Weather Report #10: Federal Immigration Authorities Won't Release Records About 'Operation Cupid's Nest,' a 'What if?' Novel about Abolitionists Winning the Civil War, and a Science Fiction Movie About Colonial Oppression

Consuming 05/04/2025

Weather Report #10: Federal Immigration Authorities Won't Release Records About 'Operation Cupid's Nest,' a 'What if?' Novel about Abolitionists Winning the Civil War, and a Science Fiction Movie About Colonial Oppression
The Ypres Salient at Night by Paul Nash, 1918. Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons.
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I published a newsletter post yesterday about the Government of Puerto Rico voluntarily dismissing its climate lawsuit against the fossil fuel industry after receiving a strongly-worded letter from an industry front group. Even though I broke the story on Twitter before mainstream outlets, my local paper of record did not give me the credit. Alas, those are the trials and tribulations of independent journalism. But you, dear reader, know, and that's what really counts. Without your support, I would not be breaking any news or uncovering any new information. So, thank you so much for your support!

Here's the roundup:

  1. Updates on my FOIAs to federal agencies about "Operation Cupid's Nest," seemingly disproving what an HSI spox told me on the record.
  2. An alternative history novel about a socialist United States brought about by abolitionists winning the Civil War and seceding from the Union.
  3. A 50-year-old beautifully animated science fiction film about colonial oppression that still holds a lot of meaning for the anti-imperial struggles of today.
  4. Links to articles, essays, and videos about: the El Salvador government's pact with the countries gangs; how right-wing megalomaniac billionaires coordinate their messaging; stopping "sales talk" around video games; the death of video games journalism institutions; and video games designed to feel like they've been abandoned. The last two have brief prefaces where I reminisce about my brief time as a "guy writing about comic books" and my favourite MMO.
  5. Three tracks that I'm enjoying.

If you're interested in seeing the recommendations – and supporting Heavy Weather's quest to keep tabs on collapse – you can become a paid subscriber by clicking the button bellow. Paid subscribers get access to the full MEDIA LIST, a comprehensive list of every book, movie, and video game I've ever recommended in any of the Weather Reports. If you're already a paid subscriber, thank you!


Federal Agencies Don't Want You to Know More Information About "Operation Cupid's Nest"

More than a month ago, I published a story about "Operation Cupid's Nest," a federal immigration operation seemingly targeting migrants at Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport. Other than what I found in court documents, details about the operation are incredibly scarce. So, I did what I always do: file some FOIAs. So far, I have not received any documents. However, ICE's denial of my FOIA seemingly confirmed that HSI did participate in the operation in some capacity, contrary to what an HSI spox told me at the time. Here's what the ICE denial says (emphasis mine):

The ICE FOIA Office applied FOIA Exemption (b)(7)(A) to protect from disclosure records or information compiled for law enforcement purposes, the release of which could reasonably be expected to interfere with enforcement proceedings. On April 15, 2025, HSI verified that there is still an ongoing, active investigation related to the records that you are seeking. The premature public disclosure of investigatory records, such as evidence and information contained in the records requested here, would hinder ongoing law enforcement proceedings, and impede necessary investigation prior to final agency actions related to those proceedings. Therefore, ICE has determined that the withholding of records in this case pursuant to FOIA Exemption (b)(7)(A) is proper in all respects.

It's incredibly unclear what this means for "Operation Cupid's Nest," whether it's still going, whether it's over and they are still investigating some of the people they've stopped, or whether they are just using it to justify not looking for records. I have no answers, just an update on the fact that I have no answers. For what it's worth, the law enforcement exemption is one of the most widely used and abused FOIA exemptions, according to the Project on Government Oversight:

Out of all FOIA exemptions used in fiscal year 2020, the law enforcement exemption was used 58.6% of the time, according to a Project On Government Oversight (POGO) analysis of data on FOIA.gov. A January report by the Government Accountability Office revealed a similar rate of 55.5% for fiscal year 2019, and independent researchers have found it was among the most commonly used in prior years. Use of the law enforcement exemption even surpasses use of the exemption allowing for the withholding of deliberative and pre-decisional information, which, as POGO wrote last year, is especially prone to abuse (and a recent Supreme Court decision may embolden agencies to use it even more).

Meanwhile, the FBI told me they have no records about "Cupid's Nest" even though it was one of their agents who signed the affidavit that alerted me to the operation. CBP also has no responsive records, even though it was two of their agents who arrested the migrant targeted by the operation.

Time to send more FOIAs and start asking more questions.


That's it for this week's free stuff. If you want to keep reading and access the media recommendations and the links, you can become a subscriber for as low as $3!