Sam Nelson
@immlaw.bsky.social
Author of "Immigration Law Explained" https://samsramblingss.substack.com/
Pinned
Greater and lesser habits of a highly effective person
Confidential informants aren't members of a socially distinct PSG
samsramblingss.substack.com
In the U.S., informing on a gang would have been brave. In El Salvador, it was nothing short of heroic.
Ms. Gonzalez defied the gang. She trusted the police, they betrayed her. Her family paid a terrible price.
samsramblingss.substack.com/p/greater-an...
Ms. Gonzalez defied the gang. She trusted the police, they betrayed her. Her family paid a terrible price.
samsramblingss.substack.com/p/greater-an...
In the U.S., informing on a gang would have been brave. In El Salvador, it was nothing short of heroic.
Ms. Gonzalez defied the gang. She trusted the police, they betrayed her. Her family paid a terrible price.
samsramblingss.substack.com/p/greater-an...
Ms. Gonzalez defied the gang. She trusted the police, they betrayed her. Her family paid a terrible price.
samsramblingss.substack.com/p/greater-an...
Greater and lesser habits of a highly effective person
Confidential informants aren't members of a socially distinct PSG
samsramblingss.substack.com
January 15, 2026 at 2:12 PM
In the U.S., informing on a gang would have been brave. In El Salvador, it was nothing short of heroic.
Ms. Gonzalez defied the gang. She trusted the police, they betrayed her. Her family paid a terrible price.
samsramblingss.substack.com/p/greater-an...
Ms. Gonzalez defied the gang. She trusted the police, they betrayed her. Her family paid a terrible price.
samsramblingss.substack.com/p/greater-an...
Lots of organizations have been putting together KYR resources. Austin Kocher pulled them together into a single curated list.
austinkocher.substack.com/p/know-your-...
austinkocher.substack.com/p/know-your-...
Know Your Rights Resources for ICE and Border Patrol Encounters (2026 Update)
A comprehensive resource library of KYR information for immigration enforcement encounters at home, work, school, healthcare facilities, and public spaces. Updated for 2026.
austinkocher.substack.com
January 14, 2026 at 6:14 PM
Lots of organizations have been putting together KYR resources. Austin Kocher pulled them together into a single curated list.
austinkocher.substack.com/p/know-your-...
austinkocher.substack.com/p/know-your-...
1/3: The last few years, I've worked on a lot of SIJS petitions. When I'm helping to draft the affidavit, I always ask the kid what they want to do when they grow up. It's become an unofficial, unscientific, and subjective poll. The results:
January 11, 2026 at 2:43 PM
1/3: The last few years, I've worked on a lot of SIJS petitions. When I'm helping to draft the affidavit, I always ask the kid what they want to do when they grow up. It's become an unofficial, unscientific, and subjective poll. The results:
Amazing story from an immigration attorney defending a DV survivor.
unfunnylawyer.substack.com/p/seeds-plan...
unfunnylawyer.substack.com/p/seeds-plan...
Seeds planted in 2018
Seven years ago today, I was transformed by this job.
unfunnylawyer.substack.com
January 10, 2026 at 11:36 PM
Amazing story from an immigration attorney defending a DV survivor.
unfunnylawyer.substack.com/p/seeds-plan...
unfunnylawyer.substack.com/p/seeds-plan...
After ten years of litigation, the Circuit Court rebuffs the BIA and grants asylum.
samsramblingss.substack.com/p/the-saga-o...
samsramblingss.substack.com/p/the-saga-o...
The Saga of Suazo
Tenth Circuit rebukes the BIA and grants asylum
samsramblingss.substack.com
January 8, 2026 at 12:17 PM
After ten years of litigation, the Circuit Court rebuffs the BIA and grants asylum.
samsramblingss.substack.com/p/the-saga-o...
samsramblingss.substack.com/p/the-saga-o...
Reposted by Sam Nelson
ICE is furious because the Hilton cancelled their reservation because of ICE’s immigration enforcement activities.
January 5, 2026 at 7:20 PM
ICE is furious because the Hilton cancelled their reservation because of ICE’s immigration enforcement activities.
