A federal judge ordered the U.S. government to return Kilmar Abrego Garcia to the United States by Monday. ICE admitted to wrongfully deporting Garcia to El Salvador due to an administrative error, despite possessing a lawful order preventing his removal to that country. The government conceded it lacked documentation justifying the deportation, leading the judge to deem the action illegal. Garcia’s family and supporters celebrated the ruling, though the government’s intent to comply remains unclear.
Read More
The Trump administration admitted to mistakenly deporting Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran man with protected legal status, to El Salvador’s “Terrorism Confinement Center.” This deportation, resulting from an “administrative error,” occurred despite ICE’s awareness of his protected status. The administration argues that U.S. courts lack jurisdiction to compel his return, claiming its foreign affairs primacy supersedes Abrego Garcia’s interests. Abrego Garcia’s attorney disputes this, asserting that such actions render immigration laws meaningless. The deportation followed a 2019 incident where Abrego Garcia was falsely linked to MS-13, despite lacking a criminal record.
Read More
Following the detention of a University of Minnesota graduate student by federal immigration authorities, Governor Tim Walz is demanding answers from the Department of Homeland Security. The university was unaware of the arrest, which occurred off-campus, and did not cooperate with federal authorities. This incident raises concerns about the expansion of immigration enforcement onto college campuses, particularly given the recent increase in detentions of students involved in pro-Palestine activism. The university is providing support to the affected student, whose identity remains undisclosed.
Read More
Intensified immigration enforcement has eroded public trust in law enforcement, particularly among immigrant communities. Police departments nationwide are holding town halls and releasing public statements to reassure residents that they are not immigration officers and should not fear contacting them for assistance. However, varying local policies regarding cooperation with ICE, coupled with the administration’s broader enforcement strategies, create confusion and fear, leading to underreporting of crimes. This decrease in reporting jeopardizes public safety and underscores the challenge of maintaining community trust amidst conflicting federal and local priorities.
Read More
U.S. citizen Julio Noriega, 54, was unlawfully arrested and detained by ICE for ten hours after being apprehended in Berwyn, Illinois. Despite possessing identification proving his citizenship, which ICE confiscated, he was neither questioned nor presented with a warrant. This incident is one of 22 similar cases filed by Immigrant Justice, alleging ICE’s disregard for the Nava Settlement and continued violation of civil rights. The arrests appear to target individuals based on their appearance, rather than legal grounds.
Read More
In waging a “war” against TdA, the Trump administration’s actions, particularly the use of CECOT, potentially violated several key provisions of the Geneva Conventions, including those concerning prisoner treatment and communication with families. Furthermore, the transfer of prisoners to CECOT likely contravened the Foreign Affairs Reform and Restructuring Act of 1998, given CECOT’s documented human rights abuses. Judge Boasberg’s Monday filing highlighted these potential violations. Therefore, invoking wartime laws necessitates adherence to established wartime rules and international humanitarian law.
Read More
A protest was held at Powder House Park in response to the detainment of Tufts graduate student Rümeysa Öztürk by federal authorities. Organized by the Coalition for Palestinian Liberation and other activist groups, the protest condemned Öztürk’s transfer to Louisiana following her arrest, with speakers highlighting the need for community action and challenging the lack of substantial response from progressive politicians. Attendees included students, local residents, and officials, emphasizing the widespread concern regarding the escalating actions of federal law enforcement. The event concluded with calls for continued activism and legal action to secure Öztürk’s release.
Read More
A long-time Department of Homeland Security employee was placed on administrative leave and faces security clearance revocation for inadvertently emailing a reporter unclassified but sensitive details of an upcoming ICE operation. This contrasts sharply with the case of Trump administration officials who shared military plans via Signal chat, facing no repercussions despite the arguably more serious breach. Experts highlight the disparity in punishment, arguing both incidents represent careless handling of sensitive information and should receive similar consequences. The DHS employee’s actions, while unintentional, are being severely penalized, raising concerns about unequal treatment within the Trump administration. The employee’s lengthy career and apolitical reputation further underscore the perceived unfairness of the situation.
Read More
After 35 years in the U.S., Gladys and Nelson Gonzalez, a Colombian couple with three U.S.-citizen daughters, were deported despite having no criminal history. ICE confirmed their deportation, citing exhausted legal options following a 1992 asylum application and a 2000 agreement to depart voluntarily. The couple’s deportation exemplifies the Trump administration’s broad immigration crackdown targeting individuals without criminal records. Their case highlights the long-term consequences of immigration policies and the separation of families.
Read More
The IRS is nearing a deal with DHS to aid in locating undocumented migrants, involving ICE providing names and addresses to the IRS for verification. This agreement, a narrower version of an earlier proposal, would represent a significant change in IRS policy, requiring high-level DHS approval for each request. The IRS would confirm addresses, not proactively provide data to ICE, though this still raises privacy concerns given the strict confidentiality rules surrounding taxpayer information. This development follows a lawsuit from immigrant rights groups challenging the legality of such information sharing.
Read More
John Q. Hosedrinker