration and replaces them with how the system actually works.We walk through immigration policy historically and in real time—naming the racial roots of U.S. immigration law, explaining why “just do it legally” is not a serious policy position, and breaking down the real costs, timelines, and barriers people face today.We also look at crime data, benefits myths, economic contributions, and the very real impact current enforcement strategies are having on American farmers and food systems.Topics coveredWhy immigration law has always been shaped by racePolicies that restricted Italians, Asians, and other groupsObama-era deportations vs. today’s enforcement tacticsWhy deportation numbers vary depending on who’s countingReal immigration pathways, timelines, and costsWhy asylum is slow—and dangerous to wait throughCrime data vs. fear narrativesTaxes, benefits, and economic contributionFarm labor shortages and food supply impactsWhy immigration refor