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mattcameron.bsky.social
Matt Cameron
@mattcameron.bsky.social
16K followers 1.4K following 2.6K posts
Fighting ICE since 2006, cohosting @openargs.bsky.social since 2024, playing your piano since 1987. Read my journal at http://deportnation.com
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mattcameron.bsky.social
Matt Cameron @mattcameron.bsky.social · Jan 16
WE ARE WINNING, AND WE WILL WIN

THE BIG FREEZE is an urgent and necessary response to an impending American crisis, and it is the only way that we will survive it.
THERE IS ONLY ONE WAY TO STOP ICE NOW
it's going to take all of us, but we can all do this
open.substack.com
mattcameron.bsky.social
"[the 4th Amendment] is dead on arrival," according to three sources close to the administration and a GOP strategist

www.politico.com/news/2026/02...
‘Complete nonstarter’: Administration allies say judicial warrants a red line for White House in DHS funding talks as shutdown looms
The seeming stalemate sets up a clash between the Trump administration and Democrats ahead of a Friday night deadline.
www.politico.com
February 17, 2026 at 4:19 AM
Reposted by Matt Cameron
costasamaras.com
“Don’t fund concentration camps” is a good policy position to stand on.
February 14, 2026 at 1:04 PM
Reposted by Matt Cameron
costasamaras.com
Rescinding these funds should be among the minimum demands to vote for opening the govt.
February 14, 2026 at 4:23 AM
Reposted by Matt Cameron
costasamaras.com
The $38.3 billion they are going to spend for interment camps could fund the annual budget of NASA, the EPA, and all clean energy R&D at the Department of Energy—combined.
washingtonpost.com The Washington Post @washingtonpost.com · 3d
Breaking news: ICE expects to spend $38.3 billion on its plan to acquire warehouses across the U.S. and retrofit them into immigrant detention centers that can hold tens of thousands of people, according to agency documents.
ICE plans to spend $38.3 billion turning warehouses into detention centers
ICE plans to spend $38.3 billion converting warehouses into detention centers, according to planning documents, more than the annual budgets of 22 states.
www.washingtonpost.com
February 14, 2026 at 3:14 AM
Reposted by Matt Cameron
hongpong.bsky.social
good info from @mattcameron.bsky.social re the funding machinery. after the last summer giant funding Bill
deportnation.substack.com/p/the-americ...
THERE IS ONLY ONE WAY TO STOP ICE NOW
it's going to take all of us, but we can all do this
deportnation.substack.com
February 13, 2026 at 6:51 PM
Reposted by Matt Cameron
hongpong.bsky.social
in case anyone wants the entire ICE HSI undercover operations handbook (2008 edition)
February 13, 2026 at 6:47 PM
mattcameron.bsky.social
I hate that the Fifth Circuit's default font (Equity) is so elegant that it makes this kind of thing look like a rational legal treatise
mjsdc.bsky.social Mark Joseph Stern @mjsdc.bsky.social · 4d
Ultra-MAGA Judge Edith Jones of the 5th Circuit peddles deranged conspiracy theories about mass voter fraud and "ballot harvesting," declaring that mail voting "is a rich field for fraud" that's frequently exploited by "operatives" attempting to steal elections. www.ca5.uscourts.gov/opinions/pub...
Following the electoral chaos caused by the COVID pandemic, Texas modernized its election security laws. S.B. 1 aimed to make “the conduct of elections . . . uniform and consistent throughout [the] state[,] . . . reduce the likelihood of fraud in the conduct of elections, protect the secrecy of the ballot, promote voter access, and ensure that all legally cast ballots are counted.” Tex. Elec. Code § 1.0015. Because “the potential and reality of fraud is much greater in the mail-in ballot context than with inperson voting,” S.B. 1 added additional election integrity provisions to prevent mail ballot fraud. Veasey v. Abbott, 830 F.3d 216, 239 (5th Cir. 2016) (en banc). Mail ballots are more susceptible to fraud because they render election workers incapable of knowing what happens to the ballot once it is mailed out. Due to the inherent vulnerability of mail ballots, “[f]raud is a real risk that accompanies mail-in voting.” Brnovich v. Democratic Nat’l Comm., 594 U.S. 647, 686, 141 S. Ct. 2321, 2348 (2021). In particular, “[v]ote buying schemes are far more difficult to detect when citizens vote by mail.” Id. at 685, 141 S. Ct. at 2347 (quoting Report of the Comm’n on Fed. Election Reform, Building Confidence in U.S. Elections 46 (Sept. 2005)). One particularly common form of “mail ballot fraud” is known as “vote harvesting.” Vote harvesting describes a process whereby paid election operatives “generate applications for mail ballots in . . . targeted precincts.” Operatives often go door-to-door, talk to voters, and get them to sign up to vote by mail. More nefariously, vote harvesting can also be accomplished by paid operatives forging applications for voters without the voters’ knowledge or consent. Later, once the voters receive the mail ballots that were requested by canvassing or by forgery, the same partisan operatives return to collect the voters’ completed mail ballots. As part of the ballot collection process, the partisan operatives ensure that the ballots were cast for a particular candidate. Unsurprisingly, mail-in voting is a rich field for fraud. Between 2004 and 2021, 72% of all election prosecutions undertaken by the Texas Attorney General involved mail ballot fraud. “[I]t should go without saying that a State may take action to prevent election fraud.” Id. at 686, 141 S. Ct. at 2348. Faced with evidence of mail ballot fraud, Texas enacted S.B. 1, which contained multiple provisions to address mail ballot fraud.
February 13, 2026 at 2:07 AM
Reposted by Matt Cameron
kyledcheney.bsky.social
The rejection of the policy has been overwhelming — and driven by judges of all ideologies. While the 28 judges who have backed the admin’s view are, with a few exceptions, Trump appointees.

