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Anne P. Mitchell, Esq. @annepmitchell.bsky.social · 31m

"Asked what types of views and activities could be found to be "anti-American" by his agency, Edlow cited "what we've seen college campuses to have allowed over the last several years.""

www.cbsnews.com/news/immigra...

U.S. probing immigration applicants' social media to identify "anti-American" activity that's "beyond the pale," official says

The U.S. government is probing the social media of those applying for legal immigration benefits to root out "anti-American" activity, a top immigration official told CBS News.

www.cbsnews.com

Anne P. Mitchell, Esq. @annepmitchell.bsky.social · 31m

"In August, the Trump administration issued a directive instructing USCIS officials to consider the identification of "anti-American" views and activity of certain applicants for immigration benefits as an "overwhelmingly negative factor" that could justify denial.

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Anne P. Mitchell, Esq. @annepmitchell.bsky.social · 31m

"Joseph Edlow, the director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the federal agency in charge of the legal immigration system, said the vetting effort primarily relies on what he called the "social media screening" of people applying for green cards and other immigration applications.

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Anne P. Mitchell, Esq. @annepmitchell.bsky.social · 1h

... are not posing an immediate threat to the safety of a law enforcement officer or others, unless such force is necessary to stop an immediate and serious threat of physical harm to a person;

Continue reading: annepmitchell.substack.com/p/yes-i-was-...

YES! I Was Hoping They Would Do This! Chicago Plaintiffs Drag DHS Back to Court Following Ramming and Tear Gassing Incident which Violated TRO

Hooboy, I can’t wait to see what Judge Ellis does with this!

annepmitchell.substack.com

Anne P. Mitchell, Esq. @annepmitchell.bsky.social · 1h

...to the safety of a law enforcement officer or others;

e. Using riot control weapons (including those described above) at identified targets, if it is reasonably foreseeable that doing so could result in injury to the press, protesters, or religious practitioners who...

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Anne P. Mitchell, Esq. @annepmitchell.bsky.social · 1h

... Less-Lethal Specialty Impact-Chemical Munitions (LLSI-CM), Controlled Noise and Light Distraction Devices (CNLDDs), Electronic Control Weapons (ECWs)––on members of the press, protesters, or religious practitioners who are not posing an immediate threat

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Anne P. Mitchell, Esq. @annepmitchell.bsky.social · 1h

“d. Using riot control weapons––including kinetic impact projectiles (KIPs), Compressed Air Launchers (e.g., PLS and FN303), Oleoresin Capsicum (OC) Spray, CS gas, CN gas, or other chemical irritants, 40 mm Munitions Launchers, less-lethal shotguns,...

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Anne P. Mitchell, Esq. @annepmitchell.bsky.social · 1h

Then just two days ago, on October 14th there was the ramming incident in Chicago, tear gas was deployed, and more.

Here is the relevant language of the TRO (Notes from the Front members, the TRO is in your inbox). The TRO forbade federal agents from (this is long but it’s all relevant):

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Anne P. Mitchell, Esq. @annepmitchell.bsky.social · 1h

On October 9th Judge Ellis of the Northern District Court of Illinois issued a substantial TRO (temporary restraining order, also known as an emergency injunction) forbidding DHS and all federal agents from using riot control weapons, tear gas, etc..

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Anne P. Mitchell, Esq. @annepmitchell.bsky.social · 1h

YES!! I WAS HOPING THEY WOULD DO THIS! CHICAGO PLAINTIFFS DRAG DHS BACK TO COURT FOLLOWING RAMMING AND TEAR GASSING INCIDENT WHICH VIOLATED TRO

Hooboy, I can’t wait to see what Judge Ellis does with this!

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Anne P. Mitchell, Esq. @annepmitchell.bsky.social · 17h

3. Environs mean the vicinity around a courthouse, including all public entryways, driveways, sidewalks, and parking areas intended to serve a courthouse.

Dated this 14th day of October, 2025

___

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Anne P. Mitchell, Esq. @annepmitchell.bsky.social · 17h

... except pursuant to a judicial warrant or judicial order that authorizes the civil arrest.

