Tag Archives: executive order

Guardian: Australian deported from US says he was ‘targeted’ due to writing on pro-Palestine student protests

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Alistair Kitchen says he was detained and questioned about views on Israel and Palestine before being deported from LA to Melbourne

An Australian man who was detained upon arrival at Los Angeles airport and deported back to Melbourne says United States border officials told him it was due to his writing on pro-Palestine protests by university students.

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The 33-year-old said he was “clearly targeted for politically motivated reasons” and said officials spent more than 30 minutes questioning him about his views on Israel and Palestine including his “thoughts on Hamas”.

Kitchen said officials asked him for his “thoughts about the conflict in a very broad sense”, including about student protesters, what Israel “should have done differently” and “how I would resolve the conflict”.

“It was quite an in-depth probing of my views on the war,” he said.

Kitchen said he was deported and landed back in Melbourne on Saturday morning.

Australian deported from US says he was ‘targeted’ due to writing on pro-Palestine student protests
Alistair Kitchen says he was detained and questioned about views on Israel and Palestine before being deported from LA to Melbourne

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/jun/15/australian-deported-from-us-says-he-was-targeted-due-to-writing-on-pro-palestine-student-protests

MeidasTouch News: DHS to Revoke Work and Residency Permits for Hundreds of Thousands of Migrants

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Nationals from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela face deportation as Trump administration dismantles Biden-era parole program

In a sweeping immigration enforcement move, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is expected to notify hundreds of thousands of migrants on Thursday that their permission to live and work in the United States has been revoked, according to a notice obtained by CNN.

The targeted individuals — nationals from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela — originally entered the country through a Biden-era humanitarian parole program that provided legal entry and temporary protection to those with U.S.-based sponsors and who passed security vetting.

More than half a million people are believed to have benefited from the program. It remains unclear how many of those individuals have since transitioned into other legal immigration pathways, such as asylum or family-based visas.

This administration thrives on the misery of those less fortunate.

DHS to Revoke Work and Residency Permits for Hundreds of Thousands of Migrants

https://meidasnews.com/news/dhs-to-revoke-work-and-residency-permits-for-hundreds-of-thousands-of-migrants-

Mirror: Trump executive order lets VA doctors deny care to Democrats or unmarried veterans

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An executive order from President Donald Trump has given the VA the power to deny healthcare to veterans based on their political affiliation and marital status

President Donald Trump has issued an executive order that allows the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to refuse healthcare to veterans based on their political beliefs and marital status, sparking fears that Democratic or single veterans could be denied medical services.

On January 30, Trump signed an executive order titled “Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government.” While its primary aim was to roll back federal protections for transgender people, it also brought about sweeping changes within the VA.

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Caplan expressed concern that under the new policies, doctors might ask patients inappropriate questions, such as whether they have attended a Trump rally or support the LGBTQ+ community. “These personal views are irrelevant to patient care. So, why should we risk denying anyone access to care for such reasons?” he questioned.

The VA, serving over 9 million vets through its extensive network of 170 hospitals and 1,000 clinics, has made sweeping changes to its policy by striking down shields against bias tied to political leanings, marital status, sexual preference, and country of origin. Its latest regulations now permit healthcare workers at VA institutions to refuse care for characteristics not covered by national laws.

Trump order lets VA doctors deny care to Democrats or unmarried veterans
An executive order from President Donald Trump has given the VA the power to deny healthcare to veterans based on their political affiliation and marital status

https://www.themirror.com/news/us-news/trump-executive-order-lets-va-1211769

Atlantic: The Shame of Trump’s Parade

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Today’s events are another step in an ongoing effort to turn the U.S. military into a partisan—and personal—instrument of the president.

Today—250 years since the Continental Army officially formed to fight for the independence of the American colonies against the British monarchy—marks a milestone in President Donald Trump’s effort to politicize the U.S. military. Though they are rare, military parades have happened before in Washington, D.C. For the most part, these have been celebrations of military achievements, such as the end of a war. But today is also Trump’s birthday, and what he and his supporters have planned is a celebration of Trump himself.

