Adam Isacson
@adamisacson.com
He/Him. I work on security, borders, and migration at the Washington Office on Latin America (my views, not necessarily theirs). I'm also at wola.org, adamisacson.com, borderoversight.org, Mastodon elefanti.co/@adam
Give me enough eggnog, and you’ll hear what I _really_ think about Violet. I have opinions.
Also: Patty and Frieda.
Also: Patty and Frieda.
December 24, 2025 at 11:50 PM
Give me enough eggnog, and you’ll hear what I _really_ think about Violet. I have opinions.
Also: Patty and Frieda.
Also: Patty and Frieda.
"Southcom tweeting about tracking a civilian aboard a small craft" sure hits different this year.
December 24, 2025 at 6:45 PM
"Southcom tweeting about tracking a civilian aboard a small craft" sure hits different this year.
“There,” the great legal mind thought as he added his footnote. “That should put an end to the ‘Kavanaugh Stops’ thing.”
December 23, 2025 at 11:10 PM
“There,” the great legal mind thought as he added his footnote. “That should put an end to the ‘Kavanaugh Stops’ thing.”
The Posse Comitatus Act lives another day.
BREAKING: The Supreme Court rejects the Trump administration’s request to deploy National Guard troops in Illinois at this time, over the dissenting votes of Justices Thomas, Alito, and Gorsuch.
Background: www.lawdork.com/p/trump-admi...
Background: www.lawdork.com/p/trump-admi...
![We conclude that the term "regular forces" in §12406(3) likely refers to the regular forces of the United States mili-tary. This interpretation means that to call the Guard into active federal service under § 12406(3), the President must be "unable" with the regular military "to execute the laws of the United States." Because the statute requires an assessment of the military's ability to execute the laws, it likely applies only where the military could legally execute the laws. Such circumstances are exceptional: Under the Posse Comitatus Act, the military is prohibited from "execut[ing] the laws" "except in cases and under circumstances expressly authorized by the Constitution or Act of Congress.
18 U.S. C. §1385. So before the President can federalize the Guard under §12406(3), he likely must have statutory or constitutional authority to execute the laws with the regular military and must be "unable" with those forces to perform that function.
At this preliminary stage, the Government has failed to identify a source of authority that would allow the military to execute the laws in Illinois. The President has not invoked a statute that provides an exception to the Posse](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:36eqtmzysqf7wsslczw4uxcd/bafkreibdsy2sqw2yxt3ztz7pwc6pigtulgalqxwwnzxhlmyg2ntchkswwu@jpeg)
![Comitatus Act. Instead, he relies on inherent constitutional authority that, according to the Government, allows him to use the military to protect federal personnel and property. But the Government also claims-consistent with the longstanding view of the Executive Branch-that performing such protective functions does not constitute
"executing] the laws" within the meaning of the Posse Comitatus Act. See Supp. Letter Reply Brief for Applicants
8; 1 Supp. Op. OLC 343, n. 1 (1971) (collecting sources). If that is correct, it is hard to see how performing those functions could constitute "executing] the laws" under
§12406(3). See Azar v. Allina Health Services, 587 U.S. 566, 574 (2019) ("This Court does not lightly assume that Congress silently attaches different meanings to the same term in e same or related statutes"). Thus, at least in this posture, the Government has not carried its burden to show that §12406(3) permits the President to federalize the Guard in the exercise of inherent authority to protect federal personnel and property in Illinois. We need not and do not address the reviewability of findi „s made by the Pres-
ident under §12406(3) or any other statute.
The application for stay is denied.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:36eqtmzysqf7wsslczw4uxcd/bafkreid5gspjdv7pcrmexr4orqigpujw2rnwoyphysinbcbwarn23rzim4@jpeg)
December 23, 2025 at 8:56 PM
The Posse Comitatus Act lives another day.
Great time to learn about BitTorrent if you don’t use it. A good Mac app is Transmission.
And now someone has uploaded a version that wasn't filmed off a TV.
