Sarah Pierce
@sarahpierce.bsky.social
Director of Social Policy at Third Way; Former USCIS, HSGAC, & Migration Policy Institute. Views are my own.
https://www.thirdway.org/about/staff/sarah-pierce
https://www.thirdway.org/about/staff/sarah-pierce
New data shows the Trump administration's attack on due process is working exactly as intended...
In FY25, in absentia removal orders (those handed down when a noncitizen fails to show up for immigration court) increased by 40% overall & by more than 160% for asylum applicants.
In FY25, in absentia removal orders (those handed down when a noncitizen fails to show up for immigration court) increased by 40% overall & by more than 160% for asylum applicants.
November 25, 2025 at 5:36 PM
New data shows the Trump administration's attack on due process is working exactly as intended...
In FY25, in absentia removal orders (those handed down when a noncitizen fails to show up for immigration court) increased by 40% overall & by more than 160% for asylum applicants.
In FY25, in absentia removal orders (those handed down when a noncitizen fails to show up for immigration court) increased by 40% overall & by more than 160% for asylum applicants.
The National Sheriff's Association pushback was biting:
"[T]his list has not only violated the core principles of trust, cooperation, and partnership with fellow law enforcement, but it also has the potential to strain the relationship between Sheriffs and the White House"
"[T]his list has not only violated the core principles of trust, cooperation, and partnership with fellow law enforcement, but it also has the potential to strain the relationship between Sheriffs and the White House"
November 10, 2025 at 4:50 PM
The National Sheriff's Association pushback was biting:
"[T]his list has not only violated the core principles of trust, cooperation, and partnership with fellow law enforcement, but it also has the potential to strain the relationship between Sheriffs and the White House"
"[T]his list has not only violated the core principles of trust, cooperation, and partnership with fellow law enforcement, but it also has the potential to strain the relationship between Sheriffs and the White House"
"In Albuquerque and elsewhere, ICE has attempted to recruit officers from local law enforcement, a desperate move local police chiefs rightly warn will compromise local public safety. Diverting local officers from investigating violent crimes... does nothing to make our streets safer."
November 6, 2025 at 1:45 PM
"In Albuquerque and elsewhere, ICE has attempted to recruit officers from local law enforcement, a desperate move local police chiefs rightly warn will compromise local public safety. Diverting local officers from investigating violent crimes... does nothing to make our streets safer."
“Sanctuary cities” aren’t lawless — they’re practical. Local police are balancing safety and resources while D.C. plays politics. NYT Magazine's latest backs up what I argued for @thirdway.bsky.social: sanctuary policies are about smart governance, not defiance.
October 17, 2025 at 2:53 PM
“Sanctuary cities” aren’t lawless — they’re practical. Local police are balancing safety and resources while D.C. plays politics. NYT Magazine's latest backs up what I argued for @thirdway.bsky.social: sanctuary policies are about smart governance, not defiance.
Human trafficking spikes at events like the Super Bowl. Yet this admin is deploying ICE to arrest “illegal aliens” in response to a halftime performance.
They’ve pulled officers who fight trafficking to instead do civil immigration enforcement—a perfect snapshot of their broken priorities.
They’ve pulled officers who fight trafficking to instead do civil immigration enforcement—a perfect snapshot of their broken priorities.
October 6, 2025 at 12:28 PM
Human trafficking spikes at events like the Super Bowl. Yet this admin is deploying ICE to arrest “illegal aliens” in response to a halftime performance.
They’ve pulled officers who fight trafficking to instead do civil immigration enforcement—a perfect snapshot of their broken priorities.
They’ve pulled officers who fight trafficking to instead do civil immigration enforcement—a perfect snapshot of their broken priorities.
So-called “sanctuaries” also:
• Comply with ICE transfer requests backed by judicial warrants
• Often allow ICE into jails for interviews
The Trump admin paints these jurisdictions as obstacles—but they’re already deeply embedded in enforcement systems.
• Comply with ICE transfer requests backed by judicial warrants
• Often allow ICE into jails for interviews
The Trump admin paints these jurisdictions as obstacles—but they’re already deeply embedded in enforcement systems.
September 30, 2025 at 6:43 PM
So-called “sanctuaries” also:
• Comply with ICE transfer requests backed by judicial warrants
• Often allow ICE into jails for interviews
The Trump admin paints these jurisdictions as obstacles—but they’re already deeply embedded in enforcement systems.
