Spencer Reynolds
@sreynolds.bsky.social
Senior Counsel, Liberty & National Security at the Brennan Center for Justice. Member, United Auto Workers.
Former intelligence & counterterrorism lawyer, US Department of Homeland Security. Views my own, rarely the government's.
>> Signal: sreynolds.16
Former intelligence & counterterrorism lawyer, US Department of Homeland Security. Views my own, rarely the government's.
>> Signal: sreynolds.16
According to a DHS press release, yesterday’s big show of force in downtown Manhattan resulted in… 9 arrests of immigrants by ICE.
October 22, 2025 at 4:12 PM
According to a DHS press release, yesterday’s big show of force in downtown Manhattan resulted in… 9 arrests of immigrants by ICE.
Ah, how we wish for the halcyon days of 2016…
October 8, 2025 at 1:30 AM
Ah, how we wish for the halcyon days of 2016…
All this is bolstered by sweeping, ongoing intelligence activities that even FPS at times admit have nothing to do with protecting federal property. Campaigns have included monitoring Occupy Wall Street, anti-vaccine trucker convoys, and campus protests. 9/
August 8, 2025 at 1:55 PM
All this is bolstered by sweeping, ongoing intelligence activities that even FPS at times admit have nothing to do with protecting federal property. Campaigns have included monitoring Occupy Wall Street, anti-vaccine trucker convoys, and campus protests. 9/
But as I explain, sanctuary laws are quite limited and simply allow cities to opt out of federal enforcement, not obstruct it: 5/
July 8, 2025 at 8:18 PM
But as I explain, sanctuary laws are quite limited and simply allow cities to opt out of federal enforcement, not obstruct it: 5/
The 10th Amendment reserves powers not granted to the federal government to the states and people.
Legal doctrine makes clear the U.S. government can’t coerce cities or states into enforcing federal law.
States can choose to, but can’t be made to do it. 2/
Legal doctrine makes clear the U.S. government can’t coerce cities or states into enforcing federal law.
States can choose to, but can’t be made to do it. 2/
July 8, 2025 at 8:18 PM
The 10th Amendment reserves powers not granted to the federal government to the states and people.
Legal doctrine makes clear the U.S. government can’t coerce cities or states into enforcing federal law.
States can choose to, but can’t be made to do it. 2/
Legal doctrine makes clear the U.S. government can’t coerce cities or states into enforcing federal law.
States can choose to, but can’t be made to do it. 2/
CoreCivic—private prison contractor and ICE detention operator—giving back to the community, and celebrating Juneteenth (comments disabled).
July 7, 2025 at 5:08 PM
CoreCivic—private prison contractor and ICE detention operator—giving back to the community, and celebrating Juneteenth (comments disabled).
Wild black cap raspberries 🌱
July 6, 2025 at 5:16 PM
Wild black cap raspberries 🌱
🌱 Sweet cherries in spring
May 10, 2025 at 7:11 PM
🌱 Sweet cherries in spring
Alarmingly, it also directs DOJ, the Defense Department, and DHS to put their resources on city streets to “prevent crime.”
History shows us this is a catastrophe waiting to happen… 15/
History shows us this is a catastrophe waiting to happen… 15/
May 1, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Alarmingly, it also directs DOJ, the Defense Department, and DHS to put their resources on city streets to “prevent crime.”
History shows us this is a catastrophe waiting to happen… 15/
History shows us this is a catastrophe waiting to happen… 15/
Moreover, the order gives DOJ and DHS an open-ended directive to “pursue all necessary legal remedies and enforcement measures” to bring sanctuary cities to heel.
Despite the legalistic language, this is guidance to flout the Tenth Amendment further. 13/
Despite the legalistic language, this is guidance to flout the Tenth Amendment further. 13/
May 1, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Moreover, the order gives DOJ and DHS an open-ended directive to “pursue all necessary legal remedies and enforcement measures” to bring sanctuary cities to heel.
Despite the legalistic language, this is guidance to flout the Tenth Amendment further. 13/
Despite the legalistic language, this is guidance to flout the Tenth Amendment further. 13/
In 2018, federal courts deemed withholding funds an unconstitutional power grab. Nevertheless, early in 2025 the President tried again.
Last week the same court slapped down the effort, prohibiting the U.S. govt from withholding promised funds. 6/
www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco...
Last week the same court slapped down the effort, prohibiting the U.S. govt from withholding promised funds. 6/
www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco...
May 1, 2025 at 4:26 PM
In 2018, federal courts deemed withholding funds an unconstitutional power grab. Nevertheless, early in 2025 the President tried again.
Last week the same court slapped down the effort, prohibiting the U.S. govt from withholding promised funds. 6/
www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco...
Last week the same court slapped down the effort, prohibiting the U.S. govt from withholding promised funds. 6/
www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco...
The 10th Amendment reserves powers not granted to the federal government to the states and people. Legal doctrine makes clear the U.S. government can’t coerce cities or states into enforcing federal law. States can choose to, but can’t be made to do it. 2/
May 1, 2025 at 4:26 PM
The 10th Amendment reserves powers not granted to the federal government to the states and people. Legal doctrine makes clear the U.S. government can’t coerce cities or states into enforcing federal law. States can choose to, but can’t be made to do it. 2/
Very Serious DHS press release: “Office Name Here”
April 17, 2025 at 12:28 AM
Very Serious DHS press release: “Office Name Here”
Such hyperbole here. Drone strikes, terrorist captures, extraditions, most done in secret with no in-advance review. That's one of the problems with them! Courts can't intervene in something they'll never know about.
