Trump Tariffs, Harvard Lawsuit, and Deportation Cases | Bloomberg Law

Legal Challenge to Trump's Tariffs

• ⚖️ A lawsuit filed by five small businesses challenges President Trump's tariffs, arguing they violate the International Economic Emergency Powers Act of 1977.
• 💡 The suit contends the Act was intended for sudden crises, not long-standing trade deficits, and that tariffs are not explicitly mentioned as a power under the Act.
• 📈 The plaintiffs argue that bilateral trade deficits are not a crisis and that the tariffs constitute a major question requiring clear Congressional delegation, citing Supreme Court precedent.
• 🏛️ The legal team seeks a preliminary injunction and temporary restraining order to block tariffs while the case is litigated, noting similar injunctions have been granted in other cases.
• 🌍 This lawsuit is broader than previous ones, targeting "liberation day tariffs" that affect nearly every nation, unlike suits focused on specific countries like Canada or China.

Harvard's Fight Against Trump Administration Demands

• 🎓 Harvard University is in a legal battle with the Trump administration over demands for changes to comply with the administration's political agenda, leading to a freeze of over $2.2 billion in grants and $60 million in contracts.
• 🚩 The administration's demands, couched in accusations of mishandling anti-semitism, are seen by Harvard professors as a pretext to take power from universities and control faculty ideology, reminiscent of authoritarian regimes.
• 🗣️ Professors argue that freedom of speech, conscience, and thought are priceless and that they would rather Harvard forfeit billions than bow to a regime curtailing liberties.
• ⚖️ Harvard is fighting back in court, asserting that the administration's actions, including threats to tax-exempt status, are illegal and violate statutory law.
• 🤝 The university's stance is seen as crucial for other institutions, with faculty across the country urging their leadership to join the fight against such attacks on civil society.

Deportation Cases and Judicial Orders

• ⚠️ A case involving Kilmore Abrego Garcia, wrongly deported to El Salvador, highlights judicial frustration with the Trump administration's lack of action to facilitate his return, despite Supreme Court orders.
• ⚖️ A federal judge has threatened contempt of court and ordered depositions of administration officials, questioning the interpretation of "facilitate" and rejecting arguments based on presidential meetings or press releases.
• 🚫 In a separate case, a DC federal judge found probable cause to hold Trump administration officials in criminal contempt for defying an order to turn around flights deporting individuals to El Salvador under the Alien Enemies Act.
• 🏛️ The judge cited a potential violation of the Constitution and the need to prevent a "solemn mockery" if judicial orders are willfully disobeyed, with potential for individual criminal prosecution.