Ximena Bustillo
@ximenabustillo.bsky.social
🎧NPR Politics Reporter covering DHS & Immigration policy in the beltway + beyond. Still some rural y ag 🖊️
📲Signal/Cell: 240.935.0166
💃🏻Co-Founder of Voces Internship of Idaho.
📸IG: @ximena.bustillo
📲Signal/Cell: 240.935.0166
💃🏻Co-Founder of Voces Internship of Idaho.
📸IG: @ximena.bustillo
Pinned
Hi, I'm Ximena, NPR's reporter covering the Homeland Security Dept+immigration policy. Send me tips securely via encrypted messaging on Signal, where my username is ximenabustillo.77. We're committed to protecting your identity, & will keep you anonymous if you fear retribution. Thank you in advance
SCOOP: @repdangoldman.bsky.social received a letter from DHS Secretary Kristi Noem outlining an investigation into an ICE officer put on leave after pushing a woman to the ground.
But the letter raises questions about how DHS investigates employee misconduct. www.npr.org/2025/12/24/n...
But the letter raises questions about how DHS investigates employee misconduct. www.npr.org/2025/12/24/n...
ICE officer accused of excessive force, then sent back to work despite active probe
DHS's handling of the incident raises questions about the department's oversight mechanisms to investigate employee misconduct.
www.npr.org
December 24, 2025 at 1:06 PM
SCOOP: @repdangoldman.bsky.social received a letter from DHS Secretary Kristi Noem outlining an investigation into an ICE officer put on leave after pushing a woman to the ground.
But the letter raises questions about how DHS investigates employee misconduct. www.npr.org/2025/12/24/n...
But the letter raises questions about how DHS investigates employee misconduct. www.npr.org/2025/12/24/n...
The number of people not showing up to court + being ordered deported skyrocketed, according to our early analysis of the data. Lawyers cite a few reasons: fear of being detained, DOJ sending notices to wrong places, other hiccups in delivery.
My latest: www.npr.org/2025/12/22/n...
My latest: www.npr.org/2025/12/22/n...
NPR analysis shows skyrocketing number of 'no-shows' in immigration court
More immigrants are not showing up for their mandatory immigration court hearings compared to prior years, an NPR analysis shows, allowing the government to order their immediate deportation.
www.npr.org
December 22, 2025 at 2:39 PM
The number of people not showing up to court + being ordered deported skyrocketed, according to our early analysis of the data. Lawyers cite a few reasons: fear of being detained, DOJ sending notices to wrong places, other hiccups in delivery.
My latest: www.npr.org/2025/12/22/n...
My latest: www.npr.org/2025/12/22/n...
This year, the Trump admin has taken an axe to USCIS, the agency where people go to seek things like green cards, as they look to reduce legal migration.
It's rocking the agency from the inside, crushing morale and prompting resignations.
My latest: www.npr.org/2025/12/10/n...
It's rocking the agency from the inside, crushing morale and prompting resignations.
My latest: www.npr.org/2025/12/10/n...
How Trump is remaking one agency to aid his deportation push
The Trump administration's changes to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services are taking an axe to the agency's traditional mission of ensuring people lawfully immigrate and stay in the U.S.
www.npr.org
December 10, 2025 at 1:48 PM
This year, the Trump admin has taken an axe to USCIS, the agency where people go to seek things like green cards, as they look to reduce legal migration.
It's rocking the agency from the inside, crushing morale and prompting resignations.
My latest: www.npr.org/2025/12/10/n...
It's rocking the agency from the inside, crushing morale and prompting resignations.
My latest: www.npr.org/2025/12/10/n...
Reposted by Ximena Bustillo
The legislation comes after the White House authorized up to 600 military lawyers to be temporary immigration judges and scrapped requirements for them to have immigration law experience.
Democrats seek limits on who can serve as immigration judges amid mass layoffs
The legislation comes after the White House authorized up to 600 military lawyers to be temporary immigration judges and scrapped requirements for them to have immigration law experience.
n.pr
December 3, 2025 at 4:18 PM
The legislation comes after the White House authorized up to 600 military lawyers to be temporary immigration judges and scrapped requirements for them to have immigration law experience.
