Nomaan Merchant, immigration reporter, Houston, used careful source work to get a rare interview with a migrant in detention who was stricken with COVID-19. Salomon Diego Alonzo coughed and gasped through much of the interview, and what came next was even more disturbing: Alonzo was forced to attend a crucial asylum hearing by phone, lasting two hours before the judge decided to delay the case. Alonzo was hospitalized the following day. Merchant wove a compelling story, bringing to life one hearing that exposed a callous handling of sick immigrants amid the pandemic. https://bit.ly/3bxPUAb
Disturbing court case of virus-stricken detainee
Salomon Diego Alonzo is shown in an undated photo provided by Veronica Semino. The detained immigrant who said he tested positive for COVID-19 was required to appear by phone for a court hearing even after a guard said he was too weak to talk, his attorney said, April 16, 2020.
Angelina Pablo Hernandez via AP