alec karakatsanis
@equalityalec.bsky.social
founder, Civil Rights Corps
civil rights lawyer
author of usual cruelty (2019) and
copaganda (2025)
any views expressed here are my own, and not those of civil rights corps
civil rights lawyer
author of usual cruelty (2019) and
copaganda (2025)
any views expressed here are my own, and not those of civil rights corps
Pinned
I just received the first copy of Copaganda! It will be sold anywhere books are sold. I try to explain the role of the media, the police, and academia in how we got to this authoritarian moment.
Reposted by alec karakatsanis
As the negotiations over DHS budget continue, please remember: the ICE detention budget alone was exploded in 2025 so it is now 62% greater than the entire Bureau of Prisons. People are not clocking what this infusion of cash to build concentration camps will do to our society.
February 9, 2026 at 2:58 PM
As the negotiations over DHS budget continue, please remember: the ICE detention budget alone was exploded in 2025 so it is now 62% greater than the entire Bureau of Prisons. People are not clocking what this infusion of cash to build concentration camps will do to our society.
Reposted by alec karakatsanis
It is a scandal that more people in positions of influence are not informing people that everything they are seeing--e.g. dystopian government violence, databases, lawlessness--is occurring *before* the dramatic expansion in militarized surveillance spending for ICE.
February 9, 2026 at 7:58 PM
It is a scandal that more people in positions of influence are not informing people that everything they are seeing--e.g. dystopian government violence, databases, lawlessness--is occurring *before* the dramatic expansion in militarized surveillance spending for ICE.
If you see a politician or a pundit or even a "civil rights" leader who is not talking about clawing back this unprecedented funding for surveillance, militarized invasions, and privatized concentration camps, then you know this is not a serious person. It's an easy litmus test.
As the negotiations over DHS budget continue, please remember: the ICE detention budget alone was exploded in 2025 so it is now 62% greater than the entire Bureau of Prisons. People are not clocking what this infusion of cash to build concentration camps will do to our society.
February 9, 2026 at 7:16 PM
If you see a politician or a pundit or even a "civil rights" leader who is not talking about clawing back this unprecedented funding for surveillance, militarized invasions, and privatized concentration camps, then you know this is not a serious person. It's an easy litmus test.
As the negotiations over DHS budget continue, please remember: the ICE detention budget alone was exploded in 2025 so it is now 62% greater than the entire Bureau of Prisons. People are not clocking what this infusion of cash to build concentration camps will do to our society.
February 9, 2026 at 2:58 PM
As the negotiations over DHS budget continue, please remember: the ICE detention budget alone was exploded in 2025 so it is now 62% greater than the entire Bureau of Prisons. People are not clocking what this infusion of cash to build concentration camps will do to our society.
Reposted by alec karakatsanis
Dems are pushing for body cameras to curb abuses by ICE.
Trump/MAGA are proud of footage of ICE's brutal murders. What good will body cams do?
The necessary fix isn't documenting ICE agents being abusive; it's ending the cruel, abusive unconstitutional secret police force.
Trump/MAGA are proud of footage of ICE's brutal murders. What good will body cams do?
The necessary fix isn't documenting ICE agents being abusive; it's ending the cruel, abusive unconstitutional secret police force.
A question no Democratic Party official has been able to answer: Given that Bannon says they will deploy ICE to voting locations in November (after *filming themselves* killing Renee Good and Alex Pretti), what do you want to accomplish with more body cameras?
February 6, 2026 at 6:41 PM
Dems are pushing for body cameras to curb abuses by ICE.
Trump/MAGA are proud of footage of ICE's brutal murders. What good will body cams do?
The necessary fix isn't documenting ICE agents being abusive; it's ending the cruel, abusive unconstitutional secret police force.
Trump/MAGA are proud of footage of ICE's brutal murders. What good will body cams do?
The necessary fix isn't documenting ICE agents being abusive; it's ending the cruel, abusive unconstitutional secret police force.
A question no Democratic Party official has been able to answer: Given that Bannon says they will deploy ICE to voting locations in November (after *filming themselves* killing Renee Good and Alex Pretti), what do you want to accomplish with more body cameras?
