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Lomi Kriel

@lomikriel.bsky.social
16K followers 1.5K following 128 posts

Investigative reporter @texastribune.org Prior: @propublica.org @houstonchronicle.com @reuters.com, etc. Polk Award winner, Pulitzer finalist. Immigrant, proudly 🇿🇦. 📧lkriel@texastribune.org. Tell me stuff.

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Reposted by Lomi Kriel
Kevin M. Kruse @kevinmkruse.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
We all complain about the media’s failures but organizations like @propublica.org and @texastribune.org are doing the work and deserve our financial support
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Texas Tribune @texastribune.org · 28/09/2026
We are publishing the name of the alleged shooter because we believe transparency in Lorenzo Salgado Araujo’s killing is of vital public interest as investigators, lawmakers and the public seek to understand what happened and how ICE operates more broadly in this state. Read more here:
texastribune.org
ICE agent who shot Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Houston identified
The federal government has withheld his identification, even as major state and local law enforcement agencies across the country typically identify officers involved in shootings on the job soon afte...
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Texas Tribune @texastribune.org · 28/09/2026
Breaking: The Texas Tribune has identified the ICE agent who witnesses say fired through an open van window and killed 52-year-old Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Houston nearly three months ago.
texastribune.org
ICE agent who shot Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Houston identified
The federal government has withheld his identification, even as major state and local law enforcement agencies across the country typically identify officers involved in shootings on the job soon afte...
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Texas Tribune @texastribune.org · 13/09/2026
Several Texas Republicans condemned Bo French on Sunday after the GOP nominee for Railroad Commissioner made racist posts calling Asian students at UT a "problem." bit.ly/4xgJuOF
bit.ly
Cornyn calls out Bo French over racist social media post
French, the Republican nominee for a statewide position regulating Texas’ oil and gas industry, posted a photo of University of Texas students, while decrying “foreigners” displacing Americans.
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St. John Barned-Smith @stjbs.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
ICE hasn’t paid for detainee medical care since October. Advocates call it the ‘death policy’ — my latest, w/ @kolyncheang.bsky.social. Spend some time with it www.sfchronicle.com/politics/art...
sfchronicle.com
ICE hasn’t paid for detainee medical care since October. Advocates call it the ‘death policy’
ICE owes millions in unpaid bills to hospitals and, in some cases, detainees themselves have been directly billed for care, records show.
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Reposted by Lomi Kriel
The Marshall Project @themarshallproject.org · 21/08/2026
In at least 70,000 cases in 21 states, parents were referred to law enforcement agencies over allegations of substance use during pregnancy, according to six years of state and federal data obtained and published for the first time by The Marshall Project. www.themarshallproject.org/2026/02/10/b...
themarshallproject.org
Tens of Thousands of Mothers Were Flagged to Police Over Flawed Drug Tests at Childbirth
The Marshall Project found more than 70,000 cases referred to law enforcement over allegations of substance use during pregnancy — and that’s a significant undercount.
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Gillian Brockell @gillianbrockell.com · 21/08/2026
Yesterday, Aug. 20, was one of the worst days of ICE flights I've seen. -At least 82 ICE flights -At least 15 were removal flights, including Haiti -At least 5 removals were third-country removals (Cameroon, Costa Rica, Liberia, Paraguay, Rwanda) -Plus 1 emergency return for reasons unknown
An ADSBx map showing 35 planes flying all over the Americas and Africa, emanating out of Louisiana and TexasAn ADSBx map showing North and Central America, showing roundup flights to northern cities, about a dozen removal flights to central America and the Caribbean.A closeup of Alexandria, La, showing GlobalX's N966AD taking off and then quickly returning to the airport.
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Reposted by Lomi Kriel
Texas Tribune @texastribune.org · 06/08/2026
A border agent killed a migrant who crossed into Starr County. Eight months later, it’s still under investigation. bit.ly/4cr6jYn
texastribune.org
Details emerge in case of migrant killed by Border Patrol in RGV
The federal agent said he shot the man in self defense last December amid a fight that erupted after agents tried to arrest the migrants who were retreating to Mexico.
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David J. Bier @davidjbier.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
As I said, “This case had all the hallmarks of those later cases: An apparently unarmed victim who was retreating, a quick DHS statement exonerating the agent and very few other details.” texastribune.org/2026/08/06/t...
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David J. Bier @davidjbier.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
CBP promptly issued a statement exonerating the agent, and a grand jury failed to indict, though we don't know what evidence was presented. Texas DPS and CBP say they're still investigating. You should read the Tribune's story here: www.texastribune.org/2026/08/06/t...
texastribune.org
Details emerge in case of migrant killed by Border Patrol in RGV
The federal agent said he shot the man in self defense last December amid a fight that erupted after agents tried to arrest the migrants who were retreating to Mexico.
