Ximena Bustillo

Hi, I'm Ximena, NPR's reporter covering the Homeland Security Dept+immigration policy. Send me tips securely via encrypted messaging on Signal, where my username is ximenabustillo.77. We're committed to protecting your identity, & will keep you anonymous if you fear retribution. Thank you in advance

SCOOP: Afghans in immigration detention across the country are being told there is a plan to deport them to Pakistan. Advocates fear those removed, which could include families of US allies, would be in life-threatening danger. news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...

The Trump administration was on track to complete about 660,000 deportations last fiscal year, far lower than the goal of 1 million, according to a nonpartisan analysis.

As DHS touted fewer naturalizations, @kreighbaum.bsky.social + I were looking at the data. Apps are down, approvals are down, denials are up, wait times doubled. We also uncovered some people experience months-long gaps between approvals and their final oaths. news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...

A new GAO report reveals ICE’s body cameras do not have the ability to automatically turn on. The agency said doing so could lead to privacy concerns. Other agencies, like CBP, do have that feature. news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...

SCOOP: The Trump administration is offering migrant children $3,000 to voluntarily depart in immigration court. Sometimes the offer comes from ICE attorneys, other times from the immigration judges themselves. The kids are as young as 5. @bloomberglaw.com news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...

Lawmakers are asking DHS questions abut the use of CBP funds to pay for recent political ads put out by the White House with the note "paid for by the U.S. Government." Critics say these could be violating laws around use of taxpayer funds for campaigns. news.bloomberglaw.com/bloomberg-go...

Scooplet: DHS was told to find space nationally for new immigration court hearing locations including at FEMA, CISA, US Coast Guard and ICE properties. But the new locations caused confusion as members of congress and the public are blocked. My latest news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...

"Immigration and Customs Enforcement didn’t have a comprehensive plan for its rapid expansion of detention facilities, resulting in the waste of over $20 million, according to a federal watchdog." via @ximenabustillo.bsky.social news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...

The new effort appears to be another tactic in a broader Trump administration strategy to short-circuit immigrants' already limited due process options in order to speed deportations. n.pr/4cWvyCc

SCOOP: Immigrants are being rapidly reassigned to in-person immigration court hearings at buildings that are not immigration courts + with minimal notice. The pop-up courts come as EOIR is looking to rapidly acquire space throughout the country. www.npr.org/2026/09/04/g...

Cameras could help alleviate some concerns about ICE transparency and accountability after immigration officers were involved in over two dozen shootings under the Trump administration. n.pr/4i1gIhb

NEW: ICE says it now has enough body cameras for every officer and agent to have their own. DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin added all agents in the field should be using them by end of this month. Some lawmakers have already been told training is done. www.npr.org/2026/09/01/g...

✨Friday News Dump: Sept. 10 is my last day at NPR. More on what is next to come. I will not be leaving the beat! In 4 + years I produced over 1,030 stories across print/radio out of 13 states, covered 2 elections & worked along side the kindest people to do great journalism💙

There are at least three fires in and around the city. Large parts of Spokane are under Level 3 evacuation orders, which read: "Leave NOW! This may be your only notice."

Asylum was first on the list of legal immigration processes to be reimagined by the Trump admin. Congressional statutes, admin court decisions, policy memos and arrest tactics have change the lives of those hoping to get + those already with this protection: My latest: www.npr.org/2026/07/30/n...

Spouses of US citizens were never guaranteed status. But generally they were not a main target of arrests and could have a lapse in status while waiting green card approval + it wouldn’t be a sudden mark against. Trump’s sweepy policies changed that. www.npr.org/2026/07/06/n...

Before SCOTUS decision on birthright citizenship, let’s take a step back. I breakdown exactly what the Trump administration immigration policy looks like and how it is playing out on the ground. Months of reporting, several locations + one ultimate goal. Watch: www.npr.org/2026/06/30/g...

Last week SCOTUS issued a ruling on temporary protected status. A lot is unknown -- especially for the four countries with expiration dates later this year. Further terminations of TPS could impact more an a quarter of a million more people. My latest: www.npr.org/2026/06/29/g...

Federal officers shot Carlitos Ricardo Parias while detaining him in LA. 8 months later, his family wonders if he’s getting all the medical care possible in detention. My latest on dwindling oversight, and mandatory detention, leaving little recourse. www.npr.org/2026/06/20/n...

It’s been a week for NPR but last night a few of us got a rare moment to celebrate our work. My series on immigration policy through the lens of the Kentucky Derby won top news series and hats off to our international colleagues also honored for their work. Recap here: www.npr.org/series/g-s1-...

ICYMI: DHS says the Office of Immigration Detention Ombudsman is shut down because of the ongoing funding lapses. OIDO is supposed to be separate from ICE and CBP. The further winnowing of the office comes as the admin wants to expand detention spaces. www.npr.org/2026/05/07/g...

Wrapping up the week: Trump officials emphasized mass deportations and a unified government to get it done is still the goal amid leadership changes at DHS. And DHS officials said they’re moving fast to spend money Congress gave them last year. www.npr.org/2026/05/07/g...

In Phoenix to attend the Border Security Expo (among other tasks!). The federal gov plans to have a big presence - White House Border Czar Tom Homan keynoting - Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche keynoting - ICE acting director + CBP commissioner - sessions on federal policy

Immigrants with legal permission to live + work in the U.S. are losing status. Some are professionals, highly educated, others lived here all their lives or are newlyweds. They have one thing in common: they were born in a travel banned country My latest: www.npr.org/2026/04/28/n...

