Sanctioned crypto exchange Garantex lives on, Syria detains museum founder, and more.

Your news update from ICIJ.

Stories that rock the world. View this email in your browser DONATE Welcome to ICIJ's newsletter! The early months of President Donald Trump's second term saw an immigration crackdown not just on the streets, but inside detention center walls. A new report by Physicians for Human Rights and experts at Harvard reveals that under the first four months of the new administration, solitary confinement spiked in immigration detention. The findings uphold a pattern the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists first documented over six years ago: that the U.S. Homeland Security Department's Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency consistently misused and overused solitary confinement to isolate thousands of their most vulnerable immigrant detainees for weeks and months at a time.  The practice has continued across both Biden and Trump's administrations; over the course of a 14-month period, the report found that more than 10,000 people were placed in solitary confinement in detention facilities run by ICE. But the experts' analysis of public data identified a noticeable spike in the first few months of the Trump administration. From February to March 2025, the number of detainees subjected to solitary confinement increased by an average of 6.5% per month, more than six times the average recorded between April and November 2024 under the Biden administration. An unidentified immigrant is detained by ICE agents inside a New York courthouse in June. Image: Bryan R. Smith/AFP via Getty Images. The United Nations says solitary confinement should be banned except in "very exceptional circumstances" and should never be used to isolate the mentally ill or minors. The U.N. considers holding anyone for longer than 15 days to be psychological torture.  "This report adds to over a decade of persistent advocacy and research," the report said. "ICE must publicly commit to ending solitary confinement entirely." ICE did not reply to ICIJ's request for comment.  The U.S. maintains the world's largest immigration detention system, with over 60,000 people in immigration detention this August — a record high. Under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, Congress in July gave ICE a historic $75 billion in additional funding and quadrupled its detention budget. "It's important to think about this in the context of the rapidly escalating detention system in the United States," Dr. Peeler, medical advisor for Physicians for Human Rights and assistant professor of pediatrics at Harvard Medical School. "It appears to be becoming more and more punitive, and solitary confinement is part of that." Read more.  PERUVIAN JOURNALISTS PETITION FOR PROTECTION In a statement, nearly 300 reporters condemned recent attacks by public officials and demanded additional safeguards from the justice system, after a verbal threat by Lima's mayor against veteran reporter and ICIJ member Gustavo Gorriti rocked the journalism community. CRYPTO EXCHANGE GARANTEX LIVES ON DESPITE SANCTIONS A new report by Transparency International Russia found the ostensibly shuttered exchange continues to operate through Telegram-based services that facilitate cross-border payments. SYRIA BRIEFLY DETAINS PROMINENT ACTIVIST Nine days after launching a virtual museum that documents crimes by the Assad regime against prisoners, activist and journalist Amer Matar was arrested and confined overnight by Syrian authorities. Thanks for reading! Carmen Molina Acosta ICIJ's digital producer P.S. If you've enjoyed our coverage, remember to tell your friends and family and share our work on social media. Send them an email now! | LATEST NEWS Chelsea FC faces over six dozen charges for improper conduct under Abramovich's ownership New TV series highlights ICIJ reporting on disgraced Legion of Christ priest Watchdog report finds overwhelming majority of IRS employees fired by DOGE for performance had no documented issues Canada to announce new foreign interference watchdog to fight transnational repression 'Predator' spyware firm Intellexa resurgent after US sanctions New US bill aims to clamp down on money laundering through art holdings Hidden details of Putin's private life show his 'real worldview,' new book claims 'Justice was not served': Human trafficker identified in ICIJ's Trafficking Inc. sentenced in Nigeria READ MORE NEWS STAY CONNECTED WITH ICIJ: This email was sent to www.tnr.tv.raymundolopeztiana@blogger.com, because you signed up to get ICIJ's stories in your inbox. Want fewer emails? Change your preferences or unsubscribe. The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists | 1730 Rhode Island Ave NW, Suite 317 Washington, D.C. 20036 USA