Oliver Laughland
@oliverlaughland.bsky.social
US Southern Bureau Chief and Investigations Correspondent - The Guardian
Pinned
Trump’s deportation hub: inside the ‘black hole’ where immigrants disappear
A Guardian investigation into the Alexandria facility reveals a pattern of alleged due process violations, previously unreported accounts of neglect and abuse, documented health emergencies and long s...
www.theguardian.com
NEW: We’ve spent the past 4 months investigating a detention center on the tarmac of a rural airport in Alexandria - a legal “black hole” & Trump’s deportation hub
We uncovered a pattern of alleged due process violations, poor medical treatment, overcrowding, health emergencies, abuse & long stays:
We uncovered a pattern of alleged due process violations, poor medical treatment, overcrowding, health emergencies, abuse & long stays:
Reposted by Oliver Laughland
NEW: Billions of pounds of food are imported to the U.S. each year.
The FDA inspects foreign producers to ensure what we're eating is safe from pathogens and dangerous manufacturing practices.
But now, after Trump's drastic staff cuts, these inspections have plummeted to a historic low.
🧵/
The FDA inspects foreign producers to ensure what we're eating is safe from pathogens and dangerous manufacturing practices.
But now, after Trump's drastic staff cuts, these inspections have plummeted to a historic low.
🧵/
Foreign Food Safety Inspections Hit Historic Low After Trump Cuts
The dramatic shift in oversight comes at a time when the U.S. has never been more reliant on foreign food, which accounts for the vast majority of the nation’s seafood and more than half its fresh fru...
www.propublica.org
November 6, 2025 at 1:30 PM
NEW: Billions of pounds of food are imported to the U.S. each year.
The FDA inspects foreign producers to ensure what we're eating is safe from pathogens and dangerous manufacturing practices.
But now, after Trump's drastic staff cuts, these inspections have plummeted to a historic low.
🧵/
The FDA inspects foreign producers to ensure what we're eating is safe from pathogens and dangerous manufacturing practices.
But now, after Trump's drastic staff cuts, these inspections have plummeted to a historic low.
🧵/
Reposted by Oliver Laughland
Since childhood, @zysaidso.bsky.social has advocated for racial equity in Charlottesville schools.
Yesterday, she was elected to the city's school board.
From seven years ago, our profile of her and the gaping achievement gap in the city's education system:
www.propublica.org/article/char...
Yesterday, she was elected to the city's school board.
From seven years ago, our profile of her and the gaping achievement gap in the city's education system:
www.propublica.org/article/char...
November 5, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Since childhood, @zysaidso.bsky.social has advocated for racial equity in Charlottesville schools.
Yesterday, she was elected to the city's school board.
From seven years ago, our profile of her and the gaping achievement gap in the city's education system:
www.propublica.org/article/char...
Yesterday, she was elected to the city's school board.
From seven years ago, our profile of her and the gaping achievement gap in the city's education system:
www.propublica.org/article/char...
Reposted by Oliver Laughland
The Guardian's latest investigation into the ramifications of Trump's mass deportation campaign: ICE is holding people in temporary hold rooms for days and weeks on end
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Revealed: ICE violates its own policy by holding people in secretive rooms for days or weeks
Guardian analysis finds ICE increasingly keeps people in holding rooms with little oversight, as some facilities see a 600% rise in detention length
www.theguardian.com
October 30, 2025 at 1:21 PM
The Guardian's latest investigation into the ramifications of Trump's mass deportation campaign: ICE is holding people in temporary hold rooms for days and weeks on end
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Reposted by Oliver Laughland
Chicagoans are committed to resistance and to meticulously documenting the criminal misconduct of Trump's secret police so that they can be held to account when the rule of law is restored in America. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
My travels through Chicago: tear gas, resistance and Trump’s big immigration crackdown
Donald Trump recently launched ‘Operation Midway Blitz’ in the city and threatened to send in the National Guard. The mood is febrile, with fears things could get worse
www.theguardian.com
October 3, 2025 at 3:08 PM
Chicagoans are committed to resistance and to meticulously documenting the criminal misconduct of Trump's secret police so that they can be held to account when the rule of law is restored in America. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
In April, the Trump admin deported “Rosario” & her two US citizen children, one of whom is being treated for stage 4 kidney cancer.
The case drew national and international attention. Rosario shares her story for the first time with @theguardian.com - another chapter in our Ice Air investigation:
The case drew national and international attention. Rosario shares her story for the first time with @theguardian.com - another chapter in our Ice Air investigation:
‘They never told me where I was going’: a family falls into Louisiana’s ‘black hole’ of deportation
Exclusive: A mother and her two US citizen children – including one with stage 4 cancer – disappeared and were deported to Honduras
www.theguardian.com
October 3, 2025 at 2:16 PM
In April, the Trump admin deported “Rosario” & her two US citizen children, one of whom is being treated for stage 4 kidney cancer.
