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Brandeis Center Urges Education Department to Release Delayed Foreign Funding Data

Brandeis Center Urges Education Department to Release Delayed Foreign Funding Data

The Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law has formally urged Secretary of Education Linda McMahon to promptly release public records detailing foreign funding received by American colleges and universities. This appeal follows the Department of Education's fourth consecutive postponement of the publication of Section 117 foreign funding reports, with the latest delay pushing the release to September 11. The initial publication was scheduled for July 15, then delayed to July 29, August 12, and August 26. In response to these repeated delays, the Brandeis Center filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to obtain a copy of the Department's compiled report, which includes the names of foreign sources from previous reporting cycles. Kenneth L. Marcus, chairman and CEO of the Brandeis Center and former U.S. Assistant Secretary of Education for Civil Rights, emphasized the public's right to know which foreign governments, state-controlled entities, or their intermediaries are providing bill...

China presses the US for answers after a man dies hours after entering ICE custody

China presses the US for answers after a man dies hours after entering ICE custody

The Chinese government is pressing for answers after a Chinese man died hours after being taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on a U.S. territory

DOJ Implements Significant Immigration Policy Changes in 2026 Affecting Visa Eligibility, Enforcement, and State Funding

DOJ Implements Significant Immigration Policy Changes in 2026 Affecting Visa Eligibility, Enforcement, and State Funding

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has introduced substantial changes to its immigration policy in 2026, impacting federal immigration enforcement and legal proceedings across the United States. These revisions affect visa eligibility, removal (deportation) proceedings, and the cooperation mandates for states regarding federal welfare funding. The DOJ oversees the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), which manages immigration courts, and its policies directly influence thousands of immigrants annually. Key updates include a revised public charge rule that restricts access to certain welfare benefits, stricter asylum filing deadlines, and more stringent visa eligibility criteria for various categories. States like North Carolina and Florida are under particular scrutiny, as new DOJ rules threaten to withhold billions in welfare funds if they are deemed non-cooperative with federal immigration enforcement. These policy shifts require immigrants to adapt their legal strategies to protect their status ...

ASU Professor Challenges Mandatory DEI Training in Arizona Supreme Court

ASU Professor Challenges Mandatory DEI Training in Arizona Supreme Court

Owen Anderson, a philosophy and religious studies professor at Arizona State University (ASU), has petitioned the Arizona Supreme Court to allow his legal challenge against the university's mandatory diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) training. Anderson claims that ASU's DEI training violates an Arizona law that prohibits state agencies, including universities, from requiring employees to participate in training that assigns blame or judgment based on race, ethnicity, or sex. A lower court previously ruled that Anderson lacked legal standing to challenge the policy, stating that the statute does not provide a clear private right of action for individuals. Anderson, represented by the Goldwater Institute, argues that without an implied private right of action, the regulatory body, the Arizona Board of Regents, which controls university policy, would be solely responsible for enforcing a law it may be violating.

Drexel University and Academy of Natural Sciences Near Agreement to Preserve Operations in Philadelphia

Drexel University and Academy of Natural Sciences Near Agreement to Preserve Operations in Philadelphia

Drexel University and the Academy of Natural Sciences are close to finalizing an agreement that would ensure the continued operation and growth of the Academy in Philadelphia. This development follows the involvement of David L. Cohen, former U.S. ambassador to Canada and Comcast executive, who was asked by Governor Josh Shapiro to broker a solution. Cohen has held numerous meetings over several months, resulting in a draft proposal addressing governance and financial aspects. While the museum component of the Academy is slated for closure, the broader agreement aims to preserve the Academy's essential mission, including its research, education, and public engagement with its collections. This effort is driven by a desire to prevent a situation similar to the abrupt closure of the University of the Arts in June 2024, which left a significant void in the city's cultural landscape.

Brazilian Father Detained by ICE Returns to Brazil Under Removal Order, Sons Remain in U.S.

Brazilian Father Detained by ICE Returns to Brazil Under Removal Order, Sons Remain in U.S.

Rogério da Silva Lima, a 42-year-old Brazilian father, has returned to Brazil under a removal order after being detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in May. Da Silva Lima, who was taken into custody alongside his teenage son Nycolas de Alvarenga Lima while fishing in Menemsha, left the U.S. on Saturday and arrived in Brazil on Sunday evening. His departure marks the end of a five-year journey that began when he, his wife, and their two sons illegally crossed into the U.S. His wife left shortly after their arrival, and da Silva Lima and his sons settled on Martha's Vineyard, integrating into the immigrant community and finding work. Despite his return, his sons, Nycolas and Nayran, remain on Martha's Vineyard, with Nycolas planning to continue his studies online. Da Silva Lima expressed deep sadness about leaving his sons behind, stating it was "the worst feeling in the world." His attorney, Amelia Lynn Ritenour, confirmed that ICE required his departure but allowed him to leave on a civili...

