brian nam-sonenstein
@bson.bsky.social
senior editor & researcher @prisonpolicy.org; 1/2 of @beyondprisons.bsky.social; fmr editor and founder shadowproof.com
possibly stupid question but someone might know the answer here. are people in immigrant detention subject to the PLRA?
January 30, 2026 at 8:06 PM
possibly stupid question but someone might know the answer here. are people in immigrant detention subject to the PLRA?
Reposted by brian nam-sonenstein
If what ends up happening is MN officials agree to aggressive 287(g) or other cooperation agreements to stop the occupation, that is a terrible Faustian bargain that is closer to total loss than any kind of victory. It sets the precedent that the feds can force your city to play ball at gunpoint
January 29, 2026 at 2:55 PM
If what ends up happening is MN officials agree to aggressive 287(g) or other cooperation agreements to stop the occupation, that is a terrible Faustian bargain that is closer to total loss than any kind of victory. It sets the precedent that the feds can force your city to play ball at gunpoint
Reposted by brian nam-sonenstein
"In the middle of a week of tense budget negotiations that hinge on funding for the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement is flaunting Congress’s requirement that it produce detention data every two weeks."
ICE Withholds Congressionally Mandated Detention Data
In the midst of heated budget negotiations over immigration enforcement, ICE flouts Congress's prior mandate to publish timely detention data.
austinkocher.substack.com/p/ice-withho...
In the midst of heated budget negotiations over immigration enforcement, ICE flouts Congress's prior mandate to publish timely detention data.
austinkocher.substack.com/p/ice-withho...
ICE Withholds Congressionally Mandated Detention Data
In the midst of heated budget negotiations over immigration enforcement, ICE flaunts Congress's prior mandate to publish timely detention data.
austinkocher.substack.com
January 30, 2026 at 4:18 PM
"In the middle of a week of tense budget negotiations that hinge on funding for the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement is flaunting Congress’s requirement that it produce detention data every two weeks."
Reposted by brian nam-sonenstein
ICE Withholds Congressionally Mandated Detention Data
In the midst of heated budget negotiations over immigration enforcement, ICE flouts Congress's prior mandate to publish timely detention data.
austinkocher.substack.com/p/ice-withho...
In the midst of heated budget negotiations over immigration enforcement, ICE flouts Congress's prior mandate to publish timely detention data.
austinkocher.substack.com/p/ice-withho...
ICE Withholds Congressionally Mandated Detention Data
In the midst of heated budget negotiations over immigration enforcement, ICE flaunts Congress's prior mandate to publish timely detention data.
austinkocher.substack.com
January 30, 2026 at 4:16 PM
ICE Withholds Congressionally Mandated Detention Data
In the midst of heated budget negotiations over immigration enforcement, ICE flouts Congress's prior mandate to publish timely detention data.
austinkocher.substack.com/p/ice-withho...
In the midst of heated budget negotiations over immigration enforcement, ICE flouts Congress's prior mandate to publish timely detention data.
austinkocher.substack.com/p/ice-withho...
Reposted by brian nam-sonenstein
Now that I think about it: this is a really big problem with treating "the cruelty is the point" as a mantra about intent rather than an insight into a _mechanism._
The cruelty is the point BECAUSE the cruelty is supposed to lead to OUTCOMES.
It often failed at that before.
It isn't failing now.
The cruelty is the point BECAUSE the cruelty is supposed to lead to OUTCOMES.
It often failed at that before.
It isn't failing now.
For sure there's a post-2014 (when I covered fam detention as a reporter) bipartisan deterrence genealogy. But shift from "the cruelty they're engaging in isn't leading to the outcomes they want" to "the cruelty they're engaging in IS leading to the outcomes they want" is IMHO being generally missed
January 30, 2026 at 4:08 PM
Now that I think about it: this is a really big problem with treating "the cruelty is the point" as a mantra about intent rather than an insight into a _mechanism._
The cruelty is the point BECAUSE the cruelty is supposed to lead to OUTCOMES.
It often failed at that before.
It isn't failing now.
The cruelty is the point BECAUSE the cruelty is supposed to lead to OUTCOMES.
It often failed at that before.
It isn't failing now.
Reposted by brian nam-sonenstein
“Independent” is doing too much work in this first wave. They are arresting journalists and just like everything else they’ve done, they’re testing the limits of our resistance by starting wt vulnerable margins.
January 30, 2026 at 3:45 PM
“Independent” is doing too much work in this first wave. They are arresting journalists and just like everything else they’ve done, they’re testing the limits of our resistance by starting wt vulnerable margins.
