iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Sarah Sherman-Stokes @sshermanstokes.bsky.social · 23/11/2025

Grateful to partner with @islandtaxprof.bsky.social on this important story about asylum, race and yes, tax law. Hope you'll have a read!

153 5

Sarah Sherman-Stokes @sshermanstokes.bsky.social · 02/10/2025

In awe of our client, Leqaa, and the incredible legal team of which I'm a small part, @muslimadvocates.bsky.social, @txcivilrights.bsky.social, CUNY-CLEAR. Thanks to @theintercept.com for covering the government's cruel, racist and unrelenting targeting of Leqaa. #FreeLeqaa

021 2

Sarah Sherman-Stokes @sshermanstokes.bsky.social · 02/10/2025

Incredible advocacy by @veenadubal.bsky.social & others. What victory. Not only has this case exposed the monstrous, racist, xenophobic, Islamophobic & unconstitutional work of this Admin, but the decision couldn't be more clear: noncitizens have the same free speech rights as everyone else 🔥🙌

140 4

Sarah Sherman-Stokes @sshermanstokes.bsky.social · 04/02/2025

Even in these truly bonkers times, law still matters. And Trop v. Dulles is still good law. TL;DR: you cannot denaturalize someone as punishment for a crime. This "agreement" between #Trump and #Bukele flies in the face of US Constitutional Law & Int'l Law. www.oyez.org/cases/1956/70

010 1

Sarah Sherman-Stokes @sshermanstokes.bsky.social · 04/02/2025

Everyone - regardless of #immigration status or criminal history - deserves dignity and human rights. I hope that US elected officials will stand up to this outrageous, and unprecedented, "agreement" that will undoubtedly result in torture and death. 5/

000 0

Sarah Sherman-Stokes @sshermanstokes.bsky.social · 04/02/2025

Conditions in the jails have been reported as "hellish" - characterized by a lack of medical care, lack of food & water, and cruel, degrading and inhumane treatment frequently meted out, including torture. More than 300 people have died in custody since 2022. 4/

100 1

Sarah Sherman-Stokes @sshermanstokes.bsky.social · 04/02/2025

The president of El Salvador, #Bukele, is a self-declared "world's coolest dictator" who has rounded up more than 80,000 Salvadorans since taking office and declaring a state of emergency. He acknowledged in November that at least 8000 of those people were innocent. 3/

111 1

Sarah Sherman-Stokes @sshermanstokes.bsky.social · 04/02/2025

Nearly 2% of El Salvador's population is behind bars. For those incarcerated, there is virtually no due process - mass trials, judges whose identity is withheld, no presumption of innocence and no right to a fair trial. amnesty.org/en/latest/ne... 2/

amnesty.org

El Salvador: A thousand days into the state of emergency. "Security" at the expense of human rights.

One thousand days of the state of exception in El Salvador have left a legacy of repression, arbitrary detentions, torture, and deaths in custody.

110 1

Sarah Sherman-Stokes @sshermanstokes.bsky.social · 04/02/2025

I'm an #asylum lawyer - part of my job includes protecting my clients from being sent back to El Salvador bc of the torture, inhumane conditions & violent repression they face there under Bukele. Jails in El Salvador are notorious for torture & human rights abuses. A thread 🧵 1/

250 5

Sarah Sherman-Stokes @sshermanstokes.bsky.social · 03/02/2025

The weaponization of language is real; discursive strategies used by authoritarians are dangerous and intentional. This memo - short, pithy and matter of fact - should scare those of us who care about noncitizens. 7/

000 0

Sarah Sherman-Stokes @sshermanstokes.bsky.social · 03/02/2025

Instead, the memo focuses on the testimony (?) of two judges, themselves immigrants, who preach the privilege and "treasure" that is US Citizenship. They say, essentially, that they are unbothered by this word, so we should be too. 6/

100 1

Sarah Sherman-Stokes @sshermanstokes.bsky.social · 03/02/2025

Notably absent from the memo are the myriad ways in which this word has been used as a weapon - to dehumanize, exclude and even to incite violence. 5/

100 1

Sarah Sherman-Stokes @sshermanstokes.bsky.social · 03/02/2025

Al*en connotes strangeness, inferiority and outsider status; of course, that matters - legally, socially and politically. The author knows this. The term helps reinforce nativist sentiment, emphasizing those who belong, and those who don't. 4/

100 1

Sarah Sherman-Stokes @sshermanstokes.bsky.social · 03/02/2025

The memo - without a hint of irony - further states that "words matter." Which I suppose is why they insist on using a term that is as inaccurate/imprecise as it is dehumanizing. 3/

