Sign in

Mike Slaven

@mcslaven.bsky.social
2.7K followers 2K following 1.8K posts

Author of "Securing Borders, Securing Power" (Columbia UP, 2022) tinyurl.com/yeywvdaa Doing migration politics/policy research, currently @colmigproject.bsky.social. Political speechwriter of yore. Obscure academic in provincial England, AZ guy 🌵

PostsRepliesMedia
Reposted by Mike Slaven
Taniel @taniel.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
If you're in these states, *TODAY* is deadline to register to vote. Arizona, Arkansas Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas. Even if you think you've registered: doesn't hurt to check! And there's a lot happening across them. A thread with stakes on each. ⬇️
2219031694
Reposted by Mike Slaven
Wonky @wonkysq.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
Excellent article. I also recommend @brianbeutler.bsky.social piece today, which provides great context for how new, dangerous technology was handled in the past. www.offmessage.net/p/a-i-risk-a...
offmessage.net
We’re Still Not Taking This Seriously Enough
History suggests we must take radical action to reduce A.I. risk; with Donald Trump in office that means steamrolling him. Bernie Sanders has this right.
28832
Reposted by Mike Slaven
Arizona Right Watch @azrww.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
As we approach the 25th anniversary of 9/11, I want to highlight a memorial not far from my home. 4 days after 9/11, a racist shot and killed Balbir Singh Sodhi, a husband, father of five, and beloved member of his local Sikh community. His murder was the first hate crime in response to the attacks.
5365175
Reposted by Mike Slaven
Sam Freedman @samfr.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
One reason England does so well is our second generation immigrants outperform their peers which is not true in most OECD countries. We are also very good at integration. And it's v sad that this is never acknowledge in debates on immigration.
602405851
Mike Slaven @mcslaven.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
Not claiming the Farage/Reform donation video story has broken containment, but I did just overhear Brit normies (non-APSA attendees) talking about it on the street in Boston, MA
000
Mike Slaven @mcslaven.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
at the airport seeing someone read Pope Leo’s encyclical on AI in hard copy. You love to see it
000
Reposted by Mike Slaven
Colonialism & Migration in Global Perspective @colmigproject.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
Our project will be at #APSA2026: Our research is part of the panel "Representation, Candidate Appeals, and Group Messaging" (put together by Div. 32, Race, Ethnicity and Politics). Thursday at 4pm:
Representation, Candidate Appeals, and Group Messaging
Thu, September 3, 4:00 to 5:30pm EDT, TBA
002
Reposted by Mike Slaven
Aaron Reichlin-Melnick @reichlinmelnick.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
Awful. Just awful. A promising young man, a high school honors grad who joined JROTC and dreamed of becoming a doctor, killed himself because of the Trump admin’s obsession with hurting Haitians and the humiliating shame of an ICE ankle monitor. His blood is on their hands.
A picture of a young black man, dressed in a light blue suit with a smart black bow tie, smiling as he is handed a diploma from a school official, a white man in his 40s-50s who is also smiling. Underneath is the caption “Pierre Damas Bel receives his high school diploma. (Family Photo/Instagram)”Bel arrived in the United States in 2024 in order to reunite with his parents, who had fled Haiti three years before. The family was granted temporary protected status, purchased a home in Springfield and settled into life in the U.S. Bel dreamed of studying medicine and graduated high school last May with honors and as a proud member of the Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC), his father said. He was the eldest of three siblings and his family described him as smart and responsible.
542656988
Reposted by Mike Slaven
John Michael McGrath @jm-mcgrath.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
This might be the funnier YouGov poll: Canada's retaliatory tariffs are above water with US adults:
251617362
Reposted by Mike Slaven
Michael Hobbes @michaelhobbes.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
A 76-year-old green card holder with stage 4 cancer was arrested at his citizenship application interview and has been held by ICE for two months. www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...
Loreto Javar, a green card holder who’s lived in the United States for over three decades and is being treated for Stage 4 prostate cancer, has been held at the Northwest ICE Processing Center in Tacoma for more than two months. 