A mark of a free society is that its public institutions, especially its military, represent the body politic and the freedom-enabling equal rights that structure civic life. If service members and the public begin to believe that the military is not neutral but is in fact the servant of MAGA, this will threaten the military’s legitimacy and increase the likelihood of violent conflict between the military and the public. Today’s events bring us one step closer to this disaster.

And a few lies, none of which are true:

The organizers have made it abundantly clear that today’s purpose is to directly laud Trump and his politics. In promotional materials, they tell us, “Under President Trump’s leadership, the Army has been restored to strength and readiness.” They credit his “America First agenda” for military pay increases, enlarged weapons stockpiles, new technologies, and improvements in recruitment, declaring that he has “ensured our soldiers have the tools and support they need to win on any battlefield.”

As the Trump-aggrandizing bullshit piles up:

Monica Crowley, the State Department’s chief of protocol and a former Fox News host, went on Steve Bannon’s podcast WarRoom to say that the concurrence of the U.S. Army’s anniversary and Trump’s birthday is “providential.” She called it “meant to be. Hand of God, for sure.” She added, “It is really a gift, and we want to be sure that we celebrate in a manner that is fitting, not just of this extraordinary president but of our extraordinary country.” She also expressed hope that the crowd would serenade the president with “Happy Birthday.” Clearly, Trump isn’t merely the guest of honor; he is the reason for the party.

The Shame of Trump’s Parade
Today’s events are another step in an ongoing effort to turn the U.S. military into a partisan—and personal—instrument of the president.

https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2025/06/250th-anniversary-army-parade/683162

The Hill: Homan says Trump administration to ramp up workplace immigration enforcement

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The Nebraska business owner whose facility was raided by ICE on Tuesday said he’s worked to ensure that employees are legally in the United States by checking their identity with E-Verify, a system managed by the Department of Homeland Security. 

However, officials told him the system was “broken” after the raid, which left him clueless on how to properly process individuals who’ve applied for employment.

“I mean, what am I supposed to do with that? This is your system, run by the government. And you’re raiding me because your system is broken?” Chad Hartmann, president of Glenn Valley Foods, told The Associated Press. 

ICE officials told him they’d help him figure out the best method for hiring …

“Best method” until the next raid? ICE could probably care less.

Homan says Trump administration to ramp up workplace immigration enforcement

https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5347195-homan-says-trump-administration-to-ramp-up-workplace-immigration-enforcement

New York Times: Trump Declares Dubious Emergencies to Amass Power, Scholars Say

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In disputes over protests, deportations and tariffs, the president has invoked statutes that may not provide him with the authority he claims.

To hear President Trump tell it, the nation is facing a rebellion in Los Angeles, an invasion by a Venezuelan gang and extraordinary foreign threats to its economy.

Citing this series of crises, he has sought to draw on emergency powers that Congress has scattered throughout the United States Code over the centuries, summoning the National Guard to Los Angeles over the objections of California’s governor, sending scores of migrants to El Salvador without the barest hint of due process and upending the global economy with steep tariffs.

Legal scholars say the president’s actions are not authorized by the statutes he has cited and are, instead, animated by a different goal.

“He is declaring utterly bogus emergencies for the sake of trying to expand his power, undermine the Constitution and destroy civil liberties,” said Ilya Somin, a libertarian professor at Antonin Scalia Law School who represents a wine importer and other businesses challenging some of Mr. Trump’s tariffs.

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Trump Declares Dubious Emergencies to Amass Power, Scholars Say
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/10/us/politics/trump-emergency-powers-invasion.html?unlocked_article_code=1.N08.tEO-.S_2DmAE6Yws9&smid=url-share

New York Times: Trump Declares Dubious Emergencies to Amass Power, Scholars Say

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In disputes over protests, deportations and tariffs, the president has invoked statutes that may not provide him with the authority he claims.

To hear President Trump tell it, the nation is facing a rebellion in Los Angeles, an invasion by a Venezuelan gang and extraordinary foreign threats to its economy.

Citing this series of crises, he has sought to draw on emergency powers that Congress has scattered throughout the United States Code over the centuries, summoning the National Guard to Los Angeles over the objections of California’s governor, sending scores of migrants to El Salvador without the barest hint of due process and upending the global economy with steep tariffs.

