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Reposted by Rachel Levinson-Waldman

Julia Rose Kraut @juliarosekraut.bsky.social · 17h

Read this 🧵 from @rlevinsonwaldman.bsky.social ⬇️

Rachel Levinson-Waldman @rlevinsonwaldman.bsky.social · 1d

Great piece from @dell.bsky.social at @wired.com about ICE's newest foray into social media monitoring: the agency is putting out feelers for contractors who can do on-site, open source intel 24/7 for ICE's Targeting Operations Division (TOD). 1/ www.wired.com/story/ice-so...

ICE Wants to Build Out a 24/7 Social Media Surveillance Team

Documents show that ICE plans to hire dozens of contractors to scan X, Facebook, TikTok, and other platforms to target people for deportation.

www.wired.com

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Rachel Levinson-Waldman @rlevinsonwaldman.bsky.social · 1d

Thanks Dan! (I think….)

Dan Froomkin/Press Watch/Heads Up News @froomkin.bsky.social · 1d

Very troubling thread ==>

Rachel Levinson-Waldman @rlevinsonwaldman.bsky.social · 1d

Great piece from @dell.bsky.social at @wired.com about ICE's newest foray into social media monitoring: the agency is putting out feelers for contractors who can do on-site, open source intel 24/7 for ICE's Targeting Operations Division (TOD). 1/ www.wired.com/story/ice-so...

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Rachel Levinson-Waldman @rlevinsonwaldman.bsky.social · 1d

To be sure, the collection of social media data for immigration purposes is hardly new. And the official contracting process is not yet underway. But if this proposal is implemented, it will open the door to an ominous new use of social media. 13/ www.brennancenter.org/our-work/res...

The Government’s Growing Trove of Social Media Data

It’s increasingly collecting and using social media information to make high-stakes decisions related to immigration.

www.brennancenter.org

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Rachel Levinson-Waldman @rlevinsonwaldman.bsky.social · 1d

Finally, the RFI invites prospective contractors to describe how they would use artificial intelligence. But as @nasser.wiki & I recently explained, AI is likely to create more problems than it solves in trying to flag people for what they say or do online. 12/ www.brennancenter.org/our-work/res...

“Continuous Vetting” of All Visa Holders Is Impossible, but the Threat Alone Chills Free Speech

Government claims of AI-powered surveillance create an illusion of total oversight that encourages self-censorship without actually improving security.

www.brennancenter.org

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Rachel Levinson-Waldman @rlevinsonwaldman.bsky.social · 1d

And the web will be cast broader than that - the govt may also ask contractors to use social media and other sources to gather data on a targeted individual's associates, including family, friends, and co-workers. The docs provide few details on how that information will be used or retained. 11/

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Rachel Levinson-Waldman @rlevinsonwaldman.bsky.social · 1d

These orders & the new proposal suggest ICE is gearing up to use social media to collect and weaponize a wealth of information on anyone who's expressed views the administration doesn't like – a task that will be even easier with ICE’s massive funding boost. 10/ www.brennancenter.org/our-work/ana...

Big Budget Act Creates a “Deportation-Industrial Complex”

The result will be a lopsided, enforcement-only machine that will be hard to dismantle.

www.brennancenter.org

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Rachel Levinson-Waldman @rlevinsonwaldman.bsky.social · 1d

...followed closely by a national security memorandum insinuating that anyone with non-orthodox views, from "anti-Christianity" and "anti-capitalism" to opposition to "traditional American views on family, religion, & morality," could be a domestic terrorist. 9/ www.whitehouse.gov/presidential...

Countering Domestic Terrorism and Organized Political Violence

NATIONAL SECURITY PRESIDENTIAL MEMORANDUM/NSPM-7 MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATE THE SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL

www.whitehouse.gov

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Rachel Levinson-Waldman @rlevinsonwaldman.bsky.social · 1d

...which, by the way, he has no legal authority to do... 8/ www.npr.org/2025/09/19/n...

Trump has designated 'antifa' a terrorist group. Here are the questions that raises

Current law provides for the designation of some groups as "foreign terrorist organizations," but no similar process exists for domestic groups.

www.npr.org

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Rachel Levinson-Waldman @rlevinsonwaldman.bsky.social · 1d

The work statement categorizes "national security threats," incl. people engaged in "domestic terrorism," as the top priority. This coincides w/ Trump’s recent order designating the diffuse anti-fascism movement known as "antifa" as a domestic terrorist group... 7/ www.whitehouse.gov/presidential...

Designating Antifa as a Domestic Terrorist Organization

Section 1. Antifa as a Terrorist Threat. Antifa is a militarist, anarchist enterprise that explicitly calls for the overthrow of the United States

www.whitehouse.gov

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Rachel Levinson-Waldman @rlevinsonwaldman.bsky.social · 1d

And as my colleague @margyoh.bsky.social has noted, almost half of those categorized as being here without documentation actually had some kind of protection from removal, such as temporary protected status, parole, or a pending asylum application. 6/ www.justsecurity.org/121122/us-de...

The Deportation Industrial Complex: Arrest and Detention Numbers

Detaining citizens & immigrants without a public safety rationale is inconsistent with American values and wastes of taxpayer money.

www.justsecurity.org

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Rachel Levinson-Waldman @rlevinsonwaldman.bsky.social · 1d

The RFI says that "removing individuals who are present in the U.S. without authorization or are otherwise removable" is a "national public safety priority." But this would include literally everyone in the country without documentation - regardless of whether they pose a public safety threat. 5/

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Rachel Levinson-Waldman @rlevinsonwaldman.bsky.social · 1d

In describing the need for these services, ICE uses words like "national security" and "public safety," suggesting the people targeted will be the worst of the worst. But when you dig deeper, the documents - and events in cities like Los Angeles & Chicago - tell a far different story. 4/

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Rachel Levinson-Waldman @rlevinsonwaldman.bsky.social · 1d

TOD's main mission is to locate people for deportation; the main contracting document advises interested contractors that the winner - once the solicitation actually goes out - will be using social media to "support investigations and aid in targeting individuals." 3/ sam.gov/workspace/co...

