Limited Travel Ban Becomes Effective This Evening

Posted on June 29, 2017June 29, 2017

As a result of Supreme Court ruling earlier this week, a limited version of the travel ban proposed by the Trump Administration goes into effect this evening (8 PM EDT, 5 PM PDT).

The modified ban would impact individuals from six majority-Muslim nations: Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen. In order for individuals from those nations to enter the United States, they must have “bona fide” relationships with individuals or entities in the country.

U.S. Supreme Court to Hear Appeal on Travel Ban, Reinstates Part of Ban

Posted on June 26, 2017

Earlier today, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear the Trump Administration’s appeal on its travel ban during its next session.

The court also allowed a part of the ban to go forward. The court ruled individuals without bona find relationships with people or entities in the United Stated could be barred from entry; those with relationships with organizations or individuals will be allowed to enter the country.

The order becomes effective within 72 hours.

Senate Committee Holds Confirmation Hearing on Shanahan Nomination

Posted on June 20, 2017

The Senate Armed Services Committee is scheduled to hold this morning its confirmation hearing on the nomination of Patrick Shanahan, Chairman of the University of Washington Board of Regents, for the position of Deputy Secretary of Defense. Information about the hearing is available here.

DACA to Remain for Now, DAPA Officially Rescinded

Posted on June 16, 2017

On Thursday, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officially rescinded the Deferred Action for Parents of Americans (DAPA) policy that was issued by the Obama Administration in 2014 but blocked by a federal court later that year before it could be implemented. In the same memo that repealed DAPA, the Administration stated that it will keep in place for now the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.

A press release about the DACA and DAPA announcement is available here and a fact sheet about the announcement from DHS is available here.

Collins to Stay On as NIH Director

Posted on June 7, 2017

Yesterday, the White House announced that Dr. Francis Collins will continue to serve as Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Collins has led the NIH since 2009 and previously led the NIH Human Genome Research Institute.

Earlier this year, a bipartisan group of Congressional leaders wrote a letter to the President asking him to keep Collins.