The case drew national and international attention. Rosario shares her story for the first time with @theguardian.com - another chapter in our Ice Air investigation:
The case drew national and international attention. Rosario shares her story for the first time with @theguardian.com - another chapter in our Ice Air investigation:
Reposted by Oliver Laughland
Our latest in our Ice Air investigation is by @oliverlaughland.bsky.social, which tells the story of one family's deportation, including two US citizen children www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-i...
‘They never told me where I was going’: a family falls into Louisiana’s ‘black hole’ of deportation
Exclusive: A mother and her two US citizen children – including one with stage 4 cancer – disappeared and were deported to Honduras
www.theguardian.com
October 3, 2025 at 12:10 PM
Our latest in our Ice Air investigation is by @oliverlaughland.bsky.social, which tells the story of one family's deportation, including two US citizen children www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-i...
Reposted by Oliver Laughland
"They detained our father about a week ago...we'll be here as many days as we have to be to get information about our dad."
Such crucial on-the-ground reporting at the ICE Broadview facility from @oliverlaughland.bsky.social + @tomsilverstone.bsky.social:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=t31x...
Such crucial on-the-ground reporting at the ICE Broadview facility from @oliverlaughland.bsky.social + @tomsilverstone.bsky.social:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=t31x...
How Chicago is resisting Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown | Anywhere but Washington
YouTube video by The Guardian
www.youtube.com
October 2, 2025 at 4:48 PM
"They detained our father about a week ago...we'll be here as many days as we have to be to get information about our dad."
Such crucial on-the-ground reporting at the ICE Broadview facility from @oliverlaughland.bsky.social + @tomsilverstone.bsky.social:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=t31x...
Such crucial on-the-ground reporting at the ICE Broadview facility from @oliverlaughland.bsky.social + @tomsilverstone.bsky.social:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=t31x...
Reposted by Oliver Laughland
I spoke to parents who are letting their young kids play with generative AI and tried to sort through some of the questions they have about it.
"I don’t know what this is doing to their brains," one dad told me.
Meanwhile, Sam Altman says, "Kids love ChatGPT on voicemode."
"I don’t know what this is doing to their brains," one dad told me.
Meanwhile, Sam Altman says, "Kids love ChatGPT on voicemode."
‘My son genuinely believed it was real’: Parents are letting little kids play with AI. Are they wrong?
Some believe AI can spark their child’s imagination through personalized stories and generative images. Scientists are wary of its affect on creativity
www.theguardian.com
October 2, 2025 at 1:31 PM
I spoke to parents who are letting their young kids play with generative AI and tried to sort through some of the questions they have about it.
"I don’t know what this is doing to their brains," one dad told me.
Meanwhile, Sam Altman says, "Kids love ChatGPT on voicemode."
"I don’t know what this is doing to their brains," one dad told me.
Meanwhile, Sam Altman says, "Kids love ChatGPT on voicemode."
Our latest Anywhere But Washington is in Chicago, examining how the city is responding to a wave of ICE raids & a crackdown on free speech following the murder of Charlie Kirk.
We spent time with @katmabu.bsky.social, neighborhood watch organizers & right wing groups outside the city:
We spent time with @katmabu.bsky.social, neighborhood watch organizers & right wing groups outside the city:
How Chicago is resisting Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown | Anywhere but Washington
YouTube video by The Guardian
youtu.be
October 2, 2025 at 12:59 PM
Our latest Anywhere But Washington is in Chicago, examining how the city is responding to a wave of ICE raids & a crackdown on free speech following the murder of Charlie Kirk.
We spent time with @katmabu.bsky.social, neighborhood watch organizers & right wing groups outside the city:
We spent time with @katmabu.bsky.social, neighborhood watch organizers & right wing groups outside the city:
Reposted by Oliver Laughland
According to data from Ice, we passed a significant milestone. Immigrants with no criminal record now make up the largest group arrested and booked into detention by Ice.
Immigrants with no criminal record now largest group in Ice detention
Government data shows 16,523 people with no record, versus 15,725 with a record and 13,767 with pending charges
www.theguardian.com
September 26, 2025 at 12:05 PM
According to data from Ice, we passed a significant milestone. Immigrants with no criminal record now make up the largest group arrested and booked into detention by Ice.
Reposted by Oliver Laughland
ICE is using a "staging facility" in Louisiana to hold people for days and deporting them before they can call a lawyer to defend their rights.
