America’s Immigration Story and South Carolina's Front Lines w/ Jennie Montenotte of Charleston Legal Access

America’s immigration story has always been about power, control, and who gets to belong. From the Chinese Exclusion Act and Operation Wetback to modern ICE enforcement and expedited removal, we trace the full history of US immigration policy before bringing it home to South Carolina’s front lines. Immigration attorney Jennie Montenotte of Charleston Legal Access explains how immigration court, Notice to Appear filings, ICE check ins, and asylum cases are playing out for families across our state. If you want to understand how federal immigration policy impacts South Carolina communities in real time, this conversation connects the national timeline to what is happening on the ground right now. 00:00 Introduction 02:19 Early U.S. Immigration Laws (1790–1850) 03:50 Exclusion Era and Border Expansion 06:23 WWII to 1965 Immigration Reform 09:32 Rise of Detention and Private Prisons 13:49 Obama to Trump Enforcement Shift 17:38 Biden Surge and 2026 Crackdowns 19:58 Meet Jennie Montenotte and CLA 23:20 Immigration in South Carolina 24:43 Court vs USCIS Immigration Process 28:57 ICE Dismissals and Expedited Removal 33:16 Criminal Records and SC ICE Bill 36:19 Immigration Costs and SC Detentions 41:43 Who ICE Is Really Targeting 43:30 What South Carolina Can Do 46:18 Outreach and Statewide Legal Access