Host Dino examines how the Trump administration’s authoritarian playbook reaches from university classrooms to immigrant neighborhoods. CSU faculty describe a federal “antisemitism” probe they say chills academic freedom, while a civil rights attorney breaks down what to do when ICE shows up at your home, job site, or in public — and why knowing your rights matters now. All framed by The Signal’s commitment to fearless, independent public radio.
This is viewer supported news. Please do your part today.
TRANSCRIPT
This is a rush transcript. Copy may not be in its final form.
00:00:00:01 - 00:00:29:04
ANNOUNCER
And I heard this hour 818985 Kpfk (818) 985-5735 or for a donation of just $80, you'll receive a pair of tickets to see. The one and only Kamasi Washington will be at the Hollywood Blue Note. He'll be there. Thursday, October 9th at 7 p.m.. You'll get a pair of tickets, or you can go on Sunday, October 12th at 9:30 p.m. with a donation of just $80 to the station.
00:00:29:04 - 00:00:49:04
ANNOUNCER
These are tax deductible donations. We want to thank our guests. Aria as holiday. Thank you, poncho McFarland. Thank you to our producers and our board ups and all those who made today's program possible. Signing off for free to. Now. This is the stage. And until next week, as always, we stand ready for revolution work.
00:00:49:06 - 00:00:55:18
MUSIC
Want to thank you? I.
00:00:55:20 - 00:01:06:02
ANNOUNCER
This. We're fighting for this Kpfk. We should not be 90 point 7FM Los Angeles Street.
00:01:06:04 - 00:01:10:09
MUSIC
We should not be.
00:01:10:11 - 00:01:18:06
MUSIC
On the.
00:01:18:08 - 00:01:23:08
MUSIC
I'm not just the American government.
00:01:23:10 - 00:01:34:03
MUSIC
Government in general ¡Hay Dios! ¿Que es lo que le pasa al jefe tomando... Señor, será que su cerebro..
00:01:34:05 - 00:01:35:04
MUSIC
no está funcionando.
00:01:35:09 - 00:02:04:10
DINO
On and the city. Good afternoon. And buenas tardes. Welcome. Welcome to another episode of The Signal. Here on Kpfk Los Angeles, kpfk.org, where you can go on and contribute to this wonderful resource we call public radio, community radio, and all things news, information and analysis. I'm your host, Dino, here on the Signal. We're ready to go.
00:02:04:10 - 00:02:29:19
DINO
I got the green thumbs. There are not the green thumbs. The thumbs up from my producer in L.A and windows in the house. The breakfast burrito has been paid in the form of the lunch taco today. That's how I get paid around here. By the way, for those of you that did not know. And today we're going to bring you an important update here on the signal.
00:02:29:21 - 00:03:01:12
DINO
As many of you know who cover us, who have been following us, we're taking another look at the Trump administration's rise to authoritarianism. It's an issue that we've been covering for some time now. We are watching in real time, to be more precise, living in real time and this systemic persecution of civil liberties, academic freedom, and perhaps and most importantly to us at least, because it hits close to home, the freedom of the press.
00:03:01:14 - 00:03:41:23
DINO
It's important to point out this is not abstract. It's unfolding in our neighborhoods, in our classrooms, in our newsrooms every day. And our first segment, we're going to take a look at the assault on higher education as the Trump administration launches its latest probe and threat against, in this case, the California State University System. And it's doing so under the banner of antisemitism investigation is now, let's say, you know, for the record, there's certainly anti-Semitism, as there is anti-immigrant, anti-Black, anti-LGBTQ.
00:03:42:03 - 00:04:19:10
DINO
All of these things exist and they exist out in the real world. They exist in our neighborhoods, in our schools, certainly in our universities, because we know it. We see it. However, the Trump administration has taken it upon itself to weaponize these type of investigations, perhaps in the interests of the administration's goals or in the interests of public interest groups and other advocates who see this as an opportunity, a target of opportunity to silence, persecute, and in some cases incarcerate individuals who dissent.
00:04:19:12 - 00:04:57:12
DINO
And that is why this is one of those themes that we keep coming back to, because at the end of the day, what it does is it brings into question what does it mean to have academic freedom for faculty, for the rights of students and that faculty, but more importantly, for the higher education in California and beyond? We're then going to take a sharp turn and go back to this issue of the persecution of our civil liberties, the expansion of vice, which is poised to be armed with billions.
00:04:57:12 - 00:05:29:13
DINO
A new federal funding set to go into play this month, actually, in fact, if not for the government shutdown, the Washington shutdown, we would probably see that money being dispensed with at this point. As we all know, the administration has been aggressively hiring on a hiring campaign across the country for the last several months in anticipation of having all these new resources.
00:05:29:15 - 00:05:47:11
DINO
What does that mean for us new agents, the Department of Homeland Security and other federal law enforcement agencies, which we now know from the experiences we've had over the last several months, are being utilized.
00:05:47:13 - 00:06:02:10
DINO
Against the civilian population of this country, against you and I. So we're going to take a look at this issue from a no, your rights perspective.
00:06:02:12 - 00:06:27:03
DINO
What is it that we as individuals need to know and understand both about the Constitution and our rights and what to do in certain circumstances? Because the stakes are high, folks, this is no longer just policy debates in Washington, no longer just ideas being circulated in the news talk shows. This one included.
00:06:27:05 - 00:06:39:23
DINO
The stakes are high because they are impacting directly in our communities, in our schools, all around us.
00:06:40:00 - 00:06:44:20
DINO
Many of us are now living in fear.
00:06:44:22 - 00:07:42:01
DINO
In fact, one of the topics we discuss around here a lot of often is this issue of how much we can or cannot say, haven't seen the persecution of even comedians. Ladies and gentlemen. And of course, we at this, independent news station, you know, we won't back down. We will continue to do what we do, which is to bring you this type of news, information and analysis to use my own tagline and confront the issues this administration and previous administrations, Democratic or Republican, because it is part of the democratic process, is part of the democratic institution that is this country of ours, built by immigrants.
