The Trump administration faced two significant legal defeats on Friday, as federal judges in California and Rhode Island issued rulings against key policies backed by the White House.
In California, U.S. District Judge Jennifer Thurston ordered the release of Salam Maklad, a Syrian national the administration sought to deport.
Maklad, a member of the Druze religious minority, arrived in the United States in 2002 without valid entry documents and later claimed asylum. Her legal team argued she is eligible for legal immigration status due to her marriage to a man granted asylum.
Maklad was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on July 9 during what she believed was a routine check-in.
The court found she has no criminal record and is not a flight risk.
Judge Thurston wrote that “the balance of the equities and public interest weigh in favor of Ms. Maklad” and permanently barred authorities from rearresting her without proper constitutional safeguards, including pre-deprivation notice and a timely bond hearing.
Meanwhile, in Rhode Island, Senior District Judge William Smith blocked the Trump administration from imposing new conditions on federal funding for domestic violence programs.
The restrictions were part of an executive order aimed at combating what the administration calls “gender ideology,” defining sex strictly by biological classification.
The Department of Justice’s Office on Violence Against Women had updated its grant conditions to prohibit funding activities that “inculcate or promote gender ideology,” following President Trump’s Executive Order 14168.
A coalition of 17 nonprofit groups challenged the changes, arguing the new rules would interfere with their ability to assist victims effectively, according to Newsweek.
Judge Smith agreed with the coalition, concluding that the new requirements “could result in the disruption” of vital services for domestic and sexual violence victims. He granted preliminary relief allowing the Office to process grant applications and award funding under prior guidelines, while the legal challenges continue.
Both rulings reflect ongoing legal challenges to the Trump administration’s policies, despite Republicans controlling both Congress and the White House. Courts have repeatedly blocked various initiatives, from immigration enforcement to social policy changes.
It remains unclear whether the administration will appeal the rulings. The Department of Homeland Security and Department of Justice did not respond to requests for comment outside regular business hours.
The California ruling emphasizes constitutional protections in immigration cases, while the Rhode Island decision highlights concerns about the impact of policy changes on social service programs.
The post Trump Suffers Significant Legal Defeats in California and Rhode Island appeared first on Resist the Mainstream.
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Author: Anthony Gonzalez
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