John Slocum
@jslocum.bsky.social
Executive Director, Refugee Council USA. Nonresident Senior Fellow, Chicago Council on Foreign Affairs. For now, also on X as @JohnSlocum2. Posts are my own.
Reposted by John Slocum
It matters in which department a government function is housed. Ben Rhodes makes a cogent case that the post-9/11 transfer of Immigration enforcement from DOJ (rule-of-law) to DHS (counter-terrorism) is a key structural problem underlying today's hyper-militarized, constitution-flaunting ICE/CBP.
"Yes, Americans want a secure border. But most of us are also tired of war, wary of an intrusive militarized government, welcoming of immigrants, and protective of our core freedoms." www.nytimes.com/2026/01/30/o...
Opinion | The Rot Goes Deeper Than ICE
www.nytimes.com
February 1, 2026 at 2:44 PM
It matters in which department a government function is housed. Ben Rhodes makes a cogent case that the post-9/11 transfer of Immigration enforcement from DOJ (rule-of-law) to DHS (counter-terrorism) is a key structural problem underlying today's hyper-militarized, constitution-flaunting ICE/CBP.
I can't tell you how much I won't miss seeing Bovino's face in the news for a while - that is, not until he's put on trial.
January 27, 2026 at 1:07 AM
I can't tell you how much I won't miss seeing Bovino's face in the news for a while - that is, not until he's put on trial.
Reposted by John Slocum
Those who claim to defend 'Western civilization' are today gutting the institutions on which the West's civil, peaceful coexistence has rested for all our lives.
The Economist, April 8th 1933.
(The territorial dispute between Norway and Denmark over parts of #Greenland was decided in Denmark's favour by the International Court.)
(The territorial dispute between Norway and Denmark over parts of #Greenland was decided in Denmark's favour by the International Court.)
January 20, 2026 at 1:44 PM
Those who claim to defend 'Western civilization' are today gutting the institutions on which the West's civil, peaceful coexistence has rested for all our lives.
For the US to destroy NATO over Greenland would be game, set, match for Putin.
January 18, 2026 at 8:35 PM
For the US to destroy NATO over Greenland would be game, set, match for Putin.
My commentary on events in Minneapolis and the administration's punitive and discriminatory new "Operation Parris" policy of arresting, detaining, and deporting resettled refugees.
The targeting of legally resettled refugees in Minnesota represents a profound failure of policy, values, & due process.
RCUSA's @jslocum.bsky.social outlines why it's so important to join our action alert: https://tinyurl.com/RCUSAOperationPARRISAlert
RCUSA's @jslocum.bsky.social outlines why it's so important to join our action alert: https://tinyurl.com/RCUSAOperationPARRISAlert
January 16, 2026 at 2:43 PM
My commentary on events in Minneapolis and the administration's punitive and discriminatory new "Operation Parris" policy of arresting, detaining, and deporting resettled refugees.
Reposted by John Slocum
The sheer volume of white nationalist memes/allusions posted from official government accounts over the past year is staggering
www.vox.com/politics/475...
www.vox.com/politics/475...
January 14, 2026 at 6:42 PM
The sheer volume of white nationalist memes/allusions posted from official government accounts over the past year is staggering
www.vox.com/politics/475...
www.vox.com/politics/475...
The entire US foreign policy establishment needs to speak out with one voice on the idiocy of saber-rattling toward Greenland - and the world-historical catastrophe that would result from following through on threats to annex it by force.
Along with this being a total violation of both domestic law and international treaties requiring immediate impeachment & removal, this is an unbelievable shameful way to treat our closest allies who have died alongside us on the battlefield over many years.
The only time Article V of the North Atlantic Treaty has been invoked, Denmark sent hundreds of their young men and women to bleed and die for us
Now that man of blood who crouches in the White House would have our soldiers kill and maim the same young men and women for his amusement
Now that man of blood who crouches in the White House would have our soldiers kill and maim the same young men and women for his amusement
January 11, 2026 at 7:23 PM
The entire US foreign policy establishment needs to speak out with one voice on the idiocy of saber-rattling toward Greenland - and the world-historical catastrophe that would result from following through on threats to annex it by force.