00:07:42:03 - 00:07:45:05
DINO
My first guest.
00:07:45:07 - 00:08:30:10
DINO
Is going to walk us through some of that conversation at the California State University system. As I said, the Trump administration has opened investigations into the CSU system under this banner of antisemitism. Faculty and students say this is less about protecting rights and more about silencing voices, and in doing so, reshaping academia to fit political agendas. Now, this is not the first time higher education has been targeted, but it is the most recent and direct attack that we're seeing on academic freedom here in California in particular, to help us unpack what this means for faculty rights and for the future of public universities.
00:08:30:12 - 00:08:45:09
DINO
We're joined by Antonio Gallo, attorney faculty at the California State University of Northridge and vice president of the season chapter of the California Faculty Association. Welcome to the signal. Professor Gallo.
00:08:45:11 - 00:08:48:00
ANTONIO
Thank you very much for having me. Great to hear from you.
00:08:48:02 - 00:09:03:24
DINO
Wonderful. So let's let's get into this professor, what exactly is the Trump administration claiming in this probe against the CSU? And, you know, how is he or they is framing this issue?
00:09:04:01 - 00:09:33:09
ANTONIO
Yeah. Well, last week, we got a letter from the chancellor's office, saying that the EEOC is now investigating the CSU for anti-Semitic, discrimination that's going on. And and since you campus, it is because of the protests that a lot of our faculty and our students are doing against, really the bombing the folks in Palestine and Gaza and the genocide that's happening towards the children.
00:09:33:11 - 00:09:47:20
ANTONIO
And as we all know, in universities, anyone who's been on the campus knows that this is the time where you actually say, you're right. This is a time where you're trying to find yourself. This is a time when you protest injustices that are happening within the system and outside the system.
00:09:47:22 - 00:10:20:03
DINO
Now, it goes without saying, and we've seen this time and again, especially during this initial period of demonstrations, protests, calls to action against the genocide. And in Gaza, faculty and students have been instrumental historically in challenging these type of actions and genocidal acts. How have the faculty and students on campus reacted to this initial investigation? What are the concerns being raised?
00:10:20:05 - 00:10:46:00
ANTONIO
Well, I think the first concern is fear, right. We have we always trust faculty and staff, have always trusted the CSU. They're going to safeguard our personal information rights. So whenever they receive a document that they're going to privileging our personal information kind of undermines that trust. So ultimately, it's fear, right? It seems like we're being targeted, for us actually setting our First Amendment right.
00:10:46:02 - 00:11:03:04
ANTONIO
The second thing I think that's going on with our faculty is now we're afraid of what we can and can't say in a classroom. We're afraid whether we're going to be recorded in the classroom. We're afraid if we make a comment about something that that's gonna lead to another investigation, it really stops the laboratory of ideas that we have at universities.
00:11:03:06 - 00:11:29:09
DINO
You know, I like the way you frame that, the laboratory of ideas. Because if not for these laboratories that you describe, who knows where we where we would be today. So I'm glad you brought up the previous point as well, because the Trump administration is, I understand, is asking essentially for the university to turn over a list information about its faculty, about its activities.
00:11:29:11 - 00:11:35:00
DINO
Is this something that, what has been the response of the University?
00:11:35:02 - 00:11:54:14
ANTONIO
Well, from what we're aware of now, the university has given that information to the federal government. We don't know what exactly they've given, but they have informed us that they have been giving information to the EEOC and the federal government. We as a California faculty association, we were trying to put a stop to that. But they kind of beat us to the punch.
00:11:54:16 - 00:12:09:10
ANTONIO
And since they gave that information before even talking to us, which is, once again, why we don't trust, the administration right now, we're not trusting the CSU. We're not trusting the chancellor to. They're providing information that are really putting faculty and students and staff at risk.
00:12:09:12 - 00:12:31:14
DINO
And are there any I first of all, let me say I'm sorry to hear that that has already happened. I was actually unaware in preparation for the show, when my producer and I were talking about this topic. You know, our focus was and really exposing the intent and the concerns about it. But now here that this has been turned over.
00:12:31:16 - 00:13:01:18
DINO
Let me ask you, professor, what are your immediate reactions and concern? I took notice you said that there is a growing sense of fear, persecution, and this idea that maybe a student who doesn't like you, or maybe a student who is of a different political persuasion, may record and or report a professor for exercising his academic responsibility to educate and do so in a responsible way that covers all issues.
00:13:01:20 - 00:13:04:13
DINO
What are your biggest concerns?
00:13:04:15 - 00:13:24:07
ANTONIO
That that is my biggest concern. I teach in the Chicano Chicano Studies department. I teach two sections called The Gun on the Constitution and Race and Critical Thinking. And those are the reason critical thinking are really what what the president is really trying to target. Right. We're giving our students a different perspective of how this world is working.
00:13:24:09 - 00:13:42:08
ANTONIO
And we're telling them the truth, right? We're told that there's a white supremacy culture in this country. There's a white supremacy culture in our state. So we're giving them a different perspective so that they understand what the truth is and how the laws work against us sometimes. So that's when, when, whenever we talk about those in classes, right.
00:13:42:08 - 00:14:00:09
ANTONIO
There might be some, some students who may think that we are teaching hate, that we are teaching racism, that we are teaching these other things, but we're teaching the truth. And like I said, right, this is a laboratory of ideas. So we need to give our perspectives so that students can make an informed choice when students only get once.
00:14:00:09 - 00:14:06:01
ANTONIO
But like we did in high school, and we're not making that informed choice.
00:14:06:03 - 00:14:35:05
DINO
So I, as I understand, the California State University system employs something like 63,000 and faculty staff across 2324, some on campuses and off campus centers, including the faculty and non instructional staff, executive and student employees that as of, the fall of 2023. Is this list pertaining to all or do you know if it's just faculty?
