Udi Ofer
@uofer.bsky.social
Teach constitutional rights and policy advocacy at Princeton University. Founding Director, Princeton Policy Advocacy Clinic. Former ACLU attorney for 20 years. Chair, International Advisory Council, Association for Civil Rights in Israel.
Reposted by Udi Ofer
Why fusion voting? Because it gives people agency — a chance to sit at the table and shape the discussions that matter. It’s not the only reform we need, but it’s a key step toward a healthier, more representative democracy.
December 3, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Why fusion voting? Because it gives people agency — a chance to sit at the table and shape the discussions that matter. It’s not the only reform we need, but it’s a key step toward a healthier, more representative democracy.
The right way to analyze what the Trump administration is doing in the Caribbean, killing at least 83 people by blowing up boats, is through the lens of criminal law, not the law of war. Supplying illegal drugs to Americans, as the president alleges, is a crime and should be handled by criminal law
December 3, 2025 at 12:40 AM
The right way to analyze what the Trump administration is doing in the Caribbean, killing at least 83 people by blowing up boats, is through the lens of criminal law, not the law of war. Supplying illegal drugs to Americans, as the president alleges, is a crime and should be handled by criminal law
For years, civil libertarians like myself warned cities, which are overwhelmingly governed by Democrats, about dangers of creating massive government surveillance tools that track daily activities. They mostly ignored us until they met the second Trump administration www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
Liberal towns backtrack on license plate trackers amid concerns about privacy — and Trump
As Trump’s return to office brought an increased and forceful presence of federal agents to states across the country, some local officials now argue the cameras themselves pose the bigger danger for ...
www.politico.com
November 30, 2025 at 5:06 PM
For years, civil libertarians like myself warned cities, which are overwhelmingly governed by Democrats, about dangers of creating massive government surveillance tools that track daily activities. They mostly ignored us until they met the second Trump administration www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
Reposted by Udi Ofer
don't miss Lauren's big story from right before Thanksgiving:
After Biden commuted the sentences of 37 men on federal death row last year, the Trump administration is retaliating by sending them to the supermax. Prisoners are locked in cells smaller than a parking space 22-24 hours a day.
One prisoner told me he fears he won't make it out alive.
My latest:
One prisoner told me he fears he won't make it out alive.
My latest:
Death Row Prisoners Granted Clemency by Biden Brace for "Living Hell" Under Trump - Bolts
Trump officials are retaliating by imposing the harshest conditions in the entire federal prison system, including near total isolation.
boltsmag.org
November 30, 2025 at 3:23 AM
don't miss Lauren's big story from right before Thanksgiving:
While fewer women than men are incarcerated, their numbers are rising faster. Up to 80% of women in prison worldwide have an identifiable mental illness & in Europe, suicide rates for women in prison are 9x higher than for the general population, according to WHO www.theguardian.com/global-devel...
How many women are in prison and on death row around the world? – in charts
While fewer women than men are incarcerated, their numbers are rising faster and most often for non-violent offences
www.theguardian.com
November 27, 2025 at 8:42 PM
While fewer women than men are incarcerated, their numbers are rising faster. Up to 80% of women in prison worldwide have an identifiable mental illness & in Europe, suicide rates for women in prison are 9x higher than for the general population, according to WHO www.theguardian.com/global-devel...
New DOJ report finds that the rate of violent crime in the
United States fell by 5% from 2022 to 2023. Rates of homicide fell 11%, rape fell 10%, and aggravated assault fell 4%. Robbery rate was not significantly different from the rate in 2022. bjs.ojp.gov/document/ckl...
United States fell by 5% from 2022 to 2023. Rates of homicide fell 11%, rape fell 10%, and aggravated assault fell 4%. Robbery rate was not significantly different from the rate in 2022. bjs.ojp.gov/document/ckl...
November 25, 2025 at 4:32 PM
New DOJ report finds that the rate of violent crime in the
United States fell by 5% from 2022 to 2023. Rates of homicide fell 11%, rape fell 10%, and aggravated assault fell 4%. Robbery rate was not significantly different from the rate in 2022. bjs.ojp.gov/document/ckl...
United States fell by 5% from 2022 to 2023. Rates of homicide fell 11%, rape fell 10%, and aggravated assault fell 4%. Robbery rate was not significantly different from the rate in 2022. bjs.ojp.gov/document/ckl...
