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
December 19, 2025 at 7:32 PM
Reposted by Aaron Reichlin-Melnick
From the right-wing Manhattan Institute's focus group of Gen Z conservatives -- just jaw-dropping stuff. We have a very sick society. www.city-journal.org/article/manh...
December 19, 2025 at 6:46 PM
From the right-wing Manhattan Institute's focus group of Gen Z conservatives -- just jaw-dropping stuff. We have a very sick society. www.city-journal.org/article/manh...
Reposted by Aaron Reichlin-Melnick
The saddest part of this story: The arts are supposed to bring people together. They're supposed to be an equalizer. Really disappointing—for both the artists & patrons—that the president has decided to infect that so he can have another vanity project.
Workers began adding President Trump’s name to the Kennedy Center on Friday, despite no action by Congress to legally rename it. It comes a day after Trump’s board of loyalists moved to rename the performing arts center as the Trump-Kennedy Center. nyti.ms/4pa6FpX
December 19, 2025 at 6:32 PM
The saddest part of this story: The arts are supposed to bring people together. They're supposed to be an equalizer. Really disappointing—for both the artists & patrons—that the president has decided to infect that so he can have another vanity project.
I obviously can't know who's telling the truth here, but this is exactly why DUE PROCESS matters.
ICE is refusing to release a US citizen despite extensive documentation of her citizenship. Presented with her birth certificate, they called it a fake and transferred her from Maryland to Louisiana. www.huffpost.com/entry/us-cit...
Trump Administration Says Maryland Woman's Birth Certificate Is Fake In Dystopian Move
Dulce Consuelo Diaz Morales was arrested on Sunday. ICE won’t release her despite extensive documentation of her citizenship, her attorneys told HuffPost.
www.huffpost.com
December 19, 2025 at 6:33 PM
I obviously can't know who's telling the truth here, but this is exactly why DUE PROCESS matters.
DHS's official X account is now copy-pasting anti-immigration posts from Stephen Miller's wife.
You can tell from the capitalization; they just added "POTUS" in front of the 2019 and 2020 bits, but didn't fix the capitalization of the sentence from Miller's post.
You can tell from the capitalization; they just added "POTUS" in front of the 2019 and 2020 bits, but didn't fix the capitalization of the sentence from Miller's post.
December 19, 2025 at 6:10 PM
DHS's official X account is now copy-pasting anti-immigration posts from Stephen Miller's wife.
You can tell from the capitalization; they just added "POTUS" in front of the 2019 and 2020 bits, but didn't fix the capitalization of the sentence from Miller's post.
You can tell from the capitalization; they just added "POTUS" in front of the 2019 and 2020 bits, but didn't fix the capitalization of the sentence from Miller's post.
Reposted by Aaron Reichlin-Melnick
Here's an example of how useless and frustrating internet laws to "protect kids" are in practice: When I'm in Ohio, where I am during the holidays, I can't use my Bluesky DMs—unless I hand over my ID to a company owned by Epic Games. Why? To protect kids, of course!
spitfirenews.com/p/why-i-have...
spitfirenews.com/p/why-i-have...
Why I have to give Fortnite my passport to use Bluesky
Age verification laws are as ineffective as they are dangerous.
spitfirenews.com
December 19, 2025 at 4:18 PM
Here's an example of how useless and frustrating internet laws to "protect kids" are in practice: When I'm in Ohio, where I am during the holidays, I can't use my Bluesky DMs—unless I hand over my ID to a company owned by Epic Games. Why? To protect kids, of course!
spitfirenews.com/p/why-i-have...
spitfirenews.com/p/why-i-have...
Reposted by Aaron Reichlin-Melnick
Yesterday, a federal jury found Judge Hannah Dugan guilty of obstructing immigration agents.
In April, shortly after she was arrested, James Pearce analyzed the case and why it is more complicated than supporters or critics of the prosecution acknowledge.
In April, shortly after she was arrested, James Pearce analyzed the case and why it is more complicated than supporters or critics of the prosecution acknowledge.
