Want to understand immigration enforcement in 2026? Read these 5 reports
An immigration scholar highlights five reports with three takeaways each — and makes a case for reading deeply instead of reacting to chaos.
immigration
Tip sheets, research roundups, articles and explainers to inform journalistic coverage of immigration issues
Expert Commentary
Student absences spiked in California, test scores fell in Florida amid surge in US immigration enforcement
New studies look at how the 2025 immigration crackdown has affected students in southern California and a large Florida county. Plus, 3 tips for improving news coverage of the topic.
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How to make sense of ICE arrest data
An immigration scholar guides us through the process of analyzing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrest data, based on datasets published by the Data Deportation Project.
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ICE and hospitals: What does the removal of the ‘protected areas’ policy mean for hospitals?
Medical and legal experts have issued detailed guidelines on responding to the removal of a policy that protected health care facilities from immigration enforcement activities. The information helps journalists to report on their local hospitals and empower patients to know their rights.
Expert Commentary
For journalists who cover immigration, better ICE detention data now available
Researchers created a new method to calculate how many people are detained at ICE facilities — and uncovered some hidden population spikes that don’t appear in ICE’s own reports.
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287(g): The program that lets state and local police perform the functions of federal immigration officers
“In the span of about two months, the Trump administration radically expanded the 287(g) program beyond anything I have seen in the past 15 years of close study of this precise policy,” writes immigration scholar Austin Kocher.
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ICE’s recent detention data: What journalists need to understand
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s detained population flatlined in April, but there’s more to the numbers than meets the eye. It’s time to level up our understanding of detention data.
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Covering immigration in 2025: 3 reporting tips and a list of data resources
We share expert insights from attorney Linda Dakin-Grimm, researcher Austin Kocher and investigative reporter Caitlin Dickerson — along with some of their favorite data sources.
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A primer for journalists covering immigrant workers in the US
As the second administration of President Donald Trump seeks to limit authorized and unauthorized immigration, get to know key facts and data sources about immigrant workers.
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How migrants, asylum seekers and refugees seek health care in the US: A primer and research roundup
With immigration being a big election issue, it’s crucial for journalists to highlight the numerous health challenges that migrants face and the health care options available to them.
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