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Sarah Betancourt

@sweetadelinevt

Immigration Reporter @gbhnews.bsky.social #desgraciada πŸ‡΅πŸ‡· journalist since 2007. Occasional freelancer elsewhere. IRE award 2018 w/ ProPublica.

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13.09.2024
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Latest posts by Sarah Betancourt @sweetadelinevt

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Judge dismisses Babson student's lawsuit over mistaken deportation; attorneys allege ICE 'trap' 'I was like, am I being freed? Am I being played?" said the student in an interview with GBH News.

The ruling came a day after lawyers for Any Lucia Lopez Belloza documented what they called β€œa trap” in which ICE offered to bring her back only to re-deport her. Read what’s next for Lopez Belloza, who we spoke to from Honduras today.

www.wgbh.org/news/local/2... @gbhnews.bsky.social

06.03.2026 23:08 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Chelsea family sues Trump administration over arrest resulting in window-smashing β€œMy family has been torn apart,” said Kenia Guerrero, a U.S. citizen. β€œThey obviously don’t care.”

β€œMy family has been torn apart,” said Guerrero, a U.S. citizen. β€œThey obviously don’t care.” She is currently pregnant and anxious about the future without her husband, who was deported. www.wgbh.org/news/local/2... @gbhnews.bsky.social

06.03.2026 20:30 πŸ‘ 3 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Trump fires Homeland Security Secretary Noem after building criticism over immigration enforcement Gov. Maura Healey said Noem had been an β€˜absolutely terrible appointment.’

β€œGood riddance. Now, she should be prosecuted,” said @moulton.house.gov.

www.wgbh.org/news/nationa... @gbhnews.bsky.social

05.03.2026 22:01 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Tariffs. Loans. ICE. Immigrant business owners face plenty of hurdles under Trump administration Businesses operated and owned by immigrants all over the Boston area face a slew of challenges that were shared at a recent roundtable with Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley.

-Condensed milk $ up 60 percent.
-No small business loans.
-ICE agents outside of a bakery door.
-Less foot traffic to a Senegalese spa.
Listen to our feature about the impact of the Trump administration on immigrant-owned businesses.

www.wgbh.org/news/local/2... @gbhnews.bsky.social

05.03.2026 21:44 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Advocates testify in support of state legislation limiting immigration enforcement A local mother describes her fear of pressing charges against her daughter's alleged rapist due to fears of ICE courthouse arrests.

Rep. Michelle Ciccolo asked what would occur if ICE shows up and β€œbreaks down a door or enters [a safe space] without someone’s permission.”

β€œWill you respond to that as a breaking and entry? Or will you stand down because it’s a federal agent?” www.wgbh.org/news/local/2... @gbhnews.bsky.social

05.03.2026 02:08 πŸ‘ 3 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Elizabeth Sweet of MIRA Coalition & @pressley.house.gov said Massachusetts has at least 91,400 immigrant entrepreneurs who generate $3.1 billion in business income.
www.wgbh.org/news/local/2...

02.03.2026 20:50 πŸ‘ 37 πŸ” 8 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 2
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Massachusetts refugees and resettlement agencies sue Trump admin over new detention policy A new directive earlier this month allows for many refugees to be detained without a warrant.

🚨Breaking national news from @gbhnews.bsky.social:

MA refugees and resettlement agencies filed the first lawsuit of its kind against the Trump admin for its Feb. 18 policy that would allow immigration agents to detain many refugees who haven’t acquired green cards.

www.wgbh.org/news/local/2...

27.02.2026 22:20 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Flor prepares fondant unicorn ears for a cake at her Chelsea bakery…https://www.wgbh.org/news/local/2026-02-26/tariffs-loans-ice-immigrant-business-owners-face-plenty-of-hurdles-under-trump-administration @gbhnews.bsky.social

27.02.2026 01:27 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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East Somerville Main Streets & the City of Boston are trying to assist strained immigrant small business owners w/ technical assistance programs that do a number of things, including provide online order help.

www.wgbh.org/news/local/2...

