Aaron Reichlin-Melnick
@reichlinmelnick.bsky.social
Senior Fellow at the American Immigration Council. Commenting generally on immigration law and policy. Retweets =/= endorsements, views are my own.
Reposted by Aaron Reichlin-Melnick
This is a follow up to my earlier look inside Connecticut's only immigration court, where I spent a week reporting alongside an illustrator. www.ctinsider.com/news/article...
A week inside the opaque court where CT immigrants learn their fate
The courtroom often resembles an assembly line, with many cases taking less than five minutes.
www.ctinsider.com
December 18, 2025 at 2:37 PM
This is a follow up to my earlier look inside Connecticut's only immigration court, where I spent a week reporting alongside an illustrator. www.ctinsider.com/news/article...
Yes! A bit of nice peppery flavor and a bit of heat, but not enough to overpower the flavor of what you're eating.
December 18, 2025 at 12:57 PM
Yes! A bit of nice peppery flavor and a bit of heat, but not enough to overpower the flavor of what you're eating.
Aleppo pepper is my secret super-spice; pretty much goes with anything that needs a bit of warmth.
December 18, 2025 at 12:45 PM
Aleppo pepper is my secret super-spice; pretty much goes with anything that needs a bit of warmth.
The official White House line, straight from the President, is now "immigrants are the cause of all of your problems."
I do not think that argument is going over well in our nation of immigrants.
I do not think that argument is going over well in our nation of immigrants.
December 18, 2025 at 3:02 AM
The official White House line, straight from the President, is now "immigrants are the cause of all of your problems."
I do not think that argument is going over well in our nation of immigrants.
I do not think that argument is going over well in our nation of immigrants.
Apropos of this thread. bsky.app/profile/bren...
The Supreme Court has strict limits on denaturalization that are deeply rooted in protections guaranteed by the 1st and 14th Amendments. Here's how they got there: bit.ly/4rh6WJT
How the Supreme Court Rejected Denaturalization as a Political Weapon Long Ago
New threats to strip opponents of citizenship recall a dark history.
www.brennancenter.org
December 17, 2025 at 11:49 PM
Apropos of this thread. bsky.app/profile/bren...
Yeah gamers are unhinged at times.
December 17, 2025 at 11:38 PM
Yeah gamers are unhinged at times.
Good question. I don’t know. But I suspect people will try. bsky.app/profile/jere...
Analogous to those criminally charged, can denatz targets legally respond if they are being selectively or vindictively targetted w/ denatz and have the process "dismissed"?
B/c I figure Donald Trump is fixing to do this both selectively and vindictively.
B/c I figure Donald Trump is fixing to do this both selectively and vindictively.
December 17, 2025 at 11:36 PM
Good question. I don’t know. But I suspect people will try. bsky.app/profile/jere...
I think that is also a likelihood, yes. 100-200 cases a month means you can target disfavored groups.
I think Aaron's right in terms of logistics, but my sense is the broader goal is to normalize denaturalization to a far greater degree, and to erode any kind of shock value in public opinion, so that it can be selectively weaponized against specific targets with less resistance
I’ll also note that there are 25 million naturalized citizens, so even if the Trump admin succeeded at its wildest dreams, we’re talking 2,400 denaturalizations a year, or 0.01% of the total naturalized immigrant population.
So it’s more to spread fear and send a message than make a tangible dent.
So it’s more to spread fear and send a message than make a tangible dent.
December 17, 2025 at 11:22 PM
I think that is also a likelihood, yes. 100-200 cases a month means you can target disfavored groups.
He actually already heard a denaturalization case in 2017, Maslenjak v. US. It was a unanimous-in-outcome case that held you can’t be denatzed for an immaterial false statement. Gorsuch concurred, joined by Thomas, to say he thought the court was weighing in too soon on a doctrinal issue.
can't wait for the tortured legal reasoning in the 5-4 Gorsuch in 2028 making it much easier for the feds to bring and win these cases
December 17, 2025 at 11:21 PM
He actually already heard a denaturalization case in 2017, Maslenjak v. US. It was a unanimous-in-outcome case that held you can’t be denatzed for an immaterial false statement. Gorsuch concurred, joined by Thomas, to say he thought the court was weighing in too soon on a doctrinal issue.
I’ll also note that there are 25 million naturalized citizens, so even if the Trump admin succeeded at its wildest dreams, we’re talking 2,400 denaturalizations a year, or 0.01% of the total naturalized immigrant population.
So it’s more to spread fear and send a message than make a tangible dent.
So it’s more to spread fear and send a message than make a tangible dent.
December 17, 2025 at 11:08 PM
I’ll also note that there are 25 million naturalized citizens, so even if the Trump admin succeeded at its wildest dreams, we’re talking 2,400 denaturalizations a year, or 0.01% of the total naturalized immigrant population.
So it’s more to spread fear and send a message than make a tangible dent.
So it’s more to spread fear and send a message than make a tangible dent.
Real Article III courts, in front of life-tenure federal judges.
are those cases adjudicated in real article 3 courts or DOJ makebelieve courts?
December 17, 2025 at 11:05 PM
Real Article III courts, in front of life-tenure federal judges.