Hannah James
@hannahajames.bsky.social
Counsel at the Brennan Center
Views are my own
Views are my own
Reposted by Hannah James
My take on the appellate courts' rulings in the Nat'l Guard cases, & why SCOTUS should follow the approach of the 7th Circuit (which held that the deployment was untethered to the facts), not the 9th Circuit (which accepted the admin's alternate reality): www.brennancenter.org/our-work/res...
Appeals Courts Split on Domestic Military Deployments
The Supreme Court must now recognize how excessive judicial deference to the president can endanger Americans’ fundamental liberties.
www.brennancenter.org
October 27, 2025 at 8:57 PM
My take on the appellate courts' rulings in the Nat'l Guard cases, & why SCOTUS should follow the approach of the 7th Circuit (which held that the deployment was untethered to the facts), not the 9th Circuit (which accepted the admin's alternate reality): www.brennancenter.org/our-work/res...
Sen. Cotton is reportedly pushing for an 18-month extension of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. Project for Privacy & Surveillance Accountability explains why that would derail any meaningful consideration of reform: www.protectprivacynow.org/news/the-lat...
The Latest Proposal to Compromise Americans’ Privacy – Delay the Reauthorization Debate of Section 702
Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act is an authority enacted by Congress to allow U.S. intelligence agencies to surveil foreign spies and terrorists. But it has been used in...
www.protectprivacynow.org
October 24, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Sen. Cotton is reportedly pushing for an 18-month extension of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. Project for Privacy & Surveillance Accountability explains why that would derail any meaningful consideration of reform: www.protectprivacynow.org/news/the-lat...
Members of Congress, represented by the Brennan Center & co-counsel, just filed a federal court brief defending the independence of the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board (PCLOB). It’s in support of 2 board members fired without cause by the Trump admin www.brennancenter.org/sites/defaul...
www.brennancenter.org
September 12, 2025 at 10:12 PM
Members of Congress, represented by the Brennan Center & co-counsel, just filed a federal court brief defending the independence of the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board (PCLOB). It’s in support of 2 board members fired without cause by the Trump admin www.brennancenter.org/sites/defaul...
Reposted by Hannah James
The Trump administration’s plan to use 600 military lawyers as temporary immigration judges, with some starting as soon as this week, will deprive immigrants of a fair hearing and further erode the line between military personnel and civilian government. 1/14
September 5, 2025 at 8:13 PM
The Trump administration’s plan to use 600 military lawyers as temporary immigration judges, with some starting as soon as this week, will deprive immigrants of a fair hearing and further erode the line between military personnel and civilian government. 1/14
Reposted by Hannah James
THREAD: This morning, U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer ruled that President Trump's use of National Guardsmen and Marines to support federal law enforcement in and around Los Angeles violated the Posse Comitatus Act. (1/22) www.cbsnews.com/news/judge-t...
Judge rules Trump's deployment of troops to Los Angeles violated federal law
U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer ruled in favor of California Gov. Gavin Newsom in his challenge to President Trump's deployment of troops to Los Angeles.
www.cbsnews.com
September 2, 2025 at 8:03 PM
THREAD: This morning, U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer ruled that President Trump's use of National Guardsmen and Marines to support federal law enforcement in and around Los Angeles violated the Posse Comitatus Act. (1/22) www.cbsnews.com/news/judge-t...
Reposted by Hannah James
A U.S. Court of Appeals ruled Friday that Trump exceeded his presidential authority by imposing tariffs. The Brennan Center filed a brief in the case arguing that the emergency powers law he relied on didn’t grant presidents that authority. bit.ly/4g31plb
Court finds Trump's tariffs an illegal use of emergency power, but leaves them in place for now
A federal appeals court has ruled President Donald Trump illegally used emergency powers to impose sweeping tariffs but left them in place for now. The U.S.
apnews.com
September 2, 2025 at 6:12 PM
A U.S. Court of Appeals ruled Friday that Trump exceeded his presidential authority by imposing tariffs. The Brennan Center filed a brief in the case arguing that the emergency powers law he relied on didn’t grant presidents that authority. bit.ly/4g31plb
Reposted by Hannah James
THREAD: This morning, President Trump and members of his cabinet announced a set of sweeping, unprecedented, and unwarranted actions to impose federal control over local policing in Washington, D.C.
