Episode 54: Resistance — From Local Action to National Pushback

ICE’s expansion has fueled unprecedented resistance across the country. In this episode, Bella Goode traces how communities, courts, and coalitions are fighting back—from shutting down Alligator Alcatraz in Florida, to months-long protests in Portland, to a small-town uprising in Phillipsburg, Pennsylvania. What emerges is a movement that proves resistance can win—whether in court rulings, workplace walkouts, or grassroots solidarity. This is the conclusion of our six-part series on ICE, and a reminder that collective courage can redraw the boundaries of what’s possible.

Key Takeaways To Listen For

• How lawsuits by tribes, environmentalists, and immigrant advocates shut down Florida’s “Alligator Alcatraz” detention project
• Why Portland and Seattle became symbols of urban resistance, linking direct action to measurable drops in ICE arrests
• The rise of workplace defense networks in New Jersey and sanctuary protections in New York as part of regional pushback
• Phillipsburg, Pennsylvania’s unlikely uprising: locals and immigrants uniting against GEO’s secretive detention center
• The death of detainee Chao Feng Ji and how his story galvanized a movement for accountability
• How grassroots resistance forced congressional debates, court challenges, and the introduction of the bipartisan Dignity Act of 2025

Resources Mentioned In This Episode

• Center for Biological Diversity
• Friends of the Everglades
• The GEO Group
• Miccosukee
• Seminole 
• Moshannon Valley Processing Center
• Henry M. Jackson Federal Building
• Alligator Alcatraz

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