Hispanic Heritage Month: New York Focus Reporter Isabelle Taft on Latino Voices and Accountability

For Hispanic Heritage Month, Radio Catskill speaks with Isabelle Taft, immigration reporter for New York Focus, about her work covering the intersection of immigration, state policy, and the human stories shaping communities across New York.

At New York Focus, Taft investigates how state and local governments respond to shifting federal immigration policies — from county jails holding ICE detainees to state-funded programs aimed at resettling new arrivals. Her reporting reveals how these policies affect not only immigrants but the entire social and economic fabric of New York.

“People think of immigration as a federal issue,” Taft says, “but what local sheriffs, mayors, and state officials do has a huge impact on whether New York lives up to its values.”

Taft also discusses the challenges of connecting with detained or fearful sources and the importance of amplifying their voices. “I try to make sure I’m hearing from people who are directly impacted, not just officials,” she explains.

As New York continues to define its identity as a state of opportunity and refuge, Taft’s work with New York Focus highlights why honest, local reporting on immigration remains vital to understanding who we are.