www.politico.com/news/2026/02...
February 12, 2026 at 10:09 PM
Reposted by Matt Cameron
rparloff.bsky.social
Although immigration rulings are not typically public (in order to protect sensitive private information about the immigrant, I think), Second Circuit wants a redacted copy of the ruling dismissing Rumeysa Ozturk's case placed on the public record within 7 days.
February 10, 2026 at 7:16 PM
mattcameron.bsky.social
The only other time an immigration judge is known to have terminated deportation proceedings brought under the incredibly unusual INA 237(a)(4)(C)(i) grounds was in the only published case on this which reversed that decision. Big win for Ozturk, big fight ahead
joshuajfriedman.com Joshua J. Friedman @joshuajfriedman.com · 7d
NEW: An immigration court has terminated removal proceedings against Tufts doctoral student Rümeysa Öztürk, finding that DHS did not meet its burden of establishing that she was removable, her lawyers tell the Second Circuit. live-awp-vermont.pantheonsite.io/app/uploads/...
Dear Ms. Wolfe, Petitioner-Appellee Rümeysa Öztürk submits this Rule 28(j) letter to advise the Court that on January 29, 2026, the immigration court held that the Department of Homeland Security had not met its burden of proving removability, and the immigration court thereby terminated removal proceedings against Ms. Öztürk.' This development underscores the dangers of the government's interpretation of the Immigration and Nationality Act. Under the government's view, it could punitively detain any noncitizen in retaliation for her speech for many months, so long as it simultaneously institutes removal proceedings—no matter how unmeritorious—all without any federal court review of the lawfulness of detention at any time. To be clear, the termination of Ms. Öztürk's removal proceedings does not moot her habeas case. (By contrast, as Ms. Öztürk has argued, this appeal is moot. Br. 18-20.) Without habeas jurisdiction and the bail order that is currently in place, any government appeal to the Board of Immigration Appeals would again subject Ms. Öztürk to re-detention. See 8 C.F.R. § 1003.6(a). For that reason, she continues to suffer the threat of continuing "now-or-never" First and Fifth Amendment harms. Br. in Opp. 55-57.
February 10, 2026 at 3:31 AM
Reposted by Matt Cameron
propublica.org
7/ Read the rest of the letters:
“I Have Been Here Too Long”: Read Letters from the Children Detained at ICE’s Dilley Facility
Hundreds of children are currently being held with their parents at an immigration detention center in Dilley, Texas. In letters and drawings, eight kids convey the pain of feeling trapped with no end...
propub.li
February 9, 2026 at 12:42 PM
Reposted by Matt Cameron
propublica.org
6/ “When I arrived every night I cried and now I don’t sleep well, I felt that being here was my fault and I only wanted to be on vacation like a normal family.”

