Elliot Spagat

Two elderly people wait for Christmas eve dinner at an elderly care home in Pozuelo de Alarcon, outskirts of Madrid on Dec. 24, 2020. Many of the elderly in the residence haven't celebrated Christmas eve with their relatives to prevent the spread of coronavirus (AP/Bernat Armangue)

December 25, 2020, 11:56 pm

Services move online, people stay home for a low-key, pandemic Christmas

No carols played in streets of Seoul, masses canceled in Beijing, no tourists in Bethlehem, taxi drivers starved for cash forced to work holiday in Sao Paulo

By Elliot Spagat and Frances D'Emilio

Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein speaks at a news conference at the Chabad of Poway synagogue, Sunday, April 28, 2019, in Poway, Calif. A man opened fire Saturday inside the synagogue near San Diego as worshippers celebrated the last day of a major Jewish holiday. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)

July 15, 2020, 5:27 am

Rabbi hurt in Poway synagogue shooting attack admits multimillion-dollar fraud

Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein likely to get probation in plea deal for participating in scam that disguised charitable contributions for personal gain

By Elliot Spagat

In this Sept. 5, 2017, file photo, a flag is waved outside the White House, in Washington. The Trump administration is extending a ban on green cards issued outside the United States until the end of 202 and adding many temporary work visas to the freeze, including those used heavily by technology companies and multinational corporations. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File)

June 23, 2020, 6:12 am

Trump administration extends visa ban to non-immigrants

Senior official says move will free up 525,000 jobs for Americans; step covers many temporary work visas, including those used by tech companies and multinational corporations

By Deb Riechmann and Elliot Spagat

Defendant John Earnest listens during testimony by witness Oscar Stewart during Earnest's preliminary hearing, September 19, 2019, in Superior Court in San Diego. (John Gibbins/The San Diego Union-Tribune via AP, Pool)

September 20, 2019, 11:05 pm

Judge orders trial in Poway synagogue shooting

John Earnest to be tried on murder and attempted murder charges for deadly attack on Chabad congregation; could face death penalty if convicted of hate crime

By Elliot Spagat

A woman and a child pause at a growing memorial across the street from the Chabad of Poway synagogue in Poway, California, following a deadly shooting there. April 29, 2019 (AP Photo/Greg Bull)

September 20, 2019, 12:30 am

Poway killer told 911 he was ‘defending our nation against the Jewish people’

California court hears recording of synagogue attacker’s call to emergency hotline operator after deadly shooting, says Jews ‘trying to destroy all white people’

By Elliot Spagat

Protesters hold signs during a demonstration outside of the San Francisco office of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on July 12, 2019 in San Francisco, California. Over 150 activists staged a demonstration outside of the ICE offices in San Francisco to demand that immigrant detention centers at the southern border be shut down. Protests are being held in cities across the country. ( Justin Sullivan/Getty Images/AFP)

July 13, 2019, 4:29 am

Trump says nationwide immigration arrests to begin Sunday

President says authorities will be ‘focused on criminals’ in upcoming raids expected to inflame heated debate on issue; concedes some families will be separated

By Elliot Spagat and Colleen Long

One of the residents of Iglesia Metodista "El Buen Pastor" migrant shelter watches the soccer match at a park near the shelter on June 09, 2019. (Paul Ratje / AFP)

July 4, 2019, 12:18 pm

Jarring images of ‘inhumane’ US border cells surface ahead of July 4

Jewish activists join nationwide protests against Trump policies amid mounting public outrage at revelations of squalid and overcrowded migrant detention centers

By Elliot Spagat

A San Diego county sheriff's deputy stands in front of the Poway Chabad Synagogue in Poway, California, April 28, 2019, after a shooting. (AP /Denis Poroy)

May 10, 2019, 6:41 pm

Gunman told 911 ‘I just shot up a synagogue’ after Poway attack

Unsealed federal affidavit details how the shooter killed Lori Gilbert-Kaye, fled after he failed to reload his rifle, called police to surrender

By JULIE WATSON and Elliot Spagat

John T. Earnest appears for his arraignment hearing on April 30, 2019, in San Diego. (Nelvin C. Cepeda/The San Diego Union-Tribune via AP, Pool)

May 9, 2019, 10:39 pm

Poway shooter told police the ‘Jewish people are destroying the white race’

Prosecutors add 109 hate crime charges in synagogue shooting, including murder of Lori Gilbert-Kaye, charge for attempted murder of 53; no decision yet on requesting death penalty

By JULIE WATSON and Elliot Spagat

John T. Earnest appears for his arraignment hearing on April 30, 2019, in San Diego facing charges of murder and attempted murder in the April 27 assault on the Chabad of Poway synagogue, which killed one woman and injured three people. (Nelvin C. Cepeda/San Diego Union-Tribune via AP, Pool)

May 1, 2019, 12:32 am

Prosecutors: When his gun jammed, Poway synagogue killer had 50 unfired bullets

John T. Earnest pleads not guilty to murdering Lori Kaye and attempted murder of 3 others; judge denies 19-year old bail, calling him an extreme threat to public safety

By Elliot Spagat and JULIE WATSON

Migrants run from tear gas launched by US agents on the Mexico-US border, November 25, 2018. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)

November 28, 2018, 5:29 am

Trump defends use of ‘very safe’ tear gas on migrants at Mexican-US border

US president dismisses claim of overkill, says agents were ‘rushed by some very tough people’; with no evidence, claims some women had stolen children to increase asylum chances

By Colleen Long and Elliot Spagat

In this June 22, 2018, file photo, a mother, left, and son, from Guatemala, hold hands during a news conference following their reunion in Linthicum, Maryland, after being reunited following their separation at the US border. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)

July 10, 2018, 10:06 am

Dozens of immigrant children in US set to reunite with parents

Following court deadline, 54 kids under the age of 5 will end isolation Tuesday — only half of those covered by the order

By Elliot Spagat

In this photo taken on January 4, 2017 US Border Patrol agents take Central American immigrants into custody near McAllen, Texas. (AFP PHOTO / GETTY / JOHN MOORE)

July 10, 2018, 2:07 am

US will reunite over 50 immigrant children, half the number ordered by court

Government says won’t meet the deadline for all the children for a variety of reasons, including that some of the parents have already been deported

By Elliot Spagat

Protesters carry signs and chant slogans in front of US Federal Courthouse in Los Angeles on June 26, 2018. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel)

June 27, 2018, 9:56 am

US judge orders separated migrant families reunited within 30 days

Dana Sabraw calls Trump administration policy at Mexico border ‘a chaotic circumstance of the government’s own making’

By Elliot Spagat, MICHAEL BALSAMO and Will Weissert

This undated photo provided by the US District Court shows Judge Gonzalo Curiel. (U.S. District Court via AP)

February 28, 2018, 9:24 am

Judge sides with Trump on challenge to Mexico border wall

Gonzalo Curiel, previously taunted by US president for Mexican heritage, rejects arguments by state of California and advocacy groups

By Elliot Spagat