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David J. Bier @davidjbier.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
I obtained records revealing another Border Patrol agent is under investigation for the killing of an unarmed Mexican man who, according to CBP, was trying to get back to Mexico on foot. I worked with @texastribune.org's @lomikriel.bsky.social to get a fuller story... www.cato.org/blog/new-doc...
cato.org
New Docs Show Another Border Patrol Agent Under Investigation for Killing
Custom and Border Protection’s pronouncement accepting the officer’s self-defense claim should carry little weight given the extensive record of agents lying to their supervisors about assaults.
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Lomi Kriel @lomikriel.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
Border Patrol shot and killed a 31yo Mexican man in Starr County last December. Eights months later, it remains under investigation. The little-known death brings the fatal shootings by DHS agents under Trump's second term to at least three in Texas. www.texastribune.org/2026/08/06/t...
texastribune.org
Details emerge in case of migrant killed by Border Patrol in RGV
The federal agent said he shot the man in self defense last December amid a fight that erupted after agents tried to arrest the migrants who were retreating to Mexico.
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Lomi Kriel @lomikriel.bsky.social · 24/07/2026
Substance found in van after deadly Houston ICE shooting wasn’t drugs as initially alleged by unusual publicizing of FBI search warrant — per DA, family lawyer and U.S. Rep. Sylvia Garcia citing preliminary DPS testing results By @urielgarcia.bsky.social www.texastribune.org/2026/07/24/t...
texastribune.org
Officials: Van in Houston ICE shooting didn’t contain drugs
The FBI suggested plastic bags in the van contained methamphetamine. The agency hasn’t released official test results.
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Lomi Kriel @lomikriel.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
“At no moment were the agents in front of the vehicle." “Cornered." “Lorenzo stopped the van, the officer shot him anyway.” Court filings detail accounts of deadly Houston ICE shooting contradicting officials w/ @alexnguyen.bsky.social @ujohnnyg.bsky.social www.texastribune.org/2026/07/21/t...
texastribune.org
ICE shooting passengers say agents rammed van before firing
The newly-released, handwritten statements by two men who saw Lorenzo Salgado Araujo’s shooting say he never threatened ICE agents.
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Lomi Kriel @lomikriel.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
Experts say the knowledge ICE agents had of their suspected targets, even though they killed the wrong man, factors heavily into whether the shooting was justified. The FBI released a search warrant claiming meth maybe in the car. But the family says it was salt. texastribune.org/2026/07/15/tex…
texastribune.org
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Lomi Kriel @lomikriel.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
BREAKING EXCLUSIVE: FBI suggests migrants’ van in fatal Houston shooting had meth. A lawyer says it was salt. Via @alexnguyen.bsky.social @ujohnnyg.bsky.social for @texastribune.org www.texastribune.org/2026/07/16/t...
texastribune.org
Tests will find if men in Houston ICE shooting had drugs or salt
Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare, whose office is running an investigation into the shooting, expressed doubt that there were drugs in Lorenzo Salgado Araujo’s van.
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Reposted by Lomi Kriel
Jason Buch @jlbuch.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
Readers of @houstonchronicle.com are well served by this @johnwferguson.bsky.social piece noting how unusual it is for prosecutors to make a warrant public at this point in an investigation (and raising questions about whether they even need one) www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
houstonchronicle.com
FBI obtains warrant to search Salgado's van for evidence of drugs
FBI investigators sought permission to search the van involved in the ICE shooting, citing suspected methamphetamine. In a rare move, the warrant is public.
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Texas Tribune @texastribune.org · 09/07/2026
The Texas Tribune is seeking any footage, photos or tips related to the shooting of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo on July 7, 2026. You can contact us anonymously via Signal, Whatsapp, phone or email using the contact information below.
This graphic contains text from the Texas Tribune, requesting footage, cell phone video or other Instagram photos or posts, as well as tips related to the shooting of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo on July 7, 2025. We take your confidentiality seriously and will protect your identity. You can contact reporter Lomi Kriel, que habla español, on Signal, Whatsapp, or cell at 832-729-3421, or by email at lkriel [at] texas tribune [dot] org. You can contact reporter Colleen DeGuzman on Signal, Whatsapp, or cell at 956-605-9321, or by email at colleen [dot] deguzman [at] texas tribune [dot] org.
