Find me on Bluesky: @juliancastrotx.bsky.social

The governor has promised to use his war chest to turn Harris County "deep red." A blue wave could sweep out even Abbott's GOP favs. In her newest, @MichellePitcher looks at what this could mean for prisons, bail reform and the rights of the accused: texasobserver.org/blue-wave-…

Today, I held a field hearing in San Antonio to examine ICE's growing and harmful presence in our city, and push back against the proposed ICE warehouse on the East Side. Alongside elected officials, we heard from witnesses—including legal advocates, faith leaders, and former law enforcement—about how ICE's presence has already hurt families, workers, and public safety in San Antonio. A new detention center would only deepen that harm and be a blow to the local economy. Thank you to everyone who is using their voice to stand up against ICE in our community and across the country.

Gina up three against Abbott in latest NYT/Siena poll. She keeps rising. How much more evidence of @GinaHinojosaTX strength in Texas will @AndyBeshearKY and the @DemGovs have to see before they support her in a real way? She can win!

🚨BREAKING: An ICE/Border Patrol agent approached a U.S. citizen at a gas station, in Lake Worth, Florida, demanded his ID, and when the U.S. citizen asked why? … The agent’s said, “Because you’re an immigrant.” Except that is not how the Constitution works. In the video, the U.S. citizen is standing at a gas station when an agent walks up and says, “Let me see your ID.” The man asks a completely reasonable question, “Why?” The agent responds, “Because you’re an immigrant.” And before the man has even been identified, the agents grab his hands and puts him in handcuffs. People standing around immediately start questioning what is happening…asking the agents how they can arrest someone when they haven’t even identified who he is… But the agents ignore them and walk the man to their vehicle. The Fourth Amendment protects people from unreasonable searches and seizures. The Supreme Court has held that roving Border Patrol agents need reasonable suspicion, based on specific circumstances, to stop someone and question them about immigration status. And apparent ethnicity, by itself, is not enough. So, what was the actual legal basis for demanding this man show his ID? Because if the answer is literally… “because you’re an immigrant,” that should piss off every American. You should not have to prove you’re a U.S. citizen before the government decides it has the right to put you in handcuffs. And this is just another reminder that constitutional rights don’t mean anything if federal agents can violate them, over and over again, with no accountability.

ICE slam man's head against stone wall—send him to hospital with fractured skull. Man's hands were already behind his back. Agents then physically assault legal observers—soon as they realize they're caught on video. Threaten to shoot witnesses with taser—even firing it up. Agent holds taser sideways "gangster style"—is this proper training? Man was taken to Northwestern Medicine Delnor Hospital. Incident occurred outside the Kane County Judicial Center in the St. Charles suburb of Chicago, Illinois.

He Lived Here for 35 Years. Put Three Kids in College. ICE Killed Him. @Carrasquillo on Lorenzo Araujo thebulwark.com/p/he-lived-he…

ICE deport couple—leave their 2 dogs locked inside their home to die. They were left without food or water for 1 whole week—until apartment manager went to check on the smell. "Yes! This is ICE's fault!" said animal welfare guy. "It is 1000% their responsibility to notify us." If any law enforcement agency involved knows that there are animals at the scene—they are mandated reporters to animal welfare. "Why are people coming out of left field to defend ICE in this situation?" he asks. Incident occurred near Chicago, Illinois.

ICE detain mother after victim of hit and run—that killed her 10 year old daughter. Agents arrested her despite qualifying for a U Visa—as a victim of a crime who cooperates with police. Locked up over 3 months now with 2 broken legs—denied medication prescribed after surgery. Laura Ramirez immigrated legally from Colombia to Nashville, Tennessee—via the official CBP One mobile app for processing asylum claims. She has been separated from her youngest daughter—who was also injured in the hit and run car crash but survived. Now locked up 680 miles away from surviving 5 year old daughter at the South Louisiana ICE Processing Center in Basile, Louisiana. #DemsUnited

Mother "is begging" to self deport so she can see her child again—ICE refuses. Separated 4 months now from her 2 year old son—he was sent back to Colombia. "Why are they detaining people who sign deportation papers?" "Because that's how they make money—that is their business." ICE denied her paperwork to be deported to Colombia. Will only agree to deport her to a third country—where her son is not living. Heidy Johana Rave Salazar's 2 year old son depends on a medical treatment to survive. She is desperately asking to be deported so she can help him—but remains locked up at the Adelanto ICE Processing Center in California.