August 11, 2025 at 10:33 PM
THREAD: This morning, President Trump and members of his cabinet announced a set of sweeping, unprecedented, and unwarranted actions to impose federal control over local policing in Washington, D.C.
Reposted by Hannah James
The government has proposed expanding the mandatory collection of social media identifiers. It would widen social media surveillance to include not only travelers and visa applicants and visa holders, but also their U.S. citizen contacts.
www.brennancenter.org/our-work/res...
www.brennancenter.org/our-work/res...
The Government’s Growing Trove of Social Media Data
It’s increasingly collecting and using social media information to make high-stakes decisions related to immigration.
www.brennancenter.org
July 24, 2025 at 8:00 PM
The government has proposed expanding the mandatory collection of social media identifiers. It would widen social media surveillance to include not only travelers and visa applicants and visa holders, but also their U.S. citizen contacts.
www.brennancenter.org/our-work/res...
www.brennancenter.org/our-work/res...
Reposted by Hannah James
Border Patrol is buying new tech... "advanced AI" to surveil dense residential areas? Automated surveillance towers? Tech to see through walls??
I talked to @sambiddle.com of @theintercept.com about serious risks amid the agency's increasingly aggressive behavior.
theintercept.com/2025/07/23/c...
I talked to @sambiddle.com of @theintercept.com about serious risks amid the agency's increasingly aggressive behavior.
theintercept.com/2025/07/23/c...
Border Patrol Wants Advanced AI to Spy on American Cities
A Customs and Border Protection “Industry Day” deck also asks for drones, seismic sensors, and tech that can see through walls.
theintercept.com
July 24, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Border Patrol is buying new tech... "advanced AI" to surveil dense residential areas? Automated surveillance towers? Tech to see through walls??
I talked to @sambiddle.com of @theintercept.com about serious risks amid the agency's increasingly aggressive behavior.
theintercept.com/2025/07/23/c...
I talked to @sambiddle.com of @theintercept.com about serious risks amid the agency's increasingly aggressive behavior.
theintercept.com/2025/07/23/c...
Reposted by Hannah James
The @nytimes.com is reporting that the Trump administration has requested deployment of 20,000+ National Guard members to help with immigration enforcement inside the U.S. This is an unprecedented move that raises a host of legal and practical concerns. 1/8
The Department of Homeland Security has requested more than 20,000 National Guard members to help with the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown, according to two U.S. officials with knowledge of the plans.
D.H.S. Requests 20,000 National Guard Members to Help With Immigration Crackdown
www.nytimes.com
May 15, 2025 at 7:52 PM
The @nytimes.com is reporting that the Trump administration has requested deployment of 20,000+ National Guard members to help with immigration enforcement inside the U.S. This is an unprecedented move that raises a host of legal and practical concerns. 1/8
Reposted by Hannah James
Yesterday the Brennan Center filed an amicus brief in support of four companies that challenged Trump’s imposition of worldwide tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). 1/15 www.brennancenter.org/our-work/cou...
Amicus Brief in Emily Ley Paper et al., v. Trump
On May 12, 2025, the Brennan Center for Justice filed an amicus brief in Emily Ley Paper et al., v. Trump, opposing the government's motion to transfer the case to the United States Court of Internati...
www.brennancenter.org
May 13, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Yesterday the Brennan Center filed an amicus brief in support of four companies that challenged Trump’s imposition of worldwide tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). 1/15 www.brennancenter.org/our-work/cou...
Reposted by Hannah James
Turning the U.S.–Mexico border into a military zone seems designed to sidestep Congress. It’s the kind of presidential overreach that Congress and the courts should check.
How Turning the Border into a Military Zone Evades Congress and Threatens Rights
The administration is trying to evade limits on domestic use of the armed forces.
www.brennancenter.org
May 5, 2025 at 2:35 PM
Turning the U.S.–Mexico border into a military zone seems designed to sidestep Congress. It’s the kind of presidential overreach that Congress and the courts should check.
Reposted by Hannah James
The line between the military and civilian government is one of the most important safeguards that we have. Creating a military installation on the border? “It steps over that line,” @lizagoitein.bsky.social tells @maddow.msnbc.com www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddo...
