President Trump announced plans to cut off federal funding starting Feb. 1 to states and cities with sanctuary policies, expanding earlier threats beyond individual cities. The move, which lacks specific details, could have widespread impacts and is expected to face legal challenges, as similar efforts were blocked by courts in the past. CBS News.
President Trump threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act and deploy the military to Minneapolis amid escalating protests following ICE shootings. Minnesota officials pushed back, urging de-escalation and warning the move would amount to federal overreach. Politico.
The State Department will freeze immigrant visa processing for 75 countries starting Jan. 21, including Somalia, Russia, Iran, and Afghanistan, as it tightens screening under the “public charge” rule. The pause is indefinite and will remain in place while visa vetting procedures are reassessed. Fox News.
Rabbiatu Kuyateh, a Sierra Leonean who had U.S. court protection from deportation, was sent by the U.S. to Ghana in November 2025, where she was detained and then forcibly returned to Sierra Leone. Her case highlights the Trump administration’s use of third-country deportations to bypass U.S. and international protections against sending people to countries where they face persecution or torture. Reuters.
The ACLU and Minnesota officials have sued the Trump administration, accusing ICE and DHS of racially profiling Somali and Latino residents during an immigration enforcement surge in Minnesota that followed protests over the fatal shooting of an unarmed U.S. citizen.NBC News.
The Department of Homeland Security announced it will end Temporary Protected Status for Somalia, with protections expiring on March 17, 2026. Somali TPS holders without another legal status will be required to leave the U.S. when the designation ends. DHS.
DHS issued a new rule eliminating the one-year waiting period for many religious workers to return to the U.S. after reaching their stay limit. The change reduces delays and helps religious organizations avoid disruptions to essential services. DHS.
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