
About this episode
A new chapter of ICE terror has begun, but instead of taking place on the street—where agents are held accountable by protesters and their phones—mistreatment and coercion is now happening behind the closed doors of ICE detention facilities. These private prisons are operated by a company with close ties to the Trump administration, and have such abominable conditions that detainees at several facilities are waging hunger strikes. To get an idea of the mistreatment immigrants are facing, Alex speaks with Melissa Shepard, an attorney with Immigration Defenders Law Center, whose clients are given dirty water and spoiled food, retaliated against for participating in hunger strikes, and endlessly pressured to self deport. Then, she puts it all into context with Caitlin Dickerson, an immigration reporter at The Atlantic who recently embedded in Honduras to interview deportees from the U.S.
Get every episode summarized
Each time Runaway Country with Alex Wagner publishes, we email you a written briefing from the transcript — the topics, who appeared, and any specific claims, with the ad reads skipped.
Email me new episodesFree for 3 shows. No card needed.
Hosts & guests
No transcript yet
This episode has not been transcribed. Request it and it moves to the front of the queue.
More episodes
More from Runaway Country with Alex Wagner

Measles Outbreak: The RFK Effect
Runaway Country with Alex Wagner
Sep 10, 20261:11:50failed

Trump’s Red State Sabotage
Runaway Country with Alex Wagner
Sep 3, 202657:26completed

Will Data Centers Cost Republicans the Midterms?
Runaway Country with Alex Wagner
Aug 27, 20261:19:18pending

North Carolina: "Tar Heel Flip"
Runaway Country with Alex Wagner
Aug 20, 202625:47pending