"Immigration Detention, Inc" Book Talk at American University September 30 (Register Today) Join Ernesto Castañeda, Tazreena Sajjad, Nancy Hiemstra, Deirdre Conlon, and myself for a discussion about the rapidly-expanding US immigrant detention system. austinkocher.substack.com/p/event-anno...

New research reveals the profound impact on mixed-status families—where at least one family member lacks legal immigration status. 🧵 Marrying a U.S. citizen does NOT automatically grant a green card. These families face deportation threats that fundamentally reshape how they live, parent, and cope.

There’s no doubt that attempting to navigate the immigration system is mind boggling and numbing. ESPECIALLY when you go in naively, thinking your status as a U.S. citizen carries some kind of weight for your petition for your spouse… After 23 years…I believe there’s a form of PTSD that develops.

Hey immigration folks! My good friend Ashley from AFU just joined Bluesky. It would mean a lot to me if you would share her 1st post & follow her. She's been doing amazing work for years and should definitely be on your radar. I rarely ask for this, but please do her a solid and amplify.

Thanks to the Urban Institute for their powerful research. See the results of their study here: www.urban.org/research/pub...

That's why we're raising awareness about the American Families United Act, which would at least give those families a fighting chance in court to remain together rather than face family separation. Learn more at AmericanFamiliesUnited.org and AFUAction.org. And follow me here for more info.

While numbers are great to have, we at American Families United know this reality. We hear from our members every day about the burdens they are forced to bear because of failed immigration policies that don't provide a pathway to lawful status for their spouses and partners.

20% of adults in all immigrant families and 44% in mixed-status families worried “a lot” or “some” about talking to the police. 16% of adults in all immigrant families and 38% in mixed-status families, worried “a lot” or “some” about going to work.

32% of adults in immigrant families worried “a lot” or “some” that they, a family member, or a friend could be deported. In mixed-status families, this was 58%. 11% percent of adults in immigrant families and 22% in mixed-status families worried “a lot” or “some” about attending religious services.

29% of adults in all immigrant families and 60% in mixed-status families worried “a lot” or “some” about participating in essential activities in their communities because they did not want to draw attention to their or a family member’s immigration status.

Research shows that mixed-status families, families with at least one undocumented person, experience high rates of fear of going out into public. Here are the facts from a recent @urbaninstitute.bsky.social study, which found that... 🧵

When families are torn apart it ripples through the community. School, church, sports fields and playgrounds. How does this make us better?!!

Pro-life? No, monsters. Every ICE agent will be held accountable for their actions.

💯, polling shows that the vast majority of American people do not like and DO NOT want families torn apart. "About 8 in 10 Americans, 79%, say immigration is “a good thing” for the country today, an increase from 64% a year ago" www.pbs.org/newshour/pol...

This is horrific to even think about. Why do so many families have to devise “a talk” with their families on ways to be secure from their government… It’s insane to break Americans’ families, claiming it’s “great” for our country! 😡

This week in Jersey City a father was detained while driving and his young daughter was left behind alone, neighbors had to jump in to care for the child youtu.be/k4OY5DbBHFY?...

Caregivers affidavits are essential to safeguard children whose parents have been snatched up by ICE. Copies are easily available online and should be handed out at every Know Your Rights training session.

My name is Ashley DeAzevedo and I'm the Executive Director of American Families United. We are fighting every single day for our families, including US citizen spouses of immigrants who could face deportation because of our outdated and broken immigration laws. Follow me here for daily updates.

Now that kids are back in school, mixed-status families have to prepare for the worst: what if ICE arrests dad or mom while the kids are at school? What happens if children arrive home and no one is there? Deportation affects all of us, not just immigrants. @npr.org www.npr.org/transcripts/...

Oh this looks fascinating! Yes I’d love to read this, thanks for flagging this.

AFU stands with US citizen spouses and their immigrant partners, and that’s why we hope more people will support the American Families United Act, which provides a possible pathway forward for some of these families. Learn more about the Benitez family at www.gofundme.com/f/help-santi....

