Congress

Just Security’s expert authors offer analysis of U.S. Congress’ role in national security, foreign affairs, the rule of law, and rights. Coverage includes analysis and informational resources related to the legislative process, oversight and investigations of the executive branch, and major debates on the separation of powers and Congress’ constitutional role.

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2,546 Articles
​A man, ICE Acting Director Caleb Vitello​, surrounded by a least two other men, members of the New York City Fugitive Operations Team​, conduct targeted enforcement operations on January 28, 2025 in New York City. The officers are in "POLICE ICE" tactical gear.

The Deeper Problem with ICE’s Arrest Warrants

DHS regulations do not ensure that ICE arrest warrants are supported by reliable probable cause findings. That failing poses significant Fourth Amendment risks.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio addresses the press before briefing House and Senate leaders on US military action in Iran, at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, on March 2, 2026. (Photo by Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP via Getty Images)

Double Preemption, Imminence, and the U.S. Attack Against Iran

Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s argument that Operation Epic Fury was an act of preemptive self-defense is not credible and does not satisfy the necessary precondition.

Top Questions the Trump Administration Needs to Answer on War with Iran

What Congress, journalists, and the public should ask the Trump administration about its war in Iran.
Screenshot of Memorandum for Legal Advisor, National Security Council Re: Proposed War Department Operation to Support Law Enforcement Efforts in Venezuela, published December 23, 2025.

The Trump Administration’s Theory of Constitutional War Powers: “The President Could Decide”

The legal memo justifying its Venezuela operations provides insight into the administration's use-of-force decisions and the factual evidence undergirding them.
Flags of USA and Iran

Top Experts’ Backgrounder: Military Action Against Iran and US Domestic Law

Experts who advised a president on use of force answer a full range of basic questions on the conditions under which action against Iran would be lawful, and what options Congress…
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks alongside Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick (C) and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer (R) during a press briefing held at the White House February 20, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

What Just Happened: Tariffs Are Gone and Then Back Again

The SCOTUS decision on Trump's tariffs, and the president’s subsequent reaction, leave many questions about tariff rates and what comes next.
A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent's back is to the camera, facing the front door of an apartment building during an immigration raid or enforcement operation.

ICE Administrative Warrants and the Fourth Amendment: A Response to the DHS General Counsel

DHS says ICE agents can enter homes to arrest noncitizens using administrative warrants, without judicial oversight. DHS's position has no legal basis.
Capitol Building

The Army Clause: A Forgotten Constitutional Check on ICE, CBP, and the Pentagon

Why the One Big Beautiful Bill violates a forgotten constitutional check on funding standing armies and how Congress can enforce it now.
Demonstrators hold a protest in Houston, Texas, against a bill that would forbid Chinese nationals from buying properties in Texas, on February 11, 2023.

Alien-ating Asians in 21st-Century Land Laws

“Alien land laws” frame Asian land ownership as a national security threat despite minimal evidence, echoing the United States’ historical exclusionary policies.
Military unmanned aerial vehicle at sunset.

Is the U.S. Conducting Air Strikes Against Al Qaeda in Yemen?

Despite official silence, multiple reports indicate renewed U.S. drone strikes in Yemen targeting AQAP militants, reviving debates on transparency and endless war.
Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman (2nd-L) arrives at the US Capitol to meet with bipartisan leaders on November 19, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by ROBERTO SCHMIDT/AFP via Getty Images)

How Congress Should Judge a Saudi Nuclear Cooperation Agreement

In reviewing a U.S.-Saudi Section 123 nuclear agreement, Congress must weigh nonproliferation safeguards, enrichment and reprocessing limits, and its national security impact.
A protestor holds up a pair of handcuffs in front of a law enforcement officer as people gather during a demonstration and vigil outside the South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley, Texas, on January 28, 2026. (Photo by Moisés ÁVILA / AFP via Getty Images)

Congress Should Stop DHS’s Lawless Misuse of Mandatory Immigration Detention

The Fifth Circuit upheld an illegal ICE mass detention policy, deepening a legal and humanitarian crisis that Congress can and must fix.
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