Trump exploits loophole to militarize the border; Americans potential targets of military arrests
Donald Trump has essentially turned the border into a military base in order to be allowed to use the armed forces to make arrests, including of any Americans in the vicinity. Elizabeth Goitein, senio...
www.msnbc.com
April 29, 2025 at 1:00 PM
The line between the military and civilian government is one of the most important safeguards that we have. Creating a military installation on the border? “It steps over that line,” @lizagoitein.bsky.social tells @maddow.msnbc.com www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddo...
In a memo obtained by @usatoday.com, the Attorney General authorized federal law enforcement to conduct warrantless raids on homes as part of its deportation efforts under the Alien Enemies Act. This enforcement strategy raises serious 4th Amdt concerns. 1/9 www.documentcloud.org/documents/25...
DOJ March 14 memo Alien Enemies Act
www.documentcloud.org
April 29, 2025 at 4:02 PM
In a memo obtained by @usatoday.com, the Attorney General authorized federal law enforcement to conduct warrantless raids on homes as part of its deportation efforts under the Alien Enemies Act. This enforcement strategy raises serious 4th Amdt concerns. 1/9 www.documentcloud.org/documents/25...
Reposted by Hannah James
If the SAVE Act were enacted into law, it would be one of the worst voting laws ever passed by Congress. The Senate must vote to reject it.
April 10, 2025 at 4:23 PM
If the SAVE Act were enacted into law, it would be one of the worst voting laws ever passed by Congress. The Senate must vote to reject it.
Reposted by Hannah James
A court held searches of #FISA Sec 702 data for US person communications are subject to the 4th Amdt. warrant requirement
@hannahajames.bsky.social (@brennancenter.bsky.social) asks: will broad reading of the foreign intelligence exception swallow the rule?
www.justsecurity.org/109879/forei...
@hannahajames.bsky.social (@brennancenter.bsky.social) asks: will broad reading of the foreign intelligence exception swallow the rule?
www.justsecurity.org/109879/forei...
Foreign Intelligence Exception Loophole in the Hasbajrami Decision
The Hasbajrami decision’s expansive view of the FISA foreign intelligence exception threatens the impact of applying warrant requirements.
www.justsecurity.org
April 7, 2025 at 6:15 PM
A court held searches of #FISA Sec 702 data for US person communications are subject to the 4th Amdt. warrant requirement
@hannahajames.bsky.social (@brennancenter.bsky.social) asks: will broad reading of the foreign intelligence exception swallow the rule?
www.justsecurity.org/109879/forei...
@hannahajames.bsky.social (@brennancenter.bsky.social) asks: will broad reading of the foreign intelligence exception swallow the rule?
www.justsecurity.org/109879/forei...
Reposted by Hannah James
The political question doctrine does not bar judicial review of the Trump administration’s recent #AlienEnemiesAct invocation, writes @ebrightyon.bsky.social; to the contrary, precedent establishes the important role of courts.
www.justsecurity.org/109330/polit...
www.justsecurity.org/109330/polit...
The Courts Can Stop Abuse of the Alien Enemies Act – the Political Question Doctrine is No Bar
A legal analysis concluding that the political question doctrine does not bar review of Alien Enemies Act invocation
www.justsecurity.org
March 20, 2025 at 1:32 PM
The political question doctrine does not bar judicial review of the Trump administration’s recent #AlienEnemiesAct invocation, writes @ebrightyon.bsky.social; to the contrary, precedent establishes the important role of courts.
www.justsecurity.org/109330/polit...
www.justsecurity.org/109330/polit...
Reposted by Hannah James
Tell Congress: Reject the SAVE Act. The SAVE Act would restrict 21 million American citizens from voting by requiring a birth certificate or passport to register to vote. Let your representatives in Congress know you’re against this legislation:
Call Congress: Reject the SAVE Act
The SAVE Act could block millions of American citizens from voting.
secure.brennancenter.org
April 1, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Tell Congress: Reject the SAVE Act. The SAVE Act would restrict 21 million American citizens from voting by requiring a birth certificate or passport to register to vote. Let your representatives in Congress know you’re against this legislation: