Fullerton: Then & Now

Episode 8: Immigration Then & Now Featuring Prof. Jody Agius Vallejo (Part 1)

For this episode, I sat down with Jody Agius Vallejo, Professor of Sociology and American Studies and Ethnicity and Associate Director of the USC Equity Research Institute. In Part 1 of our conversation, we talk about the climate of hostility and fear in Southern California created by widespread ICE raids, and we give context to the current moment by examining the history of immigration to places like Fullerton. Here are some references provided by Prof. Vallejo: Seven Facts on Immigration that Every American Should Know [https://dornsife.usc.edu/eri/2025/04/29/seven-facts-on-immigration-that-every-american-should-know-2025/], by Jody Agius Vallejo and Clara Alvarez Caraveo, USC Equity Research Institute New Gallup poll on immigration [https://news.gallup.com/poll/692522/surge-concern-immigration-abated.aspx]: note the record high support of immigration as a benefit to the nation as well as the substantial support for a pathway to citizenship for undocumented people currently in the country now. Also of note is that the majority of Americans disapprove Trump’s handling of immigration. THE groundbreaking source on the development of the Mexican communities in OC as a result of the citrus industry: Gonzalez, Gilbert [https://www.press.uillinois.edu/books/?id=p063886]. 1994. Labor and Community: Mexican Citrus Worker Villages in a Southern California County, 1900-1950 My most recent op-ed 2025 Californians Must Refuse to Abandon the Immigrants Among Us [https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2025-05-06/southern-california-deportation-immigration-ice-rights]. Los Angeles Times (with Manuel Pastor). Academic articles Lee, Erika. 2007. “The ‘yellow peril’ and Asian Exclusion in the Americas [https://blogs.ubc.ca/history456/files/2017/02/lee-asia-america.pdf].” Pacific Historical Review. 76:4 pp. 537-562 Ngai, Mai. 1999. The Architecture of Race in American Immigration Law [https://faculty.fiu.edu/~revellk/pad3802/Ngai.pdf]: A reexamination of the Immigration Act of 1924. The Journal of American History. 86: N1 pp. 79-92 Excellent substacks to follow to stay up to date on evolving immigration issues: Migrant Insider [https://migrantinsider.com/] Letters from an American [https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/] Austin Kocher [https://substack.com/@austinkocher?utm_source=top-search] Data Sources USC Equity Research Institute’s California Immigrant Data Portal [https://immigrantdataca.org/indicators/recency-of-arrival?geo=04000000000006059] (CIDP) Deportation Detention Project [https://deportationdata.org/index.html] Read Jesse's Brief History of Immigration to Fullerton HERE [https://fullertonhistory.com/2025/07/02/a-brief-history-of-immigration-to-fullerton/]. To follow Jesse's research and writing about the history of Fullerton, check out www.fullertonhistory.com [https://www.fullertonhistory.com].

Episode 7: Community Activism and Involvement Featuring Judith Kaluzny

For this episode, I sat down with Judith Kaluzny, retired attorney/author and community activist. Last year, she was given the Woman Warrior Award by the Women’s Club of Fullerton. We discussed her involvement with the Fullerton Fair Housing Council, Maple School desegregation, stopping a planned road through Craig Park, founding a Community Open School, helping establish the first Women’s Shelter in Fullerton, and more. Purchase Judith's book Marriage License Handbook HERE [https://www.amazon.com/Marriage-License-Handbook-Judith-Kaluzny/dp/B09YM5B99S]. Read more about The Safe and Sane Divorce Project HERE [https://safeandsanedivorceproject.com]. To follow my research and writing about Fullerton history visit www.fullertonhistory.com [https://fullertonhistory.com].

Episode 6: Orange County Politics Featuring Jodi Balma

For this episode, I sat down with Jodi Balma, professor of political science at Fullerton College and host of the podcast A Slice of Orange to talk about Orange County politics, past and present. We discussed factors that contributed to OC's conservative political history like the Cold War, megachurches and the prosperity gospel. We also discuss wild OC politicians past and present, how demographic and other changes affected OC's shift from red to blue to purple, the impact of Trump's attacks on higher education, and more! Check out A Slice of Orange podcast HERE [https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/a-slice-of-orange-jodi-balma-YyzK06TGR4S/]. RSVP to the Fullerton Charter City Workshop HERE [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc9YUL0-Ti0fR0cLVnGuL_bCpva1pgiXYaJ7C9lgPTwpbf_iw/viewform]. Check out The Truth OC substack HERE [https://www.thetruthoc.com]. To follow my research and writing about Fullerton history visit www.fullertonhistory.com [https://www.fullertonhistory.com].

Episode 5: Fullerton College History Featuring Robert Jensen

For this episode, I sat down with Robert Jensen, retired Dean of Fine Arts at Fullerton College, and co-author of the new book Legends & Legacies: Over 100 Years of Fullerton College, which he wrote with Gary Graves. We discuss the history of Fullerton College, the oldest continuously-operating community college in the state of California, including famous alumni like Leo Fender, Ruby Berkeley Goodwin, and James Cameron. We also discuss diversity on campus and how larger events and social changes have impacted the college over the years. To purchase a copy of the book visit www.fullertonlegends.com [https://www.fullertonlegends.com]. To follow my own research and writing about Fullerton history visit www.fullertonhistory.com [https://www.fullertonhistory.com].

Episode 4: Growing Up in Fullerton in the 1980s and 1990s Featuring Seth La Tour

For this episode, I sat down with my brother, Seth La Tour, to talk about our memories of growing up in Fullerton in the 1980s and 1990s. We discuss roller hockey, the cement slides at Gilman Park, exploring oil fields, the year of the Superballs, Soup Exchange, Pogs, and more. To follow my research and writing about Fullerton visit www.fullertonhistory.com [https://www.fullertonhistory.com].