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Reposted by Lomi Kriel
Texas Tribune @texastribune.org · 15/07/2026
New: ICE's use of unmarked cars and shooting into vehicles during Houston killing could violate law enforcement policy, experts say bit.ly/4wKQxPU
bit.ly
Houston ICE shooting shows likely law enforcement policy violations
More than a dozen attorneys and former law enforcement officials reviewed footage of the deadly ICE car pursuit for The Texas Tribune. They said ICE’s tactics were breaking with best practice and poss...
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Lomi Kriel @lomikriel.bsky.social · 15/07/2026
NEW: Law enforcement experts reviewed available footage in the Houston ICE killing of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo last week. What they saw was troubling, appearing to violate longstanding best practice, possibly even the law. "Professionally incompetent.” www.texastribune.org/2026/07/15/t...
texastribune.org
Houston ICE shooting shows likely law enforcement policy violations
More than a dozen attorneys and former law enforcement officials reviewed footage of the deadly ICE car pursuit for The Texas Tribune. They said ICE’s tactics were breaking with best practice and poss...
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Lomi Kriel @lomikriel.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
The @texastribune.org is investigating this ICE shooting, along with that of Ruben Martinez last year in South Padre Island. We are seeking any cell phone footage of either events and you can share anonymously to me at 832-729-3421 or on Signal or WhatsApp.
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Lomi Kriel @lomikriel.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
Sons of man killed by ICE in Houston demand investigation: “My father would have complied." “To have been killed by our own federal government, aided by federal policies that are deliberate choices, just makes me so angry,” another said. www.texastribune.org/2026/07/08/t...
texastribune.org
Houston ICE shooting
Lorenzo Salgado Araujo’s son said his father would not have tried to flee a law enforcement stop. Local leaders say they’ve received little information from federal officials about the shooting.
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Lomi Kriel @lomikriel.bsky.social · 06/07/2026
ICYMI: The Trump administration called a small TX agency to ask for help representing immigrant children, even as it is fighting to provide that aid in court. Some worry this signals a larger effort to move all kids to TX, from where it is easier to deport them. www.texastribune.org/2026/07/03/t...
texastribune.org
Trump admin asks Texas for legal help representing immigrant kids
Immigration rights experts worry that the recent inquiry is the latest sign Trump is interested in transferring unaccompanied minors to the state, where it is easier to quickly deport them.
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Lomi Kriel @lomikriel.bsky.social · 03/07/2026
NEW: The Trump administration asked a small Texas agency to represent immigrant kids as it seeks to end that aid in court & slashed other protections. Some worry it signals an attempt to move kids to Texas, from where it is easier to quickly deport them. www.texastribune.org/2026/07/03/t...
texastribune.org
Trump admin asks Texas for legal help representing immigrant kids
Immigration rights experts worry that the recent inquiry is the latest sign Trump is interested in transferring unaccompanied minors to the state, where it is easier to quickly deport them.
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Lomi Kriel @lomikriel.bsky.social · 05/06/2026
We wrote about Andrea last month. She has an ovarian cyst that +9 experts agree require surgery & if untreated, could be deadly. ICE refused to release her or provide outside OB GYNs. A judge denied habeas & ICE, parole. Suddenly, this week, Andrea was freed. www.texastribune.org/2026/06/04/e...
texastribune.org
Guatemalan woman who needed surgery for months released by ICE
Andrea Pedro Francisco was scheduled for surgery to remove an ovarian cyst in February. Then ICE detained her, repeatedly denying her the procedures.
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Reveal @revealnews.org · 25/05/2026
911 centers are supposed to answer 90 percent of emergency calls in 15 seconds or less. Reporter @byardduncan.bsky.social found many aren’t coming close to that. Meanwhile, hundreds of thousands of callers are left waiting on hold.
revealnews.org
America’s 911 system is in the throes of its own emergency
America’s 911 dispatchers are straining under pressure, leaving thousands of callers waiting during emergencies.
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The Sidney Hillman Foundation @sidneyhillman.bsky.social · 20/05/2026
Congratulations to @stjbs.bsky.social and @kolyncheang.bsky.social of @sfchronicle.com on winning the May Sidney Award for their devastating exposé of deaths in ICE custody from medical neglect.
hillmanfoundation.org
San Francisco Chronicle wins May Sidney for Exposing Preventable Deaths in ICE Custody
NEW YORK — St. John Barned-Smith and Ko Lyn Cheang of the San Francisco Chronicle win the May Sidney for exposing the medical neglect behind deaths of detainees in ICE custody.  The reporters obtained...