A 76-year-old retired hotel worker who lives in Fife with his wife and daughter, Javar was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials June 23 during an interview for his U.S. citizenship application in Tukwila. He was receiving ongoing cancer treatment when he was taken into ICE custody, his family said, and has missed several medical appointments since his arrest.
10033781416
Mike Slaven @mcslaven.bsky.social · 30/08/2026
By the standards of today this a great review for a politician
000
Mike Slaven @mcslaven.bsky.social · 30/08/2026
Word on the street (Lincoln high street) is that someone went to a concert in Manchester recently and based on what they saw the homelessness is bad and Andy Burnham is never going to get rid of it nationally. However the public transport was impressive and he did a great job with that.
100
Reposted by Mike Slaven
Rob Ford @robfordmancs.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
If large political parties - the Conservatives, Reform, even some in Labour - argue repeatedly that ILR is no longer a secure or stable status, the logical thing for those with ILR to do is to seek the greater security of citizenship - hence we get a big rise in applications
1578
Reposted by Mike Slaven
Rob Ford @robfordmancs.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
Excellent analysis as ever from @migobs.bsky.social - the big uptick in citizenship applications seems to me a logical consequence of recent political debates calling into Q the rights of those with Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) migrationobservatory.ox.ac.uk/press/citize...
migrationobservatory.ox.ac.uk
Citizenship applications hit new record while asylum applications fall - Migration Observatory
36118
Mike Slaven @mcslaven.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
the Gulf of America thing polls the close to the worst among the many things he’s done and this will probably fare considerably worse
110
Mike Slaven @mcslaven.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
LBU is a distinct institution in Lincoln/shire that contributes a lot to the community and has some v. good people, with a historic focus on teacher training. The company that's colonized it says this won't change, but they'll want to deliver value to shareholders rather than the community, clearly.
010
Mike Slaven @mcslaven.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
I don't see how the OfS can allow an institution built through public investment to be colonized by private investors and its assets (incl. degree-granting powers) exploited. The govt seems to prefer this to bailing out distressed unis like LBU. Promises of no job cuts also seem to me very unlikely.
110
Mike Slaven @mcslaven.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
Worrying development in UK higher ed, as Lincoln Bishop University (the other one in Lincoln) is effectively privatized. At this stage, UK HE policy is allowing private investors to pick over the corpses of public unis that policies have starved to death www.timeshighereducation.com/news/gus-com...
timeshighereducation.com
GUS completes takeover of Lincoln Bishop University
Public institution to become autonomous company within wider private education group
111
Reposted by Mike Slaven
Ray Radlein @radlein.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
Two Years Ago Today: One of the great screencaps of all time
Kari Lake (IIRC) rambling on during the GOP convention, while a GIANT message board in front of her reads "-5:35 please get off stage"
11898107
Reposted by Mike Slaven
David Veevers @davidveevers.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
‘The only road’ - erm, far less than half of 18 year olds go to University.
37611
Reposted by Mike Slaven
Sam Freedman @samfr.bsky.social · 17/08/2026
Yes and if you push them they're often quite open they want a kafala system with no route to citizenship. Which is why they're all so obsessed with the "Boriswave".
1252197
Reposted by Mike Slaven
Alasdair Mackenzie @alasdairmackenzie.bsky.social · 17/08/2026