ICE detain 2 elementary students—deport them within 48 hours. 'This week ICE crossed a new alarming line," said lawyer. "Children are being targeted." They were deported with nothing but the clothes on their backs—to place where they have no home, no belongings, nor resources. 6-year-old Denis and 11-year-old Genesis—both students at Burton Magnet Elementary School—were detained with their parents while attending an asylum hearing. Their phones and documents were taken away before being driven away in unmarked van with dark tinted windows—so they couldn't even wave goodbye to their family. "If we do everything according to the law we can still get kidnapped in the middle of the day and taken away... What are people supposed to do?" Incident occurred in Durham, North Carolina.

ICE tackled a rape victim outside a courthouse after testifying.

Liam Conejo Ramos' father says his son now regularly sees a psychologist. Liam's mother, Erika Ramos, said he's been exhibiting signs of psychological trauma, including hypervigilance and isolation. "As parents, it worries us a lot that he's no longer as he was before and we're worried this could last a long time," Liam's father said. cbsnews.com/news/liam-conejo…

The wife of an Army staff sergeant, who is set to train for deployment, was taken from a military base where the couple planned to live. ICE agents had entered the base and detained Annie Ramos. nytimes.com/2026/04/05/us/ic…

Trump had to give the speech of his life to sell this extremely unpopular war. He failed terribly. Slurred his speech, sounded punch drunk, weak and incompetent. Totally unconvincing.

Two-year-old Kaleth is being locked away at the Dilley trailer prison. He is getting sicker with each passing day. He will not eat the food CoreCivc serves, which detainees have said sometimes has mold and worms. He now has a fever. When his mother asked for help, the staff said it was all “mental.” A vulnerable child at the Dilley trailer prison was suffering and ICE denied their reality and their needs. It’s shameful and must stop. I am calling for ICE to provide proper medical care to Kaleth and to release him and his mother Joani immediately.

ICE put a young American in a chokehold and threatened to blow a mother's brains out. We cannot allow any more funding for this rogue agency.

ICE detain husband of Democratic congressional candidate—who is also a disabled U.S. Army veteran. He is wheelchair bound—after suffering severe injury during training for deployment in Iraq. Agents arrested him one interview and a ceremony away from becoming a U.S. citizen. Zahid Chaudhry has been awarded multiple medals for his service: ▪︎Army Service Ribbon ▪︎Global War on Terrorism Service Medal ▪︎Armed Forces Reserve Medal ▪︎Reserve Achievement Medal ▪︎National Defense Service Medal ▪︎Recruitment Achievement Medal ▪︎Army Strength Management Award After 124 days in detention a federal judge finally ruled he had been wrongfully detained. Zahid Chaudhry is currently waiting for his new hearing—living back at home with his wife and 2 U.S. citizen children in Tacoma, Washington.

TEXAS NEWS: 76% of the 150k+ school voucher applicants were already enrolled in private schools last year. A plurality of that number are from households that make $66k-160k. What's more, the elite schools in San Antonio & Dallas aren't taking vouchers. Full story 👇

Antonio and Caleb Gámez-Cuéllar went from performing with the Mariachi Oro vocalists before Congress to being imprisoned by ICE. I am doing everything in my power to make sure the boys and their family return home safely. #FreeOurChildren

23 year old Ruben Ray Martinez’s last words? “I’m sorry sir”. ICE shot him 3 times and killed him. Renee Good’s last words? “It’s ok I’m not mad”. Alex Pretti’s last words? “Are you ok?” These are the people DHS calls domestic terrorists. Threats. Aggressors. Abolish ICE