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charlesintl.bsky.social
Charles International Law
@charlesintl.bsky.social
590 followers 3.1K following 170 posts
Accomplished and effective litigation firm led by a progressive former federal prosecutor and U.S. Navy SEAL. We specialize in immigration and international law, especially political asylum for those who speak truth to power.
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charlesintl.bsky.social
Authoritarianism isn’t binary. The most dangerous place for a country is the middle—where institutions weaken and violence rises. My video explains why the U.S. is exhibiting the patterns predicted by SOCOM doctrine.

natecharles.substack.com/p/authoritar...

#RuleOfLaw #Democracy #Authoritarianism
Authoritarianism Isn’t Binary: Why the U.S. Is Entering the Most Dangerous Zone
Understanding the Spectrum Between Democracy and Autocracy—and Why Hybrid Regimes See the Most Violence
natecharles.substack.com
December 9, 2025 at 5:53 AM
charlesintl.bsky.social
Did you miss an immigration hearing because of something outside your control?

An in absentia removal order can be reopened—but the burden is high, and the deadlines are strict.

www.charlesinternationallaw.com/motions-to-r...

#ImmigrationLaw #RemovalDefense #AsylumLaw #MotionToReopen #EOIR
Motions to Reopen for Exceptional Circumstances | Immigration Court Deadlines & Legal Standards — Charles International Law
Understand when a Motion to Reopen based on “exceptional circumstances” is available, the 180-day filing deadline under 8 U.S.C. § 1229a(b)(5)(C)(i), and what evidence is required to prove serious ill...
www.charlesinternationallaw.com
December 8, 2025 at 1:41 AM
charlesintl.bsky.social
The White House can’t convert an immigration tool into a war power. An FTO designation under the INA doesn’t authorize military force—and pretending it does is how unlawful strikes get whitewashed.
natecharles.substack.com/p/fto-design...
#RuleOfLaw #NationalSecurity #WarPowers
FTO Designations Are Not War Powers
Why Immigration Tools Do Not Authorize Military Force—And Why Presidents Keep Pretending They Do
natecharles.substack.com
December 7, 2025 at 9:44 PM
charlesintl.bsky.social
“I Know What Happened During the Drug Boat Strikes.”
A land-warfare tactic got transplanted into a maritime environment where it didn't apply. This was avoidable, foreseeable, and rooted in institutional misunderstanding.
natecharles.substack.com/p/drug-boat-...
#LawOfArmedConflict #NationalSecurity
I Know What Happened During the Drug Boat Strikes
How a Misapplied Battlefield Tactic Turned a Maritime Operation into a Legal Disaster
natecharles.substack.com
December 4, 2025 at 5:27 PM
charlesintl.bsky.social
Who actually enforces war crimes and crimes against humanity?
Short answer: sovereign states are supposed to—but the ICC and ad hoc tribunals fill gaps when states fail.

Full episode:
natecharles.substack.com/p/internatio...
Who Enforces War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity?
International Responsibility for Regulating Atrocities
natecharles.substack.com
December 3, 2025 at 5:36 PM
charlesintl.bsky.social
“War crimes” and “crimes against humanity” aren't synonyms. I explain the actual legal distinction—from the Geneva Conventions to Nuremberg, and where the boat-strike cases fit.

natecharles.substack.com/p/war-crimes...

#WarCrimes #CrimesAgainstHumanity #InternationalLaw #RuleOfLaw #NatSec
War Crimes vs. Crimes Against Humanity: What the Law Actually Says
Understanding the real legal line between battlefield violations and Nuremberg-level atrocities
natecharles.substack.com
December 3, 2025 at 1:10 AM
charlesintl.bsky.social
The Geneva Conventions don’t turn off because a government refuses to say the word “war.”
Common Articles 2 & 3 apply based on facts, not political labels.

A “no survivors” order is illegal every time.

natecharles.substack.com/p/geneva-con...

#RuleOfLaw #GenevaConventions #LOAC #NationalSecurity
Yes, the Geneva Conventions Apply — Even When the U.S. Says “We’re Not at War”
Why a “no-survivors” directive is illegal under Common Articles 2 and 3—and why Supreme Court precedent leaves no room for debate.
natecharles.substack.com
December 1, 2025 at 3:31 PM
charlesintl.bsky.social
The Johnstown Flood wasn’t a natural disaster. It was a preventable man-made catastrophe — and a warning about what happens when the legal system bends toward the powerful.

natecharles.substack.com/p/johnstown-...

#History #Law #Accountability #JohnstownFlood #CorporatePower #Democracy
The Johnstown Flood: A Man-Made Disaster Exposing America’s Two-Tiered Legal System
I grew up in Pennsylvania, and like most kids there, I learned about the Johnstown Flood early.
natecharles.substack.com
December 1, 2025 at 2:06 AM
charlesintl.bsky.social
The D.C. National Guard shooting deserves factual analysis, not collective punishment.