26.02.2026 21:53 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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FEATURE: Flor’s bakery is one of many immigrant-owned businesses experiencing residual effects of Trump administration policiesβ€” from reduced foot traffic and staffing due to immigration enforcement and fear to the rising costs of goods.

www.wgbh.org/news/local/2... @gbhnews.bsky.social

26.02.2026 20:08 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Mass. judge rules against Trump administration policy for third-country deportations β€œIt’s not fine, nor is it legal,” the judge wrote. He said the Trump administration violated his previous orders repeatedly.

β€œIt’s not fine, nor is it legal,” Judge Brian Murphy wrote in his 81-page memorandum.

www.wgbh.org/news/local/2... @gbhnews.bsky.social

25.02.2026 21:59 πŸ‘ 7 πŸ” 5 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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On April 14, a deportation officer with ICE’s enforcement and removal operations, requested a β€œlist of all sentenced inmates” from Suffolk County sheriff’s office. He got the list 12 minutes later.Β 
www.wgbh.org/news/local/2... @gbhnews.bsky.social

20.02.2026 15:44 πŸ‘ 5 πŸ” 5 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Some local police, sheriff and DA offices are communicating often with ICE, records show In one instance, a sheriff's office sent an entire list of sentenced individuals just 12 minutes after ICE requested the information.

β€œI do not know if a detainer has already been lodged. I want to provide the latest information about his new plea hearing date in hopes that ICE can make an arrest,” a Hampden county assistant DA wrote to a deportation officer.

www.wgbh.org/news/local/2... @gbhnews.bsky.social

19.02.2026 18:17 πŸ‘ 4 πŸ” 5 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 1
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US immigration court blocks deportation of Tufts student from Turkey, her attorneys say RΓΌmeysa Γ–ztΓΌrk's attorneys and court documents say the immigration court found on Jan. 29 that the Department of Homeland Security hasn’t proved that she should be removed from the U.S and the court t...

"We’re celebrating this as a huge win in affirming that justice will prevail when an impartial and fair court has the opportunity to review the facts,” Khanbabai said.
www.wgbh.org/news/local/2... @gbhnews.bsky.social

10.02.2026 18:43 πŸ‘ 5 πŸ” 4 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Michigan Rep. Shri Thanedar asked Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney Scott if ICU nurse Alex Pretti "deserved to die" in House Committee on Homeland Security hearing.

Scott: β€œI cannot comment on an ongoing investigation sir.”

10.02.2026 16:33 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

This isn’t just Benito Bowl, it’s bendito bowl for us in Boston.

09.02.2026 02:30 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Legal tug-of-war keeps Mass. man applying for labor trafficking visa in ICE detention Worries of deportation growing as legal options become limited

The federal government has upped its efforts to deport a Western Massachusetts father who has a pending visa application for labor trafficking.

www.wgbh.org/news/local/2... @gbhnews.bsky.social

06.02.2026 20:42 πŸ‘ 5 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Company lays off Haitian caregivers despite court order protecting work authorization One of the lead attorneys for the federal case said Tribute Home Care’s interpretation of the order was β€œnot correct.”

As a result of @gbhnews.bsky.social
reporting, the Haitian TPS holders have been offered their caregiving jobs back by employer Tribute Home Care.

www.wgbh.org/news/local/2...

05.02.2026 22:34 πŸ‘ 3 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Company lays off Haitian caregivers despite court order protecting work authorization One of the lead attorneys for the federal case said Tribute Home Care’s interpretation of the order was β€œnot correct.”

Confusion around federal court order: employer misinterprets injunction and lays off multiple TPS holders.

www.wgbh.org/news/local/2...

05.02.2026 04:29 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Nice sweater!

05.02.2026 02:15 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Company lays off Haitian caregivers despite court order protecting work authorization One of the lead attorneys for the federal case said Tribute Home Care’s interpretation of the order was β€œnot correct.”

