DHS reviews citizenship cases from Somalia, other high risk countries for possible fraud
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is reviewing immigration and naturalization cases involving migrants from 19 countries of concern, including Somalia, to determine whether any individuals obtained American citizenship through fraud that could warrant denaturalization, DHS confirmed to Fox News. “Under U.S. law, if an individual procures citizenship on a fraudulent basis, that is grounds for denaturalization,” DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement to Fox News. The review focuses on whether fraud occurred during the immigration or naturalization process, such as marriage fraud or false statements made to obtain legal status or citizenship. The confirmation comes as Republican lawmakers have called for tougher consequences following Minnesota’s ongoing child care fraud scandal, which has involved millions of dollars in alleged misuse of federal funds. HHS PROBES MINNESOTA’S USE OF BILLIONS IN FEDERAL SOCIAL SERVICE FUNDS AMID FRAUD CONCERNS: REPORT DHS emphasized that denaturalization, or stripping of citizenship, is governed by strict legal standards and applies only under limited circumstances. The review includes cases tied to 19 countries that DHS considers countries of concern, including Somalia. DHS did not specify how many cases are currently under review or whether any individuals have been referred for denaturalization proceedings. Denaturalization is a rare and intense legal process. Historically, the federal government has pursued only between a dozen and a few dozen cases per year, dating back to the 1990s. COMER SUMMONS MINNESOTA OFFICIALS AS HOUSE PROBES MASSIVE SOCIAL SERVICES FRAUD Prosecutors must prove that citizenship was obtained illegally, and denaturalization convictions require a high burden of proof that can often take years to litigate. The scrutiny also comes as the Department of Health and Human Services moved Tuesday to freeze child care payments to Minnesota, citing alleged fraud involving daycare providers across the state. HHS Deputy Secretary Jim O’Neill said the state had “funneled millions of taxpayer dollars to fraudulent daycares” over the past decade, prompting the agency to halt payments while the matter is reviewed. DHS did not provide a timeline for the review or indicate whether any denaturalization cases are expected to move forward in the near future. Fox News Digital’s Louis Casiano contributed to this reporting.
SEE IT: Daycare center at heart of Minnesota fraud investigation fixes sign after viral mockery
The Minneapolis-area daycare, whose misspelled sign “Quality Learing Center” went viral after being reported on by YouTube journalist Nick Shirley in his investigation into rampant fraud in Minnesota, has now corrected the infamous sign. Shirley and another man approached a building labeled the Quality Learing Center (sic) in Minneapolis, with Shirley noting that “Learning” was misspelled on the daycare’s sign outside. The business appeared inactive during the visit despite receiving state childcare assistance funds. This led to allegations that the center is one of several participating in a widespread fraud scheme taking place in certain segments of Minnesota’s Somali community. To many critics, the misspelled sign was an illustration of the fraud openly taking place in Minnesota. Among the center’s critics was U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon, who wrote on X that “One fraudulent business in Minnesota that misspelled ‘learning’ on its building received $1.9M this year while masquerading as a daycare.” ICE PROBES SUSPECTED MINNESOTA FRAUD SITES AS OFFICIALS FOLLOW POTENTIAL $9B MONEY TRAIL McMahon wrote, “There are not enough words to describe the breathtaking failure that has happened under the watch of [Gov. Tim Walz].” The center, however, has since pushed back on the allegations, saying it is innocent of any wrongdoing. Fox News photographed several individuals correcting the misspelled sign late on Monday night. Earlier on Monday, Ibrahim Ali, a man who identified himself as a manager at the Quality Learning Center, strongly denied any allegations of fraud at the facility. He told Fox News that the center is currently open and has never closed, contradicting statements made earlier today by officials with the Department of Children, Youth and Families that the center had closed earlier this month. UNEARTHED SURVEILLANCE EXPOSES HOW PARENTS WERE ALLEGEDLY INVOLVED IN MINNESOTA’S DAYCARE FRAUD SCHEME Ali also accused Shirley of visiting the facility before operating hours, which he says run from 2 to 10 p.m. Central Time, Monday through Thursday. He criticized Shirley, saying, “Are you trying to record that we’re doing fraud, or are you trying to put the Somali name and the fraud in the same sentence? That’s what really hurt us the last couple of days.” The manager blamed the misspelling on the individual who installed it, saying, “We mess up the sign, we pay somebody to do our sign, he incorrectly did it, we’re having him work on it. We paid him to correct the sign. He said it’ll be done by this week, so by the end of this week our sign will be fine.” WHISTLEBLOWER WARNS MASSIVE FRAUD IS HAPPENING IN OHIO SOMALI COMMUNITY, MINNESOTA ‘JUST TIP OF THE SPEAR’ The Quality Learning Center also recently made news for collecting 95 violations from the state human services agency between 2019 and 2023, according to St. Paul’s ABC affiliate. Such violations range from failure to keep hazardous items away from kids to the daycare not having any records for more than a dozen listed children, according to the outlet. Documentation reviewed by Fox News Digital showed the site’s current license does not expire until the end of 2026.