00:14:35:07 - 00:14:52:15
ANTONIO
We don't know because we haven't seen the subpoena. The subpoena was given to the university. We haven't seen it. We don't know what the scope of that subpoena is, which is the second fear that we're having, that we don't know the scope. Right. They're going to be asking, for example, for me, right. What type of organizations do I belong to?
00:14:52:17 - 00:15:08:19
ANTONIO
My part of a union. Have I been a leader in the union? Have I been a leader in the community? This is the fear that we're having because we don't know what they're asking for. It's a general subpoena that's asking for everything. What it appears. So whenever they're going to give information that's private to us, right?
00:15:08:19 - 00:15:19:09
ANTONIO
There has to be some specificity to something, right? Right. There has to be some some some legal reasoning to get it. But when you just send a subpoena, says, I want everything, then it's a little scary.
00:15:19:11 - 00:15:38:23
DINO
So. So let me put it in perspective for the audience. For those of you listening, many of you who may, in fact work at the CSU system, which is, by the way, one of the largest, if not the largest integrated system, state university system, I believe, in the world. And just to put it in perspective.
00:15:39:00 - 00:16:26:05
DINO
So as a fall of 2024, the instructional faculty at this university system that encompasses two dozen universities across the state has approximately, according to one source, over 13,000 full time staff, 13,000 part time staff somewhere north of 27,000 instructional faculty, making up 43% of the entire employee base of the California State University system. And what we're hearing here, let me reintroduce, Professor Antonio Gallo from California State University, Northridge, who is also, vice president, the seasoned chapter of the California Faculty Association.
00:16:26:07 - 00:17:08:00
DINO
And what we're hearing is that the Trump administration has issued a request for the information of the said 27, 28,000 faculty members as it launches its latest probe into its claims of anti-Semitic information and what many are calling a persecution. That is coming to the California State University system. Professor, what legal protections currently exist for faculty with regard to this issue of speech in association, and how effective are they under your union contract and under this political, pressure?
00:17:08:02 - 00:17:37:14
ANTONIO
Yeah, we have 20 we represent 29,000 faculty across the CSU, and we are the largest union and the largest higher ed institution in the country. And our CBA protects our faculty from from any type of discrimination and or targeting of the university in the CSU, we also have protections under the First Amendment right. We are able to say things in the classroom, with academic freedom, that, you know, that we get to teach our students about different perspectives.
00:17:37:14 - 00:17:56:20
ANTONIO
So those are one of the protections we have. We also have some state protections. But the state of California has passed in protecting our our staff and our students and our faculty. We're also looking, I'm also part of the of the AAUP, which is the American Association of University Professors, where our main focus is academic freedom.
00:17:56:22 - 00:18:17:22
ANTONIO
We try to ensure that all faculty across the country get protected when it comes to academic freedom and First Amendment rights. We're always trying to tweak the language. It's changed over the years of what individuals, say. And the situation that we have across the world. Right. We had a pandemic. Now we're having this is what's going on with this administration.
00:18:17:24 - 00:18:44:08
ANTONIO
So it's a it's a fluid thing. When it comes to the First Amendment. Right. And this is why we are AUP, we filed many lawsuits against the UC. We filed a lawsuit against Massachusetts. We were successful with that lawsuit. And in fact, the federal court did say that the state, Harvard or the institutions in Massachusetts where violating students and faculty started First Amendment rights, when they were suspended, discipline on those campuses.
00:18:44:10 - 00:19:22:02
DINO
So, professor, it sounds like what we're looking at here is a three way fight. On the one hand, you have the Trump administration, and it's continued persecution of academic freedom, persecution of students, all things at the university level. On the other hand, you have the institutions themselves who for right or wrong reasons are in some cases giving in to the pressure of the administration, some related to funding, others perhaps less interested in fighting and, and less concerned in protecting the rights of, of of the faculty.
00:19:22:02 - 00:19:37:21
DINO
And then, of course, you have the faculty who, as you described, have now even filed multiple lawsuits across the country. How are the students impacted as this three way fight continues to grow and develop?
00:19:37:23 - 00:19:58:23
ANTONIO
The way the students are impacted is that they don't get the laboratory of ideas. They don't get the of that that we have received, during our college, years. That's the real harm. And the real threat is that ten years from now, 20 years from now, when these students graduate, are they going to have that diversity perspective?
00:19:59:00 - 00:20:15:11
ANTONIO
These students are going to be the leaders of the state. They're going to be the leaders of the country. So we need to make sure that that these students are very well rounded and have the different ideas and then let them make the choice on their own. But there has to be that laboratory of ideas where they get different perspectives, and then they make that choice.
00:20:15:13 - 00:20:47:09
DINO
So, professor, as we move forward, as we look towards the the near and distant future on this topic, and the likelihood that the Trump administration will ramp up its attacks on academic freedom. What are you on at the, at the California faculty Association AAUP yeah, give us a little glimpse into what those discussions are in terms of preparing for this fight, as I suspect will be a long term fight.
00:20:47:11 - 00:21:10:15
ANTONIO
Well, I think when when the administration took office, we've been on the offensive and on defense. We've been in fight mode. We we are looking at through some legal, legal issues as to whether we can sue the administration. I don't want to come here and give strategy of what the AUP are going to do. Right. But, yes, we're definitely on attack mode.
00:21:10:17 - 00:21:30:19
ANTONIO
We can't allow this administration or really anyone to prevent us from from expressing our academic freedoms, from creating the laboratory of ideas that university that we've always had. Right? It's not just laboratories of a bio, but it's about ideas. We need to have everything because this is the way society works. This is the way society evolve. And this is the way it has to be.
00:21:30:24 - 00:21:32:07
ANTONIO
It has to be going.
00:21:32:13 - 00:22:00:11
DINO
And before I let you go, let me go back to the students because, you know, as, as, beneficiary of the California State University system, myself and the countless tens of thousands of students, every year. What are you hearing from the students themselves? Is there a level of interest historically, and we've seen it, right? I mean, students have responded, historically across the world, not just in this country, but, in other places.