The US deported 252 Venezuelans to El Salvador and paid its government to imprison them, despite clear evidence of human-rights abuses. Now @hrw.org and Cristosal have found that all the men were physically abused www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
What the Deported Venezuelans Went Through in El Salvador
Forty men sent to El Salvador by the Trump administration have shared disturbing accounts of abuse by a regime that America paid to imprison them.
www.theatlantic.com
November 25, 2025 at 12:59 PM
The US deported 252 Venezuelans to El Salvador and paid its government to imprison them, despite clear evidence of human-rights abuses. Now @hrw.org and Cristosal have found that all the men were physically abused www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
US citizen high school student arrested by ICE during school lunch period. A follow up report suggests he was arrested after filming ICE agents in a parking lot. (A) You have a constitutional right to film ICE. (B) ICE doesnt have legal authority to arrest US citizen
www.opb.org/article/2025...
www.opb.org/article/2025...
ICE arrests McMinnville High School student during Friday lunch period
Family told local news the 17-year-old is a U.S. citizen.
www.opb.org
November 25, 2025 at 12:52 PM
US citizen high school student arrested by ICE during school lunch period. A follow up report suggests he was arrested after filming ICE agents in a parking lot. (A) You have a constitutional right to film ICE. (B) ICE doesnt have legal authority to arrest US citizen
www.opb.org/article/2025...
www.opb.org/article/2025...
This is an affront to the basic civil rights of all people in Israel, but especially anyone that the government labels a terrorist. Proposed law would impose the death penalty within 90 days, without an ability to appeal the decision www.haaretz.com/israel-news/...
Knesset debates bill imposing death penalty for terrorists 'within 90 days without appeal'
In a Document Highlighting the Details of the Proposed Bill to Pass the Death Penalty, Committee Chair Foghel Wrote That 'Anyone Who Kills Jews Only Because They Are Jews' Would Be Executed. The Assoc...
www.haaretz.com
November 20, 2025 at 9:18 PM
This is an affront to the basic civil rights of all people in Israel, but especially anyone that the government labels a terrorist. Proposed law would impose the death penalty within 90 days, without an ability to appeal the decision www.haaretz.com/israel-news/...
Most incarcerated women are the primary caregivers for their children. When they are jailed, their children are 12x more likely to end up in foster care and face long-term psychological and educational harm. www.rstreet.org/commentary/l...
Locking up moms destabilizes families and doesn’t make us safer - R Street Institute
Locking up a mom punishes more than one person — it punishes her children, her family and her neighborhood. As a retired police officer, I have seen firsthand that women must face consequences when th...
www.rstreet.org
November 20, 2025 at 6:32 PM
Most incarcerated women are the primary caregivers for their children. When they are jailed, their children are 12x more likely to end up in foster care and face long-term psychological and educational harm. www.rstreet.org/commentary/l...
Big kudos to @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social for continuing to model good leadership by requesting a meeting with President Trump. This speaks volumes about his willingness to focus on what's best for New Yorkers, and not to let some silly notion of pride get in the way www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
Trump and Mamdani to meet Friday at White House
Trump announced he'd agreed to meet the mayor-elect after criticizing him and endorsing his opponent.
www.politico.com
November 20, 2025 at 2:19 PM
Big kudos to @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social for continuing to model good leadership by requesting a meeting with President Trump. This speaks volumes about his willingness to focus on what's best for New Yorkers, and not to let some silly notion of pride get in the way www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
Granted that Texas gerrymandering maps appear to unconstitutionally rely on race and CA's did not, if the whole justification for CA gerrymandering was to respond to TX gerrymandering, what's the justification for CA if the TX efforts are struck down by the courts? www.cbsnews.com/news/texas-r...
What happens to California's redistricting after Texas' congressional maps were struck down in court?
The court ruling came after California voters formally approved a ballot measure that was introduced to counteract Texas' redistricting.
www.cbsnews.com
November 20, 2025 at 1:27 PM
Granted that Texas gerrymandering maps appear to unconstitutionally rely on race and CA's did not, if the whole justification for CA gerrymandering was to respond to TX gerrymandering, what's the justification for CA if the TX efforts are struck down by the courts? www.cbsnews.com/news/texas-r...
