I’ve covered a lot of court cases in my career, from the US Supreme Court to local criminal courts, but I had never covered immigration court before reporting our story about Christians going to immigration court as observers in Los Angeles. Following the clergy as they learned where to go and what to do taught me the same things, and clearly it’s a privilege that in my own life I have not had to be present at immigration hearings before.
I enjoy that reporting has taught me so many processes like this. I’ve learned how to cover State of the Union addresses at the US Capitol, how to navigate the confusing halls of the United Nations in New York, and how to go to an art auction at Sotheby’s (it’s open to the public!). One time I learned how to find a warehouse where the government stored confiscated ancient artifacts—a government worker walked me through that information, so I wasn’t engaging in any extralegal Jason Bourne schemes. Another time in reporting I learned how to post cash bail at a now-defunct jail in the Bronx that was on a floating barge. That’s one skill I hope I don’t have to use again in my life.