Reposted by Ximena Bustillo
I talked to @ximenabustillo.bsky.social about the firing of immigration judges
I noted that the way the Trump administration is approaching the immigration courts reflects a really high prioritization of immigration enforcement & its whole of govt. approach to increasing deportations
I noted that the way the Trump administration is approaching the immigration courts reflects a really high prioritization of immigration enforcement & its whole of govt. approach to increasing deportations
Immigration judges with prior immigrant defense work make up the largest share of those fired by the Trump admin. NPR identified 70 fired immigration judges. The changes have at least shifted perception of fairness in these courts
My latest investigation: www.npr.org/2025/11/06/g...
My latest investigation: www.npr.org/2025/11/06/g...
The DOJ has been firing judges with immigrant defense backgrounds
NPR's data analysis shows that the DOJ has tended to fire judges with immigrant defense backgrounds in its recent rounds of dismissals.
www.npr.org
November 6, 2025 at 3:13 PM
I talked to @ximenabustillo.bsky.social about the firing of immigration judges
I noted that the way the Trump administration is approaching the immigration courts reflects a really high prioritization of immigration enforcement & its whole of govt. approach to increasing deportations
I noted that the way the Trump administration is approaching the immigration courts reflects a really high prioritization of immigration enforcement & its whole of govt. approach to increasing deportations
Immigration judges with prior immigrant defense work make up the largest share of those fired by the Trump admin. NPR identified 70 fired immigration judges. The changes have at least shifted perception of fairness in these courts
My latest investigation: www.npr.org/2025/11/06/g...
My latest investigation: www.npr.org/2025/11/06/g...
The DOJ has been firing judges with immigrant defense backgrounds
NPR's data analysis shows that the DOJ has tended to fire judges with immigrant defense backgrounds in its recent rounds of dismissals.
www.npr.org
November 6, 2025 at 1:53 PM
Immigration judges with prior immigrant defense work make up the largest share of those fired by the Trump admin. NPR identified 70 fired immigration judges. The changes have at least shifted perception of fairness in these courts
My latest investigation: www.npr.org/2025/11/06/g...
My latest investigation: www.npr.org/2025/11/06/g...
After over 125 immigration judges have been fired or quit, DOJ has brought on 36 to the bench -- including 25 military lawyers.
Their backgrounds (at least what DOJ has promoted) shows a priority for those with prior DHS experience.
My latest:
www.npr.org/2025/10/24/g...
Their backgrounds (at least what DOJ has promoted) shows a priority for those with prior DHS experience.
My latest:
www.npr.org/2025/10/24/g...
DOJ hires immigration judges after months of layoffs
Judges will soon take the bench across 16 states, the Justice Department said. These include courts that saw the biggest losses of judges this year.
www.npr.org
October 24, 2025 at 11:14 PM
After over 125 immigration judges have been fired or quit, DOJ has brought on 36 to the bench -- including 25 military lawyers.
Their backgrounds (at least what DOJ has promoted) shows a priority for those with prior DHS experience.
My latest:
www.npr.org/2025/10/24/g...
Their backgrounds (at least what DOJ has promoted) shows a priority for those with prior DHS experience.
My latest:
www.npr.org/2025/10/24/g...
ICE has reached the highest death count since the early 2000s. Former employees cite:
-There are way more people detained
-ICE is making more arrests in communities, which means health histories are less known
-years-long struggle to recruit medical pros
www.npr.org/2025/10/23/n...
-There are way more people detained
-ICE is making more arrests in communities, which means health histories are less known
-years-long struggle to recruit medical pros
www.npr.org/2025/10/23/n...
It's the deadliest year for ICE in decades. As detentions rise, the trend may continue
There have been at least 20 deaths in ICE custody in 2025, the deadliest year since 2004. As the agency is ramping up hiring and increasing detentions, concerns remain about how to stop the trend.
www.npr.org
October 23, 2025 at 3:11 PM
ICE has reached the highest death count since the early 2000s. Former employees cite:
-There are way more people detained
-ICE is making more arrests in communities, which means health histories are less known
-years-long struggle to recruit medical pros
www.npr.org/2025/10/23/n...
-There are way more people detained
-ICE is making more arrests in communities, which means health histories are less known
-years-long struggle to recruit medical pros
www.npr.org/2025/10/23/n...
Each immigration case is full of legal complexities. Take Roman Surovtsev, a Texas father who ICE tried & failed to deport 10 years ago.
His case shows the breadth of the admins efforts for deportations & what can happen when people push for legal relief.
My latest:
www.npr.org/2025/10/19/g...
His case shows the breadth of the admins efforts for deportations & what can happen when people push for legal relief.
My latest:
www.npr.org/2025/10/19/g...
ICE tried to send one immigrant to a country he never lived in. Then he lawyered up.