00:22:00:11 - 00:22:17:08
DINO
You know, it's been the student movements that have led to, ideological constructs that changed an entire nation, whether it was in Egypt or Mexico, Argentina, and Europe, certainly. What are you hearing from the students themselves?
00:22:17:10 - 00:22:36:10
ANTONIO
The students are definitely upset. They're also fearful, but they're pushing through. They're so courageous. I mean, I wish I could have been courageous at that age, right? Knowing that they're being attacked, knowing that they're going after them, knowing that their family members may not be here the next day. Right. It's so courageous for them to go out there and fight.
00:22:36:12 - 00:22:58:24
ANTONIO
There's a rally going on right now that I'm sure there's going to be so many students out there protesting and fighting for their rights. You know, we're we're just a support system for our students, right? This is really a student movement. And it's so I'm so proud, to be their faculty member because, like I said, they are the most courageous individuals that I have ever met.
00:22:59:01 - 00:23:19:09
DINO
And, professor, how does this effort, how does this investigation connect to this broader political strategy that we're seeing on the part of the administration? What does this say about the Trump administration?
00:23:19:11 - 00:23:42:07
ANTONIO
Yes. What I would say to that is that this is just a, a trigger, this this is a pretext to what he really wants. Right? I think the fear what this subpoena is that but it may be broadened to other issues that are not really relevant to what's going on. On campuses, I think it's a threat to ethnic studies.
00:23:42:07 - 00:24:01:10
ANTONIO
It's a threat to diversity. It's a threat to a different perspective. It's a threat to their American white supremacy culture, that they're afraid that this country is going to become the melting pot that it's always become. I think that's the real reason why this administration is doing this.
00:24:01:12 - 00:24:34:06
DINO
You know, one of the things that, you know, since October or since last year, the Trump administration, since since the Trump administration came into power, it's our understanding that it has targeted over 600 universities and colleges across this country with executive actions, threats to cut to cutting funding for federal investigation. The attacks were all part of this broader push to reshape higher education.
00:24:34:08 - 00:25:07:19
DINO
As per the conservative priorities of this country. So as we close out, professor, looking ahead, you know, what does this moment tell us about the future of public universities? If Trump has gone after private universities withholding billions of dollars, forcing them to capitulate to his ideas and his authoritarian, principles, what does this moment tell us about the future of public universities and their ability to withstand political attacks?
00:25:07:21 - 00:25:31:03
ANTONIO
Well, the way the way I see the future, I'm always hopeful about the future, especially when we have courageous students and courageous faculty. We have to push back, right? We have to fight back. We have to press the issue. We have to continue having this conversation. We have to continue doing these actions. We have to continue, going, to different, even local community meetings.
00:25:31:03 - 00:25:52:00
ANTONIO
Right? We have to continue exercising our rights. We have to continue telling individuals our rights. Right. If this didn't start with the Trump administration, right. This has been a policy for concerns for a very long time. I always referenced to my students the Powell memo that really dictates what this what this system and what this government is really intending to do for the future.
00:25:52:00 - 00:25:56:08
ANTONIO
But we have to fight back. That's the only way we can do it is by fighting back.
00:25:56:10 - 00:26:10:10
DINO
So, professor, as we close out is there a website or a particular location on the interwebs that that students or others can go and learn more about this topic or even support?
00:26:10:12 - 00:26:37:16
ANTONIO
Yes. You can go on to our website, the carlsbad.org website. We have a lot of information. We have a lot of resources on the AAUP, which is aaup.org. We have all the lawsuits there. Individuals can look at it and find out what the courts are doing, what we're doing against the Trump administration, and also your local news, MPR, you know, KPFA, these are places that are going to give you what's actually going on on the ground.
00:26:37:18 - 00:26:55:03
DINO
I want to thank my guest, Antonio Gallo, attorney, faculty member at California State University and vice president of the Sea Sun chapter of the California Faculty Association for helping us unpack the most recent attack by the Trump administration and the California State University system. Thank you. Professor. How are you?
00:26:55:05 - 00:26:57:17
ANTONIO
Thank you.
00:26:57:19 - 00:26:59:20
MUSIC
Guys, you know.
00:26:59:22 - 00:27:02:16
MUSIC
I.
00:27:02:18 - 00:27:07:18
MUSIC
I mean, not just the American government.
00:27:07:20 - 00:27:26:18
MUSIC
Government in general. Like I the US. I live in Beaumont. The same you never know stops and so on. And I said I cannot get inside and you can't get up outside. See, I'm.
00:27:26:20 - 00:27:57:10
DINO
At a time when Congress has approved billions of dollars in new enforcement and detention. Funding for Ice operations are expected to expand. Actually, this month. In fact, they might have started already, if not for the fact that the government had to shut down as the political warlords at the federal level, continue to fight out the priorities of this nation at the expense of everyday voters.
00:27:57:12 - 00:28:40:10
DINO
All of us listening, those of you driving, those of you at home, this means more encounters in our neighborhoods, at our job sites and public spaces. And for all of us, not just the migrant and immigrant communities, but for all the residents and citizens of this country. These encounters affect immigrants regardless of status. They also affect families, neighborhoods, economies, and just those of us that are sometimes driving by who witness raids, as we see them happening already worksite, perhaps next to yours.
00:28:40:12 - 00:29:10:18
DINO
And it begs the question, as the persecution of individuals in this country is now set to expand, what exactly are your rights and how do we prepare to break in to help us break it down, we're joined by Salomon Savala, a nationally recognized civil rights attorney with practices from New York to Los Angeles. Savala has worked with families across the country to navigate raids, detention, legal defense.
00:29:10:20 - 00:29:37:01
DINO
And equally important, he has worked to show how all citizens can play a role in documenting the constitutional violations we now see time and again, committed by masked men reportedly working for the Trump machine. He brings us a clear view of what rights look like underground today. Solomon, welcome to The Signal.
00:29:37:03 - 00:29:38:23
SALOMON
I thank you for having me do now.
