J. Dale Shoemaker

Journalist. Reporting on developers, labor & immigration @IPostNews. Holding the powerful to account without fear or favor.
[email protected]

[J. Dale Shoemaker @JDale_Shoemaker]

I’ve been covering ICE & immigration in the Buffalo/Western NY region for more than a year for Investigative Post, with the work appearing in the Niagara Gazette, WKBW and The Intercept.

If you or someone you know wants to send a tip or leak info, my Signal is jdaleshoemaker.87

[J. Dale Shoemaker @JDale_Shoemaker]

When Border Patrol agents left a nearly-blind Rohingya refugee at a locked coffee shop in February, they notified no one.

A new bill introduced yesterday would mandate ICE & BP agents call a migrant’s friends, family or lawyer before future releases:

https://t.co/Bdxh6LeXsj

[J. Dale Shoemaker @JDale_Shoemaker]

Should the bill pass (unlikely with Republicans in charge of Congress & Trump in WH):

DHS would have to work with each migrant to set a point of contact. Then, before they're released, DHS would call that contact at least 2x to ensure safe dropoff/pickup.
https://t.co/Bdxh6LeXsj

[J. Dale Shoemaker @JDale_Shoemaker]

Breaking: Rep. Tim Kennedy has introduced a bill that would mandate ICE & Border Patrol notify a migrant's 'point of contact' before releasing them from custody.

In the case of Nurul Amin Shah Alam, that never happened. He ended up missing & dead downtown
https://t.co/Bdxh6LeXsj

[J. Dale Shoemaker @JDale_Shoemaker]

This ends, for now, a broiling yearlong controversy. Brown had issued reforms, called out a key Wojtaszek deputy & Wojtaszek tried to get revenge (by joining the board) as a result.

New legislation in the state budget now blocks fmr execs from doing so.

https://t.co/yLHRscoyZA

[J. Dale Shoemaker @JDale_Shoemaker]

New: Former Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown has secured control of patronage operation Off-Track Betting.

He and his deputy mayors are in charge.

Meanwhile fmr CEO Henry Wojtaszek is banned from the board.

Why? An incident involving his wife may be to blame:

https://t.co/yLHRscoyZA

[J. Dale Shoemaker @JDale_Shoemaker]

https://t.co/fZ5kBWOByD

[J. Dale Shoemaker @JDale_Shoemaker]

⬇️ partially inspired by the 500MW data center proposal in Western NY backed by Apollo Global Management (Leon Black’s old firm)

[Raga Justin @ragajus]

Sources say NY lawmakers are now weighing a 1-year moratorium on data centers, viewed as more doable than the 3-year pause previously discussed

(No other state has approved a moratorium)

Industry concern is that other large-scale energy facilities are also targeted

[J. Dale Shoemaker @JDale_Shoemaker]

Read about Dolores' case here:
https://t.co/mdKPOn6XVs

[J. Dale Shoemaker @JDale_Shoemaker]

From my notebook: While reporting on the case of farm worker advocate Dolores Bustamante, I met & spoke to her briefly in the lobby of 250 Delaware, where ICE has offices.

A Uniland security guard promptly kicked me out.

Reporters aren't allowed in the building, she said.

[J. Dale Shoemaker @JDale_Shoemaker]

It took 300 pages of court filings and action from a federal judge, but Dolores is free - for now.

ICE remains at her back.

Full story here:

https://t.co/mdKPOn6XVs

[J. Dale Shoemaker @JDale_Shoemaker]

I encourage you all to read about Dolores Bustamante, a longtime apple picker & advocate for the rights of farm workers in upstate NY.

She was instrumental in banning state troopers from asking immigration status & helped pass the Green Light Law.

Last month, ICE arrested her.

[J. Dale Shoemaker @JDale_Shoemaker]

As is common now, it took a sympathetic federal judge to prevent Dolores from being flown to Mexico without warning. No time to pack, no time to say goodbye.

Her legal options may be running thin but for now she’s reunited with her daughters and grandkids
https://t.co/mdKPOn6XVs

[J. Dale Shoemaker @JDale_Shoemaker]

For 15 years, Dolores Bustamante has advocated for the rights of upstate NY farm workers. She’s helped abused women, run mutual aid programs and helped migrants win drivers licenses.

Then, last month in Buffalo, ICE arrested her.

She’s now free:

https://t.co/mdKPOn6XVs

[J. Dale Shoemaker @JDale_Shoemaker]

how else do you expect us to plan a wedding together??

[Kyle Chayka @chaykak]

do any young couples now have joint email accounts... that would be really funny

[J. Dale Shoemaker @JDale_Shoemaker]

Breaking: Dolores Bustamante has been freed.

A federal judge Weds. ordered her released from ICE detention. She was reunited with her family last night. She was arrested at a check-in apt. last month in Buffalo.

Family and friends rallied for her Tues:

https://t.co/mdKPOn6XVs

[J. Dale Shoemaker @JDale_Shoemaker]

I am in Rochester today to attend a hearing in the habeas case for Dolores Bustamante, a longtime farm worker & labor organizer in upstate NY who was arrested by ICE last month after attending a mandatory check-in appointment in Buffalo.

Supporters are rallying for her release.

[J. Dale Shoemaker @JDale_Shoemaker]

now we're talking!

[Kream @kream926]

@JDale_Shoemaker we should make a new law for this. if you decline FOIA RQs, you're guilty of money laundering

[J. Dale Shoemaker @JDale_Shoemaker]

@NYSLabor Shoaib has been on a building spree in the Falls in recent years. He's a darling of local politicos who have lavished him with nearly $1M in grants + tax breaks for opening his fast food restaurants.

His employees accuse him of wage theft. Example:
https://t.co/0hHbXLjtbA

[J. Dale Shoemaker @JDale_Shoemaker]

Via Facebook:

Outgoing Niagara Falls Asm. Angelo Morinello grants an official NY State Assembly Citation to Muhammad Shoaib for opening a new Subway.

Shoaib has been under a @NYSLabor investigation for nearly 18 months for allegedly withholding pay & tips from his workers.

[J. Dale Shoemaker @JDale_Shoemaker]

One of the most closely-held secrets in Buffalo?

How much the downtown parking ramps are worth.

Two mayors in row — Scanlon & Ryan — have rejected my FOIL requests for the appraisal.

Feel like I’m going insane. Wrote this to try to make sense of it all:
https://t.co/pz3LvRoQDd

[J. Dale Shoemaker @JDale_Shoemaker]

Dozens - at least 60 - are gathered here outside the federal courthouse.

“Free Dolores, free them all” the crowd is chanting as drivers honk.

Read a primer on Dolores’ life & arrest here:

https://t.co/ad40O62REU

[J. Dale Shoemaker @JDale_Shoemaker]

I am in Rochester today to attend a hearing in the habeas case for Dolores Bustamante, a longtime farm worker & labor organizer in upstate NY who was arrested by ICE last month after attending a mandatory check-in appointment in Buffalo.

Supporters are rallying for her release.