I don’t think it should be unreasonable to hope that a few more GOP senators can find it within themselves to speak out about how absolutely bananas it is to threaten to invade and annex Greenland.
January 11, 2026 at 5:17 AM
I don’t think it should be unreasonable to hope that a few more GOP senators can find it within themselves to speak out about how absolutely bananas it is to threaten to invade and annex Greenland.
Impeachment before Greenland
January 7, 2026 at 4:27 AM
Impeachment before Greenland
Reposted by John Slocum
What is just crazy about this, aside from the need for this statement at all, is that Greenland already IS in the US sphere of influence. It's far cheaper for the US, in material, security, and reputational terms, to have Denmark continue administering Greenland and work within NATO on security.
Joint Statement of major EU/NATO countries on Greenland, together with Denmark:
January 6, 2026 at 12:49 PM
What is just crazy about this, aside from the need for this statement at all, is that Greenland already IS in the US sphere of influence. It's far cheaper for the US, in material, security, and reputational terms, to have Denmark continue administering Greenland and work within NATO on security.
Reposted by John Slocum
🧵There will be much to say about Trump’s military actions. Yes, he should have sought congressional authorization. But too much analysis leaves out how Venezuelans, both in the diaspora and at home, understand what just happened. Their perspective should inform our understanding.
January 3, 2026 at 7:12 PM
🧵There will be much to say about Trump’s military actions. Yes, he should have sought congressional authorization. But too much analysis leaves out how Venezuelans, both in the diaspora and at home, understand what just happened. Their perspective should inform our understanding.
Since he likes to put his name on things, why not “The Trump-Epstein Files”?
December 20, 2025 at 10:10 PM
Since he likes to put his name on things, why not “The Trump-Epstein Files”?
This is International Migrants Day. Business and civic leaders must speak out against this administration's cruel collective punishments against legal immigrants, refugees, and asylees and the unacceptable police-state excesses of its immigration enforcement campaign.
December 18, 2025 at 9:55 PM
This is International Migrants Day. Business and civic leaders must speak out against this administration's cruel collective punishments against legal immigrants, refugees, and asylees and the unacceptable police-state excesses of its immigration enforcement campaign.
Fortunately, the boat that transported María Corina Machado out of Venezuela did so without being attacked by U.S. drones.
Venezuelan Nobel laureate María Corina Machado left the country on Tuesday by boat and traveled to Curaçao, U.S. officials said.
The opposition leader’s allies worked to keep the trip from becoming public to protect her safety.
The opposition leader’s allies worked to keep the trip from becoming public to protect her safety.
Exclusive | Machado Made It Out of Venezuela by Boat a Day Before Nobel Ceremony
The opposition leader didn’t reach Oslo in time to collect Peace Prize but said she would be traveling to Norway.
on.wsj.com
December 11, 2025 at 4:53 AM
Fortunately, the boat that transported María Corina Machado out of Venezuela did so without being attacked by U.S. drones.
With all of this administration's drastic and unpopular policies, now would be a good time for politicians on both sides of the aisle (and especially the electorally nervous GOP!) to begin rebuilding trust with immigrant communities by finally passing the Dream Act.
Today’s a big day. I’m reintroducing the Dream Act for the last time of my career.
I’ve fought for Dreamers for over two decades.
The American people are demanding common sense, bipartisan immigration reform.
This is part of it.
I’ve fought for Dreamers for over two decades.
The American people are demanding common sense, bipartisan immigration reform.
This is part of it.
December 5, 2025 at 2:47 PM
With all of this administration's drastic and unpopular policies, now would be a good time for politicians on both sides of the aisle (and especially the electorally nervous GOP!) to begin rebuilding trust with immigrant communities by finally passing the Dream Act.
When a party’s electoral prospects start looking shaky, its leaders must have a very low opinion of their voters to be doubling down on the most vile racist pronouncements.
December 3, 2025 at 3:51 AM
When a party’s electoral prospects start looking shaky, its leaders must have a very low opinion of their voters to be doubling down on the most vile racist pronouncements.
Reposted by John Slocum
The US government is engaged in a policy program of mass exclusion.
It is not a ‘crackdown’—which means strict enforcement against lawbreakers.
It seeks to exclude refugees, students, and family members immigrating lawfully, and to exclude US citizens smeared as undesirable.
