DeBorah Boneta is the director, advocate, and chaplain for Oklahoma Prison Support, where she works directly with incarcerated individuals, their families, and those reentering society after prison. She is Oklahoma's first African American Certified Sign Language Interpreter and the pioneering Islamic Chaplain serving those housed in jail and prison spaces.

In today’s episode of CAIR On AIR, DeBorah joins us to share how she built a prison ministry from the ground up, the unique challenges Muslims face in and after prison, and why incarceration is not just a legal issue but a human problem.

We dive into the systemic gaps in Oklahoma’s incarceration system and the barriers individuals face when transitioning back into society. DeBorah also shares powerful success stories of formerly incarcerated individuals rebuilding their lives, along with the real impact of community support, from Ramadan initiatives to mentorship and advocacy.

Our conversation explores how DeBorah built trust within prison systems, overcame misconceptions about Islam, and created opportunities for both Muslims and people of all faiths.

DeBorah also shares advice for people wanting to start prison ministry and the impact of youth organizations like Muslim Student Associations and advocacy groups.

Join us today as we dive into prison ministry, justice reform, faith based advocacy, supporting incarcerated Muslims, building community impact, empowering the next generation, and how you can make a difference no matter your background.

Munjed Ahmad is a seasoned immigration attorney with over 25 years of experience representing individuals in complex deportation and civil rights cases. He is also serving as Salah Sarsour’s attorney. Kate Brady is the Immigration Litigation Department Head at the Muslim Legal Fund of America (MLFA), where she leads federal court litigation focused on defending non-citizens’ rights.

In today’s episode of CAIR On AIR, Munjed and Kate join me to discuss the case of Salah Sarsour, president of the Islamic Society of Milwaukee (who was detained for refusing to remain silent on Palestinian issues), and the broader legal issues connected to it.

We dive into Salah’s background, his leadership role in his community, and how his situation developed into a complex case that has drawn wider attention.

Kate explains the arguments being used against Salah and how immigration law interacts with constitutional protections. She also shares the factors that make cases like Salah’s different from standard immigration proceedings and how complicated they become.

Munjed also provides insight into how cases like this are handled behind the scenes, including the preparations involved, the legal strategies used, and the challenges attorneys face while navigating multiple layers of the legal system.

Join us today to gain a clearer understanding of Salah Sarsour’s case, how legal battles work, and what every citizen, non-citizen, and immigrant needs to know about the state of free speech in the U.S.

Veronica Laizure is the Executive Director of CAIR Oklahoma and a National Staff Attorney, where she works on the front lines defending Muslim civil rights and helping other minority communities navigate discrimination, bias, and systemic injustice.

In today’s episode, Veronica joins me to break down the reality of civil rights for Muslims and other minority groups in America and how she began actively protecting Muslim communities across Oklahoma and beyond.

We dive into the history of Oklahoma and the events that fueled Islamophobia and shaped how Muslims are perceived today. Veronica also explains why Muslims and other minority communities are often at the center of political targeting and why these cycles continue to repeat.

We talk about the evolution of modern politics and why division is more tense than ever. Veronica also shares a powerful perspective on what will bring real change and how Muslims and other communities can stand against injustice.

Our conversation goes into what real allyship looks like, why most activism is surface level, and how to foster consistent action and true support for each other.

Join us today as we dive into how Muslims and other communities are navigating rising division, pushing back against systemic injustice, and building something stronger in the process.