Violet Miller
@vimiller.bsky.social
reporter @chicago.suntimes.com
union member @cstguild.bsky.social
drummer, mediocre shortstop
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Pinned
Violet Miller
@vimiller.bsky.social
· Oct 31
Federal agents fired pepper balls after detaining two people in Albany Park Friday morning as the immigration blitz in Chicago continued through Halloween.
“It’s actually horrifying. ... It happens so fast. You prepare, but then you don’t know what to do.”
chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/...
“It’s actually horrifying. ... It happens so fast. You prepare, but then you don’t know what to do.”
chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/...
The 20 attorneys general aim to have the changes deemed illegal, saying the move flies in the face of established federal law around Medicare and Medicaid, and oversteps federal power in violation of the Administrative Procedures Act.
Illinois joins lawsuit against White House's attempted national ban on youth gender-affirming care
The Department of Health and Human Services this month unveiled a series of regulatory actions designed to block access to gender-affirming care for patients under 19, including threats to cut off fed...
chicago.suntimes.com
December 24, 2025 at 7:24 PM
The 20 attorneys general aim to have the changes deemed illegal, saying the move flies in the face of established federal law around Medicare and Medicaid, and oversteps federal power in violation of the Administrative Procedures Act.
Reposted by Violet Miller
#BREAKING The U.S. Supreme Court has sided with the State of Illinois on National Guard deployment.
Under the law invoked by President Trump, he must be unable "with the regular military" to "execute the laws of the United States," it finds.
Full ruling here: cst.brightspotcdn.com/80/88/05a75e...
Under the law invoked by President Trump, he must be unable "with the regular military" to "execute the laws of the United States," it finds.
Full ruling here: cst.brightspotcdn.com/80/88/05a75e...
![SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES
_________________
No. 25A443 _________________
DONALD J. TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, ET AL. v. ILLINOIS, ET AL.
ON APPLICATION FOR STAY [December 23, 2025]
Federal immigration-enforcement efforts have encoun- tered significant resistance, as well as some violence, in Chicago. According to the Government, federal officers have been obstructed, threatened, and assaulted as they at- tempt to perform their duties. The Government also alleges that an Immigration and Customs Enforcement processing facility in Broadview, Illinois, has been the site of frequent and sometimes violent protests, damaging federal property and threatening the safety of federal officers. These at- tacks, the Government says, have greatly impeded its ef- forts to enforce the immigration laws.
On October 4, 2025, the President called 300 members of the Illinois National Guard into active federal service to protect federal personnel and property in Illinois, particu- larly in and around Chicago. The following day, members of the Texas National Guard were also federalized and sent to Chicago. In calling forth the Guard, the President relied on 10 U. S. C. §12406(3), which empowers him to federalize members of the Guard if he is “unable with the regular forces to execute the laws of the United States.”
The United States District Court for the Northern Dis- trict of Illinois entered a temporary restraining order bar- ring the federalization and deployment of the Guard in Illi- nois. The Seventh Circuit denied in relevant part the Government’s motion for a stay, permitting the Guard to](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:elipdmmf5istuvtyituspske/bafkreigkgum5sfni47efippr7j6ykofa7anuo6cqpkfjztkzkfnvubdafe@jpeg)
![remain federalized within Illinois but maintaining the bar on deployment.
The Government asked this Court to stay the District Court’s order. After the response and reply were filed, JUSTICE BARRETT referred the application to the Court. We directed the parties to file supplemental letter briefs on an issue that the District Court had addressed but the parties’ initial briefs had not: the meaning of the term “regular forces” in §12406(3). In its supplemental brief, the Govern- ment argues that the term refers to civilian law enforce- ment officers, such as those employed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement or the Federal Protective Service. Respondents, echoing the District Court, maintain that the term refers to the regular forces of the United States mili- tary.