Shirley associate in viral video says he filed criminal complaint against Walz over daycare fraud allegations
Independent journalist Nick Shirley and his researcher “David” returned to the Quality Learning Center in Minneapolis on Tuesday dressed in a sweatshirt emblazoned with “1-800 FRAUD,” following the release of his viral video alleging fraud at state-funded childcare facilities in Minnesota. At the site, David also told reporters he had filed a criminal complaint against Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz related to the alleged widespread fraud. In a post shared on X, Shirley and David are also shown during the visit standing outside the facility in matching sweatshirts. Shirley captioned the post, “WE OUT HERE LEARIN AND STOPPING FRAUD.” HHS CUTS OFF MINNESOTA CHILD CARE PAYMENTS OVER ALLEGED DAYCARE FRAUD SCHEME Both men’s sweatshirts also read “Quality ‘Learing’ Center,” a misspelling that mirrored the signage associated with the Minneapolis site central to fraud allegations. Shirley’s return visit came after the facility’s manager claimed his original video misrepresented the business by filming outside posted hours and falsely suggesting the center was inactive. State officials and a daycare manager on Monday denied allegations of fraud, disputing claims that the location was closed or improperly collecting taxpayer funds. VP DEBATE FOOTAGE OF WALZ TOUTING STATE SUPPORT FOR DAYCARES GOES VIRAL AMID MINNESOTA FRAUD ALLEGATIONS The allegations stem from Shirley’s viral video showing visits to multiple state daycare facilities. The Quality Learning Center appeared inactive at the time of Shirley’s filming despite receiving state childcare assistance money. Shirley’s video sparked widespread attention online as officials such as Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., Donald Trump Jr. and Elon Musk praised Shirley’s reporting, while others, including Walz, pushed back against it. Walz was already facing criticism as the scandal involved at least $1 billion lost to alleged social services fraud mostly tied to Minneapolis’ Somali community. STATE OFFICIALS AND DAYCARE MANAGER PUSH BACK ON VIRAL VIDEO FRAUD ALLEGATIONS IN MINNESOTA During Tuesday’s visit, David confirmed to reporters he had filed a criminal complaint against Walz related to the alleged fraud. “I filed a formal criminal complaint against Tim Walz for violating Minnesota Statute 3.971, Subdivision 9,” David said before confirming he had filed the complaint three to four weeks ago. “So there’s an investigation ongoing, and I think Tim’s going to have a bad day, and he deserves it, because he allowed this fraud.” “Because he wanted the voting block that the Somalis represent, because they all vote in a block, and it’s 100,000 150,000,” he added. “Who knows how many, but it’s so bad now that when we go to a facility, they’re already screaming, Nick Shirley, Nick Shirley, Nick Shirley!” Fox News Digital has reached out to Walz’s office for comment.
