The Morning Sixpack - April 15, 2025
File your tax return, or else Trump may send you to prison in El Salvador!
Columbia Student Detained by ICE at Citizenship Interview Amid Rising Tensions Over Pro-Palestinian Activism
In a disturbing turn of events, Mohsen Mahdawi, a Palestinian student at Columbia University, was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during a routine naturalization interview in Vermont on April 14. Mahdawi, a lawful permanent resident for ten years, was handcuffed and escorted to an undisclosed detention facility just an hour after arriving for his citizenship appointment. His legal team argues that this arrest is politically motivated, linked to Mahdawi's vocal advocacy for Palestinian rights.
His detention has drawn sharp criticism from legal experts and political figures alike, who view it as a blatant act of retaliation for his activism. Elora Mukherjee, a Columbia Law professor, condemned the arrest, stating, "The arrest sends a chilling message — no one is safe, and non-U.S. citizens must be silenced." Vermont lawmakers, including Senators Bernie Sanders and Peter Welch, labeled the act as "immoral, inhumane, and illegal" and called for Mahdawi’s immediate release.
Source: The Washington Post
U.S. Citizen Detained and Handcuffed at Border Returning from Canada, Plans Legal Action
Bachir Atallah, a New Hampshire real estate attorney and U.S. citizen, claims he was unlawfully detained by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents upon returning to the U.S. from Canada on April 13. Atallah, who had been celebrating Palm Sunday with his family, described being treated like a criminal when forced out of his car, handcuffed, and questioned without explanation at the Vermont border. His wife, Jessica Fakhri, witnessed the entire ordeal, calling it a "shock."
After being detained for nearly five hours, Atallah was pressured into allowing CBP agents to access his emails under duress, citing attorney-client privilege. Despite medical concerns, Atallah was held in custody, and legal action is now being pursued. "It's not about the immigrants; it's coming to us Americans," his sister, an immigration attorney, said in support of his case.
Source: NBC Boston
Trump Administration Expands Use of Federal Data to Target Undocumented Immigrants
The Trump administration is leveraging government data to identify and remove undocumented immigrants from housing, jobs, and public services. In a disturbing push, federal agencies are sharing personal data—typically protected for privacy purposes—to advance immigration enforcement. For instance, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is working on rules to remove mixed-status families from public housing, even when some family members are U.S. citizens or legal residents. The Social Security Administration (SSA) has also entered over 6,000 names into a database that tracks deceased individuals, effectively stripping immigrant families of their rights to benefits and work.
The use of sensitive information from agencies like the IRS, SSA, and HUD is raising concerns over privacy violations and the government's growing reach into citizens' personal data. "It’s not only about one subgroup of people, it’s really about all of us," said Tanya Broder of the National Immigration Law Center, stressing the widespread implications of the government's data-sharing efforts.
Source: The Washington Post
Trump Jokes About Deporting Americans to "Foreign Concentration Camps" During Meeting with Bukele
In a shocking exchange during a meeting with El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele at the White House, President Donald Trump suggested that "home-growns are next," referring to American citizens being sent to foreign detention camps. Trump reportedly mentioned that El Salvador would "need to build about five more places" to house Americans. The disturbing comment, captured on camera, sparked laughter from some American officials in the room, adding to the absurdity of the proposal.
This unsettling remark has drawn criticism for its apparent casualness in discussing the deportation of U.S. citizens, raising questions about the administration's growing disregard for human rights. As the conversation unfolds in the shared video, the tone of the exchange highlights an alarming shift in the rhetoric surrounding immigration and citizenship in the U.S.
Source: Snyder Substack
Trump Pushes to Imprison U.S. Citizens in El Salvador—But It’s Likely Illegal
“Likely illegal?” WTAF! It IS ILLEGAL.
President Donald Trump recently reiterated his desire to imprison U.S. citizens convicted of violent crimes in El Salvador, discussing with President Nayib Bukele the need to build additional detention facilities. While the administration has already deported immigrants to El Salvador's notorious CECOT prison, sending U.S. citizens to foreign prisons would likely violate both the U.S. Constitution and existing laws. Legal experts argue that the forced deportation of U.S. citizens is unconstitutional and could breach protections like due process and the prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment.
The move has sparked significant legal concerns, especially considering the potential for "cruel and unusual punishment" at CECOT, known for its harsh conditions. Experts argue that sending U.S. citizens abroad for imprisonment could undermine fundamental legal rights and the Constitution's guarantees. Furthermore, the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled against the forced deportation of individuals to El Salvador without due process, highlighting the legal challenges facing this controversial proposal.
Source: Associated Press
Trump’s Tariffs Backfire: China Cuts Off Rare Earth Exports, Crushing U.S. Industries
In the latest trade war debacle, China has suspended exports of key rare earth metals and magnets, dealing a major blow to U.S. industries from tech to defense. The export ban, effective April 3, cuts off access to materials crucial for everything from cell phones to fighter jets, cementing China’s control over a market that the U.S. is dangerously dependent on. Drew Horn, former strategic minerals chief under Trump, called China’s grip on the market a "monopoly" and warned that this could push American industries into a tough spot.
This move is just another punch in the gut from China, who has used their rare earth leverage before, most notably during Trump’s first term. The tariffs Trump slapped on China were supposed to make America great again—yet here we are, scrambling for an alternative to Beijing's control. Now, despite efforts to boost domestic production, experts argue that the U.S. is stuck, unable to process rare earths without Chinese refineries. Looks like Trump's trade war has left us holding the bag... and it's made in China.
Source: New York Post