Trump Wins Landmark Ruling Against Illegals – What He Announced Next Horrified Dems
For 30 years, the Alien Terrorist Removal Court sat on a shelf. Congress built it in 1996 specifically to handle deportation cases involving classified national security evidence — intelligence too sensitive to reveal in open court but too important to ignore. Five administrations came and went. Not one case was ever filed.
The Trump DOJ filed the first one on July 15. On Thursday, it survived its first constitutional challenge. The terror court is open for business.
The defendant is Nazira Haji Zada, 47, a lawful permanent resident from Afghanistan living in Fort Worth, Texas. Federal prosecutors allege she is the matriarch of an ISIS-sympathizing family that planned a mass shooting on American voters on Election Day 2024. Her son Abdullah and son-in-law Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi have already pleaded guilty. Abdullah, who was 17 at the time of his arrest, received 15 years as an adult. Tawhedi is awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to conspiring to provide material support to ISIS and attempting to arm himself for a federal terrorism offense.
The two men were arrested on October 7, 2024 — one year to the day after Hamas massacred 1,200 Israelis — after purchasing two AK-47-style rifles and 500 rounds of ammunition from an undercover FBI agent. The weapons were intended for an attack targeting large crowds around Election Day.
Haji Zada herself was not criminally charged. The government is pursuing her removal through a civil immigration proceeding — exactly the type the ATRC was designed for. The DOJ alleges she indoctrinated her children with ISIS ideology, concealed their radicalization from her husband, and helped prepare the family to flee to Afghanistan immediately after the planned attack. The family sold furniture, computers, a phone, and two vehicles. A contract was signed to sell the family home. One-way tickets to Kabul were purchased for her and several children for a date shortly before Election Day.
Chief Judge Joan Ericksen refused to dismiss the case Thursday and denied a request to release Haji Zada from custody — handing the DOJ a critical early win. The court did require prosecutors to supplement their filing with a clearer connection to the terrorism provisions cited. The government complied. The court found it sufficient.
Acting AG Todd Blanche didn’t soften the framing: “The allegations in this case show the matriarch of an ISIS-sympathizing family aiding in a plot to launch a mass casualty attack.”
The defense called the entire proceeding unconstitutional — a “runaround” to avoid a criminal case. Judge Ericksen wasn’t buying it, though she left the door open for those arguments to be raised again as the case develops. The constitutional questions will be fully litigated in real time. That’s fine. That’s exactly what appellate courts are for.
What Thursday established is simpler: the ATRC works, the first case survived its first challenge, and a woman accused of helping plan an Election Day massacre is in custody in Washington D.C.
Congress built the court. Trump finally used it. Now it’s the left’s turn to explain why it shouldn’t exist.
Blanche Confirmed As Attorney General With Fauci Criminal Referral Awaiting
A dramatic overnight vote in Washington has placed one of the most powerful positions in the federal government into new hands.
The outcome was decided by the narrowest of margins, and the official taking control could immediately inherit a politically explosive decision involving one of the most recognizable figures from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Senate confirmed Todd Blanche as attorney general early Saturday in a 50-49 vote, putting him in charge of the Justice Department as a congressional criminal referral involving Dr. Anthony Fauci awaits consideration by federal prosecutors.
The referral followed Fauci’s recent appearance before Senate investigators, where the former National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases director invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination 111 times while testifying under subpoena.
A Senate committee subsequently referred Fauci to the Justice Department for possible criminal prosecution, meaning Blanche’s department will have to determine whether the evidence warrants further investigation or potential charges.
The referral does not establish that Fauci committed a crime, and invoking the Fifth Amendment cannot itself be treated as evidence of guilt.
Republican lawmakers have nevertheless argued that Fauci should face legal consequences stemming from their investigation into the federal government’s response to COVID-19, while Democrats have characterized the inquiry as politically motivated.
Blanche’s confirmation means responsibility for determining how DOJ handles that referral now rests with a department he formally leads after serving as acting attorney general since Pam Bondi’s departure in April.
His confirmation almost failed, with every Senate Democrat voting against him along with Republican Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska.
Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., who has been absent from the Senate since mid-June, did not vote, leaving Republicans with virtually no margin for additional defections.
That placed Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., in the position of casting the decisive vote after he had remained the final Republican holdout on Blanche’s nomination.
Cassidy acknowledged his reservations about Blanche before announcing that he would nevertheless support his confirmation.
“Mr. Blanche is not perfect, and he will tell you this, but the choice is not between perfection and Mr. Blanche,” Cassidy said.
“It is between Mr. Blanche and another acting Attorney General who may not run the department effectively under President Trump,” Cassidy continued.