• Comply with ICE transfer requests backed by judicial warrants
• Often allow ICE into jails for interviews
The Trump admin paints these jurisdictions as obstacles—but they’re already deeply embedded in enforcement systems.
Excited to share my first piece with @thirdway.bsky.social: breaking down what “sanctuary” really means—and why the Trump admin’s narrative doesn’t match reality.
Spoiler: every jurisdiction in America helps ICE. Here’s the real story ⬇️
Spoiler: every jurisdiction in America helps ICE. Here’s the real story ⬇️
September 30, 2025 at 6:43 PM
Excited to share my first piece with @thirdway.bsky.social: breaking down what “sanctuary” really means—and why the Trump admin’s narrative doesn’t match reality.
Spoiler: every jurisdiction in America helps ICE. Here’s the real story ⬇️
Spoiler: every jurisdiction in America helps ICE. Here’s the real story ⬇️
One week from today! Come view a sneak peek of "Credible Fear", a forthcoming feature length documentary about the asylum system, & join a discussion with @yaelschacher.bsky.social & myself.
Date: Sept 24, 6pm
Location: Immigrant Food, Ballston
Tickets: www.eventbrite.com/e/credible-f...
Date: Sept 24, 6pm
Location: Immigrant Food, Ballston
Tickets: www.eventbrite.com/e/credible-f...
September 17, 2025 at 6:58 PM
One week from today! Come view a sneak peek of "Credible Fear", a forthcoming feature length documentary about the asylum system, & join a discussion with @yaelschacher.bsky.social & myself.
Date: Sept 24, 6pm
Location: Immigrant Food, Ballston
Tickets: www.eventbrite.com/e/credible-f...
Date: Sept 24, 6pm
Location: Immigrant Food, Ballston
Tickets: www.eventbrite.com/e/credible-f...
12 Senate Dems on Armed Services write strongly against use of military as immigration judges:
"the Trump administration views skilled personnel as pawns to be traded between agencies, rather than as professionals essential to their core missions, in order to advance misguided immigration policies"
"the Trump administration views skilled personnel as pawns to be traded between agencies, rather than as professionals essential to their core missions, in order to advance misguided immigration policies"
September 17, 2025 at 6:04 PM
12 Senate Dems on Armed Services write strongly against use of military as immigration judges:
"the Trump administration views skilled personnel as pawns to be traded between agencies, rather than as professionals essential to their core missions, in order to advance misguided immigration policies"
"the Trump administration views skilled personnel as pawns to be traded between agencies, rather than as professionals essential to their core missions, in order to advance misguided immigration policies"
"At DHS, Trump has ordered agents formerly dedicated to investigating and arresting human traffickers to focus on deporting immigrants."
This is not an administration that cares about public safety. This is an administration that cares about padding its deportation numbers.
This is not an administration that cares about public safety. This is an administration that cares about padding its deportation numbers.
September 17, 2025 at 3:54 PM
"At DHS, Trump has ordered agents formerly dedicated to investigating and arresting human traffickers to focus on deporting immigrants."
This is not an administration that cares about public safety. This is an administration that cares about padding its deportation numbers.
This is not an administration that cares about public safety. This is an administration that cares about padding its deportation numbers.
This new @thirdway.bsky.social memo is just as relevant for immigration.
"Dismissing voters’ legitimate concerns about crime & public safety will only confirm their suspicions that at best, you’re not serious about these issues, & at worst, your policy stances are making things worse"
"Dismissing voters’ legitimate concerns about crime & public safety will only confirm their suspicions that at best, you’re not serious about these issues, & at worst, your policy stances are making things worse"
September 17, 2025 at 3:52 PM
This new @thirdway.bsky.social memo is just as relevant for immigration.
"Dismissing voters’ legitimate concerns about crime & public safety will only confirm their suspicions that at best, you’re not serious about these issues, & at worst, your policy stances are making things worse"
"Dismissing voters’ legitimate concerns about crime & public safety will only confirm their suspicions that at best, you’re not serious about these issues, & at worst, your policy stances are making things worse"
“It’s a shame you have hard-working people who need labor, and a group of people who are willing to work, and they have to look over their shoulder like they’re criminals,” Porter said. “They’re not.”
www.politico.com/news/2025/09...
DOL research on the immigration status of farmworkers:
www.politico.com/news/2025/09...
