Amicus With Dahlia Lithwick | Law, justice, and the courts

Trump’s Unconstitutional Rampage Against Immigration

Jan 25, 2025

Dahlia Lithwick is joined by Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, a Senior Fellow and immigration policy expert at the American Immigration Council. They dive into the whirlwind of executive orders from Trump that aim to reshape immigration law. Aaron highlights how these policies threaten vulnerable groups, particularly immigrants and asylum seekers, and discusses the constitutional implications at play. They also explore the tensions between humanitarian values and harsh rhetoric, emphasizing the critical role of advocacy in these tumultuous times.

01:05:51

Episode guests

Aaron Reichlin-Melnick

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

The podcast discusses the sweeping implications of Trump's immigration executive orders, which create fear among vulnerable populations like asylum seekers.

An exploration of the contentious legal interpretations surrounding executive authority reveals a complicated balance of power between the presidency and Congress.

Concerns about militarization of immigration enforcement highlight potential violations of the Posse Comitatus Act and emphasize the need for community-driven pushback.

Deep dives

Price Cuts in Response to Competition

Mint Mobile has responded to the market pressures and inflation increases by significantly cutting the price of its Unlimited plan from $30 to $15 per month. This decision was directly influenced by a conversation with legal experts regarding the legality of raising prices under existing contracts with consumers. By undercutting competitors, Mint Mobile aims to attract new customers and establish a stronger foothold in the budget wireless market. The move reflects a strategic pivot to provide value in an industry often criticized for high costs.

Intro

2min

Trump's Immigration Policy Impact

16min

Navigating Immigration and Environmental Challenges in a New Era

2min

Military and Immigration Enforcement: A Controversial Intersection

21min

Justice in Tumult: Government and Immigration Reform

10min

Legal Community's Response to Immigration Challenges

11min

Navigating Cynicism and Aspiration in Immigration Advocacy

4min

It’s barely been a week and the torrent of horrible coming from the pens and mouth of President Trump is staggering. Many of the executive orders signed this week focus on immigration, and that is where we have our eyes trained as well. This week, to help us make sense of the whirlwind that threatens to upend the lives of millions of people Dahlia Lithwick talks to Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, Senior Fellow and former policy director at the American Immigration Council, a pro-immigrant nonprofit aiming to defend immigrants through litigation, advocacy, and more. Not all executive orders are created equal, and so Aaron leads us through what’s constitutionally possible, legally probable, and already swinging into action from Trump’s immigration edicts.

Aaron’s post about Bishop Mariann Edgar-Bunne: https://bsky.app/profile/reichlinmelnick.bsky.social/post/3lgdojbbjvk2y

Amicus’s October episode on the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 with Katherine Yon Ebright,

American Immigration Council: After Day One: A High-Level Analysis of Trump's First Executive Actions

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