Legal scholars say the president’s actions are not authorized by the statutes he has cited and are, instead, animated by a different goal.

“He is declaring utterly bogus emergencies for the sake of trying to expand his power, undermine the Constitution and destroy civil liberties,” said Ilya Somin, a libertarian professor at Antonin Scalia Law School who represents a wine importer and other businesses challenging some of Mr. Trump’s tariffs.

Trump Declares Dubious Emergencies to Amass Power, Scholars Say
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/10/us/politics/trump-emergency-powers-invasion.html?unlocked_article_code=1.N08.tEO-.S_2DmAE6Yws9&smid=url-share

Independent: Judge spares Trump from massive DOGE lawsuit — leaving Elon Musk holding the bag for ‘unauthorized role’

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Donald Trump has been dropped from a lawsuit accusing his administration of illegally wielding power to slash government agencies and purge the federal workforce.

But a federal judge won’t let Elon Musk escape the case.

Musk — tapped by the president to lead the so-called Department of Government Efficiency — is facing a lawsuit from a group of 14 states arguing that the world’s wealthiest person lacks any legal authority to carry out mass firings, terminate grants and access sensitive government information and taxpayer data.

Attorneys for the Trump administration claimed Musk is only serving a temporary advisory role as a “special government employee” serving under the president.

But District Judge Tanya Chutkan shot down the White House’s attempt to “minimize” his role as “a mere advisor without any formal authority.”

Musk instead “occupies a continuing position” and “exercises significant authority,” all without “proper appointment” by Congress, Chutkan wrote.

Judge spares Trump from DOGE lawsuit — but leaves Elon Musk on the hook
The world’s wealthiest man is accused of illegally wielding power to fire government workers and slash spending

https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/us-politics/elon-musk-doge-trump-lawsuit-b2759428.html

Variety: NPR Sues Trump Over Executive Order to Cut Funding: ‘Clear Violation of the Constitution’

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National Public Radio is suing President Trump, alleging his executive order seeking to cease all federal funding to NPR and PBS is a “clear violation” of the U.S. Constitution’s First Amendment.

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Trump on May 1 issued an executive order seeking to cut all federal funding to NPR and PBS, alleging they have engaged with “biased and partisan news coverage.” The order instructs the board of the Corporation of Public Broadcasting to “cease direct funding to NPR and PBS” to the “maximum extent allowed by law.”

Trump’s order “is a clear violation of the Constitution and the First Amendment’s protections for freedom of speech and association, and freedom of the press,” NPR CEO Katherine Maher said in a statement. “It is an affront to the rights of NPR and NPR’s 246 Member stations, which are locally owned, nonprofit, noncommercial media organizations serving all 50 states and territories. Today, we challenge its constitutionality in the nation’s independent courts.”

She noted that the executive order “is directly counter to Congress’s long standing intent, as expressed in the Public Broadcasting Act, to foster vibrant institutions that achieve that mission, serving all Americans independent of political influence. The Order threatens the existence of the public broadcasting system, upon which tens of millions of Americans rely for vital news, information, and emergency alerts.”

NPR Sues Trump Over Executive Order to Cut Funding: ‘Clear Violation of the Constitution’
NPR sued President Trump, alleging his executive order seeking to cut public media funding is a “clear violation” of the Constitution.

https://variety.com/2025/biz/news/npr-sues-trump-cut-funding-violation-of-the-constitution-1236410731

Western Journal: US Pardon Attorney Ed Martin Drops Pardon Bomb That Could Change Everything

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Controversy over former President Joe Biden’s use of an autopen to issue presidential pardons has taken a new turn.

United States Pardon Attorney Ed Martin wrote on social media platform X, “The integrity of the American Pardon system requires that we examine the Biden pardons and who did what.”

“We will get the bottom of it.

“Count on us,” he concluded.

I’m not counting on much, other than the usual hyperbole from King Donald and his fan club.

US Pardon Attorney Ed Martin Announces Investigation of Biden Pardons
Pardon Attorney Ed Martin announces he’s investigating “who did what” amidst the controversy surrounding the Biden pardons.
US Pardon Attorney Ed Martin Drops Pardon Bomb That Could Change Everything