iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

I got to chat about the state of criminal justice policy reform in the run up to the 2026 midterm elections with the folks on Drugs on the Docket. Check it out: youtube.com/shorts/r9ovg...

youtube.com

Criminal Justice Reform Is Not Dead | S4 E5 Teaser | Drugs on the Docket #shorts #podcast

YouTube video by The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law

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Udi Ofer @uofer.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Christa Pike should not face execution in the first place, let alone be tortured by surviving two doses of lethal injection last night. After failing to kill her, Tennessee sent Pike to a hospital for medical care. This is TN's second botched execution this year. www.nytimes.com/2026/09/30/u...

nytimes.com

Tennessee Death Row Inmate Christa Pike Still Alive After Attempts to Execute Her, Lawyers Say

Christa Pike was convicted of murdering a classmate in 1995. It was not clear what went wrong in the execution or what her current medical condition was.

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Udi Ofer @uofer.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

It is absolutely right of Congres Members to support a measure to ensure that recipients of U.S. taxpayer dollars act in line with human rights. This should be done with Israel and with every nation that receives U.S. taxpayer dollars. www.nytimes.com/2026/09/29/u...

nytimes.com

Democrats in Congress Embrace a More Punitive Posture Toward Israel

Nearly every Democratic senator voted to advance a measure calling for a human rights report on Israel’s conduct in the West Bank, as some in the party propose punishing settlement activity with sanct...

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Reposted by Udi Ofer

Princeton PLAW @plawpu.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

The Nation highlights the Princeton Policy Advocacy Clinic, led by P•LAW affiliated scholar Udi Ofer, where students work with the UN on key human-rights issues in the United States. @uofer.bsky.social @princeton.edu @thenation.com www.thenation.com/article/worl... #PLAW #LawatPrinceton

thenation.com

These Students Are Shaping UN Human Rights Policy

Princeton undergraduates are helping the organization develop standards for post-mortem digital privacy and death in custody.

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Udi Ofer @uofer.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

The federal Bureau of Prisons just established an office dedicated to implementing the bipartisan First Step Act, which passed in 2018 and which has already led to thousands of people facing less incarceration. This office will ensure the Act is implemented the right way www.bop.gov/news/pdfs/09...

bop.gov

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Udi Ofer @uofer.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Thank you to The Nation for profiling the work of my @princeton.edu Policy Advocacy Clinic. As I say in it, "human rights principles do not implement themselves," which is why we're educating next generation of policy advocates to tackle world's biggest challenges www.thenation.com/article/worl...

thenation.com

These Students Are Shaping UN Human Rights Policy

Princeton undergraduates are helping the organization develop standards for post-mortem digital privacy and death in custody.

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Udi Ofer @uofer.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

Violent crime rate today, lowest since 1968:

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Udi Ofer @uofer.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

2023, 2024 and 2025 were all historic in terms of declining crime and 2026 is looking like it will be another historic year. Last year, murder fell at the fastest pace ever recorded to the lowest rate recorded since the FBI started its modern estimates. jasher.substack.com/p/summarizin...

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Udi Ofer @uofer.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

More evidence of a Department of Homeland Security that is surveilling and investigating Americans engaged in First Amendment protected activities, including going after labor unions and nonprofits without any evidence of criminal wrongdoing. www.nytimes.com/2026/08/13/u...

nytimes.com

U.S. Investigated Left-Leaning Groups During Minnesota’s Immigration Crackdown

The government conducted expansive surveillance, infiltrated group chats and obtained financial records of organizations never accused of crimes.

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Udi Ofer @uofer.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

Lebanon's parliament has voted to abolish the death penalty, making it the first country in the Middle East to formally end it. Tuesday's vote follows 2 decades of a de facto moratorium on executions. Contrast this to the US, where 27 states still allow the death penalty www.bbc.com/news/article...

bbc.com

Lebanon parliament votes to abolish death penalty

The new law - which next goes to the cabinet for approval - would make Lebanon the first country in the Middle East to end capital punishment.