February 6, 2026 at 5:46 PM
A question no Democratic Party official has been able to answer: Given that Bannon says they will deploy ICE to voting locations in November (after *filming themselves* killing Renee Good and Alex Pretti), what do you want to accomplish with more body cameras?
Reposted by alec karakatsanis
This is an absolutely shocking and irresponsible comment from the leader of a supposedly progressive group. It shows absolutely no understanding of political strategy, the current moment, the workings of the punishment bureaucracy, or the history of fascist capitulation: bsky.app/profile/ezra...
Ultimately we've got to prosecute agents and officials who committed crimes, and we've got to dismantle DHS entirely and start over. But as a list of demands to reduce harm now? This is surprisingly good from Dem leadership.
One big missing thing I don't see in this letter: funding levels?
One big missing thing I don't see in this letter: funding levels?
SENATE AND HOUSE DEMOCRATS ARE UNITED ON REINING IN THE ABUSES OF ICE
Americans have watched in horror as ICE has terrorized communities across the country
Federal agents can’t continue to cause chaos in our cities while more Americans are killed
We must rein in ICE
Here’s what we're demanding:
Americans have watched in horror as ICE has terrorized communities across the country
Federal agents can’t continue to cause chaos in our cities while more Americans are killed
We must rein in ICE
Here’s what we're demanding:
February 5, 2026 at 5:12 PM
This is an absolutely shocking and irresponsible comment from the leader of a supposedly progressive group. It shows absolutely no understanding of political strategy, the current moment, the workings of the punishment bureaucracy, or the history of fascist capitulation: bsky.app/profile/ezra...
From what I can tell based on Bannon's comments, Chuck Schumer's position is now essentially that Democrats should renew the 300% budget increase for ICE so that Trump can deploy enough ICE agents to surround every polling station in the U.S. in November.
February 5, 2026 at 4:51 PM
From what I can tell based on Bannon's comments, Chuck Schumer's position is now essentially that Democrats should renew the 300% budget increase for ICE so that Trump can deploy enough ICE agents to surround every polling station in the U.S. in November.
Reposted by alec karakatsanis
This document is one of the great political failures of our time. It must be immediately denounced by all people of good will. And it will be a major scandal if any "civil rights" organization gives cover to this capitulation to fascism.
SENATE AND HOUSE DEMOCRATS ARE UNITED ON REINING IN THE ABUSES OF ICE
Americans have watched in horror as ICE has terrorized communities across the country
Federal agents can’t continue to cause chaos in our cities while more Americans are killed
We must rein in ICE
Here’s what we're demanding:
Americans have watched in horror as ICE has terrorized communities across the country
Federal agents can’t continue to cause chaos in our cities while more Americans are killed
We must rein in ICE
Here’s what we're demanding:
February 5, 2026 at 5:42 AM
This document is one of the great political failures of our time. It must be immediately denounced by all people of good will. And it will be a major scandal if any "civil rights" organization gives cover to this capitulation to fascism.
This document is one of the great political failures of our time. It must be immediately denounced by all people of good will. And it will be a major scandal if any "civil rights" organization gives cover to this capitulation to fascism.
SENATE AND HOUSE DEMOCRATS ARE UNITED ON REINING IN THE ABUSES OF ICE
Americans have watched in horror as ICE has terrorized communities across the country
Federal agents can’t continue to cause chaos in our cities while more Americans are killed
We must rein in ICE
Here’s what we're demanding:
Americans have watched in horror as ICE has terrorized communities across the country
Federal agents can’t continue to cause chaos in our cities while more Americans are killed
We must rein in ICE
Here’s what we're demanding:
February 5, 2026 at 5:42 AM
This document is one of the great political failures of our time. It must be immediately denounced by all people of good will. And it will be a major scandal if any "civil rights" organization gives cover to this capitulation to fascism.
A important but taboo subject is how some “civil rights” organizations launder Democratic Party complicity in fascism. Prominent nonprofit organizations are providing cover to Dems by calling for more body cameras as DHS celebrates that very idea and builds unprecedented surveillance databases.
