Sharma Crawford

Immigration arrests nearly triple in Missouri under Trump

ICE officers in Missouri

St. Louis Public Radio reports ICE arrests in Missouri have nearly tripled under Trump, based on new ICE data obtained by the Deportation Data Project—showing more than 3,200 arrests since January 2025 across nearly 80 countries, including children and elderly detainees. The story examines what the numbers suggest about enforcement priorities and the ripple effects […]

What Immigrants in Chicago Should Know Before Traveling

Camilla Forte/Borderless Magazine/Catchlight Local/Report for America

Borderless Magazine published a practical, Chicago-focused guide on what immigrants should consider before traveling—including how status, documentation, and border/airport screening can affect reentry and risk. It’s a strong “read-before-you-go” checklist for anyone planning domestic or international travel. Read the full Borderless Magazine guide →

Put ICE on Ice?

a collage of images of the Alex Pretty encounter with ICE

In “Put ICE on Ice?”, Rekha Sharma-Crawford examines the constitutional boundaries of ICE enforcement in a televised debate that has sparked renewed scrutiny of accountability and oversight. Read the full artcile and watch the debate on universul.net

How a quiet ICE warehouse tour blindsided Kansas City

Kansas City leaders seek an explanation after federal agents quietly scouted a southside warehouse for a “mega” immigration detention center.

In Straight Arrow News’ report on Kansas City’s surprise ICE warehouse tour, immigration attorney Rekha Sharma-Crawford warns that a proposed “mega” detention facility could strain local resources and raises urgent questions about legality, oversight, and humane treatment. The story also captures growing community anxiety as reports of aggressive enforcement tactics spread nationwide. Read the full […]

ICE wants to build a Kansas City detention center that could hold 10,000 people

The Department of Homeland Security surveyed an industrial warehouse facility that is one of several buildings being considered for a mass ICE detention facility in Kansas City, Missouri.

In KCUR’s Up To Date segment on a proposed Kansas City ICE detention center that could hold up to 10,000 people, immigration attorney Rekha Sharma-Crawford describes “huge fear in the community” and raises a core question local leaders will have to confront: how a massive facility can be made humane. Read (and listen) to the […]

ICE brings ‘volatile’ activity to KC area. What to know & how to stay safe

Several hundred people marched through downtown towards the Liberty Memorial during a “Shut Down ICE” protest on Kansas City’s Westside and downtown in June 2025.

A Kansas City Star report warns of more aggressive and “volatile” ICE enforcement in the Kansas City region—highlighting a sharp rise in detention counts, increased activity around immigration courts, and the rapid spread of 287(g) agreements that expand local agencies’ role in civil immigration arrests. Immigration attorney Rekha Sharma-Crawford urges preparation now, sharing practical “know […]

Not On Our Watch: Rekha Sharma-Crawford on Defending Democracy Through Immigration Law

Rekha Sharma Crawford

In LegalBridge’s feature, Rekha Sharma-Crawford explains how immigration lawyers are becoming front-line defenders of the rule of law—from post-9/11 shifts in enforcement to today’s surge in litigation where courts increasingly serve as the guardrails. It’s a candid look at what “Not on our watch” means in practice for clients, families, and democratic institutions. Read the […]

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