What Happened This Week? 9/7 - 9/13
Updated: Sep 22
By Cady Wu and Olivia Chen
SEPTEMBER 7, 2026.
A driver fleeing an ICE stop on Route 130 in New Jersey ran a red light and crashed into a car carrying East Brunswick Mayor Brad Cohen’s wife, who was injured. THe crash renewed debate over New Jersey’s sanctuary policies and local cooperation with ICE. State Republicans argued New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill’s Trust Directive limits ICE cooperation and called for greater use of 287(g) agreements, which allow local police to help ICE enforcement. However, Representative Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-D) called for ICE to be abolished following the crash. This incident has intensified the broader state-federal dispute over immigration enforcement and sanctuary policies.
SEPTEMBER 8, 2026.
On September 8, 2026, Canada’s retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods took effect, escalating an 18 month long trade war between the two countries. The tariffs, which cover about $20 billion worth of U.S. goods, with rates ranging from 15 to 50 percent on products like steel, furniture, clothing, and electronics, follow 50 percent U.S. tariffs on $20 billion of Canadian goods imposed last month after negotiations between the two countries broke down. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney urged Canada to reduce its economic dependence on the U.S., saying the shift would come at a cost but was preferable to remaining dependent on its largest trading partner; the tariffs were designed to put economic and political pressure on the U.S., particularly targeting industries in states such as Michigan and Ohio ahead of the November midterm elections. There are currently no talks between the two governments at the ministerial or the official level, and the escalating dispute has raised concerns that the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) partnership could be destabilized, threatening the trade relationship that supports commerce across North America. The conflict is also creating uncertainty for Canadian businesses and the economy, which remains heavily dependent on trade with the U.S. Trump has continued escalating tensions, including threatening 50 percent tariffs on Canadian cars, trucks, and auto parts beginning January 1, and Canadian aircraft marker Bombardier’s shares fell more than 6 percent after Trump said the company would have to manufacture planes in the U.S. to sell them there.
SEPTEMBER 8, 2026.
As of September 8, 2026, the Trump administration has asked the Supreme Court to allow it to use a revamped federal immigration database to check state voter rolls ahead of the November midterm elections. The Justice Department is asking the court to overturn a lower-court ruling that blocked the system, which the judge said contained unreliable citizenship data. The database, known as SAVE, was redesigned by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to allow searches of multiple records at once and provide access to Social Security numbers. Several Republican-led states have used the database to compare voter rolls and remove registrations flagged as belonging to noncitizens, yet critics argue the system can mistakenly identify naturalized citizens as noncitizens because its information may be outdated, potentially causing eligible voters to lose their registrations. In June, a federal judge blocked the system, and the D.C. Circuit upheld that decision 2-1 on September 4, leading the administration to appeal to the Supreme Court in an argument that blocking SAVE prevents the federal government from using Social Security data when states ask for help verifying voters’ citizenship. The administration is also now asking the Supreme Court to allow it to enforce new restrictions on mail-in voting that were blocked by a lower court.
SEPTEMBER 8, 2026.
As of September 8, 2026, the Trump administration is hiring private contractors to track down deported migrants who owe U.S. immigration penalties, extending its enforcement efforts beyond U.S. borders. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has said that it is seeking to recover about $423 million from more than 66,300 deported people. The agency awarded four companies contracts worth up to $35 million total to locate people in Mexico, Honduras, and Guatemala, and allowed contractors to use homes, utility bills, employment records, and court documents to locate deportees and determine their ability to pay. Still, it remains unclear whether the U.S. can legally force deported migrants to pay or how foreign governments would be involved in collections, and payment could also be difficult as many deportees might have limited resources or lack U.S. bank accounts, which federal documents list as a payment requirement. The penalties come from a 1996 immigration law allowing for daily fines for certain people who remain in the U.S. after being ordered to leave, but were rarely used until Trump’s first term, after which the Biden administration ended the effort in 2201, citing ineffectiveness and diverted resources. Yet the Trump administration has now revived the penalties on a much larger scale, with some migrants facing fines approaching $1,000 per day—since January 2025, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has issued more than 103,000 civil fines totaling over $84 billion, but the DHS had only collected $1.2 million by mid-July. Some deportees have already received collection letters in Mexico with warnings that unpaid fines could affect future U.S. immigration proceedings or be sent to private collection agencies. At the same time, the administration is still offering travel assistance and cash incentives to immigrants that voluntarily leave the U.S., with some fines being forgiven.
