Ben D’Avanzo
@bendavanzo.bsky.social
Advocate for health equity and economic justice for the National Immigration Law Center. Also neighborhood and housing issues as a hobby. Dad of 2 cute wild kids.
Reposted by Ben D’Avanzo
Family of Alex Pretti, who was shot dead in Minneapolis today, releases statement:
"The sickening lies told about our son by the administration are reprehensible and disgusting. Alex is clearly not holding a gun when attacked by Trump's murdering and cowardly ICE thugs."
"The sickening lies told about our son by the administration are reprehensible and disgusting. Alex is clearly not holding a gun when attacked by Trump's murdering and cowardly ICE thugs."
January 25, 2026 at 1:13 AM
Family of Alex Pretti, who was shot dead in Minneapolis today, releases statement:
"The sickening lies told about our son by the administration are reprehensible and disgusting. Alex is clearly not holding a gun when attacked by Trump's murdering and cowardly ICE thugs."
"The sickening lies told about our son by the administration are reprehensible and disgusting. Alex is clearly not holding a gun when attacked by Trump's murdering and cowardly ICE thugs."
January 24, 2026 at 11:58 PM
Senator Rosen voted to reopen the government last fall and for the Laken Riley Act. So, this is a big deal
My personal guiding principle has always been "agree where you can and fight where you must." And I believe this is a time when we must fight back.
January 24, 2026 at 9:32 PM
Senator Rosen voted to reopen the government last fall and for the Laken Riley Act. So, this is a big deal
If you're wondering which Senators need calls/email right now...
Here's who voted to end the shutdown in the fall:
Cortez Masto (NV)
Hassan (NH)
Shaheen (NH)
Fetterman (PA)
Rosen (NV)
Kaine (VA)
King (ME)
Durbin(IL)
Here's who voted to end the shutdown in the fall:
Cortez Masto (NV)
Hassan (NH)
Shaheen (NH)
Fetterman (PA)
Rosen (NV)
Kaine (VA)
King (ME)
Durbin(IL)
January 24, 2026 at 7:59 PM
If you're wondering which Senators need calls/email right now...
Here's who voted to end the shutdown in the fall:
Cortez Masto (NV)
Hassan (NH)
Shaheen (NH)
Fetterman (PA)
Rosen (NV)
Kaine (VA)
King (ME)
Durbin(IL)
Here's who voted to end the shutdown in the fall:
Cortez Masto (NV)
Hassan (NH)
Shaheen (NH)
Fetterman (PA)
Rosen (NV)
Kaine (VA)
King (ME)
Durbin(IL)
This just happened last week in Oregon. A family brought their 7 year old to the ER because she had an uncontrolled nose bleed. ICE snatched them right outside the hospital.
This won't stop until Congress steps up
www.oregonlive.com/portland/202...
This won't stop until Congress steps up
www.oregonlive.com/portland/202...
January 24, 2026 at 6:24 PM
This just happened last week in Oregon. A family brought their 7 year old to the ER because she had an uncontrolled nose bleed. ICE snatched them right outside the hospital.
This won't stop until Congress steps up
www.oregonlive.com/portland/202...
This won't stop until Congress steps up
www.oregonlive.com/portland/202...
It is rare that Congress can immediately respond to hold federal agencies accountable. Yet, with yet another ICE shooting, we have such an opportunity right now
Department of Homeland Security's temporary funding for the 2026 fiscal year ends on January 30th.
The new funding is before the Senate
Department of Homeland Security's temporary funding for the 2026 fiscal year ends on January 30th.
The new funding is before the Senate
January 24, 2026 at 6:12 PM
It is rare that Congress can immediately respond to hold federal agencies accountable. Yet, with yet another ICE shooting, we have such an opportunity right now
Department of Homeland Security's temporary funding for the 2026 fiscal year ends on January 30th.
The new funding is before the Senate
Department of Homeland Security's temporary funding for the 2026 fiscal year ends on January 30th.
The new funding is before the Senate
Congress must vote no on a single dollar for the ICE killers
Reminder: DHS legislation that funds ICE at current levels without policy restrictions is in the Senate and needs 60 votes to pass. Deadline is next Friday.
January 24, 2026 at 4:49 PM
Congress must vote no on a single dollar for the ICE killers
Even the people who helped negotiate this ICE funding deal know it totally fails to meet the moment.
Rep. Rosa DeLauro, the top Democrat on the Appropriations Committee, says she is voting NO on the DHS funding bill she negotiated. Highly unusual. She says ICE mustn't be abolished but must be reformed. "The right thing for me to do is vote no on this bill."
January 22, 2026 at 9:13 PM
Even the people who helped negotiate this ICE funding deal know it totally fails to meet the moment.
