America’s immigration story has always been about power, control, and who gets to belong. From the Chinese Exclusion Act and Operation Wetback to modern ICE enforcement and expedited removal, we trace the full history of US immigration policy before bringing it home to South Carolina’s front lines. Immigration attorney Jennie Montenotte of Charleston Legal Access explains how immigration court, Notice to Appear filings, ICE check ins, and asylum cases are playing out for families across our state. If you want to understand how federal immigration policy impacts South Carolina communities in real time, this conversation connects the national timeline to what is happening on the ground right now.
00:00 Introduction
02:19 Early U.S. Immigration Laws (1790–1850)
03:50 Exclusion Era and Border Expansion
06:23 WWII to 1965 Immigration Reform
09:32 Rise of Detention and Private Prisons
13:49 Obama to Trump Enforcement Shift
17:38 Biden Surge and 2026 Crackdowns
19:58 Meet Jennie Montenotte and CLA
23:20 Immigration in South Carolina
24:43 Court vs USCIS Immigration Process
28:57 ICE Dismissals and Expedited Removal
33:16 Criminal Records and SC ICE Bill
36:19 Immigration Costs and SC Detentions
41:43 Who ICE Is Really Targeting
43:30 What South Carolina Can Do
46:18 Outreach and Statewide Legal Access