Roman Surovtsev is like many others who were detained at their regularly scheduled ICE check-ins. What makes his case different is that his wife has marshalled a team of lawyers on his behalf.
www.npr.org
October 19, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Each immigration case is full of legal complexities. Take Roman Surovtsev, a Texas father who ICE tried & failed to deport 10 years ago.
His case shows the breadth of the admins efforts for deportations & what can happen when people push for legal relief.
My latest:
www.npr.org/2025/10/19/g...
His case shows the breadth of the admins efforts for deportations & what can happen when people push for legal relief.
My latest:
www.npr.org/2025/10/19/g...
Reposted by Ximena Bustillo
After layoffs, it's unclear how many people are policing civil rights violations inside the Department of Homeland Security, even as the Trump administration ramps up ICE detention.
Civil rights jobs have been cut. Those ex-workers warn of ICE detention violations
After layoffs, it's unclear how many people are policing civil rights violations inside the Department of Homeland Security, even as the Trump administration ramps up ICE detention.
n.pr
October 6, 2025 at 9:58 PM
After layoffs, it's unclear how many people are policing civil rights violations inside the Department of Homeland Security, even as the Trump administration ramps up ICE detention.
DACA recipients are being caught up in immigration arrests. In interviews with Republican lawmakers who previously supported pathways to legal status for DACA recipients, nearly every lawmaker was clear: Trump needs to be the one to start talks.
My latest:
www.npr.org/2025/09/28/n...
My latest:
www.npr.org/2025/09/28/n...
DACA has bipartisan support in Congress. Still, Republicans are following Trump's lead
President Trump failed to revoke DACA in his first term and his focus on immigration this time has mostly ignored the policy. Still, Republican lawmakers are deferring to the president on the issue.
www.npr.org
September 28, 2025 at 3:16 PM
DACA recipients are being caught up in immigration arrests. In interviews with Republican lawmakers who previously supported pathways to legal status for DACA recipients, nearly every lawmaker was clear: Trump needs to be the one to start talks.
My latest:
www.npr.org/2025/09/28/n...
My latest:
www.npr.org/2025/09/28/n...
Reposted by Ximena Bustillo
NPR @ximenabustillo.bsky.social says the same ICE officer on leave after this viral video of him shoving an Ecuadorian woman in NYC is the one she recorded violently arresting a court observer and cursing at her last month www.npr.org/2025/09/26/n...
September 26, 2025 at 7:41 PM
NPR @ximenabustillo.bsky.social says the same ICE officer on leave after this viral video of him shoving an Ecuadorian woman in NYC is the one she recorded violently arresting a court observer and cursing at her last month www.npr.org/2025/09/26/n...
🚨NEW-ICE officer caught on video pushing a woman in a NYC immigration court is the same ICE officer NPR reported last month aggressively arrested a court observer.
He was placed on admin leave after this latest incident. Watch the video, hear the audio: www.npr.org/2025/09/26/n...
He was placed on admin leave after this latest incident. Watch the video, hear the audio: www.npr.org/2025/09/26/n...
ICE officer caught on video pushing woman is placed on leave
The man appears to be the same officer who was caught last month on NPR audio aggressively arresting a court observer.
www.npr.org
September 26, 2025 at 6:58 PM
🚨NEW-ICE officer caught on video pushing a woman in a NYC immigration court is the same ICE officer NPR reported last month aggressively arrested a court observer.
He was placed on admin leave after this latest incident. Watch the video, hear the audio: www.npr.org/2025/09/26/n...
He was placed on admin leave after this latest incident. Watch the video, hear the audio: www.npr.org/2025/09/26/n...
SCOOP: About 20 immigration judges have been fired this month, adding to the 80 dismissed by President Trump earlier this year.
NPR has been in front of this story and the people impacted on all sides -- do you work for EOIR? LMK. www.npr.org/2025/09/23/n...
NPR has been in front of this story and the people impacted on all sides -- do you work for EOIR? LMK. www.npr.org/2025/09/23/n...
Trump administration fires more immigration judges
Nearly 20 immigration judges received emails this month informing them that they are being let go, NPR has learned, the largest single month of firings since the process began in February.
www.npr.org
September 23, 2025 at 2:22 PM
SCOOP: About 20 immigration judges have been fired this month, adding to the 80 dismissed by President Trump earlier this year.
NPR has been in front of this story and the people impacted on all sides -- do you work for EOIR? LMK. www.npr.org/2025/09/23/n...
