Top story, from @francescadnunz.bsky.social: As a result of the raid, ICE arrested 35 people on federal charges of attempted illegal entry, according to a report obtained from DPS. But authorities never offered any evidence that the party attendees actually were Tren de Aragua members.

After spending around a year in ICE detention, Laura, a Nigerian mother of two, was told by her then-lawyer that she would be released and able to see her kids. But under Trump, that never happened.

In April, authorities raided what they say was a Tren de Aragua gathering. Attendees say it was a birthday party. Among those detained included a homeless barber/DoorDash driver, and three people who fled Venezuela years ago *because of* that gang 🧵 www.texasobserver.org/officials-tr...

New from @francescadnunz.bsky.social: A highly publicized multi-agency raid in Hays County resulted in dozens of arrests on low-level immigration charges and left an Austin mother's life in tatters. It also fit a pattern of unproven gang-related accusations.

Mario Guevara is here legally and is not facing any criminal charges. He is being thrown out of the country for nothing but reporting news.

Featured story, from @francescadnunz.bsky.social: By Escalona Mújicas’ account, before he opened his car door at the traffic stop, an agent told him “The President does not want to see Haitians, Nicaraguans, Cubans, or Venezuelans here.”

The border Mexican state of Chihuahua is raising a 20-story AI-powered surveillance building called 'Centinela'. This massive investment in surveillance raises concerns about civil liberties. Story by AI Fellow @francescadnunz.bsky.social for @texasobserver.org. bit.ly/46h18GP

mil gracias a @aristeguionline.bsky.social por destacar nuestra investigación en el @texasobserver.org sobre la Plataforma Centinela, el sistema de vigilancia que el estado de Chihuahua está construyendo y ha ofrecido compartir con autoridades en EEUU y Texas aristeguinoticias.com/090925/arist...

NEW: Chihuahua, Mexico's most sprawling state, is building a surveillance system. Once complete, it'll have almost 10K cameras, including some w/ facial recognition capabilities. Authorities offered to share access with US police—including Texas DPS. 🧵 www.texasobserver.org/texas-chihua...

NEW: Chihuahua, Mexico's most sprawling state, is building a surveillance system. Once complete, it'll have almost 10K cameras, including some w/ facial recognition capabilities. Authorities offered to share access with US police—including Texas DPS. 🧵 www.texasobserver.org/texas-chihua...

“It’s like seeing the eye of Sauron hanging over your city.” From @francescadnunz.bsky.social in our magazine: A massive surveillance tower looming over Juárez is just part of a AI-powered network that extends far beyond the Texas-Mexico border.

We're very pleased to announce Bellingcat and @texasobserver.org won this award- congratulations to @tristanl.ee and @stevanzetti.bsky.social for their hard work on this series of reporting. The winners of the category 'general excellence in an online newsroom' will be announced in September.

the small town gossip I've come across in police records is truly unmatched and, from the officer at the scene: "I didn't take any photographs of the dead chikens."

New from @francescadnunz.bsky.social: “What are they hiding, if they will break the law and not let a member of Congress in? What are they hiding if they’ll violate constitutional rights and not let a lawyer in?”

NEW: at least a dozen members of Congress have been denied entry to immigration facilities this year when they showed up to conduct oversight as Trump has ramped up his mass deportation efforts. Now they are suing the Trump administration. www.texasobserver.org/dems-in-cong...

From @francescadnunz.bsky.social: “He has never been imprisoned or had a criminal record. His life has always been marked by hard work and integrity. He has no connection to the Tren de Aragua case.”

Jesús Escalona has no criminal record in the US or Venezuela. ICE labeled him a "documented" gang member. Per a police report, it appears to stem from a border checkpoint in Guatemala, where Jesús said he was stopped by local police—and US authorities—while migrating to Texas🧵

So many disturbing details in this piece... Texas DPS arrested a man under the Enemy Aliens Act. ICE claims he is gang member but has zero documentation and calls a reporter "insane" for asking. Cops turned their cameras off... Great reporting by @francescadnunz.bsky.social in @texasobserver.org

Jesús Escalona has no criminal record in the US or Venezuela. ICE labeled him a "documented" gang member. Per a police report, it appears to stem from a border checkpoint in Guatemala, where Jesús said he was stopped by local police—and US authorities—while migrating to Texas🧵

New today from @francescadnunz.bsky.social: “He has never been imprisoned or had a criminal record. His life has always been marked by hard work and integrity. He has no connection to the Tren de Aragua case.”

I’m outside the Don Hutto ICE detention center in Taylor, Texas CoreCivic just denied Congressman Greg Casar access to the facility

I’m outside the Don Hutto ICE detention center in Taylor, Texas CoreCivic just denied Congressman Greg Casar access to the facility

this week, I took a picture **outside** a jail for a story someone sent out two finger waggin' wardens with *walkie talkies* who kept repeating "noooooooooo ma'am!!!!!!" I know they were trying to be intimidating...but the walkie talkie finger waggin' combo was TRULY cartoonish

NEW: Nearly 1.5 million Texans now live in jurisdictions where sheriffs or police chiefs have agreed to train some of their officers to act as immigration agents in the streets of their communities. 🧵 www.texasobserver.org/ice-task-for...

I spent months investigating the Canary Mission blacklisting website — and today, a senior ICE official confirmed in court that the Department of Homeland Security has been using Canary Mission to target students. www.motherjones.com/politics/202...

