Latest news with #Celeste
Gizmodo
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Gizmodo
People Over Papers: The Creator of ‘Waze for Ice Immigration Raids' Speaks Out
An anonymous grassroots network is helping communities track and respond to ICE activity in real time. But not everyone is happy about it. Born in the U.S. to immigrant parents from Mexico, Celeste, 30, is the creator of People Over Papers, a decentralized and anonymous collective that tracks and maps real-time ICE sightings submitted by the public. (For her safety, Gizmodo is using a synonym for Celeste's real name.) The project functions like a kind of 'Waze for immigration raids,' built not to direct traffic, but to save lives, offer warnings, and raise awareness about immigration enforcement operations across the U.S. Celeste, who works full-time in IT, has chosen to remain anonymous. After right-leaning accounts like Libs of TikTok and Wall Street Apes shared her face and X handle, she received a flood of online harassment, including threats. These accounts have accused her of aiding criminals, a charge she and People Over Papers firmly deny. Out of concern for her safety, Celeste is not disclosing where she currently lives (though she confirmed it's no longer in California). At the heart of People Over Papers is a volunteer network of about 45 people, including educators, tech workers, retirees, stay-at-home parents, and unemployed organizers. Together, they play a central role in alerting vulnerable communities to possible ICE raids, efforts that may face increased scrutiny and even legal risk. People Over Papers is just one example of how digital tools, used anonymously, strategically, and with intent, are reshaping what activism looks like under surveillance and pressure. We asked Celeste 13 questions about the risks, motivations, mechanics, and future of the project, and why she continues doing this work despite the threats. The interview was conducted by telephone. Gizmodo: How did you get involved with People Over Papers? Celeste: I created this organization, this team, back in January, because I saw a need for it on TikTok. I was posting informative immigration videos on TikTok and I came across a creator, who was posting a screenshot of her notes app behind her, using the green screen feature on TikTok, and it was just a list of places that people had seen ICE that had reported it to her, and she was getting hundreds of reports. So, I told her: 'Why don't I help you, visualize all the reports that you're getting? Let's work together.' So, we started chatting about it. She gave me all the information I needed to start using Google Maps. You know, I figured that might be a good place to start. Then it took off. Even more, more people started submitting, sending me messages about tips that they had, and a different creator reached out to me and asked if I wanted help. I said, 'Sure.' Then we looked for tools that allowed users to submit forms with locations onto a map, and we came across Padlet, and we said, well, let's try it; see if it works, and the rest is history. It just kind of happened. Gizmodo: When you saw it taking off, what crossed your mind at that point? Celeste: I saw a need. I didn't plan this. In January, I did not think I was going to grow a following. I didn't think I would be getting calls from reporters. I didn't think any of that would happen. It wasn't my goal. I didn't set off to do this. Again, I just saw a need for it, and my motivation behind all of it is that I'm from a family of immigrants. I believe that this country has been built on the back of immigrants. I believe that we didn't cross the border. The border crossed us, especially for people who are of Mexican descent, and Indigenous, and I just starkly disagree with the immigration policies of this country. Gizmodo: Can you elaborate on your background? Celeste: My family's from Mexico. I was born here, so I am a naturalized citizen, a national board citizen here in the U.S. And yet, I have family members who are affected by these policies. I've seen people criminalized or being targeted because of their immigration status. And I think it's wrong. Gizmodo: You said that you know, personally, who has been affected by the immigration policies. Do you mean you know people who were arrested and deported? Celeste: Absolutely. I have friends whom I went to elementary school with. I just happened to be born here. They happened to be brought when they were really young, and we grew up in the same town, same school. Even if they were smarter than me, even if they were more dedicated at school than me, they were always going to have it harder to find a job, to pay for their higher education. They were always going to have it much more difficult than me, and the only reason is because my parents happened to be here, and I was born here. And then, I have family members who have been deported. I have family members who have attempted to cross into the U.S and have been sent back. I have, you know, a lot of family and friends that are directly impacted by this. Gizmodo: What do you want them to know when you do something like this? Celeste: I guess, my message to people that are undocumented is that: First, I'm sorry. I wish that as a citizen of this country, I could do more. I understand why they want to be here. It's for a better life, for a better future, for the American dream that was sold to them. Gizmodo: What do you say to Americans who are saying that people who are here illegally should be deported? Celeste: We're all human beings at the end of the day. Unless you're Indigenous, you were not born here. Your ancestry wasn't founded here or born here. We have all immigrated here in some form or fashion. And two. If it was as easy as becoming legal to come to this