We conclude that the term “regular forces” in §12406(3) likely refers to the regular forces of the United States mili- tary. This interpretation means that to call the Guard into active federal service under §12406(3), the President must be “unable” with the regular military “to execute the laws of the United States.” Because the statute requires an assess- ment of the military’s ability to execute the laws, it likely applies only where the military could legally execute the laws. Such circumstances are exceptional: Under the Posse Comitatus Act, the military is prohibited from “execut[ing] the laws” “except in cases and under circumstances ex- pressly authorized by the Constitution or Act of Congress.” 18 U. S. C. §1385. So before the President can federalize the Guard under §12406(3), he likely must have statutory or constitutional authority to execute the laws with the reg- ular military and must be “unable” with those forces to per- form that function.
At this preliminary stage, the Government has failed to identify a source of authority that would allow the military to execute the laws in Illinois. The President has not in- voked a statute that provides an exception to the Posse](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:elipdmmf5istuvtyituspske/bafkreico7h4hdwfyr6byznbn2d7y2wuhraae6jhvupnyew5s7kwjegnpva@jpeg)
![Comitatus Act. Instead, he relies on inherent constitu- tional authority that, according to the Government, allows him to use the military to protect federal personnel and property. But the Government also claims—consistent with the longstanding view of the Executive Branch—that performing such protective functions does not constitute “execut[ing] the laws” within the meaning of the Posse Comitatus Act. See Supp. Letter Reply Brief for Applicants 8; 1 Supp. Op. OLC 343, n. 1 (1971) (collecting sources). If that is correct, it is hard to see how performing those func- tions could constitute “execut[ing] the laws” under §12406(3). See Azar v. Allina Health Services, 587 U. S. 566, 574 (2019) (“This Court does not lightly assume that Congress silently attaches different meanings to the same term in the same or related statutes”). Thus, at least in this posture, the Government has not carried its burden to show that §12406(3) permits the President to federalize the Guard in the exercise of inherent authority to protect fed- eral personnel and property in Illinois. We need not and do not address the reviewability of findings made by the Pres- ident under §12406(3) or any other statute.
The application for stay is denied.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:elipdmmf5istuvtyituspske/bafkreigpypa435od2mqkxeftymwgbg2uepclp6razy2u5gc3efakb7v2kq@jpeg)
December 23, 2025 at 8:21 PM
#BREAKING The U.S. Supreme Court has sided with the State of Illinois on National Guard deployment.
Under the law invoked by President Trump, he must be unable "with the regular military" to "execute the laws of the United States," it finds.
Full ruling here: cst.brightspotcdn.com/80/88/05a75e...
Under the law invoked by President Trump, he must be unable "with the regular military" to "execute the laws of the United States," it finds.
Full ruling here: cst.brightspotcdn.com/80/88/05a75e...
Reposted by Violet Miller
Dehumanizing language is par for the course for how this admin talks, but seeing ICE/CBP repeatedly refer to women as "females" always sticks out to me. Growing up on Chicago's white south side, I remember cops, veterans - hell, even cub scout leaders - doing the exact same thing.
December 23, 2025 at 7:26 PM
Dehumanizing language is par for the course for how this admin talks, but seeing ICE/CBP repeatedly refer to women as "females" always sticks out to me. Growing up on Chicago's white south side, I remember cops, veterans - hell, even cub scout leaders - doing the exact same thing.
in college they told me you have to hook them with the first line
December 23, 2025 at 12:08 AM
in college they told me you have to hook them with the first line
Reposted by Violet Miller
New: Here is my report on Waco judge Dianne Hensley's Friday lawsuit in which her lawyer, Jonathan Mitchell, says their goal is to get to SCOTUS to overturn Obergefell.
www.chron.com/culture/arti...
www.chron.com/culture/arti...
Texas judge files suit with intent to overturn gay marriage ruling
It's the latest attempt out of Texas to overturn the 2015 decision.
www.chron.com
December 22, 2025 at 5:38 PM
New: Here is my report on Waco judge Dianne Hensley's Friday lawsuit in which her lawyer, Jonathan Mitchell, says their goal is to get to SCOTUS to overturn Obergefell.
www.chron.com/culture/arti...
www.chron.com/culture/arti...
Reposted by Violet Miller
Again, from Michael Grynbaum, here is Sharyn Alfonsi's full email.