The Judge Dugan Case Is More Complicated Than It Seems
Some see the prosecution of the Wisconsin circuit court judge as vindicating the rule of law, and others as an attack on it. They’re both wrong.
lawfaremedia.org
December 19, 2025 at 5:07 PM
Yesterday, a federal jury found Judge Hannah Dugan guilty of obstructing immigration agents.
In April, shortly after she was arrested, James Pearce analyzed the case and why it is more complicated than supporters or critics of the prosecution acknowledge.
In April, shortly after she was arrested, James Pearce analyzed the case and why it is more complicated than supporters or critics of the prosecution acknowledge.
Reposted by Aaron Reichlin-Melnick
My grandfather spent years in the U.S. before returning to Colombia. He used to take us to the Kennedy Center at Christmas to see The Nutcracker. As a kid I especially loved the Hall of Nations, with its flags from all over the world. It hurts to see this place defaced and disrespected by a tyrant.
New Photo: Trump’s name added to Kennedy Center exterior.
Yesterday’s announcement about the name change “drew swift condemnation from Kennedy family members and Democratic leaders, who called it illegal and said only Congress could change the center’s name.”
wapo.st/4s49qeX
Yesterday’s announcement about the name change “drew swift condemnation from Kennedy family members and Democratic leaders, who called it illegal and said only Congress could change the center’s name.”
wapo.st/4s49qeX
Kennedy Center adds Trump’s name to building
The signage change follows a vote by the board of trustees to rename the performing arts complex the Trump Kennedy Center.
wapo.st
December 19, 2025 at 4:36 PM
My grandfather spent years in the U.S. before returning to Colombia. He used to take us to the Kennedy Center at Christmas to see The Nutcracker. As a kid I especially loved the Hall of Nations, with its flags from all over the world. It hurts to see this place defaced and disrespected by a tyrant.
Reposted by Aaron Reichlin-Melnick
It may well be worse now than in the past, but this is extremely typical. I’ve had clients detained by ICE, and it’s like they fall into a black hole. Getting in touch with people in state or federal prison, or even county jail, is easier by an order of magnitude.
They are disappearing people. Listen to this. Nightmare. (And the longer they stay the more money core civic makes)
December 19, 2025 at 3:18 PM
It may well be worse now than in the past, but this is extremely typical. I’ve had clients detained by ICE, and it’s like they fall into a black hole. Getting in touch with people in state or federal prison, or even county jail, is easier by an order of magnitude.
Solidarity as always with trans people who are going through some awful times right now.
Years ago I tipsily bought this fridge magnet from a trans woman selling them on the street in Adams Morgan to late-night bar-goers. I’ve kept it up on my fridge ever since.
Years ago I tipsily bought this fridge magnet from a trans woman selling them on the street in Adams Morgan to late-night bar-goers. I’ve kept it up on my fridge ever since.
December 19, 2025 at 3:57 PM
Solidarity as always with trans people who are going through some awful times right now.
Years ago I tipsily bought this fridge magnet from a trans woman selling them on the street in Adams Morgan to late-night bar-goers. I’ve kept it up on my fridge ever since.
Years ago I tipsily bought this fridge magnet from a trans woman selling them on the street in Adams Morgan to late-night bar-goers. I’ve kept it up on my fridge ever since.
Reposted by Aaron Reichlin-Melnick
Consumer confidence data is basically useless for markets/econ forecasting at this point. There is just no universe where periods when inflation was 5x as high, real income growth was deeply negative, or unemployment was more than 2x current were better than the current backdrop.
December 19, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Consumer confidence data is basically useless for markets/econ forecasting at this point. There is just no universe where periods when inflation was 5x as high, real income growth was deeply negative, or unemployment was more than 2x current were better than the current backdrop.
Reposted by Aaron Reichlin-Melnick
UMich consumer sentiment (current conditions) at 50.4 is a new all-time low -- going back to data from the 1970s.
U.S MICHIGAN CONSUMER SENTIMENT (DEC) ACTUAL: 52.9 VS 53.3 PREVIOUS; EST 53.5
December 19, 2025 at 3:04 PM
UMich consumer sentiment (current conditions) at 50.4 is a new all-time low -- going back to data from the 1970s.
