The acting attorney general, Todd Blanche, has announced that federal prosecutors and law enforcement will prioritize combating so-called 'birth tourism'—a practice where tourists, temporary visitors, or undocumented immigrants travel to the United States primarily to give birth, thereby securing birthright citizenship for their children. This statement comes a day after the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the constitutional guarantee of birthright citizenship in the case Trump v. Barbara.
Government Admits Uncertainty Over 'Birth Tourism' Scale
During oral arguments in April, the government's lawyer, D. John Sauer, conceded that no one knows for sure how significant a problem 'birth tourism' actually is. Despite this, President Donald Trump is pushing lawmakers to create new legislation that would establish exceptions to birthright citizenship for children born to parents without permanent legal status in the U.S.
Blanche's Remarks on Federal Actions
Blanche outlined other measures the federal government can take: 'There’s other things … the federal government can do in the visa process, and the application process, to try to minimize or limit the opportunity of folks coming here not to visit, and not to do what they’re saying they’re doing on the tourist visa, but just to have a baby that can then be a U.S. citizen. What we have to do as Department of Justice is make sure our agents … and the FBI are focused on stopping that.'
Judge Blocks Trump's Mail-In Voting Restrictions
In a separate judicial setback for the Trump administration, a federal judge blocked a proposed restriction on mail-in voting across the U.S. Judge Emmet Sullivan of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia ruled that a U.S. Postal Service plan to deny ballots to voters in states that did not turn over their voter rolls to the federal government should not proceed. The ruling bars the USPS from enforcing an executive order issued by Trump in March that called for sweeping changes to election administration nationwide.
Anthony Ashton, senior associate general counsel at the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, responded: 'This ruling is a critical step in protecting the rights of voters. The proposed USPS changes would have created unnecessary and unlawful barriers, in direct violation of the USPS’s mandate to prioritize election mail. Those barriers could have disproportionately harmed Black voters, who are more likely to rely on mail voting due to longstanding inequities in access.'
Russian Attacks Kill at Least 20 in Kyiv
At least 20 people have been killed and dozens injured overnight in Kyiv, local authorities reported, as Russia launched its latest massive drone and missile attack on the Ukrainian capital. Fires burned across Kyiv as dawn broke, with strikes or debris hitting residential buildings in several districts and a hotel on one of the city’s central boulevards. Emergency services said 86 people were injured, 70 of whom were hospitalized; the death toll may rise.
Meanwhile, Russia faces fuel shortages after a Ukrainian campaign of long-range drone strikes against oil refineries. Multiple Russian regions have introduced gasoline rationing, while in occupied Crimea, Russian authorities declared a state of emergency.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha stated on social media: 'In this war there is an aggressor and a country defending itself. Russia has no right to make any strikes against Ukraine, while Ukraine has every right to respond, and strike any legitimate military targets in Russia. Do not equate an aggressor and a country defending from aggression.'
Other News Highlights
- The U.S. men's national soccer team defeated Bosnia and Herzegovina to reach the last 16 of the FIFA World Cup.
- The FBI is investigating extortion demands related to Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance that 'may potentially be legitimate,' a day after they were reportedly dismissed as fake.
- Sixteen children were rescued from a dilapidated home in rural Ohio after being confined to one room in 'deplorable conditions' for much of the past four years.
- Ten people accused of facilitating a sex-trafficking operation targeting about 51 girls and women have been arrested in California.
- Sony announced it will stop releasing physical copies of new video games for the PlayStation console in January 2028, citing a shift in consumer preferences.
Stat of the Day: OpenAI in Talks to Give 5% Stake to U.S. Government
OpenAI is reportedly in early-stage talks to give a 5% stake in the ChatGPT developer to the U.S. government. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has argued that giving the U.S. public a financial stake in the company is the best way to share the benefits of AI.
Climate Check: Scientists Fear Seabird Die-Off as El Niño Looms
Scientists and volunteers have been conducting monthly surveys of dead seabirds off the California coast, where a massive marine heatwave has lingered for months. Marine ornithologist Tammy Russell described a grim assessment of the heatwave's impact. Scientists fear the die-off could worsen with the recently formed El Niño, a natural warming of parts of the central Pacific that alters weather worldwide and increases global temperatures.
Last Thing: Greek Priest's Doom Metal Album Becomes Cult Hit
Father Dionysios Tabakis, dressed in long black robes and sporting a fine grey wispy beard, says: 'The guitar was made by God. The devil cannot create something. God has created all.' His home-recorded album of doom metal, Christmas carols, and religious dubstep has catapulted him from utter obscurity to cult status. 'I feel very awkward,' he says, 'but if it brings people joy, then I’m for it.'
