Jazmine Ulloa – The Untold History of El Paso
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In this powerful episode of Mountain & Prairie, host Ed Roberson sits down with Jasmine Ulloa, national immigration reporter for the New York Times and author of the acclaimed book *El Paso: Five Families and 100 Years of Blood, Migration, Race, and Memory*. Ulloa, a native of El Paso, shares her deeply personal journey—from covering violent femicides in high school with her grandmother to becoming a leading voice on border history and identity. The conversation explores how El Paso, long before Ellis Island, served as a critical gateway for Mexican, Chinese, Black, and white laborers who helped build the American Southwest. Ulloa argues that the city’s layered, multiracial history has been erased from mainstream narratives, enabling modern political fear-mongering about immigration. Drawing on five family stories across generations, her book reveals resilience, cultural fusion, and the enduring impact of migration. The episode also delves into Ulloa’s rigorous journalistic discipline, her emotional resilience in trauma-filled reporting, and the urgency of remembering history to confront present-day injustices. Ultimately, the discussion is a call to reconnect with our roots and recognize that the borderlands are not a site of invasion, but of foundational American identity.
El Paso has been a vital, centuries-old gateway for immigrants—Mexican, Chinese, Black, and white—shaping the Southwest long before Ellis Island.
The erasure of El Paso’s history enables modern political narratives that frame immigration as a threat, when in reality, Latino and immigrant labor has been foundational to U.S. development.
Personal storytelling—especially through multi-generational family histories—offers a powerful lens to understand complex issues like migration, race, and identity.
Journalism rooted in place and purpose, combined with deep community ties, can counteract the trauma and detachment of modern reporting.
Understanding historical patterns—like the 1950s Operation Wetback or the 1913 border militarization—reveals that today’s immigration crises are not new, but cyclical.
…and 2 more takeaways available in PodZeus
El Paso: The Forgotten Heart of American Immigration
“El Paso is the American city that most tells us about our nation's immigration battles today. How it has, how it's been this gateway, this critical gateway into the land that would become the United States long before Ellis Island ever existed.”
Jasmine Ulloa’s Journey: From Teen Reporter to National Voice
“I remember just that moment realizing the privilege I had just for being simply being born on the other side of the border.”
The Power of Family and Place in Shaping Identity
Ulloa reflects on her family’s history—her father’s fall from wealth in Puerto Vallarta, her mother’s resilience as a single parent, and her upbringing in a binational world. She explains how growing up in El Paso allowed her to be both Mexican and American, a duality that informs her work.
The 2019 Walmart Shooting: A Catalyst for a Deeper Story
“This was one of the hardest I've ever had to cover and trying to hold it together as I'm at the scene reporting from the scene.”
The Book’s Structure: Five Families, One History
Ulloa explains why she chose to center the book on five families—each emblematic of key historical moments in migration, resistance, and cultural fusion. She emphasizes that only through intimate human stories can we grasp the complexity of border life and the enduring bonds across the line.
“There is no Hispanic invasion of the United States, that, you know, the Latino workers that are now being called invaders and criminals like that couldn't be further from the truth.”
“Remember where you're from. Remember where you came from. Remember who helped you get there. Stay true to your roots and go interview your grandparents.”
“El Paso is the American city that most tells us about our nation's immigration battles today. How it has, how it's been this gateway, this critical gateway into the land that would become the United States long before Ellis Island ever existed.”
Host
Guest
El Paso
place
Jasmine Ulloa
person
Ciudad Juarez
place
Ed Roberson
person
New York Times
organization
Ellis Island
place
2019 Walmart Shooting
other
Boston Globe
organization
Operation Wetback
other
Los Angeles Times
organization
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