NPR has been in front of this story and the people impacted on all sides -- do you work for EOIR? LMK. www.npr.org/2025/09/23/n...
Scooplet: Senators are continuing to probe DHS on the death count in detention centers. As DHS ramps up detention capacity and arrests there are concerns over a lack of oversight to these facilities.
www.npr.org/2025/09/23/n...
www.npr.org/2025/09/23/n...
Georgia senators demand answers on more than a dozen deaths in immigration detention
Sens. Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock are asking Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem for answers after more than a dozen people died in immigration detention, as the department rushes to expand.
www.npr.org
September 23, 2025 at 11:30 AM
Scooplet: Senators are continuing to probe DHS on the death count in detention centers. As DHS ramps up detention capacity and arrests there are concerns over a lack of oversight to these facilities.
www.npr.org/2025/09/23/n...
www.npr.org/2025/09/23/n...
Reposted by Ximena Bustillo
One of the GSA employees said ICE has urgently requested the agency find around 300 fully furnished properties with private office space to lease by this winter.
Story from @jennamclaughlin.bsky.social @ximenabustillo.bsky.social + me
Story from @jennamclaughlin.bsky.social @ximenabustillo.bsky.social + me
Trump administration rushes to rent space for immigration officers conducting raids
Employees at the General Services Administration are scrambling to lease offices to accommodate a rapid increase of immigration enforcement officers carrying out widespread raids across the country.
www.npr.org
September 18, 2025 at 8:35 PM
One of the GSA employees said ICE has urgently requested the agency find around 300 fully furnished properties with private office space to lease by this winter.
Story from @jennamclaughlin.bsky.social @ximenabustillo.bsky.social + me
Story from @jennamclaughlin.bsky.social @ximenabustillo.bsky.social + me
Reposted by Ximena Bustillo
NEW ON @npr.org: Employees at the General Services Administration are scrambling to lease hundreds of offices in an “ICE surge” effort to accommodate a rapid increase of immigration enforcement officers carrying out widespread raids across the country.
Trump administration rushes to rent space for immigration officers conducting raids
Employees at the General Services Administration are scrambling to lease offices to accommodate a rapid increase of immigration enforcement officers carrying out widespread raids across the country.
www.npr.org
September 18, 2025 at 8:30 PM
NEW ON @npr.org: Employees at the General Services Administration are scrambling to lease hundreds of offices in an “ICE surge” effort to accommodate a rapid increase of immigration enforcement officers carrying out widespread raids across the country.
NEW: ICE is asking the General Services Administration to find around 300 fully furnished properties with private office space to lease by winter. GSA has created an “ICE Surge” team in response but grasping to manage the demand after staff losses.
www.npr.org/2025/09/18/g...
www.npr.org/2025/09/18/g...
Trump administration rushes to rent space for immigration officers conducting raids
Employees at the General Services Administration are scrambling to lease offices to accommodate a rapid increase of immigration enforcement officers carrying out widespread raids across the country.
www.npr.org
September 18, 2025 at 8:38 PM
NEW: ICE is asking the General Services Administration to find around 300 fully furnished properties with private office space to lease by winter. GSA has created an “ICE Surge” team in response but grasping to manage the demand after staff losses.
www.npr.org/2025/09/18/g...
www.npr.org/2025/09/18/g...
Reposted by Ximena Bustillo
NEW with @ximenabustillo.bsky.social and @stphnfwlr.com:
The Trump administration is rushing to rent space for immigration officers conducting raids nationwide:
www.npr.org/2025/09/18/g...
The Trump administration is rushing to rent space for immigration officers conducting raids nationwide:
www.npr.org/2025/09/18/g...
Trump administration rushes to rent space for immigration officers conducting raids
Employees at the General Services Administration are scrambling to lease offices to accommodate a rapid increase of immigration enforcement officers carrying out widespread raids across the country.
www.npr.org
September 18, 2025 at 8:33 PM
NEW with @ximenabustillo.bsky.social and @stphnfwlr.com:
The Trump administration is rushing to rent space for immigration officers conducting raids nationwide:
www.npr.org/2025/09/18/g...
The Trump administration is rushing to rent space for immigration officers conducting raids nationwide:
www.npr.org/2025/09/18/g...
Reposted by Ximena Bustillo
The Chelmsford, Mass., court has hemorrhaged judges, a consequence of the Trump administration's seemingly contradictory efforts to downsize the federal government and increase immigration arrests.