DHS is tracking people who protest using biometrics and entering them into databases; hunting people who send emails on behalf of asylum seekers; tracking neighbors who help immigrants w/ facial recognition and license plate readers, and Hakeem Jeffries wants more surveillance tech for every agent.
February 4, 2026 at 3:16 PM
A important but taboo subject is how some “civil rights” organizations launder Democratic Party complicity in fascism. Prominent nonprofit organizations are providing cover to Dems by calling for more body cameras as DHS celebrates that very idea and builds unprecedented surveillance databases.
Reposted by alec karakatsanis
America's obsession with cop shows needs to be studied, oh wait-
Source: papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.... cc @emmarackstraw.bsky.social
Source: papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.... cc @emmarackstraw.bsky.social
February 3, 2026 at 4:49 AM
America's obsession with cop shows needs to be studied, oh wait-
Source: papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.... cc @emmarackstraw.bsky.social
Source: papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.... cc @emmarackstraw.bsky.social
Reposted by alec karakatsanis
I also strongly recommend @equalityalec.bsky.social ‘s book Copaganda for a much more thorough overview of cop media
America's obsession with cop shows needs to be studied, oh wait-
Source: papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.... cc @emmarackstraw.bsky.social
Source: papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.... cc @emmarackstraw.bsky.social
February 4, 2026 at 1:01 PM
I also strongly recommend @equalityalec.bsky.social ‘s book Copaganda for a much more thorough overview of cop media
DHS is tracking people who protest using biometrics and entering them into databases; hunting people who send emails on behalf of asylum seekers; tracking neighbors who help immigrants w/ facial recognition and license plate readers, and Hakeem Jeffries wants more surveillance tech for every agent.
February 4, 2026 at 3:05 AM
DHS is tracking people who protest using biometrics and entering them into databases; hunting people who send emails on behalf of asylum seekers; tracking neighbors who help immigrants w/ facial recognition and license plate readers, and Hakeem Jeffries wants more surveillance tech for every agent.
Sometimes the propaganda is simple but consequential. The basic decision of the news media to refer to a chemical weapon that is banned as a war crime from being used in armed conflict as "tear gas" has helped normalize its use across the U.S. This is just aggravated assault.
On Tear-Gassing Children
The Federal Assault on the ICE Out! Labor March in Portland
crimethinc.com/PortlandTear...
On January 31, ICE agents attacked a demonstration in Portland, blanketing a whole neighborhood in tear gas and injuring a number of small children.
An account from eyewitnesses.
The Federal Assault on the ICE Out! Labor March in Portland
crimethinc.com/PortlandTear...
On January 31, ICE agents attacked a demonstration in Portland, blanketing a whole neighborhood in tear gas and injuring a number of small children.
An account from eyewitnesses.
On Tear-Gassing Children
On January 31, ICE agents attacked a demonstration in Portland, injuring a number of small children. An account from eyewitnesses.
crimethinc.com
February 3, 2026 at 4:40 PM
Sometimes the propaganda is simple but consequential. The basic decision of the news media to refer to a chemical weapon that is banned as a war crime from being used in armed conflict as "tear gas" has helped normalize its use across the U.S. This is just aggravated assault.
Reposted by alec karakatsanis
Somehow managed to co-opt a moment of mass consciousness and political leverage into a massive funding grab for ICE and the police surveillance industry. Aided and abetted by a number of “progressive” groups along a spectrum from ignorant to nefarious.
February 2, 2026 at 9:58 PM
Somehow managed to co-opt a moment of mass consciousness and political leverage into a massive funding grab for ICE and the police surveillance industry. Aided and abetted by a number of “progressive” groups along a spectrum from ignorant to nefarious.
Reposted by alec karakatsanis
Now we can get official footage of every murder and kidnapping
Congrats to Hakeem Jeffries. He’s worked so hard for this victory.
February 2, 2026 at 9:57 PM
Now we can get official footage of every murder and kidnapping
Reposted by alec karakatsanis
Thread, but this part!
Somehow managed to co-opt a moment of mass consciousness and political leverage into a massive funding grab for ICE and the police surveillance industry. Aided and abetted by a number of “progressive” groups along a spectrum from ignorant to nefarious.
