A federal judge ordered the US government to return Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia to the United States by April 7th after he was mistakenly deported to El Salvador due to an administrative error. The judge ruled the deportation illegal, citing a prior grant of withholding of removal and the lack of legal basis for his apprehension and removal. The government admitted the error but initially claimed inability to retrieve Abrego Garcia from Salvadoran custody, a claim the judge questioned given US contractual control over the prison where he is held. Despite a government appeal, the judge’s order highlights the contentious legal battle surrounding recent US deportations to El Salvador.
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President Trump’s new 10% tariffs, while impacting the global economy and raising consumer prices in the US, notably exempt the energy sector, including oil and natural gas. This exemption follows significant financial contributions from the fossil fuel industry to Trump’s re-election campaign and reflects his administration’s ongoing close ties with the sector. While partially shielding the industry from tariff-related market chaos, indirect cost increases from tariffs on steel and aluminum remain a concern. Critics argue this exemption prioritizes wealthy donors over American consumers, contradicting Trump’s pledges to lower prices.
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Recently updated Canadian travel advisories warn citizens to expect thorough scrutiny from U.S. border patrol, including electronic device searches, which are conducted without warrants. U.S. authorities have broad discretion regarding entry, potentially leading to detention or deportation for those denied entry. Experts advise travelers to weigh the privacy risks before traveling, considering options like bringing a secondary device or leaving personal devices at home. The Canadian government maintains a low risk rating for travel to the U.S., but heightened security measures are prompting increased anxiety among travelers.
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Senator Ted Cruz warns that President Trump’s tariffs pose significant economic risks, potentially leading to high inflation and market instability. He fears this could cause a Republican electoral defeat in the upcoming midterm elections, with Democrats potentially regaining control of the House and even the Senate. Cruz, along with other Republicans like Rand Paul, openly criticizes the tariffs, arguing they constitute a tax on consumers and advocating for their repeal or Congressional oversight. Several GOP senators are actively working to mitigate the impact of the tariffs through legislation and opposing votes.
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In response to new U.S. tariffs, the Yukon government announced retaliatory measures targeting Elon Musk’s companies. These actions include ending Tesla rebates under the Good Energy program, canceling Starlink contracts where possible, and abandoning the X social media platform. The government cited unfair U.S. trade practices as justification, emphasizing the need to support Canadian businesses and workers. Further measures are being considered as the Yukon seeks to mitigate the economic impact of these tariffs.
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In celebration of Microsoft’s 50th anniversary, Bill Gates has released the original Altair BASIC source code, a 157-page PDF of scanned documents from 1975. Inspired by Popular Electronics’ Altair 8800 feature, Gates and Paul Allen, lacking the necessary hardware, created a BASIC interpreter using a PDP-10 mainframe, simulating the Altair’s Intel 8080 chip. This foundational code, built over two months with Monte Davidoff, represents Microsoft’s origins before its iconic products and is available for viewing, though not readily usable by modern tools. The release offers a historical glimpse into the company’s humble beginnings.
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The New Civil Liberties Alliance (NCLA) is challenging the Trump administration’s tariffs on Chinese imports, arguing that their imposition via the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) constitutes an unconstitutional overreach of executive power. The lawsuit claims that the IEEPA, intended for swift responses to international economic crises, does not grant the president authority to unilaterally levy tariffs, a power reserved for Congress. The NCLA asserts that the tariffs are not only unauthorized but also lack a demonstrable connection to the declared national emergency, specifically citing the discrepancy between the stated opioid crisis and the broad-based tariff implementation. The group seeks a court order declaring the tariffs unlawful and halting their enforcement.
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Evenezer Cortez-Martinez, a 39-year-old DACA recipient, was deported to Mexico City after a brief trip to visit his grandfather’s grave. Despite possessing Advance Parole, allowing for temporary travel outside the U.S., he was detained upon his return and deported based on an allegedly erroneous removal order issued in June 2024, of which he was unaware. A lawsuit has been filed against the Department of Homeland Security and CBP, arguing his deportation violated DACA regulations and his right to a formal removal hearing. The lawsuit contends that Cortez-Martinez’s deportation is an anomaly and sets a concerning precedent for other DACA recipients.
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Fueled by President Trump’s new tariffs and fears of a global trade war, technology stocks experienced a massive selloff, losing a combined $1.8 trillion in market value over two days. The “Magnificent Seven” megacaps were hardest hit, with Apple losing over $533 billion and Tesla dropping more than 10% on Friday alone. Broader technology sector losses were also significant, impacting companies like Nvidia, Amazon, and semiconductor manufacturers, causing the Nasdaq to suffer its worst week since March 2020. This downturn reflects widespread concern over the economic impact of escalating trade tensions.
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In response to President Trump’s sweeping new tariffs on goods from nearly 180 countries, China announced retaliatory 34% tariffs on all US goods, effective April 10th. Trump, on Truth Social, declared China’s actions a panicked mistake. This tariff war has prompted global market turmoil, with stock markets plummeting and world leaders expressing concern over the potential for widespread economic damage. China has also added 27 US firms to its sanctions list and filed a WTO lawsuit against the US tariffs.
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John Q. Hosedrinker