John Washington
@jwashing.bsky.social
Journalist and Translator.
Reporting for @azluminaria.org
Newsletter, short essays on books and politics: https://johnwashington.substack.com/
Latest book, The Case for Open Borders: https://www.haymarketbooks.org/books/2199-the
Reporting for @azluminaria.org
Newsletter, short essays on books and politics: https://johnwashington.substack.com/
Latest book, The Case for Open Borders: https://www.haymarketbooks.org/books/2199-the
Reposted by John Washington
This year felt like a decade. I wanted to highlight some of the immigration reporting I've done over the past 12 months:
In January, I wrote about the big money fueling the right's plot to end birthright citizenship.
In January, I wrote about the big money fueling the right's plot to end birthright citizenship.
The big-money right-wing push to upend the Constitution—and kill birthright citizenship
“We’re in totally uncharted territory.”
www.motherjones.com
December 29, 2025 at 7:51 PM
This year felt like a decade. I wanted to highlight some of the immigration reporting I've done over the past 12 months:
In January, I wrote about the big money fueling the right's plot to end birthright citizenship.
In January, I wrote about the big money fueling the right's plot to end birthright citizenship.
Last newsletter of the year, a recap of my reading and how I worked through a writer’s block.
johnwashington.substack.com/p/best-of-2026
johnwashington.substack.com/p/best-of-2026
December 29, 2025 at 2:11 PM
Last newsletter of the year, a recap of my reading and how I worked through a writer’s block.
johnwashington.substack.com/p/best-of-2026
johnwashington.substack.com/p/best-of-2026
Looking for someone who can help me accurately translate a few short lines of Turkish.
It's for a chapter of my book on immigration detention centers.
Any takers, contacts, or tips would be very much appreciated.
It's for a chapter of my book on immigration detention centers.
Any takers, contacts, or tips would be very much appreciated.
December 18, 2025 at 7:34 PM
Looking for someone who can help me accurately translate a few short lines of Turkish.
It's for a chapter of my book on immigration detention centers.
Any takers, contacts, or tips would be very much appreciated.
It's for a chapter of my book on immigration detention centers.
Any takers, contacts, or tips would be very much appreciated.
Reposted by John Washington
American Immigration Council said in October that the Trump admin has been deadlier for ICE detainees than the COVID-19 pandemic. And, as Rep. Jayapal notes below, more immigrants have died since then: www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/blog/trump-d...
December 18, 2025 at 6:16 PM
American Immigration Council said in October that the Trump admin has been deadlier for ICE detainees than the COVID-19 pandemic. And, as Rep. Jayapal notes below, more immigrants have died since then: www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/blog/trump-d...
Reposted by John Washington
Due process at work. I traveled to El Salvador because Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s case was always about more than one man. It was about our constitutional rights. We’re fighting for fair treatment for every immigrant wrongfully detained or deported. We need to stay loud.
Judge orders Kilmar Abrego Garcia to be released from ICE custody 'immediately'
https://cnn.it/4aQoNS2
https://cnn.it/4aQoNS2
December 11, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Due process at work. I traveled to El Salvador because Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s case was always about more than one man. It was about our constitutional rights. We’re fighting for fair treatment for every immigrant wrongfully detained or deported. We need to stay loud.
ICE raid today in Tucson.
Newly seated Rep Adelita Grijalva and protesters who turned out to protect their neighbors got flash-banged, pepper sprayed, pushed.
At least two were arrested.
Newly seated Rep Adelita Grijalva and protesters who turned out to protect their neighbors got flash-banged, pepper sprayed, pushed.
At least two were arrested.
December 6, 2025 at 3:17 AM
ICE raid today in Tucson.
Newly seated Rep Adelita Grijalva and protesters who turned out to protect their neighbors got flash-banged, pepper sprayed, pushed.
At least two were arrested.
Newly seated Rep Adelita Grijalva and protesters who turned out to protect their neighbors got flash-banged, pepper sprayed, pushed.
