New York Focus

What if we told you that the Trump administration has access to tens of thousands of flimsy local gang database entries, and there could be untold numbers of Kilmar Ábrego Garcias out there?

We need you to tell these stories. Donate today and your gift will be tripled.
nysfoc.us/donate

How a Brush With Mall Security Can Lead to Arrest by Border Patrol In at least one case, police may have violated a state court ruling prohibiting local law enforcement from conducting civil immigration enforcement.

At least 15 people have been taken into federal immigration custody this year after Cheektowaga police called Border Patrol, according to documents obtained by @nysfocus.bsky.social. Five of the arrests started with a call to police by Macy’s security guards.

Careers New York's only statewide newsroom dedicated to holding Albany accountable.

New York Focus is seeking a full-time politics reporter to help lead our coverage of New York state politics in a pivotal moment.

You’ll have your work cut out for you in 2026.
nysfocus.com/hiring

How a Brush With Mall Security Can Lead to Arrest by Border Patrol In at least one case, police may have violated a state court ruling prohibiting local law enforcement from conducting civil immigration enforcement.

NEW: For one western New York man, an ongoing 10-month stint in federal immigration detention began with a suburban ritual: browsing at a mall department store.
nysfocus.com/2025/11/26/c...

Careers New York's only statewide newsroom dedicated to holding Albany accountable.

New York Focus is seeking a full-time politics reporter to help lead our coverage of New York state politics in a pivotal moment.

You’ll have your work cut out for you in 2026.
nysfocus.com/hiring

Crossing Coalitions on the New York City Council The conservative Democrat is sounding more like her progressive colleagues as she tries to protect immigrant constituents from the Trump administration.

The conservative Democrat is sounding more like her progressive colleagues as she tries to protect immigrant constituents from the Trump administration. nysfocus.com/2025/11/19/s...

An Officer Bungled a Teen Rape Case. The Victim Was Abused Again. The investigator, who did not believe the teen, faced little punishment, illustrating the different ways that officers in New York State are disciplined…

Read the full story by @sammysussman.bsky.social. Video by @sanjanabhambhani.bsky.social.

This investigation was published in partnership with @nytimes.com:

An officer bungled a teen rape case. The victim was abused again.

The investigator, who did not believe the teen, faced little punishment, illustrating the different ways that officers in New York State are disciplined for misconduct.

Heating Assistance Still on Hold as Federal Government Reopens Federal HEAP funding will not reach New Yorkers until at least November 24, state officials say.

The federal government promised to release $3.7 billion for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program by the end of November.

If New York receives its share of the funds by then, it will open program applications next week.

nysfocus.com/2025/11/15/t...

my lil' story on public media in NY hits the big screen 😮 nysfocus.com/2025/07/30/p...

I’ll be on Radio Catskill’s The Local Edition around 6 pm this evening talking about the delays to HEAP. Tune in: wjffradio.org

Read our story: nysfocus.com/2025/07/30/p...

Our reporting on federal cuts to public media was featured on @lastweektonight.com with John Oliver!

Because of the congressional cuts, New York public media will lose at least $57 million. 27 media organizations in New York, including 18 public radio and TV stations, count on this funding.

Without our reporting, there's a decent chance this lifesaving program never gets implemented. For people waiting for organs, the absence of this journalism could have been a death sentence.

Support us today and your donation will be tripled! nysfoc.us/donate

Screenshot from an email from nysfocus next to a headshot of their reporter Sam Mellins reads: Four Years of Tracking a Bill Leads to a Life-Saving Program Dear reader, My name is Sam Mellins and I’m a senior reporter at New York Focus. Today I wanted to tell you about a story our newsroom has been covering for nearly four years — and how it led to a program that may save hundreds of lives.

Hey! You! Fire up your credit card and become a monthly sustainer for @nysfocus.bsky.social
👍👍👍

Great news media - not the usual propaganda from the msm - is very important!
👍👍👍

Heating Assistance Still on Hold as Federal Government Reopens Federal HEAP funding will not reach New Yorkers until at least November 24, state officials say.

Update: The federal government promised to release $3.7 billion for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program by the end of November.

If New York receives its share of the funds by then, it will open program applications next week.
nysfocus.com/2025/11/15/t...

Heating Assistance Still on Hold as Federal Government Reopens Federal HEAP funding will not reach New Yorkers until at least November 24, state officials say.

LIHEAP update! Feds promise to send states $3.7 billion by the end of this week, matching last year’s funding levels. If that comes through, NY promises to open applications next week.

So no HEAP for Thanksgiving, but relief is in sight. nysfocus.com/2025/11/15/t...

