The US Senate voted 61-36 to pass the Respect for Marriage Act, protecting same-sex marriage nationwide. Twelve Senate Republicans joined Democrats in the vote. The bill will be sent to the House, where it is expected to easily pass before it is sent to President Biden’s desk.
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1950 to 1965: “The period when the nuclear family flourished was not normal. It was a freakish historical moment when all of society conspired to obscure its essential fragility.”
More:
“The Nuclear Family Was a Mistake,” David Brooks, The Atlantic
U.S. District Judge Dana Sabraw has given the Trump administration six months, until October 25th, to identify the thousands of children it has separated from their families at the U.S.-Mexico border:
“It is important for all government actors to have a timeframe, a deadline,” he said. “You tend to stand on it.”
— “Judge gives US 6 months to identify children split at border,” Elliot Spagat, Associated Press
More:
“Judge gives U.S. six months to identify separated migrant children,” Tom Hals, Reuters
Update:
“Leaked Emails Show Trump Admin Couldn’t Reunite Separated Migrant Kids With Parents,” Daily Beast
Related:
“New Poll: Despite Partisan Divides on Immigration, Americans Oppose Family Separation,” Shibley Telhami and Stella M. Rouse, Lawfare
“Trump says ending family separation practice was a ‘disaster’ that led to surge in border crossings,” Kimberly Kindy, Nick Miroff and Maria Sacchetti, Washington Post
“Homeland Security Used a Private Intelligence Firm to Monitor Family Separation Protests,” Ryan Devereaux, The Intercept
In July U.S. District Judge Dolly M. Gee held that the federal government violated the 1997 Flores settlement by detaining immigrant children seeking asylum for more than 20 days. There are still 500 children in government-run shelters, so naturally the Trump Administration wants to change the rules and do an end-run around Flores. HHS and DHS submitted a Proposed Rule this morning that would allow the indefinite detention of child asylum seekers. “Indefinite” as in “maybe forever,” or until the kids grow up and are old enough to deport.
Other provisions of the new rule would allow children and families to be held in facilities that haven’t been approved for state or local licenses, give facilities “emergency” loopholes for not meeting standards of care, revoke legal protections for unaccompanied migrant children.
More:
“Trump Administration Moves to Sidestep Restrictions on Detaining Migrant Children,” Caitlin Dickerson, New York Times
“Trump seeks changes in landmark agreement limiting how long migrant children can be detained,” Victoria Kim, Los Angeles Times
On Thursday evening Federal District Court Judge Derrick Watson exempted grandparents and grandchildren from the latest version of President Trump’s travel ban. The revised “Muslim Ban” had a definition of “close family” that excluded many relatives.
Judge Watson wrote that “the Government’s definition represents the antithesis of common sense. Common sense, for instance, dictates that close family members be defined to include grandparents. Indeed, grandparents are the epitome of close family members. The Government’s definition excludes them. That simply cannot be.”
So if Granny lives in any of six majority-Muslim countries, she can now visit you. Put clean sheets on the guest bed!
More:
“Judge in Hawaii rules grandparents are exempt from Trump travel ban,” Samantha Schmidt, Washington Post
“U.S. judge narrows travel ban in defeat for Trump,” Dan Levine and Mica Rosenberg, Reuters
Update:
“Appeals Court: Grandparents Not Part of Trump’s Travel Ban,” Gene Johnson, AP via New York Times
“Supreme Court won’t let Trump travel ban hit grandparents,” Josh Gerstein, Politico
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As Romulo Avelica-Gonzalez dropped his daughters off at school in L.A. on February 28th, he was pulled over by ICE agents. His 13-year-old daughter Fatima was still in the backseat and recorded the arrest with her cell phone.
Mr. Avelica-Gonzalez, a citizen of Mexico, has lived and worked in the U.S. for 25 years. His four daughters were all born in the U.S.
More:
“Immigrant arrested by ICE after dropping daughter off at school, sending shockwaves through neighborhood,” Andrea Castillo, Los Angeles Times
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Like all Members of Congress, Mr. Ryan only spends 3 or 4 days a week in Washington when the House is in session, which isn’t that often, about 34 weeks a year. In other words, he’s asking to keep his current schedule if he’s the Speaker.
Paul Ryan was 16 when his own father died, so it’s understandable he’s especially sensitive to the issue of family time.
Mrs. Davis and her delusional lawyer claim that marriage licenses not issued by her are invalid. As Zack Ford points out, Kentucky statute 61.035 indicates otherwise: “Any duty enjoined by law or by the Rules of Civil Procedure upon a ministerial officer, and any act permitted to be done by him, may be performed by his lawful deputy.”
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