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Wednesday, December 31, 2025
5 hours ago
Education
Immigration

DOJ Sues to Block In-State Tuition Rates for Illegal Immigrants.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Trump administration has filed a lawsuit against Virginia over a law allowing some illegal immigrants to pay in-state tuition rates.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The Justice Department, U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi, and Virginia state officials.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The lawsuit was filed in Richmond, Virginia, by the Trump administration.

💬KEY QUOTE: “This is a simple matter of federal law: in Virginia and nationwide, schools cannot provide benefits to illegal aliens that they do not provide to U.S. citizens.” – U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi.

🎯IMPACT: The lawsuit challenges Virginia’s policy and seeks to halt in-state tuition rates and other benefits for illegal immigrants.

IN FULL

The Trump administration has filed a lawsuit against Virginia, challenging a state law that allows certain migrants living in the country illegally to qualify for in-state tuition and other education benefits at public colleges and universities. The Department of Justice (DOJ) filed the 13-page complaint in federal court in Richmond, arguing that Virginia’s policy violates federal law by granting postsecondary education benefits to illegal immigrants that are not equally available to U.S. citizens. Federal law prohibits states from providing such benefits unless the same terms are offered to all American citizens, regardless of where they live.

According to the lawsuit, Virginia permits students to receive in-state tuition if they establish residency in the state for at least one year, even if they lack lawful immigration status. The administration contends that this policy discriminates against U.S. citizens who cannot afford reduced tuition rates or qualify for the same financial assistance.

“This is not only wrong but illegal. The challenged act’s discriminatory treatment in favor of illegal aliens over citizens is squarely prohibited and preempted by federal law,” the complaint states. “There are no exceptions. Virginia violates it nonetheless.”

The Justice Department also argues that the law encourages illegal immigration by offering taxpayer-funded benefits tied to state residency. The lawsuit asks the court to block Virginia from providing in-state tuition, financial aid, or other state education benefits to illegals.

U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi said the issue is straightforward under federal law. “This is a simple matter of federal law: in Virginia and nationwide, schools cannot provide benefits to illegal aliens that they do not provide to U.S. citizens,” Bondi said. “This Department of Justice will not tolerate American students being treated like second-class citizens in their own country.”

Virginia is one of several states facing legal action over tuition policies for illegal immigrants. The Trump administration has filed similar lawsuits against Texas, Kentucky, Illinois, Oklahoma, Minnesota, and California. In Texas, state officials moved earlier this year to end a long-standing policy that allowed illegal immigrants to pay in-state tuition following federal pressure.

The legal challenges follow executive orders President Donald J. Trump signed after returning to office, directing federal agencies to ensure that illegal immigrants do not receive taxpayer-funded benefits or preferential treatment over U.S. citizens. The administration has said it will continue challenging state laws it believes conflict with federal immigration statutes.

Image by Steve Fernie.

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6 hours ago
Education
News

Harvard Prof Reveals How White Men Are Passed Over in Admissions.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A Harvard professor announced his departure after 40 years, citing the institution’s focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in admissions and its draconian COVID policies.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Historian James Hankins, Harvard University, and the Hamilton School of Classical and Civic Education at the University of Florida.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Hankins announced his departure in a December 2025 essay, following a retirement contract signed in 2021.

💬KEY QUOTE: “When you don’t teach the young what civilization is, it turns out, people become uncivilized.” – James Hankins

🎯IMPACT: Hankins criticized Harvard’s shift away from Western history, alleging it contributes to moral and intellectual disorientation among younger generations.

IN FULL

James Hankins, a historian who spent 40 years teaching at Harvard University, has explained his decision to leave this institution, pointing to the university’s emphasis on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies in admissions, its handling of COVID-19 measures, and a move away from prioritizing instruction in Western history.

Hankins disclosed that his decision to depart solidified in 2021, following the implementation of draconian pandemic rules, including mandatory masking and online-only classes. He also voiced concerns over alterations to admissions criteria that emerged after the death of George Floyd. “In past years this candidate would have risen immediately to the top of the applicant pool. In 2021, however, I was told informally by a member of the admissions committee that ‘that’ (meaning admitting a white male) was ‘not happening this year,'” Hankins recalled of one decision.

The scholar described instances where outstanding white male applicants with strong qualifications were turned down for graduate studies. He warned that similar practices occurred elsewhere, noting, “Graduate admissions committees around the country had been following the same unspoken protocol as ours. The one exception I found to the general exclusion of white males had begun life as a female.”

Hankins further condemned Harvard’s handling of anti-Semitic protests amid the Gaza conflict, describing it as “shocking indifference.”

Hankins plans to move to the Hamilton School of Classical and Civic Education at the University of Florida, which he commended for recruiting experts in Western disciplines. Considering the wider effects of Harvard’s reduced focus on Western history, he observed, “When late liberal pedagogy replaced Western civilization courses with global history, serious harm was done to the socialization of young Americans. When you don’t teach the young what civilization is, it turns out, people become uncivilized.”

Image by Adam Fagen.

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6 hours ago
Crime
News

Trans School Shooter Motivated by Hatred of White People and Religion: FBI.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Newly released writings reveal the transgender mass shooter who killed six at a Christian school in Nashville, Tennessee, harbored hatred for white people and religion.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The 28-year-old shooter, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Nashville police, and the victims of The Covenant School attack.

📍WHEN & WHERE: March 27, 2023, at The Covenant School in Nashville, Tennessee. Writings were released in December 2025 following a court order.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Predominantly white school (white pple I hate)… Christian school (hate religion).” – The shooter’s notes.

🎯IMPACT: The writings provide insight into the attacker’s motivations, including racial and religious animus, and raise questions about the use of federal aid for weapon purchases.

IN FULL

Newly released Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) documents provide additional insight into the motives and preparations of the 28-year-old transgender who carried out the March 27, 2023, shooting at The Covenant School in Nashville, Tennessee, killing six people before being shot dead by police. The materials were disclosed on December 22 following a judge’s order and include approximately 230 pages of journals, notes, and other writings.

In the documents, Audrey Hale, a.k.a. Aiden Hale, expressed explicit hostility toward white people and Christianity. She described The Covenant School as a “predominantly white school (white pple I hate)” and a “Christian school (hate religion).” The writings indicate she considered attacking another middle school but decided against it because it had a higher percentage of black students. In her notes, she wrote “Black people I love” and said she did not want “black people in dispair [sic] + suffering.”

Investigators say the writings show the attack was planned over an extended period. The shooter mapped out targets, tracked dates, and referenced previous mass shooters along with their death tolls.

Financial records and handwritten lists suggest she used federal student aid to help fund the shooting. Her notes list income sources such as “FAFSA grant checks” and money connected to her enrollment at Nossi College of Art and Design in Nashville, followed by entries for firearm and ammunition purchases. Her parents previously told investigators they believed Pell Grant funds were used to buy at least one of the weapons.

On the day of the shooting, the attacker entered The Covenant School, a private Christian elementary school she had previously attended, and killed three children and three adults before being confronted and killed by responding officers.

The Nashville Police Department’s final report, released in April 2024, concluded that the primary motive was a desire for notoriety and argued there was insufficient evidence to classify the attack as driven by ideology, despite the language in the writings. Police also downplayed the role of gender identity, race, and religion in their conclusions.

However, previously leaked journal entries published in 2023 revealed intense personal distress related to gender identity, including anger at being born female and references to an “imaginary penis.”

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7 hours ago
Corruption
Crime

Ex-Agent Accuses Prosecutors of Burying Minnesota Daycare Fraud Investigation.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A retired Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agent revealed that a fraud investigation into Minnesota daycare centers, which began in 2015, mysteriously ceased without explanation.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Former HSI agent Jeremy Christenson, Somalis in Minnesota, and a task force of law enforcement and state officials.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The investigation occurred in 2015 in Minnesota, with ongoing fraud allegations resurfacing in 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: “All of a sudden it just evaporated, just went away into thin air. No idea whatever happened with the case.” – Jeremy Christenson

🎯IMPACT: Federal investigators have intensified investigations into alleged large-scale fraud schemes, with potential immigration consequences for those involved, following an investigation by citizen journalist Nick Shirley.

