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Aaron Reichlin-Melnick @reichlinmelnick.bsky.social · 11m

Can and should!

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Aaron Reichlin-Melnick @reichlinmelnick.bsky.social · 12m

Yep, that’s immigration law for you!

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Aaron Reichlin-Melnick @reichlinmelnick.bsky.social · 13m

Nope. Congress could pass a law tomorrow declaring that having paid a parking ticket is a ground of removability and it would apply retroactively to any noncitizen who had ever gotten a parking ticket and received it, without violating the Ex Post Facto Clause.

incapotomus.bsky.social @incapotomus.bsky.social · 14m

No ex post facto clause in immigration law either?

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Aaron Reichlin-Melnick @reichlinmelnick.bsky.social · 16m

He was 19 at the time, he probably was pressured into pleading guilty. But that doesn’t really matter for the question at issue; why is ICE detaining him?

And if you want even more frustration; at the time he pled guilty (1980), the law which made his offense an aggravated felony didn’t even exist!

Frances Larina @franceslarina.bsky.social · 23m

Really? And you don't think he might have been pressured to plead guilty? I raise the question because the government has already shown in his case that it cannot be trusted. Yet, you are trusting...the government's story. Do better, please.

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Aaron Reichlin-Melnick @reichlinmelnick.bsky.social · 23m

Shockingly, no! Deportation has no statute of limitations. One of my first ever clients when I was doing removal defense from 2014-2016 ended up being placed into immigration court because of a conviction from 1988 that CBP flagged on his reentry to the country after a trip back home.

C E, a.k.a. Cletus @69cletus.bsky.social · 26m

Forgive me for asking, but isn’t there a statue of limitations on this offense?

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Aaron Reichlin-Melnick @reichlinmelnick.bsky.social · 29m

I didn’t write this thread to suggest we should be satisfied with what is going on with his case. I wrote it to explain that here, there IS a legal explanation for his detention, and to spark thoughts about a system that permits deportation for a small-time drug deal committed 40+ years in the past.

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Aaron Reichlin-Melnick @reichlinmelnick.bsky.social · 31m

So when we try to fit what’s happening to Mr. Vedam into the broad arc of immigration law, I attribute more to the long hand of the War on Drugs than to ICE under Trump being especially cruel.

That said, given the exoneration, other admins would *potentially* have granted discretionary release.

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Aaron Reichlin-Melnick @reichlinmelnick.bsky.social · 35m

Controlled substance trafficking as defined in immigration law is any dealing-related offense, including even selling a joint to a friend for $20.

Thanks to the War on Drug, trafficking was one of the first three crimes deemed “aggravated felonies” in the 1980s, which bar relief from deportation.

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Aaron Reichlin-Melnick @reichlinmelnick.bsky.social · 37m

In short, the government had two separate grounds when it ordered him deported years ago:

1. The murder conviction
2. The controlled substance trafficking conviction.

The second one may be what dooms him to deportation — despite the 43 years in prison for a crime he didn’t commit.

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Aaron Reichlin-Melnick @reichlinmelnick.bsky.social · 39m

Okay, I’m going to take a mea culpa on this one, as initial reporting suggested he was ONLY facing removal because of the murder conviction he’s been exonerated from. But there’s more; at 19, he pled guilty to dealing LSD. And in immigration law, that’s its own “aggravated felony” ground of removal.

Lynn Becker @cmgiulini.bsky.social · 13h

After spending 43 years in prison for a crime he didn't commit, evidence hidden by the prosecution reversed his conviction. Rather than finally enjoying freedom, ICE abducted him for deportation

Depraved.

www.miamiherald.com/news/local/i...

He was wrongfully imprisoned for 43 years. Moments after being released, ICE took him

Subramanyam “Subu” Vedam now faces deportation.

www.miamiherald.com

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Reposted by Aaron Reichlin-Melnick

jamelle @jamellebouie.net · 1h

a key thing about vought — and all of these guys — is that they have a totally top down and hierarchical vision of the world. they believe that the cultural changes they hate can be turned off by destroying the federal government because they can’t imagine that they emerged bottom-up in society

Thomas Zimmer @thomaszimmer.bsky.social · 1h

What he’s railing against is a profound shift in culture, status… He’s obsessed with the idea that America is controlled by a leftist “ruling elite” - but “elite” isn’t defined socio-economically or by political power, it means something like: Getting to define “real America” and who gets to belong.

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Aaron Reichlin-Melnick @reichlinmelnick.bsky.social · 12h

This is as much a legacy of the War on Drugs than anything else. He has a controlled substance conviction separate and apart from the exonerated murder conviction.

Lynn Becker @cmgiulini.bsky.social · 13h

After spending 43 years in prison for a crime he didn't commit, evidence hidden by the prosecution reversed his conviction. Rather than finally enjoying freedom, ICE abducted him for deportation

Depraved.

www.miamiherald.com/news/local/i...

He was wrongfully imprisoned for 43 years. Moments after being released, ICE took him

Subramanyam “Subu” Vedam now faces deportation.

www.miamiherald.com

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Reposted by Aaron Reichlin-Melnick

Michael Derby @michaelsderby.bsky.social · 14h

“The Sun-Times has documented four unmarked cars carrying federal officers without required plates, offering another way to shield their identities. Federal officials say they’re meeting regulations.”

