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1/ Our reporting with @ProPublica on the Trump administration’s zero-tolerance policy was named a @PulitzerPrizes finalist this week. Here’s the entire series: propub.li/2GppaEJ ⬇️ And here’s a thread about our work on immigrant shelters in Illinois:
2/ Last summer, we learned that dozens of immigrant children and teens separated from their parents at the southern U.S. border had been held in a secretive network of shelters in the Chicago area. propublica.org/article/illino…
3/ There were 11 shelters, nine run by @HeartlandHelps and mostly nondescript buildings in suburban Des Plaines and Chicago. Neighbors and even aldermen often didn’t know about them. “I saw those kids playing soccer,” @Ald_Brookins21 said. “I had no idea who they were." 
4/ Documents and interviews revealed allegations of abuse, threats and inappropriate sexual relationships inside the shelters. At least 10 children had run away in recent years.
propublica.org/article/heartl…
propublica.org/article/heartl…
5/ Heartland officials have declined to address specific incidents out of concern for the privacy of the children. But they said the incidents “represent highly rare occasions” and they take “swift and appropriate action,” reporting all incidents to state and federal authorities.
6/ Most of the children forcibly separated from their parents were reunited before a July 26, 2018, court-ordered deadline. But hundreds more so-called unaccompanied immigrant minors remained in the shelters. We kept reporting.
7/ We learned that older teens lived in fear of turning 18, when immigration officials would take them into custody, often on their birthday. A 17-year-old went on a hunger strike. A 16-year-old said he wanted to "quitarme la vida," or "take my life away.” propublica.org/article/chicag…
8/ By Sept. 10, 2018, seven children still hadn’t been reunited with their parents. We reported on the children and families that had been reunited, too.
propublica.org/article/trump-…
propublica.org/article/trump-…
9/ We published letters one 11-year-old from Guatemala wrote her mother, who was in adult immigrant detention. Destinee spent five weeks at a Heartland shelter in Chicago’s Bronzeville neighborhood in May and June 2018.
10/ And reporters @msanchezMIA @jodiscohen and @deldeib explained how they penetrated this secretive system.
propublica.org/article/chicag…
propublica.org/article/chicag…
11/ Last month, @HeartlandHelps announced plans to close its four Des Plaines shelters and add staff, training and other resources at its remaining five facilities in the Chicago neighborhoods of Bronzeville, Rogers Park, Englewood and Beverly.
propublica.org/article/heartl…
propublica.org/article/heartl…
12/ We are always looking for more information — and you can help. If you or anyone you know works in the detention system for immigrant minors or has something to share with us, please get in touch.
13/ One last thing: Follow our work. Sure, that can mean following us on Twitter. But really, you should let us email you once a week with details about what we’re working on, how we’re working on it and how you can help. go.propublica.org/ppilupdates. Thanks.
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