2. Courthouse means any building in which the Circuit Court of Cook County conducts court.

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Anne P. Mitchell, Esq. @annepmitchell.bsky.social · 17h

1. Any individual who is attending a court proceeding in which the individual is a party, witness, or potential witness, shall not be subject to civil arrest while going to, remaining at, or returning from the court proceeding while within the courthouse or its environs,...

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Anne P. Mitchell, Esq. @annepmitchell.bsky.social · 17h

... the Court and the parties, as essential to its authority and function, and issues this order to confirm its continued application.

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that, effective as of October 15, 2025:

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Anne P. Mitchell, Esq. @annepmitchell.bsky.social · 17h

Courts in Illinois and nationwide have consistently reaffirmed its necessity.

The Circuit Court of Cook County reaffirms the common law privilege against civil arrest while attending court, vested in both ...

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Anne P. Mitchell, Esq. @annepmitchell.bsky.social · 17h

The fair administration of justice requires that courts remain open and accessible, and that litigants and witnesses may appear without fear of civil arrest. The common law has long recognized this privilege to ensure individuals can fulfill legal duties without risking further legal jeopardy.

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Anne P. Mitchell, Esq. @annepmitchell.bsky.social · 17h

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS

GENERAL ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER No. 2025 -10

SUBJECT: COMMON LAW PRIVILEGE AGAINST CIVIL ARRESTS FOR PEOPLE ATTENDING COURT

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Anne P. Mitchell, Esq. @annepmitchell.bsky.social · 17h

That order took effect today.

I predict that this is going to lead to a heck of a states' rights versus federal supremacy showdown!

Here's the full text of the order (I need to crow a bit, it took quite a bit of sleuthing and digging to find the actual order. :~) )

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Anne P. Mitchell, Esq. @annepmitchell.bsky.social · 17h

YES!!! COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS CHIEF JUSTICE *BANS ICE* FROM MAKING COURTHOUSE ARRESTS IN ENTIRE COUNTY, INCLUDING CHICAGO!!

Late yesterday Cook County (including Chicago) Chief Justice Evans issued an order *prohibiting ICE from making arrests* both in and around all courthouses in Cook County.

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Anne P. Mitchell, Esq. @annepmitchell.bsky.social · 21h

Those of you who have been with me for awhile will recognize the wicked deliciosity of her ordering a “nominal bond of $10 total”. :~D

Continue reading: annepmitchell.substack.com/p/i-have-the...

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Anne P. Mitchell, Esq. @annepmitchell.bsky.social · 21h

This is of course the gist of it, the full order is 7 pages long.

She ends with the following:

“The Court will require that plaintiffs post a nominal bond of $10 total (not per plaintiff) by no later than October 23, 2025."

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Anne P. Mitchell, Esq. @annepmitchell.bsky.social · 21h

In addition, the administration has until 5pm Pacific time on Friday to submit a *full* accounting of all announced and planned RIFs to the Court.

(I can never see the acronym RIF without thinking of Reading is Fundamental, anyone else?)

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Anne P. Mitchell, Esq. @annepmitchell.bsky.social · 21h

She then smacks the administration by ordering that the administration is barred from taking *any* reduction in force (RIF) action that would affect *any* member of *any* of the plaintiff unions, nor can they take action on any already announced RIFs.

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Anne P. Mitchell, Esq. @annepmitchell.bsky.social · 21h

“It is also far from normal for an administration to fire line-level civilian employees during a government shutdown as a way to punish the opposing political party. But this is precisely what President Trump has announced he is doing"; she then quotes from some of Trump’s own social media posts.

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Anne P. Mitchell, Esq. @annepmitchell.bsky.social · 21h

Judge Illston then explains “What is becoming clear is that reductions in force (“RIFs”) during a government shutdown are not “ordinary” RIFs in any sense of the word. “

(The number of either already effected layoffs, or noticed layoffs, totals 4,128 so far, according to a footnote in the order.)

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