9-year-old Maria Antonia Guerra Montoya, detained on her way to Disney World, spent 113+ days at Dilley.
Page 1 of a child’s handwritten letter, written in pencil in Spanish. Colorful doodles of a rainbow and hearts are found throughout the page. Translation: “I am Maria Antonia Guerra Montoya and I have been 113 days in detention I miss my friends and I feel they are going to forget me. I am bored here. I already miss my country and my house, I came on vacation for 10 Days and they took me into an ice office an officer interrogated me 2 hours without my mom, I was traveling with flight attendant because my mom lives in new york, they only wanted to arrest my mom, because my mom didn’t have documents to live in U.S.A., I always traveled with my tourist visa but ice used me to catch my mom and now I am in a jail and I am sad and I have fainted 2 times here inside. When I arrived every night I cried and now I don’t sleep well, I felt that being here was my fault and I only wanted to be on vacation like a normal family.” Page 2 of a child’s handwritten letter, written in pencil in Spanish. Translation: “They don’t give me my diet I am vegetarian, I don’t eat well, there is no good education and I miss my best friend julieta and my grandmother and my school I already want to get to my house. Me in dilei [Dilley] am not happy please get me out of here to colombia.” Below the text is a drawing of the girl and her mother in the government-issued gray sweatsuits of the detention center.
February 9, 2026 at 12:38 PM
Reposted by Matt Cameron
propublica.org
5/ “I have already spent more than 60 days waking up eating the same repetitive meals…going to the doctor and that the only thing they tell you is to drink more water and the worst thing is that it seems like the water is what makes people sick here…”

From 12-year-old Ender, detained 60+ days
Page 1 of a child’s handwritten letter, written in Spanish in a cursive script. Translation: “Hello I am Ender and I am 12 years old, I have been at this center  for 2 months. I arrived here for an immigration appointment and I don’t think they should grab immigrants who are innocent, like instead of grabbing criminals because I mean they prefer to lock up children than look for people who really shouldn’t be in the U.S. They told me I could only be here 21 days but I have already spent more than 60 days waking up eating the same repetitive meals, going outside and that the majority of guards never pay attention to people, eating dinner  always the same as the day before, seeing people cry every day for the same reasons, trying to sleep in that horrible uncomfortable bed, going to the doctor and that the only thing they tell you is to drink more water and the worst thing is that it seems like the water is what makes people sick here…” Page 2 of a child’s handwritten letter, written in Spanish in a cursive script. Translation: “…going to wait for the bad answers from the judges, hearing the bad news from people who no longer have hope, having to share a room with minimum 3 families, and all that so they send us back to our countries.” Below the text is a drawing in pen of three women, titled “My family” and labeled with “Mama,” “Sister,” and “me” in Spanish.
February 9, 2026 at 12:34 PM
Reposted by Matt Cameron
propublica.org
3/ “I have never been separated from my siblings and its honestly sad because they are little and they need their mom and sister.”

From 14-year-old Ariana V.V, whose U.S.-citizen siblings are 2 and 5 years old. Detained for 45+ days
Page 1 of handwritten letter. Transcript: "Hello, my name is Ariana V.V. im 14 years old and im from Honduras, ive been detained for 45 days and I have never felt so much fear to go to a place as I feel here everytime I remind myself that once I go back to Honduras a lot of dangerous things could happen to my mom and my younger siblings haven’t been able to see their mom in more than a month. They are very young and you need both of your parents when you are growing up. Since I got to this Center all you will feel is sadness and mostly depression. When people have their courts the longest they will last is 15 minutes, our rights are not being provided, arrest are happening when people don’t even have any type of order, arrests are happening illegally. Its sad to hear that peoples case are being denied and are getting send back to their country places where they are escaping from and are looking for protection and want to feel safe. Not a lot of people know what is happening in the Centers where immigrants are placed at. I haven’t been getting any school time. Every single person in here had their jobs they had their lifes, they aren’t any danger for this Country." Page 2 of a child’s handwritten letter. Transcript: "Ive been in this country for almost 7 years and in those 7 years my mom and I found a home and made a bigger family. I have never been separated from my siblings and its honestly sad because they are little and they need their mom and sister, yeah they are with their dad but its still different for them and my mom and I. Since the day my mom and I get detained in Manhattan NY, my life was instanly paused, from my knowledge you can’t be under custody for more than 15 or 20 days, well here in Dilley Immigration Processing Center people have been in this place for 7 months, 5 months, 4-2 months, its not fair that the ICE officers are not following the laws. All kids are being damage mentally, they witness how the’ve been treated. They don’t have schools, doctor, all they have are nurses, if you need medical attention the longest you have to wait is 3 hours, but to get any medicine, pill, anything it takes a while, there are various viruses people are always sick. Serious situations happen and the officers can’t take them serious enough there are no consecuenses, they don’t care."
February 9, 2026 at 12:25 PM
Reposted by Matt Cameron
dynamicsymmetry.bsky.social
Okay so a thing I LOVED about that is how, whereas so many halftime shows kind of elevate the star above the other dancers/extras—often literally—that was like the exact opposite, he was *with and among* the people around him
February 9, 2026 at 1:35 AM
Reposted by Matt Cameron
shengokai.blacksky.app
It was transforming the biggest NFL stage in the world into a sugar cane plantation that did it for me.

