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/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/3melt3lr7sc2whttps://bsky.app/profile/franciagarciah.bsky.social/post/3me4lxznte226Catch me this afternoon speaking with a powerful panel on how local journalists can cover immigration enforcement operations. I'll be sharing more about how @blockclubchi.bsky.social covered Operation Midway Blitz. @freedom.press Register: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Jk1FJYPwSAeRDz_iwjpvWg#/registration [contains quote post or other embedded content]05 Feb 2026 14:28 +0000at://did:plc:6bwou5dfaeo7olmn7pjcg3qc/app.bsky.feed.post/3me4lxznte226https://bsky.app/profile/franciagarciah.bsky.social/post/3mb7umxakbc2lWe've been quietly at work, taking a look back at how Operation Midway Blitz changed Chicago and what happened after hundreds of federal agents detained immigrants. Unlike what the feds claimed, over 60% of those arrested did not have criminal charges. READ: https://blockclubchicago.org/2025/12/30/chicago-under-siege-how-operation-midway-blitz-changed-our-city/30 Dec 2025 17:25 +0000at://did:plc:6bwou5dfaeo7olmn7pjcg3qc/app.bsky.feed.post/3mb7umxakbc2lhttps://bsky.app/profile/franciagarciah.bsky.social/post/3m73p4l2b2s2uA newly uncovered video shows the chamber's former director of community development & outreach thanking and encouraging immigration agents. After Block Club uncovered the video, the chamber said the employee was no longer employed there “effective immediately.” https://blockclubchicago.org/2025/12/03/little-village-chamber-leader-thanked-border-patrol-agents-as-they-arrested-neighbors-video-shows/03 Dec 2025 14:45 +0000at://did:plc:6bwou5dfaeo7olmn7pjcg3qc/app.bsky.feed.post/3m73p4l2b2s2uhttps://bsky.app/profile/franciagarciah.bsky.social/post/3m4vjxbm64c2o When ICE comes to their neighborhoods, residents in Los Angeles and Chicago know it’s time to act. “We’re talking about thousands of people that have been activated,” an organizer said. https://blockclubchicago.org/2025/11/05/from-chicago-to-la-neighborly-solidarity-fuels-resistance-to-ice/ with @lapublicpress.bsky.social05 Nov 2025 17:07 +0000at://did:plc:6bwou5dfaeo7olmn7pjcg3qc/app.bsky.feed.post/3m4vjxbm64c2o