I took my @princeton.edu Policy Advocacy Clinic students to Washington State as part of their research on solitary confinement. We met with @chriswblackwell.bsky.social in prison, whose writing brings solitary to life, and we attended symposium of families w/ loved ones in prison. All very powerful
November 19, 2025 at 9:01 PM
I took my @princeton.edu Policy Advocacy Clinic students to Washington State as part of their research on solitary confinement. We met with @chriswblackwell.bsky.social in prison, whose writing brings solitary to life, and we attended symposium of families w/ loved ones in prison. All very powerful
Reposted by Udi Ofer
Ending Isolation: The Case Against Solitary Confinement (out Sept 20) is “a searing indictment and urgent call to action.” — Udi Offer, Princeton School of Public & International Affairs.
Preorder + read more reviews here: www.amazon.com/Ending-Isola...
Preorder + read more reviews here: www.amazon.com/Ending-Isola...
August 29, 2025 at 8:28 PM
Ending Isolation: The Case Against Solitary Confinement (out Sept 20) is “a searing indictment and urgent call to action.” — Udi Offer, Princeton School of Public & International Affairs.
Preorder + read more reviews here: www.amazon.com/Ending-Isola...
Preorder + read more reviews here: www.amazon.com/Ending-Isola...
The Zikim border crossing, which separates Israel and northern Gaza, has reopened after being closed for two months, allowing more than 5,400 metric tonnes of aid to be collected between Thursday and Sunday, including shelter, medical and food items, according to OCHA news.un.org/en/story/202...
Gaza: After Security Council breakthrough, agencies highlight youngsters’ plight
As UN Secretary-General António Guterres hailed Monday’s Security Council resolution paving the way for a consolidated ceasefire via a temporary International Stabilization Force in Gaza, UN aid teams...
news.un.org
November 18, 2025 at 8:36 PM
The Zikim border crossing, which separates Israel and northern Gaza, has reopened after being closed for two months, allowing more than 5,400 metric tonnes of aid to be collected between Thursday and Sunday, including shelter, medical and food items, according to OCHA news.un.org/en/story/202...
"The fantasies of Ministers Bezalel Smotrich, Itamar Ben-Gvir & other fanatics in Netanyahu's coalition have been put to rest, replaced by international plan that includes Arab forces in Gaza and path to Palestinian statehood. That by itself is important development" www.haaretz.com/israel-news/...
What the UN resolution on Gaza tells us about Trump and what it means for Israel-Palestine
Beyond a Passing Reference to Palestinian Statehood, the Resolution's Immediate Impact Lies in Its Creation of the International Stabilization Force. But Questions Linger Over Whose Soldiers Will Make...
www.haaretz.com
November 18, 2025 at 7:09 PM
"The fantasies of Ministers Bezalel Smotrich, Itamar Ben-Gvir & other fanatics in Netanyahu's coalition have been put to rest, replaced by international plan that includes Arab forces in Gaza and path to Palestinian statehood. That by itself is important development" www.haaretz.com/israel-news/...
The UN Security Council resolution states that the International Stabilization Force will operate in Gaza until the end of 2027. It's our job to make sure that this international force will be used to lay the foundation for a future Palestinian State
UN Security Council resolution authorizes Member States to establish International Stabilization Force (ISF) in Gaza in cooperation with Egypt and Israel and along with Palestinian police force. As ISF establishes control, Israel will withdraw from Gaza Strip: www.middleeasteye.net/news/full-te...
Full text of the US resolution for Gaza approved by the UN Security Council
UN Resolution 2803 places Donald Trump in control of Gaza and, using vague language, says if certain targets are met there could be a pathway to the creation of a Palestinian state
www.middleeasteye.net
November 18, 2025 at 7:06 PM
The UN Security Council resolution states that the International Stabilization Force will operate in Gaza until the end of 2027. It's our job to make sure that this international force will be used to lay the foundation for a future Palestinian State
UN Security Council resolution authorizes Member States to establish International Stabilization Force (ISF) in Gaza in cooperation with Egypt and Israel and along with Palestinian police force. As ISF establishes control, Israel will withdraw from Gaza Strip: www.middleeasteye.net/news/full-te...
Full text of the US resolution for Gaza approved by the UN Security Council
UN Resolution 2803 places Donald Trump in control of Gaza and, using vague language, says if certain targets are met there could be a pathway to the creation of a Palestinian state
www.middleeasteye.net
November 18, 2025 at 1:35 PM
UN Security Council resolution authorizes Member States to establish International Stabilization Force (ISF) in Gaza in cooperation with Egypt and Israel and along with Palestinian police force. As ISF establishes control, Israel will withdraw from Gaza Strip: www.middleeasteye.net/news/full-te...
