Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Light up
your news

About Privacy Terms Help

Manuel

Manuel

@icyourpixels.bsky.social

200 followers 97 following 520 posts

Tiktok Asylum Seeker!
@jar0folives.bsky.social

https://linktr.ee/Icyrpixels

Posts Replies Media Videos

Pinned

Manuel @icyourpixels.bsky.social · Jan 19

Hi, Bluesky! 👋

I’m Manuel, a cybersecurity specialist with a deep interest in immigration policy and its impact on our society. Focusing on topics like DHS initiatives, border security, and immigration reform.

Looking forward to learning, and connecting.🇺🇸

#ImmigrationPolicy

Manuel

@icyourpixels.bsky.social

This week in the US: Trump paused the congress-created Diversity Visa after the Brown/MIT shootings, blaming a 2017 lottery winner. Policy isn’t abstract—it hits lawful paths and trust. If the facts hold, the precedent sticks. #Immigration #RuleOfLaw

ground.news/article/trum...

Trump suspends green card lottery program that let Brown University, MIT shootings suspect into US

President Donald Trump suspended the green card lottery program on Thursday that allowed the suspect in the Brown University and MIT shootings to come to the United States.

December 19, 2025 at 6:04 PM

Manuel

@icyourpixels.bsky.social

Worth noting in Washington: DHS let Coast Guard policy briefly call swastikas and nooses “potentially divisive,” then erased the wording after backlash. When hate symbols need parsing, trust is already slipped. #CivilRights #Military

ground.news/article/coas...

Noem says Coast Guard will remove divisive language on hate symbols from policy

The U.S. Coast Guard on Thursday deleted language from its new workplace harassment policy that had downgraded the definition of swastikas and nooses from overt hate symbols to “potentially divisive,”...

December 19, 2025 at 6:00 PM

Manuel

@icyourpixels.bsky.social

New in NYC: DHS lawyers are moving to toss asylum cases, arguing people can be sent to Uganda, Honduras, or Ecuador instead. That guts due process in immigration court. #DueProcess

ground.news/article/the-...

Trump Administration Moves to Send Asylum Seekers to Uganda, Honduras and Ecuador

Citing agreements with the three countries, Department of Homeland Security attorneys at 26 Federal Plaza are now asserting that immigrants have no right to apply for asylum in the United States.

December 19, 2025 at 5:56 PM

Manuel

@icyourpixels.bsky.social

Worth noting nationally: DOJ vowed harsh penalties for protest assaults, but AP found over half of felony cases since May were reduced or tossed, with every trial so far ending in acquittal. #CivilLiberties #Immigration

ground.news/article/doj-...

DOJ Reduces Charges in Many Federal Assault Cases Amid Protests

The Justice Department has embarked on a months-long effort to prosecute people accused of assaulting federal officers during protests of President Donald Trump’s immigration policies.

December 19, 2025 at 5:53 PM

Manuel

@icyourpixels.bsky.social

Worth noting in Washington: House Democrats asked GAO to review ICE’s hiring surge after reports that 200 recruits were cut during training, some lacking fingerprints, drug tests, or full background checks. #Immigration #Oversight

ground.news/article/demo...

Democrats Ask Federal Watchdog to Review ICE Hiring Surge Amid Reports of Issues with Trainees

House Democrats on the Homeland Security Committee are asking a government watchdog to undertake a review of the Trump administration’s hiring practices, citing issues with trainees as they dramatical...

December 19, 2025 at 5:46 PM

Manuel

@icyourpixels.bsky.social

This week in Latin America: Brazil and Mexico urge de-escalation as the U.S. blocks sanctioned Venezuelan oil tankers and surges ships. Diplomacy over force is the line here. Pressure like this rarely stays “targeted.” #Venezuela #Geopolitics

ground.news/article/braz...

Brazil, Mexico Call for De-Escalation as US Ramps up Pressure on Venezuela

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum urged the United Nations on Wednesday to “prevent any bloodshed” in Venezuela, as US President Donald Trump piled pressure on the South American country.

December 19, 2025 at 5:44 PM

Manuel

@icyourpixels.bsky.social

Worth noting in Cato, NY: a federal judge ruled ICE violated the Fourth Amendment during a Sept. 4 factory raid, illegally seizing 57 workers under a misused warrant. That’s enforcement drifting into intimidation. Big move, thin guardrails. #Immigration #DueProcess

ground.news/article/fede...

Federal agents violated Fourth Amendment rights in Cato ICE raid, judge rules

The judge granted the motion to suppress evidence for one woman detained in the ICE raid.

December 19, 2025 at 5:42 PM

Manuel

@icyourpixels.bsky.social

This week in Chicago: Illinois’ Accountability Commission heard testimony that Border Patrol used tear gas and pepper spray “by and large unjustified,” including spraying a toddler during Operation Midway Blitz. #Chicago #Immigration

ground.news/article/illi...

