Immigrants Revitalized a Meatpacking Town. Trump’s Deportations Threaten Its Stability.

Beardstown, Illinois, shows how immigration crackdowns impact rural communities and the nation’s food supply.

Juan Vassallo, Investigate Midwest
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Health Care
October 9, 2025

When Language Becomes a Barrier to Health Care

Lack of interpreters and clinician bias creates unequal access for rural immigrants

Health Care
August 21, 2025

Band-Aid Care: When Keeping Rural People Healthy Requires Creative Solutions

Improvised networks of health care remain a lifeline for communities that formal systems have failed

Immigration
July 28, 2025

The Unseen Workers Behind Maryland’s Iconic Blue Crabs

The labor of immigrant women sustains a cherished cultural tradition

Health Care
July 7, 2025

Beyond Legal Status: Rethinking Immigration and Health in Rural America

For immigrants on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, documentation does not guarantee access to health care

Education
May 8, 2025

Beyond the Ivy League, International Students at Rural Colleges Are Being Detained by ICE

Students, teachers and staff work “day and night” to protect the rights of international students, often the lifeblood of rural college towns

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