Arelis R. Hernández
@arelisrhdz.bsky.social
National reporter @washingtonpost in Texas, covering border, immigration and fronterizo life. Sometimes and preferably in 🇵🇷 | On Signal @arehernandez.19 | Story idea? arelis.hernandez@washpost.com
Pinned
On the Guadalupe River, a crew’s frantic search to bring a dad closure
Aidan Heartfield was on the phone with his dad when their family’s cabin was swept away in the Texas floods. A team is searching for any signs of Heartfield.
wapo.st
NEW: Thad Heartfield needs to find his son, Aidan. Texas Equusearch volunteers came in to help search the river. It was a frustrating mission to bring a family closure after the floods took so much away.
A 🎁
wapo.st/40DsAfB
A 🎁
wapo.st/40DsAfB
Reposted by Arelis R. Hernández
"Rodrick Johnson, 67, is one of many residents who were detained by federal agents during the South Shore raid. A U.S. citizen, he said agents broke through his door and dragged him out in zip ties."
Massive immigration raid on Chicago apartment building leaves residents reeling: 'I feel defeated'
The Department of Homeland Security said federal agents with Border Patrol, the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives arrested 37 people in the raid.
chicago.suntimes.com
October 2, 2025 at 3:14 AM
"Rodrick Johnson, 67, is one of many residents who were detained by federal agents during the South Shore raid. A U.S. citizen, he said agents broke through his door and dragged him out in zip ties."
DHS said an officer was “seriously injured” by an undocumented immigrant who hit and dragged him with his car. Video indicates the officer suffered minor injuries he dismissed as “nothing major.”
Team effort brings this analysis: www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/...
Team effort brings this analysis: www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/...
Videos of fatal ICE shooting in Chicago raise questions about DHS account
DHS said an officer was “seriously injured” by an undocumented immigrant who hit and dragged him with his car. Video indicates the officer suffered minor injuries he dismissed as “nothing major.”
www.washingtonpost.com
September 28, 2025 at 5:42 PM
DHS said an officer was “seriously injured” by an undocumented immigrant who hit and dragged him with his car. Video indicates the officer suffered minor injuries he dismissed as “nothing major.”
Team effort brings this analysis: www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/...
Team effort brings this analysis: www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/...
It didn’t go unnoticed in Dallas as Feds talked about the ICE office shooting, there was nary a mention of the immigrants who were killed, injured in a cycle of violence & dehumanization that community and migrants told us, is getting out of control: t.co/U2QU73lap4
September 26, 2025 at 6:15 PM
It didn’t go unnoticed in Dallas as Feds talked about the ICE office shooting, there was nary a mention of the immigrants who were killed, injured in a cycle of violence & dehumanization that community and migrants told us, is getting out of control: t.co/U2QU73lap4
Reposted by Arelis R. Hernández
The Federal Reserve is set to trim interest rates by a quarter point Wednesday, its first reduction this year but well short of the deeper cuts President Trump has pushed for, amid renewed questions over the central bank’s independence.
Fed expected to trim borrowing rates amid weaker labor market, Trump pressure
The Fed is looking at a quarter-point cut, navigating White House pressure and a balancing a softer job market with stubborn inflation.
www.washingtonpost.com
September 17, 2025 at 5:35 PM
The Federal Reserve is set to trim interest rates by a quarter point Wednesday, its first reduction this year but well short of the deeper cuts President Trump has pushed for, amid renewed questions over the central bank’s independence.
FAMILY SEPARATION: As ICE officers ramp up arrests, hundreds of migrant children are being sent to federal shelters. Some parents are given a choice: Deport with their children or face separation. ✍🏼 @mariasacchetti.bsky.social
www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/...
www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/...
Trump’s mass deportations bring a new wave of family separations
As ICE officers ramp up arrests, hundreds of migrant children are being sent to federal shelters. Some parents are given a choice: Deport with their children or face separation.
www.washingtonpost.com
September 17, 2025 at 1:39 PM
FAMILY SEPARATION: As ICE officers ramp up arrests, hundreds of migrant children are being sent to federal shelters. Some parents are given a choice: Deport with their children or face separation. ✍🏼 @mariasacchetti.bsky.social
www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/...
www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/...