SEPTEMBER 8, 2026.
China Grove, a town in Texas, reaffirmed its 287(g) partnership with ICE, which allows the local police to assist with immigration enforcement. The Task Force Model allows officers to enforce immigration laws during their routine duties, including traffic stops, effectively extending the influence and power of ICE. This partnership has also brought China Grove about $192,000 in federal reimbursement. However, critics warn of racial profiling, civil-rights violations, and legal liability, and some believe that this could discourage crime reporting and divert essential police resources. Yet, Police Chief Ralph Sramek defended the partnership and program, claiming that there have been no racial-profiling complaints since 2014. This debate has intensified after 20-year-old Herbert Kaleth Ibarra Castro was arrested during a traffic stop and transferred to ICE custody. He spent 16 days in ICE detention before being released on bond, and later applied for adjustment of status. As of September 4, ICE reported 2,462 active 287(g) agreements in 39 states and two territories.
SEPTEMBER 8, 2026.
The Trump administration just asked the Supreme Court to restore the expanded SAVE system, the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements, for voter-citizenship verification ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. SAVE was expanded to use Social Security records and bulk voter-roll checks. However, lower courts blocked these changes because they believed using the SAVE system violated federal privacy and Social Security laws. In contrast, the administration argues that the system improves election-related citizenship verification and challenges the courts’ rulings, hence bringing it to the Supreme Court level. Opponents to this warn that inaccurate database results could also wrongly flag or remove eligible voters, posing a potential issue with voting accessibility.
SEPTEMBER 8, 2026.
President Trump is expected to highlight record ICE arrests and border security statistics at the GOP midterm convention, while downplaying mass deportations. Many MAGA hardliners are frustrated, believing that the administration has not delivered broad mass deportations. Business groups and some Republicans have also favored targeted enforcement, citing labor shortages in construction and agriculture as key reasons. Over 80% of Texans support work permits for long-term immigrations according to polling, but 50% of Americans, including nearly 25% of Trump’s 2024 voters, say that mass deportations are too aggressive. In August, DHS reported nearly 51,000 ICE arrests but has not released complete data. The administration is now balancing demands for broader deportations but also support for target enforcement and expanded legal work opportunities.
SEPTEMBER 8, 2026.
ICE has issued a detainer, a formal written request asking a local jail to hold an individual for up to 48 extra hours past their scheduled release date, for Isaac Menlendez-Carranza, a Salvadoran national charged with fentanyl and drug-distribution offenses near a school. Loudoun County’s sheriff’s office is expected to honor the detainer under its 287(g) agreement with ICE. At the same time, Virginia has moved to restrict 287(g) agreements, resulting in the DOJ suing Virginia, arguing that its restrictions unlawfully interfere with federal immigration enforcement. A federal judge has temporarily blocked that law from restricting the 287(g) agreements.
SEPTEMBER 11, 2026.
A group of immigrant workers who cleaned up Ground Zero after 9/11 now meet regularly in Queens, New York. Many are now in their 50s and 60s, and remain affected by the experience. An estimated 2,000-6,000 undocumented immigrants participated in the clean up, though the exact number is unknown. Many of them were recruited through contractors and day-labor networks, and were not always told they were being sent to Ground Zero or warned about the potential dangers or risks. Workers faced toxic debris with inadequate protections. Many wore only paper masks and rubber gloves while working long hours in contaminated conditions. The health consequences have been severe for those affected by Ground Zero, as there are more than 57,000 documented cancer cases among participants in the World Trade Center Health Program, along with numerous other illnesses. Many workers also experience significant psychological trauma, such as PTSD, panic attacks, and lasting memories of death. Undocumented workers are eligible for workers' compensation and 9/11-related assistance, but some are too afraid to apply because of their immigration status. A proposed 9/11 Immigrant Worker Freedom Act, which would provide such undocumented workers a way to gain citizenship, has been repeatedly stalled in Congress, and the increased immigration enforcement has created new fears amongst workers.
