Erica Hellerstein
@ehellerstein.bsky.social
Global human rights journalist | IWMF Ukraine fellow | Senior immigration & labor reporter | Bay Area gal |
Prev @codastory.bsky.social & many more past lives. www.ericahellerstein.com
Prev @codastory.bsky.social & many more past lives. www.ericahellerstein.com
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Music Cures: The Healing Power of the Accordion After a Shooting - Latino USA
We travel to Half Moon Bay, where an unconventional music program is helping farmworkers victims of a shooting heal from their deepest wounds through the keys and wails of the accordion.
www.latinousa.org
Thrilled to share the long-awaited collab btw @eltimpano.bsky.social + Latino USA! I spent months reporting on an accordion class helping the farmworker survivors of the Half Moon Bay shooting heal from their trauma. It's a piece abt grief, love, healing & culture.
www.latinousa.org/2025/10/03/m...
www.latinousa.org/2025/10/03/m...
Reposted by Erica Hellerstein
As I sometimes like to mention, s the only reason you know who Jeffrey Epstein is (that is, if you weren't one of his friends/clients/beneficiaries) is because Ms Brown, below, broke the story of his sweetheart deal to get out of the 2008 trafficking charges.
BREAKING: (Gift) New Epstein emails reveal that Epstein claimed he had kompromat on President Trump. www.miamiherald.com/news/politic...
New Epstein emails claim Trump ‘spent hours’ with victim
Democrats on the House Oversight say the emails provide evidence of a cover-up by the White House
www.miamiherald.com
November 12, 2025 at 5:35 PM
As I sometimes like to mention, s the only reason you know who Jeffrey Epstein is (that is, if you weren't one of his friends/clients/beneficiaries) is because Ms Brown, below, broke the story of his sweetheart deal to get out of the 2008 trafficking charges.
Reposted by Erica Hellerstein
The most horrifying AI slop of ICE raids you can possibly imagine is wildly viral on Facebook, collectively totaling tens of millions of views from a single account. First spotted by @chadloder.bsky.social
www.404media.co/ai-generated...
www.404media.co/ai-generated...
AI-Generated Videos of ICE Raids Are Wildly Viral on Facebook
An account is spamming horrific, dehumanizing videos of immigration enforcement because the Facebook algorithm is rewarding them for it.
www.404media.co
November 12, 2025 at 5:51 PM
The most horrifying AI slop of ICE raids you can possibly imagine is wildly viral on Facebook, collectively totaling tens of millions of views from a single account. First spotted by @chadloder.bsky.social
www.404media.co/ai-generated...
www.404media.co/ai-generated...
Reposted by Erica Hellerstein
From @vanessalop.bsky.social: He worked hard to give me a home. ICE took his: How I lost my father to deportation
chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/2...
chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/2...
He worked hard to give me a home. ICE took his: How I lost my father to deportation
Deportation has taken away the father I once knew and given me back a person I no longer recognize.
chicago.suntimes.com
November 10, 2025 at 2:53 PM
From @vanessalop.bsky.social: He worked hard to give me a home. ICE took his: How I lost my father to deportation
chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/2...
chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/2...
Reposted by Erica Hellerstein
In today's Weekly Dispatch, @ehellerstein.bsky.social reflects on how the Fruitvale Día de los Muertos festival brought together thousands to honor their loved ones and celebrate heritage and culture—even amid fears of immigration enforcement.
www.eltimpano.org/newsletter/w...
www.eltimpano.org/newsletter/w...
What Oakland’s Día de los Muertos taught us this year
Local journalism needs your support This week kicks off our end-of-year fund drive and we need YOU to help us start strong. Join our community of donors to power the journalism you and thousands of Ba...
www.eltimpano.org
November 8, 2025 at 12:51 AM
In today's Weekly Dispatch, @ehellerstein.bsky.social reflects on how the Fruitvale Día de los Muertos festival brought together thousands to honor their loved ones and celebrate heritage and culture—even amid fears of immigration enforcement.
www.eltimpano.org/newsletter/w...
www.eltimpano.org/newsletter/w...
