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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Ongoing sanitation concerns at Tacoma ICE facility have been ignored, says UW report
A recent UW report raises questions about adequate janitorial services at Tacoma’s immigration detention center. The report includes internal emails among ICE staff, noting concerns about cleanliness at the facility.
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ICE detainees in Tacoma reportedly on day three of hunger strike
Detainees at Tacoma’s immigration facility are reportedly on day three of a hunger strike. And a spokesperson for the ICE facility confirms that chemical agents were used Wednesday in response to a disruption there.
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Mayor pushes for more culturally sensitive response to immigrant deaths
An executive order from Seattle’s mayor aims to improve city resources during an unexpected death in immigrant communities.
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Can you afford to be on a jury for $10 a day? Not everyone can
New legislation is aiming to increase jury diversity in the state's courts. That could mean people who participate in programs like WIC could make $125 for every day they serve.
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WA could expand resources for solving cold cases with Indigenous victims
The Washington State Patrol’s list of missing Native American people includes 136 names of men, women, and teenagers.
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Seattle's civil rights laws don't protect against caste discrimination — but they soon could
In the Seattle area’s South Asian Community there is a growing concern of discrimination based on a person’s caste. City councilmember Kshama Sawant aims to expand the city’s civil rights measures to address this.
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Surprise health inspections remain legal, for now, at ICE detention center in Tacoma
The state of Washington could still do an unannounced health inspections at the NW ICE Detention Center in Tacoma. That’s despite a recent lawsuit filed by GEO Group, which runs the facility, trying to stop that from happening.