At least two were arrested.
Reposted by John Washington
And another important story from @jwashing.bsky.social reveals that county supervisors rejected efforts (3-2) to weigh the health and water impacts of Project Blue, a last-ditch effort to conduct more oversight of the proposed massive data center.
azluminaria.org/2025/12/02/p...
azluminaria.org/2025/12/02/p...
Pima County rejects health review as Project Blue land sale nears closing - AZ Luminaria
A majority of Pima County supervisors rejected efforts to weigh the health and water impacts of Project Blue, a last-ditch effort by public officials opposed to the plan to conduct more oversight of t...
azluminaria.org
December 3, 2025 at 1:39 AM
And another important story from @jwashing.bsky.social reveals that county supervisors rejected efforts (3-2) to weigh the health and water impacts of Project Blue, a last-ditch effort to conduct more oversight of the proposed massive data center.
azluminaria.org/2025/12/02/p...
azluminaria.org/2025/12/02/p...
Reposted by John Washington
“More than a million immigrants have disappeared from the US workforce since Trump took office.”
@andrewperez.bsky.social reports on an anti-ICE ad campaign calling for ICE agents to quit.
Read more: zeteo.com/p/ad-campaig...
@andrewperez.bsky.social reports on an anti-ICE ad campaign calling for ICE agents to quit.
Read more: zeteo.com/p/ad-campaig...
November 30, 2025 at 3:00 PM
“More than a million immigrants have disappeared from the US workforce since Trump took office.”
@andrewperez.bsky.social reports on an anti-ICE ad campaign calling for ICE agents to quit.
Read more: zeteo.com/p/ad-campaig...
@andrewperez.bsky.social reports on an anti-ICE ad campaign calling for ICE agents to quit.
Read more: zeteo.com/p/ad-campaig...
Reposted by John Washington
What interviews were 'Best of 2025'?
Our July guests:
@jwashing.bsky.social, “The Roots of Bukele’s Gulag" @nyrb-imprints.bsky.social.
Suzy Hansen, "Crimes of the Century" @nymag.com.
@kamaufranklin.bsky.social, "No Cop City, No Cop World" @haymarketbooks.org).
www.patreon.com/posts/on-sev...
Our July guests:
@jwashing.bsky.social, “The Roots of Bukele’s Gulag" @nyrb-imprints.bsky.social.
Suzy Hansen, "Crimes of the Century" @nymag.com.
@kamaufranklin.bsky.social, "No Cop City, No Cop World" @haymarketbooks.org).
www.patreon.com/posts/on-sev...
On the Seventh Day of Hell! We are A-Swimming in Votes for 'Best of 2025' | This Is Hell!
Get more from This Is Hell! on Patreon
www.patreon.com
November 26, 2025 at 6:22 PM
What interviews were 'Best of 2025'?
Our July guests:
@jwashing.bsky.social, “The Roots of Bukele’s Gulag" @nyrb-imprints.bsky.social.
Suzy Hansen, "Crimes of the Century" @nymag.com.
@kamaufranklin.bsky.social, "No Cop City, No Cop World" @haymarketbooks.org).
www.patreon.com/posts/on-sev...
Our July guests:
@jwashing.bsky.social, “The Roots of Bukele’s Gulag" @nyrb-imprints.bsky.social.
Suzy Hansen, "Crimes of the Century" @nymag.com.
@kamaufranklin.bsky.social, "No Cop City, No Cop World" @haymarketbooks.org).
www.patreon.com/posts/on-sev...
Reposted by John Washington
Nearly 1400 people have been ordered into Pima County’s Restoration to Competency program to see if they can stand trial
That can mean more than a year in jail, waiting. My colleague @jwashing.bsky.social writes about when jail becomes a mental health facility
azluminaria.org/2025/11/24/w...
That can mean more than a year in jail, waiting. My colleague @jwashing.bsky.social writes about when jail becomes a mental health facility
azluminaria.org/2025/11/24/w...