Mamdani taps controversial lawyer who defended al Qaeda terrorist for top role: ‘Powerful advocate’
Socialist New York Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani announced on Tuesday that he is appointing controversial lawyer Ramzi Kassem, who defended al Qaeda terrorist Ahmed al-Darbi in court, as the city’s top attorney. Mamdani, who will take office on Jan. 1, announced he was appointing Kassem as New York City’s chief counsel, the top legal role in the city. He also shared that he is appointing Steven Banks a self-proclaimed “social justice attorney” as corporation counsel and Helen Arteaga as deputy mayor for health and human services. Kassem’s record includes serving as a senior policy advisor for immigration on the White House Domestic Policy Council under former President Joe Biden. Kassem served as lead counsel in al-Darbi’s defense. In 2014, al-Darbi pled guilty before a U.S. military commission to conspiracy in connection with an al Qaeda terrorist plot to bomb the French oil tanker MV Limburg off the coast of Yemen. One civilian was killed in the attack and several others were injured. He was convicted of the crime in 2017 and was transferred by the Trump administration in 2018 to Saudi Arabia’s custody. FLASHBACK: INSIDE THE POLITICAL MOVEMENT THAT PUT A SOCIALIST IN CHARGE OF NEW YORK CITY “While it may not make him whole, my hope is that repatriation at least marks the end of injustice for Ahmed,” Kassem said at the time of the transfer, adding he had “16 long and painful years in captivity.” In 2025, Kassem represented anti-Israel activist and Columbia student Mahmoud Khalil who was arrested by ICE for his alleged role in leading antisemitic demonstrations on campus. Khalil has since been released, though his legal case is ongoing. Announcing the appointment, Mamdani said, “I will turn to Ramzi for his remarkable experience and his commitment to defending those too often abandoned by our legal system.” The mayor-elect said that “City Hall will be stronger with him in it, and our work of building a more prosperous city for all will have a powerful advocate.” AOC TO DELIVER OPENING REMARKS AT MAMDANI’S INAUGURATION, BERNIE SANDERS TO ADMINISTER OATH OF OFFICE “My sincere hope is that New Yorkers who have long felt on the margins of this city, the homeless veteran straining to survive, the patient searching for the care that they need, an immigrant trying to get by will feel that they now have leaders in their corner who understand their struggles and care to fight for them,” Mamdani went on, adding, “That is the city I want to build. The prosperity I intend to deliver and the leadership that has too long been lacking.” Kassem thanked Mamdani for the appointment, saying he considers it a “call of duty to serve the city that I’ve called home, the city that embraced me.” “I grew up in war-torn countries in the Middle East, authoritarian regimes, and New York City was really my first stable and permanent home,” said Kassem. “This is an opportunity for me to repay that debt. I’ve been trying to repay that debt ever since I came to this country, ever since I immigrated.” 20% OF NYC MAYOR-ELECT MAMDANI TRANSITION APPOINTEES HAVE ANTI-ZIONIST TIES: ADL Kassem is the founder of the Creating Law Enforcement Accountability & Responsibility (CLEAR) law clinic, a project that, according to its website, has a mandate “to support Muslim and all other client, communities, and movements in the New York City area and beyond that are targeted by local, state, or federal government agencies under the guise of national security and counterterrorism.”