The first genuinely nuanced view of the Venezuela strikes that I've found:
behindtheborder.substack.com/p/listening-...
behindtheborder.substack.com/p/listening-...
Listening to Venezuelans After The Abduction of Maduro
Some Venezuelans are very happy that President Trump ordered the abduction of President Nicolás Maduro.
behindtheborder.substack.com
January 5, 2026 at 12:52 PM
The first genuinely nuanced view of the Venezuela strikes that I've found:
behindtheborder.substack.com/p/listening-...
behindtheborder.substack.com/p/listening-...
A big win on "cancellation of removal", with commentary from Shanta Driver of the United for Equality and Affirmative Action Legal Defense Fund (UEAALDF).
samsramblingss.substack.com/p/justice-de...
samsramblingss.substack.com/p/justice-de...
Justice delayed
For cancellation, age of qualifying children fixed at time of IJ's decision
samsramblingss.substack.com
January 1, 2026 at 1:37 PM
A big win on "cancellation of removal", with commentary from Shanta Driver of the United for Equality and Affirmative Action Legal Defense Fund (UEAALDF).
samsramblingss.substack.com/p/justice-de...
samsramblingss.substack.com/p/justice-de...
Reposted by Sam Nelson
A client was released and will sleep in his own bed tonight. Everything Is Terrible etc but I am grateful for the great writ of Habeas Corpus and federal judges who apply the law and smart lawyers I can rely on and learn from. May the coming year be better than 2025.
Have a peaceful one, y’all.
Have a peaceful one, y’all.
December 31, 2025 at 8:50 PM
A client was released and will sleep in his own bed tonight. Everything Is Terrible etc but I am grateful for the great writ of Habeas Corpus and federal judges who apply the law and smart lawyers I can rely on and learn from. May the coming year be better than 2025.
Have a peaceful one, y’all.
Have a peaceful one, y’all.
Snowy hike up Mt. Abe this morning.
December 26, 2025 at 9:31 PM
Snowy hike up Mt. Abe this morning.
Your kid invites an undocumented friend over for a sleepover. Are you guilty of "alien harboring"?
Legal guidance for churches, nonprofits, individuals, and anybody else who interacts with or provides services to an immigrant community.
samsramblingss.substack.com/p/harboring-...
Legal guidance for churches, nonprofits, individuals, and anybody else who interacts with or provides services to an immigrant community.
samsramblingss.substack.com/p/harboring-...
Harboring in Cahokia
Seventh circuit clarifies the definition of "harboring"
samsramblingss.substack.com
December 25, 2025 at 1:05 PM
Your kid invites an undocumented friend over for a sleepover. Are you guilty of "alien harboring"?
Legal guidance for churches, nonprofits, individuals, and anybody else who interacts with or provides services to an immigrant community.
samsramblingss.substack.com/p/harboring-...
Legal guidance for churches, nonprofits, individuals, and anybody else who interacts with or provides services to an immigrant community.
samsramblingss.substack.com/p/harboring-...
Merry Christmas.
The court concludes that his continued detention offends due process. Accordingly, the court grants the petition, and orders the respondents to provide him with a constitutionally adequate bond hearing in Immigration Court as soon as possible.
scholar.google.com/scholar_case...
The court concludes that his continued detention offends due process. Accordingly, the court grants the petition, and orders the respondents to provide him with a constitutionally adequate bond hearing in Immigration Court as soon as possible.
scholar.google.com/scholar_case...
scholar.google.com
December 25, 2025 at 11:36 AM
Merry Christmas.
The court concludes that his continued detention offends due process. Accordingly, the court grants the petition, and orders the respondents to provide him with a constitutionally adequate bond hearing in Immigration Court as soon as possible.
scholar.google.com/scholar_case...
The court concludes that his continued detention offends due process. Accordingly, the court grants the petition, and orders the respondents to provide him with a constitutionally adequate bond hearing in Immigration Court as soon as possible.
scholar.google.com/scholar_case...
Reposted by Sam Nelson
DetentionReports.com has been updated. Detention trends for a total of 233 facilities can be found on the website.
Of those, the 216 facilities that ICE identified on the most recent list have data updated through December 11.