It must be read:
It must be read:
December 22, 2025 at 4:00 AM
Again, from Michael Grynbaum, here is Sharyn Alfonsi's full email.
It must be read:
It must be read:
ICYMI, @chipmitchell1.bsky.social got the agents' body cam video from this tear gassing:
"...the agent in bright green — the one who tossed the gas grenade — sounds unhappy that no one in his crew cleared the way earlier.
'I don’t know why the f--- I have to do that.'"
"...the agent in bright green — the one who tossed the gas grenade — sounds unhappy that no one in his crew cleared the way earlier.
'I don’t know why the f--- I have to do that.'"
December 21, 2025 at 10:56 PM
ICYMI, @chipmitchell1.bsky.social got the agents' body cam video from this tear gassing:
"...the agent in bright green — the one who tossed the gas grenade — sounds unhappy that no one in his crew cleared the way earlier.
'I don’t know why the f--- I have to do that.'"
"...the agent in bright green — the one who tossed the gas grenade — sounds unhappy that no one in his crew cleared the way earlier.
'I don’t know why the f--- I have to do that.'"
Reposted by Violet Miller
A longtime Chicago resident from Bulgaria died Monday while in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement at a Michigan detention facility.
Bulgarian man from Chicago dies in ICE custody at Michigan detention facility
chicago.suntimes.com
December 20, 2025 at 7:31 PM
A longtime Chicago resident from Bulgaria died Monday while in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement at a Michigan detention facility.
"...you’d often hear whispers of 'La Migra,' but never too loud for fear it would show up in your home. La Migra was a first-generation immigrant child’s version of the bogeyman. La Migra didn’t lurk in dark corners — it showed up at your house and took your parents away."
via @cindylu7.bsky.social
via @cindylu7.bsky.social
How I reported on immigration as a daughter of immigrants
Life experiences shape personal opinions that journalists set aside as they seek facts. But those experiences also help them connect with people with similar backgrounds.
chicago.suntimes.com
December 21, 2025 at 7:41 PM
"...you’d often hear whispers of 'La Migra,' but never too loud for fear it would show up in your home. La Migra was a first-generation immigrant child’s version of the bogeyman. La Migra didn’t lurk in dark corners — it showed up at your house and took your parents away."
via @cindylu7.bsky.social
via @cindylu7.bsky.social
A sociologist who surveyed >100 young trans people and their parents after a UK puberty blocker ban is warning bans in Australia/New Zealand will lead to suicides.
All are based in the Cass Review, which has "faced extensive peer-reviewed criticism for methodological problems," among other issues.
All are based in the Cass Review, which has "faced extensive peer-reviewed criticism for methodological problems," among other issues.
Puberty blocker bans in Queensland and NZ risk extreme harm to trans youth, UK expert warns
Sociologist who surveyed effect of 2024 UK ban says denial of gender-affirming care has left trans and non-binary children in ‘abject misery and severe distress’
www.theguardian.com
December 21, 2025 at 3:15 PM
A sociologist who surveyed >100 young trans people and their parents after a UK puberty blocker ban is warning bans in Australia/New Zealand will lead to suicides.
All are based in the Cass Review, which has "faced extensive peer-reviewed criticism for methodological problems," among other issues.
All are based in the Cass Review, which has "faced extensive peer-reviewed criticism for methodological problems," among other issues.
Reposted by Violet Miller
Oh, and if you wanna learn how to FOIA for body cam footage, check this out!
How to FOIA for Body Camera Footage
Under Illinois’ Freedom of Information Act, there is a presumption that government records are open to the public. Body cam footage is an anomaly. Its availability is dictated by the […]
www.bettergov.org
December 17, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Oh, and if you wanna learn how to FOIA for body cam footage, check this out!
Reposted by Violet Miller
Last article from me for the year, talking about the legislative endeavors to reduce public access to body cam footage. I do not think body cams are the police misconduct panacea they were touted as, but diminishing access would be catastrophic.