Fox News Politics Newsletter: House GOP whip calls for revoking citizenship over Minnesota fraud
Welcome to the Fox News Politics newsletter, with the latest updates on the Trump administration, Capitol Hill and more Fox News politics content. Here’s what’s happening… -Questions remain, licensing site crashes as whiplash ensues in MN childcare fraud scandal –Minnesota Dem Senate candidate faces call from opponent to apologize over viral ‘pandering’ hijab video -Biden-era rental assistance included payments to dead tenants and non-citizens, new HUD report reveals The No. 2 Republican in the House of Representatives believes it’s time to deport Somalis who participated in expansive fraud in Minnesota – even if they hold citizenship. “I have three words regarding Somalis who have committed fraud against American taxpayers: Send them home,” Rep. Tom Emmer, R-Minn., said in a press release Monday evening. “If they’re here illegally, deport them immediately; if they’re naturalized citizens, revoke their citizenship and deport them quickly thereafter. If we need to change the law to do that, I will.”…READ MORE. ARTIST BOYCOTT: Artists cancel Kennedy Center performances following ‘Trump-Kennedy Center’ rebrand ‘CLEAR INDICATION’: Eric Adams says Biden DOJ used ‘lawfare’ against him, compares treatment to Trump BROMANCE BUST: Inside the Trump-Musk split: How America’s most powerful bromance imploded into the biggest breakup of 2025 ‘HEINOUS’: US embassies in the Western Hemisphere directed to report on human rights violations tied to mass migration PEACE DEAL CLOSE: Zelenskyy says peace deal is close after Trump meeting but territory remains sticking point LETHAL STRIKE: US military kills 2 narco-terrorists in Eastern Pacific strike operation targeting vessel MONEY OR MAYHEM: Senate gears up for next spending fight as shutdown deadline creeps closer OUT OF TOUCH: Sen Jim Justice says Republicans are ‘lousy’ at knowing what everyday Americans think about healthcare NO NUKES FOR TEHRAN: Fetterman endorses the prospect of potential future strikes to derail any Iranian nuclear ambitions BEIJING’S THREAT: Bipartisan House China panel slams Beijing’s Taiwan drills as ‘deliberate escalation’ POWER GRAB IOWA: Republicans eye Iowa Senate supermajority in Tuesday special election SQAUD START: AOC to deliver opening remarks at Mamdani’s inauguration, Bernie Sanders to administer oath of office ‘A NEW ERA’: Flashback: Inside the political movement that put a socialist in charge of New York City HEALTH CARE CHAOS: Some states move to pick up the tab as Obamacare subsidies lapse ‘PLAGUING’ MIDWEST: Feds launch ‘massive operation’ in Minnesota amid fraud scandal CAUGHT ON CAMERA: Unearthed surveillance exposes how parents were allegedly involved in Minnesota’s daycare fraud scheme Get the latest updates on the Trump administration and Congress, exclusive interviews and more on FoxNews.com.
HHS freezes Minnesota child care payments over alleged daycare fraud scheme
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will freeze all child care payments to Minnesota, the agency said Tuesday, amid the scrutiny surrounding alleged fraud involving child daycare centers across the state. “You have probably read the serious allegations that the state of Minnesota has funneled millions of taxpayer dollars to fraudulent daycares across Minnesota over the past decade,” HHS Deputy Secretary Jim O’Neill wrote on X. In a video message, O’Neill cited the viral video released last week by independent journalist Nick Shirley that highlighted alleged fraud involving Minnesota childcare and learning centers. ‘NO WAY’ WALZ ADMINISTRATION WAS UNAWARE OF MINNESOTA FRAUD SCANDAL, EMMER SAYS In the video, many of the facilities appeared non-operational despite allegedly receiving millions of dollars in government aid. “We believe the state of Minnesota has allowed scammers and fake daycares to siphon millions of taxpayer dollars over the past decade,” he said. In an effort to combat fraud, O’Neill said he ordered that all Administration for Children and Families payments made across the country require justification and receipt or photo evidence before money is sent to a particular state. Secondly, the agency is demanding that Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz hand over a comprehensive audit of the centers featured in Shirley’s video, including attendance records, licenses, complaints, investigations and inspections. FEDS LAUNCH ‘MASSIVE’ INVESTIGATION AFTER VIRAL VIDEO ALLEGES MINNESOTA DAYCARE FRAUD In addition, HHS has launched a hotline to report fraud. A spokesperson for Walz’s office told Fox News Digital that the HHS move was politically motivated. “The governor has been combatting fraud for years while the President has been letting fraudsters out of jail,” the spokesperson said in a statement. “Fraud is a serious issue. But this is a transparent attempt to politicize the issue to hurt Minnesotans and defund government programs that help people.” In a post on X, Walz said the move was part of President Donald Trump’s “long game.” “We’ve spent years cracking down on fraudsters. It’s a serious issue – but this has been his plan all along,” he wrote. “He’s politicizing the issue to defund programs that help Minnesotans.” Alex Adams, the assistant secretary for HHS’ Administration for Children and Families, said his office has provided Minnesota with $185 million in child funds annually. “That money should be helping 19,000 American children, including toddlers and infants. Any dollars stolen by fraudsters is stolen from those children,” Adams said. Adams said he spoke with the head of Minnesota Child Care Services office on Monday. “She could not tell me with confidence whether those allegations of fraud are isolated or whether there’s fraud stretching statewide,” he said.
