Reporter covering Pilsen, Little Village, Back of the Yards for Block Club Chicago | Host of ¡Presente! | Hablo español | Mexicana Tips: Francia@blockclubchi.orghttps://bsky.app/profile/franciagarciah.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/franciagarciah.bsky.social/post/3mqab2dmvps2rReports of arrests and sightings of immigration agents in Chicago have increased in recent weeks, organizers said. Immigration agents are arresting noncitizens in their neighborhoods, at courthouses and at immigration check-ins, they said. https://blockclubchicago.org/2026/07/09/ice-arrests-are-on-the-rise-in-chicago-heres-what-immigrants-need-to-know/09 Jul 2026 18:25 +0000at://did:plc:6bwou5dfaeo7olmn7pjcg3qc/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqab2dmvps2rhttps://bsky.app/profile/franciagarciah.bsky.social/post/3mpcbre7ngk2gThe parking lot on the former Damen Silos site was built without authorization and in violation of city rules, city officials said Friday. Owner Michael Tadin Jr. failed to comply with zoning, stormwater management, landscape and other requirements. https://blockclubchicago.org/2026/06/26/damen-silos-owner-built-unauthorized-parking-lot-violating-city-code-city-says/27 Jun 2026 20:18 +0000at://did:plc:6bwou5dfaeo7olmn7pjcg3qc/app.bsky.feed.post/3mpcbre7ngk2ghttps://bsky.app/profile/franciagarciah.bsky.social/post/3mp24q3fsf22kThe paved lot is temporary and will be leased for 14 months to crews building a data center. The site was sold in 2022 to MAT Limited Partnership, whose owner, Michael Tadin Jr., also owns a controversial asphalt plant in McKinley Park. https://blockclubchicago.org/2026/06/24/damen-silos-site-is-now-a-parking-lot/24 Jun 2026 14:27 +0000at://did:plc:6bwou5dfaeo7olmn7pjcg3qc/app.bsky.feed.post/3mp24q3fsf22khttps://bsky.app/profile/franciagarciah.bsky.social/post/3mmxjzqqsv22fWearing a white suit and black shirt under his blue cap and gown, Ricardo Hernandez-Navarrete said — after months of hardship — he felt a sense of “victory.” The milestone celebration, a “once in a lifetime opportunity,” seemed unlikely just last week. t.co/bjdQ2mcR1p https://t.co/bjdQ2mcR1p29 May 2026 02:56 +0000at://did:plc:6bwou5dfaeo7olmn7pjcg3qc/app.bsky.feed.post/3mmxjzqqsv22fhttps://bsky.app/profile/franciagarciah.bsky.social/post/3mmwjfhjvfc2tHoracio Arroyo, 22, suffered major trauma to one side of his body and has been in the hospital for about five weeks after being struck by a car in Gage Park last month. His family is raising funds for his recovery. https://blockclubchicago.org/2026/05/28/cyclist-hit-by-driver-in-gage-park-faces-long-road-to-recovery-and-overwhelming-medical-debt/ @blockclubchi.bsky.social28 May 2026 17:12 +0000at://did:plc:6bwou5dfaeo7olmn7pjcg3qc/app.bsky.feed.post/3mmwjfhjvfc2thttps://bsky.app/profile/franciagarciah.bsky.social/post/3mmtpwp437k2aThree of four independent candidates in this key race for the Southwest Side filed signatures to be in the Nov. ballot, @jake-sheridan.bsky.social reports. This is a key race – about 66% of people in the district are Hispanic, per 2024 census data. https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/05/26/4th-district-independents-signatures-democratic-nominee/27 May 2026 14:31 +0000at://did:plc:6bwou5dfaeo7olmn7pjcg3qc/app.bsky.feed.post/3mmtpwp437k2ahttps://bsky.app/profile/franciagarciah.bsky.social/post/3mmrvhoqkdk2aAn update on Ricardo Hernández-Navarrete, a beloved soccer player and Mather High School student detained by ICE. He is coming home tonight, his family said. Just last week, his mother was