The Promise of California: Stories of Detention and Freedom - Publication Date |
- Nov 18, 2022
- Episode Duration |
- 00:29:39
California has always been a place people come to seek refuge. This week, two stories of people seeking the promise of the Golden State, with very different experiences.
First, immigrants held in ICE detention centers often hold jobs in those facilities: cleaning, folding laundry, even working as barbers. Those positions often only pay a dollar a day. For the last several months, some of those immigrant detainees in two facilities in and around Bakersfield have gone on strike, demanding better pay and working conditions. KQED’s labor correspondent, Farida Jhabvala Romero, has been talking with immigrants from inside detention who say they’ve been retaliated against for going on strike.
Then, a new law declares California a safe state for families who want to come here to get hormones or puberty blockers for transgender kids. The law protects parents who have nonbinary or trans kids and want gender-affirming care for them. This year, 21 states have tried to restrict or ban medical care for trans kids. KQED’s health correspondent Lesley McClurg brings us the story of one family from Texas who just upended their life and moved to California to protect their child.