US judge orders suspect detained for threatening to kill Richard Grenell
A federal judge in Alexandria, Virginia, on Tuesday ordered the detention of a 33-year-old man charged with threatening to kill President Donald Trump ally and Kennedy Center President Richard Grenell, in what Justice Department officials described as a win for the Trump administration – and for Lindsey Halligan, the acting U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. Grenell, a former U.S. ambassador to Germany, was not in court for the arraignment Tuesday afternoon, and was identified in a press release only as a “federal employee.” The Justice Department identified Grenell to Fox News Digital as the individual in question. The suspect, Scott Allen Bolger, was charged with transmitting threats in interstate commerce, and with making false statements to federal officers, who later used phone evidence to trace the threats back to him. He was arraigned in federal court in Alexandria. Justice Department officials told Fox News Digital that the decision to hold an individual in pretrial detention is somewhat rare, and described the win as a victory for the Justice Department. According to court documents, Bolger used Google Voice to send threatening messages to Grenell, including allegedly threatening to kill him. Google Voice allows users to make calls and send messages to phone numbers that are not tied to their primary devices. Bolger is also accused of lying to members of a federal task force who went to his residence in McLean to question him, falsely identifying himself as “Brian Black.” COMEY SEEKS TO TOSS CRIMINAL CASE CALLING TRUMP PROSECUTOR ‘UNLAWFUL’ APPOINTEE If convicted, he faces up to five years in prison. They also noted that Halligan, who Trump installed as U.S. attorney for EDVA earlier this year, attended the arraignment. Halligan attended the proceedings, but did not play a formal role, Fox News Digital confirmed. The Justice Department also shared a victim statement from Grenell with Fox News Digital that was read aloud in court. “In my current role as a presidential envoy, I have been attacked and harassed by people who don’t know me and who simply want to leave nasty, rude and angry messages because I don’t share their political viewpoint,” Grenell said in the statement. “But I strongly believe it is their right to be bitter and angry. I understand the passion. And I think the freedom to be rude and angry is a cherished right.” “But today is much different,” he said. “Today we are dealing with someone who went far beyond sharing his angry opinion. Today we see a man who wants to kill someone because of their political differences.” “And as we have sadly learned from my friend Charlie Kirk’s death, we must take talk of violence and calls for death seriously. “ “This individual crossed the line from sharing his viewpoint to wanting to shoot someone in the face because he disagrees with them politically. It is very troubling,” he said, adding, “The people doing what he is doing, and there are many, must be given clear instructions from community leaders that their calls for shooting people in the head will have swift and severe consequences. Unstable people are watching what we do today.” SCOTUS TO REVIEW TRUMP EXECUTIVE ORDER ON BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP Notably, the determination to hold Bolger in pretrial detention was made by U.S. Magistrate Judge William Fitzpatrick. Fitzpatrick most recently made headlines for issuing scathing broadsides against DOJ for its handling of grand jury materials in the Comey case, which he said, last month, presented “irregularities” that “may rise to the level of government misconduct.” The suspect’s arrest comes at a time when threats and intimidation aimed at high-profile figures across all three branches of government have appeared to escalate. Polls have shown that people believe political violence is on the rise in the wake of Kirk’s assassination, the murder of two Minnesota Democratic lawmakers and violence toward immigration enforcement officials. Brooke Singman contributed to this report. This story is developing. Check back for updates.