country, per se. If it was easy to get documented. People would have done it already. The process to become a citizen in the U.S is purposefully difficult. People work tirelessly for decades to try to earn their citizenship here, or even earn their permanent residence status. And they never, they never get it. And that's because the processes, the laws, the requirements, the immigration system as a whole is extremely difficult to navigate. Gizmodo: You were apparently doxxed by two conservative social media accounts, Libs of TikTok and Wall Street Apes. Celeste: Luckily, I haven't been doxxed in a way that people have found where I live or have found my full name as far as I can tell. Libs of TikTok did attack me on Twitter, along with Wall Street Apes. [Neither Libs of TikTok nor Wall Street Apes responded to Gizmodo's request for comment.] Somebody, a conservative, found my TikTok account, sent it to them, and then they blasted that information; try to submit fake reports, so we instituted moderating, right? We had a bot attack, and we were in a situation where we would repeatedly just block the IP. And then they would, you know, sign up with a new one container IP, and it was a cat and mouse game. But at the end of the day, I knew that they would grow tired or bored, and they would move on. And that's exactly what happened, and I assume, at some point, if they catch one of these again, they will try it again. That only motivates us more, because if there are conservative people who disagree with what we're doing, it tells us that they believe that what we're doing is a threat to the opinion that they carry, and that means that we're doing something right, in my opinion. As for physical safety, especially when I was receiving all the hate messages, I was worried. I don't have a registered firearm or anything, but I thought is this a time for me to purchase a firearm and get registered ultimately. I didn't do it. It goes against my philosophy, but that's something always in the back of my head. Gizmodo: Are you worried about the safety of your family? Celeste: I do worry that one day they will find out who I am, and therefore they will find who my family is. I have had very long conversations with my family about this. We've talked about safety on the internet and safety in person. So we've taken the proper precautions to try to mitigate that as much as possible. For example, I scrubbed all of my social media as soon as I hit maybe 10,000 followers. I went through my Instagram, my Facebook to take down any posts that had identifying information, maybe showing where I'm from, where I live, where I work, all that stuff. Gizmodo: Does your employer know about your advocacy? Celeste: I have very close co-workers that do know that I do this. I try not to be super open about this, because I do like to keep my work life and my political life at this point separate. Gizmodo: How do you make sure the reports sent to People Over Papers are reliable? Celeste: We have standards that we do follow for a submission. If we posted every single submission, it would be complete junk. We get screenshots of Facebook posts that just say ICE in Oklahoma. That's not helpful to anybody, right? So we follow what's called the salute method in a lot of advocacy organizations for immigration. Use this you want: the size, the activity, the location, the uniform, time and date and the equipment that they had. We leave off equipment because, to me, that's part of the uniform. But, we want the exact location, if possible an image or video would be great, and to fill out as much of the information as possible. Now, as far as verification goes, we take verification of a sighting very, very seriously, and we will never say that something is confirmed unless it is an organization that we trust (…) We don't want to spread fear. So every single report will have some sort of statement that says this is a potential ICE sighting, but it has not been verified.' Gizmodo: Since the beginning of the protests in L.A., have you noticed an increase in the reports you receive? Celeste: We have definitely had an increase. We had an increase in reports starting in May, We started out with a lot of reports, like over 900, 700, 800, and then it dropped significantly in early February, and then it continued dropping steadily into March and April, and on May 4, we saw more activity start popping up, because that was the first big operation that took place in Massachusetts. And since then, the number of reports has slowly been climbing up and up and up. (…) We expect more activity as tensions continue to rise between the public and the administration, and we're always recruiting people. Gizmodo: It appears that moderator is the main role. What does a moderator do? Celeste: That's exactly it. If we can verify the information, cross-referencing with new sources, making sure that there's nothing inappropriate, and trying to identify what agents it is. We received some vague information, but based on context clues, we could figure out where the location is. Back during the winter, we received reports from up north, and we knew that it had snowed, and we received reports without any snow on the ground, and so we could tell easily that that report's not accurate. So, it's sort of like a mini investigation. Gizmodo: How do people contact you, and how long will the project be around? Celeste: They can DM me on TikTok (@celestiedabestie), on Instagram (@celestiedabestie). It's been almost six months since this started. I have not had time to think about the future. I do expect to do other things: advocacy, education, combating misinformation, disinformation. There's so many things that we can do. I think it's a bad thing that this tool is being used so heavily. It means people are afraid.
