PBS News Hour full episode, Feb. 5, 2026

Key Concepts

• Growing public disapproval of ICE actions is impacting the DHS funding debate.
• “Zombie mortgages” are re-emerging, threatening homeowners with foreclosure despite prior resolutions.
• The effectiveness and ethical implications of “raid-and-rescue” models for combating sex trafficking in India are being questioned.
• Socioeconomic factors play a crucial role in vulnerability to sex work, and a nuanced approach is needed beyond criminalization.

Public Opinion, Homeland Security Funding & “Zombie Mortgages”

A recent PBS News/NPR/Marist poll reveals that 65% of Americans disapprove of ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) actions, a significant increase from 54% the previous June. This disapproval is rising across the political spectrum, with 27% of Republicans now expressing concern, the highest recorded for a Trump policy among that demographic. 50% of Americans report feeling less safe due to ICE, a sentiment more pronounced among women (57%) than men (41%). President Trump’s approval rating remains at 39%, with a record high of 51% expressing strong disapproval.

This shift in public opinion coincides with a challenging funding deadline for the Department of Homeland Security. Democrats have proposed ten demands for reform, including body cameras for ICE officers, restrictions on uniforms and operations near sensitive locations, warrant requirements, cooperation with local investigations, basic detention standards, and prohibitions against racial profiling. Republicans are resistant to several of these demands, particularly those concerning officer identification, judicial warrants, and expanded racial profiling standards. Negotiations are considered a “long shot,” with a short-term funding bill and potential government shutdown as likely outcomes.

Alongside these political debates, the segment highlighted the resurgence of “zombie mortgages” – dormant second mortgages that are being revived as property values increase. An estimated over 600,000 such mortgages could re-emerge, allowing lenders, often investment funds like Aspen Funds, to pursue foreclosure. These debts were often considered worthless during the 2008 financial crisis and sold for minimal value. The legal landscape is complex, involving questions about the statute of limitations and accrued interest. Lenders are often accused of exploiting homeowners’ fear of losing their homes, and transparency is lacking, with some debt collectors failing to provide regular statements. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) had begun investigating these practices but its work was curtailed under the Trump administration. Cases involving Terence Hardin in Maryland and the Lomurno family in Ohio illustrate this issue.

Prajwala & the Debate Over Combating Sex Trafficking in India

The segment then focused on Prajwala, an Indian organization founded by Sunitha Krishnan, which has assisted over 32,000 women escaping sex work through shelter, legal aid, skills training, and employment opportunities. The organization utilizes police raids on brothels followed by comprehensive support for survivors. Stories of Lakshmi Priya, Nazia, and Siraj illustrate common pathways into sex work: poverty, deception, and coercion. Prajwala provides vocational training in skills like bookbinding, tailoring, and welding.

However, the segment also presented a critical perspective on the “raid-and-rescue” model, with anthropologist Vibhuti Ramachandran arguing that it’s heavily influenced by U.S. anti-trafficking policies and may not be appropriate for women who enter the sex industry voluntarily due to limited economic options. Ramachandran questioned why the sex industry is “exceptionalized” compared to other forms of labor, and attributed the prevalence of the raid-and-rescue approach to the influence of U.S. policy and funding from the Bush administration. She argued this has led to “a patchwork of shoddy enforcement, many substandard shelters and a confiscation of these women's most viable way to earn a living.”

In India, prostitution is technically legal, but related activities like soliciting and operating a brothel are criminalized, leading to brothel raids and the automatic presumption of trafficking. Women removed from raids are legally entitled to rehabilitation, but many object to this intervention and desire to continue working. Sunitha Krishnan acknowledged the challenges of rehabilitation, noting that up to 15% of women return to sex work due to “Stockholm syndrome” or “trauma bonds.” She maintains a steadfastly abolitionist stance, believing sex work is the “oldest form of patriarchal legitimization of commodifying a woman's body as a sexual object.” Prajwala’s shelters have faced protests and escape attempts, including a suicide, and release is a “tedious procedure” due to court delays. The organization also runs preventative programs aimed at providing education and opportunities to children in distressed neighborhoods. Lakshmi Priya’s story, with her daughter now in law school, exemplifies a potential positive outcome.

Conclusion

The segment presented a complex picture of interconnected issues. Public opinion is shifting on ICE actions, impacting political negotiations over DHS funding. Simultaneously, a new financial threat – “zombie mortgages” – is emerging, exploiting vulnerabilities in the housing market. Finally, the segment highlighted the ethical complexities of combating sex trafficking, questioning the effectiveness and potential harm of the dominant “raid-and-rescue” model and emphasizing the need to address underlying socioeconomic factors. These segments collectively demonstrate the importance of nuanced understanding and critical evaluation when addressing complex social and economic challenges.