Oliver Laughland
@oliverlaughland.bsky.social
US Southern Bureau Chief and Investigations Correspondent - The Guardian
I’ve covered street protests for years and never seen this much tear gas used on such a small crowd
September 19, 2025 at 1:44 PM
I’ve covered street protests for years and never seen this much tear gas used on such a small crowd
What seemed like a few dozen officers surged out firing tear gas and pepper balls dispersing much of the crowd and arresting at least one person.
Two vehicles appear to have left the facility
Two vehicles appear to have left the facility
September 19, 2025 at 1:42 PM
What seemed like a few dozen officers surged out firing tear gas and pepper balls dispersing much of the crowd and arresting at least one person.
Two vehicles appear to have left the facility
Two vehicles appear to have left the facility
DHS are playing a dispersal order over a loudspeaker as three masked agents observe from the roof:
September 19, 2025 at 12:45 PM
DHS are playing a dispersal order over a loudspeaker as three masked agents observe from the roof:
More protesters are arriving and attempting to block a number of government SUVs from entering the facility.
A small phalanx of officers, including some wearing US border patrol ID, have come out to escort the vehicles inside and push protesters aside:
A small phalanx of officers, including some wearing US border patrol ID, have come out to escort the vehicles inside and push protesters aside:
September 19, 2025 at 12:41 PM
More protesters are arriving and attempting to block a number of government SUVs from entering the facility.
A small phalanx of officers, including some wearing US border patrol ID, have come out to escort the vehicles inside and push protesters aside:
A small phalanx of officers, including some wearing US border patrol ID, have come out to escort the vehicles inside and push protesters aside:
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:
The staging facility is situated on a restricted access road. The only place to view its facade is from the 13th hole of an adjacent golf course.
We observed as dozens of shackled detainees were loaded onto deportation flights, as golfers teed off a few hundred feet away, paying little attention:
We observed as dozens of shackled detainees were loaded onto deportation flights, as golfers teed off a few hundred feet away, paying little attention:
September 12, 2025 at 12:38 PM
The staging facility is situated on a restricted access road. The only place to view its facade is from the 13th hole of an adjacent golf course.
We observed as dozens of shackled detainees were loaded onto deportation flights, as golfers teed off a few hundred feet away, paying little attention:
We observed as dozens of shackled detainees were loaded onto deportation flights, as golfers teed off a few hundred feet away, paying little attention:
Multiple lawyers have told us the only way to contact a client held in Alexandria is to directly call the New Orleans Ice field office director & hope they grant permission.
This happened in the case of Badar Khan Suri, the Georgetown University student targeted by Ice for his political views:
This happened in the case of Badar Khan Suri, the Georgetown University student targeted by Ice for his political views:
September 12, 2025 at 12:34 PM
Multiple lawyers have told us the only way to contact a client held in Alexandria is to directly call the New Orleans Ice field office director & hope they grant permission.
This happened in the case of Badar Khan Suri, the Georgetown University student targeted by Ice for his political views:
This happened in the case of Badar Khan Suri, the Georgetown University student targeted by Ice for his political views:
The detention center quietly received a waiver from Ice earlier this year, that exempted it from certain medical screening standards contained within the agency’s detention standards.
We asked DHS why this waiver was granted, and received no response:
We asked DHS why this waiver was granted, and received no response:
September 12, 2025 at 12:26 PM
The detention center quietly received a waiver from Ice earlier this year, that exempted it from certain medical screening standards contained within the agency’s detention standards.
We asked DHS why this waiver was granted, and received no response:
We asked DHS why this waiver was granted, and received no response:
One former detainee was held in Alexandria for around 12 days in April’ 25.
He could not change his clothes or underwear, received almost no medication for an infection & said showers spouted rusty water.
“It’s not a place for humans,” he said
He claimed a Geo Group guard humiliated him as well
He could not change his clothes or underwear, received almost no medication for an infection & said showers spouted rusty water.
“It’s not a place for humans,” he said
He claimed a Geo Group guard humiliated him as well
September 12, 2025 at 12:18 PM
One former detainee was held in Alexandria for around 12 days in April’ 25.
He could not change his clothes or underwear, received almost no medication for an infection & said showers spouted rusty water.
“It’s not a place for humans,” he said
He claimed a Geo Group guard humiliated him as well
He could not change his clothes or underwear, received almost no medication for an infection & said showers spouted rusty water.
“It’s not a place for humans,” he said
He claimed a Geo Group guard humiliated him as well
The Alexandria staging facility is designated as a short term, 72 hour center, but data analysis by @wcraft.bsky.social shows it is routinely holding people for longer.
Since Jan’25 20% of detainees have been held longer than 3 days. 742 people have been held there for 10 days or more since Oct’ 23
Since Jan’25 20% of detainees have been held longer than 3 days. 742 people have been held there for 10 days or more since Oct’ 23
September 12, 2025 at 12:09 PM
The Alexandria staging facility is designated as a short term, 72 hour center, but data analysis by @wcraft.bsky.social shows it is routinely holding people for longer.