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Udi Ofer @uofer.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

ICYMI, an FBI report released earlier this year found that 27.5% of all violent crimes in the United States involve domestic relationships. In some states, it's even higher. We will never address violent crime in the US without addressing the problem of domestic violence www.fbi.gov/news/press-r...

fbi.gov

FBI Releases Domestic Violence Special Report | Federal Bureau of Investigation

The FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program released the Domestic Relationships and Violent Crimes, 2020-2024, special report on the FBI’s Crime Data Explorer (CDE) on February 11, 2026.

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Udi Ofer @uofer.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

Bombshell report from the Wall Street Journal: DHS has been tracking down Americans at work and on the road who are critical of immigration policies, spending millions on contractors to surveil First Amendment protected speech and create political dossiers. Outrageous. www.wsj.com/politics/pol...

wsj.com

How ICE Is Weaponizing Social Media Against Its Critics

The agency says its surveillance program searches for threats to agents, but critics see free-speech infringements.

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Udi Ofer @uofer.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

Up to one-fifth of prisoners in Italy may be released to serve their sentences at home while undergoing rehab programs due to new law that allows the release of prisoners with drug and alcohol addictions. www.thenews.pk/print/142911...

thenews.pk

Italy passes law to release thousands of inmates with addictions

ROME: Italy’s parliament on Wednesday passed a law potentially allowing thousands of prisoners with drug or alcohol addictions to serve their sentences at home while undergoing rehab...

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Udi Ofer @uofer.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

Crime in US cities continues to fall dramatically. Homicide is down 51% in the first half of 2026 than the first half of 2022, carjacking down 73% vs. 2023, residential burglary down 56% vs. 2018, and motor vehicle theft down 51% vs. 2023. counciloncj.org/crime-trends...

counciloncj.org

Crime Trends in U.S. Cities: Mid-Year 2026 Update - Council on Criminal Justice

Examining changes in 13 offenses across a sample of 36 large U.S. cities, CCJ's mid-year analysis shows crime has continued to fall in the first half of 2026, with homicide likely dropping to another ...

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Udi Ofer @uofer.bsky.social · 26/07/2026

Until recently, no state other than Alabama sent more young people to adult court, per capita, than Maryland, where children as young as 14 years-old have been automatically charged as adults. Now that has changed www.sentencingproject.org/press-releas...

sentencingproject.org

Maryland Passes Youth Charging Reform Act – The Sentencing Project

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Udi Ofer @uofer.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

Really big news out of Ohio today, as Republican Governor Mike DeWine comes out against the death penalty. Ohio has 30 executions scheduled over the next four years. This announcement comes at a time when the death penalty has its lowest support recorded in decades, at 52% apnews.com/article/deat...

apnews.com

Republican Gov. Mike DeWine wants Ohio to abolish the death penalty, saying it is not a deterrent

Gov. Mike DeWine says he believes Ohio should abolish the death penalty. The term-limited governor, who has repeatedly postponed scheduled executions, said Tuesday that data shows the death penalty is...

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Udi Ofer @uofer.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

Record low number of people find the death penalty to be morally acceptable. Annual Gallup poll finds 52% of Americans believe the death penalty is acceptable, down from 71% in 2006. news.gallup.com/poll/710981/...

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Udi Ofer @uofer.bsky.social · 09/06/2026

Great new report by @micheledeitch.bsky.social on the problem of sleep deprivation in prison. Many of the conditions that undermine restorative sleep are not inevitable features of incarceration, but operational and policy choices that can be changed. lbj.utexas.edu/new-report-e...

lbj.utexas.edu

New Report Exposes the Impact of Chronic Sleep Disruption in U.S. Prisons and Jails

A new report from the Prison and Jail Innovation Lab (PJIL) at The University of Texas at Austin’s Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs reveals that chronic sleep disruption is a widespread and ...

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Udi Ofer @uofer.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

Big news out of Israel: Yesterday, Israel's Supreme Court, in petition by @acrionline.bsky.social, found state's ban on visits by the International Committee of Red Cross to Palestinian security detainees had no basis. Court ordered resumption of ICRC visits: www.english.acri.org.il/post/repeal-...

english.acri.org.il

Repeal the Ban on Red Cross Visits to Palestinian Prisoners | Association for Civil Rights in Israel

On February 22, 2024, ACRI, Physicians for Human Rights, HaMoked and Gisha petitioned the High Court of Justice (Hebrew) demanding that Red Cross representatives be allowed to visit Palestinian prison...

