Blair Paddock
@blairpaddock.bsky.social
prisons + investigations for @wttw.bsky.social
Pinned
Mouse Arts and Letters Club
mouseartsandletters.org
In January, my partner, friends and I will be opening up a cultural club in an old bank in Bridgeport: the Mouse Arts and Letters Club. We'll host News Night, a citywide newsroom, screenings, translation + ecology events & more. We'd love you to join us. Sign up for updates: mouseartsandletters.org
Reposted by Blair Paddock
A Mauritanian man will testify Monday about torture he says he endured at Guantánamo Bay—at the hands of former Chicago detective Richard Zuley.
His story is one thread in a web connecting Zuley to the post-9/11 legacy through this city.
🔗 news.wttw.com/2025/11/20/m...
His story is one thread in a web connecting Zuley to the post-9/11 legacy through this city.
🔗 news.wttw.com/2025/11/20/m...
Man Who Said He Was Tortured by Ex-CPD Detective at Guantanamo Bay Set to Testify
Circuit Court Judge Adrienne Davis is weighing whether to overturn the conviction of Anthony Garrett in connection with the murder of 7-year-old Dantrell Davis, who was shot and killed by a sniper at ...
news.wttw.com
November 21, 2025 at 6:47 PM
A Mauritanian man will testify Monday about torture he says he endured at Guantánamo Bay—at the hands of former Chicago detective Richard Zuley.
His story is one thread in a web connecting Zuley to the post-9/11 legacy through this city.
🔗 news.wttw.com/2025/11/20/m...
His story is one thread in a web connecting Zuley to the post-9/11 legacy through this city.
🔗 news.wttw.com/2025/11/20/m...
Reposted by Blair Paddock
NEW: The exodus of corrections officers from federal prisons to ICE comes amid shortages of critical supplies, from food to personal hygiene items, for both staff and inmates.
It threatens to make the already grim conditions in these prisons even worse.
It threatens to make the already grim conditions in these prisons even worse.
As Federal Prisons Run Low on Food and Toilet Paper, Corrections Officers Leave in Droves for ICE
Many of the problems the agency is facing now are not new, but staff and prisoners fear an exodus of officers could make life behind bars even worse.
www.propublica.org
November 21, 2025 at 1:00 PM
NEW: The exodus of corrections officers from federal prisons to ICE comes amid shortages of critical supplies, from food to personal hygiene items, for both staff and inmates.
It threatens to make the already grim conditions in these prisons even worse.
It threatens to make the already grim conditions in these prisons even worse.
Reposted by Blair Paddock
BREAKING: Chicago police officers will be allowed to file felony gun charges without first getting approval from a prosecutor throughout the city, Cook County State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke announced Friday. @wttw.bsky.social
Program Allowing CPD Officers to Directly File Felony Gun Charges to Expand Citywide, Top Prosecutor Announces
The Felony Review Bypass Pilot Program was “an unqualified success,” Cook County State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke said.
news.wttw.com
November 21, 2025 at 5:38 PM
BREAKING: Chicago police officers will be allowed to file felony gun charges without first getting approval from a prosecutor throughout the city, Cook County State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke announced Friday. @wttw.bsky.social
Reposted by Blair Paddock
Another banger for @wttw.bsky.social by @ndblumberg.bsky.social
Ex-Aurora Mayor Backed $450K Line of Credit Without Council Approval; Nonprofit Leader Racked Up Charges at ATMs and Strip Clubs
OnLight Aurora, a city-supported nonprofit, aims to provide high speed internet to the west suburban community’s institutions, businesses and residents. It’s also in massive debt, with a long history ...
news.wttw.com
November 19, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Another banger for @wttw.bsky.social by @ndblumberg.bsky.social
In January, my partner, friends and I will be opening up a cultural club in an old bank in Bridgeport: the Mouse Arts and Letters Club. We'll host News Night, a citywide newsroom, screenings, translation + ecology events & more. We'd love you to join us. Sign up for updates: mouseartsandletters.org
Mouse Arts and Letters Club
mouseartsandletters.org
November 14, 2025 at 7:25 PM
In January, my partner, friends and I will be opening up a cultural club in an old bank in Bridgeport: the Mouse Arts and Letters Club. We'll host News Night, a citywide newsroom, screenings, translation + ecology events & more. We'd love you to join us. Sign up for updates: mouseartsandletters.org
a year of news night!
November 14, 2025 at 3:49 PM
a year of news night!