Cassidy also emphasized that his vote should not be interpreted as an endorsement of every action taken by President Donald Trump or his administration.
“This is not a referendum on President Trump,” Cassidy said.
“It is a decision regarding Mr. Blanche in very specific circumstances,” he added.
“All considered, I will vote for Mr. Blanche,” Cassidy concluded. “I’ll be criticized for this vote. What’s new?”
Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin, D-Ill., sharply criticized the confirmation, calling the Senate’s decision “a grave mistake.”
Blanche previously served as Trump’s personal defense attorney before entering the administration and ultimately becoming acting attorney general following Bondi’s ouster.
His permanent confirmation now places him at the head of a Justice Department confronting several politically sensitive matters, with congressional Republicans certain to watch closely for what happens with their Fauci referral.
Fauci’s Senate testimony came as lawmakers continue examining pandemic-era government policies, federal funding connected to scientific research and questions surrounding the origins of COVID-19.
Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., who subpoenaed Fauci to testify, has been among the most vocal lawmakers demanding accountability and has questioned whether the pardon Fauci received from former President Joe Biden would protect him from every potential avenue of prosecution.
Paul also posted a photograph of Fauci sitting alone at the Senate hearing table following his testimony and wrote, “Accountability is coming.”
Any prosecution would require federal investigators and prosecutors to independently determine that sufficient admissible evidence exists to support criminal charges, regardless of what Congress recommended in its referral.
Trump Blasts Exxon And Chevron Over Record Profits, Demands Lower Gas Prices For Americans
President Donald Trump took direct aim at two of the nation’s largest oil companies Monday, accusing ExxonMobil and Chevron of profiting excessively from soaring gasoline prices while American families continue paying more at the pump.
The unusual criticism marked a notable departure from Trump’s generally close relationship with the energy industry, which has largely welcomed his administration’s push for expanded domestic oil and gas production.
Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said he was unhappy with the massive second-quarter earnings recently reported by the energy giants, arguing consumers deserve relief after months of elevated fuel prices.
“I don’t like it,” Trump said. “Chevron, too much money. ExxonMobil, too much. Too much money.”
Trump went even further by suggesting the companies should return some of their profits to the public through lower gasoline prices.
“They better cut the retail price, the consumer price,” Trump said. “I’ll say it loud and clear: I’m not happy about it.”
The president’s comments came just days after several major oil companies posted blockbuster earnings fueled by higher crude prices and stronger refining margins during the ongoing conflict involving Iran.
Chevron reported its strongest quarterly earnings in at least six years, while ExxonMobil also posted one of its best profit reports in recent memory. Other refiners, including Valero Energy and Marathon Petroleum, likewise benefited from the sharp increase in oil prices following the outbreak of fighting earlier this year.
Earlier Monday, Trump also criticized Chevron CEO Mike Wirth following his appearance on Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures.”
In a Truth Social post, Trump complained that Wirth failed to acknowledge his administration’s efforts to support the American energy industry.
“The only thing he conveniently forgot to mention is that, without the genius, foresight, strength, and stability of the TRUMP Administration, the Oil Industry, and our Country itself, would be DEAD!” Trump wrote.
He also pointed to Chevron’s renewed operations in Venezuela, saying the company is now positioned to make enormous profits after previously facing setbacks there.
Chevron has maintained a presence in Venezuela for more than a century. Unlike ExxonMobil and ConocoPhillips, which exited many Venezuelan operations after former President Hugo Chávez nationalized oil assets in 2007, Chevron remained active in the country and has since expanded operations under the Trump administration’s policies.
The president’s frustration comes as Americans continue facing elevated gasoline prices.
National average gasoline prices remain above $4 per gallon, representing a jump of more than 30% compared to levels before the Iran conflict disrupted global energy markets. While crude oil prices have recently declined amid hopes for diplomatic progress, prices at gas stations have been slower to follow.
Industry groups pushed back against Trump’s criticism, arguing oil companies are not solely responsible for higher prices.
The American Petroleum Institute said current fuel costs are being driven primarily by global supply and demand, along with continuing uncertainty surrounding the Strait of Hormuz and other key shipping lanes, rather than excessive corporate pricing.
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Trump has made increasing domestic energy production one of the central pillars of his second administration, repeatedly encouraging additional drilling and promising to make America a dominant energy producer. At the same time, however, he has consistently insisted that consumers should benefit from lower prices rather than seeing companies capture windfall profits.
The president predicted oil prices would “drop through the floor” once the conflict with Iran comes to an end, expressing confidence that cheaper crude will eventually translate into lower gasoline prices for drivers across the country.