Reposted by brian nam-sonenstein
Published this at @theintercept.com on Monday early evening.
Here's what's happened since and how Dem leadership has acted to stifle their activist base.
Here's what's happened since and how Dem leadership has acted to stifle their activist base.
It’s Time for Concrete Action on ICE. Sadly, We Have the Democrats.
Democrats have offered cussing and scolding after the killing of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis. We need a real plan of attack, now.
theintercept.com
January 30, 2026 at 3:04 AM
Published this at @theintercept.com on Monday early evening.
Here's what's happened since and how Dem leadership has acted to stifle their activist base.
Here's what's happened since and how Dem leadership has acted to stifle their activist base.
Reposted by brian nam-sonenstein
I wrote this piece in 2020--but given ICE's use of face recognition and Pam Bondi posting mugshots on X, I'll share that since the 1890s, there has been concerns about the constitutionality of mugshots taken before conviction. Police retaining your photo erodes your presumption of innocence.
Facial Recognition Technology Is the New Rogues’ Gallery
The problem with facial recognition technology isn’t just that you could be mistaken for a suspect—it’s that it means your government doesn’t trust you.
slate.com
January 30, 2026 at 3:22 PM
I wrote this piece in 2020--but given ICE's use of face recognition and Pam Bondi posting mugshots on X, I'll share that since the 1890s, there has been concerns about the constitutionality of mugshots taken before conviction. Police retaining your photo erodes your presumption of innocence.
hard not to see this as the inevitable outcome of decades of a failed deterrence policy, an escalation of how D+R administrations had already been using immigrant detention since DHS came into existence. Obama ramped up family detention in 2nd term as part of his deterrence strategy IIRC.
In 2023 NYT laid out Trump’s mass deportation plan: detain immense numbers of people in such miserable conditions that they’re compelled to stop fighting their cases & agree to leave.
They’re still getting to “immense numbers.” But the core concept is working for them. mailchi.mp/43a225b48ded...
They’re still getting to “immense numbers.” But the core concept is working for them. mailchi.mp/43a225b48ded...
The Throughline: Don’t Lose Sight of Detention Atrocities
mailchi.mp
January 30, 2026 at 3:34 PM
hard not to see this as the inevitable outcome of decades of a failed deterrence policy, an escalation of how D+R administrations had already been using immigrant detention since DHS came into existence. Obama ramped up family detention in 2nd term as part of his deterrence strategy IIRC.
Reposted by brian nam-sonenstein
Today is the deadline for ICE to update its public detention numbers and remain compliant with its data reporting responsibilities. The law says the agency has to provide an update twice per month and today is the last business day of January.
ICE hasn't released updated immigration detention statistics since January 8. If ICE were following it's typical release schedule, the agency would have published the new statistics last Friday. It's now Tuesday evening, January 27.
www.ice.gov/detain/deten...
www.ice.gov/detain/deten...
Detention Management
www.ice.gov
January 30, 2026 at 2:18 PM
Today is the deadline for ICE to update its public detention numbers and remain compliant with its data reporting responsibilities. The law says the agency has to provide an update twice per month and today is the last business day of January.
Reposted by brian nam-sonenstein
“We are very worried about some folks perceiving the solution to just send back the Border Patrol to the border,” she said. “What folks fail to see is that this agency brings violence everywhere they go." prospect.org/2026/01/30/b...
The Border Patrol’s Legacy of Violence - The American Prospect
To understand the brutality in Minneapolis, look to the agency that has a history of fomenting it.
prospect.org
January 30, 2026 at 12:47 PM
“We are very worried about some folks perceiving the solution to just send back the Border Patrol to the border,” she said. “What folks fail to see is that this agency brings violence everywhere they go." prospect.org/2026/01/30/b...
Any demand for minimum standards in detention facilities has to be coupled with fully independent external enforcement that has teeth (skeleton key, ability to sanction for failure to remediate, etc). Otherwise all we get are reports that are ignored forever.
The New Democrats & the Progressive Caucus just put out a joint statement with a list of demands for immigration enforcement reforms... 2 things on this:
1-the New Dems are to the left of Schumer on this
2-nothing about clawing back the $175 billion in OBBBA funding for ICE
1-the New Dems are to the left of Schumer on this
2-nothing about clawing back the $175 billion in OBBBA funding for ICE
January 29, 2026 at 10:42 PM
Any demand for minimum standards in detention facilities has to be coupled with fully independent external enforcement that has teeth (skeleton key, ability to sanction for failure to remediate, etc). Otherwise all we get are reports that are ignored forever.
