Lomi Kriel
@lomikriel.bsky.social
Investigative reporter @texastribune.org Prior: @propublica.org
@houstonchronicle.com @reuters.com, etc. Polk Award winner, Pulitzer finalist. Immigrant, proudly 🇿🇦. 📧lkriel@texastribune.org or Signal/Whatsapp 832-729-3421. Tell me stuff.
@houstonchronicle.com @reuters.com, etc. Polk Award winner, Pulitzer finalist. Immigrant, proudly 🇿🇦. 📧lkriel@texastribune.org or Signal/Whatsapp 832-729-3421. Tell me stuff.
1) 🧵After ~6 years @propublica.org @texastribune.org investigative unit, a new role for me! I’m proud of our impact, grateful for brilliant colleagues & thankful to ProPublica for 2 years on the Uvalde shooting, a rare opportunity, that culminated in this piece:
www.propublica.org/article/uval...
www.propublica.org/article/uval...
In Uvalde, Students Followed Active Shooter Protocol. The Cops Did Not.
Across the country, states require more training to prepare students and teachers for mass shootings than for those expected to protect them. The differences were clear in Uvalde, where children and o...
www.propublica.org
November 4, 2025 at 11:29 PM
1) 🧵After ~6 years @propublica.org @texastribune.org investigative unit, a new role for me! I’m proud of our impact, grateful for brilliant colleagues & thankful to ProPublica for 2 years on the Uvalde shooting, a rare opportunity, that culminated in this piece:
www.propublica.org/article/uval...
www.propublica.org/article/uval...
Reposted by Lomi Kriel
We ❤️ @ire.org! @propublica.org employees wore buttons & flyered at the IRE gala to rally support for our fight for a fair contract.
The future of investigative journalism depends on protecting the workers who make it possible.
You can help by signing our petition: actionnetwork.org/petitions/te...
The future of investigative journalism depends on protecting the workers who make it possible.
You can help by signing our petition: actionnetwork.org/petitions/te...
September 15, 2025 at 11:46 PM
We ❤️ @ire.org! @propublica.org employees wore buttons & flyered at the IRE gala to rally support for our fight for a fair contract.
The future of investigative journalism depends on protecting the workers who make it possible.
You can help by signing our petition: actionnetwork.org/petitions/te...
The future of investigative journalism depends on protecting the workers who make it possible.
You can help by signing our petition: actionnetwork.org/petitions/te...
Reposted by Lomi Kriel
Sofi left behind her child in Mexico for the promise of providing him a better life. But the farmworker visa that allowed her to come to the U.S. legally ended up being a trap. projects.propublica.org/h2a-visa-far...
A Farmworkers Visa Promised Her a Better Life. It Was a Trap.
Sofi left behind her child in Mexico for the promise of providing him a better life. She ended up a victim of an operation that is alleged to have exploited the H-2A visa program — and the workers it ...
projects.propublica.org
September 13, 2025 at 12:15 PM
Sofi left behind her child in Mexico for the promise of providing him a better life. But the farmworker visa that allowed her to come to the U.S. legally ended up being a trap. projects.propublica.org/h2a-visa-far...
Reposted by Lomi Kriel
Over the past few years, I’ve been fascinated with one of the largest federal investigations happening in Georgia, known as Operation Blooming Onion. So I partnered with Zaydee Sanchez to uncover the untold story of an unnamed victim at the heart of the case. 🧵
September 13, 2025 at 12:15 PM
Over the past few years, I’ve been fascinated with one of the largest federal investigations happening in Georgia, known as Operation Blooming Onion. So I partnered with Zaydee Sanchez to uncover the untold story of an unnamed victim at the heart of the case. 🧵
Reposted by Lomi Kriel
By the time DOJ files this status report, Judge Sooknanan will have been awake for nearly 20 hours.
MORE: Judge Sooknanan order DOJ to file yet another status report.
She sets 10:45 pm deadline for Ensign to address whether all of the children have been returned to ORR custody.
She sets 10:45 pm deadline for Ensign to address whether all of the children have been returned to ORR custody.
September 1, 2025 at 1:16 AM
By the time DOJ files this status report, Judge Sooknanan will have been awake for nearly 20 hours.