Reposted by Blair Paddock
You probably saw videos of a nighttime raid in Chicago. Agents rappelling from a helicopter, bursting down doors, questioning brown-skinned immigrants.
We investigated -- and found little evidence to support the government’s claims about Tren de Aragua.
www.propublica.org/article/chic...
We investigated -- and found little evidence to support the government’s claims about Tren de Aragua.
www.propublica.org/article/chic...
“I Lost Everything”: Venezuelans Were Rounded Up in a Dramatic Midnight Raid but Never Charged With a Crime
Authorities said Tren de Aragua “terrorists” had taken over the building. A ProPublica investigation found little evidence to back up the government’s claims. For the first time, the Venezuelans arres...
www.propublica.org
November 13, 2025 at 1:28 PM
You probably saw videos of a nighttime raid in Chicago. Agents rappelling from a helicopter, bursting down doors, questioning brown-skinned immigrants.
We investigated -- and found little evidence to support the government’s claims about Tren de Aragua.
www.propublica.org/article/chic...
We investigated -- and found little evidence to support the government’s claims about Tren de Aragua.
www.propublica.org/article/chic...
And Illinois State Police provides access to gang database info to DHS. In June, I found that DHS Enforcement and Removal Operations signed a data sharing agreement with ISP in *2024*. news.wttw.com/2025/06/02/i...
November 13, 2025 at 3:01 AM
And Illinois State Police provides access to gang database info to DHS. In June, I found that DHS Enforcement and Removal Operations signed a data sharing agreement with ISP in *2024*. news.wttw.com/2025/06/02/i...
Reposted by Blair Paddock
NEW: DHS secretly obtained Chicago police data on 900 residents accused of gang ties. It was quietly deleted after intelligence officers violated rules against domestic spying.
The handoff came well after city inspectors formally announced CPD's gang data was deeply flawed and infected w/ bias.
The handoff came well after city inspectors formally announced CPD's gang data was deeply flawed and infected w/ bias.
DHS Kept Chicago Police Records for Months in Violation of Domestic Espionage Rules
The Department of Homeland Security collected data on Chicago residents accused of gang ties to test if police files could feed an FBI watchlist. Months passed before anyone noticed it wasn’t deleted.
www.wired.com
November 12, 2025 at 10:04 PM
NEW: DHS secretly obtained Chicago police data on 900 residents accused of gang ties. It was quietly deleted after intelligence officers violated rules against domestic spying.
The handoff came well after city inspectors formally announced CPD's gang data was deeply flawed and infected w/ bias.
The handoff came well after city inspectors formally announced CPD's gang data was deeply flawed and infected w/ bias.
Reposted by Blair Paddock
Good morning from Judge Jeffrey Cumming's courtroom, where he's considering a motion to release 100s of "Midway Blitz" arrestees on EM who were subjected to "warrantless" arrest.
ICE and CBP recently produced a list of 3,300 people arrested since June
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/10/24/c...
ICE and CBP recently produced a list of 3,300 people arrested since June
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/10/24/c...
Federal judge appears poised to order release of at least some ‘Operation Midway Blitz’ arrestees
A Chicago federal judge appeared poised Friday to order at least a portion of the thousands of people detained in “Operation Midway Blitz” released on electronic monitoring while litiga…
www.chicagotribune.com
November 12, 2025 at 4:59 PM
Good morning from Judge Jeffrey Cumming's courtroom, where he's considering a motion to release 100s of "Midway Blitz" arrestees on EM who were subjected to "warrantless" arrest.
ICE and CBP recently produced a list of 3,300 people arrested since June
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/10/24/c...
ICE and CBP recently produced a list of 3,300 people arrested since June
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/10/24/c...
tomorrow!
November 12, 2025 at 2:03 PM
tomorrow!
Reposted by Blair Paddock
Reposted by Blair Paddock
Legal experts called DHS’ move to use driver’s license data for citizenship checks more evidence of federal overreach.
“The administration wants to get as much data as it can, however it can, whenever it can.”
With @texastribune.org
“The administration wants to get as much data as it can, however it can, whenever it can.”
With @texastribune.org
DHS Wants States to Hand Over Driver’s License Data for Citizenship Checks
It’s the latest step in an unprecedented initiative to pool confidential data that the Trump administration claims will help identify noncitizens on voter rolls and tighten immigration enforcement.
www.propublica.org
November 2, 2025 at 10:00 PM
Legal experts called DHS’ move to use driver’s license data for citizenship checks more evidence of federal overreach.