This is best understood as an extension of the Tories‘ hostile environment from people without status to lawful residents, in order to make their lives so intolerable that they leave. Remigration, in other words, just without the expense and overt violence of expelling people by force
bbc.co.uk
Reform UK benefits ban for foreign nationals would include EU citizens
The move would require renegotiating the UK's Brexit deal and could risk stripping British expats living in the EU of similar rights.
12413
Mike Slaven @mcslaven.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
Clearly something doesn’t add up about the “we lose money on every home student” claim, otherwise they wouldn’t take them
110
Reposted by Mike Slaven
Peter Whitewood @pwhitewood.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
‘Less demanding institutions’ aside, a relatively small number of universities are increasingly eating the rest of the sector.
143
Mike Slaven @mcslaven.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
Imax projectors are like the Pantheon -- people will wonder in future centuries how they could have been built
021
Reposted by Mike Slaven
Jen aka Grantifa 🐸 @grantifa9.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
WTF He hasn’t a clue that it was a primary election.
116097242055
Reposted by Mike Slaven
Dan Kaszeta FRHistS @dankaszeta.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
Buses, famously for the richer classes and upper orders.
1032471440
Reposted by Mike Slaven
Sunder Katwala (sundersays) @sundersays.bsky.social · 20/07/2026
Times report still misses > draft proposals 15 years for most, not wait 10 > but most on 15 years could never settle at all (by accident or design), inc many women. Most who'd lose status are black or brown > Mahmood (reluctantly) + Tapp did concede need signficant change to Rayner,Starmer + Burnham
34629
Reposted by Mike Slaven
Brendel @brendelbored.bsky.social · 19/07/2026
Vanquished by the baby you washed is some Athena bullshit
273760621
Mike Slaven @mcslaven.bsky.social · 19/07/2026
Argentina and Spain drew each other in regular time. Cape Verde drew both in regular time. The only solution is to put another goal on the pitch and invite the Cape Verde team back for extra time
030
Reposted by Mike Slaven
Tim Bale @timbale.bsky.social · 18/07/2026
Just one para from @jdportes.bsky.social brilliant (and beautifully written) @theguardian.com piece on Burnham and the economy. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
18404152
Reposted by Mike Slaven
Jennifer Williams @jenwilliamsft.bsky.social · 18/07/2026
AB, a 🧵
11274110
Reposted by Mike Slaven
Paul Bernal @paulbernal.bsky.social · 18/07/2026
We need more immigration, not less.
716028
Reposted by Mike Slaven
Sunder Katwala (sundersays) @sundersays.bsky.social · 18/07/2026
One day, somebody in government will notice what the net migration level is hesding to. The fiscal forecast (£24 billion) was based on average net 235k to 2026-29 but that is at least 100k too high, costing £13 billion, or double that if want to reduce immigration visas further.
13278108
Reposted by Mike Slaven
Kyle Cheney @kyledcheney.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
The Justice Department appears to have included a fake AI-generated. citation in an ICE detainee's case. Judge Jarbou, a Trump appointee in Michigan, called it out: storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
15544521646
Reposted by Mike Slaven
Aaron Reichlin-Melnick @reichlinmelnick.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
WOW. The ex-wife of the ICE officer who shot a 26-year-old Colombian man in Maine has come forward to say that he had mental health issues and was abusive in their relationship. She says after the shooting he called asking her to vouch for him — instead, she went to the press.
Ashley Brouillette told the Portland Press Herald in a phone interview Thursday afternoon that her ex-husband called admitting to the shooting and defending his actions. The Press Herald reviewed a screenshot of incoming calls Ashley Brouillette received from her ex-husband’s current wife’s Facebook account on Wednesday.