Time of India
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Celeste Desjardins stuns fans with scenic Mykonos post, saying 'I feel like the luckiest girl in the world'
Celeste desjardins shares Mykonos trip moments (Credit: Instagram/@celestedesjardins) Fans were recently treated to a radiant new post from Celeste Desjardins on Instagram, where the actress shared memories from her 72-hour escape to the Greek island of Mykonos. Dressed in an elegant white outfit paired with a sunhat, Celeste was photographed leaning playfully against a stone wall overlooking a sunlit coastline. She captioned the moment with thanks to her friends, describing it as the most unforgettable trip and expressing her gratitude for how lucky she felt. The caption struck a chord, especially with the line where she said she felt like the 'luckiest girl in the world,' which became the post's emotional core. Her Mykonos celebration becomes a fan favorite This trip was more than just a vacation. For her fans, it became a reflection of the deeper bond she shares with those close to her. The post revealed not just the aesthetics of Mykonos, but the emotional essence of celebrating with your chosen family. The comments flooded in not only with compliments but with personal sentiments, especially from fans who resonated with her appreciation for such moments of togetherness. Social media reactions reflect growing admiration In the digital age where every scroll presents a new image, Celeste's post managed to linger in fans' minds. Many followers mentioned how relatable and grounded she still seems, despite her glamorous life and international travels. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Perdagangkan CFD Emas dengan Broker Tepercaya IC Markets Mendaftar Undo This post was not the glossy highlight reel of a distant celebrity; it felt personal, spontaneous, and sincere. Read more: Emily Cave says 'tears make more money' as she claims over $1 million stolen from Colby Cave memorial fund In just one photo, she captured a weekend of celebration, gratitude, and golden light. For fans watching from afar, this wasn't just about Mykonos or designer outfits, it was about living in the moment and surrounding yourself with people who matter. Celeste reminded everyone of the value of joy, and that alone made this post a standout.
NDTV
11-06-2025
- Sport
- NDTV
Brazil, Ecuador Qualify For FIFA World Cup 2026
Vini Jr scored the winning goal as Brazil beat Paraguay 1-0 at the Neo Quimica Arena to secure FIFA World Cup 2026 qualification. Vinicius Jr clinched Carlo Ancelotti his first win in their hot seat after fine work from Matheus Cunha. Paraguay came into the game in the second half and, despite defeat, are an inch away from qualification, boasting a six-point advantage over Venezuela. The victory was a special gift for Ancelotti, who turned 66 on Tuesday and was honoured by the Brazilian fans, before the start of the game, with an immense mosaic on the Neo Química seats, where it read in green and yellow 'Congratulations, Carletto'. Ancelotti's first victory in charge of the Brazilian national team broke Paraguay's nine-game unbeaten run in the qualifiers. Brazil became the first team to beat Paraguay in 10 qualifiers. The Selecao have now lost just one of their last 70 World Cup qualifiers at home. This was the third time that Brazil secured a spot in a World Cup while playing at the Neo Química Arena. In 2017, they beat Paraguay and sealed their place in the World Cup in Russia, which was held in 2018. Then, in 2021, they beat Colombia and secured a spot in the World Cup in Qatar in 2022. Meanwhile, Ecuador qualified for their fifth World Cup this century after a goalless draw with Peru. Realistically, Peru required victory. Despite being roared on throughout in Lima, Oscar Ibanez's charges couldn't break down a backline cemented by bricks Piero Hincapie and Willian Pacho – not even after Ecuador's Alan Franco was given his marching orders in the 75th minute. Sebastian Beccacece and his players celebrated World Cup qualification wildly at the final whistle. Elsewhere, Uruguay are all but there, a Giorgian de Arrascaeta screamer helping them move six points inside the automatic qualification places, and a breathtaking Luis Diaz goal earned a draw in Argentina that edged Colombia closer. Elsewhere, Miguel Terceros starred as Bolivia snatched themselves a lifeline. Uruguay have one foot in a fifth successive World Cup. Rodrigo Aguirre headed home the first. Giorgian de Arrascaeta smacked home the second. Marcelo Bielsa's Celeste are now six points ahead of seventh-placed Venezuela and have a vastly superior goal difference, with two rounds remaining. Luis Diaz, a serial scorer of wonder goals, produced one of his best yet. The Liverpool winger danced past three opponents and broke the deadlock. Colombia seemed on course for victory when Enzo Fernandez was sent off in the 70th minute, but Thiago Almada arrowed home an equaliser for Argentina. Nestor Lorenzo's Cafeteros are now four points clear of seventh-placed Venezuela. Diaz became the first Colombian to score in Argentina in World Cup qualifying since Carlos Valderrama in 1997. The 28-year-old is now only one goal shy of becoming the fifth man to reach 20 goals for Los Cafeteros after Faustino Asprilla (20), Arnoldo Iguaran (25), James Rodriguez (29) and Radamel Falcao (36), reports FIFA. Bolivia burst out of the blocks and were rewarded when 'Miguelito' controlled Diego Medina's cutback and finished clinically. A reckless Lucas Chavez challenge left Oscar Villegas's side a man down after 19 minutes, but numerical parity was restored shortly into the second half when Francisco Sierralta saw red. Bolivia sealed victory in El Alto when Enzo Monteiro tapped home after Brayan Cortes had repelled a Terceros drive. La Verde are now one point behind Venezuela, who occupy the play-off tournament place.
