Trump's deportation machine makes its own rules

Plus, 24 states sue Trump over $6.8 billion in education funding |

VIEW IN BROWSER MSNBC DAILY Understand today's news Wednesday, Jul. 16, 2025 THE LATEST New memos are tearing down the guardrails around mass detention By Hayes Brown New memos are tearing down the guardrails around mass detention By Hayes Brown The last major overhaul of American immigration law took place decades ago and there's been no will from Congress to revamp it since then. Instead, a string of presidents has sought to interpret the law to fit their preferred policies. What we're seeing under President Donald Trump, though, is a federal bureaucracy abandoning the law as it exists, rewriting the rules that would constrain it from exercising maximum cruelty and dehumanization toward immigrants. Over the last six months, Immigrations and Customs Enforcement has served as the tip of the spear in the Trump administration's mass deportation push. According to The Washington Post, acting ICE director Todd Lyons issued a memo last week that instructs officers to hold immigrants in their custody "for the duration of their removal proceedings" — however long that takes. His determination marks a major shift in the way ICE functions and threatens to transform the immigration system more broadly overnight.    This is a preview of Hayes Brown's latest column. Read the full column here. TOP STORIES MATT GERTZ Trump told his base to move on from the Jeffrey Epstein story — and MAGA media obliged The president's media allies have mostly followed his marching orders. Read more. BRANDY ZADROZNY Ron Johnson's 'voices of the vaccine injured' Senate hearing was more than a spectacle Johnson's hearing was a dangerous beachhead from which the movement stands to make unprecedented inroads into public health policy. Read more.  STEVE BENEN Wildly underqualified MAGA devotee becomes first judge confirmed of Trump's second term Whitney Hermandorfer is the first far-right judicial nominee to be confirmed during the president's second term, and she won't be the last. Read more. MICHELE NORRIS The Trump administration plan for replacing deported farmworkers shows a reckless ignorance The "100% American workforce" pledge is both implausible and distracts from a necessary conversation about immigration reform. Read more.  TOP VIDEOS CHRIS JANSING REPORTS  Twenty-four states sue Trump over $6.8 billion in education funding WATCH NOW CHRIS JANSING REPORTS The next AOC? This 25-year-old is challenging Democratic dynasty in Arizona primary WATCH NOW THE BRIEFING WITH JEN PSAKI Psaki: Epstein blunder exposes Trump as the 'unaccountable elite' his supporters sent him to attack WATCH NOW ANA CABRERA REPORTS New report shows inflation accelerated in June, signals impacts of Trump tariffs WATCH NOW MORE FROM MSNBC Nicolle Wallace is sitting down with some of the smartest, funniest, and wisest people she knows in her chart-topping podcast, "The Best People with Nicolle Wallace." This week, she speaks with music legend Jimmy Jam to share memories and lessons from his storied career. They discuss growing up alongside Prince, songwriting for Janet Jackson, and his infectious passion for music and belief in its unifying properties. Listen now, and subscribe to MSNBC Premium on Apple Podcasts for early access, ad-free listening, and bonus content. Sunday, MSNBC Films presents a new episode of "Leguizamo Does America," an NBC News Studios production. Host John Leguizamo is back for season 2, traveling cross-country to six new destinations and exploring the Latino traditions, cuisine, and political perspectives that form the fabric of each community. In episode 3, John visits Denver. Watch Sunday at 9 p.m. Eastern on MSNBC.   MSNBC INSIGHTS Have you ever wanted to provide MSNBC with your opinion about their TV programs, documentaries, and digital products, such as MSNBC.com, newsletters, and podcasts? Now is your chance! Join the MSNBC Insights Community.   Download the MSNBC App: 30 Rockefeller Plaza New York, NY 10112 PRIVACY | CONTACT | UNSUBSCRIBE