100 1

Sarah Sherman-Stokes @sshermanstokes.bsky.social · 03/02/2025

PM 25-07 recommends against using the word noncitizen, & suggests using "al*en" instead. The memo says that there is "no need to be offended" by this word & it's "not an insult." 2/ www.justice.gov/eoir/media/1...

justice.gov

100 1

Sarah Sherman-Stokes @sshermanstokes.bsky.social · 03/02/2025

The number of #immigration related announcements, EOs & memos is dizzying. One thing that has gotten less attn are the policy memos being released by DOJ/EOIR (i.e. the immigration court). Here's a thread on one that encourages the use of the word "Al*en", & why it matters. 1/

101 1

Sarah Sherman-Stokes @sshermanstokes.bsky.social · 10/01/2025

If your senator voted yes to discussion, please call them now & urge them to vote NO. It's just 8 horrible pages & can be found below (rumor is that many have not even read the text). ☎️ Please call your Senators now, 202-224-3121, and urge them to vote NO. 7/ www.grassley.senate.gov/imo/media/do...

grassley.senate.gov

000 0

Sarah Sherman-Stokes @sshermanstokes.bsky.social · 10/01/2025

The following senators voted NO to even discussing this horrific bill - Booker, Hirono, Kim, Markey, Merkley, Sanders, Schatz, Smith & Warren. Please take the time to call these senators and thank them. 6/

110 1

Sarah Sherman-Stokes @sshermanstokes.bsky.social · 10/01/2025

Sadly, the foundation for Trump's mass deportation agenda was laid a long time ago. But this bill adds dangerous new tools to Trump's toolbox. It will sow fear and terror in immigrant communities and enable even more racial profiling. 5/

100 1

Sarah Sherman-Stokes @sshermanstokes.bsky.social · 10/01/2025

This bill is a gift to abusive partners & employers. You want to punish your spouse? Accuse her of a theft crime. You want to get off the hook for paying your employee? Accuse him of a theft crime. B/c no conviction is required, allegations alone are enough to get someone locked up indefinitely. 4/

100 1

Sarah Sherman-Stokes @sshermanstokes.bsky.social · 10/01/2025

The bill will give the power to states - and anti-immigrant Attorney Generals like Ken Paxton - to sue the federal gov't for a breathtaking number of immigration related decisions. Even where the state has no legitimate interest in doing so. This will create fear and chaos. 3/

100 1

Sarah Sherman-Stokes @sshermanstokes.bsky.social · 10/01/2025

This bill requires ICE to detain any noncitizen who is *arrested or charged* for a theft offense. This means that a mom who shoplifts milk for her baby or a kid with DACA who shoplifts candy from CVS - or anyone *accused of doing these things* - will be detained w/ no opp for release on bond. 2/

100 1

Sarah Sherman-Stokes @sshermanstokes.bsky.social · 10/01/2025

Yesterday the Senate voted to begin debate on the Laken-Riley Act. This bill will criminalize, indefinitely detain & deport even more noncitizens. It also further lays the groundwork for Trump's mass deportation agenda. Please call your senators now and urge them to vote NO on this. Here's why 🧵 1/

252 5

Sarah Sherman-Stokes @sshermanstokes.bsky.social · 18/12/2024

this piece is stunning for its inaccuracy, its cruelty and the authors' lack of self-reflection. leaning hard right on #immigration has destroyed families, traumatized entire communities, & undoubtedly cost people their lives. it hasn't won dems any recent elections, either.

171 7

Sarah Sherman-Stokes @sshermanstokes.bsky.social · 13/12/2024

Powerful and devastating piece by my impressive colleague, @azizaahmed.bsky.social.

030 3

Sarah Sherman-Stokes @sshermanstokes.bsky.social · 09/12/2024

@mayorwu.boston.gov @govhealey.bsky.social My wonderful colleague Leah Hastings and I put together 4 concrete ways you can protect MA residents from ICE enforcement. Thanks @bostonglobe.com for publishing 👇 www.bostonglobe.com/2024/12/02/o...

bostonglobe.com

How Massachusetts can limit ICE enforcement - The Boston Globe

Four recommendations that will help protect migrants.

043 4

Sarah Sherman-Stokes @sshermanstokes.bsky.social · 21/11/2024

For more on the 25 years of violations at Plymouth, you can read our report with Prisoners Legal Services of MA here: www.bu.edu/law/files/20...

bu.edu

010 1

Reposted by Sarah Sherman-Stokes

Jacob Soboroff @jacobsoboroff.bsky.social · 19/11/2024

Errol Morris’ SEPARATED is both a roadmap to what the incoming Trump administration might do, but also how people may push back against, as @adamserwer.bsky.social coined, cruelty being the point. The film is in theaters now. MSNBC December 7.

11369107 369