Reposted by Ben D’Avanzo
"Stop calling ICE the Gestapo! ICE is nothing like the Gestapo. Now, let me innumerate all the many ways ICE is exactly like the Gestapo. Thank you for your attention to this matter."
January 22, 2026 at 2:44 AM
"Stop calling ICE the Gestapo! ICE is nothing like the Gestapo. Now, let me innumerate all the many ways ICE is exactly like the Gestapo. Thank you for your attention to this matter."
Reposted by Ben D’Avanzo
Every day some story breaks me some. Today it’s the guy who approached parents at a school patrol, told them he was with Indivisible, and asked about how the patrol system works. The parents gave vague answers, followed him back to his car — and of course it was ICE.
January 21, 2026 at 2:12 PM
Every day some story breaks me some. Today it’s the guy who approached parents at a school patrol, told them he was with Indivisible, and asked about how the patrol system works. The parents gave vague answers, followed him back to his car — and of course it was ICE.
The only time when undocumented immigrants use federally-funded Medicaid is for emergency care. CMS is forcing a horrific choice to someone who gets hit by a car.
ICE is using Medicaid data to find out where immigrants live • Stateline
In a win for President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown, a recent court ruling has cleared the way for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to resume using states’ Medicaid data to find people...
stateline.org
January 21, 2026 at 2:31 PM
The only time when undocumented immigrants use federally-funded Medicaid is for emergency care. CMS is forcing a horrific choice to someone who gets hit by a car.
Checking out the so called "free speech zone" in Boston during the 2004 DNC was a formative experience for me as a teen. It was under a highway overpass, not even close to the convention, surrounded by fences. I think it was empty when I went.
Free speech is useless if those in power can't hear you
Free speech is useless if those in power can't hear you
BRENNAN: Noem called on your to set up a safe zone where protest would be contained. Is that something you're looking at?
JACOB FREY: First Amendment speech is not limited to one park or one section of the city. You're allowed to protest so long as you're doing it peacefully
JACOB FREY: First Amendment speech is not limited to one park or one section of the city. You're allowed to protest so long as you're doing it peacefully
January 18, 2026 at 6:33 PM
Checking out the so called "free speech zone" in Boston during the 2004 DNC was a formative experience for me as a teen. It was under a highway overpass, not even close to the convention, surrounded by fences. I think it was empty when I went.
Free speech is useless if those in power can't hear you
Free speech is useless if those in power can't hear you
CMS and DHS must stop this egregious data betrayal. Especially at risk is the willingness of immigrants to go to the emergency room when they need to and for hospitals to be reimbursed for emergency services they provide
New data sharing agreement between CMS and ICE raises some key issues re compliance with court orders applicable in several states to share data only for individuals who are not lawfully present and also increases concerns around data privacy and protection
www.kff.org/immigrant-he...
@kff.org
www.kff.org/immigrant-he...
@kff.org
January 15, 2026 at 2:50 PM
CMS and DHS must stop this egregious data betrayal. Especially at risk is the willingness of immigrants to go to the emergency room when they need to and for hospitals to be reimbursed for emergency services they provide
Reposted by Ben D’Avanzo
The Congressional Progressive Caucus, a group of nearly 100 House Democrats, will announce later today that it's formally endorsing legislation to strip $175 billion from ICE and put it toward affordable housing. www.huffpost.com/entry/doj-fe...
Progressive Caucus Backs Bill To Redirect ICE Money To Affordable Housing
www.huffpost.com
January 14, 2026 at 8:00 PM
The Congressional Progressive Caucus, a group of nearly 100 House Democrats, will announce later today that it's formally endorsing legislation to strip $175 billion from ICE and put it toward affordable housing. www.huffpost.com/entry/doj-fe...
I have met so many people who arrived to the U.S. as children, used public benefits while their families got their footing, and then went on to great success.
Despite the entire history of the U.S. as a counterexample, he Trump administration cannot fathom immigrants as net positive contributors
Despite the entire history of the U.S. as a counterexample, he Trump administration cannot fathom immigrants as net positive contributors
US freezes all visa processing for 75 countries, including Somalia, Russia, Iran
State Department halts visa processing for 75 countries including Somalia, Russia and Iran to crack down on applicants likely to become public charges.
www.foxnews.com
January 14, 2026 at 5:59 PM
I have met so many people who arrived to the U.S. as children, used public benefits while their families got their footing, and then went on to great success.