Reposted by Arelis R. Hernández
UPDATE Trump today: “We knocked off actually three boats, not two, but you saw two”
@taracopp.bsky.social @schmidtsam.bsky.social @danlamothe.bsky.social report
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
@taracopp.bsky.social @schmidtsam.bsky.social @danlamothe.bsky.social report
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
U.S. kills 3 in strike on alleged drug boat from Venezuela, Trump says
The president also signaled that his administration was preparing to take military action against Latin American cartels that move narcotics over land.
www.washingtonpost.com
September 16, 2025 at 4:57 PM
UPDATE Trump today: “We knocked off actually three boats, not two, but you saw two”
@taracopp.bsky.social @schmidtsam.bsky.social @danlamothe.bsky.social report
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
@taracopp.bsky.social @schmidtsam.bsky.social @danlamothe.bsky.social report
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
Reposted by Arelis R. Hernández
Jocelyn Brooks pursued her dream of working in medicine after she escaped from the World Trade Center on 9/11.
“I want to hold somebody’s hands when they’re crying and when they’re at their lowest because I survived,” she said.
“I want to hold somebody’s hands when they’re crying and when they’re at their lowest because I survived,” she said.
She survived 9/11, then began a life of healing others
Jocelyn Brooks said she would’ve regretted not becoming a nurse if she had not survived the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center.
www.washingtonpost.com
September 11, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Jocelyn Brooks pursued her dream of working in medicine after she escaped from the World Trade Center on 9/11.
“I want to hold somebody’s hands when they’re crying and when they’re at their lowest because I survived,” she said.
“I want to hold somebody’s hands when they’re crying and when they’re at their lowest because I survived,” she said.
told lovingly and beautifully by the brilliant @teoarmus.bsky.social
Wapo article does a good job covering two realities: How deeply watching a parents‘ immigration arrest affects kids, and how DC residents are organizing “walking buses” and neighborhood lookouts to help kids with immigrant parents get safely to school. wapo.st/3VNYZ08
They watched ICE detain their dad. Now D.C. neighbors escort them to school.
Immigrant neighborhoods across the District have organized “walking school buses” to shuttle kids to classes during President Donald Trump’s federalization of D.C. police.
wapo.st
September 11, 2025 at 3:42 PM
told lovingly and beautifully by the brilliant @teoarmus.bsky.social
Reposted by Arelis R. Hernández
Wapo article does a good job covering two realities: How deeply watching a parents‘ immigration arrest affects kids, and how DC residents are organizing “walking buses” and neighborhood lookouts to help kids with immigrant parents get safely to school. wapo.st/3VNYZ08
They watched ICE detain their dad. Now D.C. neighbors escort them to school.
Immigrant neighborhoods across the District have organized “walking school buses” to shuttle kids to classes during President Donald Trump’s federalization of D.C. police.
wapo.st
September 11, 2025 at 11:51 AM
Wapo article does a good job covering two realities: How deeply watching a parents‘ immigration arrest affects kids, and how DC residents are organizing “walking buses” and neighborhood lookouts to help kids with immigrant parents get safely to school. wapo.st/3VNYZ08
An ex-Marine, a former professional MMA fighter, a retired officer: Meet the people angling to join ICE and carry out President Donald Trump’s mass deportation campaign.
www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/...
www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/...
At an ICE career expo, thousands line up to ‘defend the homeland’
An ex-Marine, a former professional MMA fighter, a retired officer: Meet the people angling to join ICE and carry out President Trump’s mass deportation campaign.
www.washingtonpost.com
September 3, 2025 at 12:59 PM
An ex-Marine, a former professional MMA fighter, a retired officer: Meet the people angling to join ICE and carry out President Donald Trump’s mass deportation campaign.
www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/...
www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/...
Reposted by Arelis R. Hernández
Sunflowers, hydrangeas and roses filled the pavement outside the church doors. Cards, stuffed animals and a pair of white crosses stood as tributes to the two children fatally shot there Wednesday.
Minneapolis grieves for young shooting victims as police investigate motive
The father of one of the children killed in the attack at Annunciation Catholic Church in Minneapolis identified him as 8-year-old Fletcher Merkel.
wapo.st
August 29, 2025 at 11:30 AM
Sunflowers, hydrangeas and roses filled the pavement outside the church doors. Cards, stuffed animals and a pair of white crosses stood as tributes to the two children fatally shot there Wednesday.
NAACP asks court to block the new Texas congressional map, which the nation’s largest civil rights organization says dilutes the political power of Black voters. Via @briannaatucker www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
NAACP asks court to block new Texas congressional map
The nation’s largest civil rights organization argues the newly redrawn boundary lines, which the Texas state legislature voted to adopt last week, are “racially motivated.”
www.washingtonpost.com
August 27, 2025 at 11:16 AM
NAACP asks court to block the new Texas congressional map, which the nation’s largest civil rights organization says dilutes the political power of Black voters. Via @briannaatucker www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
On WhatsApp, Palestinians in the U.S. look for food for Gaza — and mourn, by @yabutaleb7 www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
On WhatsApp, Palestinians in the U.S. look for food for Gaza — and mourn
The group chat provides a place for members to share their grief as tragedy after tragedy unfolds in the tiny enclave.
www.washingtonpost.com
August 25, 2025 at 2:35 AM
On WhatsApp, Palestinians in the U.S. look for food for Gaza — and mourn, by @yabutaleb7 www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Arelis R. Hernández
The Mayor of the United States:
August 23, 2025 at 12:20 PM
The Mayor of the United States:
Reposted by Arelis R. Hernández
The U.S. is now requiring visitors from Malawi and Zambia to post bonds of up to $15,000, well beyond the capacity of all but a very few from two of the world's poorest nations.
