Gustavo Sagrero Álvarez
Race, Identity, and Immigration Reporter
About
Gustavo covers race, identity, and immigration in the Pacific Northwest. His reporting is focused on tribal sovereignty, how a diversity of communities leverage their power to effect change in and beyond their neighborhoods, and the impacts of immigration policy at the state level.
He arrived to KUOW in 2023, and previously wrote about northern Nevada's tribal efforts during mid-term elections, addressing the legacy of state-funded boarding schools and the impacts of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples' epidemic. He's also written about healthcare access for undocumented Idaho farmworkers during the pandemic and Juneteenth celebrations in Idaho.
Gustavo was born and raised in the sagebrush of Boise, Idaho. He spent many years trying to get into a career in journalism, juggling work, school, and community radio before settling into the restaurant industry for eight years. He was able to work in award-winning kitchens before the pandemic threw him back into journalism. In his off time he takes documentary photography, participates in the Purépecha community, and dreams of pit barbecuing and carnitas.
Location: Seattle
Languages: English, Spanish
Pronouns: he/him
Professional Affiliations: Founding Board Member, Voces
Stories
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King County saw the most street immigration arrests across WA in 2025
Immigration arrests in King County increased more than 300% from January to December last year. That’s according to federal records obtained by researchers at the University of Washington’s Center for Human Rights.
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Seattle bans new ICE detention centers for 1 year
The City of Seattle has passed an emergency, one-year ban on new ICE detention centers.
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King County bans immigration detention facilities, joining other Western Washington cities
Joining other local governments across Washington state, King County has issued an emergency moratorium on new detention facilities being built or expanded in unincorporated King County.
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As ICE looks to expand detention facilities, several Western Washington cities consider bans
City councils in Seattle, Burien, Renton, and Tukwila are considering temporary bans on issuing permits for detention facilities.
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ICE eyes new Tukwila office near hub for deportation flights
Tukwila is one location where Immigration and Customs Enforcement appears to be eyeing more office space, as the agency aims to boost staff nationwide.
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Seattle joins national protest following Minneapolis ICE shooting
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
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ICE stops Native American actress Elaine Miles in Redmond
Amid the increase of reports of ICE arrests in the cities surrounding Seattle over the past weeks, a member of a federally recognized tribe says she was also stopped and interrogated by apparent immigration officials.
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As reports of ICE emerge in Seattle suburbs, neighborhood watches take shape
Outside Seattle, the suburbs are often hubs for Latino and first-generation immigrant communities. Reports of ICE arrests in some of those smaller cities have been trending over the past weeks, although the official numbers are tough to pinpoint. Some suburban communities are responding to immigration enforcement in different ways.
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Issaquah on edge after ICE arrest outside preschool
A series of immigration arrests has shaken an Issaquah preschool community over the past week. The arrests have also had a ripple effect throughout the city’s education system.
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Immigration agencies accessed WA law enforcement license plate data, report finds
A new report from the University of Washington’s Center for Human Rights found that federal immigration enforcement has been mining license plate data from local law enforcement in Washington state.
