iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Jack Herrera

Kelsey Atherton @atherton.bsky.social · 12/02/2026

Really grateful for @gabydvj.bsky.social's in-depth reporting, especially crucial in finding the continuity amidst the new chaos and cruelty, and clearly showcasing the lines between what people can do for each other on their own, and what government needs to do. www.theverge.com/policy/87710...

theverge.com

ICE is pushing Minneapolis underground

Scenes from a city under siege

16017

Reposted by Jack Herrera

Alex Ip 葉清霖 @alexip718.com · 04/02/2026

INBOX: Washington Post Ukraine Correspondent Lizzie Johnson announces that she has been laid off in the middle of a below-freezing war zone without power, heat, or running water.

lizzie johnson
@lizziejohnsonnn
·
49m
I was just laid off by The Washington Post in the middle of a warzone. I have no words. I'm devastated.
Quote
lizzie johnson
@lizziejohnsonnn
·
Jan 25
Waking up without power, heat, or running water. (Again.)

But the work here in Kyiv continues. Warming up in the car, writing in pencil — pen ink freezes — by headlamp.

20396974347

Reposted by Jack Herrera

Aaron Reichlin-Melnick @reichlinmelnick.bsky.social · 03/02/2026

Again, this is FALSE. Administrative warrants are NOT signed by an immigration judge (or any judge at all). They are generated and signed by ICE officers themselves with no external oversight whatsoever. Here is a blank sample warrant. Note who signs off on it; an "immigration officer."

A copy of a blank administrative warrant. The only person who signs it at the end is an "immigration officer."

32457832373

Reposted by Jack Herrera

Chabeli Carrazana @chabeli.bsky.social · 02/02/2026

In Minneapolis, for every story detailing the fallout of the federal crackdown, there are as many stories of people like Bri, a mom donating breastmilk for babies whose mothers are detained by ICE. Bri's story: 19thnews.org/2026/02/minn...

19thnews.org

When one mother was taken by ICE, another stepped in to donate breastmilk

Moms in Minneapolis are donating diapers, food and time to help families who have been ripped apart by ICE.

4356169

Reposted by Jack Herrera

Robert Downen @robertdownen.bsky.social · 01/02/2026

“If (Taylor Rehmet) were to lose by six points, that’d be worth talking about,” one political expert told me ahead of last night's race. “And if Rehmet were to win? You’d say, ‘Holy shit.’” Rehmet won by 14 points.

434484

Reposted by Jack Herrera

Jack Herrera @jherrerx.bsky.social · 30/01/2026

The southern frontier is quiet enough that Border Patrol agents have time to go brutalize Minnesotans. But people are still crossing. Who are they? I found out in a peculiar way—by getting briefly confused for a smuggler and stopped on the Rio Grande: www.texasmonthly.com/news-politic...

texasmonthly.com

Is Anyone Still Crossing the Border? Yes, Actually.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has boasted that border crossings have dropped to zero. That’s not true.

314343

Reposted by Jack Herrera

Robert Downen @robertdownen.bsky.social · 30/01/2026

Five presidents in five years. High-profile firings and cancellations. Crackdowns on dissent. Inside state leaders’ efforts to remake Texas A&M University.

texasmonthly.com

What’s the Matter With Texas A&M?

Five presidents in five years. Firings of “woke” professors. Crackdowns on Plato. Inside state leaders’ efforts to remake a great university.

27824

Jack Herrera @jherrerx.bsky.social · 30/01/2026

The number of people seeking refuge has cratered close to zero. But hundreds of people are still attempting to smuggle across the border every single day. As one former govt official told me, it’s a type of migration “we’re likely always going to have"

180

Jack Herrera @jherrerx.bsky.social · 30/01/2026

texasmonthly.com

Is Anyone Still Crossing the Border? Yes, Actually.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has boasted that border crossings have dropped to zero. That’s not true.

