Borderline

Vaccinated non-nationals will soon be allowed into the United States again. Journalist Anna Lekas Miller discusses how the United States’ pandemic travel restrictions fit into the larger picture of American borders.

Show Notes

Travelers from 33 countries – nearly half the planet – were long barred from entry into the United States for pandemic reasons. They’ll be allowed in again from early November as long as they can prove they are fully vaccinated and provide a negative Covid-19 test. People who do not have access to the vaccine, however, can add one more item to the list of reasons why they may never set foot in the world’s richest country. Journalist Anna Lekas Miller discusses how the United States’ pandemic travel restrictions fit into the larger historical and political picture of American borders, from white supremacy to Biden's policies.

Show notes
00:00 Intro
01:47 How US travel restrictions are changing
05:53 Vaccination status will increasingly condition travel
11:22 Has the pandemic opened privileged immigrants' eyes? 
16:47 White supremacy was enshrined in immigration law
21:01 Immigration enforcement targets racialized people
23:13 Membership ad
25:08 Has the Biden administration fundamentally changed the tone?
29:49 Kamala Harris's message to Latin America
32:44 Looking ahead
34:59 Outro

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What is Borderline?

Borderline is a podcast for defiant global citizens covering geopolitics, immigration and lives that straddle borders, with host Isabelle Roughol.