Reposted by Lomi Kriel
JUST IN: Judge Sooknanan ordered the government to file a status report by 4 pm to address whether the children have been deplaned.
DOJ blew the deadline.
Now she orders them to show cause why they didn’t file the report in time — and sets new 6:30 pm deadline.
DOJ blew the deadline.
Now she orders them to show cause why they didn’t file the report in time — and sets new 6:30 pm deadline.
August 31, 2025 at 9:26 PM
JUST IN: Judge Sooknanan ordered the government to file a status report by 4 pm to address whether the children have been deplaned.
DOJ blew the deadline.
Now she orders them to show cause why they didn’t file the report in time — and sets new 6:30 pm deadline.
DOJ blew the deadline.
Now she orders them to show cause why they didn’t file the report in time — and sets new 6:30 pm deadline.
Reposted by Lomi Kriel
In one, the child says that her parents [in Guatemala] recently received a strange call from someone with the US government, telling them that he or she would be deported with a larger group of people.
"Since my parents told me this news, I feel terrible," the declarant says.
"Since my parents told me this news, I feel terrible," the declarant says.
August 31, 2025 at 5:56 PM
In one, the child says that her parents [in Guatemala] recently received a strange call from someone with the US government, telling them that he or she would be deported with a larger group of people.
"Since my parents told me this news, I feel terrible," the declarant says.
"Since my parents told me this news, I feel terrible," the declarant says.
Reposted by Lomi Kriel
The government has argued that the children are simply being reunited with their parents. But Sooknanan reads from a series of declarations that seem inconsistent with that claim.
August 31, 2025 at 5:56 PM
The government has argued that the children are simply being reunited with their parents. But Sooknanan reads from a series of declarations that seem inconsistent with that claim.
Now that the county & school district released records about the Uvalde response, only DPS continues to fight that. The state police had more than 90 officers at the shooting, the biggest share other than CBP which is not part of the litigation, and also led the investigation into the response.
After local agencies release Uvalde shooting records, calls continue for Texas DPS to follow suit
Local records released this week — after a yearslong lawsuit —affirm previous reporting about law enforcement’s flawed response to Texas’ deadliest school shooting.
www.texastribune.org
August 13, 2025 at 1:58 PM
Now that the county & school district released records about the Uvalde response, only DPS continues to fight that. The state police had more than 90 officers at the shooting, the biggest share other than CBP which is not part of the litigation, and also led the investigation into the response.
Reposted by Lomi Kriel
Late News: New Uvalde Records Reveal Campus Safety Concerns Were Raised Before Shooting @propublica.org @texastribune.org @lomikriel.bsky.social @alexnguyen.bsky.social @paulcobler.bsky.social
New Uvalde Records Reveal Details About School Safety Concerns and Shooter’s Behavioral Issues
The release is part of a settlement agreement in a lawsuit that news organizations brought against state and local governments. The fight continues to get the Texas Department of Public Safety to rele...
www.propublica.org
August 13, 2025 at 12:33 AM
Late News: New Uvalde Records Reveal Campus Safety Concerns Were Raised Before Shooting @propublica.org @texastribune.org @lomikriel.bsky.social @alexnguyen.bsky.social @paulcobler.bsky.social
Reposted by Lomi Kriel
We took a collective lunch break today to protest @propublica.org management’s continued use of a flawed performance management system.
Just this morning, a member of our Bargaining Committee was fired as a result of this system.
Read more: www.propublicaguild.org/updates/we-d...
Just this morning, a member of our Bargaining Committee was fired as a result of this system.
Read more: www.propublicaguild.org/updates/we-d...
We Demand a Pro Worker ProPublica — ProPublica Guild
We took a collective lunch break Tuesday to protest ProPublica management’s continued use of a flawed performance management system — including denying steward representation in disciplinary meeti...
www.propublicaguild.org
August 12, 2025 at 5:01 PM
We took a collective lunch break today to protest @propublica.org management’s continued use of a flawed performance management system.
Just this morning, a member of our Bargaining Committee was fired as a result of this system.
Read more: www.propublicaguild.org/updates/we-d...
Just this morning, a member of our Bargaining Committee was fired as a result of this system.
Read more: www.propublicaguild.org/updates/we-d...