2025 is among the deadliest years for veterans on death row. And over 40% of veterans later sentenced to death experienced addiction at some point in their lives, compared to 11% of all veterans and 12% of the general public. deathpenaltyinfo.org/research/ana...
Forgotten Service, Lasting Wounds: Military Veterans and the Death Penalty | Death Penalty Information Center
**Executive Summary** - Though the Supreme Court has recognized the importance of military service in capital mitigation, the legal...
deathpenaltyinfo.org
November 11, 2025 at 12:48 PM
2025 is among the deadliest years for veterans on death row. And over 40% of veterans later sentenced to death experienced addiction at some point in their lives, compared to 11% of all veterans and 12% of the general public. deathpenaltyinfo.org/research/ana...
Just as President Trump's mass deportation program becomes even more aggressive, with more arrests and detentions, government detention data goes dark. Even if shutdown ended today, it's unclear how long it would take agencies to start producing data again austinkocher.substack.com/p/ice-and-eo...
ICE and EOIR Data Cut Off During Government Shut Down Just as ‘Mass Detention’ Gets $45B Boost
ICE hasn’t produced crucial detention data in over 45 days despite continuing its aggressive—and sometimes illegal—enforcement rampage during the partial government shutdown.
austinkocher.substack.com
November 9, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Just as President Trump's mass deportation program becomes even more aggressive, with more arrests and detentions, government detention data goes dark. Even if shutdown ended today, it's unclear how long it would take agencies to start producing data again austinkocher.substack.com/p/ice-and-eo...
Palestinian Authority has reached an agreement with Hamas that the committee to administer Gaza will be headed by PA minister, most likely Majed Abu Ramadan, currently the PA health minister, originally from Gaza and a former mayor of Gaza City. www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_ent...
Abbas’s deputy: We agreed with Hamas that committee to administer Gaza will be headed by PA minister
* * *
www.timesofisrael.com
November 9, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Palestinian Authority has reached an agreement with Hamas that the committee to administer Gaza will be headed by PA minister, most likely Majed Abu Ramadan, currently the PA health minister, originally from Gaza and a former mayor of Gaza City. www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_ent...
Reposted by Udi Ofer
BREAKING: Mark Wolf, appointed to the federal bench by Ronald Reagan, writes that he is resigning as a judge to have the freedom to speak out against the president's assault on the rule of law.
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
November 9, 2025 at 2:27 PM
BREAKING: Mark Wolf, appointed to the federal bench by Ronald Reagan, writes that he is resigning as a judge to have the freedom to speak out against the president's assault on the rule of law.
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
Reposted by Udi Ofer
sometimes an Oxford comma can make all the difference
November 8, 2025 at 12:36 PM
sometimes an Oxford comma can make all the difference
Reposted by Udi Ofer
When the pandemic began in 2020, New Jersey had the nation’s highest COVID-19 death rate in prisons.
The Public Health Emergency Credit (PHEC) allowed people nearing their release dates to leave prison up to 8 months early, and it saved lives.
Read more: www.aclu-nj.org/news/releasi...
The Public Health Emergency Credit (PHEC) allowed people nearing their release dates to leave prison up to 8 months early, and it saved lives.
Read more: www.aclu-nj.org/news/releasi...
Releasing People From Prison is About Humanity - ACLU of New Jersey
Early releases from prison in the pandemic in NJ — projected to exceed 8,000 from March 2020 to March 2022 — saved lives and showed the urgent human need for decarceration. When the pandemic began two...
www.aclu-nj.org
November 6, 2025 at 8:12 PM
When the pandemic began in 2020, New Jersey had the nation’s highest COVID-19 death rate in prisons.
The Public Health Emergency Credit (PHEC) allowed people nearing their release dates to leave prison up to 8 months early, and it saved lives.
Read more: www.aclu-nj.org/news/releasi...
The Public Health Emergency Credit (PHEC) allowed people nearing their release dates to leave prison up to 8 months early, and it saved lives.
Read more: www.aclu-nj.org/news/releasi...
This week marked 30 years since Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated by right wing zealot at a rally where Rabin delivered a speech about importance of peace between Israelis & Palestinians. In his pocket were lyrics to Shir LaShalom, Song for Peace. This image of the bloodstained lyrics breaks my heart:
November 6, 2025 at 6:41 PM
This week marked 30 years since Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated by right wing zealot at a rally where Rabin delivered a speech about importance of peace between Israelis & Palestinians. In his pocket were lyrics to Shir LaShalom, Song for Peace. This image of the bloodstained lyrics breaks my heart: