@samanthamichaels.bsky.social
Investigative reporter at Mother Jones, covering the criminal justice system and immigration https://www.motherjones.com/author/samantha-michaels/
[email protected]
Signal: smichaels.01
@samanthamichaels.bsky.socialAnother blow for unaccompanied immigrant minors.
Now the Trump administration is taking over their legal representation.
Yes, the same administration that is trying to deport them will also be the ones in charge of their defense. www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
@isabelaalhadeff.bsky.socialReposted by @samanthamichaels.bsky.socialICE took Luis and his son Andrés into custody together. Then, the agency separated them transferring the boy as "unaccompanied" to ORR, which cares for migrant kids with no parent or legal guardian. Andrés ended up in foster care. The new interior family separations w/ @samanthamichaels.bsky.social:
@maddow.bsky.socialReposted by @samanthamichaels.bsky.socialICE is now separating children from their parents in the nation’s interior and deeming them “unaccompanied.”
@samanthamichaels.bsky.socialICE arrested a dad with his son—then confusingly declared the boy "unaccompanied." As a result, he went to foster care.
Scenes like this are playing out across the country.
“They’re kidnapping people’s kids,” a former official told us. www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
@samanthamichaels.bsky.socialCommunity members say officers are abusing a law that requires them to stay 25 feet back....this video shows you exactly what they mean. www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHJe...
@samanthamichaels.bsky.socialMemphis has been occupied by ICE for a YEAR....why aren't more people aware of it? www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
@samanthamichaels.bsky.socialWhen judges have to build safe rooms at home and keep their kids from playing outside because they face so many threats, you know you have a problem...
www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
@samanthamichaels.bsky.socialWe are deporting children who have no caregivers in their home countries—who escaped dangerous situations and are being sent back, all alone. www.chicagotribune.com/2026/08/26/c...
@samanthamichaels.bsky.socialvery thought-provoking reflection on an absolutely devastating trial
"A courtroom is not the right place for this, I found myself thinking more than once. Which is ridiculous because the courtroom is the only place we have for this."
www.washingtonpost.com/style/2026/0...
@samanthamichaels.bsky.socialThis story is a reminder that it's important to fact-check when ICE says someone is a violent criminal.
They said this guy had four assault charges, but he didn't. They still deported him. www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
@samanthamichaels.bsky.socialReminder that this huge ICE operation in Memphis is STILL happening.
I'm not sure most people have heard of it—it's a big task force of immigration officers along with officers from other local and federal agencies.
The task force killed 2 people in the past 4 days: www.cnn.com/2026/07/09/u...
@samanthamichaels.bsky.socialImagine being a kid and learning both your parents were arrested by ICE. You’ll have to pay rent and survive on your own.
I shadowed four siblings—US citizens near Mar-a-Lago—as they try to do that. I'll be thinking about their story for a long time 1/x www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
@samanthamichaels.bsky.socialEarly-career journalists: The Center for Investigative Reporting is hiring for our Ben Bagdikian Fellowship Program! It's a cool opportunity to fact-check major investigations (and maybe write some of your own), and how I got my start here. Please apply! www.motherjones.com/careers/fell...
