Why one Yakima Valley farmworker decided to "self deport" episode artwork

EPISODE · Jul 21, 2026 · 20 MIN

Why one Yakima Valley farmworker decided to "self deport"

from Soundside · host KUOW News and Information

After a lull earlier this year, we’re seeing a surge of immigration arrests in recent weeks across the U.S. In the wake of two fatal shootings by ICE agents this month, the Trump administration has issued conflicting policies about how officers will conduct arrests. Fears of detainment and deportation remain high among immigrants – especially in Washington’s agricultural communities. The situation has pushed some undocumented immigrants to consider voluntarily leaving the United States. It’s an act the Trump administration calls “self deportation”. A recent story by RANGE Media documented the journey of one orchard worker based in Sunnyside, Washington who chose to return to her home country of Mexico – and the impact immigration enforcement has had on Yakima County’s farming community. Guests: Hal Bernton - an independent journalist based in Portland. He reported for the Seattle Times for over 20 years.  Daisy Zavala Magaña - a reporter with Range Media Related stories: For a Yakima Valley farmworker, Trump’s immigration crackdown prompts a wrenching decision to self-deport - RANGE Media Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Jul 21, 2026

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A recent story by RANGE Media documented the journey of one orchard worker based in Sunnyside, Washington who chose to return to her home country of Mexico – and the impact immigration enforcement has had on Yakima County’s farming community.

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Why one Yakima Valley farmworker decided to "self deport"

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