Reposted by Erica Hellerstein
New: The FBI is quietly urging ICE agents to properly ID themselves in the field.
In a bulletin to law enforcement last month, it warned of criminals posing as ICE to rob, rape, kidnap—a problem it says now demands national coordination to confront.
By me & @carolinehaskins.bsky.social:
In a bulletin to law enforcement last month, it warned of criminals posing as ICE to rob, rape, kidnap—a problem it says now demands national coordination to confront.
By me & @carolinehaskins.bsky.social:
FBI Warns of Criminals Posing as ICE, Urges Agents to ID Themselves
In a bulletin to law enforcement agencies, the FBI said criminal impersonators are exploiting ICE’s image and urged nationwide coordination to distinguish real operations from fakes.
www.wired.com
November 4, 2025 at 7:34 PM
New: The FBI is quietly urging ICE agents to properly ID themselves in the field.
In a bulletin to law enforcement last month, it warned of criminals posing as ICE to rob, rape, kidnap—a problem it says now demands national coordination to confront.
By me & @carolinehaskins.bsky.social:
In a bulletin to law enforcement last month, it warned of criminals posing as ICE to rob, rape, kidnap—a problem it says now demands national coordination to confront.
By me & @carolinehaskins.bsky.social:
Reposted by Erica Hellerstein
In this week's Weekly Dispatch, @ehellerstein.bsky.social shares a postmortem on last week’s events—not only on what unfolded, but on what local orgs learned during what became, in effect, a dress rehearsal for the immigration crackdown that may still come.
www.eltimpano.org/newsletter/s...
www.eltimpano.org/newsletter/s...
Stress testing the Bay Area’s immigration support networks
Not yet subscribed? Click here to sign up for our weekly emails. The Weekly Dispatch Community-powered immigration news from the Bay Area. Welcome to El Tímpano’s Weekly Dispatch. I’m Erica Hellerste...
www.eltimpano.org
October 31, 2025 at 8:51 PM
In this week's Weekly Dispatch, @ehellerstein.bsky.social shares a postmortem on last week’s events—not only on what unfolded, but on what local orgs learned during what became, in effect, a dress rehearsal for the immigration crackdown that may still come.
www.eltimpano.org/newsletter/s...
www.eltimpano.org/newsletter/s...
Reposted by Erica Hellerstein
Two months ago, U.S. Border Patrol posted a hype video, featuring the “banned” version of Michael Jackson’s 1995 song “They Don’t Care About Us,” including its infamous antisemitic slurs.
While Border Patrol remained silent, antisemitic accounts on Twitter celebrated the government’s post.
While Border Patrol remained silent, antisemitic accounts on Twitter celebrated the government’s post.
Border Patrol won’t say why it used a Michael Jackson song with antisemitic lyrics
The video was live on Facebook and Instagram for two months.
www.motherjones.com
October 16, 2025 at 12:00 AM
Two months ago, U.S. Border Patrol posted a hype video, featuring the “banned” version of Michael Jackson’s 1995 song “They Don’t Care About Us,” including its infamous antisemitic slurs.
While Border Patrol remained silent, antisemitic accounts on Twitter celebrated the government’s post.
While Border Patrol remained silent, antisemitic accounts on Twitter celebrated the government’s post.
Loving ML's immigration reporting in general, but this one hit me hard bc it is the exact story of my family. Also from present-day Ukraine, immigrated to the US just before a 1920 pogrom wiped out their town, & the remaining Jews were later killed in the Holocaust
missionlocal.org/2025/10/the-...
missionlocal.org/2025/10/the-...
October 20, 2025 at 4:17 PM
Loving ML's immigration reporting in general, but this one hit me hard bc it is the exact story of my family. Also from present-day Ukraine, immigrated to the US just before a 1920 pogrom wiped out their town, & the remaining Jews were later killed in the Holocaust
missionlocal.org/2025/10/the-...
missionlocal.org/2025/10/the-...
