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Aaron Reichlin-Melnick @reichlinmelnick.bsky.social · 42m

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 · 45m

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 · 52m

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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Rich Raho @richraho.bsky.social · 4h

Pope Leo at Jubilee Mass: “Let us take care to avoid any exploitation of the faith that could lead to labelling those who are different — often the poor — as enemies, ‘lepers’ to be avoided and rejected.” www.vatican.va/content/leo-...

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Nicholas Grossman @nicholasgrossman.bsky.social · 4h

No institutional design can overcome a lawbreaking president, a Congress defending lawbreaking and forfeiting its own power, a Supreme Court that pretends legal text doesn’t count to facilitate lawbreaking, and a citizenry that votes for all that.
Need at least one that wants rule of law. Maybe two.

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Sam Brunson @smbrnsn.bsky.social · 9h

I have literally no idea what in my Google Maps history world make Google think I care about Benson Boone’s Go List, but they’ve been pushing this to me for a while.

And tbc, while there are certainly things I probably care about less than Benson Boone’s opinion, that’s pretty low in my list.

A screenshot of Google maps latest in area. The first thing is benson Boone’s go list. I have no idea what’s on it and truly don’t care.

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Claire Willett @clairewillett.bsky.social · 10h

I’m still thinking about “No one from Homeland Security could stand in the presence of the Monstrance holding the Blessed Sacrament” and desperately wishing Democrat leadership had a fraction of this tactical savvy

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Claire Willett @clairewillett.bsky.social · 11h

MAGA Catholics are so gross to me. first off, a LOT of these immigrants are Catholic, and the catechism is EXTREMELY CLEAR on the church being one united global body. those people are your family. your loyalty should be to them and not the president!

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Claire Willett @clairewillett.bsky.social · 12h

this is more than just marching in full regalia to Broadview and praying outside of it

this is very deftly trapping ICE into the position of having to literally - LITERALLY, to them - turn Christ away from the door

any Catholic ICE officer was probably shook, I’m really not exaggerating

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Claire Willett @clairewillett.bsky.social · 12h

the monstrance doesn’t leave the church very often and is handled with incredible reverence and care. kid altar servers are NOT allowed to touch it, I vividly recall. usually only the priest carries it out and puts it back. if a priest is holding a monstrance he is saying Jesus is PHYSICALLY here

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Claire Willett @clairewillett.bsky.social · 12h

to Catholics, the monstrance is considered the literal presence of Christ. outside of Mass it’s often used for what’s called Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, which is anything from sitting in silence to a whole prayer service with readings and music, with the monstrance on the altar

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Claire Willett @clairewillett.bsky.social · 12h

found exactly the one use of “evil recoils in the presence of Christ” I am willing to sign off on, HOOOOOOOOLY SHIT

Father Larry did not come here to fuck around

Rich Raho @richraho.bsky.social · 18h

Chicago priest Fr. Larry Dowling describes procession to ICE facility: “No one had the courage to speak directly to us. No one from Homeland Security could stand in the presence of the Monstrance holding the Blessed Sacrament. No wonder. Evil is repelled, recoils in the presence of Christ.”

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Sam Brunson @smbrnsn.bsky.social · 9h

Someday we’re bound to figure out when Biden became president.

Excerpt Trump. There’s literally nothing to suggest he’s ever going to figure it out.

John Collins @logicallyjc.bsky.social · 10h

I don’t think Biden was president on J6.

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James Fallows @jfallows.bsky.social · 22h

Re-upping:

Excellent assessment of John "Roger Taney" Roberts.

In @harvardmagazine.bsky.social , by Lincoln Caplan.

As careful, legally informed, judicious-minded writer as you're going to find. With an unsparing judgment.

www.harvardmagazine.com/legal/suprem...

What Trump Means for John Roberts's Legacy | Harvard Magazine

Executive power is on the docket at the Supreme Court.

www.harvardmagazine.com

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Sam Brunson @smbrnsn.bsky.social · 12h

My reading is that is the detained immigrants that make the place holy inspired of the evil.

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Paul Curran @paulcurran.bsky.social · 13h

If this Eucharistic Procession is the start of something, the Church just might be able to stop the seemingly unstoppable momentum of Trumpism.

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Paul Newland @epiousios.bsky.social · 13h

Wow - they brought the Eucharist?
I’m Catholic - technically, that’s our nuclear option.
Ukrainians paraded it in front of the Russian line at Maidan Square.
Walking with the Eucharist is a straight line to Calvary. It screams, “As I dare myself to accompany Christ, I dare you to do otherwise.”

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Sam Brunson @smbrnsn.bsky.social · 13h

Oh, and source: faithmag.com/what-euchari...

What is a Eucharistic Procession?

Eucharistic processions remind us of our spiritual journey toward eternal life.

faithmag.com

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Sam Brunson @smbrnsn.bsky.social · 13h

The immigrant detainees make the detention center a holy place.

Even a glancing reflection says that's 100% true. But also, Catholics are hella good at symbolism. 2/2

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Sam Brunson @smbrnsn.bsky.social · 13h

So I'm not Catholic (though I teach at a Jesuit university), and this thread piqued my curiosity. So a quick search led me to this.

And this hits tear-jerkingly hard: not only are they accompanying Jesus, but they've sanctified the place where people are being held unjustly. 1/

What is a Eucharistic Procession?
The Eucharist is the source and summit of the whole Christian life. A eucharistic procession, therefore, is a public witness of the veneration toward the most holy Eucharist, conducted through public streets. It takes place in this way: A consecrated host – that is, the real and substantial presence of Jesus Christ: body, blood, soul and divinity – is placed within a monstrance, which is then lifted and carried by a priest who leads the faithful in procession. Like a pilgrimage, a eucharistic procession normally starts at one holy place and ends at another. This earthly journey reminds the Catholic faithful of their spiritual journey toward eternal life with God.

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rahaeli @rahaeli.bsky.social · 16h

This is a really, really good act of protest that uses a protest language that has a chance of reaching people who would otherwise dismiss the issue. You can tell by how many former Catholics are seeing it here and having like entire full-body shudders despite having left the church decades ago.

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rahaeli @rahaeli.bsky.social · 16h

But in case you missed it, Fr Dowling's statement takes the time to make it explicit: "Father, forgive the ones who do not know what they are doing. Have mercy on the souls of those who know exactly what they're doing."

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rahaeli @rahaeli.bsky.social · 16h

For any Catholic, the sight of a Eucharistic Procession being turned away at the gates of the destination is the embodiment of Jesus being denied entrance. You don't have to be Catholic to get the symbolism in that!

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rahaeli @rahaeli.bsky.social · 16h

What Fr Dowling is doing here was not just "offering communion to detainees". A full on Eucharistic Procession is a really fucking big deal. In Catholic theological framing, those folks were the honor guard with the very great privilege of escorting Jesus himself to the detention center.

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Rich Raho @richraho.bsky.social · 18h

Chicago priest Fr. Larry Dowling describes procession to ICE facility: “No one had the courage to speak directly to us. No one from Homeland Security could stand in the presence of the Monstrance holding the Blessed Sacrament. No wonder. Evil is repelled, recoils in the presence of Christ.”

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