00:29:39:00 - 00:30:05:24
DINO
So let's let's frame this discussion this way. You know, I'm going to I'm going to, to set up a particular scenario. And you help us walk, walk through that scenario and tell us what we should be looking for. But first, let me start off with a basic reminder for our audience. For those of you listening, you know how the Constitution applies to us all.
00:30:06:00 - 00:30:37:23
DINO
The applicability of this tremendous document, the rights it affords to us all, and preparing for this, this, discussion, this segment, you know, we we around the signal here with the producer team and others had to address this issue of whether or not the Constitution applies to one group or another. And we quickly reminded ourselves that the Constitution applies us to us all equally.
00:30:37:23 - 00:30:52:17
DINO
At the end of the day, that is exactly why it is that document. So, Solomon, help us frame that, explain the foundation of the Constitution and why it's that guiding document that applies to us all.
00:30:52:19 - 00:31:20:24
SALOMON
Sure. So, the Constitution is the, the the law of the land, right? It is the most important document when it comes to providing, freedoms to individuals and everyone in the US, regardless of immigration status, as you point out, has basic constitutional rights. This includes the right to remain silent, right. And the right to refuse to consent to a search and the Fourth Amendment and the right to speak to a lawyer.
00:31:21:01 - 00:31:44:19
SALOMON
U.S. citizens have additional rights, but those rights are it can be conceived as privileges, for example, the privilege to return back into the country. Right. As someone who's undocumented doesn't have or to be able to vote, in certain elections. But ultimately, whether you're a citizen, a green card holder, or undocumented, you have the right to remain silent, the right to refuse to search.
00:31:44:21 - 00:32:05:14
SALOMON
And you don't have to answer questions about your immigration status or where you were born. And those rights are guaranteed by the Constitution to everyone, regardless of status. I think the, the founding fathers of this country were very cognizant of the fact that they did not want to create some sort of dual, citizen or resident or power system in the United States.
00:32:05:16 - 00:32:15:20
SALOMON
And that's why the Constitution applies to everyone. And that's the fundamental, principle, that all should be aware about when exercising their rights in this country.
00:32:15:22 - 00:32:39:15
DINO
So as we were preparing for this discussion and thinking about how to how to best convey this message to our audience, you know, we first started thinking, well, what happens when somebody, you know, when I see, for example, our Homeland Security or any other agency comes to your home or what happens if you're in public. And that's why we opted to frame it this way.
00:32:39:15 - 00:33:01:07
DINO
So why don't we start off at the home if ice does come to the door, what is the difference between a judicial warrant signed by a judge and this thing we now hear a lot about the administrative, warrant and how should families respond when confronted with this issue?
00:33:01:09 - 00:33:26:01
SALOMON
Sure. There's a huge distinction between an administrative warrant and a judicial warrant. So you do not have to open the door for ice unless they have a judicial warrant signed by a judge. Right. Signed by either a magistrate, federal judge or, or some, you know, judge, it doesn't have to. You can be just some Ice agent, some sort of ice official.
00:33:26:03 - 00:33:47:12
SALOMON
Those that's primarily what administrative warrants by their forms, their ice paperwork. To detain someone for civil, violations of immigration law, like illegal reentry, overstay visas. So if ice is to show up to your door, you want to ensure that they have a judicial warrant signed by a judge, a federal judge, not an immigration judge or a federal magistrate judge.
00:33:47:16 - 00:34:09:19
SALOMON
You want to make sure that you read that warrant, to ensure that it's valid, that it has your correct address, correct name, correct information. You want to look for people where in fact, the word court can make sure it is a valid judicial warrant. And that and administrative warrant and administrative warrant does not allow Ice officials or federal officials to enter your home without your consent.
00:34:10:00 - 00:34:29:08
SALOMON
So it's very important what I advise is that if there's Ice officials, federal officials at your door to have them present that warrant, through either your window or through underneath the door to pass it through so that you can evaluate it, read it, make sure it's correct, make sure it is a judicial warrant and not simply an administrative warrant.
00:34:29:10 - 00:34:54:22
SALOMON
The reason that I don't recommend that people open their door even slightly to get it, get a copy of the warrant is because that has been interpreted, as consent and could be interpreted and used against you later. If you are to assert your rights. So I think it's very important for folks to be able to differentiate between an administrative warrant, which does not allow you to enter your home unless you consent, and a judicial warrant.
00:34:54:24 - 00:35:17:24
DINO
So, in short, in the simplest of forms, an administrative warrant is something like my producer sending me an email. With that she signs, it says, do you know, do this versus if my, you know, if and if a judge sends me a warrant and says, you are hereby called to court to do the following. So that is the basic distinction we're talking about.
00:35:18:01 - 00:35:36:23
SALOMON
Yeah, that is correct. Yeah. One thing that I would just say is to look out for, that sometimes immigration judges could sign these administrative warrants, but immigration judges are distinct from article three federal judges. Right. And so immigration judges are not the same as federal judges. They're hired by the they're part of the executive branch, not the judicial branch.
00:35:37:04 - 00:35:48:07
SALOMON
And so to just be very, alert, in terms of who's saying that administrative court is simply just a form, it has really no, legal weight in terms of being able to enter a private space like your home.
00:35:48:12 - 00:36:11:08
DINO
Oh, wow. Okay, so hold on. Let me, let me let's dig into that a little bit because this is actually very important. So even if, even if a, an immigration judge signs this, that still does not allow law enforcement agents to just come bashing in your door. In fact, that's why they don't they expect you to open the door by showing you this document.
00:36:11:08 - 00:36:16:15
DINO
And it's fed. It's different from the judicial system is what you just described right?
00:36:16:16 - 00:36:41:02
SALOMON
That is correct. An immigration judge can be removed at any time by the attorney general. And we're seen, in fact, that happening across the country, the removal of many immigration judges with a lot of experience to be replaced by, military lawyers. Right. And they're calling them temporary judges as part of this expansion. And the money allocated for immigration and for enforcement as part of this recent, budget.
00:36:41:04 - 00:36:54:11
SALOMON
And so certainly, there's a huge distinction between, a federal article three judges disappointed by the president, confirmed by the Senate and has lifetime tenure versus an immigration judge as part of the executive branch, not the judicial branch.