Reposted by Erica Hellerstein
A dinosaur talking with an NPR producer.
October 18, 2025 at 5:16 PM
A dinosaur talking with an NPR producer.
New - Fraudsters are posing as immigration attorneys & staging fake virtual court hearings to steal from ppl seeking legal help.
Scammers advertise on TikTok to appear legit—stealing real lawyers’ names & bar numbers. Victims have lost thousands & risk deportation
www.eltimpano.org/newsletter/h...
Scammers advertise on TikTok to appear legit—stealing real lawyers’ names & bar numbers. Victims have lost thousands & risk deportation
www.eltimpano.org/newsletter/h...
How fraudsters are preying on immigrants seeking legal support
Not yet subscribed? Click here to sign up for our weekly emails. The Weekly Dispatch Community-powered immigration news from the Bay Area. Welcome to El Tímpano’s Weekly Dispatch. I’m Erica Hellerste...
www.eltimpano.org
October 17, 2025 at 6:34 PM
New - Fraudsters are posing as immigration attorneys & staging fake virtual court hearings to steal from ppl seeking legal help.
Scammers advertise on TikTok to appear legit—stealing real lawyers’ names & bar numbers. Victims have lost thousands & risk deportation
www.eltimpano.org/newsletter/h...
Scammers advertise on TikTok to appear legit—stealing real lawyers’ names & bar numbers. Victims have lost thousands & risk deportation
www.eltimpano.org/newsletter/h...
Reposted by Erica Hellerstein
In today's Weekly Dispatch, @ehellerstein.bsky.social reports on the rise in scams targeting immigrants seeking legal help—where fraudsters pose as legitimate attorneys, make false promises and charge for services that may never be delivered.
www.eltimpano.org/newsletter/h...
www.eltimpano.org/newsletter/h...
How fraudsters are preying on immigrants seeking legal support
Not yet subscribed? Click here to sign up for our weekly emails. The Weekly Dispatch Community-powered immigration news from the Bay Area. Welcome to El Tímpano’s Weekly Dispatch. I’m Erica Hellerste...
www.eltimpano.org
October 17, 2025 at 5:07 PM
In today's Weekly Dispatch, @ehellerstein.bsky.social reports on the rise in scams targeting immigrants seeking legal help—where fraudsters pose as legitimate attorneys, make false promises and charge for services that may never be delivered.
www.eltimpano.org/newsletter/h...
www.eltimpano.org/newsletter/h...
ICYMI: This week's newsletter is all about @eltimpano.bsky.social's collab with Latino USA. It's the story of Pedro, a farmworker who survived Half Moon Bay's mass shooting. He lost his brother in the attack and was shot 5 times. Then he discovered the accordion.
www.eltimpano.org/newsletter/w...
www.eltimpano.org/newsletter/w...
When culture cures: the healing power of music for trauma
Not yet subscribed? Click here to sign up for our weekly emails. The Weekly Dispatch Community-powered immigration news from the Bay Area. Welcome to El Tímpano’s Weekly Dispatch. I’m Erica Hellerste...
www.eltimpano.org
October 10, 2025 at 5:33 PM
ICYMI: This week's newsletter is all about @eltimpano.bsky.social's collab with Latino USA. It's the story of Pedro, a farmworker who survived Half Moon Bay's mass shooting. He lost his brother in the attack and was shot 5 times. Then he discovered the accordion.
www.eltimpano.org/newsletter/w...
www.eltimpano.org/newsletter/w...
I've been doing longform writing for so long, it was a fun experience to take myself out of my comfort zone with a longform radio piece. I'm excited about the next edition of E's radio - a longform podcast about my reporting in Ukraine. Hopefully out next month!
www.latinousa.org/2025/10/03/m...
www.latinousa.org/2025/10/03/m...
