American Southwest

Arpaio

Immigrants in Arizona are campaigning to oust a controversial sheriff

Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio has earned friends and foes nationwide for his tough stance on illegal immigration. Now, immigrants and their allies in several US states are mobilizing to get him out of office.

Immigrants in Arizona are campaigning to oust a controversial sheriff
Two boys on a bus

A Sunday visit to a privately operated US immigration detention center

A Sunday visit to a privately operated US immigration detention center
Man standing in front of ranch sign and American flag

This rancher in Arizona doesn’t necessarily want a wall — but he does want more done along the border

This rancher in Arizona doesn’t necessarily want a wall — but he does want more done along the border
Grand Canyon, from Powell Point on the South Rim

Some US national parks are feeling pressure from developers

Some US national parks are feeling pressure from developers
Santana

From Texas, first-generation students share their journeys to college

From Texas, first-generation students share their journeys to college
LaTanya Dickson's family has to travel 20 miles to get clean water, which they store in jugs under the kitchen table of their hogan on the Navajo Nation in northern Arizona.

An NGO focused on water poverty turns its attention from Africa back to the US

A call from a potential donor to an international NGO working on access to clean water proved a turning point for both the group and a fight in the US.

An NGO focused on water poverty turns its attention from Africa back to the US
Oregon dry lakebedEmigrant Lake near Ashland, Oregon in October 2014. Current drought conditions have caused the lake to fall to less than 10 percent of its capacity.

The worst droughts in 1,000 years may be on the horizon for the American West

Since 2011, California has been in the grip of one of the worst droughts in recent history. It's shrinking water reserves, intensifying wildfires and, so far, costing farmers billions of dollars in agricultural losses. But all of that may be just a preview of what’s to come later this century.

The worst droughts in 1,000 years may be on the horizon for the American West
Carlos Garcia, an immigration attorney in McAllen, Texas, volunteers his time once a week to help newly arrived migrants understand the legal immigration system they're about to enter.

Texas volunteers help Central American migrants during their first hours of freedom on US soil

Some migrant families with young children detained shortly after arriving from Central America are sent to live with relatives in the US as they await their date in court. That transition — suddenly being released — can be frightening and overwhelming. But there is one effort in McAllen, Texas, to help these migrants during their first few minutes on US soil.

Texas volunteers help Central American migrants during their first hours of freedom on US soil
Residents along the border in Texas' Rio Grande Valley express their sentiments on properties up and down the Rio Grande River.

For some Texans on the border, more walls and patrols won't solve the immigration crisis

The 11 candidates at CNN's Republican debate on Wednesday clashed over immigration and the issue of building a wall on the US-Mexico border. But a year ago, we spoke to some people living closest to the border who say it's time to consider options outside of longer fences and increased patrols.

For some Texans on the border, more walls and patrols won't solve the immigration crisis
Las Vegas workers picketing The Cosmopolitan hotel in Las Vegas, Jan. 31, 2014. Thousands, from The Cosmo and other union hotels, have regularly been picketing demanding better compensation and benefits.

Las Vegas maids are taking on The Strip's hottest hotel

Nevada's unemployment rate peaked during the Great Recession at 14 percent. A lot of people looking for work were immigrants: the maids, line cooks, and blackjack dealers who keep the Nevada tourism industry afloat. Now with the Nevada economy picking up, many of those workers want more job security and better pay. They want to be in a union. But it’s not coming easy for some.

Las Vegas maids are taking on The Strip's hottest hotel
Nico Vidal, manager at the new Las Vegas Max's, a well-known Philippine chain that's opening new locations in the US and Canada. Vidal is holding a plate of Pinatuyong Pork Adobo.

Why is it so hard to find a good Filipino restaurant?

It's tough to find a Philippine restaurant in the US, and most likely you've never been to one. But maybe some day soon, you'll get the chance.

Why is it so hard to find a good Filipino restaurant?

Rebuilding the American Southwest

Rebuilding the American Southwest
The World

BirdNote® Aplomado Falcon – Species Recovery in the Works

The remarkable story of bird restoration in South Texas.

BirdNote® Aplomado Falcon – Species Recovery in the Works
The Cienega de Santa Clara wetland, in Sonora province in northwestern Mexico, is fed by runoff from U.S. farms irrigated with water from the Colorado River.

At the end of the Colorado, a new rift opens over the river's last drops

A plan by the U.S. to reuse polluted Colorado River water that now flows across the Border into Mexico is putting one of the region's last wildlife refuges, and a number of Mexican farms, at risk.

At the end of the Colorado, a new rift opens over the river's last drops
The World

Desertscapes

Desertscapes