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PULSE POINTS:
❓What Happened: A Joe Biden-appointed federal judge in Idaho has temporarily blocked a state immigration law that let local police arrest migrants suspected of unlawful entry if involved in other crimes.
👥 Who’s Involved: Federal Judge Amanda Brailsford, former President Joe Biden, Gov. Brad Little, and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Idaho.
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📍 Where & When: Idaho, with the law signed in March, and the preliminary injunction issued recently.
💬 Key Quote: “We are pleased the court recognized that enforcement of this law is harmful and unconstitutional,” gloated Emily Croston, ACLU of Idaho Staff Attorney.
⚠️ Impact: The enforcement of the law is halted, pending a review, as state attorneys consider their next steps.
IN FULL:
A federal judge has put a temporary hold on a controversial Idaho immigration bill, pausing local law enforcement’s ability to arrest migrants suspected of illegal entry if involved in other offenses. Federal Judge Amanda Brailsford, appointed by former President Joe Biden, issued a preliminary injunction on parts of House Bill 83, known as the Immigration Cooperation and Enforcement Act. The law, passed by Idaho’s legislature in March and immediately signed by Gov. Brad Little, criminalizes entry and reentry to the state.
The move follows a lawsuit from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Idaho. The organization contends that the bill unlawfully attempts to override federal immigration enforcement, effectively turning local police into immigration agents. Judge Brailsford claimed the ACLU showcased a likelihood of success on several claims, including potential violations of the U.S. Constitution’s due process clause and federal immigration preemption.
The court’s decision halts the state’s ability to enforce misdemeanor penalties on individuals entering Idaho unlawfully, which could escalate to felony charges if associated with further criminal activities. Such offenses could lead to federal deportation processes. The ACLU of Idaho has praised the injunction, claiming, “the court recognized that enforcement of this law is harmful and unconstitutional.”
The blockage of the Immigration Cooperation and Enforcement Act mirrors challenges faced by a similar Texas law, actively opposed by the federal government under Biden, highlighting ongoing guerrilla lawfare against border control policies by partisan organizations. Idaho’s Attorney General is currently evaluating the ruling to consider the state’s next steps.
PULSE POINTS:
❓What Happened: Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK and key figure in the Brexit initiative, blames the Conservative Party for not executing Brexit effectively, as Reform UK aims to convert its polling popularity into actual council seats in today’s elections.
👥 Who’s Involved: Nigel Farage, Reform UK; the Conservative Party, led by Kemi Badenoch; Labour Party, led by Sir Keir Starmer.
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📍 Where & When: United Kingdom, with local elections scheduled for May 1.
⚠️ Impact: The Reform UK party aims to replace the Conservatives as the primary opposition to Labour, influencing local governance. A significant loss could bring about leadership challenges within the Conservative Party and the political landscape across England.
IN FULL:
England goes to the polls today, May 1, with Nigel Farage’s Reform UK positioned ahead, potentially positioning itself to secure seats in various councils.
There are 1,641 council seats across 23 local authorities, including 14 county councils, eight unitary authorities, and one metropolitan borough (Doncaster) in play, as well as six mayoral elections, featuring contests in Greater Lincolnshire, Hull and East Yorkshire, Cambridgeshire & Peterborough, the West of England, Doncaster, and North Tyneside.
Notably, ‘Bad Boy of Brexit’ and long-time Farage ally Arron Banks is up for election as Mayor in the West of England Combined Authority (WECA). Early indications showed Banks as an outsider candidate, though more recently, he has been polling in a position to emerge stunningly victorious, perhaps even to his chagrin.
Voters in the parliamentary constituency of Runcorn & Helsby will also go to the polls today, following a special election triggered by the resignation of Labour Member of Parliament Mike Amesbury, who was convicted earlier this year after assaulting a constituent.
Reform UK seeks to expand its appeal to traditional Labour supporters by advocating for policies such as the renationalization of industries perceived to be failing, including Thames Water. The strategic goal is to erode Labour support while positioning the Reform UK party as a replacement to the Conservatives under Kemi Badenoch’s leadership, without forming a center-right coalition.
The Conservative Party is now under existential pressure. It faces competition from Reform UK in the North and Midlands and the Liberal Democrats in the Southern regions. Kemi Badenoch’s leadership may face challenges should the party see substantial losses in the council seats it currently defends.
The introduction of five-party dynamics, with the rise of the Greens, could result in closely contested council seats, prompting significant implications for future elections. Reform UK’s performance in the upcoming elections will not only signal shifts in political power but also test whether Farage’s party can deliver on its promises or merely expand on electoral rhetoric.
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English (US) ·