314343

Reposted by Jack Herrera

Aaron Reichlin-Melnick @reichlinmelnick.bsky.social · 30/01/2026

BIG news from @bloomberg.com, which confirms that ICE has gone ahead and *purchased* multiple commercial warehouses with the aim of converting them into mass detention camps. This is likely to be the big detention story of 2026 — literal warehousing of people. www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...

bloomberg.com

ICE Begins Buying ‘Mega’ Warehouse Detention Centers Across US

Plans for such centers and jails in nearly two dozen communities have sparked protests over suitability, proximity to homes and schools.

48556803640

Reposted by Jack Herrera

Dara Lind @daralind.bsky.social · 30/01/2026

In 2023 NYT laid out Trump’s mass deportation plan: detain immense numbers of people in such miserable conditions that they’re compelled to stop fighting their cases & agree to leave. They’re still getting to “immense numbers.” But the core concept is working for them. mailchi.mp/43a225b48ded...

mailchi.mp

The Throughline: Don’t Lose Sight of Detention Atrocities

2219117

Reposted by Jack Herrera

404 Media @404media.co · 30/01/2026

SCOOP: 404 Media is publishing a version of the user guide for ELITE, a tool Palantir made for ICE which brings up dossiers on individual people and provides a “confidence score” of their address. The full user guide here:

404media.co

Here is the User Guide for ELITE, the Tool Palantir Made for ICE

404 Media is publishing a version of the user guide for ELITE, which lets ICE bring up dossiers on individual people and provides a “confidence score” of their address.

301526969

Reposted by Jack Herrera

José R. Ralat 🌶️ @tacotrail.bsky.social · 29/01/2026

From the compa @jherrerx.bsky.social for @texasmonthly.bsky.social: "In the year since Trump has taken back the White House, border crossings have not stopped. What’s changed are the types of border crossings the Border Patrol is seeing."

texasmonthly.com

Who Is Still Crossing the Border?

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has boasted that border crossings have dropped to zero. That’s not true.

073

Reposted by Jack Herrera

ProPublica @propublica.org · 29/01/2026

Trump is dispatching Border Czar Tom Homan to Minnesota to "manage operations on the ground." In case you missed it, here's our investigation into Homan and his relationships with government contractors/consultants cashing in on the deportation business:

propublica.org

Trading on Tom Homan: Inside the Push to Cash in on the Trump Administration’s Deportation Campaign

A Pennsylvania businessman who had Tom Homan on his payroll led companies to believe his connections to the future border czar could help advance their bids for government work, industry executives sa...

31777396

Reposted by Jack Herrera

The Latino Vote Podcast @thelatinovote.bsky.social · 27/01/2026

The people building the houses should be able to buy the houses. After hearing about @gallego.senate.gov new housing plan to build 8 million new units, @chuckrocha.bsky.social & @mikemadrid.bsky.social discuss could why housing is THE fight for Latino Voters Full episode here: youtu.be/KoPgbC3KJQI

02710

Jack Herrera @jherrerx.bsky.social · 27/01/2026

I do wonder if this was the administration's logic in getting Bovino so much air-time, making him so prominent—they get a less-than-consequential fall-guy for when BP and ICE take things too far

030

Reposted by Jack Herrera

Charlie Warzel @cwarzel.bsky.social · 25/01/2026

Wrote about the observers. The people standing by and filming and the risk they are taking to let the world see what is happening. It's crucial and its the only way to combat the lies and blatant propaganda. www.theatlantic.com/technology/2...

theatlantic.com

Believe Your Eyes

People are risking their lives to document agents in Minneapolis.

462211708

Reposted by Jack Herrera

Jeff Rueter @jeffrueter.bsky.social · 25/01/2026

Kare 11 local news just read, in full, this statement from Michael and Susan Pretti, the parents of Alex Pretti. "Please get the truth out about our son."

Statement from Michael and Susan Pretti
Parents of Alex Jeffrey Pretti

“We are heartbroken but also very angry.

Alex was a kindhearted soul who cared deeply for his family and friends and also the American veterans whom he cared for as an ICU nurse at the Minneapolis VA hospital. Alex wanted to make a difference in this world. Unfortunately, he will not be with us to see his impact.

