News21

24/09/2025

Hospitals sometimes repatriate uninsured noncitizen patients without their full consent in a practice known as medical deportation, and experts worry cases could rise amid Trump's immigration and health care reforms.

Since 2020, the Philadelphia-based Free Migration Project has tracked 19 cases of patients facing medical deportation. Six of those came in the first six months of 2025, from cities in Pennsylvania, Florida, New Jersey and New York, according to Adrianna Torres-García, deputy director of the organization.

“We've had a higher volume of cases in the same span of time than any other given year,” Torres-García said. “It's also more complex cases.”

Story and photos by Jessica Sachs and Ann Marie Vanderveen:

Advocates say hospitals sometimes repatriate uninsured noncitizen patients without full consent — referring to the practice as “medical deportation.” Experts worry cases could increase because of Trump administration reforms on immigration and health care.

22/09/2025

The small town of Crete, Nebraska, where just under half of the residents are Hispanic, prides itself on being welcoming. This year, it became “Certified Welcoming,” cementing its efforts to support its immigrant community.

But Crete walks a fine line between “welcoming” and “sanctuary.” Under President Donald Trump’s second administration, the word sanctuary has never been more taboo. Being known as a sanctuary city could lead to cuts to federal funding or increased scrutiny.

See how officials in Crete and other communities are working to support residents while avoiding the “sanctuary” label. Story by Alissa Gary. Photos by Gary, Aaron Stigile and Marissa Lindemann:

Trump threatened to revoke funding from so-called sanctuary cities and states, saying the policies make the country unsafe. Now, some towns wrangle with supporting immigrant residents without saying the “s” word.

19/09/2025

Farmers, politicians like Representative Zoe Lofgren and groups including the Idaho Dairymen's Association have spent years pushing for immigration reform. As worksite enforcement increases, they say change is needed now more than ever. Words and photos by Ryan Luetkemeyer and Meghan O'Brien. Video story by Carlos Rene Castro and Gracyn Thatcher:

Farmers are worried about their livelihoods and farmworkers are frightened for their lives as President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown continues – threatening an industry dependent on foreign-born labor.

18/09/2025

40 miles in 3 days—the journey that over 100 protesters completed in California to advocate for immigrant rights this summer. The Northern California Coalition for Just Immigration Reform, a collection of organizations that includes Raizes Collective, East Bay Sanctuary Covenant and the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights, led the walk from Vacaville to Sacramento to call for change amid the Trump administration's immigration crackdown. News21 visual journalists Sydney Lovan and Gracyn Thatcher, along with writer Mikayla Melo, documented the journey:

Inspired by crusaders of the past, hundreds of activists, faith leaders and everyday Californians marched 40 miles this summer to advocate for immigrant rights and call for an end to the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown.

17/09/2025

Health care workers and advocates with groups like SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West, National Nurses United and California Immigrant Policy Center are fighting against cuts to immigrant health care and ICE enforcement in medical facilities. See how. Story and photos by Aaron Stigile and Alissa Gary:

Health care workers and advocates are fighting back against cuts to immigrant health care and enforcement in medical facilities. The assault is happening around the country – at the federal level, through the policies of the second Trump administration, and in blue states that have cut health prog...

16/09/2025

During his first term, President Trump tried to end DACA, which protects those brought into the U.S. illegally as children. A second Trump term has stirred Dreamers’ fears that the program, and their futures in the U.S., might disappear. Reporting and photography by Mia Hilkowitz and Tristan E. M. Leach:

The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program turned 13 in June. The program, which protects those brought into the U.S. illegally as children, was never meant to be more than a stopgap on the pathway to citizenship. But the 525,000 current recipients remain in limbo as the Trump administration...

15/09/2025

With border wall construction set to begin in Arizona’s San Rafael Valley, what are conservationists with Sky Island Alliance, the Center for Biological Diversity and other organizations doing to protect wildlife? Find out in this story and gorgeous photo essay by Marissa Lindemann and Lorenzo Gomez:

Conservationists are working to protect wildlife in Arizona’s San Rafael Valley, where they say border wall construction threatens endangered species in one of the state’s critical wildlife migration corridors.

12/09/2025

“We should be welcoming the stranger, not locking them up.” As the Trump administration expands immigration detention, communities are grappling with the consequences. Terrific story, photos and video by Mikayla Melo, David Scibilia, Avery Callens, Alexa Durben and Marissa Lindemann:

As the Trump administration expands immigration detention on an unprecedented scale, communities are grappling with the consequences – questioning the morality, expressing concerns about shifting local identities and fighting back.

10/09/2025

Immigrant veterans and their relatives are among those getting caught up in the Trump administration’s mass deportation efforts. As a result, some service members are choosing to self-deport. Others are speaking out. An ex-Marine whose father was detained told U.S. senators: “The people being ripped from our communities are hardworking, honest, patriotic people who are raising America’s teachers, nurses and Marines.”

During his first term in office, President Donald Trump’s immigration policies took aim at a group normally safe from scrutiny: immigrant service members. Now, as the second Trump administration engages in its campaign of mass deportations, military experts and veterans say immigrant troops and th...

10/09/2025

During his first term, President Donald Trump enacted immigration policies aimed at a group normally safe from scrutiny: immigrant service members. Now, as the second Trump administration engages in its campaign of mass deportations, experts and veterans say immigrant troops and their relatives are once again targets. Powerful story, photos and video by Hannah Psalma Ramirez, Sydney Lovan and Gracyn Thatcher, with contributions from Tristan E.M. Leach:

During his first term in office, President Donald Trump’s immigration policies took aim at a group normally safe from scrutiny: immigrant service members. Now, as the second Trump administration engages in its campaign of mass deportations, military experts and veterans say immigrant troops and th...

08/09/2025

“This is just inhumane.” Madison Pestana’s husband was detained in May, despite a pending green card application. Juan Pestana is one of 40,000+ immigrant detainees who have no criminal record. Read the story by Lorenzo Gomez and Lee Ann Anderson here: https://tinyurl.com/y99ajcnv

08/09/2025

Donald Trump campaigned on a promise of deporting criminals. But the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse says 70% of immigrant detainees have no criminal record, leaving many to fear detention and deportation. Reporters Lee Ann Anderson and Lorenzo Gomez spotlight some of those stories for News21:

President Donald Trump ran on a platform of detaining and deporting criminal immigrants – those he has called terrorists, drug dealers and gang members. However, his administration’s policies are targeting noncriminal immigrants, too, and even those in the U.S. legally under student visas, Tempo...