Brian Dolinar
@bdolinar.bsky.social
Abolition journalist, educator, scholar of the Depression era.
Pinned
Brian Dolinar
@bdolinar.bsky.social
· Nov 14
Sentences: Writings About Mass Incarceration | Brian Dolinar | Substack
A newsletter about my investigations into prisons, jails, and police. Here I'll share the stories and backstories behind my journalism. Click to read Sentences: Writings About Mass Incarceration, by B...
briandolinar.substack.com
Writing is fighting! Sign up for my Substack "Sentences" to follow my abolition journalism. BD
briandolinar.substack.com
briandolinar.substack.com
Watch a four-minute video of our AT&T rally in Champaign #AbolishICE BD
briandolinar.substack.com/p/crushing-i...
briandolinar.substack.com/p/crushing-i...
Crushing ICE: Champaign-Urbana Shuts Down AT&T For A Day
Champaign-Urbana participated in a statewide protest on Sunday, November 16, to expose AT&T which is providing the digital infrastructure for Trump’s deportation machine.
briandolinar.substack.com
November 21, 2025 at 4:03 PM
Watch a four-minute video of our AT&T rally in Champaign #AbolishICE BD
briandolinar.substack.com/p/crushing-i...
briandolinar.substack.com/p/crushing-i...
My write up on Julio Cucul-Bol's sentencing, political pawns, and cats. BD
briandolinar.substack.com/p/guatemalan...
briandolinar.substack.com/p/guatemalan...
Guatemalan Man at the Center of Trump’s “Midway Blitz” Sentenced
A 30-year sentence for Julio Cucul-Bol but pro-Trump father says it’s not enough
briandolinar.substack.com
October 28, 2025 at 3:09 PM
My write up on Julio Cucul-Bol's sentencing, political pawns, and cats. BD
briandolinar.substack.com/p/guatemalan...
briandolinar.substack.com/p/guatemalan...
Going to the courthouse is always a learning experience. Read about my friend Shonda who was in court in Cook County this week. BD
briandolinar.substack.com/p/going-to-c...
briandolinar.substack.com/p/going-to-c...
Going to Court for Freedom
My first trip to the Cook County Criminal Courts building
briandolinar.substack.com
October 11, 2025 at 6:22 PM
Going to the courthouse is always a learning experience. Read about my friend Shonda who was in court in Cook County this week. BD
briandolinar.substack.com/p/going-to-c...
briandolinar.substack.com/p/going-to-c...
Through a FOIA request, I obtained 29 immigration detainers sent to the Champaign County jail. Read more at my Substack. BD
briandolinar.substack.com/p/wanted-imm...
briandolinar.substack.com/p/wanted-imm...
Wanted: Immigration Detainers Sent to the Champaign County jail
A records requests produced a list of 29 local immigrants under the threat of arrest.
briandolinar.substack.com
September 22, 2025 at 2:53 PM
Through a FOIA request, I obtained 29 immigration detainers sent to the Champaign County jail. Read more at my Substack. BD
briandolinar.substack.com/p/wanted-imm...
briandolinar.substack.com/p/wanted-imm...
Read immigrant stories unique to those living in Champaign-Urbana. Thanks to my neighbor Greg Springer for sharing. BD
briandolinar.substack.com/p/stories-fr...
briandolinar.substack.com/p/stories-fr...
Stories from the C-U Immigrant Community
Collected by my neighbor Greg Springer, I'm publishing the stories here.
briandolinar.substack.com
September 17, 2025 at 5:21 PM
Read immigrant stories unique to those living in Champaign-Urbana. Thanks to my neighbor Greg Springer for sharing. BD
briandolinar.substack.com/p/stories-fr...
briandolinar.substack.com/p/stories-fr...
Trump's "Midway Blitz is connected to my hometown Urbana, and some more updates at my recent Substack. BD
briandolinar.substack.com/p/survival-a...
briandolinar.substack.com/p/survival-a...
Survival and Resilience
Some updates of local immigration defense work
briandolinar.substack.com
September 10, 2025 at 3:41 PM
Trump's "Midway Blitz is connected to my hometown Urbana, and some more updates at my recent Substack. BD
briandolinar.substack.com/p/survival-a...
briandolinar.substack.com/p/survival-a...
I went on a road trip to find my lost great-uncle who died in the coal mines of SE Kansas. Read more at my Substack! BD
briandolinar.substack.com/p/digging-up...
briandolinar.substack.com/p/digging-up...
Digging Up the History of My Immigrant Family
The search for my great-uncle who died in the coal mines of Southeast Kansas.
briandolinar.substack.com
September 2, 2025 at 3:37 PM
I went on a road trip to find my lost great-uncle who died in the coal mines of SE Kansas. Read more at my Substack! BD
briandolinar.substack.com/p/digging-up...
briandolinar.substack.com/p/digging-up...
Check out my article mapping ICE detention & resistance in the Midwest for @truthout.org @silkys13.bsky.social #AbolishICE BD
truthout.org/articles/a-f...
truthout.org/articles/a-f...
A Fight Is Brewing in the Midwest Over Immigrant Mass Detention
As ICE expands its presence across the Midwest, activists fight the reopening of private prisons to jail migrants.
truthout.org
August 9, 2025 at 5:24 PM
Check out my article mapping ICE detention & resistance in the Midwest for @truthout.org @silkys13.bsky.social #AbolishICE BD
truthout.org/articles/a-f...
truthout.org/articles/a-f...
ICE picked up a roofing crew last week in Urbana. Here's what I was able to find out #AbolishICE BD
briandolinar.substack.com/p/ice-strike...
briandolinar.substack.com/p/ice-strike...
ICE Strikes in East Urbana
Roofing crew disappeared with barely a trace
briandolinar.substack.com
June 23, 2025 at 7:15 PM
ICE picked up a roofing crew last week in Urbana. Here's what I was able to find out #AbolishICE BD
briandolinar.substack.com/p/ice-strike...
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Read my latest Substack! BD briandolinar.substack.com/p/abolish-ic...
Abolish ICE and Unbuilding Walls
What I've been doing when I'm not playing Soccer Dad
briandolinar.substack.com
June 13, 2025 at 5:16 PM
Read my latest Substack! BD briandolinar.substack.com/p/abolish-ic...
Those of us on the right side of history must say no deportations no matter what #abolition BD
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Fish In A Barrel: Four Feds Arrest Two Men at Traffic Court
ICE arrests resume at the courthouse
briandolinar.substack.com
April 7, 2025 at 3:45 PM
Those of us on the right side of history must say no deportations no matter what #abolition BD
briandolinar.substack.com/p/fish-in-a-...
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The back story to my Cellebrite article. And some reflections on Urbana's election yesterday. BD
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Cellebrite and Celebrations
Urbana votes for police accountability
briandolinar.substack.com
February 26, 2025 at 6:41 PM
The back story to my Cellebrite article. And some reflections on Urbana's election yesterday. BD
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My latest w/ Tara Goodarzi #freepalestine #stoppolicespying BD
Israeli-made surveillance technologies and “training expeditions” are accelerating the militarization of campus police departments across the US.
Campus Police Are Using Israeli Spy Tech to Crack Down on Student Protest
Israeli-made surveillance technologies are accelerating the militarization of campus police departments across the US.
buff.ly
February 25, 2025 at 2:02 PM
My latest w/ Tara Goodarzi #freepalestine #stoppolicespying BD
This week I confirmed ICE was in CU. Sign up for my Substack for more reports. BD
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Trump's ICE Agents Arrest Garbage Worker in CU
ICE has arrived in town, as I confirm in this story.
briandolinar.substack.com
February 1, 2025 at 3:41 PM
This week I confirmed ICE was in CU. Sign up for my Substack for more reports. BD
briandolinar.substack.com/p/trumps-ice...
briandolinar.substack.com/p/trumps-ice...
Where's Waldo? Read more at my Substack, "Sentences." BD
Look At All These Rumors: ICE Everywhere and Nowhere
Threats of ICE raids have yet to materialize.
briandolinar.substack.com
January 26, 2025 at 8:13 PM
Where's Waldo? Read more at my Substack, "Sentences." BD
ICYMI - my update on the 1st Amend. hearing for Yafa Issa, U of Illinois student facing mob action charges.
Judge Webber will give his ruling on Friday, Jan. 24, at 3:30pm in Courtroom A.
briandolinar.substack.com/p/free-speec...
Judge Webber will give his ruling on Friday, Jan. 24, at 3:30pm in Courtroom A.
briandolinar.substack.com/p/free-speec...
Free Speech Hearing for Palestinian Student Facing Mob Action Charges
Yafa Issa, 18-year-old leader in UIUC Students for Justice in Palestine, takes the stand.
briandolinar.substack.com
January 21, 2025 at 7:08 PM
ICYMI - my update on the 1st Amend. hearing for Yafa Issa, U of Illinois student facing mob action charges.
Judge Webber will give his ruling on Friday, Jan. 24, at 3:30pm in Courtroom A.
briandolinar.substack.com/p/free-speec...
Judge Webber will give his ruling on Friday, Jan. 24, at 3:30pm in Courtroom A.
briandolinar.substack.com/p/free-speec...
"According to longtime activist and community journalist Brian Dolinar, a previous Urbana police chief helped him confirm whether a deportation had taken place, and he and other advocates would let family members know."
ipmnewsroom.org/champaign-ur...
ipmnewsroom.org/champaign-ur...