“He was asking me to lie for him and to cover for his character,” Ashley Brouillette said. “I told him that I was not going to lie for him. And then he tried to say that it was a justified shooting because the guy tried to hit him with his car.”

She said she has seen videos of Brouillette on the scene of the shooting and confirmed that was him on scene, telling him: “nowhere in there does it show that this man charged at you with a car.”

“In his head it’s justified. He’s unusually calm about it,” she said.Ashley Brouillette told a reporter that she wanted to speak publicly because she had previously reported concerns to his superiors in the military about his mental health. She said he was abusive in their relationship. She said that she’s been inundated with calls, since reports of Brouillette’s involvement began circulating online, threatening her and her family.
27088293148
Mike Slaven @mcslaven.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
Do the people in charge want to learn the lessons of Windrush, or not? After everything including an exhaustive Review, they still think about fiddling around with the architecture protecting long-settled Commonwealth immigrants, for short-term political reasons. /end blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandp...
blogs.lse.ac.uk
How will lessons from Windrush be learned when the Home Office is institutionally resistant to learning? | LSE British Politics
The essential finding of the Windrush Lessons Learned Review is that the Home Office will not engage in learning from its past, writes Mike Slaven. He discusses the Review's findings and argues that a...
000
Mike Slaven @mcslaven.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
You can easily imagine situations in the future where, if this law is amended, you'll have people who've lived in the UK since early childhood who may have a series of less troubling convictions, who are lined up for deportation to countries they can't remember. Does the government want that? 7/
200
Mike Slaven @mcslaven.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
Now the government is mulling amending the 1971 Act to try to deport this one guy. Odious as he is, potential repercussions go far beyond him. Stripping away protections for political reasons and finding out about unintended consequences later: that was the Windrush Scandal. Has anyone learned? 6/
100
Mike Slaven @mcslaven.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
The govt made these legal assurances because it wanted to slash immigration but also protect "race relations" in the UK. So this isn't a technicality, it was part of a very intentional way of governing race relations. I've written about this here and elsewhere: 5/ www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
tandfonline.com
Entangled imperial citizenship: decolonisation and the dual status of Commonwealth immigrants in post-war Britain
Post-WWII migration from the Global South to the United Kingdom mostly comprised immigrants who were simultaneously (post-)imperial citizens. Among major attempts to remake South–North migration dy...
120
Mike Slaven @mcslaven.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
Historically: This provision is not some technicality. Commonwealth citizens' ineligibility for deportation after 5 years' residence was a key feature of pre-1981 UK citizenship. The 1971 Act protected this as part of the UK's promise that policy change would not affect people already in the UK. 4/
100
Mike Slaven @mcslaven.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
The number to whom the clause directly applies since they remain Commonwealth citizens but never obtained UK citizenship will be smaller. But this is still probably tens of thousands. The clause pertains to this guy since he was denaturalized after conviction (that group will be small). 3/
100
Mike Slaven @mcslaven.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
The BBC is reporting this as some obscure clause that forbids the deportation of a "small group of people." Well, first, this group isn't that small. From 1962-71 Commonwealth immigration was about 50,000 per year and most of these were children, so are likely still living today. 2/
Calls have mounted across the political spectrum for the deportation of Ahmed, who was stripped of his British citizenship following his conviction, leaving him with only Pakistani nationality.

But he cannot be deported due to a 1971 law that forbids the removal of a small group of Commonwealth citizens who arrived in the UK more than 50 years ago.
100
Mike Slaven @mcslaven.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
The government is considering amending the Immigration Act 1971 to deport a grooming gang leader. This would remove a major protection against deportation for "Windrush" immigrants; incredible given the controversy about retrospectively changing settlement rules 🧵 1/ www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Mahmood to set out plan to deport grooming gang leader
Calls have grown to deport Rochdale grooming gang ringleader Shabir Ahmed after his release from prison.
121
Reposted by Mike Slaven
Aaron Reichlin-Melnick @reichlinmelnick.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
A total violation of international law. Eswatini is imprisoning people from multiple countries no crime, based on no violation of law in that country, and with the direct knowledge and acquiescence of the United States.
5622281091
Reposted by Mike Slaven
Dr Eve Hayes @evehayes123.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
Thank you @mcslaven.bsky.social for the invitation to this 2-day @britishacademy.bsky.social funded 'Colonialism and Migration in Global Perspective' workshop bringing together humanities and social sciences scholars to interrogate the colonial pasts & post-imperial presents of migration governance.
041
Mike Slaven @mcslaven.bsky.social · 04/07/2026
Sounds like a prison
010
Mike Slaven @mcslaven.bsky.social · 03/07/2026
Like what is the appeal?
110
Mike Slaven @mcslaven.bsky.social · 03/07/2026
When I was looking for a wedding venue, “above Penn Station” did not occur to me
130