Illinois panel's first meeting over federal misconduct focuses on chemical agents

CHICAGO (AP) — A commission formed to document alleged harassment and abuse by federal agents during an immigration crackdown in the Chicago area reviewed the wide use of chemical agents in its first ...

December 19, 2025 at 5:40 PM

Manuel

@icyourpixels.bsky.social

AP reviewed 166 protest cases since May: 55 of 100 felony assault charges were reduced/dropped, and all 5 trials so far ended in acquittals. Big crackdown talk, weak courtroom proof. #Immigration #CivilLiberties

ground.news/article/doj-...

AP: DOJ vowed to punish those who disrupt Trump’s immigration crackdown. Dozens of cases have crumbled

The federal agent described her wounds as “boo-boos.” Nevertheless, the Department of Justice aggressively pursued the alleged perpetrator. They jailed Sidney Lori Reid on a charge of felony assault, ...

December 19, 2025 at 5:37 PM

Manuel

@icyourpixels.bsky.social

Worth noting in Florida: undocumented parents are granting guardianship of their kids as deportations top 605,000 since January, per AFP. Policy isn’t abstract—it’s fear inside homes. Not a headline you shrug at. #Immigration #HumanCost

ground.news/article/depo...

Deportation Fears Spur US Migrants to Entrust Guardianship of Their Children

After her husband was detained by US immigration authorities in September, Rosa found herself alone with her two children, wondering what would happen should she suffer the same fate as him.

December 19, 2025 at 5:27 PM

Manuel

@icyourpixels.bsky.social

Milwaukee update: A federal jury convicted Judge Hannah Dugan of felony obstruction for steering ICE agents away as an immigrant left her courtroom. Courts are supposed to be neutral ground. If that protection weakens, the chill spreads. #Immigration #RuleOfLaw

ground.news/article/wisc...

Wisconsin judge found guilty of obstruction for helping an immigrant evade federal agents

A jury convicted a Wisconsin judge Thursday of obstructing federal agents’ arrest of an undocumented immigrant from Mexico, giving President Donald Trump’s administration a rare win in its prosecution...

December 19, 2025 at 5:24 PM

Manuel

@icyourpixels.bsky.social

Worth noting in Minneapolis: ICE agents dragged a woman through snow during a Dec. 15 arrest as crowds protested. The police chief called it “profoundly disturbing.” That’s how trust erodes fast. #Immigration

ground.news/article/minn...

Minneapolis police chief criticizes ICE tactics after clash with protesters

Minneapolis’ police chief is criticizing federal immigration agents after a confrontation with protesters and an attempted arrest of a woman in which an officer kneeled on her back as she lay atop a s...

December 19, 2025 at 5:18 PM

Manuel

@icyourpixels.bsky.social

Worth noting in Florida: A federal judge refused to shut down the Everglades detention site dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz,” saying a detainee hadn’t shown irreparable harm yet. The legality and access claims remain live. Big move, thin guardrails. #Immigration #DueProcess

ground.news/article/fede...

December 19, 2025 at 5:15 PM

Manuel

@icyourpixels.bsky.social

This week in Portland: nurses say ICE agents were allowed into patient rooms at Legacy Emanuel, with alleged HIPAA violations and pressure on care decisions. Hospitals becoming enforcement spaces chills care fast. A hospital isn’t a checkpoint. #ImmigrantRights #PDX

ground.news/article/port...

Oregon Nurses Association Condemns ICE Actions at Portland Hospital

The Oregon Nurses Association is raising alarms about “recent threats and actions” from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, especially at Legacy Emanuel Medical Center in Portland.

December 17, 2025 at 7:19 PM

Manuel

@icyourpixels.bsky.social

This week in San Diego: Border czar Tom Homan touted drops in trafficking and fentanyl and called it the “most secure border,” but offered no documentation while a new military zone expands enforcement power. Big claims, thin receipts. #Immigration #BorderPolicy

ground.news/article/live...

Border Czar in San Diego with Update on Federal Immigration Crackdown

Tom Homan, the White House border czar, visited San Diego County to provide an update on the federal government's immigration enforcement efforts, touting major gains in border security and deportatio...

December 17, 2025 at 7:14 PM

Manuel

@icyourpixels.bsky.social

This week in the U.S.: naturalization ceremonies were canceled for immigrants from 19 “high-risk” countries, even after years of vetting and approval. When the finish line disappears, due process turns into limbo. #Immigration #Citizenship

ground.news/article/they...

They were almost American - then Trump cancelled their citizenship ceremonies

Immigrants from among the 19 countries banned by the Trump administration tell the BBC how their citizenship ceremonies were abruptly cancelled.