The State Department says the policy, intended to deter overstays, could be expanded to other countries
wapo.st/3JwXv7H
The State Department says the policy, intended to deter overstays, could be expanded to other countries
wapo.st/3JwXv7H
U.S. demands deposits of up to $15,000 of visitors from Malawi and Zambia
The large reimbursable bond requirements could amount to a form of travel ban, some experts said. The pilot program could expand to other countries.
wapo.st
August 22, 2025 at 7:46 PM
The U.S. is now requiring visitors from Malawi and Zambia to post bonds of up to $15,000, well beyond the capacity of all but a very few from two of the world's poorest nations.
The State Department says the policy, intended to deter overstays, could be expanded to other countries
wapo.st/3JwXv7H
The State Department says the policy, intended to deter overstays, could be expanded to other countries
wapo.st/3JwXv7H
Reposted by Arelis R. Hernández
NEW: As immigrant delivery drivers started using mopeds, D.C. police pushed greater enforcement of their vehicles.
Now, amid Trump’s federal takeover, ICE is joining their patrols — and detained at least 11 of those drivers.
Now, amid Trump’s federal takeover, ICE is joining their patrols — and detained at least 11 of those drivers.
ICE is joining D.C. police patrols. Moped drivers are an early target.
D.C. police’s efforts to enforce moped laws resulted mostly in food delivery drivers’ immediate release. That has changed.
www.washingtonpost.com
August 21, 2025 at 1:14 PM
NEW: As immigrant delivery drivers started using mopeds, D.C. police pushed greater enforcement of their vehicles.
Now, amid Trump’s federal takeover, ICE is joining their patrols — and detained at least 11 of those drivers.
Now, amid Trump’s federal takeover, ICE is joining their patrols — and detained at least 11 of those drivers.
Reposted by Arelis R. Hernández
the stories in here are heartbreaking www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/202...
ICE is joining D.C. police patrols. Moped drivers are an early target.
D.C. police’s efforts to enforce moped laws resulted mostly in food delivery drivers’ immediate release. That has changed.
www.washingtonpost.com
August 21, 2025 at 4:26 PM
the stories in here are heartbreaking www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/202...
Reposted by Arelis R. Hernández
Key statistic:
"The U.S. unauthorized immigrant population has also become considerably less geographically concentrated over time. In 2023, the top six states were home to 56% of the nation’s unauthorized immigrants, down from 80% in 1990."
www.pewresearch.org/race-and-eth...
"The U.S. unauthorized immigrant population has also become considerably less geographically concentrated over time. In 2023, the top six states were home to 56% of the nation’s unauthorized immigrants, down from 80% in 1990."
www.pewresearch.org/race-and-eth...
U.S. Unauthorized Immigrant Population Reached a Record 14 Million in 2023
The number of unauthorized immigrants in the U.S. reached an all-time high after two consecutive years of record growth.
www.pewresearch.org
August 21, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Key statistic:
"The U.S. unauthorized immigrant population has also become considerably less geographically concentrated over time. In 2023, the top six states were home to 56% of the nation’s unauthorized immigrants, down from 80% in 1990."
www.pewresearch.org/race-and-eth...
"The U.S. unauthorized immigrant population has also become considerably less geographically concentrated over time. In 2023, the top six states were home to 56% of the nation’s unauthorized immigrants, down from 80% in 1990."
www.pewresearch.org/race-and-eth...
Reposted by Arelis R. Hernández
Amid deportations and fear, Mexicans in the U.S. are sending less money home, squeezing businesses, impacting jobs and leaving homes half-built – conditions that typically drive people to migrate @teoarmus.bsky.social and Karla Gachet report from San Bartolomé Quialana
wapo.st/45vO9BX
wapo.st/45vO9BX
Amid crackdown, Mexicans are sending less money home. It’s leaving a mark.
