Michael D. Baker
@mikebakerlaw.bsky.social
Immigration and Criminal Defense Lawyer | Former Cook County Criminal Prosecutor
Insights on immigration law, criminal defense, and other areas of interest
Following, reposting, and replies do not imply endorsement.
Visit my website: mikebakerlaw.com
Insights on immigration law, criminal defense, and other areas of interest
Following, reposting, and replies do not imply endorsement.
Visit my website: mikebakerlaw.com
The "Aging Out" Trap: Why Priority Dates Don't Always Transfer. 🚨
December 15, 2025 at 10:48 PM
The "Aging Out" Trap: Why Priority Dates Don't Always Transfer. 🚨
“They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States…
November 27, 2025 at 3:13 PM
“They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States…
Worst of the Worst? The Government’s Own Numbers Expose the Lie
November 27, 2025 at 1:21 PM
Worst of the Worst? The Government’s Own Numbers Expose the Lie
The actual safeguard against unlawful orders isn’t congressional reminders or presidential declarations—it’s the real-time legal review by military commanders and Judge Advocate General (JAG) lawyers. This is the system designed to ensure orders are lawful before they’re executed.
November 24, 2025 at 3:04 AM
The actual safeguard against unlawful orders isn’t congressional reminders or presidential declarations—it’s the real-time legal review by military commanders and Judge Advocate General (JAG) lawyers. This is the system designed to ensure orders are lawful before they’re executed.
"Too often we enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought."
-John F. Kennedy
-John F. Kennedy
November 22, 2025 at 7:18 PM
"Too often we enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought."
-John F. Kennedy
-John F. Kennedy
What did Benjamin Franklin see in a timber rattlesnake that the Founders couldn’t see in themselves? Thirteen distinct voices, never surrendering, forever united. Ken Burns tells the story of how America learned to speak as one—tonight on PBS.
November 16, 2025 at 11:37 PM
What did Benjamin Franklin see in a timber rattlesnake that the Founders couldn’t see in themselves? Thirteen distinct voices, never surrendering, forever united. Ken Burns tells the story of how America learned to speak as one—tonight on PBS.
Greg Bovino’s agents turned Chicago into a backdrop, posing at the Bean while tear gas lingered in Little Village. The morning looked like a photo shoot, not law enforcement — a show of force dressed as civic pride.
November 10, 2025 at 8:24 PM
Greg Bovino’s agents turned Chicago into a backdrop, posing at the Bean while tear gas lingered in Little Village. The morning looked like a photo shoot, not law enforcement — a show of force dressed as civic pride.
Classic Sun Tzu: “The enemy beats himself.” America’s not fighting China—Trump’s waging economic war on Americans, and Beijing’s just sipping tea. Welcome to Trump’s Art of War: lose to yourself, make everyone pay.
November 1, 2025 at 2:29 PM
Classic Sun Tzu: “The enemy beats himself.” America’s not fighting China—Trump’s waging economic war on Americans, and Beijing’s just sipping tea. Welcome to Trump’s Art of War: lose to yourself, make everyone pay.
A federal appeals panel in Chicago clipped the President’s wings—upholding the lower court’s ban on deploying National Guard troops to Illinois streets. The Guard remains under federal command, but troops stay on base, barred from the streets for now.
October 12, 2025 at 6:41 AM
A federal appeals panel in Chicago clipped the President’s wings—upholding the lower court’s ban on deploying National Guard troops to Illinois streets. The Guard remains under federal command, but troops stay on base, barred from the streets for now.
The stark symmetry between 1943 Amsterdam and 2025 Chicago shouts from every broken door and zip-tied child - we are witnessing the systematic brutalization of families as America sleeps through its own moral decline into the darkness we once vowed never to repeat.
October 6, 2025 at 12:36 AM
The stark symmetry between 1943 Amsterdam and 2025 Chicago shouts from every broken door and zip-tied child - we are witnessing the systematic brutalization of families as America sleeps through its own moral decline into the darkness we once vowed never to repeat.
Protecting Your Rights in Chicago: Know What to Do During ICE Encounters
October 1, 2025 at 1:13 AM
Protecting Your Rights in Chicago: Know What to Do During ICE Encounters
Most Americans do not pursue advanced CS degrees, leading to fewer Americans applying for highly skilled tech jobs, while the majority of international hires in BigTech reflect the composition of advanced degree holders and not a deliberate exclusion of U.S. workers
September 27, 2025 at 11:06 AM
Most Americans do not pursue advanced CS degrees, leading to fewer Americans applying for highly skilled tech jobs, while the majority of international hires in BigTech reflect the composition of advanced degree holders and not a deliberate exclusion of U.S. workers
Essential British roast:
President Cockwomble, Wanker Supreme, Bollocks Baron, Plonker-in-Chief—
a hollow idol of the vainglorious, loud and empty in equal measure.
