Policy Update: 1/7/26
Sasha@iaje.us
Organizational Statements on U.S. Military Strike in Venezuela:
Court Decision on Temporary Protected Status (TPS)
A federal court ruled that the Trump administration’s decision to terminate TPS for individuals from Honduras, Nepal, and Nicaragua was unlawful, finding that the Department of Homeland Security predetermined the outcome and distorted the review process. The court held that DHS Secretary Kristi Noem violated the Administrative Procedure Act by failing to properly consider country conditions and consult with the State Department, and it rejected the government’s request to dismiss the case. The ruling also requires the government and employers to recognize TPS holders’ lawful status and work authorization while the case proceeds.
“TPS termination for South Sudan temporarily halted”
Case and References:
Federal Court Grants Temporary Emergency Stay of TPS Termination for South Sudan
National Guard Deployments Update
The current administration has halted efforts to deploy National Guard troops in federal law enforcement roles in Los Angeles, Chicago, and Portland, marking a retreat from a controversial initiative targeting Democratic-led cities. The decision followed the Justice Department’s move to stop contesting a California court ruling that returned control of the Guard to Governor Gavin Newsom, as well as a Supreme Court refusal to allow deployments in Illinois. The deployments, first ordered last June in response to protests against ICE raids, faced multiple legal challenges, with courts finding Trump had overstepped his authority. Although Trump described the move as temporary and signaled possible future redeployments, the decision raises uncertainty about similar plans in other cities, even as National Guard troops remain deployed in Washington, DC pending further legal review.
References: Trump backs away from deploying national guard in Los Angeles, Chicago and Portland
Federal Court Allows Limited Sharing of Medicaid Data With ICE
What the ruling does:
A federal judge ruled that the Trump administration may resume sharing limited Medicaid enrollment data on undocumented immigrants with ICE starting January 6.
The decision enables ICE to use certain Medicaid data in deportation proceedings after months of restrictions due to litigation brought by Democratic-led states.
Legal basis and scope:
U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria found that sharing “basic” personal information is authorized by law and sufficiently justified by federal agencies.
The ruling applies only to undocumented immigrants and does not allow access to data from other immigrant groups receiving Medicaid-related benefits.
What data can be shared:
The order permits sharing of six categories of non-medical information:
Citizenship
Immigration status
Home address
Phone number
Date of birth
Medicaid identification number
What remains prohibited:
ICE and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) are still barred from sharing:
Personal health records
Medical histories
Other sensitive health information
The judge ruled agencies failed to justify broader data sharing and said existing policies lack a coherent framework beyond basic identifiers.
Impact on states
The ruling is a setback for California Attorney General Rob Bonta and 21 other Democratic attorneys general who sued to block the policy.
States argue the data-sharing undermines trust in public health systems and may deter vulnerable populations from seeking healthcare.
Procedural background
The judge temporarily blocked the data sharing in August but allowed for reconsideration.
ICE and HHS issued formal policy notices in November explaining how Medicaid data would be used, prompting the revised ruling.
What happens next:
The order stays in effect UNTIL a FINAL ruling is issued.
References: Trump admin can share immigrants’ Medicaid data with ICE, judge rules
ICE Updates:
“ICE planning warehouse gulags to jail more than 80,000 people at a time – sites planned in or near Virginia, Texas, Louisiana, Arizona, Georgia and Missouri”
References: ICE documents reveal plan to hold 80,000 immigrants in warehouses