Reposted by brian nam-sonenstein
They retaliate. I keep fighting.
David CAN beat Goliath. Documentation is your slingshot. Persistence is your stone.
I won't stop standing up. I won't stop speaking up.
#PrisonAbolitionNow #TexasPrisons
[🧵3/3]
David CAN beat Goliath. Documentation is your slingshot. Persistence is your stone.
I won't stop standing up. I won't stop speaking up.
#PrisonAbolitionNow #TexasPrisons
[🧵3/3]
January 29, 2026 at 10:05 PM
They retaliate. I keep fighting.
David CAN beat Goliath. Documentation is your slingshot. Persistence is your stone.
I won't stop standing up. I won't stop speaking up.
#PrisonAbolitionNow #TexasPrisons
[🧵3/3]
David CAN beat Goliath. Documentation is your slingshot. Persistence is your stone.
I won't stop standing up. I won't stop speaking up.
#PrisonAbolitionNow #TexasPrisons
[🧵3/3]
Reposted by brian nam-sonenstein
They reported it. The policy was denied, then reversed.
My reporting on heat-related deaths? AC got installed in solitary.
My reporting on staff abuse against incarcerated women? Policy changed: now equal gender staffing in our most vulnerable units.
[🧵2/3]
My reporting on heat-related deaths? AC got installed in solitary.
My reporting on staff abuse against incarcerated women? Policy changed: now equal gender staffing in our most vulnerable units.
[🧵2/3]
January 29, 2026 at 10:05 PM
They reported it. The policy was denied, then reversed.
My reporting on heat-related deaths? AC got installed in solitary.
My reporting on staff abuse against incarcerated women? Policy changed: now equal gender staffing in our most vulnerable units.
[🧵2/3]
My reporting on heat-related deaths? AC got installed in solitary.
My reporting on staff abuse against incarcerated women? Policy changed: now equal gender staffing in our most vulnerable units.
[🧵2/3]
Reposted by brian nam-sonenstein
They said it couldn't be done. When I told media outlets that TDCJ stripped us of all clothing in solitary, forcing us to wear only gowns like we were living the Handmaid's Tale, no one believed me.
So I gathered documentation and reached out to Texas Public Radio.
[🧵1/3]
So I gathered documentation and reached out to Texas Public Radio.
[🧵1/3]
January 29, 2026 at 10:05 PM
They said it couldn't be done. When I told media outlets that TDCJ stripped us of all clothing in solitary, forcing us to wear only gowns like we were living the Handmaid's Tale, no one believed me.
So I gathered documentation and reached out to Texas Public Radio.
[🧵1/3]
So I gathered documentation and reached out to Texas Public Radio.
[🧵1/3]
Reposted by brian nam-sonenstein
Watching Homan this AM, I can’t help but see the courts as a primary audience for the performance. The point is to say that things *might be* changing. Admin lawyers can use that fluidity as part of its argument that Court should not issue TRO. You're already beginning to see this in filings. /1
January 29, 2026 at 4:06 PM
Watching Homan this AM, I can’t help but see the courts as a primary audience for the performance. The point is to say that things *might be* changing. Admin lawyers can use that fluidity as part of its argument that Court should not issue TRO. You're already beginning to see this in filings. /1
it would make sense to push to release ppl from jail and prevent them from going in due to ICE just like ppl did during COVID
January 29, 2026 at 5:46 PM
it would make sense to push to release ppl from jail and prevent them from going in due to ICE just like ppl did during COVID
i could be wrong, but i dont think this is a policy change. either homan doesn't know MN jails can/do do this already, or he's playing it up to make it look like he's getting MN officials to move
Homan also said he met with MN AG Keith Ellison who he said agreed to let jails notify ICE when a target is released. I’ve asked Ellison’s office to clarify this - Hennepin County DA Mary Moriarty has said she’s also waiting for clarification on what if anything this changes
January 29, 2026 at 5:44 PM
i could be wrong, but i dont think this is a policy change. either homan doesn't know MN jails can/do do this already, or he's playing it up to make it look like he's getting MN officials to move
ICE refers ppl to DOJ to be charged w/ immigration "crimes" while leaning on state/local cops to nab ppl for minor "crimes" (like driving w/o a license) til ICE can arrest. criminalization is a sorting tool they can/will use to their benefit; it's not neutral www.prisonpolicy.org/blog/2025/07...
