John Washington

@jwashing.bsky.social

Journalist and Translator.
Reporting for @lookoutnews.bsky.social
Newsletter, short essays on books and politics: https://johnwashington.substack.com/
Latest book, The Case for Open Borders: https://www.haymarketbooks.org/books/2199-the

@reichlinmelnick.bsky.socialReposted by @jwashing.bsky.social

The NYPD just released surveillance video of the ICE shooting (which occurred off camera). Two men in civilian clothes run up to a car with guns drawn. One second later, one man begins smashing the butt of his gun into the driver’s side window. The driver appears to panic and hit the gas.

@azrww.bsky.socialReposted by @jwashing.bsky.social

NEW: Tohono O'odham Nation leadership issued a release announcing that they’ve filed an emergency injunction after been informed by CBP that “it intends to remove thousands of Saguaros and other vegetation,” on sovereign tribal lands. The destruction is set to begin on Indigenous Peoples Day.

TOHONO O'ODHAM NATION OFFICE OF THE CHAIRMAN AND VICE CHAIRWOMAN Verlon M. Jose CHAIRMAN Carla L. Johnson VICE CHAIRWOMAN Public Service Announcement FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Friday, Oct. 9, 2026 BORDER WALL CONTRACTORS TO START REMOVING SACRED SAGUAROS ON MONDAY, OCTOBER 12 Nation Files Emergency Injunction with the Circuit Court of Appeals SELLS, Ariz. - The Tohono O'odham Nation has been informed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) that it intends to remove thousands of Saguaros and other vegetation in its misguided efforts to construct a border wall. On Monday, Oct. 12, federal contractors will begin ripping out these protected plants that have lived in the Sonoran Desert for thousands of years. The fact that this desecration will take place on Indigenous Peoples' Day is disrespectful to all tribal nations. In addition, earlier this week the Tohono O'odham Nation filed an emergency injunction with the Washington, D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals to stop DHS from removing thousands of sacred saguaros on Tohono O'odham land. Nation leadership is demanding that the courts put a stop to this lawless behavior that has already caused irreparable damage to our environment and cultural heritage, all in the name of constructing a costly and ineffective border wall. Known as ha:sañ, saguaros are symbols of the Tohono O'odham shared faith, serving as spiritual monuments to customs and values. The removal of any saguaro is an act of atrocity, as they are considered people by the Tohono O'odham."Trespassing on our land to remove the sacred saguaros is like having masked men break into your house and take away your children," said Tohono O'odham Nation Chairman Verlon Jose. "The ha:șañ are our family, as much a part of us as any blood relative. To destroy them by the thousands carves a wound in our hearts that will not heal. We call on all people for solidarity as we work to protect our culture and our land from this useless, destructive wall." The mighty saguaro not only stands as an O'odham and American icon, it is also a critical part of our ecosystem, providing shelter, sustenance, and deep cultural significance. The saguaro, in Tohono O'odham custom, is akin to a person and any malicious action against one is as if harm is being done to our people. This belief is memorialized in Resolution 21-137 by the Tohono O'odham Legislative Council. "This is a violation of our sovereignty, of our religious liberty, and of our land," said Chairman Jose. "The Nation will continue to fight to prevent this senseless devastation from going forward and we are grateful for the overwhelming community support we have received." ### P.O. BOX 837, SELLS, ARIZONA 85634 Together We Are Stronger PHONE: 520.383.2028 FAX: 520.383.3379
@azrww.bsky.socialReposted by @jwashing.bsky.social

Tucson-based humanitarian group Humane Borders issued a statement announcing that federal land agencies ended the permits for their live-saving water stations including those at Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument which have helped people for over 25 years. This is a loss of 30% of their stations.

@reichlinmelnick.bsky.socialReposted by @jwashing.bsky.social

IIRIRA remains one of the most authoritarian anti-freedom, pro-mass surveillance laws passed by the U.S. Congress in the last 50 years. A legacy of the height of "tough on crime" in the 1990s that is still shaping governance and freedoms today.

he Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsi- bility Act (IIRIRA). The relevant IIRIRA provision, 8 U. S. C. §1373, contains two notwithstanding clauses. The first, section 1373(a), provides: “Notwithstanding any other provision of Federal, State, or local law, a Federal, State, or local govern- ment entity or official may not prohibit, or in any way restrict, any government entity or official from sending to, or receiving from, the [DHS] information regarding the citizenship or immigration status, lawful or unlaw- ful, of any individual.” The second, section 1373(b), which is captioned “Additional authority of government entities,” similarly provides: “Notwithstanding any other provision of Federal, State, or local law, no person or agency may prohibit, or in any way restrict, a Federal, State, or local govern- ment entity from doing any of the following with re- spect to information regarding the immigration status, lawful or unlawful, of any individual.” Th
@gillianbrockell.comReposted by @jwashing.bsky.social

NEW: Emergency motion asks First Circuit if its decision overturning DHS's third-country removal policy is effective immediately or not. They cite my reporting, and reveal tomorrow's ICE flight to make TCR stops in Central African Republic, Rwanda and Burundi.

www.courtlistener.com/docket/72347...

Gillian Brockell@gillianbrockell.com

SCOOP: ICE is trying to ignore the appeals court decision striking down its third-country removal policy, using the thinnest of legal technicalities as a justification. It wants to expel a Peruvian man to the Central African Republic tomorrow. prospect.org/2026/09/23/i...

prospect.orgICE Is Trying to Ignore Court’s Decision Striking Down Third-Country Removals - The American ProspectImmigration officials want to send a Peruvian man to the Central African Republic within hours, court filings show.
courtlistener.comMotion (other) – #00108513219 in D.V.D. v. U.S. Department of Homeland Security (1st Cir., 26-1212) – CourtListener.comEMERGENCY MOTION to Clarify the Effectiveness of this Court's Decision or, In the Alternative, Confirm the Stay is Lifted or Issue the Mandate filed by Appellees D.V.D., E.F.D., M.M. and O.C.G.. Serve...
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@jwashing.bsky.social

Update, Day 49 of the tree-sit in Lochiel: three of the land defenders were arrested today. From press release: "Sheriffs appeared surprised to arrive to a scene of whimsical animals disrupting the construction."

@reichlinmelnick.bsky.socialReposted by @jwashing.bsky.social

In response to this, the DeSantis administration releases a statement saying that they'd make this outrageous cage "even smaller if we could." The Department of Homeland Security's own Inspector General said it violated every detention standard and posed a significant danger to health and safety.

"At least ten million illegal aliens entered our country under the Biden administration. Florida decided to do something about it," Lanfranconi said. "The left-wing media wants to focus on a confinement area for violent criminal aliens who have proven they cannot remain peaceful while awaiting deportation. While it adheres to all federal standards for criminal confinement, we'd make it even smaller if we could."
@jwashing.bsky.social

Ive gotten some slightly more creative ones, offering translations or invites to conferences. I got sucked in once early on, but never fell completely. Truly sad to prey on authorial hopes and ambitions.

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