New York-based reporter Cedar Attanasio is one of several AP journalists observing immigration court hearings—often long and procedural, but sometimes offering a window into larger national policy shifts.
During one such hearing, Attanasio encountered a 17-year-old girl from the Dominican Republic who had been detained for 70 days. She asked the judge how soon she could return home if she chose to leave voluntarily. “Pretty soon,” the judge responded.
Sensing a broader story, Attanasio connected with Washington reporter Amanda Seitz, who has extensively covered the Trump administration’s increased vetting procedures for releasing unaccompanied migrant children. Seitz contributed critical context: under the new policies, children are spending an average of 217 days in custody—up sharply from 35 days under the Biden administration.
She also detailed how previous lax oversight had contributed to past failures in vetting sponsors, helping explain the administration’s rationale.
Attanasio followed up with the girl’s lawyer and mother, bringing a human face to the bureaucratic delays and highlighting how evolving policies are directly affecting families. Seitz’s beat expertise paired with Attanasio’s on-the-ground observations made for a deeply informed and personal look at the consequences of immigration enforcement decisions.
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