In Beardstown, the Cuban couple had spent the past year building a life they were proud of. Their arrival in the U.S. had followed a long and uncertain path: a northbound journey through Nicaragua, Honduras and Guatemala, followed by seven months in Monterrey, Mexico, as they waited for their appointment with Customs and Border Protection. […]
Juan Vassallo
Juan Vassallo covers agribusiness and the meat industry for Investigate Midwest.
Before joining Investigate Midwest, Vassallo conducted investigative reporting on public health and consumer protection, exposing issues such as fraudulent practices at a Brooklyn employment agency targeting undocumented migrants — a story that led to the agency's shutdown. His work also includes a comprehensive, 7-month investigation into the influence of patient advocacy groups on the approval of high-risk medical treatments.
He earned a Master of Science in Investigative Journalism from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism. Originally from Uruguay, he completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Minnesota.
