I had a blast moderating yesterday's "Writer as Witness: Cultivating Community Journalism" panel at LitArts RI. My co-panelists -- @kevingandrade.bsky.social, @ehalvarson.bsky.social, LuzJennifer Martinez, and @jodetz.bsky.social -- and I aimed to de-mystify the process of breaking into journalism.

It was such a pleasure interviewing @bdolan.bsky.social about ICE, the Wyatt Detention Facility, and his new -- fantastic -- song “How I(CE) Could Just Kill A Man.” Grateful to @steveahlquist.bsky.social for giving this piece a home (and everything else he does).

Steve Ahlquist@steveahlquist.bsky.social · 8mo ago

Rhode Island-based hip-hop artist B. Dolan wants to shut down the Wyatt and abolish ICE "...the more I learned the history of political art... The power songs can have to educate people and transmit messages... Make it seem fun. Make it seem joyous. How liberation should feel."

“The state of our union is traumatized,” said @pressley.house.gov during an oversight visit to the ICE field office in Burlington, Mass., Thursday. “We can't just operate with business as usual. These are unprecedented times.” newbedfordlight.org/u-s-rep-pres...

U.S. Rep. Pressley renews call to abolish ICE after visit to Burlington facility - The New Bedford Light

“In the midst of this active, growing, fascist state, I'm grateful for our first line of defense. And that is the courts.” – Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley

newbedfordlight.org

In an interview with The Light, U.S. Rep. Bill Keating talked about immigration, the cost of living and political changes in southeastern Massachusetts. ➡️ Read the story: buff.ly/YV0ksls 📝 Grace Ferguson 🎥 Eleonora Bianchi

Via @kevingandrade.bsky.social: "A federal judge ordered the immediate release of an undocumented New Bedford man held by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement at a Rhode Island facility in a damning opinion issued late Tuesday."

Federal judge orders ICE to release New Bedford man — and return his keys - The New Bedford Light

“The Court holds that Mr. Morales’ continued detention is illegal and that he is entitled to immediate release and to a bond hearing before an [Immigration Judge].” – Judge John J. McConnell, Jr.

newbedfordlight.org

“They never told me why they arrested me,” Pascual Cuin González told The Light, “or why they let me go.” newbedfordlight.org/new-bedford-...

New Bedford asylee back home after weeklong ICE detention - The New Bedford Light

Pascual Cuin González, an immigrant with asylum status and a work permit, was detained in three facilities before being released.

newbedfordlight.org

“The terror that is out there is fear of immigration [agents],” said Marí Lucy Toj Méndez, owner of Lucy's Party Store on Acushnet Ave. “So now, with every little thing you do, that fear is always there in the background." newbedfordlight.org/new-bedford-...

Impact of Trump policies worsens for immigrant businesses - The New Bedford Light

Store owners on Acushnet Avenue say ICE operations have dealt a blow to their revenue – with one business reporting a 50% loss in sales in the last eight months.

newbedfordlight.org

We interviewed five New Bedford residents detained by ICE since January (and the family of one other). 2 are back home after making bond. Two were deported to Brazil and Guatemala, respectively. Two more remain in detention. These are their stories from inside. newbedfordlight.org/its-hard-to-...

New Bedford immigrants describe inhumane conditions at detention facilities - The New Bedford Light

New Bedford immigrants describe inhumane conditions at detention facilities: lack of basic necessities including limited food, water, medical attention and showers.

newbedfordlight.org

“She’s not a flight risk,” said Robin Nice, the attorney for New Bedford's only confirmed female immigrant detainee during the hearing Monday at Chelmsford Immigration Court. “She’s just a mom of three who’s eager to reunite with her three kids.” newbedfordlight.org/judge-orders...

Judge orders the release of New Bedford’s first confirmed female detainee - The New Bedford Light

Yury Melissa Aguiriano-Romero, mother of three, has been in ICE custody since her arrest at a scheduled immigration check-in on June 3.

newbedfordlight.org

“Generally speaking, the information available to us indicates that ICE has been engaging in a variety of widespread civil rights abuses,” said Dan McFadden, managing attorney at the @aclum.bsky.social. My latest for @newbedfordlight.bsky.social. newbedfordlight.org/advocates-te...

Advocates tell immigrants: Stay strong on your rights when it comes to ICE - The New Bedford Light

Allegations of civil rights violations by federal agents during the Trump administration’s mass deportation campaign are flooding into advocates’ offices.

newbedfordlight.org

Luis Guillermo Castro Alvarez, 31, the 43rd confirmed detainee in New Bedford, is being held at the Plymouth County Correctional Facility. He was detained at the Port of New Bedford on Wednesday in an operation including ICE agents and the Coast Guard. newbedfordlight.org/ice-coast-gu...

ICE, Coast Guard arrest Guatemalan fisherman at New Bedford port - The New Bedford Light

Luis Guillermo Castro Alvarez, 31, the 43rd confirmed detainee in New Bedford, is being held at the Plymouth County Correctional Facility.

newbedfordlight.org

ICYMI: 47 workers suspended at New Bedford branch of Massachusetts supermarket chain Market Basket after ICE audit. newbedfordlight.org/new-bedford-...

New Bedford Market Basket suspends 47 immigrants after I-9 audit - The New Bedford Light

A spokesperson confirmed that the suspensions are directly linked to ICE activity at the Sawyer Street store.

newbedfordlight.org

47 immigrant workers 'suspended' from jobs at New Bedford store of popular Massachusetts grocery chain Market Basket, newbedfordlight.org/new-bedford-...