Like, the multiple layers of turning an American icon into a plantation and highlighting the history of exploitation of Black and Brown bodies by the NFL and American colonialism simultaneously?
February 9, 2026 at 1:54 AM
mattcameron.bsky.social
landed in San Juan in time to catch a Bad Bunny show at which I am told there will also be some football happening at some point
February 8, 2026 at 11:30 PM
mattcameron.bsky.social
ICE can barely surround a Wendy's
aridrennen.bsky.social Ari Drennen @aridrennen.bsky.social · 12d
Steve Bannon: “You’re damn right we’re gonna have ICE surround the polls come November.”
February 5, 2026 at 1:12 PM
Reposted by Matt Cameron
ecmclaughlin.bsky.social
This is another effort that has taken a HUGE amount of local activism, led by community folks who care.

It CAN be done. Get involved where you live and push back.

www.elpasotimes.com/story/news/i...
New Mexico Senate approves bill to ban ICE detention centers
The New Mexico Legislature approved the Immigration Safety Act. House bill 9 bars the state from allowing ICE detention centers.
www.elpasotimes.com
February 4, 2026 at 9:20 PM
Reposted by Matt Cameron
danielsuitor.com
She wasn't a general assignment AUSA roped into this. If you believe someone who was deporting people before choosing to join the fight to keep people detained during the middle of the ICE occupation was actually trying to fix the problem from the inside, I think you're a little naïve and credulous.
February 5, 2026 at 12:13 AM
Reposted by Matt Cameron
evanbernick.bsky.social
if you really tried to do that to ICE you would in fact abolish it. that thing would no longer be ICE
February 5, 2026 at 1:18 AM
Reposted by Matt Cameron
evanbernick.bsky.social
“abolition is ridiculously utopian. you know what’s realistic? peaceful dragon unicorn bunnies.”
The best-case scenario is not abolition but reform-true, fundamental reform-to turn ICE into a law-enforcement agency that respects the Constitution and laws of America.
February 5, 2026 at 1:16 AM
Reposted by Matt Cameron
evanbernick.bsky.social
goddamnit
How to Actually Reform ICE Accountability, transparency, and trust must be centerpieces of "New ICE." By Paul Rosenzweig
February 5, 2026 at 12:54 AM
Reposted by Matt Cameron
letsgomathias.bsky.social
This was such a great convo!
February 4, 2026 at 7:21 PM
Reposted by Matt Cameron
immlawachall.bsky.social
To anyone tempted to celebrate Noem's big announcement that ICE will use body cams and that it will be expanded nationwide as funding is available...

That's already been official ICE policy for over two years.
www.ice.gov/news/release....
January 12, 2024Washington, DCOperational ICE announces updated policy for body-worn cameras WASHINGTON — Consistent with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) first Department-wide policy on Body-Worn Cameras (BWCs), and as required by the Executive Order on Advancing Effective, Accountable Policing and Criminal Justice Practices to Enhance Public Trust and Public Safety, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced today updated guidance for its law enforcement personnel, providing standards for the use of body worn cameras. The policy calls for the use of BWCs in all aspects of ICE enforcement activities conducted by ICE personnel in furtherance of the ICE mission, excluding certain investigative activities. ICE is working to secure resources required to ensure full implementation of the new policy. Although this policy establishes requirements for the use of BWCs, ICE currently does not have the resources to issues cameras to all ICE law enforcement personnel. ICE will begin deploying BWCs that have been procured to date to Enforcement and Removal Office (ERO) officers and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) investigators in select locations in the coming months. Once personnel are issued BWCs, they will be subject to the policy.
February 2, 2026 at 10:54 PM