Six bills sought to reduce public access to body cam footage
Just a few months after the last remaining law enforcement agencies were required to equip officers with body cameras, several legislative efforts in 2025 tried to limit access to body […]
www.bettergov.org
December 17, 2025 at 5:54 PM
Last article from me for the year, talking about the legislative endeavors to reduce public access to body cam footage. I do not think body cams are the police misconduct panacea they were touted as, but diminishing access would be catastrophic.
Reposted by Violet Miller
With @transjournalists.org, we recently published this curated set of resources for covering issues that affect the trans community. 🧪
Resources for Evidence-Based Reporting on Transgender Communities - The Open Notebook
Many of the issues that affect transgender people—such as gender-affirming medical care, educational policy, sports participation, military service, gender-motivated hate crime, and workplace discrimi...
www.theopennotebook.com
December 18, 2025 at 6:51 PM
With @transjournalists.org, we recently published this curated set of resources for covering issues that affect the trans community. 🧪
Reposted by Violet Miller
Illinois lawmakers and reform advocates are calling for stronger oversight of the state’s new prison health care provider following a Sun-Times report.
'There is no accountability.' Lawmakers, advocates call for more oversight of prison health care
chicago.suntimes.com
December 18, 2025 at 4:21 PM
Illinois lawmakers and reform advocates are calling for stronger oversight of the state’s new prison health care provider following a Sun-Times report.
Reposted by Violet Miller
This announcement alone is going to kill people and we need to prepare for that
RFK Jr. and Dr. Oz to announce moves to ban gender-affirming care for young people
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is expected to announce a package of measures that would together ban gender-affirming care for minors. A press conference is set for 11 a.m. Thursday.
www.npr.org
December 18, 2025 at 2:53 PM
This announcement alone is going to kill people and we need to prepare for that
Reposted by Violet Miller
it's extremely strange to me that there was like, a six-ish year period where acceptance of trans people happened extremely rapidly and access to care expanded and now it's being pulled back even faster
December 18, 2025 at 3:52 PM
it's extremely strange to me that there was like, a six-ish year period where acceptance of trans people happened extremely rapidly and access to care expanded and now it's being pulled back even faster
Reposted by Violet Miller
A community-led campaign to build 2,000 new homes on the South and West sides was awarded a $10 million grant on Tuesday from the Pritzker Traubert Foundation.
Reclaiming Chicago awarded $10 million to build more affordable homes on South and West sides
chicago.suntimes.com
December 16, 2025 at 4:49 PM
A community-led campaign to build 2,000 new homes on the South and West sides was awarded a $10 million grant on Tuesday from the Pritzker Traubert Foundation.
Reposted by Violet Miller
Gregory Bovino, the U.S. Border Patrol official who has led the Trump administration’s deportation efforts, returned to the Chicago area Tuesday morning in the city’s Southwest Side and western suburbs.
Bovino’s back: Border Patrol chief leads agents in fresh round of raids throughout Chicago area
chicago.suntimes.com
December 16, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Gregory Bovino, the U.S. Border Patrol official who has led the Trump administration’s deportation efforts, returned to the Chicago area Tuesday morning in the city’s Southwest Side and western suburbs.
Reposted by Violet Miller
Scoop: Activists fighting to shut down operating wind energy facilities have now filed a lawsuit to force the government to heavily scrutinize eagle deaths from three projects in Wyoming.
How? Through public records requests. Targeting wind farms via FOIA reviews. #greensky #energysky
How? Through public records requests. Targeting wind farms via FOIA reviews. #greensky #energysky
A Lawsuit Over Eagle Deaths Could Ensnare More Wind Farms
Activists are suing for records on three projects in Wyoming.
heatmap.news
December 12, 2025 at 3:16 PM
Scoop: Activists fighting to shut down operating wind energy facilities have now filed a lawsuit to force the government to heavily scrutinize eagle deaths from three projects in Wyoming.
How? Through public records requests. Targeting wind farms via FOIA reviews. #greensky #energysky
How? Through public records requests. Targeting wind farms via FOIA reviews. #greensky #energysky
Reposted by Violet Miller
The mother of Chicago police Officer Krystal Rivera filed a wrongful death lawsuit Wednesday in which she says her daughter’s partner Officer Carlos Baker was struggling to accept her decision to end their romantic relationship when he fatally shot her during a foot chase on June 5.