IN FULL

A retired agent from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Jeremy Christenson, has shared information about a 2015 probe into fraud at daycare centers in Minnesota. He recounted how a team consisting of 20 federal agents and officials from the state Department of Human Services examined claims that Somali migrants were operating sham daycare facilities involving fabricated invoices, nonexistent enrollees, and vacant buildings.

“Never, not one of the daycares I served warrants on, not one person was ever present. Just empty buildings, stacks of invoices, and student records of people that our surveillance showed never went there,” Christenson explained to Minnesota’s Alpha News. After several months of effort, Christenson stated that the Obama-era probe suddenly vanished without explanation. “All of a sudden it just evaporated, just went away into thin air. No idea whatever happened with the case,” he added.

This older case has gained renewed attention in light of a recent fraud controversy in Minnesota, involving accusations that groups of Somalis misused millions in state funds allocated for childcare programs. Citizen journalist Nick Shirley posted a video online depicting multiple daycare centers that appeared inactive despite receiving significant government payments. One facility, the “Quality Learing [sic] Center,” allegedly obtained $4 million in public funds while remaining closed, even though it claimed to be operational.

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Kash Patel announced that more staff and resources have been assigned to Minnesota to examine these claims. “The FBI believes this is just the tip of a very large iceberg. We will continue to follow the money and protect children, and this investigation very much remains ongoing,” Patel stated on X. He mentioned that certain individuals involved are being forwarded to immigration authorities for possible denaturalization and deportation actions.

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8 hours ago
News
Politics

Ilhan Omar’s Net Worth Under Scrutiny Amid MN Fraud Scandal.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Representative Ilhan Omar (D-MN) is facing scrutiny over a significant increase in her reported net worth, with allegations of potential fraud raised by the National Legal and Policy Center (NLPC).

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Ilhan Omar, her husband Tim Mynett, the National Legal and Policy Center, and over 60 people convicted of fraud in Minnesota.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Scrutiny intensified following Omar’s latest financial disclosures, with attention on businesses tied to her husband and Somali fraud schemes in Minnesota.

💬KEY QUOTE: “There’s a lot of strange things going on. She was basically broke when she came into office and now she’s worth perhaps up to $30 million… she needs to come clean on these assets.” – Paul Kamenar, NLPC counsel.

🎯IMPACT: Questions persist about Omar’s financial dealings, though no wrongdoing has been proven or formal investigations announced.

IN FULL

Somali Representative Ilhan Omar (D-MN) is facing renewed scrutiny after recent House financial disclosures showed her household net worth rising sharply, with estimates ranging from $6 million to as much as $30 million. The increase has drawn attention from watchdog groups and conservative critics, who are questioning how the wealth accumulated so quickly.

According to the filings, much of the reported value is tied to businesses associated with Omar’s husband, political consultant Tim Mynett. One asset, a California winery known as eStCru LLC, was listed with a value between $1 million and $5 million. Another holding, the venture capital firm Rose Lake Capital, was disclosed at a value between $5 million and $25 million. These figures stand in contrast to Omar’s earlier disclosures, which showed relatively modest finances, burdened by student loan and credit card debt, and a net worth below $250,000 in both 2022 and 2023.

The National Legal and Policy Center (NLPC) has called for greater transparency. Its counsel, Paul Kamenar, said, “There’s a lot of strange things going on. She was basically broke when she came into office and now she’s worth perhaps up to $30 million… she needs to come clean on these assets.”

Omar has rejected claims that she is wealthy. In an interview earlier this year, she said, “Since getting elected, there has been a coordinated right-wing disinformation campaign claiming all sorts of wild things, including the ridiculous claim I am worth millions of dollars which is categorically false.”

Additional attention has focused on Rose Lake Capital after reports that the names of several officers and advisers, including figures with past ties to Democrat administrations, were removed from the firm’s website. No evidence has emerged directly linking Omar to financial wrongdoing, but critics argue the changes have intensified questions about disclosure and accountability.