“Louisiana is where people go to be disappeared,” said Nora Ahmed of the ACLU of Louisiana.
“Louisiana is where people go to be disappeared,” said Nora Ahmed of the ACLU of Louisiana.
Trump’s deportation hub: inside the ‘black hole’ where immigrants disappear
A Guardian investigation into the Alexandria facility reveals a pattern of alleged due process violations, previously unreported accounts of neglect and abuse, documented health emergencies and long stays
www.theguardian.com
September 18, 2025 at 11:43 PM
ICE is using a "staging facility" in Louisiana to hold people for days and deporting them before they can call a lawyer to defend their rights.
“Louisiana is where people go to be disappeared,” said Nora Ahmed of the ACLU of Louisiana.
“Louisiana is where people go to be disappeared,” said Nora Ahmed of the ACLU of Louisiana.
Reposted by Oliver Laughland
For anyone who might be unfamiliar, this is exactly the kind of narrative that authoritarian regimes use - looking at you Egypt - to suffocate the media. The idea that only the official account is acceptable, despite obvious falsehoods, bluster or obfuscation.
NEW: The Pentagon told journalists it will require them to pledge they won’t gather any information — even unclassified — that hasn’t been expressly authorized for release, and will revoke the press credentials of those who do not obey. @washingtonpost.com
Pentagon demands journalists pledge to not obtain unauthorized material
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is imposing strict new rules that would severely limit the ability of journalists to report on the Pentagon.
www.washingtonpost.com
September 20, 2025 at 12:15 PM
For anyone who might be unfamiliar, this is exactly the kind of narrative that authoritarian regimes use - looking at you Egypt - to suffocate the media. The idea that only the official account is acceptable, despite obvious falsehoods, bluster or obfuscation.
I’m at the Broadview ICE facility in the Chicago suburbs, where a group of protesters are attempting to block agents from transferring detainees held inside.
Several law enforcement armed with rifles have just arrested one protester and earlier fired pepper balls at the crowd:
Several law enforcement armed with rifles have just arrested one protester and earlier fired pepper balls at the crowd:
September 19, 2025 at 11:27 AM
I’m at the Broadview ICE facility in the Chicago suburbs, where a group of protesters are attempting to block agents from transferring detainees held inside.
Several law enforcement armed with rifles have just arrested one protester and earlier fired pepper balls at the crowd:
Several law enforcement armed with rifles have just arrested one protester and earlier fired pepper balls at the crowd:
Reposted by Oliver Laughland
In March, masked agents grabbed our client Dr. Badar Khan Suri for speaking out in support of Palestinian rights.
Over the next four days, he was transferred between five different ICE facilities — including the infamous Alexandria Staging Facility, a "black hole" where immigrants disappear.
Over the next four days, he was transferred between five different ICE facilities — including the infamous Alexandria Staging Facility, a "black hole" where immigrants disappear.
Trump’s deportation hub: inside the ‘black hole’ where immigrants disappear
A Guardian investigation into the Alexandria facility reveals a pattern of alleged due process violations, previously unreported accounts of neglect and abuse, documented health emergencies and long s...
www.theguardian.com
September 15, 2025 at 10:26 PM
In March, masked agents grabbed our client Dr. Badar Khan Suri for speaking out in support of Palestinian rights.
Over the next four days, he was transferred between five different ICE facilities — including the infamous Alexandria Staging Facility, a "black hole" where immigrants disappear.
Over the next four days, he was transferred between five different ICE facilities — including the infamous Alexandria Staging Facility, a "black hole" where immigrants disappear.
Reposted by Oliver Laughland
What a thoughtful man Mahmoud Khalil is. A must read.
Was moved to know that while in detention he was reading Edward Said and Viktor E. Frankl
www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-i...
Was moved to know that while in detention he was reading Edward Said and Viktor E. Frankl
www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-i...
Mahmoud Khalil on exile, liberation and Ice detention: ‘It was a clear act of cruelty’
His grandparents survived the Nakba and he fled Assad’s Syria. Khalil is no stranger to political persecution, but not even Trump’s crackdown can silence him
www.theguardian.com
September 13, 2025 at 8:50 PM
What a thoughtful man Mahmoud Khalil is. A must read.
Was moved to know that while in detention he was reading Edward Said and Viktor E. Frankl
www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-i...
Was moved to know that while in detention he was reading Edward Said and Viktor E. Frankl
www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-i...