NEW: A BIA order says valid DACA is not a reason for an immigration judge to prevent deportation. DHS said DACA doesn’t confer legal status + can still be removed. The order, on Catalina “Xochitl” Santiago’s case, is precedent for immigration judges to follow. www.npr.org/2026/04/25/n...

After the Baltimore Key Bridge collapse killed 6 immigrant workers, the Biden admin encouraged 30 loved ones to apply for temporary protection from deportation. Zoila was one. But this month DHS denied her application and started deportation proceedings An NPR exclusive www.npr.org/2026/04/23/n...

NEW: More people have pending/unopened cases at USCIS than ever. The sharp jumps surpass increases during Trump's first term. Lawyers say it makes clients vulnerable to deportation. The admin says its their attempt to "not take shortcuts" www.npr.org/2026/04/17/n...

Confirming: Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons, who testified today before House lawmakers, has turned in his resignation. His last day is May 31 and he moves on to an “opportunity in the private sector.”

ICYMI: 8 top DHS officials testified before House appropriators today to discuss the FY 2027 budget and they addressed the elephant in the room: they don't have a FY 2026 budget. Lawmakers called the hearing an "absurdity," and the process "frustrating." www.npr.org/2026/04/16/g...

Last year had some volatility. The first shows of the apps reviewed how many were approved/denied. We see the number drop after staying steady (even starting really high). The second shows # of apps submitted. Key changes hit in the fall when some of the stricter policies started

The year began with many people becoming U.S. citizens, but by December, fewer people were doing so, driven by ramped-up scrutiny of applications and eroding trust in the system. n.pr/4vxZKeL

How to cover a congressional hearing, a primer from @ximenabustillo.bsky.social yourfirstbyline.substack.com/p/how-to-cov...

Tucked in the Justice Dept a little-known board is rapidly setting immigration policy. Reconfigured by Trump, the Board of Immigration Appeals is pushing out more precedent setting decisions than ever and almost all favor ICE attorneys. We broke it down: www.npr.org/2026/03/20/n...

The case of Khalil, who was detained last March, sits at the vanguard of a battle of immigrants' due process and civil rights, and the Trump administration's mass detention and deportation policies. n.pr/4rne2eU

Twenty-three people have died since October in ICE custody, as advocates warn about overcrowding and health care access. n.pr/4ujkO80

NEW: 23 people have died in ICE custody this fiscal year, already surpassing the number of deaths of last fiscal year. DHS did not respond to our questions about the tally but they did respond to GA Senator questions about detention conditions. Latest: www.npr.org/2026/03/10/g...

Mahmoud Khalil helped his wife pick out baby names while in immigration detention. Now, he hesitates to walk with his son alone. A year after being detained, this green card holders' legal battles continue to roil. @carriejohnson.bsky.social + I caught up w/ him. www.npr.org/2026/03/10/n...

Everyone at @boisestatepublicradio.org is SOOOO proud of our intern Jaime Geary, who just had a feature air on @npr.org's All Things Considered. A major professional achievement for anyone in the business, let alone someone so early in their career. A name to watch. www.npr.org/2026/02/18/n...

Immigration courts by the #’s: - 25% less judges - 400 less legal assistants + clerks - 12 courts lost over half their judges, two have no full time IJs - supervisors spread across several locations We break down a clear picture of what is happening across the country: www.npr.org/2026/02/23/g...

Last week I spoke on the NPR Politics podcast about how USCIS was largely ignored during Congress's two oversight hearings. This week, USCIS and ICE issue a joint memo saying refugees could be detained if they are not granted a green card within a year. www.npr.org/2026/02/19/g...

ICE's chief testified today that dozens of agents have been investigated for abuse in the last year. So how many have actually been punished and fired? He wouldn't say. www.npr.org/2026/02/12/g...

Ticktock on DHS’s shutdown: the Senate has left the building. The next set of votes are not until Monday, Feb 23. www.npr.org/2026/02/12/n...

Not often a Congressional hearing really breaks news. But today Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons said there were nearly 40 investigations into ICE use of force in the last year. www.npr.org/2026/02/12/g...

Three hours of testimony for the top three leaders of Trump’s immigration enforcement agencies. There were some moments of bipartisan concern but there are still wide gaps on solutions. Read my wrap before we do it again Thursday: www.npr.org/2026/02/10/n...

SCOOP: Immigration courts rapidly scheduled and rescheduled Somali asylum seekers to have hearings suddenly within the next four weeks. The move could fast-track their deportation and limit due process, multiple lawyers with over 100 cases affected tell me. www.npr.org/2026/02/09/n...

Democrats want to make immigration their issue. But it's a balancing act: calling for reforms of tactics while wary of appearing out of step with voters' want of enforcement of immigration laws. My latest w/ @elenamoore.bsky.social www.npr.org/2026/02/04/n...

Trump administration officials have falsely linked Alex Pretti and Renee Macklin Good to domestic terrorism. It's part of a larger pattern by the Department of Homeland Security. n.pr/45Arnsg

Three citizenship ceremonies NPR attended in the Washington, D.C. area in January were largely celebratory experiences, despite a year of hurdles and changes to the naturalization process.