Imperfect Paradise: How becoming a US citizen just got harder under the Trump administration and what it means for Angelenos

California City

LAist Studios

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4.5 • 1.2K Ratings

🗓️ 24 October 2025

⏱️ 26 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

The Trump administration’s immigration policies have resulted in raids and protests in Southern California and across the country, and the administration has also moved to tighten who gets citizenship. Recently, the federal government pushed out new guidelines for naturalization. The situation has raised fundamental questions around what it means to be a U.S. citizen and how the process to become one is changing. LAist Higher Education Reporter Julia Barajas looks at how these changes are playing out inside a citizenship prep class at Pasadena City College.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Support for L.A.S. comes from the American French Film Festival, presenting 70 new French films and series premieres with English subtitles, beginning October 28th at the Directors Guild of America in Hollywood.
0:12.3	More at T.A.T.A.F.F.org. Support for L.A.S. comes from Car Pros Kia, presenting the Kia Fall Savings event. Learn more about current offers on standout models like the 26 Kia Sportage Hybrid and
0:25.2	Plug-in Hybrid, offering an EPA estimated 84 MPG.
0:29.3	Car Pros Kia, Glendale, Huntington Beach, and Moreno Valley.
0:34.1	Before we jump into today's episode, I wanted to share that we are going to be hearing from
0:38.5	Larry Mantle, host of Airtalk and previous guests on Imperfect Paradise later throughout the
0:43.3	episode. We have a great mini interview about halfway through. So stick around to hear from
0:48.1	the legend himself. And I want us to also take care of a little bit of business right now as
0:52.9	well. We are in our fall
0:54.5	member drive and your support is more important than ever because of the cuts to federal
1:00.3	funding for public media. Donate to keep this service going strong at lAS.com slash
1:05.6	imperfect paradise and click on the yellow box. You're listening to Inperfect Paradise.
1:13.4	Amneda Moreno filling in for host Antonia Serejido.
1:18.9	Immigration raids and protests continue to sweep the nation.
1:27.1	Justice! No! No! Justice
1:27.7	No
1:29.9	No peace
1:32.3	No peace
1:34.7	Last Saturday, millions of protesters
1:36.9	took to the streets
1:37.9	across the country
1:38.9	rallying against the Trump administration's
	...

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