Jan. 2026 – Inside the System: Migrants Detail Harsh Realities of U.S. Custody
What people endure in ICE detention is largely hidden from public view – until those who live it speak up.
This story pulls back that curtain of immigration custody by documenting the voices of people who were recently held in detention and subsequently deported to Nogales, Sonora. People described being confined under harsh conditions; denied food, water and bathroom access for hours; and deprived of essential medical care.
The reporting explores why these accounts matter beyond any single case. Each firsthand experience raises questions about how systems operate when oversight is limited, and emphasizes the need for transparency and accountability.
Feb. 2026 – Santa Cruz County residents protest Noem’s visit
Members of the public took to the streets of downtown Nogales, Ariz. to protest then-Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem’s visit to the U.S.-Mexico border.
Santa Cruz County residents called Noem’s visit “border theater” – an effort to push an insincere narrative that there is a crisis along the United States’ southern border.
(Genesis Lara interviewed and filmed the residents seen in this video, while ACLU of Arizona staff edited the footage for social media.)
March 2026 – The ‘right way’ myth: When requests for legal status end in deportation
Politicians often say immigrants should come to the United States “the right way.” Yet even those who follow the legal process face risk of deportation.
The reporting follows the stories of two men who attended routine immigration appointments while pursuing asylum and permanent residency. Instead of moving their cases forward, authorities detained and deported them to Mexico.
The piece highlights how individuals remain vulnerable to expulsion for a range of reasons, including financial limitations, prior deportations and the difficulty of navigating the U.S. immigration system. Even when someone does everything according to the letter of the law, the outcome of their case ultimately comes down to the sole discretion of immigration authorities.
May 2026 – As migrant deaths persist, volunteers shoulder the work
For months, the Trump administration has touted record low levels of migrant apprehensions along the U.S.-Mexico border. But humanitarian workers in Southern Arizona prioritize another piece of data that remains high: the number of people dying in the desert.
Last year, at least 108 undocumented migrants died in the desert of Arizona, marking a 30% increase from the number of deaths that fueled Tucson volunteers to formally organize in 2000.
Humane Borders, a nonprofit and nonpartisan organization that installs water stations in the desert, tries to mitigate the negative impacts of a broken immigration system that funnels undocumented travelers to more dangerous routes through the Sonoran Desert.
June 2026 – ‘A glimmer of community’: LGBTQ+ residents seek visibility along border
Despite occasional drag shows and queer art exhibits in Yuma and Nogales, LGBTQ+ residents say such gathering spaces are limited in the two towns. In Douglas, residents often drive about 50 miles to reach the nearest LGBTQ+ support group, underscoring uneven access to community spaces across the region.
The desire for queer visibility and belonging echoes across Arizona’s border. From Yuma to Nogales to Douglas, residents and organizers say local efforts are building connection, even as political and social barriers make those spaces harder to sustain.
What’s more, access to those spaces is closely tied to a person’s ability to exercise their constitutional rights
June 2026 – Bisbee Pride
Arizonans from across the state gathered for the annual Bisbee Pride this weekend. We asked attendees what it means to be part of a space built on authenticity, community, and support.
(An ACLU of Arizona staff member conducted and filmed the interviews. Genesis Lara filmed other videos seen here and edited the content for social media.)