SEPTEMBER 11, 2026.
Florida has just approved $240 million for its emergency fund, the Emergency Preparedness and Response Fund (EPRF). $187.8 million of the approved funds will cover completed contracts related to undocumented immigration enforcement, and this spending is tied to state efforts to arrest and house undocumented immigrants. As of June 30, 2026, Florida’s emergency fund has only about $6.4 million remaining, and FDEM projects a potential $1.5 billion deficit by the end of the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The agency says it also still owes $523.8 million in federal reimbursements for immigration enforcement, and FDEM has 592 outstanding invoices related to the state’s Operation Vigilant Sentry program. Republicans on the budget panel voted for the $240 million transfer, but Democrats voted against it citing concerns about oversight and transparency.
SEPTEMBER 11, 2026.
The DHS has proposed eliminating the 60-day grace period that allows H-1B and certain other visa holders to find a new job after losing employment. The proposal covers H-1B, L-1, O-1, TN, E-1, E-2, E-3, and H-1B1 visas, including certain dependents, and if adopted, those affected could lose their legal status much sooner. Approximately 4,000 workers every year use the grace period to seek new sponsorship after losing or leaving a job, of which over 99% are H-1B holders. DHS explains the proposal by justifying the elimination of the grade period would reduce administrative work and potentially benefit U.S. workers by encouraging employers to hire or retain them. This could also affect families and employers, especially in industries like technology that rely heavily on H-1B workers. The proposal is not yet final as the public still has 60 days to submit comments, but if passed, it would make employment-based immigration more directly dependent on maintaining the specific job tied to a worker’s visa.
SEPTEMBER 11, 2026.
Several immigrant and legal advocacy groups sued the Trump administration on Thursday, September 10, 2026, including We Are CASA, Amica Center for Immigrant Rights, the ACLU of Maryland, and the National Immigration Project. The lawsuit is alleging the ICE is making warrantless arrests without probable cause, and that 80% of ICE arrests in Maryland since 2025 have involved individuals with no criminal convictions. During a recent Maryland and Virginia enforcement operation, fewer than one third of the 1,300 arrests had criminal convictions. The lawsuit also claims that 93% of nearly 7,000 Maryland street arrests since January 20, 2025 have involved people from Latin American or Caribbean countries. Advocacy groups say that these arrests amount to racial profiling and violate constitutional protections, including the Fourth Amendment. Plaintiffs describe experiences such as being threatened, detained unfairly, or detained for hours at a time, and overall, the groups filing this lawsuit say that aggressive ICE enforcement like the experiences of the plaintiffs are creating fear and disruption in Maryland communities.
SEPTEMBER 11, 2026.
Inflation in the United States has remained elevated, as the consumer price index (CPI) has not changed for August, since reaching 3.4% in July. However, core inflation decreased from 2.5% in July to 2.4% in August. Markets have raised expectations that the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates next week, which may put Federal Chair Kevin Warsh at odds with President Trump, who has repeatedly called for lower rates. The renewed Middle East conflict has also added pressure to inflation and global borrowing costs, as oil prices surged above $100 USD per barrel. At its July meeting, the Federal Reserve held rates at 3.5%-3.75%, though three of the twelve voting officials favored a rate increase. However, economists have cited the persistent inflation data and recent jobs figures as reasons for expecting more officials to support an increase. The Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation measure was 3.7% in July, well above the 2% target. Some economists caution that a rate hike is not guaranteed, since August inflation did not accelerate beyond expectations. Despite Trump’s continued calls for lower borrowing costs, persistent inflation and higher energy prices have been increasing pressure on the Federal Reserve to continue raising rates.
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