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Udi Ofer @uofer.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

We just held an entire conference on this in Chicago. It's a huge problem.

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Udi Ofer @uofer.bsky.social · 28/05/2026

Following the horrible school shooting in Uvalde, Texas passed a law requiring at least one cop at each public school. The result? Like in school districts across the country, police end up using force and arrests to enforce school discipline interactive-server.newsdev.nytimes.com/share/36804c...

interactive-server.newsdev.nytimes.com

Texas School Police Pepper-Sprayed, Tackled and Tasered Students

School officers across the state turned to heavy-handed tactics on children, often in response to minor misbehavior, our investigation shows.

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Udi Ofer @uofer.bsky.social · 25/05/2026

Fantastic story about incarcerated people in New Jersey & the Inmate Legal Association, which is comprised of jailhouse lawyers representing their neighbors in prison. @prisonjournalism.bsky.social is doing great work to bring to life the stories of people in prison. Highly recommend following them

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Udi Ofer @uofer.bsky.social · 19/05/2026

Dehumanization in prison leads to preposterous rules such as limiting toilet flushing to every 5 minutes. The result? People unable to flush their waste and the smell of feces filling prison spaces. Pennsylvania needs to change this policy. prisonjournalismproject.org/2026/05/14/a...

prisonjournalismproject.org

New Pennsylvania Prison Policy Limits Toilet Flushes

Yes, and at this Pennsylvania facility, flushing restrictions are causing problems.

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Udi Ofer @uofer.bsky.social · 14/05/2026

Judges have ruled against ICE mandatory detention practices in roughly 90 percent of cases since the agency mandated that millions of immigrants must be locked up while they face deportation proceedings. And ICE routinely defies these court orders. www.politico.com/news/2026/05...

politico.com

10,000 rulings: The courts’ overwhelming rebuke of Trump’s ICE policies

A POLITICO analysis reveals judges have ruled against ICE detention practices in roughly 90 percent of cases since the agency mandated that millions of immigrants must be locked up while they face dep...

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Udi Ofer @uofer.bsky.social · 13/05/2026

Powerful piece by @nycpublic.bsky.social on the impact of deportations on US citizen children and others. "Even her college fund was gone, used to pay for her mother’s legal defense. The future Garcia so clearly envisioned...was derailed as soon as ICE detained her mother" www.nj.com/education/20...

nj.com

'They took my mom': N.J. students missing school at alarming rates amid ICE fears

New Jersey students from immigrant families describe a school year filled with chaos, fear and loss as ICE raids devastate their families.

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Udi Ofer @uofer.bsky.social · 08/05/2026

Remind me to tell you the story of how my wife is related to Marge Simpson

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Udi Ofer @uofer.bsky.social · 30/04/2026

The number of daily immigration arrests have dropped by nearly 40% from December to March, and immigration detention is also down. So now Trump is facing pressure from some in his base to increase mass deportations. www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/...

washingtonpost.com

New DHS chief’s call for quieter immigration enforcement alarms MAGA base

Groups like the Mass Deportation Coalition see Markwayne Mullin’s push to restore confidence in DHS after fatal shootings as a potential betrayal of the president’s promise.

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Reposted by Udi Ofer

CUNY Institute for State & Local Governance @cunyislg.bsky.social · 30/04/2026

The term "criminal justice reform" is politically loaded. Nationally, many efforts have halted. But that's just one of many places where new strategies can emerge. In @justsecurity.org, @uofer.bsky.social tracks recent state reforms, from eliminating court fees to adding second look legislation.

justsecurity.org

Criminal Justice Reform Didn’t End — It Decentralized

While federal policy has shifted sharply in a punitive direction, state governments continue to drive criminal justice reform.

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Udi Ofer @uofer.bsky.social · 24/04/2026

Important new report from @sentencingproject.bsky.social on reentry, based on interviews with 33 people who returned home after long-term imprisonment, having been locked away from 20 to 43 years, and after being home for as little as 3 months up to roughly 3.5 years at the time of their interview:

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Udi Ofer @uofer.bsky.social · 24/04/2026

My article on how declarations of the death of criminal justice reform are wrong. In 2025 alone, 35 states passed 115 cj reform laws but got no national media attention. Organizations on left & right continue to work together. We're in quiet phase of the movement www.justsecurity.org/131987/crimi...

justsecurity.org

Criminal Justice Reform Didn’t End — It Decentralized

While federal policy has shifted sharply in a punitive direction, state governments continue to drive criminal justice reform.