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Lomi Kriel @lomikriel.bsky.social · 21/05/2026
1) This is the story of Andrea, a 23yo Guatemalan with an ovarian cyst scheduled for surgery before ICE arrested her in the Minneapolis surge that killed 2 US citizens & helped lead to the ouster of top DHS officials. Her story is greater than her own. www.texastribune.org/2026/05/20/e...
texastribune.org
Woman detained by ICE wrongfully denied surgery, doctors say
Andrea Pedro Francisco was scheduled to have surgery to remove an ovarian cyst in February but was detained by ICE, which has repeatedly denied her surgery. Nine doctors who reviewed her case said she...
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Lomi Kriel @lomikriel.bsky.social · 20/05/2026
Doctors say woman in El Paso ICE detention urgently requires surgery that is being denied. “It is my medical opinion that Ms. Pedro Francisco will suffer irreparable harm if this treatment is not provided promptly." OB-GYNs & an emergency physician agreed. www.texastribune.org/2026/05/20/e...
texastribune.org
Woman detained by ICE wrongfully denied surgery, doctors say
Andrea Pedro Francisco was scheduled to have surgery to remove an ovarian cyst in February but was detained by ICE, which has repeatedly denied her surgery. Nine doctors who reviewed her case said she...
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Guardian US @us.theguardian.com · 08/05/2026
The US government has targeted thousands of parents for deportation since Donald Trump took office in January 2025. A Guardian analysis of government records has found that, during the first seven months of his presidency, the administration arrested the parents of at least 27,000 children. 🧵
A chart showing the average monthly deportations of people with children under 18. It escalates significantly after January 2025 and starts to come down gradually in July 2025 until returning at or below pre-Trump levels in October 2025.
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Dara Lind @daralind.bsky.social · 06/05/2026
I know I’ve already reposted but…Trump I demolished a global refugee resettlement infrastructure in the name of vetting. Biden, somehow, genuinely rebuilt it. Trump II hasn’t just redemolished it but made a farce of it, by building an active recruitment pipeline which is the opposite of vetting.
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Renee Cascada🥄 @cascada57.bsky.social · 04/05/2026
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Texas Tribune @texastribune.org · 04/05/2026
How the unreported killing of an American by ICE shattered two Texas families
texastribune.org
An unreported ICE killing of an American shattered 2 Texas families
Josh Orta was the sole witness of Ruben Martinez’s death to dispute the government’s account. Months later, he died in a crash after learning an ICE agent killed his friend. Their mothers blame the go...
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Nicole Foy @nicolefoy.bsky.social · 05/05/2026
shout out to my much-missed colleagues @sophiechou.bsky.social & @harucoryne.bsky.social for their incredible work on this project!! Btw this is the second project Sophie worked on that’s won a Pulitzer! And she’s job hunting! Someone hire her ASAP! 👀👀
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Sophie Chou @sophiechou.bsky.social · 05/05/2026
Thank you @nicolefoy.bsky.social ❤️ It’s so amazing to be recognized for our work. I am currently on the job market! Open to both journalism & (elections, media, healthcare) research opportunities! Short + long term, hybrid NYC or remote preferred. Prioritizing good management & fair pay!
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Lomi Kriel @lomikriel.bsky.social · 05/05/2026
The first known ICE death wasn't Renée Good. It was Ruben Martinez in March 2025 & ICE's involvement remained unknown until this year. This is a story of how an unreported ICE killing shattered two American families and changed their politics. www.texastribune.org/2026/05/04/r...
texastribune.org
An unreported ICE killing of an American shattered 2 Texas families
Josh Orta was the sole witness of Ruben Martinez’s death to dispute the government’s account. Months later, he died in a crash after learning an ICE agent killed his friend. Their mothers blame the go...
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Lomi Kriel @lomikriel.bsky.social · 04/05/2026
SO proud of @sophiechou.bsky.social, an AMAZING data reporter, more importantly a wonderful person, for her Pulitzer in local reporting about Connecticut’s towing laws favoring unscrupulous companies. Also named is ex ProPublica reporter @harucoryne.bsky.social 🎉 www.pulitzer.org/winners/dave...
pulitzer.org
Dave Altimari and Ginny Monk of The Connecticut Mirror and Sophie Chou and Haru Coryne of ProPublica
For an impressive series exposing how the state’s unique towing laws favored unscrupulous companies that overcharged residents, prompting swift and meaningful consumer protections.
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Lomi Kriel @lomikriel.bsky.social · 04/05/2026
1) ICE's killings of Renée Good & Alex Pretti roiled the US. Less known is the agency's first public death, Ruben Martinez. His best friend, the only witness to dispute ICE's account, later died. How ICE’s killing of an American shattered two families & changed their politics.