I do not throw around the ‘hero’ term lightly. However, his last thought and act was to protect a woman. The sickening lies told about our son by the administration are reprehensible and disgusting. Alex is clearly not holding a gun when attacked by Trump’s murdering and cowardly ICE thugs. He had his phone in his right hand and his empty left hand is raised above his head while trying to protect the woman ICE just pushed down, all while being pepper sprayed.

Please get the truth out about our son. He was a good man. Thank you.

1962469212669

Jack Herrera @jherrerx.bsky.social · 23/01/2026

Oh damn, oh shoot, others are doing unto me as I hath done unto others

041

Reposted by Jack Herrera

Sam Levin @samtlevin.bsky.social · 22/01/2026

Liam is one of four Columbia Heights, MN school district students who have been taken by ICE in the last two weeks, the school district said. Liam's teacher: “He is so kind and loving, and his classmates miss him. He ... just brightens the room. All I want is for him to be back here and safe.”

smiling portrait of Liam, age 5, in a school picture

witness photo, courtesy of the school district, showing Liam outside his front door with a masked agent by his side.

241388538

Reposted by Jack Herrera

Judd Legum @juddlegum.bsky.social · 20/01/2026

1. ICE has STOPPED PAYING for medical treatment for its 73,000 detainees ICE has not paid its bills to 3rd party providers since OCTOBER and the situation will likely persist for MONTHS, a Popular Information investigation reveals Meanwhile, critically ill ICE detainees are not receiving care 🧵

ICE halted payments in October, and the situation will persist for at least several more months

935140248956

Reposted by Jack Herrera

Nick Bednar @nicholasbednar.bsky.social · 19/01/2026

I'll point out that @mprnews.org has covered the fraud ad nauseum. We all know about it (thanks to public radio). No one is pro-fraud. It's bad. State and federal prosecutors have been prosecuting it. Both the governor and the AG have been investing heavily in fraud detection. There's no cover up.

1635986

Reposted by Jack Herrera

sar @cryptkick.bsky.social · 16/01/2026

“These are just bandaids. They’re just buying time—for what, I don’t know,” I cannot emphasize enough how serious the water supply issue is in the North American west, and it just keeps getting worse.

031

Jack Herrera @jherrerx.bsky.social · 15/01/2026

This is a news dispatch, to help folks understand the stakes as Trump pushes Mexican President Sheinbaum to send billions of gallons north. Subscribe to @texasmonthly.bsky.social, and keep an eye out for some huge stories we have coming soon on the future of the once-mighty Rio Grande. 3/3

082

Jack Herrera @jherrerx.bsky.social · 15/01/2026

Here are the stakes: The Rio Grande starts in CO, but often doesn't make it past El Paso. Which means most of the water in the lower Rio—from Presidio to Brownsville—comes from Mexico. ...and TX cities like Laredo rely on the Rio for ALL their water. 2/3 www.texasmonthly.com/news-politic...

texasmonthly.com

Mexico Is Sending Texas Billions of Gallons of Water. It Won't Be Enough.

A treaty between the U.S. and Mexico aims to manage resources that flow between nations.

1227

Jack Herrera @jherrerx.bsky.social · 15/01/2026

I've traveled through the Rio Grande watershed, from up on the continental divide in Colorado down through the basin in Mexico, where rivers flow north, providing the water for millions of Texans. The US wants more water from MX. But at the end of the day, we're both fucked. 1/3

191

Reposted by Jack Herrera

Marisa Kabas @marisakabas.bsky.social · 30/05/2025

NOW— Mass ICE arrests happened/are happening at the Manhattan immigration court at 290 Broadway on the 20th floor. I was just outside the building and an observer came out crying, confirmed they witnessed people getting detained outside courtrooms while families watched and wept.

9927721309

Jack Herrera @jherrerx.bsky.social · 17/05/2025

Some of those nice Andino buses are the most luxurious form of travel I have experienced

130

Jack Herrera @jherrerx.bsky.social · 03/05/2025

A Texas county found a way to make money on migrants traveling north: cops arrested them on trespassing charges, and kept them in jail until they paid bail. When they paid, the jail handed them over to ICE. They got deported. The county kept their bail: www.nytimes.com/2025/05/01/u...

nytimes.com

For One Texas County, Arresting Migrants Made Big Money

Kinney County, along Texas’ border with Mexico, collected some $1.7 million in bail from migrants who were deported before they could make their court appearances. The money was never returned.