With no shade to @asharangappa.bsky.social at all, because I understand where she's coming from, I disagree. SCOTUS already said people cannot be rapidly deported under the Alien Enemies Act a la the CECOT deportations, ICE can deport most Venezuelans anyway, and the AEA solves few logistics issues.
I keep saying this but no one is connecting the dots. The war is to satisfy legal preconditions for mass removal *domestically* of Latinos (i.e., suddenly a lot of people are going to be “Venezuelan” for purposes of removal). This is 100% Stephen Miller…oil claim is to make grandpa go along
There is no national security logic that would impel the US to want to do regime change in Venezuela. It's simply not that important. I'm not even sure wag the dog is the right metaphor for what's happening here. Seems like an insane misallocation of US national security assets and attention.
December 19, 2025 at 1:57 PM
With no shade to @asharangappa.bsky.social at all, because I understand where she's coming from, I disagree. SCOTUS already said people cannot be rapidly deported under the Alien Enemies Act a la the CECOT deportations, ICE can deport most Venezuelans anyway, and the AEA solves few logistics issues.
Reposted by Aaron Reichlin-Melnick
To state the obvious, Congress didn’t make its annual worldwide visa allocation system for a country which self-identifies as a Nation of Immigrants contingent on not one bad thing ever happening.
December 19, 2025 at 1:34 PM
To state the obvious, Congress didn’t make its annual worldwide visa allocation system for a country which self-identifies as a Nation of Immigrants contingent on not one bad thing ever happening.
Reposted by Aaron Reichlin-Melnick
Meeting, getting to know, and working work with Diversity Visa selectee clients has been one of the highlights of my career.
Unsurprisingly, Trump/Miller hate this law and tried to shut it down in Trump 1.0 with COVID as their excuse. Now they’ve found their pretext for Trump 2.0. Sickening.
Unsurprisingly, Trump/Miller hate this law and tried to shut it down in Trump 1.0 with COVID as their excuse. Now they’ve found their pretext for Trump 2.0. Sickening.
Why do we have the green card lottery? As with every aspect of US immigration, there is a history, a complicated one. Here's the @carlygoodman.bsky.social award winning book you need for that.
December 19, 2025 at 1:21 PM
Meeting, getting to know, and working work with Diversity Visa selectee clients has been one of the highlights of my career.
Unsurprisingly, Trump/Miller hate this law and tried to shut it down in Trump 1.0 with COVID as their excuse. Now they’ve found their pretext for Trump 2.0. Sickening.
Unsurprisingly, Trump/Miller hate this law and tried to shut it down in Trump 1.0 with COVID as their excuse. Now they’ve found their pretext for Trump 2.0. Sickening.
Reposted by Aaron Reichlin-Melnick
Why do we have the green card lottery? As with every aspect of US immigration, there is a history, a complicated one. Here's the @carlygoodman.bsky.social award winning book you need for that.
December 19, 2025 at 11:38 AM
Why do we have the green card lottery? As with every aspect of US immigration, there is a history, a complicated one. Here's the @carlygoodman.bsky.social award winning book you need for that.
Reposted by Aaron Reichlin-Melnick
NOW: Press conference from Massachusetts US Attorney Leah Foley and Mass. law enforcement
—they believe suspect killed both two Brown students in Providence and MIT prof in Brookline
—immediately after Brookline murder, suspect drove to storage unit
—found him dead in storage locker in Salem, NH
—they believe suspect killed both two Brown students in Providence and MIT prof in Brookline
—immediately after Brookline murder, suspect drove to storage unit
—found him dead in storage locker in Salem, NH
December 19, 2025 at 3:49 AM
NOW: Press conference from Massachusetts US Attorney Leah Foley and Mass. law enforcement
—they believe suspect killed both two Brown students in Providence and MIT prof in Brookline
—immediately after Brookline murder, suspect drove to storage unit
—found him dead in storage locker in Salem, NH
—they believe suspect killed both two Brown students in Providence and MIT prof in Brookline
—immediately after Brookline murder, suspect drove to storage unit
—found him dead in storage locker in Salem, NH
Reposted by Aaron Reichlin-Melnick
Breaking: A jury has found a Wisconsin judge guilty of obstruction for helping an immigrant evade federal agents.
