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Leah Douglas

@leahjdouglas.bsky.social
1.8K followers 336 following 142 posts

Reuters journalist covering food/ag policy, fed agencies, more. email: leah.douglas@tr.com signal: leahjdouglas.01 they/them reuters.com/authors/leah-douglas | www.leahjdouglas.com

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Reposted by Leah Douglas
Reuters @reuters.com · 01/10/2026
NEWSLETTER: Water contamination and cancer concerns reut.rs/4z42Ho1
reut.rs
NEWSLETTER: Water contamination and cancer concerns
Hello!
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Leah Douglas @leahjdouglas.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Iowa has the second-highest cancer rate in the US - and it’s reshaping the state’s hugely competitive midterm elections. My latest for @reuters.com:
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Leah Douglas @leahjdouglas.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
Tractors! Combines! Potato diggers! Heard of ‘em? They share something in common: they guzzle diesel. New from me and colleagues today for @reuters.com: why record-high diesel prices are very likely to drive food prices higher. www.reuters.com/business/ene...
reuters.com
Record US diesel prices squeeze farmers; food prices may rise
In northeast Missouri, Addie Yoder, a corn, soybean and cattle farmer, runs two combines, three semi-trucks and several tractors from mid-September to late October to harvest and transport her crops.
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Leah Douglas @leahjdouglas.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
I suppose it's only appropriate that a settlement for fixing the price of eggs be (partially) paid out in... lots and lots of eggs. NY AG release today says Cal-Maine/Hickman's/Versova will send 53 million eggs to food banks in 17 states: ag.ny.gov/press-releas...
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Leah Douglas @leahjdouglas.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
The Trump administration moved on Tuesday to open nearly 60 million acres of protected forests to development. The USDA says this move would reduce wildfire risk - but environmental groups say it would do the opposite. www.reuters.com/legal/litiga...
reuters.com
Trump administration moves to rescind rule that protects millions of forest acres
The Trump administration took a step ‌toward rescinding a decades-old rule that protects undeveloped forests on Tuesday in a move it says will help manage wildfire risk, but which environmental groups...
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Leah Douglas @leahjdouglas.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
Massachusetts anti-hunger advocate Liz Wills-O'Gilvie, 63, has not eaten for more than two weeks in a bid to push Gov. Healey ​to raise funding for the state’s SNAP program. I wrote about Liz for @reuters.com to show one of the ways SNAP cuts are affecting the US: www.reuters.com/legal/litiga...
reuters.com
Massachusetts anti-hunger advocate fasts to protest Trump food stamp cuts​
Anti-hunger advocate Liz Wills-O'Gilvie, 63, said she has not eaten for 15 days.
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Leah Douglas @leahjdouglas.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
Last year, Trump canceled the country's "gold standard" food insecurity survey. Without it, assessing whether his cuts to SNAP make hunger worse could be much harder. Nearly 5 million people have lost SNAP benefits since last July, when HR1 passed. www.reuters.com/legal/litiga...
reuters.com
Trump cut to food security survey could make measuring US hunger harder
President Donald Trump's cancellation last year of a government food security survey could make it difficult to assess whether ​his cuts to the food stamp program lead to a rise in U.S. hunger, especi...
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Leah Douglas @leahjdouglas.bsky.social · 24/06/2026
More than 4.7 million people have lost SNAP benefits since Trump's HR1 tax and spending bill went into effect last July. Arizona has been hit hardest, with enrollment down more than 50% - including nearly 200,000 children. Why? We found out for @reuters.com: www.reuters.com/world/us/mil...
reuters.com
Millions lose food stamps under Trump cuts. Arizona is hardest hit
When Angelica Garcia tried to renew her food stamps this spring, she said she thought she knew the drill.
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Leah Douglas @leahjdouglas.bsky.social · 11/06/2026
I'll be joining @wamu.org's 1A in a few minutes to talk New World screwworm. Tune in! the1a.org
the1a.org
1A | Speak Freely
1A is a show for a changing America.