“The administration wants to get as much data as it can, however it can, whenever it can.”
With @texastribune.org
“The administration wants to get as much data as it can, however it can, whenever it can.”
With @texastribune.org
Reposted by Blair Paddock
When Jose Jeronimo Guardian showed up at a Spanish language traffic court this week, he didn’t expect to be detained and face expulsion from a country he’d lived in for more than two decades.
With @capitolnewsil.bsky.social: illinoisanswers.org/2025/10/31/i...
With @capitolnewsil.bsky.social: illinoisanswers.org/2025/10/31/i...
‘They are literally targeting people.’ ICE comes to southern Illinois
CARLYLE, Ill. — When Jose Jeronimo Guardian showed up at a Spanish language traffic court this week, he didn’t expect to be detained and face expulsion from a country he’d […]
illinoisanswers.org
November 3, 2025 at 3:20 PM
When Jose Jeronimo Guardian showed up at a Spanish language traffic court this week, he didn’t expect to be detained and face expulsion from a country he’d lived in for more than two decades.
With @capitolnewsil.bsky.social: illinoisanswers.org/2025/10/31/i...
With @capitolnewsil.bsky.social: illinoisanswers.org/2025/10/31/i...
Reposted by Blair Paddock
A partial list of what Bovino does not have to tell a federal judge happened today:
*An agent pushed a City Council member in Albany Park
*Agents deployed pepper spray in Albany Park & Evanston
*Agents were involved in a car crash in Evanston
*An agent pointed a gun at a woman in Evanston
*An agent pushed a City Council member in Albany Park
*Agents deployed pepper spray in Albany Park & Evanston
*Agents were involved in a car crash in Evanston
*An agent pointed a gun at a woman in Evanston
BREAKING: Border Patrol chief Greg Bovino, who led a series of raids across Chicago, Evanston and Skokie on Friday, does not have to report every weekday at 6 p.m. in person to the federal judge who has tried to rein in federal agents’ use of force, an appeals court ruled. @wttw.bsky.social
Appeals Court Rules Border Patrol Chief Greg Bovino Does Not Have to Check In Every Day With Federal Judge
Border Patrol chief Greg Bovino, who led a series of raids across Chicago, Evanston and Skokie on Friday, does not have to report every weekday at 6 p.m. in person to the federal judge who has tried t...
news.wttw.com
October 31, 2025 at 9:54 PM
A partial list of what Bovino does not have to tell a federal judge happened today:
*An agent pushed a City Council member in Albany Park
*Agents deployed pepper spray in Albany Park & Evanston
*Agents were involved in a car crash in Evanston
*An agent pointed a gun at a woman in Evanston
*An agent pushed a City Council member in Albany Park
*Agents deployed pepper spray in Albany Park & Evanston
*Agents were involved in a car crash in Evanston
*An agent pointed a gun at a woman in Evanston
Reposted by Blair Paddock
New: a class action suit filed in Chicago's federal court this morning alleges overcrowding and inhumane conditions at the Broadview, IL ICE facility, as well detainees being denied legal counsel.
The plaintiffs say this amounts to 1A and 5A violations.
The plaintiffs say this amounts to 1A and 5A violations.
October 31, 2025 at 1:51 PM
New: a class action suit filed in Chicago's federal court this morning alleges overcrowding and inhumane conditions at the Broadview, IL ICE facility, as well detainees being denied legal counsel.
The plaintiffs say this amounts to 1A and 5A violations.
The plaintiffs say this amounts to 1A and 5A violations.
a year of news nights! november 13!
October 30, 2025 at 10:50 PM
a year of news nights! november 13!
Reposted by Blair Paddock
NEW: ICE is planning to build a shadow deportation network in Texas. A proposal outlines a 24/7 transport operation run by armed contractors—turning Texas into the logistical backbone of an industrialized deportation machine.
My latest @wired.com: www.wired.com/story/ice-is...
My latest @wired.com: www.wired.com/story/ice-is...
October 30, 2025 at 4:52 PM
NEW: ICE is planning to build a shadow deportation network in Texas. A proposal outlines a 24/7 transport operation run by armed contractors—turning Texas into the logistical backbone of an industrialized deportation machine.
My latest @wired.com: www.wired.com/story/ice-is...
My latest @wired.com: www.wired.com/story/ice-is...
i am looking for Exciting blogs about chicago or illinois happenings (politics, ecology, art, w/e) for news night. anyone have any recommendations?
October 29, 2025 at 3:25 PM
i am looking for Exciting blogs about chicago or illinois happenings (politics, ecology, art, w/e) for news night. anyone have any recommendations?
Reposted by Blair Paddock
NEW: Mayor Brandon Johnson’s proposed budget for 2026 sets aside just $82.5M to cover the cost of resolving police misconduct lawsuits, even though the city has already agreed to spend $90M next year to resolve 176 lawsuits tied to former Sgt. Ronald Watts and his team. @wttw.bsky.social
Johnson’s 2026 Budget Sets Aside Just $82.5M to Resolve Police Misconduct Lawsuits, Even Though Chicago Has Already Spent $90M
Chicago taxpayers have spent at least $267 million to resolve lawsuits alleging Chicago police officers committed a wide range of misconduct so far this year, according to an analysis of city data by ...
news.wttw.com
October 23, 2025 at 6:39 PM
NEW: Mayor Brandon Johnson’s proposed budget for 2026 sets aside just $82.5M to cover the cost of resolving police misconduct lawsuits, even though the city has already agreed to spend $90M next year to resolve 176 lawsuits tied to former Sgt. Ronald Watts and his team. @wttw.bsky.social
NEW: An Illinois lawmaker put out a call to corrections staff to contact her about incarcerated undocumented people. Months later, she gets a list purporting to be that, and hands it to Kristi Noem. But it appears to be information that DHS already had access to. news.wttw.com/2025/10/24/i...
Illinois Lawmaker Wants to Help Federal Immigration Officials ID Undocumented People in State Custody
In an October interview with a downstate radio station, state Sen. Terri Bryant said she gave a list of undocumented individuals currently being held in Illinois state prisons to Secretary of Homeland...
news.wttw.com
October 24, 2025 at 9:17 PM
NEW: An Illinois lawmaker put out a call to corrections staff to contact her about incarcerated undocumented people. Months later, she gets a list purporting to be that, and hands it to Kristi Noem. But it appears to be information that DHS already had access to. news.wttw.com/2025/10/24/i...
Reposted by Blair Paddock
This brilliant little article gets at what I’ve seen but haven’t yet read: Chicago locals, regardless of status, are apprehensive about venturing out to restaurants and food stalls targeted by ICE. The result is a whole sector in economic and social crisis.
www.chicagomag.com/news/we-wont...
www.chicagomag.com/news/we-wont...
“We Won’t Survive if You Don’t Support Us”
ICE presence in Chicago has hurt the local economies in immigrant communities — which could in turn put a financial strain on the city at large.
www.chicagomag.com
October 23, 2025 at 9:49 PM
This brilliant little article gets at what I’ve seen but haven’t yet read: Chicago locals, regardless of status, are apprehensive about venturing out to restaurants and food stalls targeted by ICE. The result is a whole sector in economic and social crisis.
www.chicagomag.com/news/we-wont...
www.chicagomag.com/news/we-wont...
NEW: I found 17 sheriffs in Illinois that have contracts to detain people for ICE through U.S. Marshals Service contracts. IL law explicitly prohibits these types of intergovernmental service agreements. news.wttw.com/2025/10/22/d...
Despite Illinois Sanctuary Laws, At Least 17 County Sheriffs Have Contracts to Hold People in ICE Custody
To ascertain if county jails are complying with the state’s TRUST Act, WTTW News sent Freedom of Information Act requests to each of the 90 county jails in Illinois to obtain copies of intergovernment...
news.wttw.com
October 22, 2025 at 3:15 PM
NEW: I found 17 sheriffs in Illinois that have contracts to detain people for ICE through U.S. Marshals Service contracts. IL law explicitly prohibits these types of intergovernmental service agreements. news.wttw.com/2025/10/22/d...
Reposted by Blair Paddock
In 1861, abolitionists in Chicago claimed no “fugitive slave” had been arrested in Chicago in 8 years. But after Lincoln was inaugurated, the new U.S. Marshal for the territory started making arrests. The more progressive papers howled and a vigilance committee was formed:
(1/)
(1/)
October 21, 2025 at 8:21 PM
In 1861, abolitionists in Chicago claimed no “fugitive slave” had been arrested in Chicago in 8 years. But after Lincoln was inaugurated, the new U.S. Marshal for the territory started making arrests. The more progressive papers howled and a vigilance committee was formed:
(1/)
(1/)
TONIGHT!
October 16, 2025 at 6:01 PM
TONIGHT!