Warrantless arrests in California
Stephen Miller’s tirade against judges this week stemmed largely from an order by U.S. District Judge Jennifer Thurston, a California-based jurist who found that the Border Patrol was overstepping its legal authority to conduct warrantless arrests and stops. Thurston found that agents had failed to meet the legal requirements for conducting such detentions — particularly a requirement that they have reasonable suspicion that someone they stop is in the country illegally — and ordered that they comply more stringently.
Refugee admissions
When Trump sought to pause the admission of all refugees, a judge ruled the effort was illegal. A federal appeals court blocked a portion of the judge’s ruling but still required the administration to continue processing refugees approved for admission prior to Trump’s term.
Redefining birthright citizenship
Perhaps Trump’s most brazen immigration policy was his attempt, through an executive order on his first day back in office, to narrow the centuries-old understanding of the Constitution’s guarantee of citizenship to those born on U.S. soil. Three district judges in three different courts immediately and resoundingly rejected Trump’s order. Now, the Supreme Court is preparing to weigh whether those judges — each of whom blocked the policy nationwide — overstepped their authority and should have issued more limited rulings.
Stephen Miller’s tirade against judges this week stemmed largely from an order by U.S. District Judge Jennifer Thurston, a California-based jurist who found that the Border Patrol was overstepping its legal authority to conduct warrantless arrests and stops. Thurston found that agents had failed to meet the legal requirements for conducting such detentions — particularly a requirement that they have reasonable suspicion that someone they stop is in the country illegally — and ordered that they comply more stringently.
Refugee admissions
When Trump sought to pause the admission of all refugees, a judge ruled the effort was illegal. A federal appeals court blocked a portion of the judge’s ruling but still required the administration to continue processing refugees approved for admission prior to Trump’s term.
Redefining birthright citizenship
Perhaps Trump’s most brazen immigration policy was his attempt, through an executive order on his first day back in office, to narrow the centuries-old understanding of the Constitution’s guarantee of citizenship to those born on U.S. soil. Three district judges in three different courts immediately and resoundingly rejected Trump’s order. Now, the Supreme Court is preparing to weigh whether those judges — each of whom blocked the policy nationwide — overstepped their authority and should have issued more limited rulings.