Time of India
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Oilers star Leon Draisaitl's fiance Celeste Desjardins full beach mode at Greek bachelorette party
Oilers star Leon Draisaitl's fiance Celeste Desjardins full beach mode at Greek bachelorette party (Image via Celeste Instagram) Celeste Desjardins , fiance of Edmonton Oilers star Leon Draisaitl, is celebrating her bachelorette party in Greece. On Sunday, June 8, 2025, she shared moments from the beachside celebration on her Instagram. The posts showed fun party scenes, stylish outfits, and even Celeste herself behind the bar. The couple got engaged last year in Spain, and Celeste is now enjoying her pre-wedding celebrations with friends. Leon Draisaitl's bride-to-be Celeste Desjardins pours drinks and wears fun outfit during Greece bachelorette trip On Sunday, June 8, 2025, Celeste Desjardins posted stories on Instagram from her bachelorette party in Greece. The party bartender's image revealed her pouring drinks. She wore a straw cowboy hat, white crocheted skirt, and white bikini top over a translucent cover-up. As she served cocktails behind a table strewn with supplies, she laughed. Image via Getty The drink table had cute decorations, including white flowers and blue-and-white party items. A funny touch was a cardboard cutout of Leon Draisaitl's face inside a clear bag. The setup gave the whole party a fun and beachy vibe. One caption on Instagram even called her the 'Hot a*s bride.' Celeste's outfit and the theme matched the sunny beach look. Friends at the party wore swimsuits, cowboy hats, and light outfits that suited the summer setting. Also Read: "This is where I'm meant to be": Edmonton Oilers defenseman Jake Walman embraces spotlight amid Stanley Cup run Connor McDavid's wife Lauren Kyle and friends share more moments from the celebration Lauren Kyle, the wife of Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid, was also present at the party. On Friday, June 7, 2025, she reposted several Instagram stories showing the bachelorette celebration. In one of them, Lauren wore a shiny silver dress while holding a drink. She smiled in another photo next to her friend Sami Punzo, who wore a beige outfit. '…When the bachelorette falls in less than ideal timing. But we will be back for the good stuff!' Lauren joked in her Instagram caption, posted on June 7. The bachelorette weekend included beach selfies, welcome gift tables, and relaxing time under the sun. All of it looked like a mix of party and fun bonding moments. This is not Celeste's only bachelorette party. In March 2025, she had another celebration in Las Vegas. That party also featured Lauren Kyle and other friends. Celeste posted pictures of them dressed in white and beige, posing with balloons and bar setups. Celeste and Leon got engaged in Mallorca, Spain, in mid-2024, with both families present.
Time of India
07-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Connor McDavid's wife Lauren Kyle leads glamorous Greece getaway for Celeste Desjardins' bachelorette amid Oilers' Stanley Cup run
As the Edmonton Oilers chase the Stanley Cup, it's not just the players making headlines—off the ice, it's all about love, luxury, and lavish celebrations. Connor McDavid's wife, Lauren Kyle, gave fans a front-row seat to her best friend ' sun-soaked bachelorette getaway in Greece. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Celeste, a Canadian actress and model, is engaged to Oilers star Leon Draisaitl, and the party reflected nothing less than European elegance with hockey royalty flair. Lauren Kyle shares playful behind-the-scenes moments from the jet-set bachelorette trip From first-class flights to chic balcony selfies, Lauren Kyle turned her Instagram Stories into a scrapbook of celebration. Alongside Celeste and mutual friend Mikayla Nurse, the trio headed to Greece in style. One shot featured Lauren and Celeste seated in first-class, setting the tone for a high-end celebration. Lauren captioned the moment with a relatable confession: 'PSA: when the bachelorette falls in less than ideal timing. But we will be back for the good stuff!' She then added a splash of team spirit with 'go oilers!!' in blue and orange hearts. Another standout moment included a white tank top emblazoned with 'mrs. draisaitl,' capturing the bride-to-be's joy. ' can't wait to celebrate you!!!!' Lauren wrote, showing her enthusiasm for her friend's next chapter. Poolside fashion, cowboy hats, and heartfelt friendship The party's fashion game was strong—complete with swimsuits, cowboy hats, and glowing selfies. One particularly fun image showed Lauren and Celeste poolside, radiating joy as they sipped drinks in matching beach attire. Celeste, dubbed a 'hot a*s bride' in one photo, looked carefree and confident as she toasted to love. Decorations also reflected thoughtful planning: a welcoming table with striped tote bags, fresh flowers, and disposable cameras captured the vibe. 'We made it!!!' Lauren exclaimed after arriving. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Even amid the festivities, hockey wasn't far behind. Lauren celebrated Draisaitl's overtime goal in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final with an Instagram snap of his post-game interview. Her caption—' up her dual excitement for both the team's win and her friend's bridal milestone. Love, loyalty, and luxury: it's bachelorette season, Oilers style. Also Read:
