The World from PRX

Marnette FederisMF

Marnette Federis

Marnette Federis is a former education editor with Global Nation, the previous immigration desk of The World. Based in San Jose, Calif, she writes, edits and produces stories about immigrant communities with a focus on higher education.Marnette was born in a rural town in the Philippines and moved to Los Angeles at 10 years old. After joining her high school and college student newspapers, she discovered a passion for journalism and never looked back.She has reported for news publications in Washington, D.C., Northern and Southern California. She also has reporting experience in China and the Philippines.Marnette holds a master's degree from the UC Berkeley School of Journalism. She loves living in California — where she can go snowboarding in the Sierra Nevadas one weekend and then ride the waves in Santa Cruz the next.
A students sits on the steps of Widener Library at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on Sept. 21, 2009.
Education
Universities scramble to help international students stay in US after new visa restrictions
DACA plaintiffs walk arm-in-arm down from the US Supreme Court after justices heard oral arguments in the consolidation of three cases before the court regarding the Trump administration’s bid to end the DACA program on Nov. 12, 2019.
Immigration
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals: A timeline
A graduating Masters student from the Columbia University stands on campus the day before his graduation ceremony, which is to be held online due to the outbreak of the coronavirus disease in New York City, on May 19, 2020.
Education
Foreign students face uncertainty as Trump administration mulls suspending training program
A student carries her bags in front of a sign for the University of Dayton
Global Nation Education
COVID-19 shakes up international student life — and university budgets
A close-up portrait of Jessica Esparza, 27, a DACA recipient and intensive care unit nurse at Central Washington Hospital in Wenatchee, Washington.
COVID-19
DACA health workers risk their lives to fight COVID-19 while they await SCOTUS ruling
Graduates of The City College of New York sit in their seats at their commencement ceremony in Manhattan on May 31, 2019.
Education
Biden, Sanders have free college plans. They might learn from other countries.
A woman stands in a classroom
Immigration
Early childhood education is critical, but limited. In Oregon, immigrant teachers could be the solution.
Workers wash and dry chopped lettuce at a Taylor Farms processing plant in Salinas, California on September 10, 2019. In recent years, the company has started incorporating automation in its facility.
Global Nation Education
How immigrant workers are preparing for automation in agriculture
Students walk on the Temple University Campus
Global Nation Education
Iranian students in US scramble as sanctions ratchet up tuition costs
A college campus
Global Nation Education
Visa rules are restricting the future of international students in the US
A high school graduation in Northern California
Immigration
A new generation of ‘un-DACAmented’ high school graduates fights hurdles to higher ed
Two students taking a picture with the Washington State governor
Global Nation Education
New Washington law on religious accommodations could serve as model for other states
Some people sit on top of a border barrier while a crowd gathers on the ground.
Immigration
Law students head to southern US border to help asylum-seekers
Supporters of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) hold signs during the Women's March rally in Las Vegas, Jan. 21, 2018.
How higher ed will be a battleground for immigration debates in 2019
A young man is standing in front of a studio microphone
Education
First DACA student pushed the boundaries of the prestigious Rhodes Scholarship
A man in welder's coveralls stands in a metal workshop.
Many immigrants have years of work experience. ‘Upskilling’ programs are helping them use that knowledge.
Young woman sits at bench, flipping through year book, while another young woman stands next to her, leaning over to look
Brain Gain
When war keeps students from starting high school on time, should they be allowed an extra year?
Woman and man with baby in front of table decorated for child's birthday
Immigration
After deportation, a family from Wisconsin will start anew in Cambodia
Black and white photo of woman at tabel, facing away from camera, bending over recording device
Music
In the 1930s, an ethnomusicologist tried to preserve the history of immigration in California — and combat anti-immigrant feelings — with song
A man is handcuffed.
Conflict
How immigration raids have — and haven’t — changed under the Trump administration
ICE agents knock on a door.
Justice
No immigration bill as feds ink contract to monitor license plates
Woman on snowboard, in air, upside down in front of onlookers
Sports
Chloe Kim’s family’s immigrant success story is everywhere — but it’s a ‘double-edge sword’ for immigrants
Hand holding up passport with US visa stampend "CANCELLED"
Global Politics
For immigrant Republicans, Trump’s turn to limit legal immigration creates divisions
Lawmakers sitting around Trump during an immigration roundtable.
Conflict
Four things to know about Trump’s latest immigration proposal
(Left to right): Indira Marquez Robles, Dustin Henderson, Maria Geneva Reyes, Mwewa Mwange and Jasiel López (left to right) are recipients of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA).
Jobs
Nearly 40 percent of DACA recipients are high school or college students. Now their future is in limbo.
San Francisco Public Defender Jeff Adachi wearing a suit and tie leads Jose Ines Garcia Zarate, wearing prison orange, into court.
Justice
Immigration wasn’t part of the San Francisco trial for the death of Kathryn Steinle — but here’s why it became part of the story
A man in a speaker panel is talking.
Global Politics
Some Vietnamese immigrants were protected from deportation, but the Trump administration may be changing that policy
Line of protesters on lawn behind fence, with police officer near tree at edge of photo
Justice
California governor signs sanctuary bill into law. Supporters say it’s ‘probably not enough.’
Magazine cover with photo of woman in black and white
Justice
Five things to consider if you are reading ‘My Family’s Slave’
Two men in suits at front of room holding microphones
Conflict
As California considers a ‘sanctuary state’ bill, this sheriff isn’t ready to give up his relationship with immigration agents
An unfinished painting of a woman
Justice
How art can help us better understand the fastest growing group of undocumented immigrants
An elderly man sitting at a table with photos
Justice
70 years later, US World War II veterans still separated from family in the Philippines have new hope
Brothers stand in front of polling place signs, against green wall
Global Politics
Two Trumps? Filipino Americans can vote in two (remarkably similar) elections this year