A federal judge in California has dealt a significant blow to the Trump administration's efforts to challenge local immigration policies, dismissing a lawsuit that sought to overturn Los Angeles' sanctuary city ordinance. The ruling reaffirms the city's right to limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
Judge Rejects Administration's Claims
Fernando Olguin, a judge in the Central District of California, rejected the administration's argument that the city's policy was unconstitutional. The decision allows the administration to file an amended complaint, but the White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The Los Angeles city attorney, Hydee Feldstein Soto, celebrated the ruling, stating: "This order reinforces the well-established principle that local governments have the authority to decide how to use their personnel and resources. The goal of this ordinance … is to encourage victims of and witnesses to crime to feel safe coming forward to seek help from LAPD regardless of their immigration status. It does not obstruct or impede lawful federal immigration enforcement operations."
Broader Context of Sanctuary Cities
The lawsuit was part of a broader push by the Trump administration to crack down on sanctuary cities across the United States. These jurisdictions limit their cooperation with federal immigration authorities, often to build trust with immigrant communities. The ruling in Los Angeles is seen as a key victory for advocates of local control over immigration enforcement.
Senate Passes Bipartisan Housing Bill
In other news, the U.S. Senate passed a bipartisan measure aimed at lowering housing costs by streamlining construction and permitting. The 21st Century Road to Housing Act would limit investors' ability to buy homes, waive some federal permitting rules to ease new construction, and authorize pilot programs for grants for home improvements and affordable housing planning.
The legislation includes a ban on investors buying single-family homes if they already own 350 or more properties, and provisions to expand access to manufactured homes and increase mortgage availability. Both Democrats and Republicans supported the bill amid concerns about affordability ahead of November's midterm elections.
Tornado Ravages Southern Illinois
A tornado ripped through Mount Vernon, Illinois, on Sunday evening, killing two older residents and injuring at least five others. The sheriff's office reported that the tornado destroyed at least three mobile homes, with none of the injured sustaining life-threatening injuries.
AccuWeather noted that 117 tornado warnings were issued by the National Weather Service on Sunday, with 40 tornado reports filed with the Storm Prediction Center. Illinois has already seen 164 tornado reports in 2026, more than any other year on record. Climate scientists link the increasing intensity of tornado outbreaks to the climate crisis.
International and National Developments
Iran has agreed to allow UN nuclear inspectors back into the country as part of a deal to lift U.S. sanctions on its oil exports. California drivers are suing gas stations for allegedly using an AI tool to coordinate and inflate prices. A shooting in Montreal left three dead, including a police officer and a bystander.
In the UK, the government plans to force YouTube and TikTok to give established media more visibility, likely sparking a clash with Silicon Valley and the Trump administration. The Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool will be drained again after Trump claimed vandals damaged his $14 million revamp, where the water refuses to turn the desired "American-flag blue."
Titanic Artifacts Sale Opposed
RMS Titanic Inc, which owns exclusive salvage rights to the wreck, wants to sell over 100 artifacts despite previous agreements to only display them. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) contends the sale would violate legal obligations to the site.
Culture and Climate Highlights
Olivia Cooke, star of House of the Dragon, discusses playing "the saddest woman in Westeros" and being sworn at by fans wanting selfies. An essay explores the experience of getting an AI boyfriend. The UK's political landscape sees Keir Starmer being forced out despite a landslide 2024 victory, with Andy Burnham likely to become the next prime minister.
In Taiwan, researchers track ancient trees over 1,000 years old and 20 storeys high, which serve as vital carbon sinks and biodiversity engines. A lost memoir of a Hiroshima survivor, Kiyoshi Tanimoto, discovered in a U.S. archive, will be published this summer, 80 years after the bombing.
