Three students, Mahmoud Khalil, Rumeysa Ozturk, and Alireza Doroudi, were arrested and transferred to remote Louisiana detention centers, far from their homes and legal representation. These facilities have been the subject of numerous human rights abuse allegations, including unsanitary conditions and limited access to legal counsel. The government’s decision to transfer the students to Louisiana, a state with a conservative legal jurisdiction favorable to its immigration policies, has drawn criticism from advocates. The students face deportation proceedings in Louisiana, despite claims that overcrowding and poor conditions in Northeastern facilities motivated the transfers.
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Andry Hernandez Romero, a Venezuelan makeup artist with a passion for theater stemming from his childhood participation in a Three Kings Day festival, was deported to El Salvador under the Alien Enemies Act due to crown tattoos misinterpreted as gang affiliation. His deportation, without a hearing, is now a Supreme Court case highlighting concerns about due process and the Trump administration’s actions. Experts dispute the connection between the tattoos and gang membership, emphasizing their popularity as a fashion trend. Hernandez’s family and lawyers are fighting for his return, facing the significant obstacle of the Trump administration’s refusal to acknowledge the mistake.
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Despite legal constraints, including the Eighth Amendment’s prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment and the logistical challenges posed by U.S. Code 3621, Trump suggested expanding deportation beyond those who enter the country illegally. Deporting incarcerated U.S. citizens presents significant legal hurdles due to the need for court appearances and adherence to U.S. prison standards, which are not met in countries like El Salvador. The potential for human rights violations in countries like El Salvador further complicates such deportations.
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The Supreme Court temporarily allowed the Trump administration to utilize the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to expedite the deportation of alleged gang members, overturning a lower court’s injunction. This decision permits the use of the wartime authority while ongoing legal challenges proceed, but mandates that affected migrants receive adequate notice and an opportunity to contest their removal. While three liberal justices dissented, and Justice Barrett partially dissented, the Court emphasized the need for due process in deportation proceedings under the Act. The ruling effectively sides with the Trump administration’s argument regarding judicial authority and the urgency of the situation.
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Chief Justice John Roberts temporarily stayed a midnight deadline for the Trump administration to return Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland man mistakenly deported to a dangerous El Salvadoran prison. The Justice Department argued that Judge Paula Xinis’ order overstepped her authority, claiming the administration lacked the means to retrieve Abrego Garcia from a foreign sovereign’s custody. While the administration admitted the deportation was an error, they contested the court’s injunction, framing it as part of a broader effort to impede the President’s agenda. The case is further complicated by a separate Supreme Court appeal concerning the deportation of Venezuelan migrants to the same prison.
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The Justice Department appealed a court order mandating the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran national mistakenly deported to El Salvador despite a prior ruling granting him protection from deportation. The government argues the order to compel action from a foreign sovereign is unconstitutional, and it suspended the attorney who admitted the deportation was an error. The appeals court requested a response from Abrego Garcia’s lawyers. The White House maintains Abrego Garcia is an MS-13 gang member, a claim his lawyers deny. Abrego Garcia’s deportation has raised concerns about the handling of non-citizens granted permission to remain in the U.S.
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A Russian researcher at Harvard is currently being held by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) after failing to declare frog embryos at customs. This situation highlights a significant issue: the disproportionate punishment levied against her for what appears to be a relatively minor customs infraction. Her attorney argues that CBP misused its extensive immigration authority, choosing a drastically harsher penalty than a simple monetary fine would have entailed. This overreach raises concerns about the potential chilling effect on scientific research and collaboration within the United States.
The severity of the situation is further compounded by the government’s intent to deport her to Russia.… Continue reading
A Massachusetts federal judge issued a temporary injunction preventing the deportation of a detained Tufts University graduate student. This follows the student’s arrest by immigration officials and subsequent calls from several lawmakers for her release. The injunction halts deportation proceedings while the legal challenge unfolds. The student remains detained pending further legal action.
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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.
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Gladys and Nelson Gonzalez, US residents since 1989, were unexpectedly arrested and deported to Colombia after a routine immigration check-in. Despite decades of community involvement and attempts to legalize their status, they were deemed to have exhausted all legal options following a 2000 voluntary departure order, which they believed could lead to citizenship. Their deportation, after three weeks in detention, highlights the increasing strictness of current US immigration policies and the vulnerability of long-term undocumented immigrants, even those with clean records. The family is now working to rebuild their lives in Colombia, facing a ten-year bar from returning to the US.
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John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood