An AP team spent six days in the Texas Panhandle to document the struggles of immigrants living under some of the most precarious legal statuses in the United States, including humanitarian parole. As the Trump administration moved to revoke those protections, reporter Tim Sullivan, photographer Eric Gay, and video journalist Obed Lamy told the human stories behind the headlines.
Their reporting focused on a small community heavily dependent on immigrant labor, revealing the devastating impact that the loss of jobs and legal status could have. The story began with a Facebook post by Kimberly Snelgrooes, a local figure who chose to collaborate with the AP because of its credibility—and because Lamy, fluent in Haitian Creole, could communicate directly with some of the immigrants affected.
Despite initial hesitance, the team earned the trust of sources through persistence and empathy, capturing a rare and intimate look into lives in legal limbo.
The team’s work was widely praised for its humanity, depth, and focus on an often-overlooked part of the country. By embedding deeply in one location, they illuminated a national issue through personal, compelling storytelling.
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