The Trump administration has clarified federal law requiring all state agencies to report illegal immigrant welfare recipients, reinforcing compliance with immigration laws.
The Trump administration has clarified federal law requiring all state agencies to report illegal immigrant welfare recipients, reinforcing compliance with immigration laws. PULSE POINTS WHAT HAPPENED: The Trump administration is directing states that receive federal welfare funding to require all state agencies to report illegal immigrants receiving certain benefits to federal immigration authorities, warning that states that refuse could lose federal funding. The Justice Department ’s Office of Legal Counsel issued the new opinion on Wednesday, reversing a 1998 interpretation that limited the reporting requirement to agencies directly administering welfare programs. DETAIL: The opinion applies to the Temporary Assistance for Needy…Open
Iowa is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to review a lower court's decision blocking a state law targeting repeat illegal immigration offenders.
Iowa is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to review a lower court’s decision blocking its state law targeting repeat illegal immigration offenders. PULSE POINTS WHAT HAPPENED: Iowa has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to review a ruling blocking a state law that makes certain illegal immigration offenses a crime under state law. Senate File 2340, passed in April 2024, applies to people who have previously been deported or denied entry into the United States. DETAIL: The law was quickly challenged by pro-illegal immigrant advocacy groups, and the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a lower court injunction preventing its enforcement in October 2025. Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird subsequently sought review by the full appeals court,…Open
Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s administration is not on board with President Donald Trump’s executive order to change the federal government’s recommended child vaccination schedule.
Louisiana's attorney general announced a state investigation into Dr. Anthony Fauci days after he invoked the Fifth Amendment 111 times before a Senate committee, making Louisiana the third state to signal that Joe Biden's federal pardon may not shield Fauci from accountability. Attorney General Liz Murrill made the announcement Saturday on X, accusing Fauci of […] The post Louisiana launches Fauci investigation as three states now pursue potential state charges appeared first on American Almanac .
Louisiana's attorney general announced a state investigation into Dr. Anthony Fauci days after he invoked the Fifth Amendment 111 times before a Senate committee, making Louisiana the third state to signal that Joe Biden's federal pardon may not shield Fauci from accountability. Attorney General Liz Murrill made the announcement Saturday on X, accusing Fauci of lying under oath and pointing to newly surfaced records that she says contradict testimony he gave during an earlier deposition. Florida and Alabama had already opened their own inquiries, and the rapid pile-on from Republican-led states marks a coordinated effort to test whether state courts can reach conduct that a presidential pardon placed beyond federal prosecutors' grasp. …Open
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. — The United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois has ruled in favor of the federal government in a lawsuit against the State of Illinois, Governor J.B. Pritzker, and multiple state entities, declaring key state education policies unconstitutional as applied to aliens who are not lawfully present in […] The post Federal Court Strikes Down Pritzker’s In-State Tuition Policy for Illegal Aliens appeared first on StoneZone .
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. — The United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois has ruled in favor of the federal government in a lawsuit against the State of Illinois, Governor J.B. Pritzker, and multiple state entities, declaring key state education policies unconstitutional as applied to aliens who are not lawfully present in the country. United States Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft announced the decision on July 24, 2026. The court denied the State’s motion to dismiss and granted the United States’ cross-motion for summary judgment. At issue were the state’s rules granting in-state tuition rates at public universities and community colleges, along with the RISE Act and the Illinois DREAM Act. The court declared…Open
Federal Law Bars States From Giving Illegal Aliens In-State Tuition, Court Holds
A federal appeals court has kept in place a ruling that stops Texas from handing illegal aliens discounted in-state college tuition while charging out-of-state American citizens far more. In its July 9 opinion , the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a lower court’s refusal to let outside groups enter the case and defend the tuition break. Judge Jerry Smith wrote that a federal statute preempts the Texas provisions, because a state cannot grant illegal aliens a residency-based tuition benefit unless every U.S. citizen qualifies for it regardless of where they live. The panel found the groups offered no viable defense and, as nonparties, could not appeal the judgment itself. The Justice Department sued Texas in June 2025, and…Open
The Trump administration is launching a federal review of the California Coastal Commission, escalating its dispute with California officials over energy policy and development.
The Trump administration is launching a federal review of the California Coastal Commission, escalating its dispute with California officials over energy policy. PULSE POINTS WHAT HAPPENED: The Trump administration has announced plans to evaluate the performance of the California Coastal Commission, citing concerns over the state’s handling of federally approved coastal management programs. The review comes as tensions escalate between federal officials and California’s Democrat leaders over energy production and environmental policies. DETAIL: Under federal law, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration must periodically evaluate state coastal management programs, and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has accused the…Open