NEW: We’ve spent the past 4 months investigating a detention center on the tarmac of a rural airport in Alexandria - a legal “black hole” & Trump’s deportation hub
We uncovered a pattern of alleged due process violations, poor medical treatment, overcrowding, health emergencies, abuse & long stays:
We uncovered a pattern of alleged due process violations, poor medical treatment, overcrowding, health emergencies, abuse & long stays:
Trump’s deportation hub: inside the ‘black hole’ where immigrants disappear
A Guardian investigation into the Alexandria facility reveals a pattern of alleged due process violations, previously unreported accounts of neglect and abuse, documented health emergencies and long s...
www.theguardian.com
September 12, 2025 at 11:58 AM
NEW: We’ve spent the past 4 months investigating a detention center on the tarmac of a rural airport in Alexandria - a legal “black hole” & Trump’s deportation hub
We uncovered a pattern of alleged due process violations, poor medical treatment, overcrowding, health emergencies, abuse & long stays:
We uncovered a pattern of alleged due process violations, poor medical treatment, overcrowding, health emergencies, abuse & long stays:
Reposted by Oliver Laughland
We analyzed leaked data for rare look at the winding journeys of more than 44,000 immigrants detained or deported by the Trump administration... and found that people are being moved around in unprecedented and irregular ways. w/ @wcraft.bsky.social
www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-i...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-i...
Plane to purgatory: how Trump’s deportation program shuttles immigrants into lawless limbo
44,000 immigrants, 1,700 flights, 100 days: a Guardian investigation of leaked flight data and government detention data reveals the inhumane journey of immigrants shuttled around and outside the US
www.theguardian.com
September 10, 2025 at 5:52 PM
We analyzed leaked data for rare look at the winding journeys of more than 44,000 immigrants detained or deported by the Trump administration... and found that people are being moved around in unprecedented and irregular ways. w/ @wcraft.bsky.social
www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-i...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-i...
Reposted by Oliver Laughland
We are launching a new investigation today, which reveals new details about Trump's deportation program. Our first story is by @maanvisingh.bsky.social and @wcraft.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-i...
Plane to purgatory: how Trump’s deportation program shuttles immigrants into lawless limbo
44,000 immigrants, 1,700 flights, 100 days: a Guardian investigation of leaked flight data and government detention data reveals the inhumane journey of immigrants shuttled around and outside the US
www.theguardian.com
September 10, 2025 at 11:20 AM
We are launching a new investigation today, which reveals new details about Trump's deportation program. Our first story is by @maanvisingh.bsky.social and @wcraft.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-i...
“I did not fear them whatsoever,” he recalls. “I saw them eye to eye.”
The extraordinary bravery of Mahmoud Khalil - who invited me into his new home for a three hour interview.
Edited by @noayachot.bsky.social
www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-i...
The extraordinary bravery of Mahmoud Khalil - who invited me into his new home for a three hour interview.
Edited by @noayachot.bsky.social
www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-i...
Mahmoud Khalil on exile, liberation and Ice detention: ‘It was a clear act of cruelty’
His grandparents survived the Nakba and he fled Assad’s Syria. Khalil is no stranger to political persecution, but not even Trump’s crackdown can silence him
www.theguardian.com
September 8, 2025 at 2:56 PM
“I did not fear them whatsoever,” he recalls. “I saw them eye to eye.”
The extraordinary bravery of Mahmoud Khalil - who invited me into his new home for a three hour interview.
Edited by @noayachot.bsky.social
www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-i...
The extraordinary bravery of Mahmoud Khalil - who invited me into his new home for a three hour interview.
Edited by @noayachot.bsky.social
www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-i...
Reposted by Oliver Laughland
I spent the day in one of our country’s “blood-soaked” dystopias, counting trees
‘The tree is trying its best’: why New Yorkers are counting – and rating – every park tree
Volunteers are tasked with logging about 150,000 park trees by hand – and for some, it’s become a strange obsession
www.theguardian.com
August 28, 2025 at 5:51 PM
I spent the day in one of our country’s “blood-soaked” dystopias, counting trees
Reposted by Oliver Laughland
NEW: In March, the Trump administration announced a massive purge of workers at the nation's health agencies.
We asked them how many workers were laid off, pushed out or left.
They refused to give us numbers.
So we conducted our own analysis... 🧵
projects.propublica.org/federal-heal...
We asked them how many workers were laid off, pushed out or left.
They refused to give us numbers.
So we conducted our own analysis... 🧵
projects.propublica.org/federal-heal...
August 21, 2025 at 11:40 AM
NEW: In March, the Trump administration announced a massive purge of workers at the nation's health agencies.
We asked them how many workers were laid off, pushed out or left.
They refused to give us numbers.
So we conducted our own analysis... 🧵
projects.propublica.org/federal-heal...
