Adam Isacson
@adamisacson.com
He/Him. I work on security, borders, and migration at the Washington Office on Latin America (my views, not necessarily theirs). I'm also at wola.org, adamisacson.com, borderoversight.org, Mastodon elefanti.co/@adam
"Impede caravans" sounds way more festive than they intend.
Something with a name like that would probably involve a lot of jam band music. "I got this hemp necklace from a merch table at the impede caravan."
Something with a name like that would probably involve a lot of jam band music. "I got this hemp necklace from a merch table at the impede caravan."
November 8, 2025 at 1:47 PM
"Impede caravans" sounds way more festive than they intend.
Something with a name like that would probably involve a lot of jam band music. "I got this hemp necklace from a merch table at the impede caravan."
Something with a name like that would probably involve a lot of jam band music. "I got this hemp necklace from a merch table at the impede caravan."
Border Patrol's apprehensions of migrants leveled off in October, after 2 months of sharp increases.
We may be returning to a seasonal pattern: up in spring and fall. Asylum seekers, who don't intend to be outdoors evading agents, are less seasonal… but there's no asylum to be had now.
We may be returning to a seasonal pattern: up in spring and fall. Asylum seekers, who don't intend to be outdoors evading agents, are less seasonal… but there's no asylum to be had now.
November 7, 2025 at 3:35 PM
Border Patrol's apprehensions of migrants leveled off in October, after 2 months of sharp increases.
We may be returning to a seasonal pattern: up in spring and fall. Asylum seekers, who don't intend to be outdoors evading agents, are less seasonal… but there's no asylum to be had now.
We may be returning to a seasonal pattern: up in spring and fall. Asylum seekers, who don't intend to be outdoors evading agents, are less seasonal… but there's no asylum to be had now.
The average age of people deported to Guatemala increased 3.3 years from 2024 to 2025, and 7.3 years from 2021 to 2025.
Most likely, rather than recent border arrivals, many more people aboard the ICE planes had been living in the US for a significant portion of their lives.
Most likely, rather than recent border arrivals, many more people aboard the ICE planes had been living in the US for a significant portion of their lives.
November 7, 2025 at 3:35 PM
The average age of people deported to Guatemala increased 3.3 years from 2024 to 2025, and 7.3 years from 2021 to 2025.
Most likely, rather than recent border arrivals, many more people aboard the ICE planes had been living in the US for a significant portion of their lives.
Most likely, rather than recent border arrivals, many more people aboard the ICE planes had been living in the US for a significant portion of their lives.
2025 marijuana seizures equaled what CBP, in 2018, would seize in just 20 days. 91% of marijuana is seized at the border in Texas—the only border state where you can't just buy it in a store without a prescription. (Who is smuggling it into the other 3 states? 🤷🏼♂️)
November 7, 2025 at 3:35 PM
2025 marijuana seizures equaled what CBP, in 2018, would seize in just 20 days. 91% of marijuana is seized at the border in Texas—the only border state where you can't just buy it in a store without a prescription. (Who is smuggling it into the other 3 states? 🤷🏼♂️)
Fentanyl seizures at the border dropped 46%. California and Arizona continue to account for 96% of all seizures. Ports of entry are where 86% of seizures happen.
November 7, 2025 at 3:35 PM
Fentanyl seizures at the border dropped 46%. California and Arizona continue to account for 96% of all seizures. Ports of entry are where 86% of seizures happen.
Wow, this leak to CNN very likely means no attacks inside Venezuela for now.
www.cnn.com/2025/11/06/p...
www.cnn.com/2025/11/06/p...
November 7, 2025 at 11:53 AM
Wow, this leak to CNN very likely means no attacks inside Venezuela for now.
www.cnn.com/2025/11/06/p...
www.cnn.com/2025/11/06/p...
Like dozens of judges (including Trump appointees) who’ve had to spell out what their rulings mean, a resolution before the Senate today spells out, in the case of Venezuela, what “Congress’s power to declare war” means.
This should pass easily—if Congress still cares about being a coequal branch.
This should pass easily—if Congress still cares about being a coequal branch.
November 6, 2025 at 12:01 PM
Like dozens of judges (including Trump appointees) who’ve had to spell out what their rulings mean, a resolution before the Senate today spells out, in the case of Venezuela, what “Congress’s power to declare war” means.
This should pass easily—if Congress still cares about being a coequal branch.
This should pass easily—if Congress still cares about being a coequal branch.
Not true obviously, but you save more lives when you stop a vessel and arrest those aboard, alive, if they're actually trafficking drugs.
Instead of drowned bodies, you get useful intel about their criminal structures, their support networks, their finances, and future vessels.