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Leah Douglas @leahjdouglas.bsky.social · 06/06/2026
The USDA confirmed a second case of screwworm in Texas tonight - after confirming the first US case in decades on Wednesday. The second infestation was detected 5.6 miles from the first, in a 1mo-old calf. @reuters.com had the story first: www.reuters.com/business/hea...
reuters.com
Second Texas screwworm case confirmed as outbreak fears grow
A second case of the flesh-eating screwworm ​parasite was confirmed in Texas by the U.S. Department of Agriculture on ‌Friday, emerging just miles from where the first U.S. detection in decades was re...
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Reposted by Leah Douglas
Reuters @reuters.com · 04/06/2026
US races to contain flesh-eating parasite screwworm, reports no further cases reut.rs/4dOJ7EJ
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US races to contain flesh-eating parasite screwworm, reports no further cases
Following the first confirmation of screwworm, a flesh-eating parasite, on a U.S. farm in ​decades, federal and state officials have fanned out in South Texas, where a calf was found infested this week. U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins ‌said on Thursday no other infestations of cattle or other animals have been detected around the confirmed case.
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Leah Douglas @leahjdouglas.bsky.social · 30/04/2026
I was very glad to join @wamu.org and @npr.org’s 1A today to talk about the farm bill, SNAP cuts, the Iran war’s impact on farmers, and more. Listen here: the1a.org/segments/the...
the1a.org
The fate of the farm bill
It covers everything from crop insurance to food aid. Can lawmakers agree on what to keep in, and what to ditch?
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Leah Douglas @leahjdouglas.bsky.social · 24/04/2026
Also in this story: a preview of MAHA's anti-pesticide rally at SCOTUS on Monday, and details of MAHA's April 9 meetings with Trump and other White House officials to discuss pesticides, among other topics.
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Leah Douglas @leahjdouglas.bsky.social · 24/04/2026
NEW: Most Americans are worried about pesticides and oppose shielding companies from lawsuits over hazardous products, a @reuters.com poll found - days ahead of oral arguments in Bayer's SCOTUS case, which aims to limit suits ‌over Roundup cancer claims. www.reuters.com/legal/govern...
reuters.com
As Roundup maker goes to Supreme Court, Americans worry about pesticides, Reuters/Ipsos poll shows
Most Americans are worried about pesticides and oppose shielding companies from lawsuits over hazardous products, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted ahead of U.S. Supreme Courtarguments invol...
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Leah Douglas @leahjdouglas.bsky.social · 15/04/2026
As good as everyone says, truly aspirational writing here from @caity.bsky.social:
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Leah Douglas @leahjdouglas.bsky.social · 01/04/2026
BREAKING: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday approved Eli Lilly's weight-loss pill, making it the second to market after Novo Nordisk's oral Wegovy. @reuters.com
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Leah Douglas @leahjdouglas.bsky.social · 16/03/2026
Here's our developing story: www.reuters.com/world/us-jud...
reuters.com
US judge blocks efforts to reshape childhood vaccine policy
A federal judge on Monday blocked key parts of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s effort to reshape U.S. vaccine policy, including a move to reduce the number of shots routinely recommended for ...
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Leah Douglas @leahjdouglas.bsky.social · 16/03/2026
REUTERS - US JUDGE BLOCKS TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S CUTS TO NUMBER OF ROUTINELY RECOMMENDED VACCINES FOR CHILDREN, BLOCKS APPOINTMENTS OF 13 MEMBERS TO VACCINE PANEL
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Leah Douglas @leahjdouglas.bsky.social · 07/03/2026
NEW: The IACC, a federal autism advisory board, will not meet in March as scheduled, according to HHS. www.reuters.com/business/hea...
reuters.com
US autism advisory board will not meet in March as scheduled, health agency says
A U.S. autism advisory board will not hold a scheduled meeting ​in March, the Department of Health ‌and Human Services said on Saturday.
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Leah Douglas @leahjdouglas.bsky.social · 25/02/2026
📊🚨 Big poll findings today from @reuters.com: Americans trust vaccines and school mandates, and largely disapprove of reducing childhood shots - a rebuke of Trump’s agenda to upend decades of health policy. www.reuters.com/business/hea...
reuters.com
Americans trust vaccines, school mandates, rejecting Trump agenda, Reuters/Ipsos poll finds
A bipartisan majority of Americans believe vaccines are safe and that children should receive them to attend school, according to a new Reuters/Ipsos poll, illustrating the challenges Trump's administ...