Now, his family is trying to raise money to pay for attorney fees and pay for an immigration bond to release him — if a judge permits it. Most working class Americans understand the burden of unfair medical debt. Mixed status also take on heavy financial burdens when a parent or spouse is arrested.

Santiago and Katelyn have been together for 11 years and have five children together. But that didn’t prevent him from being arrested during his I-130 interview, while he was trying to do things the right way and follow the law.

“My kids put their hands up against his hand through the glass window with tears in their eyes.” That’s from a real story of US citizen wife and children visiting their husband/father in detention this week — and it’s a story that is becoming too common.

Ashley DeAzevedo has been doing amazing work for years to support mixed status families. Now she's sharing more facts and information about the work of American Families United to raise awareness about the harms to US citizen spouses and parents. Please follow her *brand new* account below.

Live: New Immigration Enforcement Dashboard Explained Listen here: austinkocher.substack.com/p/live-new-i...

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What you count matters - and efforts like these are absolutely crucial as sweeps/arrests/imprisonment/deportations continue to grow.

support austin who is doing excellent immigration reporting and public scholarship

Look at California. Look at our numbers. This is under fucking hashtag resist star Gavin Newsom. Stop fucking fawning over him. The social media posts aren't even that good.

This is incredible. Obviously not perfect because the source isn't exactly a good faith collaborator, but exactly the granularity I've been hoping to find.

This is a very helpful resource to keep track of Trump’s deportation machine

The Immigration Enforcement Dashboard was featured on @majorityreport.bsky.social, thanks @emmavigeland.bsky.social so much for having me on, love the show! www.youtube.com/watch?v=shLX...

My god. What are we doing to families and children. 😔

We @relevantresearch.bsky.social hope that this new dashboard will aid public understanding of the scope + sequence of ICE enforcement. Feedback welcome!

I'll be on Majority Report at 12:20 PM eastern today, please stop by and say hello! www.youtube.com/user/SamSeder

SUPER helpful.

New Immigration Enforcement Dashboard Makes ICE Arrest Data Accessible to More People New dashboard makes Deportation Data Project data accessible through interactive visualizations, bridging the gap between complex datasets and public understanding. austinkocher.substack.com/p/new-immigr...

I love helping citizens stay together with their noncitizen spouses. And I feel a twinge every time a couple like that tells me that the immigrant came through the southern border, and can’t adjust because they lacked papers at the time.

Learn more about American Families United at americanfamiliesunited.org. If *YOU* are the US citizen spouse, fiancé, or partner of an immigrant (or know someone who is), please introduce yourself below or in my DMs. I would love to connect with you.

If you care about American families & share my belief in a better America for everyone, please give me a follow. You'll get updates about policies affecting families, inside stories you won't hear in the news about couples navigating our broken immigration system, and moments of hope along the way.

Many people believe that marrying a US citizen automatically gives you citizenship. It doesn't. ❌ That's why AFU is working with Republicans and Democrats to make sure that kids don't grow up without a dad or mom. American citizens shouldn't be punished for who they fell in love with.

At AFU, we work to support what we call “mixed status families”. That means US citizens and their immigrant husbands/wives who don’t have a pathway to citizenship. Many of our members — including Republicans, Independents, and Democrats — are sadly facing separation due to deportation.

Hi, Bluesky! My name is Ashley DeAzevedo & I'm the Director of American Families United. This is my first post 🎉 and I’m excited to connect with everyone here. I'm from New Jersey. I'm a mom, wife, proud Catholic, small business owner, and I haven't given up hope in the promise of America.

Apparently a good immigration law peep to follow!

Bsky is an amazing platform filled with expertise on the major issues of our time.

‪Ashley DeAzevedo is the director of American Families United which works to support “mixed status families.” That means U.S. citizens and their immigrant spouses who don’t have a pathway to citizenship. Follow: @afuashley.bsky.social

While the US immigration system works hard to separate, detain, and deport, Ashley and her team at AFU are committed to keeping families together. Really important work here. 100% worth a follow.

Hey immigration folks! My good friend Ashley from AFU just joined Bluesky. It would mean a lot to me if you would share her 1st post & follow her. She's been doing amazing work for years and should definitely be on your radar. I rarely ask for this, but please do her a solid and amplify.