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Udi Ofer @uofer.bsky.social · 23/04/2026

As a young lawyer post-9/11, my first exposure to bipartisanship was in the fight against needlessly sacrificing civil liberties in the name of national security. Left and right worked together to try to reform the USA PATRIOT Act. Similar fight now brewing on 702: www.politico.com/news/2026/03...

politico.com

‘Warrants or bust’: House hard-liners deliver ultimatum ahead of spy powers vote

A long-brewing confrontation over Section 702 surveillance authorities comes to a head next week.

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Reposted by Udi Ofer

Princeton PLAW @plawpu.bsky.social · 25/03/2026

"The movement for criminal justice reform has not disappeared. It has adapted—and it now lives, principally, in the states,” writes P•LAW affiliated scholar Udi Ofer (@uofer.bsky.social) for Just Security. www.justsecurity.org/131987/crimi... #PLAW #LawatPrinceton

justsecurity.org

Criminal Justice Reform Didn’t End — It Decentralized

While federal policy has shifted sharply in a punitive direction, state governments continue to drive criminal justice reform.

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Reposted by Udi Ofer

Just Security @justsecurity.org · 24/03/2026

The data on criminal justice reform tell a surprising story, writes @uofer.bsky.social Despite federal rollbacks and a renewed punitive agenda, states have continued to advance incremental reforms and on a bipartisan basis. www.justsecurity.org/131987/crimi...

justsecurity.org

Criminal Justice Reform Didn’t End — It Decentralized

While federal policy has shifted sharply in a punitive direction, state governments continue to drive criminal justice reform.

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Udi Ofer @uofer.bsky.social · 23/03/2026

Yeah, I've been making the federalism point for a year, including the fact that we have about 18,000 law enforcement agencies in the US, and the president has no control over about 17,900 of them.

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Udi Ofer @uofer.bsky.social · 08/03/2026

Wall Street Journal reports on Trump's attacks on free speech: Protesters and observers taken into custody by federal agents were declared terrorists in hundreds of social-media posts by U.S. officials and departments since the start of the immigration sweeps in cities www.wsj.com/us-news/immi...

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Udi Ofer @uofer.bsky.social · 05/03/2026

An estimated 1 in 3 adults in Rhode Island has an arrest or conviction record. Under proposed Clean Slate Act, approximately 77,000 Rhode Islanders could become eligible to have their records fully sealed, all part of nationwide Clean Slate movement www.cleanslateinitiative.org/updates/clea...

cleanslateinitiative.org

Clean Slate Campaign Launches in Rhode Island | The Clean Slate Initiative

Rhode Island has launched their Clean Slate campaign and introduced legislation to automate record sealing and expand access to second chances. Learn more in this update from Mo George, Campaign Strat...

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Udi Ofer @uofer.bsky.social · 24/02/2026

Mississippi said he died of a heart attack in prison. But now, the FBI is investigating the 2025 death of Melvin Cancer at the Central Mississippi Correctional Facility as a homicide, and the guards as the alleged perpetrators. www.themarshallproject.org/2026/02/24/m...

themarshallproject.org

FBI investigating Mississippi Prison Death Involving Guards

Melvin Cancer was killed by guards beating him inside the Central Mississippi Correctional Facility, a new report shows.

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Reposted by Udi Ofer

Nicole Chung @nicolechung.bsky.social · 20/02/2026

“When Liu, 20, decided to return to skating, she did so with conditions. She’d wear what she wants. Dance to the music she wants. Eat what she wants. Take breaks when she wants…. [Skating] would be the vehicle through which she displayed the real Alysa.” she did it! her! way!!

nytimes.com

Alysa Liu’s Olympic run came with terms. Her choreographer helps her express them

Liu is the best U.S. hope for an Olympic medal in women's figure skating, which would be the country's first in the competition since 2006.