released. https://blockclubchicago.org/2026/05/26/cps-student-detained-by-ice-for-months-is-coming-home/26 May 2026 21:05 +0000at://did:plc:6bwou5dfaeo7olmn7pjcg3qc/app.bsky.feed.post/3mmrvhoqkdk2ahttps://bsky.app/profile/franciagarciah.bsky.social/post/3mltg5rbroc2yWith monthly bike tours, cyclists are inviting Chicagoans to support street vendors, starting in Little Village at the end of this month. The effort started amid last fall's Operation Midway Blitz. "We’re gonna treat and support them like family," an organizer said. [contains quote post or other embedded content]14 May 2026 18:11 +0000at://did:plc:6bwou5dfaeo7olmn7pjcg3qc/app.bsky.feed.post/3mltg5rbroc2yhttps://bsky.app/profile/franciagarciah.bsky.social/post/3ml6zngutjs23Join me tonight to learn how Block Club reporters continue covering immigration as journalists face increasing threats to freedom of the press. [contains quote post or other embedded content]06 May 2026 15:34 +0000at://did:plc:6bwou5dfaeo7olmn7pjcg3qc/app.bsky.feed.post/3ml6zngutjs23https://bsky.app/profile/franciagarciah.bsky.social/post/3ml2wdylud22fCongratulations to the talented and relentless team at the Chicago Tribune for winning a Pulitzer for Local Reporting and being finalists for Public Service. Well-deserved recognition and a reminder that local journalism matters. https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/05/04/pulitzer-prize-chicago-tribune-wins/ [contains quote post or other embedded content]05 May 2026 00:25 +0000at://did:plc:6bwou5dfaeo7olmn7pjcg3qc/app.bsky.feed.post/3ml2wdylud22fhttps://bsky.app/profile/franciagarciah.bsky.social/post/3ml2dzfjj7s2nPress Freedom goes beyond one day. I'm honored to participate in a stellar panel discussing physical and legal threats to the press and share what it's like to cover immigration and ICE operations in Chicago. Register: www.classacthr73.org/event-6568604 @classacthr73.bsky.social [contains quote post or other embedded content]04 May 2026 18:56 +0000at://did:plc:6bwou5dfaeo7olmn7pjcg3qc/app.bsky.feed.post/3ml2dzfjj7s2nhttps://bsky.app/profile/franciagarciah.bsky.social/post/3mj5ihprclc2hFor weeks, I spoke to Chicago-area immigrants held in a Michigan detention center months after they were arrested without warrants ––– or ordered deported. Inside the center, the conditions are hard to bear, they said. https://blockclubchicago.org/2026/04/10/immigrants-wasting-away-at-for-profit-michigan-detention-center-months-after-ice-arrests/10 Apr 2026 14:04 +0000at://did:plc:6bwou5dfaeo7olmn7pjcg3qc/app.bsky.feed.post/3mj5ihprclc2hhttps://bsky.app/profile/franciagarciah.bsky.social/post/3mihzn4hwa22aA police watchdog is hosting a public hearing Thursday with the city’s top cop to discuss the department’s interactions with immigration agents — but he refused to participate if it featured legal, police reform and immigration experts, records show. https://blockclubchicago.org/2026/04/01/top-cop-refused-to-attend-hearing-on-whether-police-helped-ice-if-experts-joined-panel/02 Apr 2026 01:12 +0000at://did:plc:6bwou5dfaeo7olmn7pjcg3qc/app.bsky.feed.post/3mihzn4hwa22ahttps://bsky.app/profile/franciagarciah.bsky.social/post/3mhixllohic2m“Having walked through a building that has idolized a person as much as him and knowing these current allegations now is very upsetting, to say the least, and traumatizing for some,” said a graduate from Chavez Multicultural Academy. https://blockclubchicago.org/2026/03/20/a-betrayal-chicago-latinos-want-cesar-chavezs-name-removed-from-buildings/ @blockclubchi.bsky.social20 Mar 2026 16:43 +0000at://did:plc:6bwou5dfaeo7olmn7pjcg3qc/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhixllohic2mhttps://bsky.app/profile/franciagarciah.bsky.social/post/3mhbmuhryt225Only one name appears on the Democratic primary ballot for the 4th Congressional District: Patty García. Yet she could face a slew of challengers come the general election this November. I dove deep into what U.S. Rep. Jesus "Chuy" García's retirement means for this historically Latino district. [contains quote post or other embedded content]17 Mar 2026 18:43 +0000at://did:plc:6bwou5dfaeo7olmn7pjcg3qc/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhbmuhryt225https://bsky.app/profile/franciagarciah.bsky.social/post/3mg3lfvdozs2nOf the 32 people improperly arrested without warrants, 11 are believed to still be in detention, another 11 have left the country and 10 are believed to have been released under various conditions, @mollydevore.bsky.social reports. https://blockclubchicago.org/2026/02/27/more-than-30-warrantless-midway-blitz-arrests-violated-consent-decree-judge-rules/02 Mar 2026 15:35 +0000at://did:plc:6bwou5dfaeo7olmn7pjcg3qc/app.bsky.feed.post/3mg3lfvdozs2nhttps://bsky.app/profile/franciagarciah.bsky.social/post/3mfmicsfwdk26Federal officials detained a father of 3 for months, holding him away from his children, his job, and his dog, even weeks after telling a judge they planned to release him. His arrest violated a consent decree over arrests w/o a warrant, the feds acknowledged. https://blockclubchicago.org/2026/02/24/immigrant-father-of-3-reunites-with-family-after-being-unlawfully-arrested-during-midway-blitz/24 Feb 2026 15:30 +0000at://did:plc:6bwou5dfaeo7olmn7pjcg3qc/app.bsky.feed.post/3mfmicsfwdk26https://bsky.app/profile/franciagarciah.bsky.social/post/3mfa2b4fdtk2pWarlord star chef Trevor Fleming has been sharing sexual photos of women without consent and berating staffers for years, witnesses said. It was an open secret in the industry ––and it’s time for accountability, they said. Must read by@arielparrella.bsky.social https://blockclubchicago.org/2026/02/19/warlord-chefs-abuse-went-unchecked-for-years-women-and-ex-workers-say/19 Feb 2026 16:47 +0000at://did:plc:6bwou5dfaeo7olmn7pjcg3qc/app.bsky.feed.post/3mfa2b4fdtk2phttps://bsky.app/profile/franciagarciah.bsky.social/post/3mf5ffe57rs2gFar Southwest Side & Beverly neighbors, this one is for you. Subscribe: blockclubchicago.org/newsletters/ [contains quote post or other embedded content]18 Feb 2026 15:28 +0000at://did:plc:6bwou5dfaeo7olmn7pjcg3qc/app.bsky.feed.post/3mf5ffe57rs2ghttps://bsky.app/profile/franciagarciah.bsky.social/post/3mf5f63oyds2gAn immigration judge fast-tracked dozens of Somali asylum-seekers' cases Tuesday. Legal advocates and local officials said the Trump administration is using immigration courts to target asylum-seekers as part of its deportation efforts. https://blockclubchicago.org/2026/02/18/immigration-judge-fast-tracks-asylum-hearings-for-local-somali-asylum-seekers/18 Feb 2026 15:24 +0000at://did:plc:6bwou5dfaeo7olmn7pjcg3qc/app.bsky.feed.post/3mf5f63oyds2ghttps://bsky.app/profile/franciagarciah.bsky.social/post/3melt3lr7sc2wA Grammy-nominated mariachi with roots in Chicago returns to Pilsen on Sunday for a tribute concert for Vicente “Chente” Fernández. More on the band's history and its efforts to bring mariachi to bicultural audiences @blockclubchi.bsky.social https://blockclubchicago.org/2026/02/11/grammy-nominated-mariachi-herencia-de-mexico-returns-to-thalia-hall-sunday/11 Feb 2026 15:45 +0000at://did:plc:6bwou5dfaeo7olmn7pjcg3qc/app.bsky.feed.post/3melt3lr7sc2w