Maine nonprofit with Somali ties reportedly sees state funding shut off after fraud claims
A Maine health services company recently accused by a whistleblower of bilking taxpayers out of millions in Medicaid funds saw its spigot shut off this week as the state Department of Health moved to halt payments from MaineCare. Gateway Community Services is a Portland company run by a Somali-born man who ran for president – the U.S. equivalent of governor – of Jubaland, Somalia, for what would have been a four-year term beginning in 2024, according to his campaign website. Ali’s campaign manifesto includes a point saying he would create “robust security infrastructure” to counter Al-Shabab, while reports out of Minnesota claim their Somali-tied funds may have ended up in the hands of the terror group. FEDS LAUNCH ‘MASSIVE OPERATION’ IN MINNESOTA AMID FRAUD SCANDAL Incumbent Ahmed Mohamed Islam Madobe won that contest, which also inspired both the Mogadishu government and semi-autonomous Jubaland government in Bu’ale to issue arrest warrants for each other’s leaders over illegitimacy claims, according to Reuters. Ali originally came to the U.S. as a refugee in 2009, became a U.S. citizen, and started several ventures, according to the Maine Wire. MaineCare sent Gateway a notice of violation last week, according to the Bangor Daily News, which reported that payments would be suspended while the state investigated “credible allegations of fraud.” MINNESOTA GOP LAWMAKERS CITE CONSTITUTION IN CALL FOR WALZ TO RESIGN OVER FRAUD CRISIS The paper reported the state will seek more than $1 million in payments made in 2021 and 2022, with Maine Department of Health spokesperson Lindsay Hammes saying the agency will “continue to hold providers to the highest standards and ensure accountability in the use of public funds.” MaineCare paid Gateway $28.8 million between 2019 and 2024, according to records obtained by the Bangor Daily News through a public records request. The firm also received almost $700,000 in COVID-era Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funds to purportedly save 127 jobs, according to the Maine Wire. Fox News Digital had attempted to reach Ali and Gateway earlier this month when a whistleblower came forward to NewsNation alleging he had witnessed fraud firsthand while working there. The whistleblower, Chris Bernardini, told NewsNation that while working at the firm, he “couldn’t fathom” the depths of alleged fraud he witnessed. “I thought we were helping people,” he said, adding that he received calls complaining that Gateway staff never showed up for clients, and claimed an electronic monitoring system tracking movements of field staff wrongly depicted them traveling to low-income clients, according to the outlet. HHS PROBES MINNESOTA’S USE OF BILLIONS IN FEDERAL SOCIAL SERVICE FUNDS AMID FRAUD CONCERNS: REPORT An attorney for Gateway, Pawel Bincyzk, told the Bangor paper that the firm did receive notices from the state but that the company “stands by its previous statements on this issue and will continue to cooperate with the state as it has in the past.” The notification from Augusta came shortly after Congress weighed in on the matter in a letter to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent regarding concerns over Minnesota’s burgeoning Somali-linked fraud scandal. Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., also listed Gateway in the letter, along with several people purportedly connected to the firm, including Ali and state Rep. Deqa Dhalac, D-Portland. A message left at the phone number for Gateway’s main office was not returned, and another extension was disconnected. Fox News Digital reached out to Maine Democratic Attorney General Aaron Frey about the state’s actions. A spokesperson declined comment on the investigation.