When jail becomes the mental health treatment plan - AZ Luminaria
Arizona’s competency restoration system pushes people with mental illness into jail. Stacey Brooks’ case shows the dangerous consequences.
azluminaria.org
November 25, 2025 at 9:47 PM
Nearly 1400 people have been ordered into Pima County’s Restoration to Competency program to see if they can stand trial
That can mean more than a year in jail, waiting. My colleague @jwashing.bsky.social writes about when jail becomes a mental health facility
azluminaria.org/2025/11/24/w...
That can mean more than a year in jail, waiting. My colleague @jwashing.bsky.social writes about when jail becomes a mental health facility
azluminaria.org/2025/11/24/w...
Reposted by John Washington
Congress wrote into the law that someone who overstays a visa while applying for asylum is not considered to be accruing “unlawful presence,” but it didn’t explicitly say those people couldn’t be arrested and detained — because it was presumed that they wouldn’t be. Well, Trump is doing it.
We came to LA as refugees from the USSR in 1991. Life wasn’t easy, but we persevered and, I dare say, came to contribute something of worth to this nation.
Had I experienced the following when I was a boy, I don’t know what would have become of me.
www.latimes.com/california/s...
Had I experienced the following when I was a boy, I don’t know what would have become of me.
www.latimes.com/california/s...
November 23, 2025 at 3:54 AM
Congress wrote into the law that someone who overstays a visa while applying for asylum is not considered to be accruing “unlawful presence,” but it didn’t explicitly say those people couldn’t be arrested and detained — because it was presumed that they wouldn’t be. Well, Trump is doing it.
Want some background reading to better understand the slow (but really not that slow) explosion of immigration detention capacity?
My latest newsletter, plus an update on my book in progress.
johnwashington.substack.com/p/reading-re...
My latest newsletter, plus an update on my book in progress.
johnwashington.substack.com/p/reading-re...
November 10, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Want some background reading to better understand the slow (but really not that slow) explosion of immigration detention capacity?
My latest newsletter, plus an update on my book in progress.
johnwashington.substack.com/p/reading-re...
My latest newsletter, plus an update on my book in progress.
johnwashington.substack.com/p/reading-re...
I never realized that when I stick my reporter’s notebook in my back pocket like this the pages flap down.
(Shot by a friend in Rio Negro, Alta Verapaz, Guatemala)
(Shot by a friend in Rio Negro, Alta Verapaz, Guatemala)
October 21, 2025 at 5:16 AM
I never realized that when I stick my reporter’s notebook in my back pocket like this the pages flap down.
(Shot by a friend in Rio Negro, Alta Verapaz, Guatemala)
(Shot by a friend in Rio Negro, Alta Verapaz, Guatemala)
Reposted by John Washington
John Washington has been doing some incredibly impactful storytelling on borders, immigration, and now enforced disappearance. Check out his latest piece and be sure to follow him.
On forced disappearance in Guatemala and the United States
open.substack.com/pub/johnwash...
open.substack.com/pub/johnwash...
“I Know You Want to Find Me, But You’re Not Going To”
On disappearances in Guatemala and the United States
open.substack.com
October 20, 2025 at 10:03 PM
John Washington has been doing some incredibly impactful storytelling on borders, immigration, and now enforced disappearance. Check out his latest piece and be sure to follow him.
On forced disappearance in Guatemala and the United States
open.substack.com/pub/johnwash...
open.substack.com/pub/johnwash...
“I Know You Want to Find Me, But You’re Not Going To”
On disappearances in Guatemala and the United States
open.substack.com
October 20, 2025 at 3:40 PM
On forced disappearance in Guatemala and the United States
open.substack.com/pub/johnwash...
open.substack.com/pub/johnwash...
azluminaria.org/2025/10/07/a...
New jaguar sighting, bold new resolution from Tohono O'odham's San Xavier District:
The jaguar is “a guardian of the people and the natural world,” the resolution reads, “a sacred being with deep connections to O’odham stories and traditional beliefs.”
