Social distancing and hand-washing are meant to keep us safe from the coronavirus. But in immigrant detention centers, those measures are impossible.

Laura C. Morel
Reporter
Laura C. Morel (she/her) is a reporter for Reveal, covering reproductive health.
She previously covered immigration during the Trump administration. Before joining Reveal, Laura was a reporter at the Tampa Bay Times, where she covered criminal justice issues.
She was a 2022 finalist for the Livingston Award, which recognizes young journalists, along with Reveal data reporter Mohamed Al Elew for an investigation that exposed racial disparities within a federal lending program. She was also a Livingston finalist in 2017 as part of a team of reporters that investigated Walmart’s excessive use of police resources.
Inside ICE lockdown: Face masks made of socks, no hand sanitizer and growing tensions
As the tally of detainees and staff testing positive for COVID-19 rises, asylum seekers in crowded settings continue to be denied parole.
How federal agencies put immigrants and immigration workers at risk amid coronavirus
As American life grinds to a halt, the immigration system – with agencies across two federal departments – has often continued with business as usual.
Don’t miss a story. Get our investigations delivered to your inbox.
Miami police reform how they handle immigrant victims following Reveal investigation
“When they are a victim of a crime, they need to know we’re going to help. We’re not going to be an obstacle,” says one police leader.
Building a wall out of red tape
While debate has raged over the border wall, there’s less attention to invisible barriers affecting immigrants seeking U.S. visas and citizenship.
La visa U debe ayudar a solucionar delitos y proteger a indocumentados. Pero la policía la socava
El análisis de Reveal de las políticas de más de 100 agencias policiales que atienden a grandes comunidades de inmigrantes identificó que casi 1 de cada 4 crea obstáculos no previstos en el programa de visas U.
How law enforcement agencies undermine the U visa
How U visa certification requests were handled in the 10 states with the largest immigrant populations.
The U visa is supposed to help solve crimes and protect immigrants. But police are undermining it
Among more than 100 law enforcement agencies serving large immigrant communities, nearly 1 in 4 create barriers never envisioned under the program.
N.C. shut down a group home last year. The US just gave it a contract to house migrant children
As the Office of Refugee Resettlement rapidly expands its shelter network, it’s adding providers with little experience and troubling track records.
Government isn’t reuniting migrant children with legal guardians
The court ruling that forced the Trump administration to reunite families separated at the border applies only to parents, excluding legal guardians.