Latest news with #YaleLaw
Time of India
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
'Grandfather category': Usha Vance recalls how her kids bonded with PM Modi during India visit
Vance family's visit to India in April (ANI photo) US Vice President JD Vance's wife, Usha Vance, on Monday heaped praise on Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his hospitality after the Vance family visited India in April. Usha said meeting PM Modi was very special, and her kids put him in the "grandfather category" after meeting him. "Meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, that was really very special. My kids saw him — they were sort of sleep-deprived in Paris, and they saw an Indian man with a white beard and white hair, and they just put him in the grandfather category immediately," Usha said. "They are very into him; they just love him, and he really cemented his status by giving our five-year-old a birthday present that day. When we were able to visit his home, they just sort of ran up. They were hugging him. He was just incredibly kind and generous to them," said US Second Lady Usha Vance on meeting PM Modi during their visit to India. Usha claimed that JD Vance had a very productive conversation with PM Modi, and the visit was a real opportunity for them to "cement the personal relationship." "I think it was a very productive conversation for JD Vance and the Prime Minister (Narendra Modi), of course. But also, I think it was a real opportunity for us to kind of cement that personal relationship that they have, which I think is only to the good," she said. "There was a puppet show that was a particular highlight, with sort of puppeteering from all over the country, including from Andhra Pradesh, where my family is from. There were bits from the Ramayana, there were sort of comedic bits with animals, and it was a huge hit. My kids have been trying to recreate it at home with construction paper," said US Second Lady Usha Vance on meeting PM Modi and their visit to India. JD Vance, along with his family, was on a four-day visit to India, which was also his first official visit to the country since assuming office. JD Vance is married to Usha Chilukuri Vance, a Yale Law graduate and accomplished attorney whose family hails from Andhra Pradesh. Fluent in Telugu and deeply connected to her cultural heritage, Usha is one of the most prominent Indian-American women in conservative legal circles. She's also been a transformative influence in JD's life—not just personally, but spiritually.
Mint
29-05-2025
- Politics
- Mint
Pausing foreign applications to US universities is a terrible idea
The Trump administration's decision to pause all visa interviews for foreign students who want to study in America, pending a review of how applicants' social-media posts are vetted, is yet another escalation in the power struggle over who controls the world's best universities. The policy may be modified. It may prove less onerous than it looks at first glance. Even if that happens, though, this is another blow to a great American success story. President Donald Trump cares about America's trade deficit. So it is perverse for him to make it harder for one of America's most prodigious exporters—the education industry—to sell its services to foreigners. Some of his supporters imagine that foreign students are taking places that could have gone to Americans. This could be called the lump-of-college fallacy. In fact, by paying higher fees, foreign students tend to subsidise locals. American universities attract a wider variety of the best minds from around the world than any of their global rivals. That makes them more dynamic and innovative. And by pulling foreign elites into America's cultural orbit, they magnify America's soft power abroad. Unfortunately, that is not how Mr Trump and his cabinet see it. To them, elite universities, in particular, are hotbeds of antisemitism and wokery. They are factories for future Democratic Party leaders and donors. And they must be brought to heel. 'The universities are the enemy," as J.D. Vance (Ohio State and Yale Law) told a conference of national conservatives before he became the vice-president. There is some truth to MAGA criticisms of elite universities. Some have indeed been too soft on antisemitism and too dismissive of conservative viewpoints. But that hardly justifies the cudgels the administration is wielding against the entire college system. So far they include: deporting foreign students for wrongthink, freezing applications from foreign students, suspending government research grants and promising to increase taxes on big college endowments. Mr Vance has often complained, with some justification, about censorship on campus. So it is galling for him now to favour deporting foreign students for their views and making new student applications subject to social-media vetting. College is supposed to be a place where the young explore new ideas, not a place where they venture only with burner phones, terrified to reveal they once shared a meme sympathising with Palestinians or mocking Mr Trump. The only students likely to have clean social-media feeds will be those from police states like China, who have internalised the lesson that free expression attracts unwelcome attention. In the global war for talent, America's universities have long been its most persuasive recruiters, with huge benefits for American science, business and arts. Mr Trump's policies will make them less attractive. Any foreigner with the brains and resources to study in America has other options. Why risk taking on a pile of debt to study in a country where the president doesn't want you, where your visa could be revoked before you graduate, where your chats will be snooped on and where you may not be allowed to work? American universities are so good that large numbers of foreigners will still jostle to attend them. However, the early signs are that all this really is deterring applicants. Mr Trump and his supporters may think that, by cutting snooty lefty institutions down to size and shutting out foreigners with distasteful views, they are making higher education in America great again. They are on course to make it mediocre.
