7/12/18  //  Uncategorized

On this week's episode of Versus Trump, Jason, Charlie, and Easha discuss the retirement of Justice Kennedy and how his presumptive replacement may rule in Versus Trump cases. They then do some quick hits to update a handful of important cases. Listen now!

4/26/18  //  Commentary

On a new episode of Versus Trump, Easha, Charlie, and Jason discuss the Trump Administration's lawsuit against California. The lawsuit seeks to prevent the state from enforcing three new state laws that the federal government says will undermine enforcement of immigration law. Listen now!

1/28/18  //  Daily Update

At Take Care, Eli Savit argued that the Trump Administration's threats against sanctuary cities are baseless, but that the rhetoric is nonetheless dangerous. The Justice Department subpoenaed letters from sanctuary cities across the country.

1/24/18  //  Commentary

Once again, the Trump Administration is baselessly threatening its political opponents with criminal charges.

1/14/18  //  Daily Update

President Trump’s top immigration chief said he was preparing to significantly increase his agency’s enforcement presence in California because of last year’s passage of a “sanctuary state” law.

1/4/18  //  Uncategorized

On the first episode of Versus Trump of 2018, Jason and Charlie look back at Versus Trump cases in 2017 and score them as Administration wins, losses, or not-yet-decided. They also look ahead at big issues to come in 2018. Listen now!

12/4/17  //  Daily Update

A jury acquitted an undocumented immigrant in a case that President Trump often cited as a part of his opposition to sanctuary cities. Judicial rulings against President Trump's effort to deny funding to sanctuary cities have implications for federalism and separation of powers debates.

11/26/17  //  Daily Update

Judge William Orrick held that President Trump's executive order blocking federal funding to "sanctuary cities" violates federalism and separation of powers principles.

10/21/17  //  Daily Update

Senate Minority Whip Dic Durbin criticized Attorney General Sessions for the policy decision to withhold grant funds from sanctuary cities. California's revisions to state criminal law provide a blueprint for how other states can resist President Trump's plans for mass deportation.

10/1/17  //  Daily Update

The Fifth Circuit will permit Texas to enforce its anti-sanctuary-city statute while the challenge to the statute is pending. California lawmakers passed a "sanctuary state" bill.

9/21/17  //  In-Depth Analysis

There's reason to be wary of the argument that Congress has to “unambiguously” state funding conditions in the text of statutes.

9/13/17  //  Commentary

With the threatened rescission of DACA, it is all the more important that courts enforce statutory and constitutional limits on executive authority.

4/27/17  //  Commentary

Why did Trump bash a judicial decision blocking an order that, if you believe his own lawyers, does nothing, changes nothing, and likely won't be applied to anybody?

3/21/17  //  Commentary

DOJ argues that courts can't hear challenges to Trump's executive order threatening to punish sanctuary cities. Its arguments are wrong and prove that Trump's policy is illegal.

4/26/17  //  Quick Reactions

If we had a president less concerned with posing as a man of action and more as the fiduciary taking care that the laws be faithfully executed, he would probably do better in court. I don't foresee him changing course.

3/20/17  //  Quick Reactions

In urging the Attorney General to cease using state courthouses as bait for undocumented migrants, the California Chief Justice displayed admirable bravery and commitment to the rule of law.

6/1/17  //  Commentary

On a new episode of Versus Trump, Take Care's podcast, Easha and Jason dig into healthcare for the first time, as they take a deep dive into the House v. Price litigation that addresses whether certain payments to insurers under the Affordable Care Act have been properly appropriated. They also debate immigration rhetoric vs. action and discuss drug testing for unemployment benefits. Listen now!

4/26/17  //  Quick Reactions

If Trump keeps tweeting his lawyers will have their work cut out for them

3/16/17  //  Commentary

It is time for progressives to embrace federalism and to use Supreme Court precedents protecting states’ rights to fight against Trump administration policies

5/4/17  //  Commentary

Sanctuary cities now face another threat much closer to home: their own state governments. And it will come as no surprise that the Lone Star State has led the way in seeking to shut down local efforts at protecting the dignity of undocumented migrants.