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Lomi Kriel @lomikriel.bsky.social · 28/04/2026
An Egyptian family was detained, released, etc. The family was arrested after the estranged father was charged with hate crimes related to a 2025 Colorado anti-Jewish attack & believed to be the longest at Dilley. Latest, attorneys say, in Trump v judiciary www.texastribune.org/2026/04/25/e...
texastribune.org
ICE frees El Gamal family after re-arresting mother, 5 children
A plane carrying the family to Michigan was reportedly on its way back to Colorado after a Texas federal judge ordered a halt to their deportation following his ruling that they be released.
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Shaily Patel @vox-magica.bsky.social · 13/04/2026
exhausted historian of christianity screaming into the void, once again: christianity has never been apolitical. to wit: jesus was executed by the roman state.
nytimes.com
Many Popes Have Been Entangled in Politics. Here Are 5 of Them.
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St. John Barned-Smith @stjbs.bsky.social · 09/04/2026
NEW: ICE facilities’ medical staff repeatedly failed to diagnose critical illnesses and misdiagnosed patients, @kolyncheang.bsky.social and I found, during a six month investigation that we have just published. www.sfchronicle.com/projects/202...
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ProPublica Guild @propublicaguild.org · 08/04/2026
Our members are on the picket line today demanding a fair contract now! We want a fair disciplinary process, layoff protections & guardrails on artificial intelligence. Support us by donating to our strike fund: www.gofundme.com/f/support-pr...
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ProPublica Guild @propublicaguild.org · 08/04/2026
We’re on strike today! Support our fight for a fair contract by NOT visiting the @propublica.org website or engaging with ProPublica stories today. Tell ProPublica’s management you won’t cross the picket line: actionnetwork.org/petitions/te...
We're on strike! Don't visit propublica.org on April 8
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Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 01/04/2026
GORSUCH: Do you think Native Americans are birthright citizens under your test? SAUER: Ah, I think ... so. I have to think that through.
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Texas Tribune @texastribune.org · 26/03/2026
An explosion of reported measles cases in Texas’ federal detention facilities broke through to the public last month, infecting at least four El Paso residents who worked in one of the centers, according to emails obtained by The Texas Tribune.
texastribune.org
Measles in federal detention facility reaches the Texas public
Most of the state’s measles cases reported so far this year are inside the West Texas Detention Facility in Hudspeth County, where four infected El Paso residents worked.
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Tom “T.M.” Wolf @tomtmwolf.bsky.social · 26/03/2026
What do you need to know about birthright citizenship ahead of Wednesday's Supreme Court argument? My @brennancenter.org teammates @sam-breidbart.bsky.social and Maryjane Johnson have you covered with a quick read... www.brennancenter.org/our-work/res...
brennancenter.org
Birthright Citizenship Under the U.S. Constitution
The 14th Amendment has long been understood to grant American citizenship to anyone born on U.S. soil.
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Lomi Kriel @lomikriel.bsky.social · 24/03/2026
I joined @eleanorklib.bsky.social + @serranoalej.bsky.social to discuss expanding ICE detention and record deaths, as well as the political fall out, for @texastribune.org www.texastribune.org/2026/03/24/t...
texastribune.org
TribCast: Inside Texas’ massive ICE detention facilities
The sprawling immigration lockups are serving as a national blueprint. What's life like for detainees?
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Grits for Breakfast @gritsforbreakfast.bsky.social · 18/03/2026
Years later, still no accountability and at best truncated transparency on the Uvalde mass shooting response failures, w/ DPS and CBP refusing to release records or testify about their officers/agents role there. Abbott failed to get the records closed this session, but DPS still won't release them.
texastribune.org
Ex-Uvalde school police chief sues CBP for testimonies
Prosecutors and attorneys for Pete Arrendondo, who faces charges over the shooting’s botched response, have repeatedly requested U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents to testify. The agency has re...
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Lomi Kriel @lomikriel.bsky.social · 16/03/2026
Cannot wait to work with @taygoldenstein.bsky.social at @texastribune.org - watch this space!
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Dara Lind @daralind.bsky.social · 16/03/2026
I have had COUNTLESS convos where reporters ask me “okay but Trump hasn’t actually deported as many people as Biden (or Obama), right?” and what I try to stress in response is “the real story is how hard it is, and getting harder, for us even to know.” Must-read. apnews.com/article/trum...
apnews.com
As Trump pushes deportations, immigration data becomes harder to find
The Trump administration’s immigration crackdown is expanding, but the public data that tracks it is drying up.
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