Separately, Omar’s legislative record has been revisited in light of Minnesota’s Feeding Our Future scandal, in which mostly Somali fraudsters stole roughly $250 million from a federally funded child nutrition program during the COVID-19 pandemic. Omar supported legislation aimed at rapidly expanding meal access during the crisis. More than 60 people have since been convicted in connection with the fraud, including Omar’s former “enforcer” Guhaad Hashi Said.

Minnesota, which hosts the largest Somali community in the U.S., is currently in the midst of a wider fraud scandal centered on said Somali community, with daycare centers being a point of particular focus.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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8 hours ago
News

Humiliating Truth Emerges in Trump-Kennedy Center ‘Cancellations’ Saga…

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Several performers canceled their shows at the Trump-Kennedy Center following its renaming, citing political reasons. But facts point to humiliatingly low public interest in leftist artists.

👤WHO’S INVOLVED: Performers including The Cookers, Kristy Lee, Chuck Redd, and Doug Varone and Dancers.

📍WHEN & WHERE: December 2025 at the Trump-Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The artists who are now canceling shows were booked by the previous far-left leadership where ideology was prioritized over talent and finances.” – Richard Grenell

🎯IMPACT: Cancellations have had minimal impact as the performers involved had low ticket sales and niche followings.

IN FULL

Several small-time performers booked by the previous, left-wing Kennedy Center management this week canceled their appearances at the Trump-Kennedy Center, citing political motivations following the venue’s renaming. The center, formerly known as the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts, was renamed after a unanimous vote by the board of trustees, prompting a handful of ostensibly ideologically-motivated “cancellations.”

However, performers such as The Cookers, Kristy Lee, Chuck Redd, and Doug Varone and Dancers appear to have withdrawn from scheduled shows due to almost no public interest in their work.

The Daily Mail reported Tuesday that The Cookers, who were set to play in the Terrace Theater, had only sold 60 tickets out of 500 seats available. Chuck Redd, set to play the Millennium Stage at the Trump-Kennedy Center, shifted just 63 free tickets, of a potential 200.

Richard Grenell, the center’s president, attributed the cancellations to political motives, stating, “The artists who are now canceling shows were booked by the previous far-left leadership, where ideology was prioritized over talent and finances. Their last-minute cancellations prove that they were always unwilling to perform for everyone—even those they disagree with politically. They only want to perform for people who believe like them.”

Previous Kennedy Center management had often used the venue to line the pockets of their ideological bedfellows, including through performances with almost no demand, as well as residencies for artists who otherwise commanded no demand from the general public, including the likes of Ben Folds (of the Ben Folds Five) and Jason Moran, both of whom were subsidized by previous Kennedy Center management.

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9 hours ago
Economy
News

Gas Prices Hitting New Low for New Year’s Eve.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Gas prices fell sharply throughout December, reaching a national average of $2.75 per gallon by December 29, the lowest level since 2021, according to GasBuddy.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: GasBuddy, U.S. crude oil producers, OPEC+ members, and the Energy Information Administration (EIA).

📍WHEN & WHERE: December 2025, across the United States, with regional variations in gasoline and diesel prices.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Oil prices have remained relatively low even amid the U.S. blockade on Venezuela’s oil exports,” said Patrick De Haan, GasBuddy’s head of petroleum analysis.

🎯IMPACT: U.S. gasoline prices have declined in most states, with some stations dropping below $2 per gallon.

IN FULL

Gas prices have continued to fall across the United States this month. By December 29, the nationwide average reached $2.75 per gallon, per GasBuddy data—the lowest point seen since 2021. Diesel fuel costs also decreased, reaching a national average of $3.52 per gallon, which was more than $0.05 lower than the week before.

This drop stems from higher U.S. oil output and greater production from OPEC+ countries, even with sanctions affecting exporters such as Russia and Venezuela. According to the Energy Information Administration (EIA), American crude oil output hit close to 17 million barrels per day around mid-December, representing a 12 percent rise since October.