DOJ’s second-in-command could be central to ‘vindictive’ prosecution of Abrego Garcia, judge rules
A federal judge ordered the Trump administration to produce documents related to its decision to investigate and bring criminal charges against Salvadoran migrant Kilmar Abrego Garcia while he was detained at a maximum-security prison in El Salvador earlier this year – signaling what is sure to be an action-packed evidentiary hearing in Nashville next month. The order, filed by U.S. Judge Waverly Crenshaw earlier this month and released to the public Tuesday afternoon, requires the Justice Department to produce all relevant documents to defense lawyers pertaining to its decision earlier this year to open an investigation and seek criminal charges against Abrego Garcia for conduct stemming from a 2022 traffic stop. ABREGO GARCIA REMAINS IN US FOR NOW AS JUDGE TAKES CASE UNDER ADVISEMENT The Justice Department opened the criminal investigation and presented the case to a grand jury earlier this year, when Abrego Garcia was detained at CECOT, and at the same time as lawyers for the Trump administration officials were telling a separate federal judge in Maryland that they were powerless to bring him back from Salvadoran custody. The new order stops short of compelling any government witnesses to testify for next month’s hearing, including testimony from Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, whose remarks – for months – have been at the center of the vindictive prosecution effort pursued by Abrego Garcia’s defense team in Tennessee. Abrego Garcia’s attorneys have argued Blanche played “a leading role” in the decision to prosecute him, a notion Blanche’s office has vehemently dismissed. They had also honed in on the involvement of Blanche’s associate, Aakash Singh. “The cornerstone of Abrego’s motion to dismiss is that the decision to prosecute him was in retaliation for his success in the Maryland District Court,” Crenshaw said in the newly unsealed ruling. “Indeed, at the time of Abrego’s arrest, Blanche linked Abrego’s criminal charges to his successful civil lawsuit in Maryland. Specifically, some of the documents suggest not only that McGuire was not a solitary decision-maker, but he, in fact, reported to others in DOJ and the decision to prosecute Abrego may have been a joint decision, with others who may or may not have acted with improper motivation.” U.S. District Judge Waverly Crenshaw had ruled in October that Abrego Garcia had established a “reasonable likelihood” that the criminal case against him was the result of vindictive prosecution by the Justice Department, a determination that shifted the burden to the government to rebut ahead of the criminal trial, and ordered the Trump administration to produce for the court internal documents and government witnesses to testify about its decision to bring the case. SCOTUS TO REVIEW TRUMP EXECUTIVE ORDER ON BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP Lawyers for the Justice Department fiercely resisted efforts to produce government witnesses or documents, arguing that the documents should be protected by attorney-client privilege and work-product privilege, among other things. The evidentiary hearing is slated to take place on Jan. 28. Crenshaw separately canceled the criminal trial date for Abrego Garcia, though the update is likely more a procedural one than a reflection of the status of the case. Abrego Garcia’s status has been at the center of a legal and political maelstrom for nearly 11 months, after he was arrested and deported to his home country of El Salvador, in violation of a 2019 withholding of removal order. This is a breaking news story. Check back for updates.
DOJ challenges Virginia law granting in-state tuition to illegal immigrants
The Trump administration is suing Virginia over a law that allows some illegal immigrants to pay in-state tuition rates to attend universities and colleges. Federal law prohibits states from providing illegal immigrants postsecondary education benefits that are denied to U.S. citizens. The Justice Department, which filed the lawsuit in Richmond, argues that Virginia state law discriminates against American citizens who can’t afford the same reduced tuition rates, scholarships or subsidies and that it incentivizes illegal immigration. “This is not only wrong but illegal. The challenged act’s discriminatory treatment in favor of illegal aliens over citizens is squarely prohibited and preempted by federal law,” the 13-page complaint states. “There are no exceptions. Virginia violates it nonetheless.” TRUMP ADMINISTRATION BANS ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS FROM TAXPAYER-FUNDED SERVICES, INCLUDING HEAD START Under state law, students who establish residency in Virginia for one year could be eligible for in-state tuition, regardless of their immigration status. The complaint urges Virginia to stop providing illegal immigrants with in-state tuition rates, financial aid or other state benefits. TRUMP ADMIN SUES COLORADO, DENVER OVER ‘SANCTUARY LAWS,’ ALLEGED INTERFERENCE IN IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT “This is a simple matter of federal law: in Virginia and nationwide, schools cannot provide benefits to illegal aliens that they do not provide to U.S. citizens,” said U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “This Department of Justice will not tolerate American students being treated like second-class citizens in their own country.” Fox News Digital has reached out to the office of Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares for comment. The Trump administration has filed tuition lawsuits against several other states, including Texas, Kentucky, Illinois, Oklahoma, Minnesota and California. Upon taking office, President Donald Trump signed two executive orders to ensure illegal immigrants can’t obtain taxpayer benefits or preferential treatment.