Of those, the 216 facilities that ICE identified on the most recent list have data updated through December 11.
December 24, 2025 at 3:50 PM
DetentionReports.com has been updated. Detention trends for a total of 233 facilities can be found on the website.
Of those, the 216 facilities that ICE identified on the most recent list have data updated through December 11.
Of those, the 216 facilities that ICE identified on the most recent list have data updated through December 11.
Reposted by Sam Nelson
Warrant needed to enter defendant's room at transitional homeless center to arrest him, NY trial court rules. It's not a traditional home, but Payton still applies, so physical fruits of search suppressed. www.nycourts.gov/reporter/3ds...
December 24, 2025 at 7:14 AM
Warrant needed to enter defendant's room at transitional homeless center to arrest him, NY trial court rules. It's not a traditional home, but Payton still applies, so physical fruits of search suppressed. www.nycourts.gov/reporter/3ds...
Coming tomorrow -- "Harboring in Cahokia", an exploration of the harboring law, with guidance for churches and nonprofits which serve undocumented communities.
Subscribe for free and get a post every week.
samsramblingss.substack.com
Subscribe for free and get a post every week.
samsramblingss.substack.com
Immigration Law Explained | Sam Nelson | Substack
Real-world explanations of recent Circuit Court decisions on immigration law. Click to read Immigration Law Explained, by Sam Nelson, a Substack publication. Launched 6 months ago.
samsramblingss.substack.com
December 24, 2025 at 1:41 PM
Coming tomorrow -- "Harboring in Cahokia", an exploration of the harboring law, with guidance for churches and nonprofits which serve undocumented communities.
Subscribe for free and get a post every week.
samsramblingss.substack.com
Subscribe for free and get a post every week.
samsramblingss.substack.com
Reposted by Sam Nelson
I've been reporting on the criminal justice system for over a decade and have lived in an authoritarian country overseas, but I've never seen anything like the police presence in ICE-occupied Memphis. Here's my dispatch: www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
I'm a veteran criminal justice reporter. I've never seen anything like ICE-occupied Memphis.
“It’s about as sad as you can possibly imagine."
www.motherjones.com
December 16, 2025 at 6:40 PM
I've been reporting on the criminal justice system for over a decade and have lived in an authoritarian country overseas, but I've never seen anything like the police presence in ICE-occupied Memphis. Here's my dispatch: www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Sam Nelson
Vera’s ICE Detention Trends dashboard offers additional insight into the vast immigration detention network. Without data transparency, ICE’s operations—and their harms—will continue behind closed doors. Explore the tool:
ICE Detention Trends | Vera Institute of Justice
www.vera.org
December 22, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Vera’s ICE Detention Trends dashboard offers additional insight into the vast immigration detention network. Without data transparency, ICE’s operations—and their harms—will continue behind closed doors. Explore the tool:
Great piece from the Times on the recent crackdown on Sikh long-haul truckers in the United States (gift link)
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/21/b...
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/21/b...
Long-Haul Trucking Was a Refuge for Sikh Immigrants. Until Now.
www.nytimes.com
December 22, 2025 at 11:25 AM
Great piece from the Times on the recent crackdown on Sikh long-haul truckers in the United States (gift link)
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/21/b...
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/21/b...
December 22, 2025 at 11:22 AM
Loving these habeas petitions. Wish they weren't necessary.
The Court GRANTS the Petition. Respondents shall release Petitioner immediately, and shall not re-detain Petitioner without first providing a pre-deprivation hearing before a neutral decisionmaker.
scholar.google.com/scholar_case...
The Court GRANTS the Petition. Respondents shall release Petitioner immediately, and shall not re-detain Petitioner without first providing a pre-deprivation hearing before a neutral decisionmaker.
scholar.google.com/scholar_case...
scholar.google.com
December 21, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Loving these habeas petitions. Wish they weren't necessary.
The Court GRANTS the Petition. Respondents shall release Petitioner immediately, and shall not re-detain Petitioner without first providing a pre-deprivation hearing before a neutral decisionmaker.
scholar.google.com/scholar_case...