Patrick De Haan, GasBuddy’s head of petroleum analysis, pointed out that gas prices declined in almost all states, and certain stations in about a dozen states sold fuel for under $2 per gallon. “Oil prices have remained relatively low even amid the U.S. blockade on Venezuela’s oil exports,” De Haan said. He noted that the downward trend might persist into January or February before reaching its lowest point.

Although drivers are currently experiencing lower costs, crude oil prices edged up slightly on December 29. U.S. crude increased by 2.1 percent to nearly $58 per barrel, while Brent crude rose 1.88 percent to $61.78 per barrel. This movement might foreshadow upcoming rises in pump prices.

The GasBuddy analysis drew from more than 12 million individual price submissions across 150,000 stations nationwide and revealed notable regional differences. Republican-run Oklahoma had the nation’s cheapest average for gasoline at $2.17 per gallon, whereas Democrat-run Hawaii and California topped the list with $4.36 and $4.20 per gallon, respectively. Diesel averages displayed comparable regional patterns.

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9 hours ago
News
World

Trump Hits Iran, Venezuela With New Sanctions.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The U.S. imposed new sanctions on ten individuals and firms from Iran and Venezuela, targeting Iran’s drone trade and ballistic missile program.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The U.S. Treasury Department, Iranian and Venezuelan entities, President Donald J. Trump, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Sanctions announced this week, with discussions held at Mar-a-Lago in Florida on December 29.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Treasury is holding Iran and Venezuela accountable for their aggressive and reckless proliferation of deadly weapons around the world.” – Treasury Undersecretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence John K. Hurley

🎯IMPACT: The sanctions aim to further isolate Iran’s military-industrial complex and curb weapons proliferation in the region.

IN FULL

The U.S. Treasury Department has announced a new package of sanctions targeting ten individuals and entities based in Iran and Venezuela, escalating Washington’s efforts to curb Iran’s drone trade, ballistic missile development, and nuclear ambitions while pressuring Caracas over its military ties to Tehran.

According to Treasury officials, the measures include penalties against a Venezuelan company and its chairman accused of purchasing Iranian drones, three Iranian nationals allegedly involved in acquiring chemicals used in ballistic missile production, and several Iran-based firms linked to the Rayan Fan Group, a holding company already under U.S. sanctions.

Treasury Undersecretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence John K. Hurley said the actions are intended to disrupt the global spread of Iranian weapons and limit access to financial networks. “Treasury is holding Iran and Venezuela accountable for their aggressive and reckless proliferation of deadly weapons around the world,” Hurley said. He added that the department is focused on cutting off support for Iran’s military-industrial complex and blocking its access to the U.S. financial system.

State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott also said, “Iran’s ongoing provision of conventional weapons to Caracas is a threat to U.S. interests in our region.”

The move comes amid a broader hardline approach by the Trump administration toward both countries. In recent weeks, President Donald J. Trump ordered a full blockade on Venezuelan oil tankers already under U.S. sanctions, a step aimed at further isolating the Nicolas Maduro government and restricting a key source of revenue. Trump has also confirmed that U.S. forces struck infrastructure on Venezuelan territory linked to drug trafficking operations.

Pressure is also increasing on Iran. Trump has repeatedly warned that the United States would respond forcefully if Tehran attempts to rebuild or expand its nuclear facilities. During a recent meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Florida, Trump reiterated U.S. support for countering Iran’s nuclear ambitions and signaled openness to further strikes if Iran continues down that path.

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10 hours ago
News

Minnesota GOP Wants Somali Fraudsters Denaturalized and Deported.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Representative Tom Emmer (R-MN) called for the denaturalization and deportation of Somalis in Minnesota involved in defrauding Americans, following allegations of large-scale taxpayer fraud schemes.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Rep. Emmer, Minnesota Somalis, federal investigators, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (R), and other state officials.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Minnesota, ongoing investigations into fraud cases linked to the COVID-19 pandemic-era Feeding Our Future program and daycare centers.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Send them home,” said Emmer, referring to Somalis who commit fraud and violate U.S. laws, including naturalized citizens.