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Leah Douglas @leahjdouglas.bsky.social · 20/02/2026
NEW: MAHA activists warn Trump could lose their support in the November midterms over Wednesday's order promoting domestic production of the weedkiller glyphosate. www.reuters.com/business/hea...
reuters.com
MAHA activists warn Trump could lose their support over glyphosate order
Members of the U.S. Make America Healthy Again movement that backs Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. say an executive order this week to boost domestic production of the weedkiller glyphosate ris...
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Leah Douglas @leahjdouglas.bsky.social · 03/02/2026
MAHA activists aligned with RFK Jr, encouraged by his overhaul of federal vaccine guidelines, want to ban state vaccine mandates for schools and employment. Here’s why, how and where: www.reuters.com/legal/litiga...
reuters.com
Buoyed by Kennedy's success, MAHA groups take aim at state vaccine laws
U.S. activists allied with Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. hope to ban vaccine mandates in as many as a dozen states this year, building on a law they conceived and passed in Idaho, according t...
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Leah Douglas @leahjdouglas.bsky.social · 14/11/2025
My latest for @Reuters was featured on the front page all day yesterday. Miss it? Read more: USDA searched for terms like 'diversity,' 'climate modeling' to target grants for cancellation - www.reuters.com/legal/litiga...
reuters.com
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Reposted by Leah Douglas
Reuters @reuters.com · 06/11/2025
US Supreme Court allows Trump's passport policy targeting transgender people reut.rs/3Jk5Qw4
reut.rs
US Supreme Court allows Trump's passport policy targeting transgender people
The Supreme Court on Thursday allowed Donald Trump's administration to bar applicants for U.S. passports from designating the sex reflecting their gender identities on the document, part of the Republican president's crackdown on the rights of transgender Americans.
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Leah Douglas @leahjdouglas.bsky.social · 06/11/2025
The start of November has brought confusion, concern and painful choices for many SNAP recipients as benefits lapse for the first time ever. Some are forgoing medications or eating less to stretch tight food budgets. My latest: www.reuters.com/world/us/us-...
reuters.com
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Leah Douglas @leahjdouglas.bsky.social · 03/11/2025
Two of the top three stories on @reuters.com are the latest news on SNAP and WIC. Keep with us for the latest.
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Leah Douglas @leahjdouglas.bsky.social · 03/11/2025
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE TO USE CONTINGENCY FUNDS TO PARTIALLY PAY FOR NOVEMBER'S SNAP FOOD BENEFITS, COURT FILING SAYS - Reuters
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Leah Douglas @leahjdouglas.bsky.social · 29/10/2025
Neither party shows signs of changing its position to end the 29-day federal shutdown, as SNAP benefits for 42 million people are set to lapse Nov. 1. Meanwhile, the USDA defends a legal U-turn on contingency funds. From Bo Erickson and I for @reuters.com: www.reuters.com/business/hea...
reuters.com
Food aid for 42 million imperiled by shutdown politics, as Trump tests law
Nearly 42 million people are set to lose food aid due to the second-longest U.S. government shutdown, as Democrats and Republicans in Congress continue to blame each other for a weeks-long legislative stalemate.
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Leah Douglas @leahjdouglas.bsky.social · 26/10/2025
A banner on the USDA website says SNAP benefits will not go out on November 1. “Bottom line, the well has run dry.” An agency memo yesterday said the USDA will not use contingency funds for Nov. benefits: www.reuters.com/world/us/usd...
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Leah Douglas @leahjdouglas.bsky.social · 25/10/2025
Food banks, already under strain, say there is little they can do to prepare for the likelihood that SNAP and WIC benefits will lapse in November. We talked to 9 food banks in 8 states and heard the same thing again and again. “We’re in some real trouble.” www.reuters.com/world/us/us-...