CBS News
01-05-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Maryland judge, Sen. Van Hollen push back against Trump administration over Kilmar Abrego Garcia deportation case
A Maryland judge denied the Trump administration's motion to delay the Kilmar Abrego Garcia deportation case again Wednesday, following a one-week delay she granted last week. Abrego Garcia was deported to a Salvadoran prison in March due to an "administrative error," the administration said. He had been granted an order of protection in 2019. Maryland Judge Paula Xinis signed a new order directing the Trump administration to "answer and respond to all outstanding discovery requests" by Monday. She also set a new timetable of deadlines over the next two weeks. The government's reason for requesting the delay remains unknown because their motion was sealed from public view. What's next in the case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia? Judge Xinis will allow the depositions of four Trump administration officials: Robert Cema, Evan Katz, Michael Kozak and Joseph Mazzara "no later than Friday, May 9." Cerna previously swore under oath that Abrego Garcia's deportation was an "administrative error…This was an oversight." Xinis ordered that, "By no later than Wednesday, May 7, plaintiffs may move for leave of court to conduct two additional depositions of individuals with knowledge and authority to testify regarding the matters." Who is Judge Xinis? Judge Paula Xinis was appointed to the U.S. District Court of Maryland in 2015 by President Barack Obama. She was confirmed in 2016. The Yale Law grad has strong ties to Baltimore. She served as a federal public defender before joining the law firm of Murphy, Falcon and Murphy in 2011. She became a partner in 2013. The firm's founding partner, Billy Murphy, has handled many high-profile cases, including representing the family of Freddie Gray after he died while in the custody of Baltimore Police a decade ago. Her official biography said while at Murphy's firm, Judge Xinis "handled complex civil actions as well as mass and class actions in state and federal court. Judge Xinis criticizes government Prior to granting a stay last week in this case, Judge Xinis largely rejected the Trump administration's claims that they had adequately answered questions from Abrego Garcia's legal team. That stay order was filed in secret, and it remains unclear why the government requested it. Xinis took issue with the government's position that they cannot take action to return Abrego Garcia because he is in the custody of El Salvador. She wrote, "Defendants – and their counsel – well know that the falsehood lies not in any supposed 'premise,' but in their continued mischaracterization of the Supreme Court's Order. That Order made clear that this Court 'properly required the Government to 'facilitate' Abrego Garcia's release from custody in El Salvador and to ensure that his case is handled as it would have been had he not been improperly sent to El Salvador.' Defendants' objection reflects a willful and bad faith refusal to comply with discovery obligations." The judge also had strong words for the government's argument that it cannot divulge certain information because it is privileged. She wrote, "For weeks, Defendants have sought refuge behind vague and unsubstantiated assertions of privilege, using them as a shield to obstruct discovery and evade compliance with this Court's orders. Defendants have known, at least since last week, that this Court requires specific legal and factual showings to support any claim of privilege. Yet they have continued to rely on boilerplate assertions. That ends now." Judge Xinis also asked Abergo Garcia's attorneys to limit the scope of some of their questions, writing, "The request for 'the identity and role of every U.S. official or employee with knowledge of the facts alleged in the complaint,' as well as those involved in any submission to this Court, the Fourt Circuit or the Supreme Court, is too broad to extract a meaningful and timely response." Kilmar Abrego Garcia's deportation Abrego Garcia was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Prince George's County with his child in the car. He was near his home after leaving his job as a sheetmetal apprentice in Baltimore on March 12. The government admitted he was deported to El Salvador by mistake and against a prior court order. Sen. Chris Van Hollen continues to call for Abrego Garcia's return Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen drew worldwide attention when he visited Abrego Garcia in El Salvador earlier this