House Passes Bill to Cut Federal Funds to Colleges Boycotting Israel Amidst Democratic Divisions

House Passes Bill to Cut Federal Funds to Colleges Boycotting Israel Amidst Democratic Divisions

The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a bill that aims to cut federal funding to colleges and universities that participate in commercial boycotts of Israel. The measure, which passed 237 to 169, saw a significant split within the Democratic party, with the vast majority of Democrats, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, voting against it. Only 33 left-wing Democratic lawmakers supported the bill. The legislation specifically prohibits institutions that engage in 'non-expressive commercial boycott of Israel' from receiving government funding and requires universities receiving federal funds to ensure students are not 'unreasonably obstructed' from studying abroad in Israel. Republicans largely supported the bill, with only two voting against it. The debate highlighted ongoing divisions within Congress regarding antisemitism and the Israel-Gaza conflict, with Republicans framing the bill as a means to protect Jewish students and Democrats raising concerns about free speech and academic fr...

Kim B. Clark Retires from Brigham Young University After 54 Years in Higher Education

Kim B. Clark Retires from Brigham Young University After 54 Years in Higher Education

Kim B. Clark has officially retired from Brigham Young University, marking his fourth retirement and concluding a 54-year career in higher education. Clark reflected on his extensive experience, emphasizing that access to knowledge does not equate to learning. He has long advocated for a 'deep learning' model, which involves knowing, feeling, doing, and becoming. This model suggests that individuals first acquire knowledge, then develop feelings and convictions about it, which in turn motivates action, ultimately leading to personal growth and capability. Clark noted that while artificial intelligence (AI) can significantly expand knowledge and accelerate the 'doing' aspect, it risks bypassing the crucial 'feel' and 'become' stages of deep learning. He expressed concern that an over-reliance on AI could lead to superficial understanding and action without the development of judgment and conviction.

Milo Yiannopoulos Expresses Shame for Trump Support Following ICE Deportation

Milo Yiannopoulos Expresses Shame for Trump Support Following ICE Deportation

Milo Yiannopoulos, the British far-right commentator, has publicly expressed shame for his past support of President Trump after being arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers in New Orleans and deported to the United Kingdom. Yiannopoulos described his deportation experience as 'humiliating and disorientating,' 'physically degrading,' and 'frightening,' stating he 'didn’t really understand the physical reality of how institutionalized the brutality is in America.' The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed that Yiannopoulos had legally entered the U.S. in May 2019 but overstayed his welcome, violating U.S. laws. He was issued a final order of removal by an immigration judge on July 22 after failing to appear for his immigration hearing. Yiannopoulos, an early supporter of President Trump, had previously advocated for mass deportations and ICE checkpoints.

Nairobi, Kenya Experiences Low Tornado Risk, According to DisasterAWARE Data

Nairobi, Kenya Experiences Low Tornado Risk, According to DisasterAWARE Data

Nairobi, Kenya, currently faces a low risk of tornadoes, with a score of 0 out of 10, according to DisasterAWARE's live status and historical data. The platform's analysis indicates no recorded tornado events near Nairobi in its historical archive, and forward-looking hazard models do not identify significant tornado risk factors for the region. Despite the low risk assessment, DisasterAWARE continuously monitors tornado activity globally, ensuring that any future alerts affecting Nairobi would be issued promptly by an authoritative agency. The data for this assessment is compiled using historical event intelligence combined with authoritative hazard modeling from the Geospatial Intelligence Layers catalog. Real-time tornado monitoring is also available through DisasterAWARE's Event Intelligence API and its platform.

Representatives Clarke and Pressley Condemn Haitian Deportations Following TPS Revocation

Representatives Clarke and Pressley Condemn Haitian Deportations Following TPS Revocation

On August 31, Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke and Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley issued a joint statement condemning the deportation and 'dehumanization' of Haitian nationals. Their statement follows the Supreme Court's recent decision to side with President Trump regarding the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) of Haitian immigrants, which has left approximately 350,000 Haitians in the U.S. without temporary legal status. The representatives highlighted that thousands of Haitians have been detained by the Trump administration and that Haiti is currently designated as a Level 4 'Do Not Travel' country by the U.S. Department of State due to extreme risks of crime, kidnapping, and terrorism. They asserted that the Trump administration's actions are forcing Haitians into dangerous conditions, citing recent gang massacres and kidnappings, and noted that some deported individuals have already been killed. Both congresswomen are vocal advocates for Haitian nationals, with Congresswoman Clarke co-founding the House H...

Ohio State University Settles with Justice Department for $2.1 Million Over Undisclosed China Ties in Federal Grants

Ohio State University Settles with Justice Department for $2.1 Million Over Undisclosed China Ties in Federal Grants

Ohio State University (OSU) has agreed to pay a $2.1 million settlement to the U.S. Department of Justice. This settlement resolves allegations that the university failed to disclose its employees' affiliations with Chinese universities and state-run research organizations when applying for federal grant funding from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF). Both NASA and the NSF require grant applicants to disclose any foreign government support received by principal investigators or co-principal investigators. The Justice Department alleged that annual faculty activity reports submitted to OSU since 2014 identified these Chinese affiliations, but the university did not relay this information to the federal agencies. Additionally, OSU reportedly learned in 2019 that a principal investigator on NASA grants was involved in China's 'Thousand Talents Programme,' which aims to recruit individuals with access to foreign technology intellectual prope...