Inside one of the most understaffed immigration courts in the country
The Chelmsford, Mass., court has hemorrhaged judges, a consequence of the Trump administration's seemingly contradictory efforts to downsize the federal government and increase immigration arrests.
n.pr
August 13, 2025 at 2:07 PM
The Chelmsford, Mass., court has hemorrhaged judges, a consequence of the Trump administration's seemingly contradictory efforts to downsize the federal government and increase immigration arrests.
In Feb. the first round of immigration judges was laid off. Union officials warned me — if the admin starts cutting judges as they finalize their two year probationary period — the Chelmsford Immigration Court could be in big trouble.
My latest: www.npr.org/2025/08/13/n...
My latest: www.npr.org/2025/08/13/n...
Inside one of the most understaffed immigration courts in the country
The Chelmsford, Mass., court has hemorrhaged judges, a consequence of the Trump administration's seemingly contradictory efforts to downsize the federal government and increase immigration arrests.
www.npr.org
August 13, 2025 at 4:10 PM
In Feb. the first round of immigration judges was laid off. Union officials warned me — if the admin starts cutting judges as they finalize their two year probationary period — the Chelmsford Immigration Court could be in big trouble.
My latest: www.npr.org/2025/08/13/n...
My latest: www.npr.org/2025/08/13/n...
ICYMI: In the last few weeks, some people who applied for asylum via USCIS years ago got letters telling them to report to ICE to be sent back to USCIS for whats called a credible fear interview - a key step lawyers say now comes with risks.
My latest: www.npr.org/2025/08/10/n...
My latest: www.npr.org/2025/08/10/n...
Asylum-seekers thought they were following the rules. Now some are told to start over
NPR has learned that dozens of immigrants across the U.S. have received letters notifying them that their asylum cases have been dismissed because they have not yet received a screening interview.
www.npr.org
August 11, 2025 at 1:54 PM
ICYMI: In the last few weeks, some people who applied for asylum via USCIS years ago got letters telling them to report to ICE to be sent back to USCIS for whats called a credible fear interview - a key step lawyers say now comes with risks.
My latest: www.npr.org/2025/08/10/n...
My latest: www.npr.org/2025/08/10/n...
Reposted by Ximena Bustillo
NPR has learned that dozens of immigrants across the U.S. have received letters notifying them that their asylum cases have been dismissed because they have not yet received a screening interview.
Asylum-seekers thought they were following the rules. Now some are told to start over
NPR has learned that dozens of immigrants across the U.S. have received letters notifying them that their asylum cases have been dismissed because they have not yet received a screening interview.
n.pr
August 10, 2025 at 3:11 PM
NPR has learned that dozens of immigrants across the U.S. have received letters notifying them that their asylum cases have been dismissed because they have not yet received a screening interview.
Reposted by Ximena Bustillo
The Trump administration's overhaul of the U.S. asylum and refugee systems has taken a toll on people fleeing religious persecution, including many Christians.
Christian refugees caught in the crosshairs of U.S. immigration policy
The Trump administration's overhaul of the U.S. asylum and refugee systems has taken a toll on people fleeing religious persecution, including many Christians.
n.pr
July 31, 2025 at 11:46 AM
The Trump administration's overhaul of the U.S. asylum and refugee systems has taken a toll on people fleeing religious persecution, including many Christians.
Reposted by Ximena Bustillo
NEW: We’ve documented nearly 50 incidents of immigration officers shattering car windows to make arrests — a tactic experts say was rarely used before Trump took office.
ICE claims officers use a “minimum amount of force.”
You can judge for yourself.
By @nicolefoy.bsky.social @mckenziefunk.com
ICE claims officers use a “minimum amount of force.”
You can judge for yourself.
By @nicolefoy.bsky.social @mckenziefunk.com
Bloodied Faces, Sobbing Children: Immigration Officers Smash Car Windows to Speed Up Arrests
We’ve documented nearly 50 incidents of immigration officers shattering car windows to make arrests — a tactic experts say was rarely used before Trump took office. ICE claims its officers use a “mini...
projects.propublica.org
July 31, 2025 at 10:40 AM
NEW: We’ve documented nearly 50 incidents of immigration officers shattering car windows to make arrests — a tactic experts say was rarely used before Trump took office.
ICE claims officers use a “minimum amount of force.”
You can judge for yourself.
By @nicolefoy.bsky.social @mckenziefunk.com
ICE claims officers use a “minimum amount of force.”
You can judge for yourself.
By @nicolefoy.bsky.social @mckenziefunk.com