We asked them how many workers were laid off, pushed out or left.
They refused to give us numbers.
So we conducted our own analysis... 🧵
projects.propublica.org/federal-heal...
“The Trump administration has refused to say how many workers have been lost so far. But ProPublica’s analysis reveals the cuts in unprecedented detail.”
Vital reporting by @anniewaldman.bsky.social
Vital reporting by @anniewaldman.bsky.social
NEW: More than 20,500 workers have left or been pushed out of federal health agencies, a ProPublica analysis found.
Staffers say the cuts will leave their agencies less equipped to conduct studies, perform inspections and combat deadly outbreaks.
Staffers say the cuts will leave their agencies less equipped to conduct studies, perform inspections and combat deadly outbreaks.
Gutted: How Deeply Trump Has Cut Federal Health Agencies
More than 20,500 workers have left or been pushed out of federal health agencies, a ProPublica analysis found. Staffers say the cuts will leave their agencies less equipped to conduct studies, perform...
projects.propublica.org
August 21, 2025 at 11:14 AM
“The Trump administration has refused to say how many workers have been lost so far. But ProPublica’s analysis reveals the cuts in unprecedented detail.”
Vital reporting by @anniewaldman.bsky.social
Vital reporting by @anniewaldman.bsky.social
ICE is using a Marriott hotel in Louisiana to detain migrant families before deportation flights
The company said in 2019 it would block use of its hotels to detain families
Marriott did not respond to requests for comment
By @skirchy.bsky.social, Raima Amjad, @maanvisingh.bsky.social & me
The company said in 2019 it would block use of its hotels to detain families
Marriott did not respond to requests for comment
By @skirchy.bsky.social, Raima Amjad, @maanvisingh.bsky.social & me
Ice used Marriott chain to detain immigrants, despite hotel’s 2019 pledge not to cooperate
Sheraton in Louisiana held father and teenage son this month in apparent contradiction of former position
www.theguardian.com
August 19, 2025 at 7:07 PM
ICE is using a Marriott hotel in Louisiana to detain migrant families before deportation flights
The company said in 2019 it would block use of its hotels to detain families
Marriott did not respond to requests for comment
By @skirchy.bsky.social, Raima Amjad, @maanvisingh.bsky.social & me
The company said in 2019 it would block use of its hotels to detain families
Marriott did not respond to requests for comment
By @skirchy.bsky.social, Raima Amjad, @maanvisingh.bsky.social & me
So pleased that our series ‘Anywhere But Washington’ has won an Edward R. Murrow award for continuing coverage.
Our series follows US politics away from the traditional campaign trail & is made with a small but brilliant team @tomsilverstone.bsky.social & Laurence Topham
Our series follows US politics away from the traditional campaign trail & is made with a small but brilliant team @tomsilverstone.bsky.social & Laurence Topham
2025 National Edward R. Murrow Award Winners - Radio Television Digital News Association
www.rtdna.org
August 14, 2025 at 5:34 PM
So pleased that our series ‘Anywhere But Washington’ has won an Edward R. Murrow award for continuing coverage.
Our series follows US politics away from the traditional campaign trail & is made with a small but brilliant team @tomsilverstone.bsky.social & Laurence Topham
Our series follows US politics away from the traditional campaign trail & is made with a small but brilliant team @tomsilverstone.bsky.social & Laurence Topham
Reposted by Oliver Laughland
An entire news crew working for Al Jazeera was killed by Israel as they sought to bring the world firsthand reporting from #Gaza.
Among them was prominent journalist Anas Al-Sharif, who had been previously smeared and threatened by the IDF.
#NotATarget
Full statement: cpj.org/2025/08/isra...
Among them was prominent journalist Anas Al-Sharif, who had been previously smeared and threatened by the IDF.
#NotATarget
Full statement: cpj.org/2025/08/isra...
Israel kills Al Jazeera journalists in targeted Gaza City airstrike - Committee to Protect Journalists
New York, August 10, 2025—The Committee to Protect Journalists is appalled to learn of the killing today of Al Jazeera journalist Anas Al-Sharif, Mohammed Qreiqeh, camera operators Ibrahim Zaher and M...
cpj.org
August 11, 2025 at 1:27 AM
An entire news crew working for Al Jazeera was killed by Israel as they sought to bring the world firsthand reporting from #Gaza.
Among them was prominent journalist Anas Al-Sharif, who had been previously smeared and threatened by the IDF.
#NotATarget
Full statement: cpj.org/2025/08/isra...
Among them was prominent journalist Anas Al-Sharif, who had been previously smeared and threatened by the IDF.
#NotATarget
Full statement: cpj.org/2025/08/isra...