00:36:54:13 - 00:37:29:01
DINO
That is such an important, distinction. And I'm glad that we clarified this. I think it's important for our audience to know that since 2024, this time, 2024 arrests in California have increased on this topic, have increased by 123%. So there's a significant a very, very significant campaign of persecution against people in California. We're now, of course, seeing even the military, as we did here in California, go into the streets of Chicago.
00:37:29:01 - 00:37:55:17
DINO
And, you know, the ongoing threats in other parts of the country. So, Solomon, let's let's now move on to the public. If someone is stopped by a federal agent on the street in a public space, what rights can they invoke? Can I say if do you know, is walking down the street and somebody comes up and says, wait, I am what FBI eyes, what have you?
00:37:55:17 - 00:38:08:12
DINO
We know that these agencies are not working together. What's the best way to assert myself? What are my rights and how should I go about doing?
00:38:08:14 - 00:38:26:23
SALOMON
Sure. So it's really important for folks to understand that you have the right to remain silent. Right. That's one of the most important fundamental rights afforded by the Constitution, to the Fifth Amendment. And everyone has that right. So you have the right to remain silent. You don't have to answer any questions posed to you by any federal official.
00:38:27:00 - 00:38:56:09
SALOMON
You have to understand that many of these officials will will do. Ruses will lie right under false pretenses. We've tried to, say that they're out to do something else, but in fact, they're trying to detain you and potentially a potential removal proceedings. So you also have the right to ask them if you're free to leave. Right. If you are stopped by any IRS official, we've seen what this recent Supreme Court decision that they have a lot more latitude in terms of who they can stop and, briefly detain and ask questions to.
00:38:56:11 - 00:39:12:01
SALOMON
So I would say exercise your right to remain silent. Ask if you're free to leave. That's important. If you're not free to leave, then, and if you are detained, then you certainly want to speak to an attorney before answering any question before signing any documents. That's very important.
00:39:12:03 - 00:39:49:20
DINO
My guest is a nationally recognized civil rights attorney with practices across the country helping us understand what our rights are in this country today on the ground, as we prepare for what are the uncommon upcoming assaults by the Trump administration, as these federal agencies are poised to receive billions, billions of dollars, a new enforcement money, new enforcement dollars, your tax dollars in mind that are going towards what some are.
00:39:49:20 - 00:40:13:09
DINO
You are the continued erosion of civil liberties and rights in this country. We just talked to Professor Antonio Garcia, who walked us through some of the more recent attacks on academic freedom at the California State University system. So we're now looking at this issue, of our rights on the street, at home. And let's move on to the work site.
00:40:13:11 - 00:40:40:00
DINO
Solomon, at the work site or job sites, what should workers know? What should we all know? If a federal agent shows up at the work at a day labor site, or if we, are at our own location? Regardless of what you do, there is an attempt to enter or they actually do enter. What do we need to do as workers at that site?
00:40:40:02 - 00:41:07:19
SALOMON
Sure. So employers should know that Ice is not allowed to enter into any nonpublic areas, right? Without a judicial warrant. The same principles that apply to entering a home in terms of having a judicial warrant signed by a federal judge, applies to the workplace or private areas. Public areas are different. That's an important distinction to that. In case, and the way that, these things play out in practice is the difference between a public space versus a private space.
00:41:07:21 - 00:41:33:20
SALOMON
So eyes can enter only public accessible areas, like, a restaurant lobby. Right. It can enter though areas like, the kitchen of a restaurant or offices or the backroom of, place of employment. It's also important to designate these areas as private and have signage. Those are factors that are considered later in court. If this is to be litigated in terms of civil rights being violated.
00:41:33:22 - 00:42:06:10
SALOMON
And again, it's important for people to exercise their right to remain silent. It's important that if I shows up to the place of employment to be able to ask for a judicial warrant to review it before allowing them to come into private spaces and to ensure that there's a system and a policy in place so that if someone is apprehended, someone is detained to be able to subsequently identify them, where they're at, where they're located, and be able to provide legal counsel to support them and their family through this situation.
00:42:06:12 - 00:42:18:19
DINO
Now, if arrested and detained. But, you know, for those of us who are may experience such a situation, what do we do?
00:42:18:21 - 00:42:48:13
SALOMON
Sure. And we're seeing more and more of that now. Right. We saw that Stephen Miller had this quota of 3000 people detained per day. There's an agenda now to detain more people to fill these detention centers, that are expanding part of this budget. In terms of the 29 billion that was allocated to enforcement, it's over 170 billion, right, that are allocated for immigration purposes overall from Florida, from from the border wall and construction of the border wall to creating these detention centers.
00:42:48:15 - 00:43:11:07
SALOMON
And so, the important thing is that if you are detained, you want to make sure that you ask to speak to a lawyer. Again, I can't stress this enough. You should assert your right to remain silent, particularly if you are undocumented or your legal status in this country is, is questionable. You want to make sure that you do not find any document that you not do not understand.
00:43:11:09 - 00:43:34:18
SALOMON
We have principles of due process in this country that you have to understand the allegations against you. You have to understand any document that is given to you that could potentially affect your rights. You even if you speak, for example, in indigenous language. Now, what keeps you in my, to that picture? You have to be able to understand what you the documents that is being given to the allegations against you.
00:43:34:20 - 00:43:57:10
SALOMON
And I would say do not sign any document without fully understanding it, without consulting with counsel. Do you want to make sure that you have your emergency contacts in place? If you are detained by immigration and you're not, you're, you are not a U.S. citizen. You also have the right to contact your consulate, the consulate of your country of origin, oftentimes visits you and could provide also very helpful resources.
00:43:57:12 - 00:44:25:16
DINO
Now, I'm glad you brought that up, because that brings me to, I think, one of the more important, issues on in this conversation, especially because, part of our network here in Southern California, rapid response, we've seen a tremendous outpouring of support by young people and old, good looking people and ugly people like myself who have come out to say, listen, we want to support.