President Cockwomble, Wanker Supreme, Bollocks Baron, Plonker-in-Chief—
a hollow idol of the vainglorious, loud and empty in equal measure.
September 25, 2025 at 10:46 AM
Essential British roast:
President Cockwomble, Wanker Supreme, Bollocks Baron, Plonker-in-Chief—
a hollow idol of the vainglorious, loud and empty in equal measure.
President Cockwomble, Wanker Supreme, Bollocks Baron, Plonker-in-Chief—
a hollow idol of the vainglorious, loud and empty in equal measure.
I met Judge Beach years ago when he was a law student, tagging along with Attorney William Luby at Rolling Meadows court. Now, he’s bringing public defender experience and a practical, practitioner outlook to the chief judge’s office—a solid win for the courts.
September 11, 2025 at 7:35 PM
I met Judge Beach years ago when he was a law student, tagging along with Attorney William Luby at Rolling Meadows court. Now, he’s bringing public defender experience and a practical, practitioner outlook to the chief judge’s office—a solid win for the courts.
Incumbent Timothy Evans has served for 24 years, already the longest of any chief judge in Cook County history. Two challengers sought control of a court system that handles half a million new cases annually.
September 11, 2025 at 7:31 PM
Incumbent Timothy Evans has served for 24 years, already the longest of any chief judge in Cook County history. Two challengers sought control of a court system that handles half a million new cases annually.
Trump's got 'the smell of deportations' in his nostrils, but all Chicago smells is chicken—of-a-draft dodger playing general from his couch. You can rename the Pentagon, but Chicago's soul won't bend for your war cosplay.
September 6, 2025 at 8:32 PM
Trump's got 'the smell of deportations' in his nostrils, but all Chicago smells is chicken—of-a-draft dodger playing general from his couch. You can rename the Pentagon, but Chicago's soul won't bend for your war cosplay.
In Los Angeles, a court draws a line and ICE vanishes like smoke on contact—arrests plunge, the hidden machinery of profiling suddenly stilled. But beyond the city, old habits grind on, untouched but for the places where the law stands right in the way.
August 15, 2025 at 5:08 AM
In Los Angeles, a court draws a line and ICE vanishes like smoke on contact—arrests plunge, the hidden machinery of profiling suddenly stilled. But beyond the city, old habits grind on, untouched but for the places where the law stands right in the way.
🚨Fewer American boys now support gender equality than a few years ago, according to new survey data. In 2023, only 45% “completely agree” women deserve equal job opportunities, down from 63% in 2018.
August 10, 2025 at 6:53 PM
🚨Fewer American boys now support gender equality than a few years ago, according to new survey data. In 2023, only 45% “completely agree” women deserve equal job opportunities, down from 63% in 2018.
Strong growth in the foreign-born labor force through 2023 and 2024, followed by a sharp downturn in early 2025, culminating in a year-over-year decline by mid-2025
August 8, 2025 at 10:43 PM
Strong growth in the foreign-born labor force through 2023 and 2024, followed by a sharp downturn in early 2025, culminating in a year-over-year decline by mid-2025
While the revised jobs numbers—especially the annual benchmarks—are generally considered the most accurate figures available, their reliability has been weakened by the “cliff” in response rates since Covid.
August 3, 2025 at 6:53 PM
While the revised jobs numbers—especially the annual benchmarks—are generally considered the most accurate figures available, their reliability has been weakened by the “cliff” in response rates since Covid.
A tailor is like a scale—never lies. Reminder about honesty: The facts don’t change just because we wish they would.
August 2, 2025 at 6:26 PM
A tailor is like a scale—never lies. Reminder about honesty: The facts don’t change just because we wish they would.
Tied trucks, soldiers, yellow ribbon: hostages hold everything in suspense.
Or Reichert’s cartoon, published in the weekly Shvi’i newspaper, vividly captures the mindset of many Israelis right now.
Or Reichert’s cartoon, published in the weekly Shvi’i newspaper, vividly captures the mindset of many Israelis right now.
July 31, 2025 at 12:32 PM
Tied trucks, soldiers, yellow ribbon: hostages hold everything in suspense.
Or Reichert’s cartoon, published in the weekly Shvi’i newspaper, vividly captures the mindset of many Israelis right now.
Or Reichert’s cartoon, published in the weekly Shvi’i newspaper, vividly captures the mindset of many Israelis right now.
Buckle up: The 2024 election redrew America’s political map—critical counties in nearly every battleground state moved sharply right, but if Democrats want to win back the heartland, they’ll need bold, gut-level action on jobs, security, and community. The old playbook won’t cut it.
July 27, 2025 at 6:08 PM
Buckle up: The 2024 election redrew America’s political map—critical counties in nearly every battleground state moved sharply right, but if Democrats want to win back the heartland, they’ll need bold, gut-level action on jobs, security, and community. The old playbook won’t cut it.