I break down why scapegoating allies is indefensible and a violation of the refugee system.

natecharles.substack.com/p/dc-nationa...

#NationalSecurity #RuleOfLaw #Immigration #Afghanistan #Asylum #HumanRights
The D.C. National Guard Shooting — And the Truth About Our Afghan Allies
Watch now | A former SEAL officer and national-security prosecutor cuts through the noise on the D.C. attack, Afghan refugees, and America’s moral obligations.
natecharles.substack.com
November 27, 2025 at 6:05 PM
charlesintl.bsky.social
Who can stop Donald Trump?

I break down the failure of the courts, Congress, the impeachment process, and explain why the final check on presidential power is the voters.

natecharles.substack.com/p/who-can-st...

#RuleOfLaw #Democracy #Constitution #Impeachment #USPolitics
Who Can Actually Stop Donald Trump? The Constitutional Reality No One Wants to Face
Why the courts, Congress, and impeachment are failing—and why the final responsibility lands on the voters.
natecharles.substack.com
November 26, 2025 at 9:43 PM
charlesintl.bsky.social
The FBI reportedly opened an inquiry into lawmakers based entirely on political speech. That’s a direct violation of the DIOG and the AG Guidelines.

This crosses a legal and institutional line.

natecharles.substack.com/p/fbi-invest...

#RuleOfLaw #Democracy #FBI #CivilLiberties #NationalSecurity
The FBI Has Crossed a Line
Why a New FBI Inquiry Into Lawmakers’ Speech Should Alarm Every American
natecharles.substack.com
November 25, 2025 at 10:23 PM
charlesintl.bsky.social
The Naval Academy just fired its Commandant citing loss of confidence. The Navy knows that phrase is a black box.

I break down why this raises serious questions about political pressure on military leadership.

natecharles.substack.com/p/naval-acad...

#Military #NavalAcademy #RuleOfLaw #Democracy
What “Loss of Confidence” Really Means at the Naval Academy
A candid look at the firing of the Commandant—and the deeper risks to civil-military norms
natecharles.substack.com
November 25, 2025 at 4:26 PM
charlesintl.bsky.social
New immigration law resource just published: a full guide to Motions to Reopen—deadlines, exceptions, evidence requirements, and practitioner checklists.

Read here:
www.charlesinternationallaw.com/motions-to-r...

#ImmigrationLaw #Asylum #RemovalDefense #BIA #RuleOfLaw
Motions to Reopen in Immigration Court: Deadlines, Requirements, and How to File — Charles International Law
Learn when a motion to reopen is appropriate, the 90-day deadline and its exceptions, evidence requirements, and how to strengthen your case. This practitioner-focused guide covers changed country con...
www.charlesinternationallaw.com
November 25, 2025 at 6:50 AM
charlesintl.bsky.social
Mauritania remains a functioning caste state where slavery continues in practice, dissent is criminalized, and LGBTQ people live under a death penalty. The world pretends not to see it.

natecharles.substack.com/p/mauritania...

#Mauritania #HumanRights #Slavery #Asylum #Democracy

X / TWITTER
Mauritania: The Worst Country You’ve Probably Never Heard Of
How an African military dictatorship built on caste, slavery, and fear endures in silence — and why the world keeps looking away.
natecharles.substack.com
November 24, 2025 at 11:28 PM
charlesintl.bsky.social
A judge tossed the Trump-driven indictments against Comey + Letitia James as unlawful. The Pentagon is threatening to recall Sen. Mark Kelly for a court-martial.

Authoritarianism isn’t hiding.

open.substack.com/pub/natechar...

#RuleOfLaw #Democracy #NationalSecurity
Come At Me: Mark Kelly, the Pentagon, and the Authoritarian Playbook
Why the Speech and Debate Clause Blocks Trump’s Attempt to Weaponize Military Law
open.substack.com
November 24, 2025 at 11:10 PM
charlesintl.bsky.social
Most immigrant visa cases must go through consular processing, and it’s unforgiving. Our new research guide covers NVC review, consular interviews, medical exams, and §221(g) delays.

Read here:
www.charlesinternationallaw.com/consular-pro...

#immigrationlaw #consularprocessing #NVC #visas
Consular Processing Overview | Immigrant Visa Guide & Legal Standards — Charles International Law
A clear, attorney-written guide to consular processing for immigrant visas. Learn how USCIS approval leads to National Visa Center (NVC) review, consular interviews, medical exams, admissibility check...
www.charlesinternationallaw.com
November 21, 2025 at 6:58 PM
charlesintl.bsky.social
The real legal standards around unlawful orders, why officers are obligated to refuse them, and why the GOP’s “sedition” narrative collapses immediately under constitutional analysis.

natecharles.substack.com/p/refusing-u...