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Leah Douglas @leahjdouglas.bsky.social · 24/10/2025
NEW: the USDA says it will not use $5 billion in contingency funds to pay for November SNAP benefits. The benefits are set to lapse at the end of this month due to the federal shutdown. States, mayors, House Democrats etc have been urging the agency to use this money. Story TK
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Leah Douglas @leahjdouglas.bsky.social · 23/10/2025
🚨Two dozen states have warned SNAP recipients that November benefits will not go out if the gov’t shutdown continues. November could see a historic benefit gap for nearly 7 mln WIC and 41 mln SNAP recipients. “This could get really bad.” www.reuters.com/business/env...
reuters.com
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Leah Douglas @leahjdouglas.bsky.social · 20/10/2025
U.S. farmers on Monday criticized Trump's suggestion that the country may import more beef from Argentina. Farmers have also lost out to the South American nation on soybean sales to China. "This plan only creates chaos,” said one cattle group. With Tom Polansek: www.reuters.com/world/us/tru...
reuters.com
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Reposted by Leah Douglas
Courtney Rozen @courtneyrozen.bsky.social · 17/10/2025
Federal Layoffs Update 🚨 We could have a better sense today of the # of federal staff laid off since the shutdown began. A judge ordered the Trump admin to provide an accounting of the firings by 2 p.m. ET today, October 17. The Trump admin previously said 4,108 people lost their jobs.
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Leah Douglas @leahjdouglas.bsky.social · 08/10/2025
Thanks very much to the team at 1A for having me on @npr.org / @wamu.org today to talk about the government shutdown and risks to WIC, and the broader context of rising hunger and federal food aid cuts. Listen to the segment here: the1a.org/segments/wha...
the1a.org
What the shutdown means for the Women, Infants and Children program
The GOP is blaming the Left for keeping baby formula and healthy foods out of the hands of low-income families.
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Leah Douglas @leahjdouglas.bsky.social · 07/10/2025
The Trump administration is expected to announce a plan as soon as Tuesday to bail out U.S. farmers - as much as $15B - but the plan could be difficult to roll out because of the government shutdown. Read more from me and Bo Erickson at @reuters.com: www.reuters.com/world/us/tru...
reuters.com
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Leah Douglas @leahjdouglas.bsky.social · 02/10/2025
Democrats say the Trump administration is violating the Hatch Act by posting political messages on government websites, like the USDA. Reporting by me and Steve Holland.
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Leah Douglas @leahjdouglas.bsky.social · 02/10/2025
🚨The WIC nutrition program could face funding shortfalls in days if the government shutdown continues. Bo Erickson and I report for @reuters.com on why this key aid is now in jeopardy: www.reuters.com/business/hea...
reuters.com
US government shutdown threatens food-aid program for low-income Americans
Crucial food assistance for about 6.7 million low-income Americans has been put in jeopardy.
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Leah Douglas @leahjdouglas.bsky.social · 30/09/2025
There's a lot of news today (!). But take a moment to read this @reuters.com story about a less-covered impact of Trump's federal funding cuts: the end of SNAP-Ed, a nutrition education program that has served millions over 30 years. Its funding ends today. www.reuters.com/world/us/sta...
reuters.com
States to end nutrition education programs after Trump cuts
On a warm September day in the courtyard of a San Francisco senior living community, a dozen residents shake their hips and throw their hands in the air to the beat of, fittingly, Earth, Wind & Fire's "September."
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Leah Douglas @leahjdouglas.bsky.social · 17/09/2025
Health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. plans to change the childhood vaccine schedule in September, former CDC head Susan Monarez told Congress on Wednesday. Kennedy asked her to commit to approving the changes before reviewing scientific evidence, Monarez said. www.reuters.com/business/hea...
reuters.com
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Leah Douglas @leahjdouglas.bsky.social · 09/09/2025
NEW: A FEMA disaster management tool that emergency managers use to communicate may no longer be supported Wednesday, according to a notice posted and later deleted from a federal government website. My latest w/ @courtneyrozen.bsky.social: www.reuters.com/business/env...
reuters.com
US online disaster planning tool may go dark on Wednesday, agency website says
An online disaster management tool that U.S. emergency managers use to communicate may no longer be supported Wednesday, according to a notice posted and later deleted from a federal government website.