Despite the entire history of the U.S. as a counterexample, he Trump administration cannot fathom immigrants as net positive contributors
Despite the entire history of the U.S. as a counterexample, he Trump administration cannot fathom immigrants as net positive contributors
Reposted by Ben D’Avanzo
Congressional Progressive Caucus "opposes any appropriations bill that provides any funding to immigration enforcement agencies within the Department of Homeland Security unless there are meaningful and significant reforms to immigration enforcement"
Funding runs out Jan. 30
Funding runs out Jan. 30
January 13, 2026 at 7:34 PM
Congressional Progressive Caucus "opposes any appropriations bill that provides any funding to immigration enforcement agencies within the Department of Homeland Security unless there are meaningful and significant reforms to immigration enforcement"
Funding runs out Jan. 30
Funding runs out Jan. 30
Reposted by Ben D’Avanzo
The people seem to be turning against ICE, and that's probably because the president is sending them into every major population center and screwing with people's lives. Politics is often invisible, but this is not!
January 13, 2026 at 7:38 PM
The people seem to be turning against ICE, and that's probably because the president is sending them into every major population center and screwing with people's lives. Politics is often invisible, but this is not!
First thing would be to not agree to billions of dollars to jail more immigrants that is reported to be part of the annual DHS funding bill act.nilc.org/page/92601/-/1
January 7, 2026 at 10:12 PM
First thing would be to not agree to billions of dollars to jail more immigrants that is reported to be part of the annual DHS funding bill act.nilc.org/page/92601/-/1
Reposted by Ben D’Avanzo
We have the video. These are just brazen lies by DHS. They murdered her in cold blood.
January 7, 2026 at 6:11 PM
We have the video. These are just brazen lies by DHS. They murdered her in cold blood.
Congress gave ICE a slush fund, paid for by cuts to Medicaid and SNAP, which they are using to buy military equipment and weapons. They are looking for excuse to use their toys to cause chaos in cities
DHS now confirming in a. statement that an ICE officer did shoot and kill someone at the site of a raid.
January 7, 2026 at 6:13 PM
Congress gave ICE a slush fund, paid for by cuts to Medicaid and SNAP, which they are using to buy military equipment and weapons. They are looking for excuse to use their toys to cause chaos in cities
From Politico this morning, it's worth noting our relationship with the Pacific COFA nations includes testing many nuclear weapons there, leading to high rates of cancer and inedible produce
Today, folks from COFA countries leave their homes to come work in meat processing plants in the Midwest
Today, folks from COFA countries leave their homes to come work in meat processing plants in the Midwest
January 6, 2026 at 12:20 PM
From Politico this morning, it's worth noting our relationship with the Pacific COFA nations includes testing many nuclear weapons there, leading to high rates of cancer and inedible produce
Today, folks from COFA countries leave their homes to come work in meat processing plants in the Midwest
Today, folks from COFA countries leave their homes to come work in meat processing plants in the Midwest
All paid for by cutting Medicaid and SNAP www.politico.com/news/2025/12...
January 5, 2026 at 6:52 PM
All paid for by cutting Medicaid and SNAP www.politico.com/news/2025/12...
1.6 million people who were authorized to work have lost status under the Trump
In 2023 there were 3 million immigrants working in the construction industry industry and another 3 million in manufacturing. 6 million in health/education services.
Who thinks this is good for our country?
In 2023 there were 3 million immigrants working in the construction industry industry and another 3 million in manufacturing. 6 million in health/education services.
Who thinks this is good for our country?
Immigrants now have fewer legal options to stay in the U.S. under Trump
The 1.6 million number marks the largest-ever effort to strip permissions for immigrants who attempted to migrate to the country through legal means, advocates say.
www.npr.org
January 5, 2026 at 6:31 PM
1.6 million people who were authorized to work have lost status under the Trump
In 2023 there were 3 million immigrants working in the construction industry industry and another 3 million in manufacturing. 6 million in health/education services.
Who thinks this is good for our country?
In 2023 there were 3 million immigrants working in the construction industry industry and another 3 million in manufacturing. 6 million in health/education services.
Who thinks this is good for our country?
Attacks on immigrants' use of basic services have always been used to further degradation of those services themselves.
See for example, the 1996 welfare "reform" law and the reconciliation bill passed this summer.
See for example, the 1996 welfare "reform" law and the reconciliation bill passed this summer.
so basically our rich oligarchs launched a racist propaganda media campaign to demonize taxpayer-funded childcare, our garbage oligarch press parroted the attack, and now they're going to steal that money to put into their assorted cryptocurrency grifts
‘Scorched-Earth Attack’: Trump Admin Cuts Off Childcare Funds to All States | Common Dreams
"My team and I are exploring all our legal options to ensure that critical childcare services do not get abruptly slashed based on pretext and grandstanding," said Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ell...
www.commondreams.org
January 2, 2026 at 4:33 PM
Attacks on immigrants' use of basic services have always been used to further degradation of those services themselves.
See for example, the 1996 welfare "reform" law and the reconciliation bill passed this summer.
See for example, the 1996 welfare "reform" law and the reconciliation bill passed this summer.