DOL research on the immigration status of farmworkers:
September 16, 2025 at 3:06 PM
“It’s a shame you have hard-working people who need labor, and a group of people who are willing to work, and they have to look over their shoulder like they’re criminals,” Porter said. “They’re not.”
www.politico.com/news/2025/09...
DOL research on the immigration status of farmworkers:
www.politico.com/news/2025/09...
DOL research on the immigration status of farmworkers:
As helpful as streamlining & simplifying H-2As could be, a reform that allowed farmers to legally employ unauthorized immigrants that they have long worked with & trust, would be far more effective.
For decades, 40-55% of farmworkers have been unauthorized.
For decades, 40-55% of farmworkers have been unauthorized.
September 16, 2025 at 3:06 PM
As helpful as streamlining & simplifying H-2As could be, a reform that allowed farmers to legally employ unauthorized immigrants that they have long worked with & trust, would be far more effective.
For decades, 40-55% of farmworkers have been unauthorized.
For decades, 40-55% of farmworkers have been unauthorized.
Former ICE Director John Sandweg, expressing concern that the Trump administration is prioritizing padding their deportation numbers over public safety:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6NLy...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6NLy...
September 9, 2025 at 3:58 PM
Former ICE Director John Sandweg, expressing concern that the Trump administration is prioritizing padding their deportation numbers over public safety:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6NLy...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6NLy...
"I'm angry that society has a playbook for reacting to dead children-- but still can't answer the only question that matters: How do we stop it from happening again?" - Sam Hasler, Annunciation School parent
www.startribune.com/annunciation...
www.startribune.com/annunciation...
September 3, 2025 at 8:35 PM
"I'm angry that society has a playbook for reacting to dead children-- but still can't answer the only question that matters: How do we stop it from happening again?" - Sam Hasler, Annunciation School parent
www.startribune.com/annunciation...
www.startribune.com/annunciation...
Public opinion is shifting on immigration & (as long as Stephen Miller is in the White House) the Trump admin is not shifting with it.
Democrats need to define themselves on immigration with clarity & purpose. Dems can be the party of balanced solutions vs. Trump's rage & noise.
Democrats need to define themselves on immigration with clarity & purpose. Dems can be the party of balanced solutions vs. Trump's rage & noise.
August 28, 2025 at 12:23 PM
Public opinion is shifting on immigration & (as long as Stephen Miller is in the White House) the Trump admin is not shifting with it.
Democrats need to define themselves on immigration with clarity & purpose. Dems can be the party of balanced solutions vs. Trump's rage & noise.
Democrats need to define themselves on immigration with clarity & purpose. Dems can be the party of balanced solutions vs. Trump's rage & noise.
This is not normal.
Because of this administration's reckless pursuit of interior immigration enforcement & their own administrative error, this man became a political liability.
They're now showing how broad the president's authority is to terrorize his political foes.
Because of this administration's reckless pursuit of interior immigration enforcement & their own administrative error, this man became a political liability.
They're now showing how broad the president's authority is to terrorize his political foes.
August 26, 2025 at 11:56 AM
This is not normal.
Because of this administration's reckless pursuit of interior immigration enforcement & their own administrative error, this man became a political liability.
They're now showing how broad the president's authority is to terrorize his political foes.
Because of this administration's reckless pursuit of interior immigration enforcement & their own administrative error, this man became a political liability.
They're now showing how broad the president's authority is to terrorize his political foes.
And in January, Rep @robertgarcia.bsky.social reintroduced the ICE Security Reform Act to split HSI from ICE & increase oversight. congress.gov/bill/119th-c...
Shockingly, neither of these actions were joined by other lawmakers.
Shockingly, neither of these actions were joined by other lawmakers.
August 19, 2025 at 1:08 PM
And in January, Rep @robertgarcia.bsky.social reintroduced the ICE Security Reform Act to split HSI from ICE & increase oversight. congress.gov/bill/119th-c...
Shockingly, neither of these actions were joined by other lawmakers.
Shockingly, neither of these actions were joined by other lawmakers.
Lawmakers must sound the alarm.
In July, Sen. @wyden.senate.gov asked DHS’s IG to investigate whether child exploitation cases are being abandoned for immigration raids. wyden.senate.gov/imo/media/do...
In July, Sen. @wyden.senate.gov asked DHS’s IG to investigate whether child exploitation cases are being abandoned for immigration raids. wyden.senate.gov/imo/media/do...
August 19, 2025 at 1:08 PM
Lawmakers must sound the alarm.