Champaign-Urbana police departments won't work with ICE as per state law - IPM Newsroom
Local police chiefs in Champaign-Urbana say they won't be collaborating with federal immigration agents.
ipmnewsroom.org
January 20, 2025 at 9:58 PM
"According to longtime activist and community journalist Brian Dolinar, a previous Urbana police chief helped him confirm whether a deportation had taken place, and he and other advocates would let family members know."
ipmnewsroom.org/champaign-ur...
ipmnewsroom.org/champaign-ur...
A majority of the people in the courtroom were from the local Muslim community. Watching the prosecutor try to get the 18-year-old young woman indict herself on the stand, as a courtroom of Muslim friends and family members looked on, was bad optics.
Free Speech Hearing for Palestinian Student Facing Mob Action Charges
Yafa Issa, 18-year-old leader in UIUC Students for Justice in Palestine, takes the stand.
briandolinar.substack.com
January 11, 2025 at 4:20 PM
A majority of the people in the courtroom were from the local Muslim community. Watching the prosecutor try to get the 18-year-old young woman indict herself on the stand, as a courtroom of Muslim friends and family members looked on, was bad optics.
Champaign County has had three people die at the jail in the last three years. I found out about the latest death in a state report. But what's the point of having state reports, if nobody is reporting about them?!
Read more at my Substack.
briandolinar.substack.com/p/support-se...
Read more at my Substack.
briandolinar.substack.com/p/support-se...
Support Sentences: Reporting What Happens Behind Closed Cell Doors
George Christopher found dead in Champaign County jail after suffering a stroke
briandolinar.substack.com
December 23, 2024 at 4:11 PM
Champaign County has had three people die at the jail in the last three years. I found out about the latest death in a state report. But what's the point of having state reports, if nobody is reporting about them?!
Read more at my Substack.
briandolinar.substack.com/p/support-se...
Read more at my Substack.
briandolinar.substack.com/p/support-se...
“As Muslims, that’s a really important issue for our community,” Sana Saboowala said in an interview. “Since 9/11, Muslim communities have been policed all over the nation, and a lot of the surveillance laws that have been put in place on the national level have been targeting Muslims."
Urbana City Council tables measure that would require approval for police surveillance technology - IPM Newsroom
Officials in Urbana have tabled an ordinance that would require the city’s police department to seek approval before purchasing and using surveillance technology, including license plate readers, faci...
ipmnewsroom.org
December 18, 2024 at 1:33 AM
“As Muslims, that’s a really important issue for our community,” Sana Saboowala said in an interview. “Since 9/11, Muslim communities have been policed all over the nation, and a lot of the surveillance laws that have been put in place on the national level have been targeting Muslims."
Read about the new issue of Stateville Speaks on my Substack! Happy to be working on this 20 year prison publication with @mayaschenwar.bsky.social and others! BD
briandolinar.substack.com/p/stateville...
briandolinar.substack.com/p/stateville...
Stateville Speaks on So-Called “Closure” of Illinois Prisons
This 20-year prison publication showcases voices from the inside.
briandolinar.substack.com
December 17, 2024 at 8:12 PM
Read about the new issue of Stateville Speaks on my Substack! Happy to be working on this 20 year prison publication with @mayaschenwar.bsky.social and others! BD
briandolinar.substack.com/p/stateville...
briandolinar.substack.com/p/stateville...
Thanks @truthout.org for coving the mob action charges. BD
Pre-trial hearings for students who participated in a Gaza solidarity encampment in central Illinois last spring will determine whether they will face up to 3 years of incarceration on felony “mob action” charges for having exercised their free speech rights on campus.
Illinois Students Who Protested Gaza Genocide Are Facing Felony Mob Charges.
The state’s attorney is prosecuting University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign students over last April’s encampments.
truthout.org
November 25, 2024 at 8:52 PM
Thanks @truthout.org for coving the mob action charges. BD
Coming Home: My Summer Trip to Slovenia
The journey to find my grandpa’s favorite dessert.
briandolinar.substack.com
November 25, 2024 at 4:49 PM
Reposted by Brian Dolinar
New story about the expansion of detention in New Jersey. Despite laws passed to end detention, the Biden administration and private prison contractors have been intervening to reopen a shuttered jail, Delaney Hall. documentedny.com/2024/11/20/i...
New Immigration Detention Center Set to Open in New Jersey
With bids now open for a facility in Newark, immigrant rights groups are voicing concerns.
https://documentedny.com/2024/11/20/ice-detention-new-jersey-deportation-trump/#:~:text=“There’s%20been%20a%20long%2Dstanding%20fight%20to%20get%20rid%20of%20immigration%20detention%20altogether%2C%20so%20it’s%20incredibly%20disappointing%20that%20the%20Biden%20administration
November 20, 2024 at 3:26 PM
New story about the expansion of detention in New Jersey. Despite laws passed to end detention, the Biden administration and private prison contractors have been intervening to reopen a shuttered jail, Delaney Hall. documentedny.com/2024/11/20/i...