There's also the torrent link there, which is probably the fastest way to download the 60 Minutes segment on CECOT if you want to save the file locally to your computer.
There's also the torrent link there, which is probably the fastest way to download the 60 Minutes segment on CECOT if you want to save the file locally to your computer.
Pulled 60 Minutes segment on CECOT : CBS : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive
This is a screen recording of a 60 Minutes segment about the Centro de Confinamiento del Terrorismo (CECOT) prison in El Salvador, which was intended to be...
archive.org
December 23, 2025 at 3:33 AM
Great time to learn about BitTorrent if you don’t use it. A good Mac app is Transmission.
Imagine mustering the courage to come forward and testify to reporters about how you were tortured and humiliated, only to have the reporters' new boss be like, "Wait, let's hear from the torturers before we run this." It's really that bad.
December 22, 2025 at 11:59 PM
Imagine mustering the courage to come forward and testify to reporters about how you were tortured and humiliated, only to have the reporters' new boss be like, "Wait, let's hear from the torturers before we run this." It's really that bad.
Streaming services' "Jazz Christmas" playlists are great if you've ever wondered what your home would sound like if it were a Starbucks.
December 22, 2025 at 11:50 PM
Streaming services' "Jazz Christmas" playlists are great if you've ever wondered what your home would sound like if it were a Starbucks.
Took a nice sunset drive past the Trump-Washington Monument and the Trump-Lincoln, Trump-Jefferson, and Trump-World War II Memorials
December 22, 2025 at 10:10 PM
Took a nice sunset drive past the Trump-Washington Monument and the Trump-Lincoln, Trump-Jefferson, and Trump-World War II Memorials
Reposted by Adam Isacson
It looks like it's been scrubbed from every official 60 Minutes page now.
It's only a 30-second promo but here it is if you didn't get a chance to see it.
It's only a 30-second promo but here it is if you didn't get a chance to see it.
December 22, 2025 at 1:33 AM
It looks like it's been scrubbed from every official 60 Minutes page now.
It's only a 30-second promo but here it is if you didn't get a chance to see it.
It's only a 30-second promo but here it is if you didn't get a chance to see it.
Badly misinformed "journalist"... many—perhaps most—of the Venezuelan men were not here illegally, they had humanitarian parole, TPS, and/or pending asylum applications.
(See www.propublica.org/article/vene...)
(See www.propublica.org/article/vene...)
December 22, 2025 at 4:35 AM
Badly misinformed "journalist"... many—perhaps most—of the Venezuelan men were not here illegally, they had humanitarian parole, TPS, and/or pending asylum applications.
(See www.propublica.org/article/vene...)
(See www.propublica.org/article/vene...)
Current issue of @theonion.com nails it again.
December 21, 2025 at 11:03 PM
Current issue of @theonion.com nails it again.
98-99% of abuses ICE/DHS agents and contractors commit against detained migrants will go unnoticed—and unaccountable—unless there's infrastructure in destination countries to hear victims' testimonies after deportation. Here, @palabrasdeabajo.bsky.social shows the power of this essential monitoring.
Francisco Gaspar Cristóbal Andrés was the first immigrant to die at the Trump's Camp East Montana.
His wife, Lucía Pedro Juan, was held in the same facility. She detailed abuses and hunger. She said her husband was not ill when he was detained in September. Now she is in Guatemala.
My exclusive:
His wife, Lucía Pedro Juan, was held in the same facility. She detailed abuses and hunger. She said her husband was not ill when he was detained in September. Now she is in Guatemala.
My exclusive:
Exclusive: She survived ICE custody; her husband died during detention
Guatemalan widow shared a hug, a tickle and these words with her husband: "Cheer up." It was the last time she saw him alive while they were in ICE custody.
www.elpasotimes.com
December 20, 2025 at 6:32 PM
98-99% of abuses ICE/DHS agents and contractors commit against detained migrants will go unnoticed—and unaccountable—unless there's infrastructure in destination countries to hear victims' testimonies after deportation. Here, @palabrasdeabajo.bsky.social shows the power of this essential monitoring.
