Slave Patrols to ICE: The Hidden Origin of American Policing

Before badges and cruisers, there were whips and runaway notices. In this urgent episode, host Jesse Lee Hammonds uncovers the chilling roots of American law enforcement—from colonial slave patrols to today’s immigration raids and ICE detentions. Joined by The Logical Lawyer, Bernie Brown, and retired engineer Michael Williams, they unravel how “order” was historically enforced not for justice—but for control. With riveting historical detail and modern-day headlines, this episode makes one thing clear: history isn’t behind us. It’s now. And unless we understand the systems, we’ll keep repeating them. This is the part of the story they didn’t teach in school.