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 May 27, 2026 at 6:13 PM

Immigration
A congressman visited Alligator Alcatraz to see for himself if it’s closing down
May 26, 2026 at 5:00 PM

Immigration
State planning to wind down and close Alligator Alcatraz in coming weeks
May 13, 2026 at 1:16 PM

Immigration
DeSantis and Trump administrations discuss closing Alligator Alcatraz, report says
Updated May 7, 2026 at 2:24 PM
Immigration
‘Shut it down’: May Day protesters rally outside Alligator Alcatraz
Updated May 5, 2026 at 9:45 AM

Immigration
A father is freed after 8 months in detention and an American family reunites
Updated April 30, 2026 at 9:53 AM
Immigration
Florida doesn’t want to pay $180k for court-ordered phones at Alligator Alcatraz
Updated April 24, 2026 at 3:09 PM
Immigration
Wife of detained immigrant joins lawmakers in D.C. to push for immigration reform
Updated April 23, 2026 at 3:06 PM
Immigration
Judge who ordered Alligator Alcatraz shut down overstepped, appeals court rules
Updated April 22, 2026 at 9:22 AM
Florida Politics
Beatings and pepper bombs: Conditions worsen at Alligator Alcatraz, detainees say
Updated April 20, 2026 at 10:54 AM
Immigration
State and feds say they are complying with Alligator Alcatraz lawyer-access order
April 13, 2026 at 4:46 PM