Jury finds a Wisconsin judge guilty of obstruction for helping an immigrant evade federal agents
A jury has found a Wisconsin judge guilty of obstruction for helping a Mexican immigrant dodge federal authorities.
bit.ly
December 19, 2025 at 2:50 AM
Breaking: A jury has found a Wisconsin judge guilty of obstruction for helping an immigrant evade federal agents.
Reposted by Aaron Reichlin-Melnick
By way of comparison, a total of 26 people died in ICE detention during the four years of the Biden administration.
Today I received FOUR death notifications for people in ICE custody. That's 30 deaths since Trump took office. It's appalling & unacceptable.
ICE is required—by law—to ensure detainees are safe & their basic needs are met. It's clear this isn't the case. We NEED answers.
ICE is required—by law—to ensure detainees are safe & their basic needs are met. It's clear this isn't the case. We NEED answers.
December 19, 2025 at 2:15 AM
By way of comparison, a total of 26 people died in ICE detention during the four years of the Biden administration.
Reposted by Aaron Reichlin-Melnick
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Man suspected in shooting at Brown University has been found dead in New Hampshire storage facility, AP source says.
December 19, 2025 at 2:13 AM
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Man suspected in shooting at Brown University has been found dead in New Hampshire storage facility, AP source says.
ICE has its own Health Services Corps, which it operates in 17 large detention centers, but an increasingly large majority of people are held in private detention centers where the healthcare is operated by contractor or subcontractor, where ICE basically just manages the insurance claims.
December 19, 2025 at 2:04 AM
ICE has its own Health Services Corps, which it operates in 17 large detention centers, but an increasingly large majority of people are held in private detention centers where the healthcare is operated by contractor or subcontractor, where ICE basically just manages the insurance claims.
Reposted by Aaron Reichlin-Melnick
Today I received FOUR death notifications for people in ICE custody. That's 30 deaths since Trump took office. It's appalling & unacceptable.
ICE is required—by law—to ensure detainees are safe & their basic needs are met. It's clear this isn't the case. We NEED answers.
ICE is required—by law—to ensure detainees are safe & their basic needs are met. It's clear this isn't the case. We NEED answers.
December 18, 2025 at 11:39 PM
Today I received FOUR death notifications for people in ICE custody. That's 30 deaths since Trump took office. It's appalling & unacceptable.
ICE is required—by law—to ensure detainees are safe & their basic needs are met. It's clear this isn't the case. We NEED answers.
ICE is required—by law—to ensure detainees are safe & their basic needs are met. It's clear this isn't the case. We NEED answers.
Reposted by Aaron Reichlin-Melnick
Our new golden age of free speech, where opposition to immigration enforcement can trigger a federal investigation
December 18, 2025 at 8:54 PM
Our new golden age of free speech, where opposition to immigration enforcement can trigger a federal investigation
Yep. Diversion of resources matters in the aggregate (even if it way too early to know whether it had any specific impact in this case). Drug trafficking and gun prosecutions are measurably down, for example.
Anyway, no worries, Kash Patel is on the job, and half of FBI agents are working immigration enforcement donmoynihan.substack.com/p/purge-merg...
December 18, 2025 at 11:54 PM
Yep. Diversion of resources matters in the aggregate (even if it way too early to know whether it had any specific impact in this case). Drug trafficking and gun prosecutions are measurably down, for example.
Echo this!
If you followed immigration news this year, please support the many, many local journalists who made it possible. Nonprofit media needs support!
I kept returning to @lataco.bsky.social @calmatters.org @wbez.org @blockclubchi.bsky.social @documentedny.bsky.social @statesnewsroom.com & so many more
I kept returning to @lataco.bsky.social @calmatters.org @wbez.org @blockclubchi.bsky.social @documentedny.bsky.social @statesnewsroom.com & so many more
December 18, 2025 at 11:48 PM
Echo this!