Music Cures: The Healing Power of the Accordion After a Shooting - Latino USA
We travel to Half Moon Bay, where an unconventional music program is helping farmworkers victims of a shooting heal from their deepest wounds through the keys and wails of the accordion.
www.latinousa.org
October 7, 2025 at 5:31 PM
I've been doing longform writing for so long, it was a fun experience to take myself out of my comfort zone with a longform radio piece. I'm excited about the next edition of E's radio - a longform podcast about my reporting in Ukraine. Hopefully out next month!
www.latinousa.org/2025/10/03/m...
www.latinousa.org/2025/10/03/m...
Thrilled to share the long-awaited collab btw @eltimpano.bsky.social + Latino USA! I spent months reporting on an accordion class helping the farmworker survivors of the Half Moon Bay shooting heal from their trauma. It's a piece abt grief, love, healing & culture.
www.latinousa.org/2025/10/03/m...
www.latinousa.org/2025/10/03/m...
Music Cures: The Healing Power of the Accordion After a Shooting - Latino USA
We travel to Half Moon Bay, where an unconventional music program is helping farmworkers victims of a shooting heal from their deepest wounds through the keys and wails of the accordion.
www.latinousa.org
October 5, 2025 at 10:54 PM
Thrilled to share the long-awaited collab btw @eltimpano.bsky.social + Latino USA! I spent months reporting on an accordion class helping the farmworker survivors of the Half Moon Bay shooting heal from their trauma. It's a piece abt grief, love, healing & culture.
www.latinousa.org/2025/10/03/m...
www.latinousa.org/2025/10/03/m...
Reposted by Erica Hellerstein
Now available in your podcast feeds — @ehellerstein.bsky.social's Latino USA episode on an unconventional music program in Half Moon Bay that's helping farmworkers heal from trauma through the accordion.
Ep will also air live on @kqednews.kqed.org tonight at 6 pm!
www.latinousa.org/2025/10/03/m...
Ep will also air live on @kqednews.kqed.org tonight at 6 pm!
www.latinousa.org/2025/10/03/m...
Music Cures: The Healing Power of the Accordion After a Shooting - Latino USA
We travel to Half Moon Bay, where an unconventional music program is helping farmworkers victims of a shooting heal from their deepest wounds through the keys and wails of the accordion.
www.latinousa.org
October 5, 2025 at 6:13 PM
Now available in your podcast feeds — @ehellerstein.bsky.social's Latino USA episode on an unconventional music program in Half Moon Bay that's helping farmworkers heal from trauma through the accordion.
Ep will also air live on @kqednews.kqed.org tonight at 6 pm!
www.latinousa.org/2025/10/03/m...
Ep will also air live on @kqednews.kqed.org tonight at 6 pm!
www.latinousa.org/2025/10/03/m...
After a recent SCOUTS ruling lifting limits on ICE sweeps in LA & ongoing raids, Gov. Newsom signed a suite of bills to strengthen immigrant protections. Bay Area leaders also unveiled a new regional effort to financially support immigrants impacted by enforcement:
www.eltimpano.org/newsletter/a...
www.eltimpano.org/newsletter/a...
After raids and court rulings, California doubles down on immigrant protections
Not yet subscribed? Click here to sign up for our weekly emails. The Weekly Dispatch Community-powered immigration news from the Bay Area. Welcome to El Tímpano’s Weekly Dispatch. I’m Erica Hellerste...
www.eltimpano.org
September 26, 2025 at 6:34 PM
After a recent SCOUTS ruling lifting limits on ICE sweeps in LA & ongoing raids, Gov. Newsom signed a suite of bills to strengthen immigrant protections. Bay Area leaders also unveiled a new regional effort to financially support immigrants impacted by enforcement:
www.eltimpano.org/newsletter/a...
www.eltimpano.org/newsletter/a...