month. He spoke about the case on the Senate floor Wednesday. "Members can look the other way and cannot deny the fact that this is happening as we speak today, and I would urge every senator to recognize the threat to everybody's rights under the Constitution," Van Hollen said. He also read the letter he sent to President Trump this week. "I am not vouching for Mr. Abrego Garcia, but I am vouching for his constitutional right to due process, because if Donald Trump can ignore court orders and trample over the rights of one man, he threatens the rights of everyone who lives in the United State of America," Van Hollen told his fellow senators. Trump, cabinet defend actions in Abrego Garcia case The Trump administration has pushed back on demands that they bring Abrego Garcia back to the United States. In an exclusive interview with CBS News, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said, "This is the president's decision and the White House's decision, so we follow his direction and his legal scholars and attorneys. [Abrego Garcia] is not under our control. He is an El Salvador citizen. He is home there in his country. If he were to be brought back to the United States of America, we would immediately deport him again." This week, President Trump told ABC News that Abrego Garcia, "is not an innocent, wonderful gentleman from Maryland." He brought up allegations that Abrego Garcia is a member of the violent MS-13 gang, which Abrego Garcia's lawyers and family deny. Mr. Trump told ABC News he has the power to bring Abrego Garcia back to the U.S., "and if he were the gentleman that you say he is, I would, but he's not." The president also said, "I'm not the one making this decision." At a cabinet meeting Wednesday, a reporter asked Mr. Trump whether the president of El Salvador would turn down a request to let Abrego Garcia leave the country. "I don't know," the president said. "I haven't spoken to him. I really leave that to the lawyers." At that same meeting, Secretary of State Marco Rubio was asked if he had direct talks with El Salvador officials over the Abrego Garcia case. "I would never tell you that, and you know who else I'd never tell? A judge," Rubio said. "Because the conduct of our foreign policy belongs to the President of the United States and the executive branch – not some judge."
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Rep. Kevin Kiley praises Yale's overnight crackdown on pro-Palestine protests
Rep. Kevin Kiley, R-Calif., a Yale Law graduate and member of the House Education and Workforce Committee, joins 'The Hill on NewsNation' as the White House zeroes in on higher education. President Trump signed executive orders requiring universities to disclose foreign gifts and tying accreditation to academic merit. Meanwhile, Yale is facing backlash over a late-night, unauthorized anti-Israel protest and is under a second federal investigation into antisemitism. The protest comes as the Trump administration revokes billions in funding from Harvard and Columbia over similar concerns. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Rep. Ro Khanna wonders who might lead Democrats in 2028 — while making a case for himself
NEW HAVEN, Conn. — Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., tossed out the question casually as he huddled with two dozen Yale Law students here this week: Who are your favorite Democrats? 'Present company excluded,' clarified Khanna, who was on campus to excoriate Vice President JD Vance and has been sending signals that he might like to run for president in 2028. There were ripples of support for 'AOC' — Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York., who, like Khanna, has close and ideologically progressive ties to Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. Someone else mentioned Sen. Andy Kim of New Jersey, an answer that pleased Khanna. 'Sen. Kim doesn't get a lot of limelight,' Khanna said, 'but he's very, very solid.' Khanna's interest in such dialogue is instructive as he evaluates which Democratic leaders still carry influence, studies the party's prospective presidential field for 2028 and determines whether he will join it. Khanna, eager to further engage the law students Tuesday, pressed on. Anyone for Sanders? There were a few polite murmurs of approval. 'Obama?' Khanna asked. There were a few dismissive laughs at the former president's name — and at least one pair of rolled eyes. One woman brought up Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's recent travails. Her visit with President Donald Trump last week turned into an unexpected Oval Office photo op that Whitmer briefly attempted to hide from by covering her face with some blue folders. 