00:44:25:16 - 00:44:48:10
DINO
We want to help. For observers, if you are a bystander to a raid or an enforcement action, and you're there and you see it, or if you are part of a network that's going out to try and document this to help protect and or support these individuals once they've been detained, including American citizens, as we now know.
00:44:48:12 - 00:44:55:04
DINO
What are the protections or what are the things that we need to keep in mind under that circumstance?
00:44:55:06 - 00:45:18:10
SALOMON
I certainly advocate and support individuals documenting any Ice interactions, any Ice raids and Ice detention is very important. We have the First Amendment right to document, government officials, performing their public duties. You have the right to record law enforcement in public as long as you do not interfere with them. So if you witness a nice wait, you can record them from a safe distance.
00:45:18:12 - 00:45:40:20
SALOMON
There's no clear bright line rule in terms of what a safe distance is, but anywhere between 10 to 15ft away from them. You should be fine. If you are asked to move away, you should certainly comply. You should be, trying to de-escalate the situation. Oftentimes, these immigration officials can be quite aggressive, and very abrasive towards anyone filming.
00:45:41:00 - 00:46:01:24
SALOMON
But it's important for you to remain cool to, to, to report them. And if they tell you to stop recording coming straight that it's a right to document and do not escalate the situation. But we've seen that documenting a video recording individuals now with the with the feasibility on your phone, it's very important. It could be the difference between a family being separated.
00:46:02:01 - 00:46:24:03
SALOMON
It can mean the difference between holding, these officials accountable in court of law and in a subsequent civil rights lawsuit, we saw the importance of recording a police brutality, during the Black Lives Matter did, in terms of holding, police officers accountable and, we I would hope that recording individuals that are violating people's rights, these expectations would be the same.
00:46:24:03 - 00:46:39:19
SALOMON
So we have a First Amendment right to record and certainly advocate and support people doing that. But you want to make sure that you remain calm and that you do not interfere or obstruct, the officer's duties, because you could be charged with obstruction of justice, for example.
00:46:39:21 - 00:46:55:12
DINO
This has been a wonderful and very, very, important informational session for us. Where can people learn more about your services, or your website, perhaps, if folks are interested in looking you up.
00:46:55:14 - 00:47:13:09
SALOMON
Sure. So you can check out our website at Olean law.org that's only in L.A dot org. There you can find information about some of the, projects that we're working on, some of the work that we're doing, and you can find our contact information there.
00:47:13:11 - 00:47:42:15
DINO
Wonderful. Thank you. And that was Solomon Savala helping us understand our rights and how to be ready. As the Trump administration looks to ramp up its billions of dollars in the coming month, for additional law enforcement agencies at the federal level. Stay with us. After the break. We go back, and to remind all of you why it's so important to continue supporting news, information, analysis in the public radio world.
00:47:42:15 - 00:47:45:01
DINO
That is Kpfk. Stay with us.
00:47:45:03 - 00:47:48:22
MUSIC
But if you.
00:47:48:24 - 00:47:53:21
MUSIC
Go by.
00:47:53:23 - 00:47:58:23
MUSIC
I'm not just I can government.
00:47:59:00 - 00:48:25:21
MUSIC
Government in general like in the US living on my neck saying you never know stop in June. And I said I cannot get it inside and you can do it, I promise. I see I'm a UTI and like I see you if you see them all, you see. Whoa!
00:48:25:23 - 00:48:28:03
MUSIC
Signal! President.
00:48:28:05 - 00:48:34:01
MUSIC
Look at myself. I'm in this movie. These.
00:48:34:03 - 00:49:00:06
DINO
As we wrap up today's program, I want to return to the threat, to the threat of ideas that we discussed earlier, what we're where. What we're witnessing is not isolated. When faculty is being silenced in the classrooms, when immigrant families are being targeted in their homes, when journalists are being threatened for telling the truth. It's all part of a pattern, a pattern of authoritarianism that does not come in a single blow.
00:49:00:06 - 00:49:38:05
DINO
Ladies and gentlemen, it advances step by step, eroding rights, freedoms until we reach a point of unthinkable norms. And by then, sometimes it's too late. This is why these stories matter. Our defense of academic freedoms, of civil liberties, of individual rights, but more importantly, of the rights of the press to be able to defend your freedoms by giving you the type of access to this news, information and analysis that we do here on our program, The signal.
00:49:38:09 - 00:50:03:06
DINO
And that is why joining me now is my fabulous producer, nella, who herself is a long time radio broadcaster and who joined the single is The Signal. Excuse me, wind, when we got launched. And together, we're here to remind you why it's so important to continue to support and donate to this project of ours called kpfk.org.
00:50:03:08 - 00:50:31:21
BARBARA
No, just Kpfk, but the signal. And let me say, this is the signal on Kpfk, 90.7 FM Los Angeles. The fearless talk show that cuts through the noise to bring truth home. I'm an L.A. Barbara producer alongside Dino Armando Gudino and seasoned journalists, policy analysts, strategists and advocate. With over 30 years of experience, I got to say that about you.
00:50:31:21 - 00:50:41:12
BARBARA
You're amazing. I was just speaking with our GM, Miss Maggie Peek, and she is impressed with your skills and how wonderful you are.
00:50:41:16 - 00:50:42:19
DINO
Shout outs to mags.
00:50:42:19 - 00:51:13:06
BARBARA
Shout yes, shout out to mags and I and I am so glad that she's feeling much better. We are here to hear to spotlight the stories, struggles and strategies that corporate media ignores. But to keep these fearless voices alive, we need you, our listeners. Call 8189855735818985 Kpfk option two or go online to KP of k.org/donate. Do it now.
00:51:13:06 - 00:51:45:15
BARBARA
Do it for free speech. Do it for truth. Every week, the signal shines a light on what's really happening. Policy, power and people. Dino brings decades of experience translating politics into something real and human. We are not supposed to. Again, we are not sponsored by corporations. We are powered by you, our listeners. So again, 8189855735818985 Kpfk option two.
00:51:45:16 - 00:52:00:18
BARBARA
Also online at kpfk.org/donate. Your donation is your vote for truth, transparency and independent journalism back to you.
00:52:00:20 - 00:52:31:03
DINO
So you know, one of the things that we work hard here at Kpfk and on the signal itself is we try to find some of our guests who are folks that are also local policy experts, folks who are who understand these issues. But we focus on the local because they are part of your community. In fact, all of us here have intimate ties to the greater Southern California area.
00:52:31:05 - 00:53:05:09
DINO
We work here, we live here, we produce here. And that makes us part of your community. And by doing this type of broadcast, by working on these type of projects, we are and in short, representing you in a way that translates on the radio. That is why supporting this station, going on to kpfk.org, where you can pick a whole slew of, available guests for your donation, you keep us on the air, you keep free speech alive.
00:53:05:11 - 00:53:31:12
DINO
And more than ever before. Is this needed? It goes without saying. You don't have to look far. You don't have to listen to the signal, although I encourage you to do so and tell your mama about it, too. You know, if not for the support of our listener base, if not for the support of those of you right now listening to us, we wouldn't be here in this 50 year strong.
00:53:31:18 - 00:54:10:19
BARBARA
Oh, absolutely. And today we are offering a powerful thank you gift. The Spider by Burial of being an explosive investigation into Jeffrey Epstein's secret empire, his crimes and the network of power that protected him. So for a donation of $125, this 384 page book can be yours. So call 8189855735818985 Kpfk. Option two or visit kpfk.org slash, donate and pledge 125.
00:54:10:19 - 00:54:41:23
BARBARA
Now to claim your copy of the spider support truth telling journalism, Keep the Signal Alive and Kpfk. Why free speech radio matters free speech radio is one of the last places in America where the microphone belongs to the people. No algorithms, right? DNA, no. No advertisers, no corporate filters. When others cut the mic, we turn it up.
00:54:42:00 - 00:55:09:06
DINO
We turn it up. And in fact, listen, those of you, many of you, already know this. You know, our brothers and sisters in the public radio world down the road, recently had their funding cut. And, you know, I point that out because when you become dependent on additional funding sources that sometimes come from not the community, not the listener sponsors, and that's not a bad thing.
00:55:09:07 - 00:55:36:09
DINO
Let me be very clear. Nor are the other stations in the public radio arena to the contrary, we make up one big family of news, information and analysis that all become options for you to embrace, listen to, and you know and break down for yourselves. But what happened? They became dependent some smaller stations across the country, and when the funding was pulled, many of them are being forced to close.
00:55:36:09 - 00:56:13:02
DINO
Now, we've never had that problem because our support comes from the audience, comes from you, the listener, the worker, the mom, the dad, the student. And it's through that support@kpfk.org donate or at 818955735 press that number two to take you directly to our, call center. It is that support that helps us stay on the air and not be as worried about our funding stream as our colleagues have been on the other side.
00:56:13:04 - 00:56:42:18
DINO
Now, we are concerned about the rise of authoritarianism, which is why is a regular feature on our show here on The Signal. But we're going to keep at it. I don't get paid for this, folks. This is all something we do because of the passion, the drive that we have to represent the community. So all so your donation of $125 for this gift, the Barry Levine book on the spider Inside the Criminal Web of Jeffrey Epstein, which has been a hot topic across the country.
00:56:42:21 - 00:56:43:20
BARBARA
Oh, absolutely.
00:56:43:21 - 00:56:55:09
DINO
This is what you get. You get news, information and analysis on the signal and we ask for your continued support. Please go to kpfk.org and donate.
00:56:55:11 - 00:57:22:03
BARBARA
For over 60 years, Kpfk has stood for Truth and Freedom. I have to say this I have to. I have to keep repeating. From Cesar Chavez to Angela Davis, from civil rights to climate justice, we have been raided, threatened and silenced, but never defeated. Now the signal carries that torch forward with know on the top of the signal.
00:57:22:05 - 00:57:56:24
BARBARA
So guys, call 8189855735818985 Kpfk. Option two or online at kpfk.org/donate. Protect the right to speak. Protect the power to listen I. I got to say this too. I produce this show because I believe in the people who make this city breathe, right? If you've ever shouted yes at your radio, this is your moment and it's right now. Free speech radio is the sound of democracy breathing.
00:57:56:24 - 00:58:28:24
BARBARA
It's the last line of defense against silence. The signal is here to make sure that that never happens. So please, right now, go to your phone and call 8189855735818985 copy of K option two or donate online@kpfk.org slash. Donate. Keep fearless voices alive. Keep the signal strong and know. Keep Kpfk on the air.
00:58:29:04 - 00:58:53:04
DINO
And by doing that next week, for example, we're going to travel through the airwaves down to the state of Texas to hear first hand about the fight for fair redistricting in the great state of Texas. Maybe, you know, for some of us right now, that might not so true. But, you know, keep in mind that that is where that's the epicenter of the struggle around this redistricting issue.
00:58:53:04 - 00:59:26:19
DINO
Trump's gross and irresponsible effort to try and consolidate power and what's need for serious implications here in California and the rise of California's Proposition 50. To, do some additional gerrymandering. So we'll be in Texas next week on the air, from here. But again, the fact that we can bring you that kind of information only happens if you go to 818935, Kpfk press two or kpfk.org and donate and look at all of the radio program there.
00:59:26:19 - 00:59:32:14
DINO
Look at all the gifts that we can help you with. We appreciate you. We really do.
00:59:32:16 - 00:59:38:16
BARBARA
Yes we do. Go to the phone right now and donate. And thank you so very much.
00:59:38:19 - 00:59:54:10
DINO
See you next week.
00:59:54:12 - 01:00:03:15
TOM
Hey Tom Harmon here on No Kings Day, Saturday, October 18th, I'll be in Long Beach for a crucial conversation. I hope you'll join me. Together, we'll unpack the forces driving.
