A federal judge has refused to block a Trump administration initiative allowing the IRS to share sensitive taxpayer information with ICE for immigration enforcement. The judge rejected claims from immigrant-rights groups that the data-sharing violated taxpayer confidentiality laws, finding the agreement, on its face, legally compliant. The ruling hinges on the administration’s assertion that data will only be shared for criminal investigations related to deportation, not civil matters. The groups plan to appeal, citing concerns that the agreement serves as a pretext to circumvent the law and emphasizing the potential for misuse of taxpayer information.
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Following a USTR investigation, the Trump administration announced fees on Chinese-built vessels entering U.S. ports, citing unfair competitive advantages held by China’s shipbuilding industry. Initially proposed as a per-port fee potentially reaching $1.5 million, the final structure involves per-ton fees escalating over several years, starting at $0 and reaching $140 per net ton for Chinese-owned vessels by 2028. Lower fees apply to non-Chinese-owned vessels carrying Chinese-built ships, and the fees are remittable if operators order U.S.-built vessels. Exemptions exist for certain cargo types and regions.
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Despite multiple court injunctions, the Trump administration’s executive order mandating the transfer of transgender women to men’s prisons is being implemented, resulting in the relocation of numerous transgender women and changes to their official records. This policy, which violates the Prison Rape Elimination Act, has led to increased fear, anxiety, and reports of harassment, including inappropriate searches and the denial of gender-affirming care. Legal challenges are ongoing, but the policy’s implementation is causing significant harm, exacerbating the already high risk of violence and discrimination faced by transgender individuals in the prison system. Experts condemn the order as unnecessary, cruel, and based on false premises.
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John Q. Hosedrinker