Family of Chicago cop killed in botched chase sues Chicago Police Department and partner who shot her
chicago.suntimes.com
December 11, 2025 at 1:56 AM
The mother of Chicago police Officer Krystal Rivera filed a wrongful death lawsuit Wednesday in which she says her daughter’s partner Officer Carlos Baker was struggling to accept her decision to end their romantic relationship when he fatally shot her during a foot chase on June 5.
Reposted by Violet Miller
PHOTOS: Feds deploy tear gas in Elgin as hourslong standoff ends in man's arrest
chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/...
chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/...
December 6, 2025 at 10:41 PM
PHOTOS: Feds deploy tear gas in Elgin as hourslong standoff ends in man's arrest
chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/...
chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/...
Reposted by Violet Miller
In Elgin, ICE agents have been in a standoff with the community as they’re trying to arrest a man. Here’s an altercation between the feds and residents ending with arrest and pepper spray. Video from Sophia Peterson
December 6, 2025 at 9:10 PM
In Elgin, ICE agents have been in a standoff with the community as they’re trying to arrest a man. Here’s an altercation between the feds and residents ending with arrest and pepper spray. Video from Sophia Peterson
Reposted by Violet Miller
According to survey data from the DOJ itself, incarcerated trans Americans experience sexual violence at more than 12x the rate of other incarcerated people.
The plans outlined in the memo effectively greenlight discrimination against LGBTQIA+ people who are already disproportionately at risk.
The plans outlined in the memo effectively greenlight discrimination against LGBTQIA+ people who are already disproportionately at risk.
December 4, 2025 at 11:30 PM
According to survey data from the DOJ itself, incarcerated trans Americans experience sexual violence at more than 12x the rate of other incarcerated people.
The plans outlined in the memo effectively greenlight discrimination against LGBTQIA+ people who are already disproportionately at risk.
The plans outlined in the memo effectively greenlight discrimination against LGBTQIA+ people who are already disproportionately at risk.
Reposted by Violet Miller
BREAKING: Trump administration plans to end prison rape protections for trans & intersex people, memo says. A DOJ memo says certain standards under the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) do not align with Trump’s Jan. 20 anti-trans executive order, @byadamrhodes.bsky.social reports.
Trump administration plans to end prison rape protections for trans and intersex people
A Department of Justice memo says certain standards under the Prison Rape Elimination Act do not align with Trump’s executive order
prismreports.org
December 4, 2025 at 11:30 PM
BREAKING: Trump administration plans to end prison rape protections for trans & intersex people, memo says. A DOJ memo says certain standards under the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) do not align with Trump’s Jan. 20 anti-trans executive order, @byadamrhodes.bsky.social reports.
Reposted by Violet Miller
Apply now for Windy City Times’ 2nd annual community journalism cohort
Windy City Times is accepting applications for the second year of its paid community journalism course for anyone interested in storytelling for marginalized communities. Our Stories, Our Power is a 6-week course on telling…
Windy City Times is accepting applications for the second year of its paid community journalism course for anyone interested in storytelling for marginalized communities. Our Stories, Our Power is a 6-week course on telling…
Apply now for Windy City Times’ 2nd annual community journalism cohort
Windy City Times is accepting applications for the second year of its paid community journalism course for anyone interested in storytelling for marginalized communities. Our Stories, Our Power is a 6-week course on telling stories that are for us, by us. Applications are open now with a deadline of 5 p.m. Friday, Jan. 2. This program is open to anyone interested in telling local news stories serving their communities.
windycitytimes.com
December 5, 2025 at 1:50 PM
Apply now for Windy City Times’ 2nd annual community journalism cohort
Windy City Times is accepting applications for the second year of its paid community journalism course for anyone interested in storytelling for marginalized communities. Our Stories, Our Power is a 6-week course on telling…
Windy City Times is accepting applications for the second year of its paid community journalism course for anyone interested in storytelling for marginalized communities. Our Stories, Our Power is a 6-week course on telling…