In July, Sen. @wyden.senate.gov asked DHS’s IG to investigate whether child exploitation cases are being abandoned for immigration raids. wyden.senate.gov/imo/media/do...
In July, Sen. @wyden.senate.gov asked DHS’s IG to investigate whether child exploitation cases are being abandoned for immigration raids. wyden.senate.gov/imo/media/do...
We don’t have official numbers (the Trump admin hasn’t released them), but photo after photo shows HSI doing street patrols, immigration raids, & bike roundups (!?)—far from its original mission.
📷by @Nat_Dowzicky (x)
📷by @Nat_Dowzicky (x)
August 19, 2025 at 1:08 PM
We don’t have official numbers (the Trump admin hasn’t released them), but photo after photo shows HSI doing street patrols, immigration raids, & bike roundups (!?)—far from its original mission.
📷by @Nat_Dowzicky (x)
📷by @Nat_Dowzicky (x)
HSI has also lost resources to immigration enforcement.
Tens of millions of HSI dollars have been reprogrammed to ERO. gao.gov/products/gao...
Even agents themselves have been diverted into routine immigration enforcement. nilc.org/articles/how...
Tens of millions of HSI dollars have been reprogrammed to ERO. gao.gov/products/gao...
Even agents themselves have been diverted into routine immigration enforcement. nilc.org/articles/how...
August 19, 2025 at 1:08 PM
HSI has also lost resources to immigration enforcement.
Tens of millions of HSI dollars have been reprogrammed to ERO. gao.gov/products/gao...
Even agents themselves have been diverted into routine immigration enforcement. nilc.org/articles/how...
Tens of millions of HSI dollars have been reprogrammed to ERO. gao.gov/products/gao...
Even agents themselves have been diverted into routine immigration enforcement. nilc.org/articles/how...
HSI was created in 2010 to run “ICE’s national security programs” and investigate crimes tied to illicit trade, travel, immigration & finance. washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/hp/ss...
August 19, 2025 at 1:08 PM
HSI was created in 2010 to run “ICE’s national security programs” and investigate crimes tied to illicit trade, travel, immigration & finance. washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/hp/ss...
Now that we're regularly seeing HSI agents popping up in routine immigration raids & even patrolling DC streets, it’s worth asking: what 𝑠ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑑 HSI be doing? Let’s reintroduce the agency & its vital public safety mission. 🧵
August 19, 2025 at 1:08 PM
Now that we're regularly seeing HSI agents popping up in routine immigration raids & even patrolling DC streets, it’s worth asking: what 𝑠ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑑 HSI be doing? Let’s reintroduce the agency & its vital public safety mission. 🧵
The changes to the listed states is interesting.
Added: Nevada & District of Colombia
Removed: Maryland, Massachusetts, & New Jersey
There is no explanation for the changes or the reduction, but unlike last time, there is at least include some indication of the criteria used.
Added: Nevada & District of Colombia
Removed: Maryland, Massachusetts, & New Jersey
There is no explanation for the changes or the reduction, but unlike last time, there is at least include some indication of the criteria used.
August 6, 2025 at 1:07 PM
The changes to the listed states is interesting.
Added: Nevada & District of Colombia
Removed: Maryland, Massachusetts, & New Jersey
There is no explanation for the changes or the reduction, but unlike last time, there is at least include some indication of the criteria used.
Added: Nevada & District of Colombia
Removed: Maryland, Massachusetts, & New Jersey
There is no explanation for the changes or the reduction, but unlike last time, there is at least include some indication of the criteria used.
Wow, after their initial sanctuary jurisdiction list drew widespread criticism & was pulled down within days, the admin has published ANOTHER sanctuary jurisdiction list.
First list by DHS: 14 states, 415 counties & 227 cities
New list by DOJ: 13 states, 4 counties & 18 cities
First list by DHS: 14 states, 415 counties & 227 cities
New list by DOJ: 13 states, 4 counties & 18 cities
August 6, 2025 at 1:07 PM
Wow, after their initial sanctuary jurisdiction list drew widespread criticism & was pulled down within days, the admin has published ANOTHER sanctuary jurisdiction list.
First list by DHS: 14 states, 415 counties & 227 cities
New list by DOJ: 13 states, 4 counties & 18 cities
First list by DHS: 14 states, 415 counties & 227 cities
New list by DOJ: 13 states, 4 counties & 18 cities