In a significant blow to the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement efforts, a federal judge has ruled that the administration cannot compel states to cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in order to receive federal transportation funding. The decision comes as part of a broader legal battle over the administration’s attempts to leverage federal funds to coerce state compliance with its immigration policies.
The ruling, issued by a federal judge, states that the Trump administration’s efforts to tie transportation funding to immigration enforcement violate the constitutional separation of powers between the federal government and the states. The judge’s decision represents a victory for states that have pushed back against the administration’s attempts to force them to assist in immigration enforcement efforts.
This ruling marks a significant setback for the Trump administration’s immigration agenda, as it seeks to ramp up enforcement measures in the final months of the president’s term. The administration has faced numerous legal challenges to its immigration policies, with critics arguing that they are overly punitive and unconstitutional.
In a separate development, the Trump administration has come under fire for its handling of the Voice of America (VOA), a government-funded international broadcasting service. The administration announced the termination of 639 employees at VOA and its parent organization, marking a major downsizing of the agency. This move has been criticized as an attempt to undermine the independence and credibility of VOA, which was founded in 1942 to counter Nazi propaganda.
The mass terminations at VOA have raised concerns about the future of the agency and its ability to fulfill its mission of providing independent news and information to audiences around the world. Critics argue that the Trump administration’s actions are part of a broader effort to undermine the free press and manipulate public opinion through state-controlled media.
Overall, these developments highlight the ongoing tensions between the Trump administration and state governments over immigration policies, as well as the administration’s efforts to exert control over media outlets like VOA. As the administration enters its final months, these issues are likely to remain contentious and politically charged.
References:
1. CBS News: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-cant-require-states-to-cooperate-with-ice-transportation-funding/
2. The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jun/20/trump-administration-voice-of-america-with-latest-terminations
3. PBS: https://news.google.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?oc=5&hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US:en
Political Bias Index: Green (Neutral)
