The Immigration Football, a Pandemic, and a Look At Our Government

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With the 2024 election fast approaching, the discourse over undocumented immigration at the U.S.-Mexico has reached fever pitch. Some on the right, echoing the racist rhetoric from GOP presidential frontrunner, Donald Trump, are calling the influx of migrants at the border an "invasion" and a "crisis."

But don't expect much action from Republicans on the issue.

Trump, who has been attacking the Biden administration's immigration policy as a failure, has cast a shadow over bipartisan congressional efforts to reach a compromise on the border issue, which would presumably look like tougher restrictions in exchange for funding for Ukraine in its war against the Russian invasion. While Senate GOP Whip John Thune (R-SD) insisted that Senate Republicans were still trying to make a deal happen, last Wednesday, Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) reportedly acknowledged that passing a bill would undermine Trump. States Newsroom had the story.

But, on Friday, Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) suggested the deal ought to be dead because passing a bill could "enable Biden." For more on that story, check out this story from The New Republic:

Meanwhile, some GOP-led states are starting to take matters into their own hands, encroaching on the constitutional authority of the federal government over immigration enforcement. The Supreme Court recently ruled against Texas, which had placed razor wire along the border and deployed agents to block Border Patrol from accessing  a section of the border. The court ordered that the wire be removed, but Gov. Greg Abbott is defiant and continuing to block the feds' access. Echoing the Confederacy, Abbott shockingly claims that the state constitution grants him authority and supersedes the U.S. Constitution.

For more, check out this pieces (also) from TNR:

Now, Arizona is following in Texas' footsteps. GOP lawmakers are trying to empower law enforcement to arrest undocumented migrants. The Arizona Mirror had the story.

Further Reading:

For a closer look at how we got to this point at the border, check out this piece from Counterpunch:

COVID-19

It wouldn't be an OptOut newsletter if we didn't give you the latest with the COVID-19 pandemic. As readers, you are undoubtedly aware that this month has seen a major viral surge, with flu, RSV, and of course, COVID driving hospitalizations around the country.

It is that backdrop that makes the news out of California so baffling. As PRISM reported, the state issued a new guidance gutting COVID mitigation measures in schools.

The COVID-19 pandemic has worsened legal backlogs in states across the country, States Newsroom reported. Much of the delay can be attributed to lawyer and judge shortage–which is pretty bleak if you think about it.

What Government is Doing

The Biden White House is taking long overdue action against corporate actors who charge consumers junk fees like overdraft and late fees. States Newsroom reported the story.

It's not all good news–particualrly in terms of foreign policy, as two reports from The Intercept demonstrate. The situation in Gaza is threatening to expand into a regional conflict. The U.S. now has troops in Yemen.

The administration is also facing a lawsuit from Palestinian human rights groups, accusing it of being complicit in genocide for its support of Israel's war in Gaza. The Intercept published an article about it.

The OptOut Media Foundation (EIN: 85-2348079) is a nonprofit charity with a mission to educate the public about current events and help sustain a diverse media ecosystem by promoting and assisting independent news outlets and, in doing so, advance democracy and social justice.

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