NEW: Texas lawmakers are ordering all sheriff's offices to seek federal collaboration agreements with ICE. Those agreements may be limited to jailhouses—or they may convert deputies into roving immigration agents. 🧵 texasobserver.org/legislature-... w/ @gusbova.bsky.social

NEW from @francescadnunz.bsky.social and @gusbova.bsky.social: SB 8 was deemed a priority by Lt Governor Dan Patrick, and it is the most significant anti-immigrant legislation to pass this session. Its impacts could be far-reaching, depending on implementation.

Featured story, from @michellepitcher.bsky.social: Clinton Young spent nearly two decades condemned to die. His peaceful, productive time out on bond poses questions about how Texas decides who lives long enough to get another chance.

From @francescadnunz.bsky.social in 2024: Ever since Governor Greg Abbott ramped up border militarization in the area by placing dangerous buoys in the river, these mourners have assembled under the moniker the Border Vigil to remember the lives of those lost crossing.

Mayday = HELP ME May Day = Help me... pick these flowers

Featured story, from @byjustinmiller.bsky.social: Under red rule, Texas has not just returned to a one-party state; it’s a one-party state controlled by just a very few politicians, who’ve used their longevity to consolidate unprecedented levels of power.

The Texas National Guard signed an agreement with ICE that allows personnel who’ve received federal training to “perform certain functions of an immigration officer.” TNG has ~23,000 members. It's not clear how many will be trained to work with ICE. 🧵 www.texasobserver.org/texas-police...

"So far, 14 agencies have signed on to the task force agreements in Texas, primarily rural county sheriff’s offices as well as Smith County, which is home to Tyler and more than 245,000 people in East Texas." By: @francescadnunz.bsky.social

New from @francescadnunz.bsky.social: To augment its roughly 6,000 ICE deportation agents, the Trump administration has enlisted the help of other federal agencies including the DEA and IRS. But an even more significant expansion may be playing out at county and municipal levels.

The Texas National Guard signed an agreement with ICE that allows personnel who’ve received federal training to “perform certain functions of an immigration officer.” TNG has ~23,000 members. It's not clear how many will be trained to work with ICE. 🧵 www.texasobserver.org/texas-police...

Under operation Lone Star, #Texas has turbocharged DPS’ surveillance capabilities, increasing AI-powered intelligence gathering. Yet, proposed laws provide few guardrails for the use of this technology. AI Fellow @francescadnunz.bsky.social reports for @texasobserver.org. bit.ly/4jCSnM5

🚨A U.S. born citizen was arrested in Florida for entering the state as an “unauthorized alien.” His mother and a community advocate showed his birth certificate during a hearing in Leon County. The judge said she had no authority to release him.

"Hi Francesca, we are going to respectfully decline an interview" I am going to respectfully file a torrent of FOIA requests ... and you cannot stop me <3

NEW: Under Operation Lone Star, Texas DPS has quietly built out an expansive surveillance apparatus—one that’s increasingly powered by artificial intelligence. Proposed laws provide few guardrails.🧵 w/ @texasobserver.org + @pulitzercenter.bsky.social www.texasobserver.org/texas-dps-su...

Rümeysa Öztürk hasn’t been given her asthma medication and has had three asthma attacks, putting her life in danger and possibly violating disability civil rights. New from me with @hurwitz.bsky.social for @motherjones.com. www.motherjones.com/politics/202...

my cat just sent a source outreach email for me. she's literally PERFECT

🚨 Texas Department of Public Safety has spent millions on powerful—and controversial—AI surveillance and intelligence tools, writes @francescadnunz.bsky.social @texasobserver.org www.texasobserver.org/texas-dps-su... With great quotes by @paromitashah.bsky.social @justfutureslaw.bsky.social

NEW: Under Operation Lone Star, Texas DPS has quietly built out an expansive surveillance apparatus—one that’s increasingly powered by artificial intelligence. Proposed laws provide few guardrails.🧵 w/ @texasobserver.org + @pulitzercenter.bsky.social www.texasobserver.org/texas-dps-su...

#ICYMI, Ben Sargent on our looming 💩Constitutional Crisis ... More from Ben and Loon Star State: www.texasobserver.org/topics/loon-...

Our top story: If the voucher bill were to pass, select private companies could soon be reeling in tens and even hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars per year. We took a closer look at who stands to gain the most.

Earlier, from @francescadnunz.bsky.social: Texas law enforcement agencies and others around the nation are reviving a long-dead "task force" program that led to racial profiling in the past.

“What we are witnessing is the deliberate abduction of individuals as they are being uprooted from their lives. Trump’s deportation machine knows no bounds, leaving a trail of devastation in its wake.”

I wrote a piece for this collaboration between @inkstickmedia.com & @theborderchronicle.bsky.social, on JD Vance's anti-migrant attacks on Europe and the reality that Washington & the EU are both committed to a deterrence policy that condemns refugees & migrants to increasingly deadly journeys.

“People are scared to go out... they don’t want to go to a place where (people are) going to show up with guns to check whether they’re a U.S. citizen or not.” ICE raids have divided an already politically shifting community in #Texas www.texasobserver.org/ice-raids-ab... @TexasObserver @GaigeDavila

"Only two days would pass before HSI agents, armed with rifles fit more for a war zone than a local panadería, returned to Abby’s during an afternoon rush..." www.texasobserver.org/ice-raids-ab...