Federal immigration officers wear masks, no name tags — now some drive cars without license plates

The Sun-Times has documented four unmarked cars carrying federal officers without required plates, offering another way to shield their identities. Federal officials say they’re meeting regulations.

chicago.suntimes.com

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Scott MacFarlane @macfarlanenews.bsky.social · 16h

Loss in court for Trump Admin:

Appeals court blocks the deployment of National Guard troops in the Chicago area amid ongoing protest

www.cbsnews.com/news/nationa...

Appeals court temporarily blocks deployment of National Guard troops in Chicago

The Defense Department announced earlier this week that about 200 National Guard soldiers from Texas and another 300 from Illinois were federalized and sent to the Chicago area.

www.cbsnews.com

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Reposted by Aaron Reichlin-Melnick

Lena Sun @lenasun.bsky.social · 17h

BREAKING: Some of the layoffs at CDC are being REVERSED.
Here is my updated story.
www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...

More than 1,000 CDC staff receive layoff notices during government shutdown

Another round of mass layoffs has struck CDC. The agency had already been cut during a reorganization this year, and more employees are now being shed amid the government shutdown.

www.washingtonpost.com

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Carl Quintanilla @carlquintanilla.bsky.social · 18h

The loss of Keaton is a blow to any fan of 1970s cinema. So iconic.

“It made my career,” she said of “Annie Hall.” “It was everything. It’s the reason we’re sitting here having this nice conversation. Everything always goes back to that.”

#RIP

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Aaron Reichlin-Melnick @reichlinmelnick.bsky.social · 18h

Clearly someone who grew up here, she has no accent; really want to know what was going on here. Looks like they were following her already at the start of the video. Why?

Laguna Beach Democratic Club @lagunabeachdems.bsky.social · 20h

Northwest Chicago Suburb: ICE Agents Rip 15-Year-Old Girl from Car, Slam Her to Ground She Screams “I’m 15!” as Man Kneels on Her Neck

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Aaron Reichlin-Melnick @reichlinmelnick.bsky.social · 19h

The pro-disease admin.

Catherine Rampell @crampell.bsky.social · 19h

Per CDC source: At internal leadership meeting this afternoon, it was shared that 1,257 people were RIF'd at CDC. Number may not be final. Apparently, chief of staff was unaware that RIFs were going to occur so not clear who is making decisions. (Short 🧵)

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Catherine Rampell @crampell.bsky.social · 19h

Per CDC source: At internal leadership meeting this afternoon, it was shared that 1,257 people were RIF'd at CDC. Number may not be final. Apparently, chief of staff was unaware that RIFs were going to occur so not clear who is making decisions. (Short 🧵)

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Joshua J. Friedman @joshuajfriedman.com · 19h

Note that this is the same compromise position adopted by the Ninth Circuit on Wednesday in advance of oral arguments (and in both cases an administrative stay) bsky.app/profile/josh...

Jon Seidel @jonseidel.bsky.social · 20h

#BREAKING The 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals PARTIALLY grants the stay sought by the Trump Administration.

The stay is GRANTED as to federalization of the National Guard.

But it is DENIED as to deployment.

So deployment still BLOCKED, but troops "do not need to return to their home states."

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Reposted by Aaron Reichlin-Melnick

Carolyn Shapiro @cshaplaw.bsky.social · 20h

Note that this is a partial grant of the administrative stay only. The court has not ruled on the stay pending appeal.

Jon Seidel @jonseidel.bsky.social · 20h

#BREAKING The 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals PARTIALLY grants the stay sought by the Trump Administration.

The stay is GRANTED as to federalization of the National Guard.

But it is DENIED as to deployment.

So deployment still BLOCKED, but troops "do not need to return to their home states."

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Aaron Reichlin-Melnick @reichlinmelnick.bsky.social · 20h

If I’m reading this right — and I’m not 100% sure I am, given the split order — this would appear to bar Trump from *using* the National Guard in Illinois, but not prevent the Texas National Guard from being deployed to Illinois at the base they’re currently in. They don’t have to go home yet.

Jon Seidel @jonseidel.bsky.social · 20h

#BREAKING The 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals PARTIALLY grants the stay sought by the Trump Administration.

The stay is GRANTED as to federalization of the National Guard.

But it is DENIED as to deployment.

So deployment still BLOCKED, but troops "do not need to return to their home states."

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Reposted by Aaron Reichlin-Melnick

Sara Partridge, Ph.D. @sarapartridge.bsky.social · 22h

There are reports that the *entire* office of special education at the US Dept of Education has been cut. These hardworking folks ensure kids with disabilities get equal access to a quality education.

America’s children deserve better than this.

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Chris Geidner @chrisgeidner.bsky.social · 23h

Luttig has it right here: “[T]he Supreme Court has given them no choice but to speak out.”

Leah Litman @leahlitman.bsky.social · 1d

More judges speak to the press (the NYT) about what a disaster the Supreme Court (specifically the shadow docket) has been - “incredibly demoralizing & troubling”; a “judicial crisis”; a “slap in the face to district courts.” www.nytimes.com/2025/10/11/u...

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Lena Sun @lenasun.bsky.social · 1d

NEW: @CDCgov hit hard by massive firings that several staff describe to me as a “bloodbath.”
Among those RIFd:
—leadership of the center for immunization and respiratory diseases;
—leadership of global health center
—leadership of the measles outbreak response; 1/4

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