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Wide shot of a man standing in a church, facing the camera away from the alter.

What Just Happened: Sanctuary Policies and the DOJ Memo’s Empty Threat of Criminal Liability

A leading expert analyzes the Justice Department threat to prosecute state and local officials in sanctuary cities.
Two men pushing together the doors on a large, metal outdoor fence comprising a section of the US border wall.

Why Trump v. Anderson Undermines State Efforts to Hijack Immigration Enforcement

Faithful application of the Supreme Court’s federalism principles should doom Texas’s attempt to seize control of national immigration policy.

Expert Backgrounder: Federalizing the National Guard and Domestic Use of the Military

An expert explainer on when the President of the United States can 'federalize" the National Guard and deploy U.S. military forces domestically.
Line of people on stage in front of sign for the C40 World Mayors Summit on October 10, 2019 in Copenhagen

Advancing Global Human Rights Locally

"While U.S. states and localities may not enter into binding agreements with other nations or act contrary to federal law or policy according to legal precedent, U.S. states and…
Bus faces the camera in foreground. Dome of US Capitol Building in background.

In Weaponizing Asylum Seekers, DeSantis & Abbott Unwittingly Demonstrate the Possibility of Safe Transit Policies for Migrants

Ironically, the governors' actions show that the US could implement policies that better reflect the realities of migration - by treating migrants has human beings rather than…

How States Like California Are Bolstering Federal Sanctions Against Russia

States and other non-federal actors have significant power, much of which is still untapped, to support ongoing sanctions efforts.
Libyan delegates, including Abdessalam Shuha, Abdallah Shibani, Hussein Mohamed Elansari, an unidentified participant and Abdel Majid Mlayqtah attend the opening of the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum hosted in Gammarth on the outskirts of Tunisia's capital, on November 9, 2020. They stand side by side not socially distanced and wear face masks, though two of them do not wear the face masks properly, ie. not covering their noses.

Libya: Subnational Governance as a Potential Anchor of Stability

As the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum proceeds, a government structure that genuinely responds to legitimate grievances will be key to sustainable peace.
Federal officers in full camo gear with gas masks and guns prepare to disperse the crowd of protestors outside the Multnomah County Justice Center on July 17, 2020 in Portland, Oregon.

The President’s Private Army

How did we get here? Goitein discusses legal and political obstacles that faced President Trump's resort to other federal forces, why DHS is now his weapon of choice, what it may…
Federal officers use tear gas and other crowd dispersal munitions on protesters outside the Multnomah County Justice Center on July 17, 2020 in Portland, Oregon.

Portland’s Pretext: Barr’s Long History Manipulating Law to Put Federal Forces on U.S. Streets

In a 2001 interview, Bill Barr boasted that he came up with the idea in 1989.
A man wearing a mask sits outside a barber shop in Lilburn, Georgia on April 24, 2020.

Federal vs. State Powers in Rush to Reopen Amid Coronavirus Pandemic

As governors start reopening their states, what could the White House and federal government do to stop it if the feds wanted to?
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo hosts a conference call and makes an announcement with Governor Phil Murphy, Governor Ned Lamont, Governor Tom Wolf, Governor John Carney and Governor Gina Raimondo.

Governors and Mayors, Beware: Lawsuits Opposing Coronavirus Mitigation Orders Are a Real Threat

Lessons from when Confederacy-sympathizing judges tried to prevent Lincoln from saving the republic. By leading legal historian David Golove.

As the Mueller Investigation Closes, New York Investigations Shift into High Gear

On Friday March 21, 2019, the investigation by Special Counsel Robert Mueller came to a close when he delivered his final report to Attorney General William Barr. Two days later,…
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