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Udi Ofer @uofer.bsky.social · 19/02/2026

Associate Deputy AG Jordan Fox acknowledges violating court orders issued by NJ's federal judges more than 50 times, in stark contrast with previous statements from the Justice Department and ICE that have blamed “rogue judges” for the administration’s noncompliance www.politico.com/news/2026/02...

politico.com

DOJ acknowledges violating dozens of recent court orders in New Jersey

The self-assessment came amid rising concern among judges managing a flood of immigration cases.

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Udi Ofer @uofer.bsky.social · 17/02/2026

More than 7,000 protesters were killed over three weeks of protests in Iran last month — the vast majority of them from Jan. 8-10. Mourners plan to gather today at cemeteries where their loved ones are buried. It's infuriating that this is not getting more attention www.nytimes.com/2026/02/17/w...

nytimes.com

In Iran, Slain Protesters’ Memorials Will Test State Crackdown

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Udi Ofer @uofer.bsky.social · 15/02/2026

Hundreds of judges around the country have ruled more than a whopping 4,400 times, since October alone, that President Donald Trump’s administration is detaining immigrants unlawfully: www.reuters.com/legal/govern...

reuters.com

Courts have ruled 4,400 times that ICE jailed people illegally. It hasn’t stopped.

The decisions amount to a huge legal rebuke, one the administration has ignored.

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Udi Ofer @uofer.bsky.social · 15/02/2026

Last month, 8 people died in ICE detention centers or due to deadly shootings involving ICE agents. A record number of people died in ICE custody in 2025. But 2026 is already on track to surpass that record-high. www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/blog/ice-dea...

americanimmigrationcouncil.org

6 Deaths in ICE Custody and 2 Fatal Shootings: A Horrific Start to 2026 - American Immigration Council

2026 has already seen a shocking number of deaths tied to ICE. This includes fatalities in detention as well as shootings involving agents.

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Udi Ofer @uofer.bsky.social · 10/02/2026

It's very telling that California Democrats passed a law banning masks for federal law enforcement but not for state law enforcement. This gives you a clear picture of the overall struggle over police accountability and its relationship to partisanship. www.nytimes.com/2026/02/09/u...

nytimes.com

Judge Strikes Down California’s Ban on Masks for Federal Agents

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Udi Ofer @uofer.bsky.social · 10/02/2026

As Netanyahu prepares to meet with Trump this week in Washington, Israel has given itself new powers over territory in the West Bank. Trump has previously said he wouldnt allow Israel to annex the West Bank, yet Israel is taking steps now to annex the occupied territory www.wsj.com/world/middle...

wsj.com

Israel Assumes Broad New Powers in the West Bank

The Israeli government is deepening a push by far-right ministers to expand its authority and settlements in the West Bank.

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Udi Ofer @uofer.bsky.social · 03/02/2026

Definitely not one or the other. Organizing influences litigation and court rulings, and litigation and court rulings influence organizing. It's a symbiotic relationship. And then there is also the role of policymaking in all this.

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Udi Ofer @uofer.bsky.social · 03/02/2026

One of the lasting legacies of Trump 2.0 will be the wake up call that lead states to adopt new laws that allow lawsuits to hold federal law enforcement, including agents with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, liable for committing civil rights violations. www.wsj.com/us-news/law/...

wsj.com

States Rush to Remove Hurdles Stopping U.S. Agents From Being Sued for Shootings

The fatal shootings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good are driving these state efforts to allow federal officials, including ICE agents, to be held liable for civil-rights abuses.

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Udi Ofer @uofer.bsky.social · 02/02/2026

Amazing. Would love to learn what you find out! Ty.

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Udi Ofer @uofer.bsky.social · 02/02/2026

It makes sense you can't find good data since that would require asking people about their immigration status, which would defeat the point of ITINs for undocumented immigrants. But when I was an immigration attorney, I used to recommend that my clients file their federal taxes, which required ITIN

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Udi Ofer @uofer.bsky.social · 02/02/2026

Historically, ITIN numbers were available to undocumented immigrants to allow them to pay taxes. But these days, while ITINs are still available regardless of status, DHS is seeking data from Treasury on who gets ITINs, which does complicate things. It's currently in litigation.

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