Status Pending
WUWM 89.7 FM - Milwaukee's NPR
Publishing Details
Contact & Outreach
About This Podcast
When it comes to immigration in the U.S., the news is constant and can be hard to process. Under President Trump, the rules and norms around immigration are rapidly changing.
On Status Pending, a podcast from WUWM 89.7 FM - Milwaukee's NPR, we provide context for how immigration has shaped Wisconsin and the nation. And we explore how people are navigating this changing immigration landscape.
Podcasting 2.0 Features
Explore Statistics
Recent Episodes
How fears of ICE are impacting young children and families
A survey of low-cost childcare provider Head Start shows that families are keeping their children home as ICE enforcement ramps up. Kids who come to childcare are acting out and showing signs of…
When online hate comes home: Muslims in Milwaukee and the U.S.
Last week there was a shooting at San Diego’s Islamic Center. Three people were killed and the shooting is being investigated as a hate crime. A few days later in Milwaukee, there was a panel event…
Brothers from Afghanistan build a new life in the U.S.
During President Trump’s second term, the U.S. refugee program has been decimated. The number of new arrivals has plummeted, and refugees already in the country are now facing a freeze on green card…
Milwaukee labor leader shares lessons in organizing
We’re listening back to a conversation with one of Milwaukee’s celebrated labor leaders who fought for migrant workers’ rights: Jesus Salas. Salas co-founded Obreros Unidos (Workers United), which…
A love letter to Milwaukee paleteros
Paleteros, or traditional Mexican ice cream vendors, are a fixture on Milwaukee south side. Here's the story of one of the vendors, told by a local artist, Paula Lovo, who has a lifelong love of…
Artist explores migration and what we pass down
Artist Christie Tirado's life is defined by migration. Her parents moved from Mexico to the U.S. in search of better job opportunities. Growing up, Tirado frequently traveled to visit family in…
Refugees wrongly fired from jobs due to confusion over Trump admin policies
In January, the Trump administration paused visa processing for people from 75 mainly African, Asian and Latin American countries. It left a lot of refugees already living in the U.S. in limbo. Some…
Meet some of the young women organizing for immigration reform
Two young organizers, one undocumented and one not, share how their personal experiences led them to advocate for immigrant rights and immigration reform. They’re part of Comité Sin Fronteras, an…
Sisters and DACA recipients build successful coffee business in Milwaukee
Janeth and Lizeth Zorrilla are originally from Mexico, but have lived in the U.S. since they were children. In 2017, they opened La Finca Coffee House in a suburb of Milwaukee. The business is…
ICE in airports heightens travel concerns for immigrants
Her father was in critical condition in a hospital in Mexico, after a tragic motorcycle accident. But as an immigrant and DACA recipient, she was concerned about traveling to see him. We talk to one…
How has life changed for immigrants in Milwaukee?
A recent piece in Milwaukee Magazine digs into how life has changed for immigrants in the Milwaukee area, amid the federal immigration crackdown. It shares the stories of DACA recipients,…
Small Wisconsin towns on the Minnesota border have also seen an ICE surge
In February, the Trump administration announced the end of its immigration crackdown in the Twin Cities. But some ICE operations there continue, and the surge of ICE agents also spilled over into…
A look into the conditions at an immigrant family detention center
ProPublica reporters have been looking into the living conditions inside the Dilley detention center in Texas, where immigrant families and children are held.
Making Wisconsin: The past and present of citizenship
Throughout U.S. and Wisconsin history, the idea of who gets to be a citizen has changed. At times, it’s been broad and welcoming. And other times, it’s been more restricted. Read the full story at…
Making Wisconsin: Hmong refugees and the promise of something better
2025 marked the 50th anniversary of Hmong refugees resettling in the U.S., but what drove many out of Laos? And how have they made a home in Wisconsin, which is home to the third largest Hmong…
Making Wisconsin: How sanctuary movements have succeeded and failed
Throughout our local and national history, there have been waves of sanctuary movements stemming from religious organizations, activists and legislation. Sergio González, Marquette University…
Making Wisconsin: A speedy review of 300 years of Milwaukee's immigration history
Waves of immigration to Milwaukee have made our home a multicultural and vibrant city. But it hasn't always been a warm welcome. Here's a rundown of immigration to Milwaukee and Wisconsin. Read the…
Coming soon: New episodes explore how immigrants shaped Wisconsin
Over the next four weeks, the Status Pending team is going to share a series we did last spring, called “Making Wisconsin.” It’s about how immigration has shaped our city, state and country. It…
'It feels like family': Milwaukee church helps settle African MPS teachers
Faith communities help newly-arrived international teachers and immigrant families find apartments, furnish their homes and navigate the health care system.
Life without a clear path to citizenship: An undocumented student’s story
How do you think about the future when you have no clear path to citizenship in the country you call home? Hear from a young undocumented woman who has lived in the U.S. since she was a child.
Frequently Asked Questions
Status Pending has published 26 episodes since November 2025, covering topics in Documentary, Society & Culture.
Status Pending is currently highly active with new episodes weekly. Average episode length is 15m.
Sign up on Grep.FM to access contact details for Status Pending, including email and social media links.
