Angilee Shah

Angilee Shah is a journalist who covers international news and diverse communities across the US.

I'm formerly a senior editor for Global Nation, PRI's The World's coverage of immigration in the US. I started at PRI as the social media manager, helping integrate engagement into our editorial process. I've spent most of my career writing long pieces (for magazines) and short posts (on Twitter) about politics and culture. I've reported from across Asia, including China, Thailand, Indonesia and Sri Lanka, and on diverse cultures across the US, from Southern California to Minneapolis, where I am currently based.

In the world of longer reads, I am the co-editor of Chinese Characters (UC Press, 2012) and seven years as a consulting editor to the Journal of Asian Studies.

Family or four, two girls, man and woman sit together on boardwalk at sunset

‘I lost trust in the system,’ says US citizen now unable to reunite with his Yemeni family

Abdo Elfgeeh held on to hope that they would reunite though war split them apart. The Supreme Court’s decision Tuesday changed his mind.

‘I lost trust in the system,’ says US citizen now unable to reunite with his Yemeni family
Newly arriving Jewish refugee from the Nazi Holocaust wave from the ship "S.S. Awarea" as it pulls into Haifa port on April 6, 1948.

Deporting asylum-seekers without giving them a chance to make their case would violate US and international laws

Deporting asylum-seekers without giving them a chance to make their case would violate US and international laws
Sign in front of center

Why the Trump administration is asking the courts to remove safeguards for detaining migrant children

Why the Trump administration is asking the courts to remove safeguards for detaining migrant children
A mother is seen holding her child.

Trump’s new order on families at the border raises even more questions about what happens next for child migrants

Trump’s new order on families at the border raises even more questions about what happens next for child migrants
A woman dresses a girl at a shelter, surrounded by luggage and clothes

Immigration judges say Sessions’ decision makes it harder for people facing ‘life and death’ to win asylum in US

Immigration judges say Sessions’ decision makes it harder for people facing ‘life and death’ to win asylum in US
Man at podium with Department of Justice insignia behind him

President Obama created DACA. Why won't courts let President Trump end it?

A federal court ruling gives the government 90 days to explain why it changed the immigration policy — or to begin accepting new DACA applicants.

President Obama created DACA. Why won't courts let President Trump end it?
School project of child's hand prints with poem, "When I'm grown and far away, these little hands with you will stay"

As Trump ends Obama-era protections for Salvadorans, a family in Minnesota has few good options to stay together

Since 2014, some Central American youth were given temporary permission to join their parents in the US. The government acknowledged the danger they were in. But now, the Trump administration has canceled the programs that brought them. Meet one family, who waited 15 years to reunite, but whose time is almost up.

As Trump ends Obama-era protections for Salvadorans, a family in Minnesota has few good options to stay together
Two men shaking hands in front of flags

Guatemala joins the US in recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, while Pope Francis calls for a negotiated solution

Guatemala is one of nine countries that voted against a resolution in the United Nations to condemn the US policy change; 128 countries disagree with the action.

Guatemala joins the US in recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, while Pope Francis calls for a negotiated solution
screenshots of two advertisements of Facebook posts by John Curtis

Utah congressional candidate says Facebook ad to 'build the wall' was made in error

The campaign for John Curtis says the mistake is a chance for dialogue. But one DACA recipient isn't so sure.

Utah congressional candidate says Facebook ad to 'build the wall' was made in error
Man holding up ID card for medical school

DACA recipients won’t go back into the shadows quietly

Julio Ramos just started medical school, but unless Congress passes laws to protect undocumented immigrants brought to the US as children, it’s unclear if he can finish his training. Or pay back the student loans he’s already taken out.

DACA recipients won’t go back into the shadows quietly
Hundreds of people are gathered in a room. Some are seated at tables and have water bottles, some pillow or blankets with them. A large screen is set up to broadcast news about Tropical Storm Harvey.

A looming immigration law is hurting Houston’s ability to help undocumented residents in wake of Harvey

What's happening in Texas is part of a larger national debate about how local and state law enforcement policies can affect public safety.

A looming immigration law is hurting Houston’s ability to help undocumented residents in wake of Harvey
Man sitting on bench in front of sweets shop, looking off camera

Immigration limbo is a ‘tug of emotions.’ It’s also a mental health issue.

With millions of lives in immigration limbo, the long-term effects of uncertainty are beginning to worry mental health experts.

Immigration limbo is a ‘tug of emotions.’ It’s also a mental health issue.
illustration of people being stamped by immigration related words

Their lives are changing because of Trump’s immigration policies. Here’s how.

We're following the stories of individuals as they navigate the policy and ideological shifts happening during the Donald Trump administration. From an undocumented immigrant to a Nobel Prize winner, here's how immigration affects people.

Their lives are changing because of Trump’s immigration policies. Here’s how.
Sign box at border with button to press for help

President Trump, do you plan to prosecute those who give aid or shelter to undocumented immigrants?

Attorney General Jeff Sessions says that he is requiring federal prosecutors to consider cases involving "the transportation or harboring of aliens." But what does that actually mean?

President Trump, do you plan to prosecute those who give aid or shelter to undocumented immigrants?
Eight men behind podium with microphones

President Trump, is immigration reform on your legislative agenda?

We know that health insurance and tax reform are on top of the legislative list. But what about immigration reform?

President Trump, is immigration reform on your legislative agenda?