Sam Acquisition 360

sam.gov

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Rachel Levinson-Waldman @rlevinsonwaldman.bsky.social · 1d

ICE’s claimed goal is to protect national security and public safety, but details show a high risk of collecting sensitive information on lawful immigrants and citizens, as well as policing - and punishing - protected speech. 2/

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Rachel Levinson-Waldman @rlevinsonwaldman.bsky.social · 1d

Great piece from @dell.bsky.social at @wired.com about ICE's newest foray into social media monitoring: the agency is putting out feelers for contractors who can do on-site, open source intel 24/7 for ICE's Targeting Operations Division (TOD). 1/ www.wired.com/story/ice-so...

ICE Wants to Build Out a 24/7 Social Media Surveillance Team

Documents show that ICE plans to hire dozens of contractors to scan X, Facebook, TikTok, and other platforms to target people for deportation.

www.wired.com

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Reposted by Rachel Levinson-Waldman

Julia Rose Kraut @juliarosekraut.bsky.social · 6d

Make sure to check out this very important expert brief from
@brennancenter.org by Nasser Eledroos & @rlevinsonwaldman.bsky.social. ⬇️

Brennan Center @brennancenter.org · 6d

The Trump administration plans to continuously monitor the 50+ million U.S. visas-holders for "anti-American" social media posts that could get them deported. The threat will chill free speech, which the First Amendment protects regardless of citizenship.
bit.ly/4823Brc

“Continuous Vetting” of All Visa Holders Is Impossible, but the Threat Alone Chills Free Speech

Government claims of AI-powered surveillance create an illusion of total oversight that encourages self-censorship without actually improving security.

www.brennancenter.org

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Rachel Levinson-Waldman @rlevinsonwaldman.bsky.social · 6d

I was glad to work together with brilliant technologist and policy advocate Nasser Eledroos on this piece. Give it a read - it's more salient day by day.

Brennan Center @brennancenter.org · 7d

The Trump administration is escalating its surveillance of tens of millions of *legal* immigrants, forcing them to refrain from expressing opinions that someone might deem “anti-American.” It’s a clear attack on free speech and the First Amendment. bit.ly/4823Brc

“Continuous Vetting” of All Visa Holders Is Impossible, but the Threat Alone Chills Free Speech

Government claims of AI-powered surveillance create an illusion of total oversight that encourages self-censorship without actually improving security.

www.brennancenter.org

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Rachel Levinson-Waldman @rlevinsonwaldman.bsky.social · 9d

This is absolutely horrific. www.nytimes.com/live/2025/09...

Live Updates: 4 Dead, 8 Wounded in Michigan Church Attack

www.nytimes.com

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Rachel Levinson-Waldman @rlevinsonwaldman.bsky.social · 25d

This is truly outrageous. But also, follow @51st.news! 51st.news/house-republ...

Cosplaying as D.C. Council, House Republicans advance dozen-plus bills targeting city they don’t represent

The party of limited government is treading heavily on D.C.

51st.news

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Rachel Levinson-Waldman @rlevinsonwaldman.bsky.social · Sep 6

Thread 🧵👇👇

Margy O’Herron @margyoh.bsky.social · Sep 5

The Trump administration’s plan to use 600 military lawyers as temporary immigration judges, with some starting as soon as this week, will deprive immigrants of a fair hearing and further erode the line between military personnel and civilian government. 1/14

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Rachel Levinson-Waldman @rlevinsonwaldman.bsky.social · Sep 2

Thread 🧵 👇

Joseph Nunn @josephanunn.bsky.social · Sep 2

THREAD: This morning, U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer ruled that President Trump's use of National Guardsmen and Marines to support federal law enforcement in and around Los Angeles violated the Posse Comitatus Act. (1/22) www.cbsnews.com/news/judge-t...

Judge rules Trump's deployment of troops to Los Angeles violated federal law

U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer ruled in favor of California Gov. Gavin Newsom in his challenge to President Trump's deployment of troops to Los Angeles.

www.cbsnews.com

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Reposted by Rachel Levinson-Waldman

Brennan Center @brennancenter.org · Aug 28

The Trump administration is pressuring states to hand over sensitive information about voters. The Brennan Center is tracking the DOJ’s requests and how states respond. bit.ly/3JFbKaB

Tracker of Justice Department Requests for Voter Information

The Trump administration is pressing state officials to provide sensitive information about voters.

www.brennancenter.org

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Reposted by Rachel Levinson-Waldman

Cynthia Levinson @cylev.bsky.social · Aug 25

Curious about what's happening with #gerrymandering #Texas? You REALLY should look at this amazing #teachersguide #curriculum for #FaultLinesintheConstitution @PeachtreePub 2025. It's coming to your state, too. cynthialevinson.com/wp-content/u...

cynthialevinson.com

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Rachel Levinson-Waldman @rlevinsonwaldman.bsky.social · Aug 24

So we have a gremlin now. Our shower has a Bluetooth-enabled speaker (ridic but fun). It has refused to connect for a year. Tonight it suddenly started broadcasting radio channels that aren’t playing anywhere in our house. Multiple mins of random talking + music that could not be disabled. NOT WANT.

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Rachel Levinson-Waldman @rlevinsonwaldman.bsky.social · Aug 21

Instead, this expanded review will magnify the already significant risks of the government's ill-conceived approach.

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