Churchill Ndonwie is an Esserman Investigative Fellow for McClatchy. He graduated with a M.S in Journalism, B.S in Health Information Management & Systems from Columbia Graduate School of Journalism, The Ohio State University, and he joined McClatchy in 2025. He has three years of experience in journalism.Before this role, he was an Ida B. Wells investigative intern with the New York Times, where he examined the hidden pipeline of undocumented workers into U.S. factories and the victimization those individuals experienced. He was also a Global Migrations Fellow at Columbia Journalism Investigations, where he worked with Reuters to investigate and reveal the smuggling routes through commercial and charter airlines used to facilitate illegal immigration to the U.S. Southern border from India and West Africa. Churchill spent almost decade in the health care field before becoming a journalist. He enjoys traveling, cooking and reading. He is curious about all things human.
LATEST FROM CHURCHILL NDONWIE
Immigration
Updated July 17, 2026 at 9:06 AM
Politics
Congressional candidates clash over donations tied to Alligator Alcatraz
July 14, 2026 at 3:30 AM
Politics
Alligator Alcatraz is no more. Tents, cars, signs disappear from airport site
Updated July 13, 2026 at 3:08 PM

Immigration
Alligator Alcatraz may be closed, but the legal fallout isn’t over
Updated July 11, 2026 at 3:25 PM
Immigration
‘Failure by every measure’: Advocates demand accountability for Alligator Alcatraz
Updated June 27, 2026 at 12:11 PM
Florida Politics
DeSantis says Alligator Alcatraz ‘fulfilled’ its role as he closes it after 1 year
Updated June 25, 2026 at 3:29 PM
Immigration
Brush fires prompt evacuation of Krome detention center for immigrants, ICE says
Updated June 22, 2026 at 6:04 PM

Immigration
Alligator Alcatraz remains open, Florida’s emergency director says
June 18, 2026 at 2:37 PM
Immigration
Is Alligator Alcatraz empty? ICE says detainees were moved due to hurricanes
June 17, 2026 at 4:47 PM
Immigration
‘I just need somebody to help’: What 911 calls reveal about Alligator Alcatraz
Updated June 11, 2026 at 10:17 AM

Florida Politics
How DeSantis signed away $1 billion for state-run immigrant detention centers
Updated June 6, 2026 at 10:40 AM
Florida Politics
Trump sends a message to man who won his freedom from Alligator Alcatraz
Updated June 3, 2026 at 10:56 AM