The iterations of border walls have transformed a beautiful international park along the San Diego / Tijuana border. I wrote about what I have seen over nearly three decades, and the implications to sacred lands with new border walls planned in the San Diego region. Read more below:

Federal judge: Continued Border Patrol sweeps in California violated court order In a tersely worded decision unsealed Thursday morning, the judge wrote that agents had “again detained people without reasonable suspicion,” W/ @wendyfry.bsky.social calmatters.org/justice/2026...

Martin Lucas, a landscaper and hard worker, was killed by a white supremacist in Fallbrook, CA. “You wanna die today? I will kill you right now. Don’t f--- with me. OK? You sabe? You sabe in Español or in Inglés?” the man with the gun told him. Donate if you can: gofund.me/c3178eeca

Abolish ICE? Yes, absolutely, but don't forget about Border Patrol, an agency with a 100+ history of operating with impunity. Accountability is a must in a context where the constitution has less applicability. Nice job, @sergioolmos.bsky.social @wendyfry.bsky.social Bell¿ingcat and Evident.

ALERT: I'm seeing headlines like this claiming victory on the Big Bend border wall. THIS IS COMPLETELY FALSE. All DHS did was change the color of a line on a map. DHS engineers have mapped out a course for the wall in Big Bend National Park. They showed their cards. (thread 1/6)

Haitian asylum seeker Emmanuel Damas, 56, died at a Scottsdale, AZ hospital Monday, while in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, after struggling to receive timely care for a worsening toothache: @tucson.com tucson.com/news/local/b...

In San Diego, DHS police arbitrarily change rules overnight to cite court watchers: The rule change "meant they could no longer stand in hallways to document immigration arrests or support those with hearings & appointments in the building." [Reporting: @bgirledukate.bsky.social]

Hi folks, I'm fundraising for Maria, a mom who ICE detained in San Diego while at a routine ICE appointment. Maria has 3 children who need her. The funds raised will cover costs associated with a habeas corpus petition. Thank you for any support. www.gofundme.com/f/stand-with...

“Operation Road Flare is a SAC San Diego Homeland Security Investigations investigation of agitator [redacted] and other known & unknown conspirators impeding, obstructing, & interfering with Immigration & Customs Enforcement field operation” ICE monitors people involved in 1A protected activity.

Research from my colleagues at @afsc-org.bsky.social shows Palantir Gets Millions of Dollars From New York City’s Public Hospitals by @sambiddle.com theintercept.com/2026/02/15/p...

California must revoke permits allowing federal agencies such as CBP and the DEA to put automated license plate readers along border highways, a coalition of 38 groups led by EFF and the Imperial Valley Equity & Justice Coalition demanded today of @governor.ca.gov and the CA Dept of Transportation.

Fallible logic: what's tolerable for border communities is not for interior communities. Good news for Minneapolis & interior communities, bad news for El Centro & border communities. Bovino will continue his state violence in El Centro. Back to status quo militarization, brutality, & opaqueness.

A federal agent observing a protest at San Diego's federal bldg wears "Violent Gentlemen" shirt from a site that has "Ice in our blood" as a tagline a day after his colleague in MN murdered Renee N. Good, a mother who posed no threat to anyone. They operate with comfort is this culture of violence.

Our work over the last 12 months in San Diego was non-stop. Here is a photographic reflection of that work.

In May 2010, Border Patrol & ICE agents tortured Anastasio Hernandez Rojas to death. HBO's "Critical Incident: Death at the Border" details the cover-up that followed & the implications for an out-of-control agency that still remains unaccountable. The documentary airs tonight. x.com/democracynow...

Heads up, friends. This promises to be hard hitting. In May 2010, CBP & ICE agents brutalized & tortured Anastasio Hernandez Rojas at the San Ysidro POE. His family, in their relentless pursuit for justice, worked with advocates to expose the cover-up. This documentary tells that story. Stay tuned.

The climate is such that they no longer feel a need to wear hoods.

border invasion Biden insane asylums men playing in women's sports crime at record levels billions & billions of dollars indoctrinating your children woke hate for America border $1776 military America is respected the likes of which the world has never seen have a merry Christmas & a happy New Year

On lies & slander: "We are literally dispossessing our children thru mass migration. "Mass & illegal migration undermine the rule of law and social cohesion, both prerequisites for the functioning of democracy." S. Chretien, Senior Bureau Official US DOS, Bureau of Pop, Refugees, & Migration

This is so despicable. www.dhs.gov/news/2025/12...

Graciela Asunción Gómez Hernández died while crossing into the US in Sept 2025. Her body wasn't found until Oct. Today I accompanied volunteers who installed a cross in her memory. The double-layered border walls are visible nearby. In the distance, the dew evaporates from Tijuana's urban landscape.

In my latest piece, I look at the implications of Border Patrol usurping top command posts in ICE leadership... "we can expect an expansion of egregious abuses — and a lack of accountability, opaqueness, and zero oversight." Read more here @calmatters.org calmatters.org/commentary/2...

On Halloween and every other day of the year, which side are you on? the working class or billionaires? Photo from protest at San Diego Federal Building, where ICE abducts migrants attending ICE check-ins & court hearings, & where ICE detains people at the building's basement & denies it does this.

