These journalists share vital reporting with thousands of US immigrants – all by text and WhatsApp

Independent outlets are leaning on social media, chat and other nontraditional methods to fight disinformation

When Allan Marrero, an asylum seeker from the Cayman Islands, was released after five months in immigration detention, his family made sure to invite one journalist to his celebration: Eileen Grench, a reporter with the independent, non-profit news outlet Documented.

Grench had previously reported on Marrero, who was detained after interviewing with federal officials for a marriage-based green card. But beyond covering his detention struggles, she humanized him, emphasizing his and his husband's love story.