How is local law enforcement in New York working with ICE?

We're able to investigate stories like these thanks to reader support. From now until the end of the year, your donation will be tripled. Donate today: nysfoc.us/donate

Judge Says Feds Illegally Ended Protections for Abused Immigrant Youth The ruling allows young immigrants who have suffered abuse and neglect to apply for protections from deportation — at least for now.

A federal judge ordered the Trump administration on Wednesday to resume reviewing protection requests from young immigrants who suffered abuse or neglect, finding it violated federal law when it abruptly stopped doing so earlier this year.
nysfocus.com/2025/11/20/t...

What Can Mayor-Elect Mamdani Do if Trump Sends National Guards to NYC? State officials and local activists may be more influential, but the mayor still has a role to play.

Last month, Trump insinuated that he’d send troops to “clean up” the country’s biggest city if Mamdani won the election.

“Donald Trump, since I know you’re watching, I have four words for you: Turn the volume up,” Mamdani said.
nysfocus.com/2025/11/05/d...

What Can Mayor-Elect Mamdani Do if Trump Sends National Guards to NYC? State officials and local activists may be more influential, but the mayor still has a role to play.

If President Donald Trump makes good on his threats, Zohran Mamdani may become the first New York City mayor forced to navigate an uninvited federal deployment of the National Guard.

What can he do as mayor?
nysfocus.com/2025/11/05/d...

From now until the end of the year, your donation will be TRIPLED. Your support means we can keep covering stories that matter the most to New Yorkers across the state, like access to child care.

Donate today: nysfoc.us/donate

What Can Mayor-Elect Mamdani Do if Trump Sends National Guards to NYC? State officials and local activists may be more influential, but the mayor still has a role to play.

Last month, Trump insinuated that he’d send troops to “clean up” the country’s biggest city if Mamdani won the election.

“Donald Trump, since I know you’re watching, I have four words for you: Turn the volume up,” Mamdani said.
nysfocus.com/2025/11/05/d...

What Can Mayor-Elect Mamdani Do if Trump Sends National Guards to NYC? State officials and local activists may be more influential, but the mayor still has a role to play.

If President Donald Trump makes good on his threats, Zohran Mamdani may become the first New York City mayor forced to navigate an uninvited federal deployment of the National Guard.

What can he do as mayor?
nysfocus.com/2025/11/05/d...

Judge Says Feds Illegally Ended Protections for Abused Immigrant Youth The ruling allows young immigrants who have suffered abuse and neglect to apply for protections from deportation — at least for now.

NEW: A federal judge ordered the Trump administration to resume reviewing protection requests from young immigrants who suffered abuse or neglect, finding it violated federal law when it abruptly stopped doing so earlier this year.

nysfocus.com/2025/11/20/t...

Judge Says Feds Illegally Ended Protections for Abused Immigrant Youth The ruling allows young immigrants who have suffered abuse and neglect to apply for protections from deportation — at least for now.

NEW: A federal judge ordered the Trump administration on Wednesday to resume reviewing protection requests from young immigrants who suffered abuse or neglect, finding it violated federal law when it abruptly stopped doing so earlier this year.
nysfocus.com/2025/11/20/t...

It’s Not Just Mamdani: Democrats, Progressives Rack Up Victories… Working Families Party–backed candidates flipped county legislatures, won big-city mayoralties, and secured an Assembly seat in Elise Stefanik’s backyard.

Working Families Party–backed candidates flipped county legislatures, won big-city mayoralties, and secured an Assembly seat in Elise Stefanik’s backyard.
nysfocus.com/2025/11/06/n...

'Blindsided' Counties Struggle to Implement Trump's SNAP Work Rules Hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers could lose their food benefits due to new SNAP work requirements, after the Trump administration phased them in…

Hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers could lose their food benefits due to new SNAP work requirements, after the Trump administration phased them in months earlier than expected.
nysfocus.com/2025/11/10/t...

Prison Agency Seeks to Dramatically Narrow Solitary Confinement Law Prison officials are using a novel legal reading to argue that the HALT Solitary Confinement Act doesn’t apply to units where most people are incarcerated.

Prison officials are using a novel legal reading to argue that the HALT Solitary Confinement Act doesn’t apply to units where most people are incarcerated.
nysfocus.com/2025/11/13/n...

Heating Assistance Still on Hold as Federal Government Reopens Federal HEAP funding will not reach New Yorkers until at least November 24, state officials say.

Federal HEAP funding will not reach New Yorkers until at least November 24, state officials say.
nysfocus.com/2025/11/15/t...