Instead of drowned bodies, you get useful intel about their criminal structures, their support networks, their finances, and future vessels.
November 6, 2025 at 11:47 AM
Not true obviously, but you save more lives when you stop a vessel and arrest those aboard, alive, if they're actually trafficking drugs.
Instead of drowned bodies, you get useful intel about their criminal structures, their support networks, their finances, and future vessels.
Instead of drowned bodies, you get useful intel about their criminal structures, their support networks, their finances, and future vessels.
The resolution going before the Senate tomorrow makes a simple demand: no U.S. hostilities in Venezuela unless Congress—which has the power to declare war—approves. This should be uncontroversial, regardless of party.
November 6, 2025 at 12:34 AM
The resolution going before the Senate tomorrow makes a simple demand: no U.S. hostilities in Venezuela unless Congress—which has the power to declare war—approves. This should be uncontroversial, regardless of party.
WOLA's updated fact sheet is here: www.wola.org/analysis/fac...
November 5, 2025 at 11:43 PM
WOLA's updated fact sheet is here: www.wola.org/analysis/fac...
"Border Report" says Border Patrol apprehended people 7,990 times at the U.S.-Mexico border in October: www.borderreport.com/immigration/...
If so, then increases since the summer have leveled off amid the continued unavailability of asylum at the border and climate of fear in the US interior.
If so, then increases since the summer have leveled off amid the continued unavailability of asylum at the border and climate of fear in the US interior.
November 5, 2025 at 10:51 PM
"Border Report" says Border Patrol apprehended people 7,990 times at the U.S.-Mexico border in October: www.borderreport.com/immigration/...
If so, then increases since the summer have leveled off amid the continued unavailability of asylum at the border and climate of fear in the US interior.
If so, then increases since the summer have leveled off amid the continued unavailability of asylum at the border and climate of fear in the US interior.
Here's the fake ID I use to get into Safeway.
November 5, 2025 at 1:53 PM
Here's the fake ID I use to get into Safeway.
7 of the last 9 illegal boat strikes, spanning 15 days, have happened in the eastern Pacific. Not the Caribbean, far from Venezuela.
(Hurricane Melissa may have been a factor, but who knows.)
(Hurricane Melissa may have been a factor, but who knows.)
November 5, 2025 at 12:44 PM
7 of the last 9 illegal boat strikes, spanning 15 days, have happened in the eastern Pacific. Not the Caribbean, far from Venezuela.
(Hurricane Melissa may have been a factor, but who knows.)
(Hurricane Melissa may have been a factor, but who knows.)
The NJ race was supposed to be close but Sherrill may end up with a margin similar to Spanberger's.
November 5, 2025 at 2:11 AM
The NJ race was supposed to be close but Sherrill may end up with a margin similar to Spanberger's.
Loudon County VA voted D+19 in 2017, D+11 in '21, D+16 in '24.
Now, D+28—a 12-point swing.
If you’re a Republican legislator who won your seat by <10 points, the President’s unpopularity clearly threatens your job.
Something to consider before the next vote on, say, “presidential war powers.”
Now, D+28—a 12-point swing.
If you’re a Republican legislator who won your seat by <10 points, the President’s unpopularity clearly threatens your job.
Something to consider before the next vote on, say, “presidential war powers.”
November 5, 2025 at 1:09 AM
Loudon County VA voted D+19 in 2017, D+11 in '21, D+16 in '24.
Now, D+28—a 12-point swing.
If you’re a Republican legislator who won your seat by <10 points, the President’s unpopularity clearly threatens your job.
Something to consider before the next vote on, say, “presidential war powers.”
Now, D+28—a 12-point swing.
If you’re a Republican legislator who won your seat by <10 points, the President’s unpopularity clearly threatens your job.
Something to consider before the next vote on, say, “presidential war powers.”
Judgment call. I looked it up beforehand and for the shorthand of a Bluesky post I'm ok with "suburb" because it's far from the urban core even if technically within the city limits (like upper northwest Washington or much of the north Bronx).
November 3, 2025 at 6:38 PM
Judgment call. I looked it up beforehand and for the shorthand of a Bluesky post I'm ok with "suburb" because it's far from the urban core even if technically within the city limits (like upper northwest Washington or much of the north Bronx).
The photos in this Chicago Tribune piece… It's a quiet middle-class inner suburb, but these guys look like they're in Fallujah circa 2006.
The uniforms indicate Border Patrol and its BORTAC "special operations" unit.
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/10/31/c...
The uniforms indicate Border Patrol and its BORTAC "special operations" unit.
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/10/31/c...
November 3, 2025 at 6:31 PM
The photos in this Chicago Tribune piece… It's a quiet middle-class inner suburb, but these guys look like they're in Fallujah circa 2006.