Not a ‘crackdown’.
It is not a ‘crackdown’—which means strict enforcement against lawbreakers.
It seeks to exclude refugees, students, and family members immigrating lawfully, and to exclude US citizens smeared as undesirable.
Not a ‘crackdown’.
December 1, 2025 at 3:12 AM
The US government is engaged in a policy program of mass exclusion.
It is not a ‘crackdown’—which means strict enforcement against lawbreakers.
It seeks to exclude refugees, students, and family members immigrating lawfully, and to exclude US citizens smeared as undesirable.
Not a ‘crackdown’.
It is not a ‘crackdown’—which means strict enforcement against lawbreakers.
It seeks to exclude refugees, students, and family members immigrating lawfully, and to exclude US citizens smeared as undesirable.
Not a ‘crackdown’.
On Thanksgiving, we can be grateful that the United States - for all its flaws, historical and present-day - is a place where millions of people from all over the world have found refuge, freedom, safety, and opportunity.
November 28, 2025 at 7:29 PM
On Thanksgiving, we can be grateful that the United States - for all its flaws, historical and present-day - is a place where millions of people from all over the world have found refuge, freedom, safety, and opportunity.
Tonight it may be instructive to Google the name “Herschel Grynszpan.” History shows the horrors that can result when an act of violence perpetrated by a single person becomes a pretext to punish an entire group of people.
November 27, 2025 at 5:24 AM
Tonight it may be instructive to Google the name “Herschel Grynszpan.” History shows the horrors that can result when an act of violence perpetrated by a single person becomes a pretext to punish an entire group of people.
Government by an endless stream of threats is ultimately incompatible with government of, by, and for the people.
November 25, 2025 at 12:02 AM
Government by an endless stream of threats is ultimately incompatible with government of, by, and for the people.
This really is beyond the pale. Trump on Khashoggi's brutal murder: “You’re mentioning somebody that was extremely controversial. A lot of people didn’t like that gentleman that you’re talking about. Whether you liked him or didn’t like him, things happen." www.cnn.com/2025/11/18/p...
Trump claims slain journalist Khashoggi was ‘extremely controversial,’ defends Saudi crown prince | CNN Politics
President Donald Trump on Tuesday dismissed a question about the 2018 murder of Jamal Khashoggi, claiming that the Saudi dissident journalist was “extremely controversial” and that raising the subject...
www.cnn.com
November 18, 2025 at 8:08 PM
This really is beyond the pale. Trump on Khashoggi's brutal murder: “You’re mentioning somebody that was extremely controversial. A lot of people didn’t like that gentleman that you’re talking about. Whether you liked him or didn’t like him, things happen." www.cnn.com/2025/11/18/p...
This is what the Trump/Miller/Homan/Bovino blitz has brought us: neither good-faith immigration policy nor public safety, but a long series of abusive actions by armed, masked thugs. Every child in that daycare has been traumatized by this incident. Such horrors are happening every day in Chicago.
Federal agents pulling a woman out of Rayito Del Sol, a daycare by Lane Tech high school
November 5, 2025 at 4:51 PM
This is what the Trump/Miller/Homan/Bovino blitz has brought us: neither good-faith immigration policy nor public safety, but a long series of abusive actions by armed, masked thugs. Every child in that daycare has been traumatized by this incident. Such horrors are happening every day in Chicago.
The cesspool that is Twitter/X is extra cesspooly tonight.
November 5, 2025 at 3:13 AM
The cesspool that is Twitter/X is extra cesspooly tonight.
".Among other things, the company would have to deploy one million humanlike robots and boost its stock market value to $8.5 trillion from $1.4 trillion today.Control of Tesla Is at Stake in Vote on Elon Musk’s Pay Plan" www.nytimes.com/2025/11/03/b...
Control of Tesla Is at Stake in Vote on Elon Musk’s Pay Plan
www.nytimes.com
November 4, 2025 at 4:50 PM
".Among other things, the company would have to deploy one million humanlike robots and boost its stock market value to $8.5 trillion from $1.4 trillion today.Control of Tesla Is at Stake in Vote on Elon Musk’s Pay Plan" www.nytimes.com/2025/11/03/b...