December 17, 2025 at 7:11 PM

Manuel

@icyourpixels.bsky.social

New in NYC: Reports show ICE entered homeless shelters armed and without judicial warrants earlier this year, despite sanctuary laws. That’s enforcement drifting into intimidation inside places meant to be safe. Fear-by-default isn’t public safety. #NYC #Immigration

ground.news/article/ice-...

ICE enters NYC shelters armed and without judicial warrants, reports show

Here's how 'incident reports' detail interactions between federal immigration enforcement officers and staff at city shelters for immigrants.

December 17, 2025 at 7:10 PM

Manuel

@icyourpixels.bsky.social

Worth noting in Milwaukee: a sitting judge is on trial after DOJ accused her of obstructing an ICE courthouse arrest on April 18. However this ends, turning judges into targets reshapes how justice feels inside courtrooms. #Immigration #Courts

ground.news/article/tria...

Trial set to begin for Wisconsin judge accused of helping immigrant evade federal authorities

The trial of a Wisconsin judge accused of helping an immigrant evade federal authorities this spring is set to begin. The proceedings against Milwaukee County...

December 17, 2025 at 7:08 PM

Manuel

@icyourpixels.bsky.social

Worth noting nationally: Sen. Ruben Gallego is becoming a go-to Democratic surrogate with Latino voters after outperforming the top of the ticket in AZ in 2024. Affordability + lived credibility land harder than polish. Trust is the gap to close. #LatinoVoters #Politics

ground.news/article/rube...

Ruben Gallego emerges as key Democratic figure in Latino voter outreach

Sen. Ruben Gallego is emerging as a crucial surrogate for a party desperately seeking to win back the Latino support that slipped in 2024 with the election of President Donald Trump. His fall travels ...

December 17, 2025 at 7:04 PM

Manuel

@icyourpixels.bsky.social

Worth noting in Massachusetts: Gov. Healey is urging ICE to halt deportation flights out of Hanscom after reports of rapid transfers that cut people off from lawyers and family. Due process doesn’t survive secrecy. #Immigration #DueProcess

ground.news/article/heal...

Gov. Urges ICE to Halt Deportation Flights Out of Hanscom

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security recently announced that its enforcement operations have led to more than 605,000 deportations since Jan. 20, 2025.

December 17, 2025 at 7:02 PM

Manuel

@icyourpixels.bsky.social

Worth noting in McCook, Neb.: State lawmakers toured the ICE detention center as construction begins to expand it to 300 beds, with Nebraska paying approximately $14.25 million a year to hold detainees awaiting hearings. #Immigration #Nebraska

ground.news/article/nebr...

Nebraska Lawmakers Tour McCook Detention Center, Construction to Begin on Expansion

Senator Myron Dorn invited all state lawmakers to visit the detention center Monday.

December 17, 2025 at 6:59 PM

Manuel

@icyourpixels.bsky.social

Worth noting in Washington: DHS just ended Family Reunification Parole for families from 7 countries, revoking parole and work permits with little notice. Policy isn’t abstract—it hits homes and jobs. That’s how trust erodes fast. #Immigration #DueProcess

ground.news/article/trum...

Trump Ends ‘Family Reunification Parole’ Program for Immigrants, Citing Fraud and Security Concerns

The Department of Homeland Security announced Friday the immediate termination of all categorical “Family Reunification Parole” programs for foreign nationals from Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador...

December 17, 2025 at 6:57 PM

Manuel

@icyourpixels.bsky.social

This week in Minnesota: Rep. Ilhan Omar says ICE stopped her U.S.-born son in a traffic stop during the Metro Surge, releasing him only after he showed a passport. When enforcement scales like this, regular people feel it first. #Immigration #Minnesota

ground.news/article/minn...

Omar says son targeted by ICE in traffic stop

Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) said her son, a U.S.-born citizen, was targeted by ICE agents on Saturday after he stopped at a Target store.

December 17, 2025 at 6:55 PM

Manuel

@icyourpixels.bsky.social

A lot of immigration headlines right now. Fewer explanations. This week’s update breaks down the policies, the numbers, and the human impact without spin or panic.
#immigration #DHS

open.substack.com/pub/icyrpixe...

December 14, 2025 at 8:39 PM

Manuel

@icyourpixels.bsky.social

Worth noting in Kosovo: the government confirmed the first third-country deportee has arrived from the U.S. under a deal to host up to 50 people. #Immigration #Deportation

ground.news/article/koso...

Kosovo starts accepting third-party deportees from the US

Kosovo has started accepting migrants deported from the United States and who are not originally from Kosovo, caretaker Prime Minister Albin Kurti said late on Thursday.

December 14, 2025 at 8:35 PM