New jaguar sighting, bold new resolution from Tohono O'odham's San Xavier District:
The jaguar is “a guardian of the people and the natural world,” the resolution reads, “a sacred being with deep connections to O’odham stories and traditional beliefs.”
October 7, 2025 at 4:43 PM
azluminaria.org/2025/10/07/a...
New jaguar sighting, bold new resolution from Tohono O'odham's San Xavier District:
The jaguar is “a guardian of the people and the natural world,” the resolution reads, “a sacred being with deep connections to O’odham stories and traditional beliefs.”
New jaguar sighting, bold new resolution from Tohono O'odham's San Xavier District:
The jaguar is “a guardian of the people and the natural world,” the resolution reads, “a sacred being with deep connections to O’odham stories and traditional beliefs.”
Breaking:
Massive Amazon data center is back in development in Pima County after a fierce fight this summer, in which the greater Tucson community pushed back hard against the developers.
Latest, along with @yanak.bsky.social for @azluminaria.org azluminaria.org/2025/09/17/p...
Massive Amazon data center is back in development in Pima County after a fierce fight this summer, in which the greater Tucson community pushed back hard against the developers.
Latest, along with @yanak.bsky.social for @azluminaria.org azluminaria.org/2025/09/17/p...
Project Blue data center pushes ahead in Pima County promising new low-water cooling tech - AZ Luminaria
Data center developer Beale Infrastructure says it is moving forward with Project Blue, this time promising a greener, slimmer proposal that will use a new low-water air-cooling technology. The compa...
azluminaria.org
September 17, 2025 at 10:58 PM
Breaking:
Massive Amazon data center is back in development in Pima County after a fierce fight this summer, in which the greater Tucson community pushed back hard against the developers.
Latest, along with @yanak.bsky.social for @azluminaria.org azluminaria.org/2025/09/17/p...
Massive Amazon data center is back in development in Pima County after a fierce fight this summer, in which the greater Tucson community pushed back hard against the developers.
Latest, along with @yanak.bsky.social for @azluminaria.org azluminaria.org/2025/09/17/p...
Reposted by John Washington
Pima County's jail healthcare provider has been in consistent violation of certain performance indicators over the past year, @jwashing.bsky.social reports
azluminaria.org/2025/09/11/s...
azluminaria.org/2025/09/11/s...
September 11, 2025 at 7:54 PM
Pima County's jail healthcare provider has been in consistent violation of certain performance indicators over the past year, @jwashing.bsky.social reports
azluminaria.org/2025/09/11/s...
azluminaria.org/2025/09/11/s...
I'm writing a new book for @haymarketbooks.org, and I'm writing it fast, so help is most welcome.
More here: johnwashington.substack.com/p/how-to-clo...
More here: johnwashington.substack.com/p/how-to-clo...
September 8, 2025 at 7:06 PM
I'm writing a new book for @haymarketbooks.org, and I'm writing it fast, so help is most welcome.
More here: johnwashington.substack.com/p/how-to-clo...
More here: johnwashington.substack.com/p/how-to-clo...
More on Project Blue, the proposed and (for now) scuttled mega data center project in Tucson.
We're releasing some of the early planning docs, obtained via public records requests, which list alternate sites.
Latest from @azluminaria.org
azluminaria.org/2025/08/15/p...
We're releasing some of the early planning docs, obtained via public records requests, which list alternate sites.
Latest from @azluminaria.org
azluminaria.org/2025/08/15/p...
Plan B for Project Blue: Records reveal 3 other sites considered for controversial data center - AZ Luminaria
While Tucson City Council seems to have closed the door on the proposed Project Blue data center, the questions about resource use in the desert that consumed elected officials, experts and community ...
azluminaria.org
August 15, 2025 at 6:00 PM
More on Project Blue, the proposed and (for now) scuttled mega data center project in Tucson.