0105

Reposted by Jack Herrera

Joel Montfort @montfort.me · 01/05/2025

Kinney County, TX, is swindling immigrants out of their bond money by arresting them, immediately handing them over to ICE, who quickly deports them, and then keeping the money. $1.6M so far. www.nytimes.com/2025/05/01/u...

nytimes.com

How One Texas County Has Profited Off of Migrant Deportations

Kinney County, along Texas’ border with Mexico, collected some $1.7 million in bail from migrants who were deported before they could make their court appearances. The money was never returned.

53017

Reposted by Jack Herrera

Steven Rich @datab.ae · 01/05/2025

me contribution to this story was taking a spreadsheet that had been printed out, roughly hand-redacted and then scanned but skewed into, well, an actual spreadsheet so we could calculate forfeited bail for these migrants.

11206

Reposted by Jack Herrera

Steven Rich @datab.ae · 01/05/2025

a small Texas county found a way to make money off migrants: arrest them for trespassing, make them post bail to get out of jail, turn them over to ICE, collect forfeited bail money. www.nytimes.com/2025/05/01/u...

Over the past four years, the county has refused to return $1.7 million in bail from migrant trespass cases, according to a Times analysis of county budget records obtained through a public records request. The forfeitures are the equivalent of what it would take to pay for the entire sheriff's department for a year, or the county judge and county attorney's office combined for over three years.

961585860

Jack Herrera @jherrerx.bsky.social · 02/05/2025

I spent over a year fighting the county for records, including these budget docs

062

Jack Herrera @jherrerx.bsky.social · 02/05/2025

Appreciate it Jonah! Likewise

010

Jack Herrera @jherrerx.bsky.social · 01/05/2025

When Texas began arresting migrants for trespassing in '21, many paid hefty bails to get out of jail. The problem? Instead of releasing them, TX handed them over to ICE. I spent a year investigating how one county made up to $1.7 million by taking bail from deported migrants. Via @nytimes.com:

nytimes.com

How One Texas County Has Profited Off of Migrant Deportations

Kinney County, along Texas’ border with Mexico, collected some $1.7 million in bail from migrants who were deported before they could make their court appearances. The money was never returned.

084

Reposted by Jack Herrera

Josh Page @joshpage.bsky.social · 01/05/2025

Damn! "Over the past four years, [Kinney] county has refused to return $1.7 million in bail from migrant trespass cases..." This amount would "pay for the entire sheriff’s department for a year, or the county judge and county attorney’s office combined for over three years." @jherrerx.bsky.social

nytimes.com

How One Texas County Has Profited Off of Migrant Deportations

Kinney County, along Texas’ border with Mexico, collected some $1.7 million in bail from migrants who were deported before they could make their court appearances. The money was never returned.

164

Reposted by Jack Herrera

Darrell Silver @darrellsilver.bsky.social · 23/04/2025

"Perhaps it is because they have hit a wall deporting so-called criminals, so now they are going after children and their families in an effort to bump up their deportation statistics” Original reporting today from @jherrerx.bsky.social www.newyorker.com/news/the-led...

newyorker.com

The Immigrant Families Jailed in Texas

Children have long been put in migrant detention if they were apprehended at the border. Today, lawyers have found, families are being removed from stable lives in the United States.

0116

Reposted by Jack Herrera

Yana Kunichoff @yanak.bsky.social · 17/03/2025

More detentions lead to more deaths. @jherrerx.bsky.social asks whether we will find out - and from there whether the American public will respond w/ enough care and outrage to change policy www.newyorker.com/news/the-led...

newyorker.com

How Many Immigrants Will Die in U.S. Custody?

More detentions will lead to more deaths, but the Trump Administration has options to conceal the losses.

042