Update News: July 17th 2025

Today on Just Security

Thursday, July 17, 2025

PUBLISHED TODAY

Be sure to visit www.justsecurity.org throughout the day for the latest analysis from the Just Security team. 

A Warm Welcome to Mark Nevitt as a Just Security Editorial Board Member!

We are thrilled to announce that longtime Just Security contributor Mark Nevitt is now joining Just Security’s Editorial Board. Nevitt, Commander, JAGC (ret.), is an Associate Professor of Law at Emory University School of Law. He was previously the Class of 1971 Distinguished Military Professor of Leadership & Law at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, Associate Professor at Syracuse University College of Law, and the Sharswood Fellow at the University of Pennsylvania Law School.

July 17, 2025 | Tess Bridgeman, Ryan Goodman and Megan CorrarinoRead Article

The Just Security Podcast: Trump’s Shift on Ukraine and Russia — A Conversation with Amb. Daniel Fried and Dara Massicot

President Donald Trump this week put weapons behind his growing irritation with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s intransigence on negotiations to end the war in Ukraine. Meeting at the White House with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, President Trump announced that the United States will work with European allies in NATO to send advanced weapon systems, including Patriot missile batteries, to Ukraine.

July 17, 2025 | Dara Massicot, Ambassador Daniel Fried and Viola GiengerRead Article

The Legal Fig Leaf: The US-El Salvador Detainee Diplomatic Notes

The U.S. State Department has now declassified (from the level of “confidential”) and publicly released the text of three documents pertaining to the “dirty deal” between the United States and El Salvador for the transfer and indefinite detention of alleged members of Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua and the Salvadoran gang MS-13.

July 17, 2025 | Brian FinucaneRead Article

As Georgian Regime Intensifies Crackdown, U.S. Should Support Its People

The United States soon will be without an ambassador in the country of Georgia, as Robin Dunnigan ends her tenure there, even though, for years, Georgia has been a key partner to America in a difficult neighborhood, and its population has been among the most pro-American in the region. The Georgian people still hold such views, but the government clearly tilts toward Moscow and is increasingly behaving like the Russian regime in its crackdown on the Georgian opposition and civil society.

July 17, 2025 | Ambassador (ret) Ian Kelly and David J. KramerRead Article

LITIGATION TRACKER UPDATES

July 17, 2025

Significant recent developments in Just Security’s tracker of legal challenges to Trump administration executive actions:

Visit the Litigation TrackerExecutive Action: Access to Healthcare

The Family Planning Association of Maine v. United States Department of Health and Human Services (D. Me.)

Case No. 1:25-cv-00364The Family Planning Association of Maine filed a complaint yesterday challenging the administration’s defunding of Medicaid payments to providers that also offer abortion services. The funding restrictions stem from Section 71113 of the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.” Plaintiff alleges the provision violates the Equal Protection Clause and seeks to vacate the underlying action or preliminarily enjoin its enforcement

Executive Action: Denial of Federal GrantsState of Washington v. Federal Emergency Management Agency (D. Mass.)

Case No. 1:25-cv-12006A coalition of 20 states filed a complaint yesterday challenging the administration’s termination of FEMA’s Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program. Plaintiffs argue the termination—along with the withholding and redirection of Congressionally appropriated funds—violate the Administrative Procedure Act, the Appointments Clause, the Separation of Powers, the Appropriations Clause, and the Spending Clause. They seek the program’s restoration to its pre-April 2025 status and an injunction against the use or expiration of BRIC funds for non-BRIC purposes. They also argue that the officials currently acting as FEMA senior officials lack legal authority to implement or ratify the termination.

Executive Action: Immigration Raids and Arrests

Immigrant Advocates Response Collaborative v. Department of Justice (D.D.C)

Case No. 1:25-cv-02279

Several advocacy organizations and individuals filed suit yesterday challenging ICE’s courthouse arrest policy and dismissal of immigration cases followed by immediate arrests. The plaintiffs allege the policies violate  Due Process and the Administrative Procedure Act. The complaint seeks to vacate Executive Office for Immigration Review Operating Policies and Procedures Memorandum (EOIR OPPM) 25-06, ICE Interim Arrest Guidance 11072.3, and ICE Final Arrest Memorandum 11072.4.

The Early Edition: July 17, 2025

A curated weekday guide to major news and developments over the past 24 hours. Here’s today’s news.

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July 17, 2025 | Weronika GalkaRead Today's News Roundup

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