The uniforms indicate Border Patrol and its BORTAC "special operations" unit.
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/10/31/c...
The uniforms indicate Border Patrol and its BORTAC "special operations" unit.
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/10/31/c...
This is Wednesday: at WOLA and livestreamed. Don't miss it—here's the event/RSVP page: www.wola.org/events/uncha...
November 3, 2025 at 6:15 PM
This is Wednesday: at WOLA and livestreamed. Don't miss it—here's the event/RSVP page: www.wola.org/events/uncha...
- 1st month of strikes: 3 attacks, 17 deaths
- 2nd month of strikes: 12 attacks, 48 deaths
It is now 60 days since the first illegal boat strike in the waters of Latin America. That is an important date for the War Powers Resolution (see www.justsecurity.org/123717/war-p...).
- 2nd month of strikes: 12 attacks, 48 deaths
It is now 60 days since the first illegal boat strike in the waters of Latin America. That is an important date for the War Powers Resolution (see www.justsecurity.org/123717/war-p...).
November 2, 2025 at 2:52 PM
- 1st month of strikes: 3 attacks, 17 deaths
- 2nd month of strikes: 12 attacks, 48 deaths
It is now 60 days since the first illegal boat strike in the waters of Latin America. That is an important date for the War Powers Resolution (see www.justsecurity.org/123717/war-p...).
- 2nd month of strikes: 12 attacks, 48 deaths
It is now 60 days since the first illegal boat strike in the waters of Latin America. That is an important date for the War Powers Resolution (see www.justsecurity.org/123717/war-p...).
Point taken, but also it's the part where the song shifts from "dirge" to "awesome"
November 1, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Point taken, but also it's the part where the song shifts from "dirge" to "awesome"
Great to see the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights speaking so clearly about the United States' murderous boat strikes in the Western Hemisphere.
59 days after the first strike is hardly "rapid response," but it's way better than "never, because it's the USA."
www.ohchr.org/en/press-rel...
59 days after the first strike is hardly "rapid response," but it's way better than "never, because it's the USA."
www.ohchr.org/en/press-rel...
November 1, 2025 at 1:12 PM
Great to see the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights speaking so clearly about the United States' murderous boat strikes in the Western Hemisphere.
59 days after the first strike is hardly "rapid response," but it's way better than "never, because it's the USA."
www.ohchr.org/en/press-rel...
59 days after the first strike is hardly "rapid response," but it's way better than "never, because it's the USA."
www.ohchr.org/en/press-rel...
Remember this iconic 2018 photo of a Honduran mom and kids running from Border Patrol tear gas on the Mexican side of the border?
There was no accountability then, and it's happening in Chicago now.
There was no accountability then, and it's happening in Chicago now.
October 30, 2025 at 5:44 PM
Remember this iconic 2018 photo of a Honduran mom and kids running from Border Patrol tear gas on the Mexican side of the border?
There was no accountability then, and it's happening in Chicago now.
There was no accountability then, and it's happening in Chicago now.
This is what migration has looked like at the U.S.-Mexico border over the past 3 fiscal years (fiscal 2025 ended September 30).
This combines people apprehended by Border Patrol and people who came to ports of entry, usually with "CBP One" appointments when those existed.
This combines people apprehended by Border Patrol and people who came to ports of entry, usually with "CBP One" appointments when those existed.
October 30, 2025 at 11:20 AM
This is what migration has looked like at the U.S.-Mexico border over the past 3 fiscal years (fiscal 2025 ended September 30).
This combines people apprehended by Border Patrol and people who came to ports of entry, usually with "CBP One" appointments when those existed.
This combines people apprehended by Border Patrol and people who came to ports of entry, usually with "CBP One" appointments when those existed.
Remember when someone fearing death or persecution could make an appointment at a US border port of entry and begin their asylum process?
Flawed as it was, CBP One (RIP) protected many people. Now there's nothing.
Chart: borderoversight.org/2025/10/30/c...
Table: docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
Flawed as it was, CBP One (RIP) protected many people. Now there's nothing.
Chart: borderoversight.org/2025/10/30/c...
Table: docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
October 30, 2025 at 10:38 AM
Remember when someone fearing death or persecution could make an appointment at a US border port of entry and begin their asylum process?
Flawed as it was, CBP One (RIP) protected many people. Now there's nothing.
Chart: borderoversight.org/2025/10/30/c...
Table: docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
Flawed as it was, CBP One (RIP) protected many people. Now there's nothing.
Chart: borderoversight.org/2025/10/30/c...
Table: docs.google.com/spreadsheets...