The abuses of the Trump administration will require constant vigilance. Hereβs how weβre doing our part to hold officials accountable
If youβre regularly keeping up with the news, you know that just about every day of the Trump administration seems to bring new, horrifying stories about our immigrant neighbors and contributors being kidnapped by masked, warrantless federal agents and deported without any semblance of due process or justice, leaving behind shattered homes and heartbroken communities. This current administration is using immigration as the tip of the spear to attack our democracy and the rights of all of us.Β
Not even U.S.-born Americans seem to be immune from these outrageous abuses of power. Last month, disabled U.S. military veteran George Retes was brutally detained and jailed after agents ignored his pleas. βI clearly identified myself as a U.S. citizen,β he said. They ignored him. And a recent lawsuit alleges that officials unlawfully deported a sick U.S. citizen child along with his mother without first giving her a chance to first try to arrange for his care in the U.S.Β
The child, known publicly as Romeo, βwas diagnosed with a βrare and aggressive form of kidney cancerβ at age two and had been receiving treatment in the US,β The Guardian reported.
Meanwhile, an ongoing Senate investigation alleges widespread abuse in ICE custody, βincluding accounts of miscarriages, child neglect, and sexual abuse at ICE detention centers in dozens of states,β WIRED reports. Itβs no wonder members of Congress are being illegally blocked from conducting their oversight responsibilities. And then in June, immigration officials shockingly detained a pregnant U.S. citizen woman set to give birth within days.Β
βI was born here,β Cary LΓ³pez Alvarado said as she tried to protect her unborn child. βI was born in Los Angeles; I was born in Hollywood Hospital.β
We canβt let these abuses fall off the radar. Thatβs why we want to share with you a new tool from Americaβs Voice sharing those stories and helping keep officials in check: Abuse of Power Watch, a real-time documentation hub exclusively on Bluesky exposing the full scope of government overreach and abuses that are targeting immigrant communities, our democratic values, and the freedoms of all Americans. This isnβt just documentationβitβs accountability in action.
What youβll find at Abuse of Power Watch: verified, sourced stories updated in real-time; both breaking news and crucial archived cases; clear evidence of systematic overreach and rights violations; and a comprehensive resource for advocates, policymakers, and concerned citizens. See some examples below:
ππππππππππ, πππππ ππππππππ:Allison Bustillo Chinchilla came to America as a child from Honduras and grew up to be a certified nursing assistant. Under President Donald Trumpβs mass deportation policy, sheβs spent the past five months in ICE detention.
β Abuse of Power Watch (@abuseofpowerwatch.bsky.social) 2025-08-07T12:54:18.198Z
πππππππππ:Pregnant women and children in ICE custody report horrific abuse β including medical neglect, assault, and forced miscarriages β according to a new Senate investigation. #AbuseofPowerWatch
β Abuse of Power Watch (@abuseofpowerwatch.bsky.social) 2025-08-08T14:39:48.598Z
π ππππππππ:Reports reveal that men have impersonated ICE agents to kidnap, sexually assault, and terrorize women β exploiting the anonymity created by masked, plainclothes enforcement. This dangerous gap in accountability has put vulnerable communities at risk. #AbuseofPowerWatch
β Abuse of Power Watch (@abuseofpowerwatch.bsky.social) 2025-08-12T14:09:22.208Z
ππππ πππππππ, πππππ πππππ:U.S. citizen Andrea Velez was slammed to the ground by ICE agents, held 48 hours, and denied water for 24, despite showing ID. #AbuseofPowerWatch
β Abuse of Power Watch (@abuseofpowerwatch.bsky.social) 2025-08-13T14:27:39.205Z
π ππππππππ, πππ ππππ: An ICE agent was caught on camera disguised as a construction worker, complete with a hard hat and safety vest, refusing to identify themselves when confronted. This kind of covert operation evades accountability and sows fear in our communities. #AbuseofPowerWatch
β Abuse of Power Watch (@abuseofpowerwatch.bsky.social) 2025-08-18T13:43:38.478Z
ππππ πππππππ, πππππ πππππ:A 15-year-old student with disabilities was handcuffed at gunpoint by masked agents outside his school, mistakenly detained during a federal operation.Their response to the trauma? One agent called it βan exciting story to tell.β #AbuseofPowerWatch
β Abuse of Power Watch (@abuseofpowerwatch.bsky.social) 2025-08-19T14:09:34.377Z
This isnβt just about keeping the stories of real people like Romeo, George, Cary and others on the radar, itβs also about revealing the full scope of abuses and building the case for reform and oversight. Please follow, spread the word, and help make sure these important stories arenβt overlooked or swept under the rug.
