The Moshannon Valley Processing Center, with beds for about 1,800 people, is the largest ICE detention center on the east coast. (Photo by Ian Karbal/Pennsylvania Capital-Star)
Hi {{first_name | reader}},
Sometimes, it's important to take a step back in the reporting process, assess exactly what the story is and decide whether or not to go deeper.
Going beyond the press release, if you will.
In one case earlier this month, it started with the basics of what happened in Montour County during an Immigration and Customs Enforcement raid.
Our Ian Karbal followed up on an email from immigrants’ rights advocacy groups about what they were calling the “largest ICE workplace raid in Pennsylvania to date.”
What he found was details and sources were scarce.
So, he began digging to untangle what exactly happened in the operation that involved at least two police departments in the county.
The result is a deep dive into how difficult it can be to get timely and accurate information on ICE activity at this phase of the Trump administration’s mass deportation campaign as well as a follow-up on how raids can affect immigrants who are in need of healthcare.
It’s just one example of how our team works every day to shine a light on how your tax dollars are utilized to implement policies set in Harrisburg and Washington D.C.
As a nonprofit newsroom, we have more freedom to devote reporters toward time-intensive, in-depth stories and ignore the temptation to “feed the beast” of daily news.
That’s where you come in.
As a newsletter subscriber, I hope you’ll consider taking the next step and becoming a financial supporter of the Pennsylvania Capital-Star.
I believe deeply in the importance of supporting independent journalism – produced by Pennsylvanians for Pennsylvanians. So, I invite you to join me as a sustaining member – by making a contribution anywhere from $15/month to $50/month.
If you would prefer, you could go with a one-time gift of $25, $50, $75 or $100
In appreciation of your trust and support,
Tim Lambert
Editor-in-chief, Pennsylvania Capital-Star