Falling remittances are squeezing businesses, impacting jobs and leaving homes half-built – conditions that typically drive people to migrate.
wapo.st
August 21, 2025 at 6:04 PM
Amid deportations and fear, Mexicans in the U.S. are sending less money home, squeezing businesses, impacting jobs and leaving homes half-built – conditions that typically drive people to migrate @teoarmus.bsky.social and Karla Gachet report from San Bartolomé Quialana
wapo.st/45vO9BX
wapo.st/45vO9BX
Reposted by Arelis R. Hernández
Trump calls DC “the most unsafe place anywhere,” but 78% of residents feel safe in their neighborhoods and only 17% support the federal takeover per @washingtonpost.com @scharschool.bsky.social poll. @joeheim.bsky.social @sfcpoll.bsky.social @emgusk.bsky.social www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/202...
We asked 604 D.C. residents about Trump’s takeover. Here’s what they said.
Though crime continues to be a concern, most residents strongly oppose Trump’s actions and don’t think they’ll make D.C. safer, a Washington Post-Schar School poll found.
www.washingtonpost.com
August 21, 2025 at 5:07 PM
Trump calls DC “the most unsafe place anywhere,” but 78% of residents feel safe in their neighborhoods and only 17% support the federal takeover per @washingtonpost.com @scharschool.bsky.social poll. @joeheim.bsky.social @sfcpoll.bsky.social @emgusk.bsky.social www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/202...
Crazy story not dissimilar to dozens of others I’ve tracked: ✍️@francescadnunz.bsky.social
www.texasobserver.org/a-venezuelan...
www.texasobserver.org/a-venezuelan...
A Venezuelan Was Detained as a "Documented" Gang Member by ICE, Which Refused to Provide Proof
Jesús Escalona Mújicas, a 48-year-old Venezuelan asylum-seeker, says he was en route to work at a construction site on the morning of April 9 when a group of immigration agents and state and federal p...
www.texasobserver.org
August 21, 2025 at 7:32 PM
Crazy story not dissimilar to dozens of others I’ve tracked: ✍️@francescadnunz.bsky.social
www.texasobserver.org/a-venezuelan...
www.texasobserver.org/a-venezuelan...
Reposted by Arelis R. Hernández
Breaking WaPo:
According to newly unredacted court docs, Jeanine Pirro, then a Fox host, told the RNC chair in a Sept. 2020 text that she was determined to aid Trump and the GOP — despite the network prohibiting on-air personalities from political involvement.
www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...
According to newly unredacted court docs, Jeanine Pirro, then a Fox host, told the RNC chair in a Sept. 2020 text that she was determined to aid Trump and the GOP — despite the network prohibiting on-air personalities from political involvement.
www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...
Jeanine Pirro bragged about helping Trump and GOP while a Fox News host
The former Fox host complained of “CENSORSHIP” by Fox over her coverage of the 2020 election, according to newly unredacted documents in the Smartmatic defamation case.
www.washingtonpost.com
August 20, 2025 at 12:30 AM
Breaking WaPo:
According to newly unredacted court docs, Jeanine Pirro, then a Fox host, told the RNC chair in a Sept. 2020 text that she was determined to aid Trump and the GOP — despite the network prohibiting on-air personalities from political involvement.
www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...
According to newly unredacted court docs, Jeanine Pirro, then a Fox host, told the RNC chair in a Sept. 2020 text that she was determined to aid Trump and the GOP — despite the network prohibiting on-air personalities from political involvement.
www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...
Suspects in shooting at Texas ICE facility tied to trans, anti-fascist activism, via @robertklemko www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/...
Suspects in Texas ICE shooting tied to trans, anti-fascist activism
Left-wing group members say they wanted to make a statement about Trump’s deportation campaign. It ended in one of the most violent recent assaults on ICE officers.
www.washingtonpost.com
August 17, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Suspects in shooting at Texas ICE facility tied to trans, anti-fascist activism, via @robertklemko www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/...
Reposted by Arelis R. Hernández
President Donald Trump said Ukraine and Russia should go straight to agreeing on a final peace deal, dropping his demand for a ceasefire, a reversal that aligns him with Russian President Vladimir Putin hours after their Alaska summit.
Trump drops ceasefire demand for Ukraine war after summit with Putin
An immediate ceasefire to the war in Ukraine had long been a bedrock demand by the U.S., Ukraine and their European allies.
www.washingtonpost.com
August 16, 2025 at 2:22 PM
President Donald Trump said Ukraine and Russia should go straight to agreeing on a final peace deal, dropping his demand for a ceasefire, a reversal that aligns him with Russian President Vladimir Putin hours after their Alaska summit.
Reposted by Arelis R. Hernández
“To truly honor tacos means honoring the people behind them,” and your favorite taqueria is suffering right now. www.texasmonthly.com/food/texas-t...
August 16, 2025 at 2:45 PM
“To truly honor tacos means honoring the people behind them,” and your favorite taqueria is suffering right now. www.texasmonthly.com/food/texas-t...