This rhetoric taps into post-9/11 fear the government's spread. Major GWOT energy.
This rhetoric taps into post-9/11 fear the government's spread. Major GWOT energy.
March 15, 2025 at 8:11 PM
Such hyperbole here. Drone strikes, terrorist captures, extraditions, most done in secret with no in-advance review. That's one of the problems with them! Courts can't intervene in something they'll never know about.
This rhetoric taps into post-9/11 fear the government's spread. Major GWOT energy.
This rhetoric taps into post-9/11 fear the government's spread. Major GWOT energy.
And here's the write-up about CEP and its work with Parallel Networks, called "Greenlight Project." (This is from page 41 of Brennan Center's report linked above.)
March 13, 2025 at 5:02 PM
And here's the write-up about CEP and its work with Parallel Networks, called "Greenlight Project." (This is from page 41 of Brennan Center's report linked above.)
Looking like the Trump Admin is planning to invoke the Alien Enemies Act any day now to speed up detention and removal ops.
My colleague @ebrightyon.bsky.social is a leading expert on this wartime authority—and its serious risk of abuse. Follow her for critical insight.
Her explainer is below 👇
My colleague @ebrightyon.bsky.social is a leading expert on this wartime authority—and its serious risk of abuse. Follow her for critical insight.
Her explainer is below 👇
March 13, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Looking like the Trump Admin is planning to invoke the Alien Enemies Act any day now to speed up detention and removal ops.
My colleague @ebrightyon.bsky.social is a leading expert on this wartime authority—and its serious risk of abuse. Follow her for critical insight.
Her explainer is below 👇
My colleague @ebrightyon.bsky.social is a leading expert on this wartime authority—and its serious risk of abuse. Follow her for critical insight.
Her explainer is below 👇
As I explain: It is past time to end DHS’s ill-defined domestic intelligence activities that operate with neither meaningful safeguards nor robust, objective oversight. /4
March 3, 2025 at 6:35 PM
As I explain: It is past time to end DHS’s ill-defined domestic intelligence activities that operate with neither meaningful safeguards nor robust, objective oversight. /4
During this “reform,” the office ran a campaign against environmental activists, ramped up operations on the border, & continued to target Americans for their political views. This does not bode well under a new president who has promised to crack down on opposition. 3/
March 3, 2025 at 6:35 PM
During this “reform,” the office ran a campaign against environmental activists, ramped up operations on the border, & continued to target Americans for their political views. This does not bode well under a new president who has promised to crack down on opposition. 3/
After targeting journalists and racial justice activists in 2020, the DHS Office of Intelligence and Analysis (I&A) sought to chart a new path during a period of reform. While I&A developed better methods to document activities, it embraced an easily abused mandate. 2/
March 3, 2025 at 6:35 PM
After targeting journalists and racial justice activists in 2020, the DHS Office of Intelligence and Analysis (I&A) sought to chart a new path during a period of reform. While I&A developed better methods to document activities, it embraced an easily abused mandate. 2/
NEW: Biden Admin’s attempted reforms of DHS’s domestic intelligence agency instead laid the groundwork for greater Trump Admin abuse. It’s a story of political targeting, CIA hires, the failure to learn critical lessons, and bureaucratic half-measures. 1/
www.justsecurity.org/108152/how-d...
www.justsecurity.org/108152/how-d...
March 3, 2025 at 6:35 PM
NEW: Biden Admin’s attempted reforms of DHS’s domestic intelligence agency instead laid the groundwork for greater Trump Admin abuse. It’s a story of political targeting, CIA hires, the failure to learn critical lessons, and bureaucratic half-measures. 1/
www.justsecurity.org/108152/how-d...
www.justsecurity.org/108152/how-d...
Page Not Found: In 2023, Homeland Security committed to following the DOJ's updated anti-profiling guidance. @brennancenter.bsky.social and others gave input to strengthen protections at agencies with a record of biased targeting.
Now, the 2023 guidance has been pulled from DHS's website.
Now, the 2023 guidance has been pulled from DHS's website.
![A DHS webpage with text that reads:
Page Not Found. It looks like the K-9 Scout wasn't able to find the page that you are searching for. [Image of beagle in DHS vest.] The page may have been moved, deleted, or is otherwise unavailable. To help you find what you are looking for, please try one or more of the following: 1. Search for what you are looking for in our search box in the upper right corner of this page. 2. Check the URL (web address) for proper spelling and completeness.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:awslqigs3vkvqm24tdzi2g5v/bafkreibmn66sml6eoasgjoemz6gqdjhewqgwiwazipydufyz5ejpksdm5u@jpeg)
February 18, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Page Not Found: In 2023, Homeland Security committed to following the DOJ's updated anti-profiling guidance. @brennancenter.bsky.social and others gave input to strengthen protections at agencies with a record of biased targeting.
Now, the 2023 guidance has been pulled from DHS's website.
Now, the 2023 guidance has been pulled from DHS's website.
"Brought to you by Westfield"
February 13, 2025 at 2:19 AM
"Brought to you by Westfield"