New Bedford Market Basket suspends 47 immigrants after I-9 audit - The New Bedford Light

A spokesperson confirmed that the suspensions are directly linked to ICE activity at the Sawyer Street store.

newbedfordlight.org

When ICE agents questioned a group of 11- to 14-year-olds who’d just finished batting practice, their coach, Youman Wilder, stepped in. “I’m willing to die to make sure these kids can get home,” he recounted afterward.

ICE Agents Invade a Manhattan Little League Field

Youman Wilder has coached local kids for twenty-one years—including four who have gone pro. When masked agents tried to interrogate his players, he told them, “You don’t have more rights than they do....

newyorker.com

A 48-year-old immigrant from El Salvador was detained by ICE on his way to New Bedford District Court to face a misdemeanor assault and battery charge. newbedfordlight.org/ice-makes-fi...

ICE makes first arrest in weeks in New Bedford - The New Bedford Light

A 48-year-old immigrant from El Salvador is detained on his way to New Bedford District Court to face a misdemeanor assault and battery charge.

newbedfordlight.org

“The broad trends in terms of who is targeted are not new,” @heathersmo.bsky.social said. “These trends are also consistent with Trump’s language from his first term about ‘bad hombres.’” newbedfordlight.org/after-the-ic...

Families of detained New Bedford immigrants suffer financially and emotionally - The New Bedford Light

Whether or not ICE is deliberately targeting immigrant men, the effect is the same: families who remain here are struggling financially and emotionally.

newbedfordlight.org

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu announced Tuesday that she signed an executive order seeking greater transparency from federal immigration officials. She said the city will submit regular Freedom of Information Act requests to find out who ICE is detaining and on what grounds.

The city’s first known detained female immigrant is being held in Burlington under harsh, unsanitary conditions, according to her husband. newbedfordlight.org/honduran-mot...

New Bedford mother arrested during scheduled immigration check-in - The New Bedford Light

The city’s first known detained female immigrant is being held in Burlington under harsh, unsanitary conditions, according to her husband.

newbedfordlight.org

Here's a baby otter to start your week.

Israel interceptou, esta segunda-feira, o veleiro Madleen que transportava ajuda humanitária para Gaza e onde seguiam 12 activistas. Imagens de videovigilância mostram o momento. Saiba mais: publico.pt/v97066

My one month anniversary on the job and Ellie took this excellently timed photo of me covering a demonstration in New Bedford (coming soon in @newbedfordlight.bsky.social). I think I may have found my new LinkedIn profile pic.

“Community members surrounded ICE trucks and faced off with agents in military garb with guns. 'Shame, shame, shame,’ some people yelled at the agents, video showed.” www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/c...

Community speaks after ICE raids at South Park Italian restaurant

Restaurant owners said they are heartbroken and describe the operation as traumatic.

nbcsandiego.com

Federal authorities arrested almost 1500 immigrants in Massachusetts in May in 'Operation Patriot.' Almost 700 of those had no criminal record and 10 were in New Bedford. “We are coming for you" - ICE Boston Director Patricia Hyde at a press conference Monday. newbedfordlight.org?p=164196&pre...

ICE defends May arrests of nearly 1,500 immigrants in Massachusetts - The New Bedford Light

ICE’s acting director defends arrests and masked agents. Critics question his assertion that detainees are getting due process.

newbedfordlight.org

Happy to announce that I am now a full-time staffer covering immigration for @newbedfordlight.bsky.social. I had been doing immigration work for The Light as a stringer for a couple of months beforehand so I wanted to take this opportunity to share some of my work here so far.

“I’ve never seen anything like this in the United States,” she said. “It brings me back to the PIDE in Portugal when I was a kid,” she said, referring to the secret police force of the Portuguese state at the time. “I’m seeing people shut up like that now.” newbedfordlight.org/two-guatemal...

Two Guatemalans detained in early morning ICE raid in New Bedford - The New Bedford Light

Agents used a battering ram to break into a home on Viall Street and pointed a rifle at teenagers as they conducted the operation.

newbedfordlight.org

We expected 2,000 people out in GOP-held Greeley, Colorado. 11,000 people showed up. Something special is happening, folks. Now is the time to organize in every dimension possible and get to work.

Dave Weigel@daveweigel.bsky.social · 2y ago

Overflow crowd for Bernie/AOC rally in Greeley, CO — the small one today, big one is in Denver later

“They just yelled that ‘we’re from Immigration’” said Josué. “Then they heard me in my room and broke down my door and pointed a gun at my head." Agents in military fatigues used a battering ram in operation to detain Guatemalan immigrants in New Bedford today. newbedfordlight.org/two-guatemal...

Two Guatemalans detained in early morning ICE raid in New Bedford - The New Bedford Light

Agents used a battering ram to break into a home on Viall Street and pointed a rifle at teenagers as they conducted the operation.

newbedfordlight.org

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu at the House hearing on sanctuary cities: "If you wanted to make us safe, pass gun reforms. Stop cutting Medicaid. Stop cutting cancer research. Stop cutting funds for veterans. That is what will make our cities safe." Mic drop! 🎤

I came to Boston today to cover a smaller demonstration at the State House. Then stumbled across a big one on the Common in support of Ukraine. I plan on doing an essay on this day. I have thoughts and energy.

Representatives from the Azorean Regional Government visited New Bedford last week as they assess and prepare for a potential new wave of deportees to the archipelago. newbedfordlight.org/azorean-offi...

Azorean officials prepare for new wave of deportees from the U.S. - The New Bedford Light

Most Azoreans facing deportation today have overstayed tourist visas, said Helena DaSilva Hughes of the Immigrants’ Assistance Center in New Bedford.

newbedfordlight.org