The Trump regime is purging ICE officials in offices in 5 major US cities & will fill some of those top posts with senior Border Patrol agents who will take over interior immigration enforcement in those regions. The regime is going for tried and tested cruelty. www.msn.com/en-us/news/u...

"Consider choosing violence" An ICE agent with a curious uniform, casually and comfortably promoting violence while working at the San Diego federal building.

Bovino says his agents arrest people in Chicago based on "how they look." Same goes for how people identify fascists, the people can tell who they are based on how they look (especially when dressed in militarized Border Patrol threads). chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/...

With the Supreme Court green-lighting racial profiling for immigration raids, it's a reality we know too well in the borderlands. With appreciation to all who contributed to this piece, here is my recent @calmatters.org commentary on the ruling: calmatters.org/commentary/2...

Check out this much-needed conversation if you're in San Diego on Saturday... register below.

Sessions on surveillance and the working class fight with Satomi Rash-Zeigler and Lilly Irani, on surveillance and immigration with Homayra Yusufi (@panasd.org) and Pedro Rios (@pedroconsafos.bsky.social) RSVP! trst.fyi/su25

San Diego protested Palantir and its dangerous and deadly surveillance technologies that track everyday people and cause untold human suffering while prioritizing profits for billionaires. Sharing four photos from the event, which was part of a national day of action against Palantir.

"[Noem] touted the height of the wall as well as its depth as ways to deter people seeking to go over or under the walls." Now T's preposterous idea is to paint it black "to make the metal hotter." But the paint will peel, people will climb at night & continue to fall with life-altering injuries.

Join in tonight if you have time to spare. It will be an invigorating conversation.

Erasure of indigenous people is at the core of this country’s genocidal history, and the ideological premise for its neo-fascist bent. They are extremely comfortable.

When Mohamad showed evidence about how the Taliban had tortured him, a U.S. official found him credible. But the increasingly opaque path for asylum protection adopted by Trump leaves those who fled their homeland with little hope. By @bgirledukate.bsky.social capitalandmain.com/tortured-by-...

ICE holds a volunteer in San Diego for 8 hours in a "detention investigation" after they fabricate an accusation of assault.

The bill before the Senate today will throw 12 million Americans off health insurance (CBO estimate). Cutting taxes for the wealthiest leaves no money for that. But apparently, there's money for this:

Shameful. This is Border Patrol taking their tactics to the interior. A rogue agency for over 100 years, sees no problem with putting babies in harm’s way. If only Republicans AND Democrats hadn’t funded them for decades. Now they have free reign.

Costa Rican court orders government to free migrants who were deported by US www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...

For more investigations like this and if you have tips to share please follow my colleague @schwellenbach.bsky.social bsky.app/profile/pabl...

Outrageous seems too nice at this point.

Quite a story, & now that Trump has made DHS investigative bodies (CRCL & OIDO) anemic or nonexistent, complaints addressing these types of systemic abuses have nowhere to go. To be fair, CRCL & OIDO often were black holes, but sometimes the processes helped air out the complaints & forced a review.

Last week, ICE arrested Sayed, an Afghan refugee, after a DHS attorney asked an immigration judge to dismiss his case. Sayed escaped Afghanistan when the Taliban targeted him for interpreting for US troops. The US has placed him in increased danger since it seeks to remove him to Afghanistan.

ICE raids in San Diego foreshadowed the roundups, protests now spreading across California Sharing my latest commentary and photos for @calmatters.org reflecting on the worksite raid at a San Diego restaurant in its South Park neighborhood, and how neighbors pushed out the militarized ICE force.

Tell San Diego City Council: Reject Flock ALPR Funding Flock Automatic License Plate Readers are costing us millions and supporting extremist agendas. Stop funding oppressive technology and instead fund our neighborhoods! www.change.org/p/tell-city-...

ICE issues a statement regarding its agents' use of "less lethal noise flash diversionary devices" on May 30 to excuse state violence, and blames neighbors wanting to protect migrant workers. I suppose ICE feared the middle finger brigade that ran them out of the San Diego neighborhood.

ICE raided a popular restaurant in a San Diego neighborhood. About 3 dozen agents, some in full tactical gear, arrested restaurant workers while patrons were enjoying dinner. The ICE agents didn't expect a resounding rejection by neighbors & patrons. The community spontaneously protested.

This DHS hit list includes San Diego County, cities of San Diego, Chula Vista, Vista, & Santee. Spoiler alert for Chula Vista - its elected officials were really only into photo-ops. Santee? Really, the white supremacist haven, where everyone grew up calling it Klantee? www.dhs.gov/sanctuary-ju...

Private security working with ICE at San Diego imm courthouse to violate due process & abduct people have a curious way of displaying names. [photo by a community volunteer] @schiff.senate.gov @padilla.senate.gov @vargas.house.gov @levin.house.gov @repscottpeters.bsky.social @sarajacobs.house.gov

Courthouse enforcement continues in San Diego & disregard for due process is in full force. "You will be arrested" - DHS lawyer told a mom while her 4-yr-old played with the mic denying request to consolidate cases. ICE agents waited outside courtroom. The child is UAC & will be separated from mom.

Sebastião Salgado (1944-2025) Maestro, fotógrafo legendario, QEPD