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Avatar photo

Author Archives: Kristian Hernández

Kristian Hernández is a senior reporter based in Fort Worth, Texas. Hernández is an award-winning journalist and first generation Mexican-American with more than a decade of experience covering immigration and criminal justice. Before joining the Center, he was the Texas correspondent for Stateline and an investigative reporter for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Hernandez has a bachelor’s degree in multimedia journalism from the University of Texas at El Paso and a masters in investigative journalism from American University.

khernandez@publicintegrity.org
  • x
Posted inImmigration

Reporting on missing migrant children 

Avatar photo by Kristian Hernández April 2, 2024April 2, 2024

I started reporting on missing migrant children four years ago, almost by accident. I was trekking up a steep muddy road in the northern highlands of Guatemala, looking for the mother of a 16-year-old who drowned in the Rio Grande, when a man outside a small chapel greeted my fixer and me. The man waved […]

All three women are wearing dressy outfits and standing together, smiling
Posted inInside Public Integrity

Former Public Integrity newsroom leader lifted up ‘forgotten voices’

Avatar photoAvatar photo by Kristian Hernández and Mc Nelly Torres March 19, 2024June 17, 2024
Several missing migrant children posters are displayed across a table.
Posted inImmigration

When migrant children disappear, many cases remain unsolved

Avatar photoKaren Rodriguez wears glasses, has long brown hair and wears a plaid red shirt. by Kristian Hernández and Karen Rodriguez February 23, 2024February 26, 2024
A sign for Culpeper, Virginia, is displayed on a road.
Posted inImmigration

Why are kids from Guatemala coming to Culpeper?

Avatar photo by Kristian Hernández February 23, 2024February 23, 2024
"Vector illustration of the U.S. Census. A hand, as Uncle Sam, has a clipboard and is counting the man unique cultural faces of America."
Posted inWho Counts?

More states are pushing for race and ethnicity data equity

Avatar photo by Kristian Hernández January 12, 2024January 12, 2024
A still from the movie 'Sound of Freedom' shows a man kneeling and staring into the eyes of a young boy.
Posted inImmigration

How (and why) the GOP and a popular film are misleading you about migrant kids

Avatar photo by Kristian Hernández December 11, 2023December 10, 2023
Posted inWatchdog newsletter

Time for young migrants to ‘take the mic’ in U.S. immigration debate

Avatar photo by Kristian Hernández September 29, 2023September 28, 2023
Posted inImmigration

Es hora que jóvenes migrantes “tomen el micrófono” en debate sobre inmigración EEUU

Avatar photo by Kristian Hernández September 29, 2023October 3, 2023
Posted inImmigration

How outdated visa policies drive illegal immigration

Avatar photo by Kristian Hernández June 9, 2023June 9, 2023
A child looks out of the window of a bus, in the reflection of the window you can see two American flags.
Posted inImmigration

How U.S. policy drives child migrants into dangerous jobs

Avatar photo by Kristian Hernández March 31, 2023March 31, 2023
Marcelino Ramos, a 54 year old man, stands in front of a banner that has flags behind it and photos of deported veterans on the front. He is wearing a black tshirt and black pants.
Posted inImmigration

White House initiative leaves deported veterans in limbo

Avatar photo by Kristian Hernández February 3, 2023February 2, 2023
A woman wearing an orange face masks holds her hand over her heart as she holds a green vinyl banner with other demonstrators that says Immigrants are #HereToStay. Other demonstrators are pictured behind them along with Washington, D.C., buildings.
Posted inWho Counts?

Cities want noncitizens to vote on local matters. GOP sees a target

Avatar photo by Kristian Hernández November 22, 2022November 22, 2022
Posted inElections

Anti-immigrant rhetoric spiked in this election. Here’s why it’s dangerous.

Avatar photo by Kristian Hernández November 4, 2022November 1, 2022
A school bus drives past the Travis Elementary school with the Texas flag in the background.
Posted inEducation

Teacher shortage pushes schools to 4-day schedule

Avatar photo by Kristian Hernández September 2, 2022August 31, 2022
Posted inCopy, Paste, Legislate

Puppies, phones and porn: How ‘model legislation’ affects consumers’ lives

Avatar photo by Pratheek Rebala and Kristian Hernández November 20, 2019January 28, 2022
Posted inDemocracy

9 things to know about Deval Patrick

Avatar photo by Dave Levinthal and Kristian Hernández November 14, 2019February 12, 2020
Posted inImmigration

Fallan en traer de vuelta a los muertos

Avatar photo by Kristian Hernández November 1, 2019January 28, 2022
Posted inImmigration

Failing to bring back the dead

Avatar photo by Kristian Hernández November 1, 2019January 28, 2022
Posted inCopy, Paste, Legislate

Adoption centers: the latest battleground for religious freedom

Avatar photo by Pratheek Rebala, Nathaniel Cary, Mike Reicher and Kristian Hernández June 10, 2019January 28, 2022
Posted inState Politics

How cryptocurrency is sneaking into state elections

Avatar photo by Kristian Hernández October 26, 2018January 28, 2022
Posted inLocal Voters, Distant Donors, State Politics

What is bitcoin?

Avatar photo by Kristian Hernández October 26, 2018January 28, 2022
Posted inState Politics

An uncertain future for America’s wind energy capital

Avatar photo by Kristian Hernández October 8, 2018January 28, 2022
Posted inState Politics

Michigan lawmakers go public with their finances in effort to boost state integrity

Avatar photo by Kristian Hernández July 12, 2018January 28, 2022
Posted inState Politics

Michigan lawmakers voted on bills even after admitting conflicts of interest

Avatar photo by Kristian Hernández April 25, 2018January 28, 2022
Posted inState Politics

Women will hold record numbers of elected offices in 2019. See where they made the biggest gains

Avatar photo by Chris Zubak-Skees and Kristian Hernández March 6, 2018January 28, 2022
Posted inState Politics

It’s a steep hill to climb for women running for state office

Avatar photo by Kristian Hernández March 6, 2018January 28, 2022
Posted inState Politics

Idaho lawmakers kill bill requiring personal financial disclosures

Avatar photo by Kristian Hernández January 18, 2018January 28, 2022
Posted inState Politics

These are the only two states that don’t require lawmakers to disclose finances

Avatar photo by Kristian Hernández January 8, 2018January 28, 2022
Posted inState Politics

The unexpected jobs your state lawmakers have outside the office

Avatar photo by Kristian Hernández December 26, 2017January 28, 2022
Posted inState Politics

Surge of women run for office in first major races since Trump’s win

Avatar photo by Kristian Hernández November 6, 2017January 28, 2022

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