Menika Dirkson

(She/her)

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ICE increased its presence at more than a dozen U.S. airports in 2026, including Philadelphia International Airport. Matthew Hatcher/Getty Images

ICE arrests at Philadelphia International evoke time when airport police helped military catch AWOL Vietnam War soldiers in 1960s

Menika Dirkson, Morgan State University

A local historian combed through a 1967 collection of police incident reports from Philadelphia’s airport police that included detentions of soldiers and veterans.
Supporters visit Javier Flores, right, while he lived in sanctuary at Arch Street United Methodist Church in downtown Philadelphia in 2017. Bastiaan Slabbers/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Philadelphia’s 40‑year history of protecting undocumented immigrants began with churches hiding refugees from El Salvador

Menika Dirkson, Morgan State University

A historian explores how religious congregations, activists and city officials have supported undocumented immigrants in Philadelphia over the past 40 years.

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