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Leah Douglas @leahjdouglas.bsky.social · 03/09/2025
The recent loss of 2,500 staff and 24 senior career officials could compromise FEMA's ability to respond to natural disasters this year, according to a report by a government watchdog agency. My latest for @reuters.com: www.reuters.com/business/env...
reuters.com
Staff losses at FEMA could compromise disaster response, says watchdog agency
Recent staff losses at the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency, including the departure of two dozen senior leaders, could compromise the agency's ability to respond to natural disasters this year, according to a report by a government watchdog agency.
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Leah Douglas @leahjdouglas.bsky.social · 28/08/2025
BREAKING: Changes to the CDC's vaccine advisory board and other vaccine policies drove three senior officials to resign on Wednesday, they told @reuters.com in an interview today shortly after they were escorted from the CDC HQ. Follow our coverage here: www.reuters.com/world/live-u...
reuters.com
Live: CDC director Monarez ousted after RFK Jr. vaccine shifts
Kennedy took questions with Texas Governor Abbott during a press conference in Austin. Departing senior CDC officials told Reuters that changes to CDC's vaccine advisory board and other policies drove them to resign.
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Leah Douglas @leahjdouglas.bsky.social · 13/08/2025
Here's the story: www.reuters.com/legal/litiga...
reuters.com
USDA moves to end employee union contracts, documents show
The U.S. Department of Agriculture moved on Tuesday to terminate union contracts with thousands of employees of its animal health and food safety inspection agencies, according to documents seen by Reuters.
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Leah Douglas @leahjdouglas.bsky.social · 13/08/2025
NEW: The USDA has moved to end union contracts with some workers at the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and the Food Safety and Inspection Service, the latest move by the Trump administration to strip federal workers of collective bargaining rights. Story TK @reuters.com
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Leah Douglas @leahjdouglas.bsky.social · 13/08/2025
The USDA spent $16,400 on the 31-foot banners of Trump and Lincoln that hang from its HQ building in DC, according to records obtained by @washingtonian.com via public records request. www.washingtonian.com/2025/08/12/u...
washingtonian.com
USDA Spent $16,400 on Banners to Honor Trump and Lincoln - Washingtonian
The unusual installation was a 31-foot-tall reminder of how much things have changed in Washington.
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Reposted by Leah Douglas
EJ Today News @ejtodaynews.bsky.social · 13/08/2025
'MAHA' Activists Urge Trump To Oppose Limits On #Pesticide Regulation @leahjdouglas.bsky.social reports for @reuters.com #news #environment #climatechange EJ Today Headlines: sej.org/headlines/list www.reuters.com/business/env...
reuters.com
'MAHA' activists urge Trump to oppose limits on pesticide regulation
President Donald Trump should block the U.S. House from limiting the regulation of pesticides and "forever chemicals" in its environmental appropriations bill or risk losing Republican support, more than 200 activists aligned with the "Make America Healthy Again" movement said in a letter to Trump.
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Leah Douglas @leahjdouglas.bsky.social · 24/07/2025
"“We are desperately concerned for our journalists in Gaza, who are increasingly unable to feed themselves and their families," say @reuters.com, BBC, @apnews.com and @afp.com. reutersagency.com/media-centre...
reutersagency.com
Joint statement on Gaza from Reuters, AFP, The AP and BBC News
Joint statement on Gaza from Reuters, AFP, AP and BBC News
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Leah Douglas @leahjdouglas.bsky.social · 13/07/2025
Trump officials defended their immigration tactics on Sunday, including a California farm raid on Thursday that left one worker dead. Border czar Tom Homan said ICE officers were doing their jobs at the raid. "It's always unfortunate when there's deaths," he said. www.reuters.com/world/us/tru...
reuters.com
Trump administration defends immigration tactics after California worker's death
Administration officials said they would appeal a ruling to halt some of the administration's more aggressive tactics.
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Reposted by Leah Douglas
Ted Hesson @tedhesson.bsky.social · 11/07/2025
A California farmworker died on Friday from injuries sustained a day earlier when US immigration agents raided a cannabis operation and arrested hundreds of workers, according to a farmworker advocacy group. @leahjdouglas.bsky.social www.reuters.com/legal/govern...
reuters.com
One California worker dead, hundreds arrested, after cannabis farm raid
A California farmworker died on Friday from injuries sustained a day earlier when U.S. immigration agents raided a cannabis operation and arrested hundreds of workers, according to a farmworker advocacy group.
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