Haitian caregivers employed with Tribute Home Care laid off despite court order ensuring their work permits.

www.wgbh.org/news/local/2... @gbhnews.bsky.social

05.02.2026 00:10 πŸ‘ 7 πŸ” 7 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 3
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Haitian immigrants can retain protected status for now, federal judge rules TPS for Haitians had been set to expire Tuesday, with roughly 19,000 Haitian immigrants in Mass. set to lose their legal status.

More info: www.wgbh.org/news/local/2... if you truly want to get into the weeds about what comes next, shoot me a message. Not a legal publication, but I have it all on the backburner of my brain.

03.02.2026 03:31 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 1
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Haitian immigrants can retain protected status for now, federal judge rules TPS for Haitians had been set to expire Tuesday, with roughly 19,000 Haitian immigrants in Mass. set to lose their legal status.

"Secretary Noem, the record to-date shows, does not have the facts on her sideβ€”or at least has ignored them. Does not have the law on her sideβ€”or at least has ignored it. Having neither and bringing the adage into the 21st century, she pounds X," wrote Judge Reyes. www.wgbh.org/news/local/2...

03.02.2026 03:02 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Haitian immigrants can retain protected status for now, federal judge rules TPS for Haitians had been set to expire Tuesday, with roughly 19,000 Haitian immigrants in Mass. set to lose their legal status.

A federal judge in Washington, D.C. temporarily blocked the Trump administration from terminating temporary protected status.

www.wgbh.org/news/local/2... @gbhnews.bsky.social

03.02.2026 02:26 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Thousands of Mass. Haitians face end of temporary protected status in February Immigrants, business leaders, and elected officials fear possible deportation

An 11th hour order from Judge Reyes postpones the Trump administrations termination date for Haitians with TPS. Story soon in GBH. Read our recent story

www.wgbh.org/news/local/2...

03.02.2026 00:41 πŸ‘ 14 πŸ” 5 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
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Thousands of Mass. Haitians face end of temporary protected status in February Immigrants, business leaders, and elected officials fear possible deportation

On All Things Considered today talking about the termination of TPS for Haitians, and the local impact. www.wgbh.org/news/local/2... @npr.org @gbhnews.bsky.social

02.02.2026 21:45 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Thousands of Mass. Haitians face end of temporary protected status in February Immigrants, business leaders, and elected officials fear possible deportation

β€œThey asked, 'What’s going to happen to my house? Now, if I’m going to lose my work permit and I cannot work, how am I going to pay for my mortgage?’” said Dr. Geralde Gabeau.
www.wgbh.org/news/local/2... @wgbh.org @aila.org

02.02.2026 18:10 πŸ‘ 3 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
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Thousands of Mass. Haitians face end of temporary protected status in February Immigrants, business leaders, and elected officials fear possible deportation

Ann is a 19-year-old UMass Boston student who is currently not attending school due to her fears of being detained by ICE. She and four members of her immediate family lose status next week.
www.wgbh.org/news/local/2...

02.02.2026 03:27 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
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Mass. advocates sue ICE over warrantless home entry policy Whistleblowers recently revealed ICE’s policy that allows for immigration agents to enter private homes without a warrant.

Brooke Simone, staff attorney for Lawyers for Civil Rights, said what makes this β€œincredibly urgent” is that some immigrants’ legal status is set to lapse next week. Temporary Protected Status for at least 19k Haitians in MA will expire.
www.wgbh.org/news/local/2... @gbhnews.bsky.social

31.01.2026 00:02 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Thousands of Mass. Haitians face end of temporary protected status in February Immigrants, business leaders, and elected officials fear possible deportation

Mathelier, co-owner of Ula Cafe, is launching virtual phone banks for people to call Congress and ask legislators to co-sponsor Pressley’s bill and extend TPS. www.wgbh.org/news/local/2...

30.01.2026 21:56 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 4 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0