Since Jan’25 20% of detainees have been held longer than 3 days. 742 people have been held there for 10 days or more since Oct’ 23
Since Jan’25 20% of detainees have been held longer than 3 days. 742 people have been held there for 10 days or more since Oct’ 23
Here is Mahmoud, addressing the media outside.
June 20, 2025 at 11:45 PM
Here is Mahmoud, addressing the media outside.
I’m here in Jena, Louisiana with a small group of other media waiting on the release of Mahmoud Khalil from ICE detention:
June 20, 2025 at 10:28 PM
I’m here in Jena, Louisiana with a small group of other media waiting on the release of Mahmoud Khalil from ICE detention:
Thrilled that our investigation into the huge chemical fire at the Marathon Petroleum refinery in Cancer Alley has won @ewscrippsco.bsky.social Award for environmental reporting
W/ ace colleagues @sarasneath.bsky.social @wcraft.bsky.social & @forensicarchi.bsky.social
scripps.com/fund/news/sc...
W/ ace colleagues @sarasneath.bsky.social @wcraft.bsky.social & @forensicarchi.bsky.social
scripps.com/fund/news/sc...
June 10, 2025 at 6:04 PM
Thrilled that our investigation into the huge chemical fire at the Marathon Petroleum refinery in Cancer Alley has won @ewscrippsco.bsky.social Award for environmental reporting
W/ ace colleagues @sarasneath.bsky.social @wcraft.bsky.social & @forensicarchi.bsky.social
scripps.com/fund/news/sc...
W/ ace colleagues @sarasneath.bsky.social @wcraft.bsky.social & @forensicarchi.bsky.social
scripps.com/fund/news/sc...
But this growth is a real patchwork. The majority of sheriffs offices come from counties with less than 50k residents
We identified a handful of municipal police depts with jurisdiction over tiny populations
In Pittsburg, NH a department of *two* officers has signed a task force agreement with ICE
We identified a handful of municipal police depts with jurisdiction over tiny populations
In Pittsburg, NH a department of *two* officers has signed a task force agreement with ICE
April 30, 2025 at 2:00 PM
But this growth is a real patchwork. The majority of sheriffs offices come from counties with less than 50k residents
We identified a handful of municipal police depts with jurisdiction over tiny populations
In Pittsburg, NH a department of *two* officers has signed a task force agreement with ICE
We identified a handful of municipal police depts with jurisdiction over tiny populations
In Pittsburg, NH a department of *two* officers has signed a task force agreement with ICE
The new explosion of 287(g) deals includes departments with checkered civil rights records.
For eg. The Columbus County Sheriff’s office in North Carolina, which was previously denied entry in 2007, but then approved this March. It follows years of scandal:
For eg. The Columbus County Sheriff’s office in North Carolina, which was previously denied entry in 2007, but then approved this March. It follows years of scandal:
April 30, 2025 at 1:54 PM
The new explosion of 287(g) deals includes departments with checkered civil rights records.
For eg. The Columbus County Sheriff’s office in North Carolina, which was previously denied entry in 2007, but then approved this March. It follows years of scandal:
For eg. The Columbus County Sheriff’s office in North Carolina, which was previously denied entry in 2007, but then approved this March. It follows years of scandal:
Very honored that our investigation into the giant Marathon refinery fire in Cancer Alley is a finalist in the Scripps Howard Awards @ewscrippsco.bsky.social. With great colleagues @sarasneath.bsky.social @wcraft.bsky.social & collaborators @forensicarchi.bsky.social
scripps.com/fund/journal...
scripps.com/fund/journal...
April 29, 2025 at 7:32 PM
Very honored that our investigation into the giant Marathon refinery fire in Cancer Alley is a finalist in the Scripps Howard Awards @ewscrippsco.bsky.social. With great colleagues @sarasneath.bsky.social @wcraft.bsky.social & collaborators @forensicarchi.bsky.social
scripps.com/fund/journal...
scripps.com/fund/journal...
It’s been a rainy week here so Calla has begrudgingly worn her wet weather gear
November 15, 2024 at 2:22 PM
It’s been a rainy week here so Calla has begrudgingly worn her wet weather gear
Have been told that posting more dog content here is important.
So this is Calla, at her favourite spot on the levee in the lower 9th ward. She’s a very good girl.
So this is Calla, at her favourite spot on the levee in the lower 9th ward. She’s a very good girl.
November 12, 2024 at 3:04 AM
Have been told that posting more dog content here is important.
So this is Calla, at her favourite spot on the levee in the lower 9th ward. She’s a very good girl.
So this is Calla, at her favourite spot on the levee in the lower 9th ward. She’s a very good girl.