Reposted by Erica Hellerstein
In today's Weekly Dispatch, @ehellerstein.bsky.social reports on how increased immigration enforcement is preventing immigrant families from accessing necessary health care, triggering delays, mental health crises, and worsened outcomes. 👇
www.eltimpano.org/newsletter/h...
www.eltimpano.org/newsletter/h...
Health care in the shadow of ICE
Not yet subscribed? Click here to sign up for our weekly emails. The Weekly Dispatch Community-powered immigration news from the Bay Area. Welcome to El Tímpano’s Weekly Dispatch. I’m Erica Hellerste...
www.eltimpano.org
September 19, 2025 at 10:53 PM
In today's Weekly Dispatch, @ehellerstein.bsky.social reports on how increased immigration enforcement is preventing immigrant families from accessing necessary health care, triggering delays, mental health crises, and worsened outcomes. 👇
www.eltimpano.org/newsletter/h...
www.eltimpano.org/newsletter/h...
"We’re seeing a quarantine effect, but not from a virus. Families are isolating out of fear, raids, surveillance, and discrimination.”
My latest on health care in California in the shadow of ICE.
www.eltimpano.org/newsletter/h...
My latest on health care in California in the shadow of ICE.
www.eltimpano.org/newsletter/h...
Health care in the shadow of ICE
Not yet subscribed? Click here to sign up for our weekly emails. The Weekly Dispatch Community-powered immigration news from the Bay Area. Welcome to El Tímpano’s Weekly Dispatch. I’m Erica Hellerste...
www.eltimpano.org
September 19, 2025 at 7:31 PM
"We’re seeing a quarantine effect, but not from a virus. Families are isolating out of fear, raids, surveillance, and discrimination.”
My latest on health care in California in the shadow of ICE.
www.eltimpano.org/newsletter/h...
My latest on health care in California in the shadow of ICE.
www.eltimpano.org/newsletter/h...
My latest is a deep dive into a recent ruling narrowing the grounds for domestic violence survivors to obtain asylum. It's also abt the historical exclusion of women from the asylum framework, and the long fight over how gender fits into a system created decades ago
www.eltimpano.org/newsletter/a...
www.eltimpano.org/newsletter/a...
A blow to domestic violence asylum
Not yet subscribed? Click here to sign up for our weekly emails. The Weekly Dispatch Community-powered immigration news from the Bay Area. Welcome to El Tímpano’s Weekly Dispatch. I’m Erica Hellerste...
www.eltimpano.org
September 12, 2025 at 8:58 PM
My latest is a deep dive into a recent ruling narrowing the grounds for domestic violence survivors to obtain asylum. It's also abt the historical exclusion of women from the asylum framework, and the long fight over how gender fits into a system created decades ago
www.eltimpano.org/newsletter/a...
www.eltimpano.org/newsletter/a...
Reposted by Erica Hellerstein
After her hearing at 26 Federal Plaza, a woman was detained and escorted toward the stairwell. Her husband, confused and in shock, was guided toward the exit. Minutes later, he broke down in the elevator. They entered together, but he left alone. This happens here daily. #ICE
September 11, 2025 at 9:25 PM
After her hearing at 26 Federal Plaza, a woman was detained and escorted toward the stairwell. Her husband, confused and in shock, was guided toward the exit. Minutes later, he broke down in the elevator. They entered together, but he left alone. This happens here daily. #ICE
Reposted by Erica Hellerstein
In honor of #LaborDay, we've been looking into trades where immigrant labor is essential. @ehellerstein.bsky.social's last newsletter detailed how CA fast food workers are striking for safer conditions and calling on employers to protect them from ICE raids.
www.eltimpano.org/newsletter/c...
www.eltimpano.org/newsletter/c...
