Rulings and Roadblocks

Derek Lawson

Alright, welcome back to The Immigration Conversation. I’m Derek Lawson, here with Ruby Sturt. Today’s episode is called “Rulings and Roadblocks”—and, wow, there’s a lot to unpack. Ruby, you ready to dive into the latest Supreme Court shake-up?

Ruby Sturt

Always, Derek. And I’ve got my coffee, so I’m double ready. Let’s start with the big one: the Supreme Court’s new ruling on nationwide injunctions. Basically, federal judges can’t just block a policy for the whole country anymore, right?

Derek Lawson

Yeah, that’s the gist. The Court went 6–3, saying judges can’t issue those sweeping nationwide injunctions. It’s a big deal for executive power—especially for President Trump’s orders, like the one trying to end birthright citizenship. Now, that policy can go into effect in 28 states, but not everywhere. So, you could have a kid born in Michigan who’s a citizen, but a kid born in Texas who isn’t. It’s, uh, kind of wild.

Ruby Sturt

It’s like a patchwork quilt, but with citizenship. And the dissent from Justices Sotomayor and Jackson was pretty fierce—they basically said this could threaten constitutional rights, yeah?

Derek Lawson

Exactly. They warned that limiting nationwide injunctions weakens the courts’ ability to check the executive branch. I mean, if you’re a family in one of those 28 states, you’re suddenly living under a different set of rules than your cousin two states over. It’s confusing, and honestly, it’s stressful for families who just want some certainty.

Ruby Sturt

And just to be clear, the Court didn’t actually decide if ending birthright citizenship is legal—they just said, “Let the policy go ahead in some places while we figure it out.” So, this is far from over.

Derek Lawson

Right, it’s all about the process, not the substance—at least for now. You know, this reminds me of a story from a few years back. I was covering a citizenship ceremony in Detroit, and there was this family—mom from Mexico, dad from Canada, their little girl born right there in Michigan. At the time, the rules were clear: she was a citizen, no question. But now, with these shifting legal standards, I wonder what that family would be facing today. It’s a reminder that these rulings aren’t just headlines—they’re real lives.

Ruby Sturt

Yeah, and it’s not just legal theory. It’s people’s futures. Alright, let’s keep rolling, because the next court decision is just as tangled.

Ruby Sturt

So, switching gears a bit—let’s talk about Temporary Protected Status, or TPS. A federal judge just blocked the Trump administration from ending Haiti’s TPS early. The judge said, “Nope, you can’t just cut it short without proper notice.” That means protections for Haitians are safe, at least until February 2026.

Derek Lawson

Yeah, and the judge basically called out the administration for skipping the legal safeguards. It’s not just about Haiti, either. The administration’s been trying to end other humanitarian programs, even as the State Department is saying, “Don’t travel to Haiti, it’s too dangerous.” So, there’s this real disconnect between policy and reality.

Ruby Sturt

And it’s not just the families who are affected. Employers are in a tough spot, too. DHS is now telling businesses using E-Verify to run these status change reports—basically, check if your workers’ permits are still valid, especially if they’re from programs like CHNV parole. But there’s no automatic alert. You’ve got to go digging yourself.

Derek Lawson

Right, and if you find out someone’s work permit isn’t valid anymore, you have to check if they’ve got another status, or update their paperwork. But you also have to be careful not to discriminate—DHS is reminding everyone to apply these checks the same way, no matter where someone’s from.

Ruby Sturt

I actually heard from an Australian business—let’s call them “Koala Tech”—that hired a few CHNV parolees. They had to do all these manual checks, and it was a nightmare. No system alerts, just spreadsheets and a lot of stress. And if you mess it up, you risk fines or even losing good workers. It’s a lot for small businesses to handle, especially if you’re not an immigration expert.

Derek Lawson

Yeah, and as we talked about in our episode on workplace enforcement, the rules keep changing. Employers have to stay on their toes, or they could get caught out. It’s a lot of pressure, and it’s not getting any easier.

Ruby Sturt

And for the workers, it’s just more uncertainty. You’re already dealing with the stress of your status, and now your job could be on the line because of a paperwork glitch. It’s a tough spot all around.

Derek Lawson

Absolutely. And with more humanitarian programs under review, I think we’re going to see even more of these challenges for both employers and employees.

Ruby Sturt

Alright, let’s move to the border—because the court drama doesn’t stop there.

Ruby Sturt

So, the next big ruling: a federal judge blocked the administration’s attempt to ban asylum claims at the southern border. The judge said, “You can’t just override Congress—there’s a whole system for asylum, and the president can’t toss it out.”

Derek Lawson

Yeah, Judge Moss basically said, “Nice try, but Congress writes the rules.” He even certified asylum seekers as a class, which is a clever way to get around those new limits on nationwide injunctions we talked about earlier. But he did pause the ruling for two weeks, so the government can appeal. It’s a bit of a legal chess match.

Ruby Sturt

And while that’s happening, the Supreme Court gave the green light for the administration to deport migrants to third countries—not just back to their home country. That’s a huge shift. Critics say it puts people in danger, but supporters argue it’ll deter unlawful entry.

Derek Lawson

It’s a real debate. On one hand, you’ve got the argument for border security and deterrence. On the other, you’ve got families who could be sent somewhere even more dangerous than where they started. I mean, I’m not sure there’s a good answer here.

Ruby Sturt

Yeah, and I keep thinking about the human side. Like, I read about this Central American family—mum, dad, two kids—who made it all the way to the border, hoping for asylum. Under these new rules, they could be sent to a third country they’ve never even seen. It’s not just a policy debate; it’s real people, real risks.

Derek Lawson

And it’s not just one family. There are thousands in the same boat, facing a system that’s changing by the week. It’s a lot to keep up with, even for us—and we do this for a living.

Ruby Sturt

Yeah, and for anyone listening, just remember: these rulings are complicated, and the details matter. If you’re affected, get proper legal advice—don’t try to figure it out alone.

Derek Lawson

That’s a good note to end on. We’ll keep following these cases as they move through the courts, and we’ll be back with more updates. Ruby, always a pleasure.

Ruby Sturt

You too, Derek. Thanks for tuning in, everyone. Stay safe, stay informed, and we’ll catch you next time on The Immigration Conversation.