You are a part of something bigger than yourself. By reading, sharing, and supporting the work of this Substack newsletter, you have helped to have a major impact on the national immigration conversation—and I have the data and examples to show it. I am sharing this with you because my entire vision for this work is focused on real-world impact and I want to bring you into this work as a partner by asking you to consider supporting this work with a paid subscription.
This post is prompted by a surprising and humbling experience from earlier this week. Rachel Maddow—probably the biggest name in news and politics—shared my recent Substack post with Adam Sawyer on social media and live on her MS NOW show to help explain ICE detention growth. When a friend sent me the screenshot, I was shocked to see this work travel so far, yet deeply grateful that someone with her platform is incorporating real data-driven research into their reporting.
But it’s not just Rachel Maddow. In just the past few weeks, this Substack has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, on CNN’s Michael Smerconish’s show, USA Today, Truthout, The Guardian, Project Censored, Simon Rosenberg’s newsletter right here on Substack, and many other podcasts, newspapers, and influential news blogs. I will never forget seeing this Substack featured on the John Oliver Show last year. And it’s not just liberal news outlets who use this work: Breitbart and The Washington Examiner, two news outlets further on the right, also use this work—and I am deeply grateful to them for their reporting, too. No matter how big or small the news outlet is or how they lean politically, I want this work to be useful and accessible to all journalists. In fact, this newsletter has already been cited 21 times since the start of 2026 (once every two days) and 137 times since the start of the Trump administration. This is all way beyond my wildest expectations.
It’s not only news outlets who are using this work. I get messages from readers every week—lawyers, pastors, people who are just curious and want to stay informed—who say that they are grateful for having a source of immigration data and analysis that focuses on clear explanations rather than polarizing rhetoric. A reader named Beth recently said: "Your data analysis is on point and you stick close to the information that shows exactly how the government is moving on immigration, beyond the bluster and rhetoric. Thank you for cutting through the noise." Another reader, a lawyer, wrote to say, “I am a relatively new immigration attorney and I get so much out of your work! I am happy to support it. The legal director in my workplace (non-profit org) often circulates your writing to our legal team. Thank you for everything you do!”
I'd like to think it's the combination of rigorous research and empathetic writing—writing that respects the reader rather than talks down to them—that helps this work connect with so many people.
Although this work might look inevitable now, this newsletter almost didn’t happen. At the start of the second Trump administration, I was considering moving my attention elsewhere and limiting my work on this platform. It was only after the tremendous response I received from you, the readers, when I first offered a paid subscription option that I realized this work had a community behind it willing to invest in keeping it going. Despite incredible support, just 3% of readers support this work financially and the demands on the work continue to grow with each new chaotic immigration policy.
As I’ve said before, I believe in the free flow of information, and I will never limit access to any posts based on whether someone pays. That’s not what a paid subscription here means. Becoming a paid subscriber at $7/month or $70/year means something simpler and, I think, more meaningful: it means you believe in public transparency, in data-driven reporting on immigration, and in making quality analysis available to everyone—not just those with the right credentials or the right connections. It means you trust this work and you want to make sure it has the resources to keep going at least through the end of the current administration, when it is needed most.
I know that subscriptions are everywhere now. Every podcast, every newsletter, every writer has a tip jar or a membership tier, and it can feel like death by a thousand micro-transactions. I get it. Budgets are tight for a lot of people right now, and I respect that completely. But I also know there are many of you who do have the means and who believe in this work, but just haven’t had the nudge you need to take the next step. Consider this your nudge. You’ll be in good company. I surveyed my paid subscribers last fall, and 100% said this newsletter was a good steward of their investment.
Support this work today with a paid subscription. Thank you for your consideration.
PS: If you would like to give someone else the gift of a paid subscription, visit https://austinkocher.substack.com/gift for options.
As someone who has been following you as a paid subscriber since Jan 2025, it is wonderful to hear that you are getting such well deserved exposure with the big names! Congrats, and may the reach continue to grow for your excellent reporting, and the incredible datasets your are providing to track what is going on with ICE and CBP!
I am a paid subscriber wondering if you have a gift option as I'd like to pay for a subscription for a friend who follows you but isn't currently a paid subscriber. Thank you for all you do - it is well worth the $7 a month!