🎯IMPACT: Federal investigations continue, with legislative changes proposed to facilitate the denaturalization and deportation of Somali fraudsters.

IN FULL

Republican House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-MN) has advocated for strict immigration consequences, including revoking citizenship and deportation, for people in Minnesota’s Somali community implicated in fraud schemes. “Send them home,” he stated on social media. “If they’re here illegally, deport them immediately; if they’re naturalized citizens, revoke their citizenship and deport them quickly thereafter. If we need to change the law to do that, I will. Our nation will not tolerate those who take advantage of our charity and refuse to assimilate into our culture.”

The North Star State is facing a major scandal involving “industrial-scale fraud,” centered on programs like Feeding Our Future, which diverted hundreds of millions—potentially billions—in funds intended for children’s meals and other services amid the COVID-19 crisis. Authorities report that the majority of those indicted to date are Somali or of Somali heritage. Notably, Minnesota hosts the nation’s largest Somali community.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has increased its presence in the state, with Director Kash Patel noting that probes revealed extensive fraud and that “many who were involved in the scheme are being referred to immigration officials for possible further denaturalization and deportation proceedings where eligible.”

On Truth Social, President Donald J. Trump recently posted: “Minnesota, under Governor [Tim Walz], is a hub of fraudulent money laundering activity. I am, as President of the United States, hereby terminating, effective immediately, the Temporary Protected Status (TPS Program) for Somalis in Minnesota. Somali gangs are terrorizing the people of that great State, and BILLIONS of Dollars are missing. Send them back to where they came from. It’s OVER!”

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11 hours ago
Immigration
News

Court Approves ICE Access to Migrant Medicaid Info.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A federal judge ruled that the Trump administration can share Medicaid information about illegal migrants with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers starting next month.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and ICE.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The ruling was issued on Monday as part of a case involving 22 Democrat states that sued to block the policy in July.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The sharing of such information is clearly authorized by law and the agencies have adequately explained their decisions,” wrote Judge Chhabria.

🎯IMPACT: The ruling allows ICE officials to access personal data of Medicaid enrollees to track illegal migrants, with the decision limited to migrants known to be in the country illegally.

IN FULL

A federal judge ruled on December 29 that the Trump administration may begin sharing certain Medicaid enrollment information about migrants who are in the United States illegally with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), clearing the way for the policy to take effect next month.

The ruling follows a lawsuit filed in July by 22 Democrat-led states seeking to block the federal government from providing the data to immigration authorities. A temporary halt had been put in place while the case was reviewed. Notably, the states may still appeal the decision.

U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria approved a data-sharing agreement between the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that allows ICE officials limited access to personal information held by Medicaid. In a seven-page order, Chhabria said ICE may obtain six categories of “basic” data: address, citizenship, immigration status, phone number, date of birth, and Medicaid identification number.

“The sharing of such information is clearly authorized by law and the agencies have adequately explained their decisions,” Chhabria wrote. However, he criticized any broader or undefined data sharing, adding that such policies “do not appear to be the product of a coherent decision-making process.”

The order applies only to migrants already known to be in the country illegally and does not permit access to medical records, treatment details, or other sensitive health information. The agreement had raised concerns because it potentially affects data connected to roughly 79 million Medicaid enrollees nationwide.

The dispute centers in part on seven Democrat-led states: California, Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota, New York, Oregon, and Washington, that use state funds to provide limited Medicaid benefits to migrants who are not eligible for federally funded coverage. Those states argue that sharing enrollment data with ICE could discourage participation in public health programs and undermine privacy protections.

The decision comes amid heightened scrutiny of Medicaid oversight following multiple high-profile Somali-linked fraud investigations. In Minnesota, federal authorities have charged numerous defendants in schemes involving Medicaid and food stamp fraud, with some cases involving millions of dollars in losses.

The Treasury Department has also announced an investigation into whether federal and state officials failed to prevent large-scale Medicaid fraud tied to organized networks.

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