February 2, 2026 at 10:01 PM
Thread, but this part!
Congrats to Hakeem Jeffries. He’s worked so hard for this victory.
February 2, 2026 at 9:51 PM
Congrats to Hakeem Jeffries. He’s worked so hard for this victory.
One thing some Democrats I’ve talked to miss is that when they call for all the ICE agents in Minneapolis to have body cameras record everyone they interact with it undermines the demand that the agents leave.
What we are seeing right now with leading Democrats is a defining moment of liberal propaganda. As you try to understand the situation, please read this article I wrote on Democrats, police, and body cameras. campuspress.yale.edu/yjll/volume-...
VOLUME 4 (2023-2025) – Page 4 – Yale Journal of Law & Liberation
campuspress.yale.edu
February 1, 2026 at 2:53 PM
One thing some Democrats I’ve talked to miss is that when they call for all the ICE agents in Minneapolis to have body cameras record everyone they interact with it undermines the demand that the agents leave.
Reposted by alec karakatsanis
This. I started Julian Go's Policing Empire this afternoon and it's incredibly relevant.
Among other things the intro makes clear how domestic militarization has historically required a racialization co-factor to justify importing coloniality from the periphery.
Among other things the intro makes clear how domestic militarization has historically required a racialization co-factor to justify importing coloniality from the periphery.
Do not let your outrage and your learning stop with ICE. Develop an understanding of the connections between federal repression and local policing, between repressive bureaucracies at home and abroad, between the actors who profit on it in 50 languages, etc.
February 1, 2026 at 7:46 AM
This. I started Julian Go's Policing Empire this afternoon and it's incredibly relevant.
Among other things the intro makes clear how domestic militarization has historically required a racialization co-factor to justify importing coloniality from the periphery.
Among other things the intro makes clear how domestic militarization has historically required a racialization co-factor to justify importing coloniality from the periphery.
THREAD. ICE is in the news, and rightly so, but a lot of the commentary fails to see how the underlying surveillance tech, militarization, infrastructure, policies/practices/training, and corporate profiteers are shared by other domestic agencies and repressive bureaucracies in other countries.
February 1, 2026 at 1:24 AM
THREAD. ICE is in the news, and rightly so, but a lot of the commentary fails to see how the underlying surveillance tech, militarization, infrastructure, policies/practices/training, and corporate profiteers are shared by other domestic agencies and repressive bureaucracies in other countries.
Reposted by alec karakatsanis
Much of the public believes violent crime is a major problem, even though it's at historic lows in the United States. This disconnect is "the product of carefully cultivated propaganda," says author @equalityalec.bsky.social.
https://www.democracynow.org/2026/1/27/alec_karakatsanis
https://www.democracynow.org/2026/1/27/alec_karakatsanis
From George Floyd to Alex Pretti: “Copaganda” Author on Myths About Immigration, Crime & Policing
As calls grow to defund and abolish ICE, author Alec Karakatsanis warns that activists should take care to not fall for “copaganda,” which “takes ordinary people who are outraged over what’s happening...
www.democracynow.org
January 31, 2026 at 4:48 PM
Much of the public believes violent crime is a major problem, even though it's at historic lows in the United States. This disconnect is "the product of carefully cultivated propaganda," says author @equalityalec.bsky.social.
https://www.democracynow.org/2026/1/27/alec_karakatsanis
https://www.democracynow.org/2026/1/27/alec_karakatsanis
THREAD. There's one proposal that would make a difference and that is popular across the population: if ICE or any other federal employee violates your constitutional rights, you should be able to sue them for damages without any immunity or other procedural technicalities that now make it harder.
January 30, 2026 at 8:03 PM
THREAD. There's one proposal that would make a difference and that is popular across the population: if ICE or any other federal employee violates your constitutional rights, you should be able to sue them for damages without any immunity or other procedural technicalities that now make it harder.
Notice that Democratic Party leaders are not only not proposing meaningful measures to stop this, but they are actively proposing to *keep giving ICE money to do it.*
January 30, 2026 at 7:45 PM
Notice that Democratic Party leaders are not only not proposing meaningful measures to stop this, but they are actively proposing to *keep giving ICE money to do it.*