The Court GRANTS the Petition. Respondents shall release Petitioner immediately, and shall not re-detain Petitioner without first providing a pre-deprivation hearing before a neutral decisionmaker.
scholar.google.com/scholar_case...
Solstice sunrise from the top of Beacon Mountain.
December 21, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Solstice sunrise from the top of Beacon Mountain.
Reposted by Sam Nelson
Fight or Flight?
The first decision in nearly every removal case is whether to do the case at all. #asylum #immigration www.asylumist.com/2025/12/17/f...
The first decision in nearly every removal case is whether to do the case at all. #asylum #immigration www.asylumist.com/2025/12/17/f...
Fight or Flight?
I recently met with the family of a man from El Salvador who we’ll call Jorge. Jorge was detained by ICE and is facing imminent deportation. He has been in the United States for more than 10 …
www.asylumist.com
December 17, 2025 at 12:36 PM
Fight or Flight?
The first decision in nearly every removal case is whether to do the case at all. #asylum #immigration www.asylumist.com/2025/12/17/f...
The first decision in nearly every removal case is whether to do the case at all. #asylum #immigration www.asylumist.com/2025/12/17/f...
Reposted by Sam Nelson
As someone on the ground, I cannot emphasize how horrific this is. 90% of the cases I witnessed yesterday were pretermissions. Parents with their children being told they needed to defend against being deported to a third country. Trans asylum-seekers threatened with deportation to Uganda.
NEW: The request to ‘pretermit’ is an effort to toss a person’s asylum claim, leaving them defenseless against deportation to a country they are not from and may have never even entered before: Honduras, Ecuador and Uganda.
www.thecity.nyc/2025/12/18/a...
www.thecity.nyc/2025/12/18/a...
Trump Administration Moves to Send Asylum Seekers to Uganda, Honduras and Ecuador
Citing agreements with the three countries, Department of Homeland Security attorneys at 26 Federal Plaza are now asserting that immigrants have no right to apply for asylum in the United States.
www.thecity.nyc
December 18, 2025 at 11:24 PM
As someone on the ground, I cannot emphasize how horrific this is. 90% of the cases I witnessed yesterday were pretermissions. Parents with their children being told they needed to defend against being deported to a third country. Trans asylum-seekers threatened with deportation to Uganda.
In Nigeria, Ozurumba was kidnapped, held prisoner, and coerced into serving as a cook for a terrorist group. After escaping, he was hunted across the country until he fled to the United States.
... and had his claim denied for "providing material support"
samsramblingss.substack.com/p/where-do-t...
... and had his claim denied for "providing material support"
samsramblingss.substack.com/p/where-do-t...
Where do terrorists drink?
De minimis and duress exceptions to the terrorism bar
samsramblingss.substack.com
December 20, 2025 at 10:56 PM
In Nigeria, Ozurumba was kidnapped, held prisoner, and coerced into serving as a cook for a terrorist group. After escaping, he was hunted across the country until he fled to the United States.
... and had his claim denied for "providing material support"
samsramblingss.substack.com/p/where-do-t...
... and had his claim denied for "providing material support"
samsramblingss.substack.com/p/where-do-t...
Reposted by Sam Nelson
“Lucy did not know where she was, nor did she understand the words being spoken around her… and yet, under the system we have built, she was the one required to answer."
I witnessed the kids docket at immigration court. It’s cruel and inhumane beyond belief. www.latimes.com/opinion/stor...
I witnessed the kids docket at immigration court. It’s cruel and inhumane beyond belief. www.latimes.com/opinion/stor...
Contributor: How does a 3-year-old hire an immigration attorney?
Lucy couldn't understand the words being spoken around her or the dangers she fled. Yet under the system we've built, she's the one required to answer to a judge.
www.latimes.com
December 20, 2025 at 10:22 PM
“Lucy did not know where she was, nor did she understand the words being spoken around her… and yet, under the system we have built, she was the one required to answer."
I witnessed the kids docket at immigration court. It’s cruel and inhumane beyond belief. www.latimes.com/opinion/stor...
I witnessed the kids docket at immigration court. It’s cruel and inhumane beyond belief. www.latimes.com/opinion/stor...