16 For Asylum, Against Ambush: Will the West Coast Be A Sanctuary for America's Soul? With Anonymous Immigration Rights Advocate

Pacific Time: The "What if...?" of West Coast Independence

What if protecting immigrants is the best way to protect American identity?

In towns and cities up and down the West Coast, immigrants arrived in search of safety and opportunity. But what happens after they cross the border? Who helps them navigate the broken promises—and the broken systems?

In this episode of Pacific Time, Greg speaks with an immigrant rights advocate who requested anonymity. This person sits with families, fills out their forms, attends their hearings, and looks after them when ICE shows up without warning.

Through our guest’s stories, we hear about the trauma families carry, the cultural resilience they bring, and the urgent need for the West Coast to do more than welcome—to protect. As federal systems collapse and fear spreads, our guest offers a vision of community, solidarity, and soul-saving moral clarity.

Highlights

• Why recent arrivals are grateful—and determined not to be a “public charge”
• How ICE raids, no-warrant arrests, and legal limbo are tearing families apart
• The hidden promise and process gap
• Stories from Venezuela, Nicaragua, Cameroon, Syria, and Turkmenistan—and what they reveal
• Why cultural events matter as much as court appearances
• Our guest’s warning: “We are going to lose our souls if we don’t stand up.”

About Our Guest

Our guest leads an immigrant rights advocacy organization in the Pacific Northwest. For years, our guest has worked to ensure that immigrant families receive legal guidance, emotional support, English language education, and cultural affirmation. Due to threats and the sensitive nature of her work, our guest’s identity is protected in this interview.

Resources & References:

• Northwest Immigrant Rights Project
• California Immigrant Policy Center
• El Centro de la Raza
• Oregon for All
• Immigrants' Rights | American Civil Liberties Union
• Separated: Inside an American Tragedy: By Jacob Soboroff
• Asylum, Explained - Boundless
• Red Cards / Tarjetas Rojas | Immigrant Legal Resource Center | ILRC

Related Episodes:

• 15 What if Connection Was A Civic Responsibility? With Aaron Hurst
• 12 What if the Resistance was Funny? With Mark Fiore
• 07 A West Coast Wake-up Call as the US Scrambles the World Order? With John Zysman

Join the movement:

💬 Participate in active, civil conversations with your neighbors on the West Coast who are asking ‘What if…?’ For example, what if your ancestors were fleeing violence or persecution where they grew up today? How would that change the way you look at immigrant rights and processes? Subscribe (for free) and let’s discuss on Substack.

Follow:

📲 Pacific Time is making good trouble asking questions about the future of the West Coast on BlueSky, Instagram, and Facebook

Listen:

🎧 Pacific Time Podcast is on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and many other platforms. Follow, share, and leave a review.

Thanks to:

• Sponsor: ShareIt Music
• Wise Counsel: Blair Carleton
• Moral Support: Kerry Reding
• Producers: Tim Wohlberg, Valerie McTavish