Nice article in #CascadiaDaily about one of our favorite local artworks, the "Non Sign II" sculpture at the Blaine border crossing:

https://www.cascadiadaily.com/2025/apr/08/billboard-sculpture-at-blaine-border-has-welcomed-our-northern-neighbors-to-us-since-2010/

Our top story: “Many of these technologies are eroding that reasonable expectation of privacy that people have, and [are] kind of leading to this police #surveillance state, where the government ends up having … information about people without having to get a warrant.” https://www.texasobserver.org/texas-dps-surveillance-arsenal-artificial-intelligence-lege/

Tariff the meds.

Just so.

Off we drive to Canada.

Ope! Border's closed.

Citizenship means NOTHING to these people.

Arizona Democrats walk out of Trump border czar speech | Phoenix New Times
https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/arizona-democrats-walk-out-of-trump-border-czar-speech-21536470

Can U.S. border guards search your phone? Your rights explained
Canadians are being told to 'expect scrutiny' when crossing ports of entry, including questioning and potential search of their electronic devices. Here's what that means.
#rights #border #search #technology #Canada #Consumer
https://globalnews.ca/news/11119958/canada-us-border-travel-phone-searches-what-to-know/

Rise in asylum seekers crossing into Quebec as U.S. revokes status of thousands of migrants
Canadian border officials say there has been a steady rise in the number of people seeking asylum at a border crossing south of Montreal.
#politics #migration #border #Quebec #Montreal #News
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/rise-asylum-seekers-quebec-1.7505027?cmp=rss

Our top story: Over the past several years, the #Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) has quietly built out an expansive #surveillance apparatus—one that’s increasingly powered by artificial intelligence. Can the legislature pass new protections for our privacy? https://www.texasobserver.org/texas-dps-surveillance-arsenal-artificial-intelligence-lege/

“They Don’t Care About Civil Rights”: Trump’s Shuttering of DHS Oversight Arm Freezes 600 Cases, Imperils Human Rights
—

The closure of the 150-person office, which protected the civil rights of both immigrants and U.S. citizens, strips Homeland Security of its internal guardrails as the Trump administration turns DHS into a mass-deportation machine, analysts say.

https://www.propublica.org/article/homeland-security-crcl-civil-rights-immigration-border-patrol-trump-kristi-noem?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=mastodon-post

According to a new book edited by Andréanne Bissonnette and Élisabeth Vallet, while “restoring the rule of law” to the U.S.-Mexico #border has been a repeated talking point for successive administrations, it is the border walls themselves which are lawless. https://www.texasobserver.org/the-lawless-border-wall/

Our top story: Operation Lone Star has turbocharged DPS’ #surveillance capabilities. Lawmakers say they want to prevent Texas from becoming a police state but have filed only modest legislation to regulate use of #AI https://www.texasobserver.org/texas-dps-surveillance-arsenal-artificial-intelligence-lege/

In books: While “restoring the rule of law” to the U.S.-Mexico border has been a resonant and repeated talking point for successive administrations, it is the #border walls that they have built, not the border itself, that are lawless.
https://www.texasobserver.org/the-lawless-border-wall/

What To Do If #Border Police Ask To Search Your Phone

https://reason.com/2025/04/04/what-to-do-if-border-police-ask-to-search-your-phone/

The #US #border #surveillance expansion has global implications

https://privacyinternational.org/news-analysis/5552/us-border-surveillance-expansion-has-global-implications

“Write an ode to misfits. A poem of praise for those who don’t belong here or there. A lyric ballad for the children of nowhere. Employ the interjection Oh at some point in the poem. Remember it can be used to capture their joy or your pain.” https://www.texasobserver.org/poetry-prompts-for-detained-children/

Earlier: Over the past several years, the #Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) has quietly built out an expansive #surveillance apparatus—one that’s increasingly powered by artificial intelligence. Experts say these tools put our privacy at risk. https://www.texasobserver.org/texas-dps-surveillance-arsenal-artificial-intelligence-lege/

This week's @wola-org.bsky.social #Border Update covers:

- Courts consider Alien Enemies Act and El Salvador renditions
- Notes about deportation flights
- Budget resolution to move in Senate
- Notes on the military’s role
- Low #migration numbers in March
- Noem travels to Latin America

https://www.wola.org/2025/04/weekly-u-s-mexico-border-update-el-salvador-renditions-budget-military-role-march-migration/

Immigrants may not have the same status as citizens, but they do have legal rights in the United States. Boundaries are being tested as the Trump administration claims broad authority to deport “alien enemies” and others. #immigration #border #immigrants

https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2025/0404/immigration-due-process-deportation-trump?utm_source=flipboard&utm_medium=activitypub

Posted into Now What? @now-what-csmonitor

Earlier, from Francesca D'Annunzio and Pulitzer Center: Operation Lone Star has turbocharged DPS’ surveillance capabilities. Lawmakers say they want to prevent Texas from becoming a police state but have filed only modest legislation to regulate use of #AI.
https://www.texasobserver.org/texas-dps-surveillance-arsenal-artificial-intelligence-lege/

U.S. citizen kicked out of Canada 6 times in cat-and-mouse game with border officials, search warrant alleges
A search warrant reveals a game of cat and mouse between Canadian border officials and an American citizen.
#law #politics #border #Canada #US #News
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/us-citizen-kicked-out-of-canada-6-times-allegedly-smuggled-gun-1.7499390?cmp=rss