COLORLINES - Seth Freed Wessler

Seth Freed Wessler

Seth Freed Wessler

Investigative Reporter
New York, NY

Seth Freed Wessler is a reporter in New York who currently writes for Colorlines.com. Seth has reported from across the United States, Mexico and the Caribbean on immigration, the safety net, criminal justice, national security and the human fallout of the financial collapse.

Seth led a groundbreaking investigation that revealed the thousands of U.S. citizen children stuck in foster care whose parents have been detained or deported by federal immigration authorities. The investigation, for which Seth won a Hillman Prize and other honors, Along with Seth's series of follow-up stories, led to a direct response from the federal government, as well as the passage of state-level legislation. Seth worked until 2012 as a researcher for the Applied Research Center, where he authored research reports on racial inequality and the financial collapse, segregation in the restaurant industry and the corrosive effects of immigration policies on child welfare systems. Seth often discusses his reporting in national broadcast, and his stories and investigations for Colorlines have been cited by outlets including the Associated Press, the New York Times, The Los Angeles Times and NPR. He has produced stories for GOOD Magazine, the Texas Observer, NPR’s LatinoUSA, The Huffington Post, The Root and other outlets. In addition to the Hillman Prize, Seth was a finalist for a Casey Medal and has won several Ippies Awards. He was the recipient of a reporting fellowship from USC Annenberg's Institute for Justice and Journalism.

Check out Seth's media appearances here.

Seth tweets at @sethfw.

It's a Wrap -- Congress Lets Our Only Real Jobs Program Die

It’s a Wrap — Congress Lets Our Only Real Jobs Program Die

by Seth Freed Wessler on September 30 2010, 4:10PM

As Congress takes off for midterm elections, it seals the fate of the one real jobs program we had.

Topics: Economy

Yet Another Jobs Idea Fails in the Senate

Yet Another Jobs Idea Fails in the Senate

by Seth Freed Wessler on September 29 2010, 9:30AM

Senate Democrats can’t even pass a relatively conservative bill to stop outsourcing.

Topics: Economy

San Diego Cops Rail Against Student Raid Pamphlets

San Diego Cops Rail Against Student Raid Pamphlets

by Seth Freed Wessler on September 28 2010, 2:45PM

Police say the cartoons make them look bad, while students fight deportations.

Topics:

Georgia Considers Ban on Undocumented College Students

Georgia Considers Ban on Undocumented College Students

by Seth Freed Wessler on September 28 2010, 10:46AM

Critics complain that unauthorized students hog resources. Even if they’re less than two-tenths of a percentage of the population.

Topics: Immigration, Schools & Youth

Explaining the Democrats' Payroll Tax Holiday

Explaining the Democrats’ Payroll Tax Holiday

by Seth Freed Wessler on September 27 2010, 2:44PM

It’ll probably create more votes than it will jobs, but it’s a start.

Topics: Economy

Obama: I Won't Make Immigration Fixes Without Congress

Obama: I Won’t Make Immigration Fixes Without Congress

by Seth Freed Wessler on September 24 2010, 5:21PM

The president could act, but he won’t, he tells Telemundo.

Topics: Immigration

Concerns Loom as Health Care Reform Goes Into Effect

Concerns Loom as Health Care Reform Goes Into Effect

by Seth Freed Wessler on September 23 2010, 2:47PM

Advocates worry that millions of society’s most vulnerable still left out in the cold.

Topics: Health

Feds Probing Bias Against Mosques in Local Zoning

Feds Probing Bias Against Mosques in Local Zoning

by Seth Freed Wessler on September 22 2010, 1:47PM

Justice Department has opened at least eight investigations into land-use discrimination since May 2010.

Topics: Mosque Mania

Mexico's Birthday Blues: U.S. Border Security

Mexico’s Birthday Blues: U.S. Border Security

by Seth Freed Wessler on September 17 2010, 9:00AM

This summer, President Obama deployed 1,200 National Guard to patrol the border.

Topics: Global Affairs

Who's Really to Blame for the Country's Growing Deficit?

Who’s Really to Blame for the Country’s Growing Deficit?

by Seth Freed Wessler on September 16 2010, 5:08PM

More people than ever rely on some form of government benefits.

Topics: Economy

Rep. Keith Ellison Talks About Beating the

Rep. Keith Ellison Talks About Beating the “Anti-Islam Industry”

by Seth Freed Wessler on September 16 2010, 10:17AM

ColorLines speaks with Congress’ first Muslim member. “I urge people to come together to build some understanding,” Ellison says.

Topics: Mosque Mania, Politics

ICE Policy Leaves Detainees With No Legal Rep, Study Finds

ICE Policy Leaves Detainees With No Legal Rep, Study Finds

by Seth Freed Wessler on September 15 2010, 11:26AM

Nearly 80 percent housed in places where they can’t get help in court.

Topics: Immigration

Tracking Attacks on Muslims This Summer

Tracking Attacks on Muslims This Summer

by Seth Freed Wessler on September 11 2010, 10:46AM

The sentiments President Obama responded to this week have already moved past rhetorical hate and into violence.

Topics: Mosque Mania

As Washington Returns, It's Back to Jobs vs. the Deficit

As Washington Returns, It’s Back to Jobs vs. the Deficit

by Seth Freed Wessler on September 9 2010, 10:41AM

Obama hopes the tax debate will paint a bright line between Republicans and Democrats this month.

Topics: Economy

The $50 Billion Dollar Question in Obama's New Jobs Proposal

The $50 Billion Dollar Question in Obama’s New Jobs Proposal

by Seth Freed Wessler on September 7 2010, 4:40PM

It’s unclear exactly how jobs will be created, what kind of jobs they’ll be and for who will get them.

Topics: Economy

Anti-Muslim Furor Spreads to College Reading Lists in Brooklyn

Anti-Muslim Furor Spreads to College Reading Lists in Brooklyn

by Seth Freed Wessler on September 3 2010, 11:55AM

Brooklyn College is up in arms over a book that was published when many thought the worst parts of post-9/11 furor was behind us. Think again.

Topics: Schools & Youth

Iraq Vets Return to a Country Not Ready to Truly Support Them

Iraq Vets Return to a Country Not Ready to Truly Support Them

by Seth Freed Wessler on September 1 2010, 10:23AM

The Iraq drawdown rearranges misguided priorities rather than creating new ones—like job creation, health care and family support.

Topics: Economy

Study: Immigration Drives Wages Up, Actually

Study: Immigration Drives Wages Up, Actually

by Seth Freed Wessler on August 31 2010, 4:15PM

The latest in a growing mound of evidence that immigration is a net economic gain.

Topics: Immigration

Obama Halts 17K Deportations, But Record Number Await Hearings

Obama Halts 17K Deportations, But Record Number Await Hearings

by Seth Freed Wessler on August 31 2010, 10:44AM

Nearly a quarter million immigrants still await a hearing in their deportation cases.

Topics: Immigration

Washington's Whitewashed Social Security Review

Washington’s Whitewashed Social Security Review

by Seth Freed Wessler on August 30 2010, 12:46PM

Alan Simpson’s bizarre tirade should be expected from a commission stacked with old, white men.

Topics: Economy