Reposted by Adam Isacson
"I know they killed him"
Lucía Pedro Juan was detained with her husband, Francisco Gaspar Cristóbal Andrés, on Sept. 1. She was held for almost 3 months in Camp East Montana. She was deported to Guatemala. Her husband died on Dec. 3.
I traveled to speak with her for the El Paso Times.
Lucía Pedro Juan was detained with her husband, Francisco Gaspar Cristóbal Andrés, on Sept. 1. She was held for almost 3 months in Camp East Montana. She was deported to Guatemala. Her husband died on Dec. 3.
I traveled to speak with her for the El Paso Times.
Exclusive: She survived ICE custody; her husband died during detention
Guatemalan widow shared a hug, a tickle and these words with her husband: "Cheer up." It was the last time she saw him alive while they were in ICE custody.
www.elpasotimes.com
December 19, 2025 at 9:48 PM
"I know they killed him"
Lucía Pedro Juan was detained with her husband, Francisco Gaspar Cristóbal Andrés, on Sept. 1. She was held for almost 3 months in Camp East Montana. She was deported to Guatemala. Her husband died on Dec. 3.
I traveled to speak with her for the El Paso Times.
Lucía Pedro Juan was detained with her husband, Francisco Gaspar Cristóbal Andrés, on Sept. 1. She was held for almost 3 months in Camp East Montana. She was deported to Guatemala. Her husband died on Dec. 3.
I traveled to speak with her for the El Paso Times.
CBP has updated its migration data at the U.S.-Mexico border through November, and I've updated the tool at cbpdata.adamisacson.com that makes that data easier to navigate.
Here are Border Patrol apprehensions since fiscal 2024, from cbpdata.adamisacson.com/cbp_data_tab...
Here are Border Patrol apprehensions since fiscal 2024, from cbpdata.adamisacson.com/cbp_data_tab...
December 19, 2025 at 5:06 PM
CBP has updated its migration data at the U.S.-Mexico border through November, and I've updated the tool at cbpdata.adamisacson.com that makes that data easier to navigate.
Here are Border Patrol apprehensions since fiscal 2024, from cbpdata.adamisacson.com/cbp_data_tab...
Here are Border Patrol apprehensions since fiscal 2024, from cbpdata.adamisacson.com/cbp_data_tab...
Two more bombings yesterday.
These numbers remain high: the illegal policy of high-seas murder may not even be deterring small-craft drug trafficking.
People murdered per day, monthly average:
- September 0.6
- October 1.5
- November 0.7
- December (1-18) 1.2
www.wola.org/2025/11/us-m...
These numbers remain high: the illegal policy of high-seas murder may not even be deterring small-craft drug trafficking.
People murdered per day, monthly average:
- September 0.6
- October 1.5
- November 0.7
- December (1-18) 1.2
www.wola.org/2025/11/us-m...
December 19, 2025 at 2:48 PM
Two more bombings yesterday.
These numbers remain high: the illegal policy of high-seas murder may not even be deterring small-craft drug trafficking.
People murdered per day, monthly average:
- September 0.6
- October 1.5
- November 0.7
- December (1-18) 1.2
www.wola.org/2025/11/us-m...
These numbers remain high: the illegal policy of high-seas murder may not even be deterring small-craft drug trafficking.
People murdered per day, monthly average:
- September 0.6
- October 1.5
- November 0.7
- December (1-18) 1.2
www.wola.org/2025/11/us-m...
The below screenshot is from December 9. Now at least 4 more deaths in ICE custody. What the hell is happening?
December 19, 2025 at 1:46 AM
The below screenshot is from December 9. Now at least 4 more deaths in ICE custody. What the hell is happening?
The bit about Somali-Americans sounded exactly like someone inciting a pogrom in 19th century Russia. Everyone must repudiate it as forcefully as possible.
Trump’s primetime diatribe against immigrants is straight up unvarnished Nazi stuff
December 18, 2025 at 2:55 AM
The bit about Somali-Americans sounded exactly like someone inciting a pogrom in 19th century Russia. Everyone must repudiate it as forcefully as possible.