#RuleOfLaw #UnlawfulOrders #NationalSecurity #MilitaryLaw #Democracy
Refusing Unlawful Orders: What the Law Actually Requires—And Why Republicans Are Dead Wrong
A Naval Academy–trained perspective on duty, constitutional limits, and the dangerous misuse of “sedition” in American politics.
natecharles.substack.com
November 20, 2025 at 9:53 PM
charlesintl.bsky.social
Democratic senators just reminded everyone that U.S. service members and intelligence personnel have a legal duty to refuse unlawful orders. They’re absolutely right.

open.substack.com/pub/natechar...

#UnlawfulOrders #Constitution #RuleOfLaw #NationalSecurity #Democracy
When Duty and Law Collide:
An Officer’s Obligation to Disobey
open.substack.com
November 20, 2025 at 5:25 AM
charlesintl.bsky.social
Psychological abuse is legally recognized as persecution.
Death threats, intimidation, coercive control—none of this is “minor.”

Full analysis:
www.charlesinternationallaw.com/psychologica...

#AsylumLaw #HumanRights #ImmigrationLaw #RefugeeLaw #Persecution #LegalAnalysis
Psychological Abuse as Persecution in U.S. Asylum Law | Legal Standards & Key Cases — Charles International Law
A detailed legal guide to how psychological abuse—including credible death threats, intimidation, coercive control, and emotional harm—qualifies as persecution under U.S. asylum law. Covers key BIA an...
www.charlesinternationallaw.com
November 19, 2025 at 3:53 PM
charlesintl.bsky.social
Why do ordinary people turn toward authoritarian strongmen—often against their own long-term interests?
I break down the psychology behind the shift and how democracies can push back.

natecharles.substack.com/p/the-psycho...

#Authoritarianism #Democracy #Psychology #NationalSecurity #HumanRights
The Psychology of Authoritarianism
What drives ordinary people to embrace strongmen, and how to resist it
natecharles.substack.com
November 18, 2025 at 5:55 PM
charlesintl.bsky.social
We’ve turned “socialism” and “communism” into catch-all political insults. The reality is more complicated—and more important. Here’s why the misuse matters:
open.substack.com/pub/natechar...

#Politics #Democracy #Governance
Stop Misusing “Socialism” and “Communism” — Words That No Longer Mean Anything in American Politics
How both the left and the right have corrupted two technical economic terms into empty political weapons—and why that distortion is poisoning our national discourse.
open.substack.com
November 16, 2025 at 8:17 PM
charlesintl.bsky.social
"The Librarians" exposes more than book bans. This is a coordinated effort to reshape public education into an engine for Christian nationalist ideology.

I break down the tactics, the danger, and why parallels to "The Handmaid’s Tale" are no longer academic.
natecharles.substack.com/p/the-librar...
The Librarians: A Documentary That Refuses to Look Away
Why This Film Matters More Than Its Marketing Suggests
natecharles.substack.com
November 15, 2025 at 10:11 PM
charlesintl.bsky.social
A huge milestone with the New Glenn launch and booster recovery—proud of my brother Jordan and the whole Blue Origin team. Spaceflight isn’t just engineering; it reflects the curiosity and ambition that democracies depend on.

View the full piece:
natecharles.substack.com/p/why-spacef...
Why Spaceflight Still Matters
A successful New Glenn launch, a recovered booster, and what it all says about the values a democracy can’t afford to lose.
natecharles.substack.com
November 14, 2025 at 4:45 PM
charlesintl.bsky.social
The new Epstein files show Trump spent hours with a trafficking victim—but the real story is how we’ve stopped feeling it.

The “slow drip” is a propaganda technique—a controlled disclosure strategy designed to dull outrage.

open.substack.com/pub/natechar...

#RuleOfLaw #Propaganda #ScandalFatigue
The Slow Drip Strategy: How Propaganda Numbs the Public
Why the Epstein email revelations about Trump are landing with a whisper, not a bang — and how scandal fatigue is being weaponized.
open.substack.com
November 13, 2025 at 5:00 AM
charlesintl.bsky.social
Veterans Day isn’t about flags or freebies.
It’s about an oath — not to a man, but to the Constitution.
And that oath still matters.

🎙️ Read or listen: open.substack.com/pub/natechar...

#VeteransDay #RuleOfLaw #Democracy #TheOathStillMatters
The Oath Still Matters
A veteran reflects on why America’s promise is worth defending — and why blind loyalty threatens the ideals we swore to protect.
open.substack.com
November 12, 2025 at 12:00 AM