Welcome back to “The Unify Brief,” where we track the latest developments shaping the nation. Here’s what you need to know this week.
Trump administration to suspend habeas corpus
Over the weekend, President Trump’s administration began considering suspending the constitutional right of habeas corpus to accelerate the deportation of undocumented migrants. This would strip affected individuals of their ability to challenge their detention or removal in federal court, a right that has long been considered a tenet of American civil liberties.
Habeas corpus is a fundamental legal principle that protects individuals from unlawful detention by allowing them to challenge the legality of their imprisonment in court. It is established in the U.S. Constitution and can only be suspended under extreme circumstances, such as rebellion or invasion.
The principle has been suspended four times in U.S. history during national crises, such as the Civil War under President Lincoln and briefly during World War II. This proposal is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to significantly increase immigration enforcement and deportations.
It reflects a more aggressive stance on limiting migrants’ access to legal processes, including asylum and due process protections. The move has sparked intense concern among civil liberties groups and immigration advocates, who see it as a violation of constitutional protections.
Local: The Trump administration is considering suspending habeas corpus. What does that mean? (Denver 7)
National: What is habeas corpus, the legal procedure Trump is considering suspending? (CNN)
What other college campuses have to say: Habeas Corpus applies to students, too (The Chicago Maroon)
Judge temporarily blocks mass lay-offs
On Friday, May 9, a federal judge in San Francisco issued a two-week restraining order temporarily halting the Trump administration’s extensive federal government overhaul. This decision comes after a hearing on Friday in a lawsuit filed by a coalition of labor unions, nonprofits and local governments, who argue that President Trump’s efforts to restructure and downsize the federal workforce without congressional approval violate the Constitution.
The restraining order specifically pauses the implementation of President Trump’s Feb. 11 executive order, which directed agencies to initiate major reorganizations. It affects 20 federal agencies, including the Departments of State, Treasury, Veterans Affairs and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
U.S. District Judge Susan Illston, who issued the ruling, emphasized that while the president has the authority to propose changes within federal agencies, significant overhauls require collaboration with Congress. She stated that any president must enlist the help of the legislative branch to enact large-scale agency restructurings.
This legal intervention emphasizes the ongoing tensions between the executive branch’s initiatives to restructure government operations and the constitutional checks and balances designed to prevent unilateral action. The temporary restraining order serves as a pause, allowing for further legal examination of the administration’s actions and their adherence to constitutional requirements.
Local: Judge orders temporary halt to Trump administration’s government overhaul (Denver Gazette)
National: Federal judge temporarily halts Trump’s sweeping government overhaul (NPR)
What other college campuses have to say: As of Sunday, May 11, no college campuses have reported on this development.
Pentagon furthers DEI crackdown
On Friday, May 9, the Pentagon ordered all U.S. military service academies and senior institutions like the Army War College to identify and remove books from their libraries related to diversity, race and gender by May 21.
This directive follows one of President Trump’s executive orders issued on Jan. 20, which aims to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programming and materials that the administration believes to promote division or gender ideology.
A new memo from the Pentagon’s top personnel official standardizes the process, which began at the U.S. Naval Academy, where over 300 books were pulled. To oversee the process, the Pentagon will form a temporary Academic Libraries Committee made up of internal educators and library professionals. This group will assist in identifying and removing material for further review.
The memo also included an attachment that lists 20 “search terms” that can be used to find books that will be reviewed by the committee. Among those terms are “affirmative action,” “anti-racism,” “critical race theory,” “discrimination,” “diversity in the workplace,” “diversity, equity and inclusion,” “gender identity,” “transgender people” and “white privilege.”
Local: As of Sunday, May 11, Denver outlets have not reported on this development.
National: Pentagon Furthers Crackdown on Diversity Policies With Fresh Order for Review of Library Books (The New York Times)
What other college campuses have to say: As of Sunday, May 11, no college campuses have reported on this development.
Take Action:
- Support Colorado-based legal organizations like the ACLU of Colorado and the Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition (CIRC) that actively litigate and advocate for civil liberties, including challenging actions that undermine due process rights.
At DU:
- Engage in conversations with professors or other faculty members to learn more.
- Stay informed and up to date with news and developments surrounding these topics.