California fast food workers call on employers to protect them from ICE raids
Not yet subscribed? Click here to sign up for our weekly emails. The Weekly Dispatch Community-powered immigration news from the Bay Area. Welcome to El Tímpano’s Weekly Dispatch. I’m Erica Hellerste...
www.eltimpano.org
August 29, 2025 at 8:21 PM
In honor of #LaborDay, we've been looking into trades where immigrant labor is essential. @ehellerstein.bsky.social's last newsletter detailed how CA fast food workers are striking for safer conditions and calling on employers to protect them from ICE raids.
www.eltimpano.org/newsletter/c...
www.eltimpano.org/newsletter/c...
This was exactly my recent experience in Kyiv! Everything felt enunciated: conversation, culture, ideas, even life. After I left, there was something I missed about being in this constant state of enunciation. Everything felt flat by comparison
"The seduction of Kyiv is this intensity of life, intellectual and otherwise—a luminousness born of desperation."
@marcishore.bsky.social
www.nybooks.com/online/2025/...
@marcishore.bsky.social
www.nybooks.com/online/2025/...
Kyiv: Death and Other Borders | Marci Shore
It takes a long time to get to Kyiv these days. From across the Atlantic, at least one night in the air, another on a train. And once there, daily life is
www.nybooks.com
August 27, 2025 at 10:00 PM
This was exactly my recent experience in Kyiv! Everything felt enunciated: conversation, culture, ideas, even life. After I left, there was something I missed about being in this constant state of enunciation. Everything felt flat by comparison
The "Big Beautiful Bill" will strip food stamps from roughly ~74,000 refugees, asylees & other immigrants w humanitarian protections in CA.
In the East Bay, some ppl are withdrawing CalFresh applications over concerns abt their data being shared w ICE. My latest:
www.eltimpano.org/newsletter/s...
In the East Bay, some ppl are withdrawing CalFresh applications over concerns abt their data being shared w ICE. My latest:
www.eltimpano.org/newsletter/s...
SNAP cuts and fears hit Bay Area immigrant families
Not yet subscribed? Click here to sign up for our weekly emails. The Weekly Dispatch Community-powered immigration news from the Bay Area. Welcome to El Tímpano’s Weekly Dispatch. I’m Erica Hellerste...
www.eltimpano.org
August 15, 2025 at 6:31 PM
The "Big Beautiful Bill" will strip food stamps from roughly ~74,000 refugees, asylees & other immigrants w humanitarian protections in CA.
In the East Bay, some ppl are withdrawing CalFresh applications over concerns abt their data being shared w ICE. My latest:
www.eltimpano.org/newsletter/s...
In the East Bay, some ppl are withdrawing CalFresh applications over concerns abt their data being shared w ICE. My latest:
www.eltimpano.org/newsletter/s...
Reposted by Erica Hellerstein
Last month, we reported that the IRS was preparing a system that would share millions of taxpayers' data with ICE.
Now we can confirm data was officially transferred ⤵️
Now we can confirm data was officially transferred ⤵️
August 14, 2025 at 9:05 PM
Last month, we reported that the IRS was preparing a system that would share millions of taxpayers' data with ICE.
Now we can confirm data was officially transferred ⤵️
Now we can confirm data was officially transferred ⤵️
My latest digs into into “immigration trauma.” Migration, family separation & daily threats of detention are inflicting chronic stress on immigrant communities—especially kids—showing up emotionally & physically in anxiety & toxic stress that can stunt development
www.eltimpano.org/newsletter/w...
www.eltimpano.org/newsletter/w...
Why more people should be talking about ‘immigration trauma’
Not yet subscribed? Click here to sign up for our weekly emails. The Weekly Dispatch Community-powered immigration news from the Bay Area. Welcome to El Tímpano’s Weekly Dispatch. I’m Erica Hellerste...
www.eltimpano.org
August 4, 2025 at 8:13 PM
My latest digs into into “immigration trauma.” Migration, family separation & daily threats of detention are inflicting chronic stress on immigrant communities—especially kids—showing up emotionally & physically in anxiety & toxic stress that can stunt development
www.eltimpano.org/newsletter/w...
www.eltimpano.org/newsletter/w...