'Everyone has moments that they would rather not have, and I don't think it's going to impact her long term,' Khanna said of Whitmer, adding that if she chooses to seek the White House in 2028, as many believe that she might, 'she would be a formidable candidate.' Khanna, 48, sees himself as one of the Democratic Party's next-generation leaders. His alliance with Sanders, whose 2020 presidential campaign he co-chaired, established him with the party's progressive activists, but he remains largely unknown outside Washington, D.C., and his Silicon Valley-based district. He has been traveling the country, pushing 'economic patriotism' and 'pro-growth progressive' policies while holding conversations like these with party leaders, laborers and other voters in an effort to raise his national profile. A few hours after meeting with those students, it was Khanna, speaking with reporters on campus, fielding the questions and offering additional observations on his fellow Democrats. He mentioned Sanders' recent rallies with Ocasio-Cortez that have drawn large crowds and been seen by some as a passing of the progressive torch. He mentioned the marathon speech delivered by Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey. He had a shoutout for Maine Gov. Janet Mills, who has been emerging as a leading voice opposing the second Trump administration. But what about Whitmer, whose has made efforts to cultivate a working relationship with Trump? And what about California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who on his new podcast has been chopping it up with far-right Trump allies such as Charlie Kirk and Steve Bannon? Khanna initially tiptoed around those questions, hewing carefully to a talking point he offered several times that day during his meetings at Yale — that anyone interested in being a voice of the party must 'push back' strongly on Trump and Vance. Does he believe Newsom's podcast strategy accomplishes that? Newsom's conversation with Kirk, for example, was perhaps most notable for the governor's break with other Democrats by arguing that it is 'deeply unfair' for transgender girls and women to participate in women's sports. 'I'm all for having conversations, but I think it needs to be conversation with pushback. So, if you're going to go and talk to Charlie Kirk, then ask him about some of the statements he's made that are supporting white supremacists,' Khanna said. 'Look, I went on Megyn Kelly's platform and got eviscerated … for defending transgender rights.' Khanna said he believes it's important for Democrats to have '10 to 15 to 20 new voices' emerge ahead of the 2028 primaries. 'I think both the people who offer the most positive ideas going forward and the people who offer the most substantive opposition are going to be positioned to lead the party,' he said. 'Our party became stale. The same personalities. The same talking points. The same consultants. And I'm excited that you've got a lot of new voices that are emerging.' But Khanna also acknowledged it's tough for progressive newcomers and outsiders to break through in a party where the establishment remains powerful. Joe Biden won the Democratic nomination — and the presidency — in 2020 despite challenges from Sanders and others on the left. Vice President Kamala Harris quickly sewed up the nomination in 2024 after Biden ended his re-election campaign and endorsed her and other party leaders followed suit. 'I mean, I was a co-chair of Bernie's campaign. It would be naive to think that outsiders who are trying to push the boundaries with new ideas and new people aren't going to be underdogs,' Khanna said. 'But my sense is the thing that the party desperately needs is those outsiders.' That prompted another question: Does Khanna want Harris to run for president again in 2028? He didn't directly answer, but he spoke encouragingly about Harris running for governor instead. 'I think there's a fair amount of support in California to be governor, and I'd be surprised if she didn't clear the Democratic field if she ran for governor,' Khanna said. 'In terms of whether she wants to run for president again, that's such a personal decision. I mean, if she feels like she's the best person to lead the country in 2028, then she should run, and then the American people decide. But I would never tell someone whether to run or not to run. I think the only reason to run for president is if you think you're the best person at that moment to lead the country." This article was originally published on