.@ProPublica and @texastribune.org sued for public records after the 2022 Uvalde shooting that killed 19 children, two teachers. After much legal wrangling three years later, the district released its records and the county following. Texas DPS continues to fight www.texastribune.org/2025/08/11/u...
New Uvalde records: District leaders didn’t reach out to some surviving teachers, knew about broken locks
The records also shed light on previous concerns about shooters’ classroom behavior. The release follows a yearslong lawsuit from news agencies.
www.texastribune.org
August 12, 2025 at 3:48 AM
.@ProPublica and @texastribune.org sued for public records after the 2022 Uvalde shooting that killed 19 children, two teachers. After much legal wrangling three years later, the district released its records and the county following. Texas DPS continues to fight www.texastribune.org/2025/08/11/u...
Reposted by Lomi Kriel
As the Legislature gathers for a special session, this story is particularly relevant. Texas Lawmakers Repeatedly Failed to Take Action on Flooding, by @lchurchill.bsky.social @lomikriel.bsky.social w/ @texastribune.org
Texas Lawmakers Largely Ignored Recommendations Aimed at Helping Rural Areas Like Kerr County Prepare for Flooding
Texas lawmakers’ inaction on flood prevention often hits rural and economically disadvantaged communities the hardest, experts said.
www.propublica.org
July 21, 2025 at 8:59 PM
As the Legislature gathers for a special session, this story is particularly relevant. Texas Lawmakers Repeatedly Failed to Take Action on Flooding, by @lchurchill.bsky.social @lomikriel.bsky.social w/ @texastribune.org
Reposted by Lomi Kriel
NEW: Over the years, Texas legislators have declined to pass at least three bills that would create siren or alert systems, a tool that Kerr County officials tried to secure for years before the July 4 flooding.
By Lexi Churchill & @lomikriel.bsky.social, w/ @texastribune.org
By Lexi Churchill & @lomikriel.bsky.social, w/ @texastribune.org
Texas Lawmakers Largely Ignored Recommendations Aimed at Helping Rural Areas Like Kerr County Prepare for Flooding
Texas lawmakers’ inaction on flood prevention often hits rural and economically disadvantaged communities the hardest, experts said.
www.propublica.org
July 21, 2025 at 6:04 PM
NEW: Over the years, Texas legislators have declined to pass at least three bills that would create siren or alert systems, a tool that Kerr County officials tried to secure for years before the July 4 flooding.
By Lexi Churchill & @lomikriel.bsky.social, w/ @texastribune.org
By Lexi Churchill & @lomikriel.bsky.social, w/ @texastribune.org
Reposted by Lomi Kriel
28-year-old Pedro Luis Salazar-Cuervo, who has no known criminal record, was accused by Texas police of being in a Venezuelan gang because they found a photo of him posing with another man with tattoos, his lawyers say.
From ProPublica partner @texastribune.org:
From ProPublica partner @texastribune.org:
Migrant deported to El Salvador after DPS labeled him a member of Tren de Aragua without evidence, lawyer says
Lawyers for Pedro Luis Salazar-Cuervo deny he is a gang member and say the DPS accusation hinges on a photo they found of him standing next to a man with tattoos.
www.texastribune.org
June 18, 2025 at 10:03 PM
28-year-old Pedro Luis Salazar-Cuervo, who has no known criminal record, was accused by Texas police of being in a Venezuelan gang because they found a photo of him posing with another man with tattoos, his lawyers say.
From ProPublica partner @texastribune.org:
From ProPublica partner @texastribune.org:
Reposted by Lomi Kriel
Texas lawmakers will shout about being tough on immigration but quietly refuse to pass laws requiring that employees verify workers are authorized to work in the US.
Why?
Because they know what it would do to an economy that relies on underpaid migrant workers.
New, @lomikriel.bsky.social
Why?
Because they know what it would do to an economy that relies on underpaid migrant workers.
New, @lomikriel.bsky.social
Texas Talks Tough on Immigration. But Lawmakers Won’t Force Most Private Companies to Check Employment Authorization.
Texas’ conservative Legislature has again and again refused to mandate that most private businesses use E-Verify. Experts say that Republican resistance is rooted in how the system could impact the st...
www.propublica.org
June 5, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Texas lawmakers will shout about being tough on immigration but quietly refuse to pass laws requiring that employees verify workers are authorized to work in the US.
Why?