4/27/17  //  Commentary

The statute, 8 U.S.C. § 1373(a), says nothing about Trump’s biggest complaint.

4/26/17  //  Quick Reactions

In a new op-ed, I emphasize the importance of taking President Trump at his word–even as efforts to save his executive orders from his tweets inevitably push Trump's defenders to come up with new and creative reasons for ignoring Trump's public statements.

4/7/17  //  Commentary

Trump's anti-urban rhetoric has fanned the flames of a war by state governments against progressive cities. We see this in battles over sanctuary cities, LGBT rights, gun regulation, employee rights. The time has come for a campaign on behalf of city power.

5/23/17  //  Quick Reactions

Yesterday, AG Sessions issued his official interpretation of the executive order President Trump issued in January regarding sanctuary cities. The interpretation is notable for its narrowness. But ultimately, the memorandum is more of a retreat than a surrender.

4/24/17  //  Commentary

DOJ argues that Trump's orders threatening sanctuary cities can't be challenged because they remain speculative. But a recent volley of menacing letters from DOJ to sanctuary cities and counties, and to the State of California, has blasted a hole in DOJ's own defense.

6/25/17  //  Daily Update

Reports continue that sanctuary cities' efforts are working.

4/23/17  //  Daily Update

Texas state legislatures are cracking down on immigration and Attorney General Sessions may be disingenuous in citing violations of federal law by sanctuary cities.

9/24/17  //  Daily Update

A federal court granted a nationwide injunction against the administration's effort to withhold federal funding from sanctuary cities. Attorney General Jeff Sessions criticized California's new bill providing some protections to undocumented immigrants.

8/20/17  //  Daily Update

California joined San Francisco's sanctuary city suit against the administration. Attorney General Jeff Sessions criticized Chicago over its sanctuary city policies.

7/30/17  //  Daily Update

A Massachusetts court issued a ruling in effect turning the Commonwealth into a sanctuary state. Commentary continued on the federal effort to defund sanctuary cities.

10/8/17  //  Daily Update

Los Angeles filed suit against the Department of Justice, arguing that withholding funds based on the city's immigration policies is unconstitutional. California enacted legislation making the state a "sanctuary state."

6/18/17  //  Daily Update

California's new budget prohibits municipalities from entering into contracts with ICE to house immigration detainees.

9/3/17  //  Daily Update

Trump's pardon of former sheriff Joe Arpaio sets off a firestorm; another battle over Trump's immigration ban is heard by the Ninth Circuit; and investigators and journalists turn up more evidence of Trump's business dealings with Russia.

5/7/17  //  Daily Update

The Justice Department hasn't yet appealed the preliminary injunction against President Trump's executive order threatening sanctuary cities with loss of federal funds.

7/23/17  //  Daily Update

Attorney General Jeff Sessions misstated the findings of two major studies on sanctuary-city policies.

5/14/17  //  Daily Update

California is considering legislation to keep its data from ICE.

4/16/17  //  Daily Update

This week, Trump Administration suspended reports on sanctuary cities amid accuracy questions.

4/9/17  //  Daily Update

Sanctuary cities may become sanctuary states.

4/2/17  //  Daily Update

President Trump's continued focus on sanctuary cities poses legal problems, as cities like Seattle bring challenges on anti-commandeering grounds. In the meantime, the Trump Administration's immigration agenda is exacting an immediate harm.

7/16/17  //  Daily Update

Democrats in New York proposed new protections for undocumented immigrants.

8/6/17  //  Daily Update

The Department of Justice threatened four sanctuary cities with federal funding ineligibility.

4/30/17  //  Daily Update

Judge Orrick issued a preliminary injunction against the Administration's executive order against sanctuary cities. Meanwhile, Attorney General Sessions wrote to nine localities to ensure they are communicating with the federal government for immigration enforcement.

3/26/17  //  Daily Update

This week, commentators focused on the constitutionality of federal threats to withdraw funds from sanctuary cities.