We're releasing some of the early planning docs, obtained via public records requests, which list alternate sites.
Latest from @azluminaria.org
azluminaria.org/2025/08/15/p...
We're releasing some of the early planning docs, obtained via public records requests, which list alternate sites.
Latest from @azluminaria.org
azluminaria.org/2025/08/15/p...
Responding to vehement opposition and public service journalism, Tucson's mayor/council unanimously vote to reject a mega data center project from Amazon.
Tucson ain't Eddington.
Read @yanak.bsky.social's latest from city hall.
azluminaria.org/2025/08/06/t...
Tucson ain't Eddington.
Read @yanak.bsky.social's latest from city hall.
azluminaria.org/2025/08/06/t...
Tucson City Council rejects Project Blue data center amid intense community pressure - AZ Luminaria
The Tucson city council voted unanimously Wednesday against bringing the massive and water-devouring Project Blue data center — tied to tech giant Amazon — into city limits. After weeks of escalating ...
azluminaria.org
August 6, 2025 at 10:16 PM
Responding to vehement opposition and public service journalism, Tucson's mayor/council unanimously vote to reject a mega data center project from Amazon.
Tucson ain't Eddington.
Read @yanak.bsky.social's latest from city hall.
azluminaria.org/2025/08/06/t...
Tucson ain't Eddington.
Read @yanak.bsky.social's latest from city hall.
azluminaria.org/2025/08/06/t...
Tucson City council member Nikki Lee says controversial Amazon-run data center project is inevitable.
“Project Blue has multiple paths to build here, and every intention to do so,” Lee wrote in her newsletter today, “regardless of what the City of Tucson decides.”
azluminaria.org/2025/08/05/t...
“Project Blue has multiple paths to build here, and every intention to do so,” Lee wrote in her newsletter today, “regardless of what the City of Tucson decides.”
azluminaria.org/2025/08/05/t...
Project Blue data center inevitable says Tucson council member Nikki Lee - AZ Luminaria
Council member Nikki Lee said Tuesday that the Project Blue data center may be built no matter what the Tucson City Council decides.
azluminaria.org
August 5, 2025 at 11:17 PM
Tucson City council member Nikki Lee says controversial Amazon-run data center project is inevitable.
“Project Blue has multiple paths to build here, and every intention to do so,” Lee wrote in her newsletter today, “regardless of what the City of Tucson decides.”
azluminaria.org/2025/08/05/t...
“Project Blue has multiple paths to build here, and every intention to do so,” Lee wrote in her newsletter today, “regardless of what the City of Tucson decides.”
azluminaria.org/2025/08/05/t...
Reposted by John Washington
📽️ WATCH: “The U.S. sent us to El Salvador so that El Salvador could do the dirty work that the U.S. couldn’t.”
Hear from Juan José Ramos Ramos, Andry Omar Blanco Bonilla and Wilmer José Vega Sandia — three of 230+ Venezuelan men the Trump administration sent to CECOT — in their own words:
Hear from Juan José Ramos Ramos, Andry Omar Blanco Bonilla and Wilmer José Vega Sandia — three of 230+ Venezuelan men the Trump administration sent to CECOT — in their own words:
August 4, 2025 at 3:01 AM
📽️ WATCH: “The U.S. sent us to El Salvador so that El Salvador could do the dirty work that the U.S. couldn’t.”
Hear from Juan José Ramos Ramos, Andry Omar Blanco Bonilla and Wilmer José Vega Sandia — three of 230+ Venezuelan men the Trump administration sent to CECOT — in their own words:
Hear from Juan José Ramos Ramos, Andry Omar Blanco Bonilla and Wilmer José Vega Sandia — three of 230+ Venezuelan men the Trump administration sent to CECOT — in their own words:
Reposted by John Washington
ICE GOONS draw guns on humanitarian aid workers
July 31, 2025 at 3:43 PM
ICE GOONS draw guns on humanitarian aid workers