Because they know what it would do to an economy that relies on underpaid migrant workers.
New, @lomikriel.bsky.social
Why?
Because they know what it would do to an economy that relies on underpaid migrant workers.
New, @lomikriel.bsky.social
Reposted by Lomi Kriel
“If you got serious about applying [E-Verify], you would create even worse problems” with labor shortages. “Do you want to go to a restaurant and use paper plates because no one will wash dishes?” Great story by @lomikriel.bsky.social www.propublica.org/article/texa...
Texas Talks Tough on Immigration. But Lawmakers Won’t Force Most Private Companies to Check Employment Authorization.
Texas’ conservative Legislature has again and again refused to mandate that most private businesses use E-Verify. Experts say that Republican resistance is rooted in how the system could impact the st...
www.propublica.org
June 5, 2025 at 5:00 PM
“If you got serious about applying [E-Verify], you would create even worse problems” with labor shortages. “Do you want to go to a restaurant and use paper plates because no one will wash dishes?” Great story by @lomikriel.bsky.social www.propublica.org/article/texa...
TX politicos built a brand against illegal immigration. Yet unlike other GOP states, they refuse mandating E-Verify for companies. Doing so, said an ex-GOP state rep, "would create even worse problems. Do you want to go to a restaurant & use paper plates?"
www.propublica.org/article/texa...
www.propublica.org/article/texa...
Texas Talks Tough on Immigration. But Lawmakers Won’t Force Most Private Companies to Check Employment Authorization.
Texas’ conservative Legislature has again and again refused to mandate that most private businesses use E-Verify. Experts say that Republican resistance is rooted in how the system could impact the st...
www.propublica.org
June 5, 2025 at 4:31 PM
TX politicos built a brand against illegal immigration. Yet unlike other GOP states, they refuse mandating E-Verify for companies. Doing so, said an ex-GOP state rep, "would create even worse problems. Do you want to go to a restaurant & use paper plates?"
www.propublica.org/article/texa...
www.propublica.org/article/texa...
Reposted by Lomi Kriel
Today's must-read is from @shadihamid.bsky.social in @washingtonpost.com-- on why it's (finally) time to recognize Israel's actions in #Gaza as #genocide.
Shadi Hamid is usually on the centrist, moderate side of most issues. He makes a centrist, moderate case:
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
Shadi Hamid is usually on the centrist, moderate side of most issues. He makes a centrist, moderate case:
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
Opinion | A genocide is happening in Gaza. We should say so.
We can no longer hide the uncomfortable truths of Israel’s destruction of Gaza.
www.washingtonpost.com
May 28, 2025 at 12:34 PM
Today's must-read is from @shadihamid.bsky.social in @washingtonpost.com-- on why it's (finally) time to recognize Israel's actions in #Gaza as #genocide.
Shadi Hamid is usually on the centrist, moderate side of most issues. He makes a centrist, moderate case:
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
Shadi Hamid is usually on the centrist, moderate side of most issues. He makes a centrist, moderate case:
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
Reposted by Lomi Kriel
“I think this close relationship with ICE makes everyone afraid that there’s going to come a point in time where you don’t know where one agency stops and the next begins,” said the Office of Refugee Resettlement’s former ombudsman.
With @texastribune.org
With @texastribune.org
An Agency Tasked With Protecting Immigrant Children Is Becoming an Enforcement Arm, Current and Former Staffers Say
The Office of Refugee Resettlement’s welfare mission appears to be undergoing a stark transformation as President Donald Trump seeks to ramp up deportation numbers, current and former officials told…
www.propublica.org
May 17, 2025 at 9:30 PM
“I think this close relationship with ICE makes everyone afraid that there’s going to come a point in time where you don’t know where one agency stops and the next begins,” said the Office of Refugee Resettlement’s former ombudsman.
With @texastribune.org
With @texastribune.org
Reposted by Lomi Kriel
"The agency’s welfare mission appears to be undergoing a stark transformation as President Donald Trump seeks to ramp up deportation numbers in his second term" a dozen current & fmr officials told @lomikriel.bsky.social & @micarosenberg.bsky.social
www.propublica.org/article/offi...
www.propublica.org/article/offi...