Twitter search for "coked up" right now
December 18, 2025 at 2:32 AM
Twitter search for "coked up" right now
Wow, Tucker Carlson was wrong about a major issue of war and peace? My sense of a "common reality" is shattered, how can I go on after this
Tucker Carlson tells Judge Napalitano that a member of congress told him that President Trump is going to announce this evening that “a war is coming,” with respect to Venezuela.
December 18, 2025 at 2:28 AM
Wow, Tucker Carlson was wrong about a major issue of war and peace? My sense of a "common reality" is shattered, how can I go on after this
Another boat strike today. Let's dedicate this one to the 214 Republicans and 2 Democrats who voted against stopping these illegal murders.
The death toll from 26 attacks now stands at 99.
The death toll from 26 attacks now stands at 99.
December 18, 2025 at 2:11 AM
Another boat strike today. Let's dedicate this one to the 214 Republicans and 2 Democrats who voted against stopping these illegal murders.
The death toll from 26 attacks now stands at 99.
The death toll from 26 attacks now stands at 99.
Oh man do I hope the Post got this right, and we're not dealing with a stupid and reckless Venezuela "war" announcement this evening.
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
December 18, 2025 at 1:26 AM
Oh man do I hope the Post got this right, and we're not dealing with a stupid and reckless Venezuela "war" announcement this evening.
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
Both resolutions narrowly went down in the House.
- 210-216 (boat strikes, 2D and 2R voting with other party)
- 211-213 (Venezuela, 1D and 3R voting with other party).
- 210-216 (boat strikes, 2D and 2R voting with other party)
- 211-213 (Venezuela, 1D and 3R voting with other party).
December 17, 2025 at 11:14 PM
Both resolutions narrowly went down in the House.
- 210-216 (boat strikes, 2D and 2R voting with other party)
- 211-213 (Venezuela, 1D and 3R voting with other party).
- 210-216 (boat strikes, 2D and 2R voting with other party)
- 211-213 (Venezuela, 1D and 3R voting with other party).
Administration officials try to justify lethal boat strikes with the claim that past interdiction "failed." But here's a series of quotes from past Southcom commanders making clear that the program never had anywhere near the funding it needed.
Did Maritime Interdiction "Fail?" Or Was It Starved for Resources? - Adam Isacson
Administration officials try to justify lethal boat strikes with the claim that past interdiction "failed." But here's a series of quotes from past Southcom commanders making clear that the program ne...
adamisacson.com
December 17, 2025 at 7:47 PM
Administration officials try to justify lethal boat strikes with the claim that past interdiction "failed." But here's a series of quotes from past Southcom commanders making clear that the program never had anywhere near the funding it needed.
This is the first time a FIFA Peace Prize laureate has ever ordered a naval blockade, of a nation with more than 3,000 miles of land borders, for allegedly "stealing" its own oil reserves. Truly historic.
December 17, 2025 at 3:46 AM
This is the first time a FIFA Peace Prize laureate has ever ordered a naval blockade, of a nation with more than 3,000 miles of land borders, for allegedly "stealing" its own oil reserves. Truly historic.
Here's a new video about security in Latin America, based on a talk that I give a few times each year.
It covers a lot of ground, but the idea is "You actually *can* protect people from crime without destroying your democracy, bombing boats, or massively incarcerating."
It covers a lot of ground, but the idea is "You actually *can* protect people from crime without destroying your democracy, bombing boats, or massively incarcerating."
You Actually *Can* Protect People from Crime Without Destroying Democracy.
YouTube video by Adam Isacson
www.youtube.com
December 17, 2025 at 2:53 AM
Here's a new video about security in Latin America, based on a talk that I give a few times each year.
It covers a lot of ground, but the idea is "You actually *can* protect people from crime without destroying your democracy, bombing boats, or massively incarcerating."
It covers a lot of ground, but the idea is "You actually *can* protect people from crime without destroying your democracy, bombing boats, or massively incarcerating."