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Julia Barajas
What I cover
I strive to bring nuance and context to the issue of immigration, which is often cast as a competition for limited resources or a concern for public safety.
Beholden to no political party, I document the impact of federal immigration policy on Southern California communities—including U.S. citizens of color—while holding our government accountable. My coverage centers human suffering and resilience, with an emphasis on how communities are taking collective action in response to this evolving landscape.
My background
I’ve covered a broad range of issues for English and Spanish-language news media—everything from environmental injustice to the arts. Most recently, I was LAist’s higher education reporter. My work has been recognized by the California News Publishers Association, the Los Angeles Press Club, the Press Club of Atlantic City, and the Society for Features Journalism.
My goals
I pledge to reflect SoCal’s economic, ethnic, racial, and linguistic diversity in my reporting. This means making it a point to include people who speak Armenian, Arabic, Farsi, Khmer, Korean, Japanese, Mandarin, Spanish, Tagalog, Ukrainian, Vietnamese, Zapotec, and all the other beautiful languages in the place we call home—while acknowledging that Tongva is the first language of this land.
How to contact me
If you or your community have been affected by federal immigration policy, I want to know about it. Also, if you have ideas about stories I should be covering, I welcome your thoughts. You can reach out by email. I'm at jbarajas@laist.com. Or, if you have a tip you’d like to share more privately, you can reach me on Signal. My username is @jbarajas.68.
Stories by Julia Barajas
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Baker Commodities, Inc. — a company that was the focus of an LAist investigation into hazardous odors — says that the photos contain trade secrets and should be sealed.
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An LAist review found that two rendering companies had past violations and briefly operated without signs that inform the public where to report smell problems.
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Baker Commodities Inc. in the city of Vernon is suing the government agency that oversees it for $200 million in damages. Neighbors had celebrated its temporary shutdown. Now an upcoming court decision could allow a full reopening.
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Southeast L.A. residents have grappled with the stench of rotting flesh for decades, on top of other environmental ills.
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When it comes to foul odors, there’s no need to grin and bear it. Here’s a guide on where to report problems in Southern California.
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On LAist’s AirTalk, L.A. Mayor Karen Bass discussed the strike, saying L.A. has become unaffordable.
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Picketers went back to work Wednesday, but contract negotiations remain unresolved.
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When L.A.'s waitlist opened last fall, 30,000 applicants landed a spot. Many are now wondering how their monthly payments will be calculated.
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New ordinances cap annual rent increases at 3% and add relocation assistance.
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Garfield High School unveiled a plaque honoring the legacy of the student protests.
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Members of Molina's quilting group say the pioneering politician stood by their side through tough times.
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Through paintings, photographs, and installations, “South L.A. Is Still Home” delves deep into how the housing crisis affects on Black and Latino residents.