January 29, 2026 at 4:34 PM
ICE refers ppl to DOJ to be charged w/ immigration "crimes" while leaning on state/local cops to nab ppl for minor "crimes" (like driving w/o a license) til ICE can arrest. criminalization is a sorting tool they can/will use to their benefit; it's not neutral www.prisonpolicy.org/blog/2025/07...
state/local law enforcement cooperation is 1) currently a major funnel for people into fed custody, 2) generally a huge force multiplier for the feds, and 3) an area in which the public has considerably more leverage to intervene compared to natl
If what ends up happening is MN officials agree to aggressive 287(g) or other cooperation agreements to stop the occupation, that is a terrible Faustian bargain that is closer to total loss than any kind of victory. It sets the precedent that the feds can force your city to play ball at gunpoint
January 29, 2026 at 3:28 PM
state/local law enforcement cooperation is 1) currently a major funnel for people into fed custody, 2) generally a huge force multiplier for the feds, and 3) an area in which the public has considerably more leverage to intervene compared to natl
Reposted by brian nam-sonenstein
Well-timed letter in today’s BDN. Sen Collins told us she believed Kavanaugh’s lie that he wouldn’t overturn Roe v Wade. We can’t afford to have that happen again with ICE. #mepolitics
www.bangordailynews.com/2026/01/29/o...
www.bangordailynews.com/2026/01/29/o...
January 29, 2026 at 1:38 PM
Well-timed letter in today’s BDN. Sen Collins told us she believed Kavanaugh’s lie that he wouldn’t overturn Roe v Wade. We can’t afford to have that happen again with ICE. #mepolitics
www.bangordailynews.com/2026/01/29/o...
www.bangordailynews.com/2026/01/29/o...
i don't believe anything noem says, especially when negotiated with susan collins, but they were abducting people outside our schools before the surge began and i'm concerned this is a new strategy designed to try and get people to stop paying attention
Maine Senator Susan Collins said Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem informed her that ICE will end the immigration enforcement surge in the state.
ICE ending Maine surge, Senator Collins says - The Boston Globe
Collins said in a statement that she had pushed Noem and other Trump administration officials to have ICE “reconsider its approach to immigration enforcement in the state.”
trib.al
January 29, 2026 at 3:17 PM
i don't believe anything noem says, especially when negotiated with susan collins, but they were abducting people outside our schools before the surge began and i'm concerned this is a new strategy designed to try and get people to stop paying attention
Reposted by brian nam-sonenstein
Think about it like this. This ICE agent was on camera and unmasked — fulfilling one of three "demands" Democratic leader Chuck Schumer just issued in order to agree to save Republicans and give DHS even more money.
And he was still threatening to kill someone.
And he was still threatening to kill someone.
"You raise your voice, I erase your voice."
ICE in Minneapolis are erasing your rights.
Please share our new video of what's happening in our city. youtu.be/W1dyNcRGRXY
ICE in Minneapolis are erasing your rights.
Please share our new video of what's happening in our city. youtu.be/W1dyNcRGRXY
January 28, 2026 at 8:42 PM
Think about it like this. This ICE agent was on camera and unmasked — fulfilling one of three "demands" Democratic leader Chuck Schumer just issued in order to agree to save Republicans and give DHS even more money.
And he was still threatening to kill someone.
And he was still threatening to kill someone.
What exactly do dems mean by “require ICE to coordinate with local authorities”? Anyone know what specifically they’re talking about?
SCHUMER says Democrats are “united” behind three DHS reforms
1/ End roving patrols; tighten the rules on warrants and require ICE to coordinate with local authorities.
2/ Enforce accountability; a uniform code of conduct.
3/ Require masks off, body cameras on, agents carry ID.
1/ End roving patrols; tighten the rules on warrants and require ICE to coordinate with local authorities.
2/ Enforce accountability; a uniform code of conduct.
3/ Require masks off, body cameras on, agents carry ID.
January 28, 2026 at 8:23 PM
What exactly do dems mean by “require ICE to coordinate with local authorities”? Anyone know what specifically they’re talking about?
Reposted by brian nam-sonenstein
IDK why right-wingers keep bringing up Obama's record deportations, it just shows that if you wanted to have a conservative immigration policy without partisan militias occupying cities and gunning people down in the streets you could do it and a lot of americans would be fine with it
January 28, 2026 at 12:43 PM
IDK why right-wingers keep bringing up Obama's record deportations, it just shows that if you wanted to have a conservative immigration policy without partisan militias occupying cities and gunning people down in the streets you could do it and a lot of americans would be fine with it