An Agency Tasked With Protecting Immigrant Children Is Becoming an Enforcement Arm, Current and Former Staffers Say
The Office of Refugee Resettlement’s welfare mission appears to be undergoing a stark transformation as President Donald Trump seeks to ramp up deportation numbers, current and former officials told P...
www.propublica.org
May 16, 2025 at 11:08 AM
"The agency’s welfare mission appears to be undergoing a stark transformation as President Donald Trump seeks to ramp up deportation numbers in his second term" a dozen current & fmr officials told @lomikriel.bsky.social & @micarosenberg.bsky.social
www.propublica.org/article/offi...
www.propublica.org/article/offi...
Reposted by Lomi Kriel
Fascinating story by @lomikriel.bsky.social and @micarosenberg.bsky.social. The kicker sums it up well: "I think this close relationship with ICE makes everyone afraid that there’s going to come a point in time where you don’t know where one agency stops and the next begins."
The Office of Refugee Resettlement’s welfare mission appears to be undergoing a stark transformation as President Donald Trump seeks to ramp up deportation numbers, current and former officials told The Texas Tribune and ProPublica.
An agency tasked with protecting immigrant children is becoming an enforcement arm, current and former staffers say
The Office of Refugee Resettlement’s welfare mission appears to be undergoing a stark transformation as President Donald Trump seeks to ramp up deportation numbers, current and former officials told T...
www.texastribune.org
May 14, 2025 at 3:38 PM
Fascinating story by @lomikriel.bsky.social and @micarosenberg.bsky.social. The kicker sums it up well: "I think this close relationship with ICE makes everyone afraid that there’s going to come a point in time where you don’t know where one agency stops and the next begins."
Reposted by Lomi Kriel
Current and former officials tell @lomikriel.bsky.social & @micarosenberg.bsky.social that the Office of Refugee Resettlement, which cares for unaccompanied migrant children, is becoming an enforcement arm for the Trump administration's deportation machine. Read more at @propublica.org
An Agency Tasked With Protecting Immigrant Children Is Becoming an Enforcement Arm, Current and Former Staffers Say
The Office of Refugee Resettlement’s welfare mission appears to be undergoing a stark transformation as President Donald Trump seeks to ramp up deportation numbers, current and former officials told P...
www.propublica.org
May 14, 2025 at 2:45 PM
Current and former officials tell @lomikriel.bsky.social & @micarosenberg.bsky.social that the Office of Refugee Resettlement, which cares for unaccompanied migrant children, is becoming an enforcement arm for the Trump administration's deportation machine. Read more at @propublica.org
"Everyone's afraid that there’s going to come a point in time where you don’t know where one agency stops & the next begins," said the former ombudsman for the Office of Refugee Resettlement, which cares for immigrant kids, about its growing collaboration w/ ICE
www.propublica.org/article/offi...
www.propublica.org/article/offi...
An Agency Tasked With Protecting Immigrant Children Is Becoming an Enforcement Arm, Current and Former Staffers Say
The Office of Refugee Resettlement’s welfare mission appears to be undergoing a stark transformation as President Donald Trump seeks to ramp up deportation numbers, current and former officials told P...
www.propublica.org
May 14, 2025 at 2:26 PM
"Everyone's afraid that there’s going to come a point in time where you don’t know where one agency stops & the next begins," said the former ombudsman for the Office of Refugee Resettlement, which cares for immigrant kids, about its growing collaboration w/ ICE
www.propublica.org/article/offi...
www.propublica.org/article/offi...
Reposted by Lomi Kriel
Solidarity with @propublicaguild.bsky.social colleagues.
News organizations that tout ideals of fairness, transparency and holding power accountable should not be surprised when their employees demand those values in their workplace.
News organizations that tout ideals of fairness, transparency and holding power accountable should not be surprised when their employees demand those values in their workplace.
Today, we issued a letter — signed by 70% of our unit — to @sengelberg.bsky.social and @robinsparkman.bsky.social asking them to uphold ProPublica’s values of fairness, transparency and accountability at the bargaining table.
May 1, 2025 at 2:21 PM
Solidarity with @propublicaguild.bsky.social colleagues.
News organizations that tout ideals of fairness, transparency and holding power accountable should not be surprised when their employees demand those values in their workplace.
News organizations that tout ideals of fairness, transparency and holding power accountable should not be surprised when their employees demand those values in their workplace.