Margaret H. Zhang
@marzhang.bsky.social
Law prof @ Widener University Delaware Law School. Reproductive justice, workplace justice, environmental justice. Philly. She/her.
Blog (legal news for new and aspiring lawyers): marzhang.wordpress.com
Blog (legal news for new and aspiring lawyers): marzhang.wordpress.com
Pinned
January 9-24, 2026
Key U.S. legal developments from the last two weeks (including, sadly, one from this morning): Immigration, immigration enforcement, and resistance The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s …
marzhang.wordpress.com
New blog post covering key U.S. legal developments from the last two weeks: marzhang.wordpress.com/2026/01/24/j...
This was ready to go this morning. And then had to be edited to include the new tragedy out of Minnesota 😭
Themes and summaries threaded below ⤵️
This was ready to go this morning. And then had to be edited to include the new tragedy out of Minnesota 😭
Themes and summaries threaded below ⤵️
Reposted by Margaret H. Zhang
A federal immigration judge has terminated deportation proceedings against Mohsen Mahdawi, a Vermont resident and pro-Palestinian activist who was detained in prison for two weeks last year.
www.vermontpublic.org/local-news/2...
www.vermontpublic.org/local-news/2...
Immigration judge dismisses deportation case against Mohsen Mahdawi
The judge ruled that the government failed to authenticate a memo from Secretary of State Marco Rubio that was used as the basis for the deportation proceedings against Mahdawi, a pro-Palestinian acti...
www.vermontpublic.org
February 17, 2026 at 11:52 PM
A federal immigration judge has terminated deportation proceedings against Mohsen Mahdawi, a Vermont resident and pro-Palestinian activist who was detained in prison for two weeks last year.
www.vermontpublic.org/local-news/2...
www.vermontpublic.org/local-news/2...
Reposted by Margaret H. Zhang
Once again, a judge sees right through the Trump Admin’s attempt to deny Kilmar Abrego Garcia his due process rights.
Make no mistake: This ruling is a win for all of our rights.
apnews.com/article/abre...
Make no mistake: This ruling is a win for all of our rights.
apnews.com/article/abre...
Federal judge rules Kilmar Abrego Garcia can’t be re-detained by immigration authorities
A federal judge has ruled that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement cannot re-detain Kilmar Abrego Garcia because a 90-day detention period has expired and the U.S. government has no viable plan f...
apnews.com
February 17, 2026 at 11:13 PM
Once again, a judge sees right through the Trump Admin’s attempt to deny Kilmar Abrego Garcia his due process rights.
Make no mistake: This ruling is a win for all of our rights.
apnews.com/article/abre...
Make no mistake: This ruling is a win for all of our rights.
apnews.com/article/abre...
Reposted by Margaret H. Zhang
🎉🎉🎉
👀 Invoking Orwell, a federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to restore panels and historical acknowledgments of the history of slavery that the National Park Service removed in Philadelphia. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
February 16, 2026 at 6:51 PM
🎉🎉🎉
Reposted by Margaret H. Zhang
"...what we’re witnessing is the express repetition of a project on the scale of the larger concentration camp systems in history—the Soviet Gulag, the Nazi concentration camps, and Chinese labor camps in the People’s Republic of China."
This is a piece you need to read and share while we can.
This is a piece you need to read and share while we can.
Building the camps
The warehouseification of detention and initial thoughts on stopping it.
degenerateart.beehiiv.com
February 12, 2026 at 5:56 PM
"...what we’re witnessing is the express repetition of a project on the scale of the larger concentration camp systems in history—the Soviet Gulag, the Nazi concentration camps, and Chinese labor camps in the People’s Republic of China."
This is a piece you need to read and share while we can.
This is a piece you need to read and share while we can.
Reposted by Margaret H. Zhang
this is a really important point. the district courts are trying to contain this administration. the circuits, by and large, are still working, with the occasional exception of the 5th, 8th, and DC circuits.
the Supreme Court is on an island. lawless and completely rogue.
the Supreme Court is on an island. lawless and completely rogue.
Our court system is largely working, with the exception of the most important court
Courts have ruled 4,400 times that ICE jailed people illegally. It hasn’t stopped.
www.reuters.com/legal/govern...
www.reuters.com/legal/govern...
February 15, 2026 at 1:30 PM
this is a really important point. the district courts are trying to contain this administration. the circuits, by and large, are still working, with the occasional exception of the 5th, 8th, and DC circuits.
the Supreme Court is on an island. lawless and completely rogue.
the Supreme Court is on an island. lawless and completely rogue.
Reposted by Margaret H. Zhang
sadly the world Communist killing record continues to be held by Communist countries by a long, long distance.
The United States has killed more communist than any other currenly existing countries on earth
February 15, 2026 at 4:13 AM
sadly the world Communist killing record continues to be held by Communist countries by a long, long distance.
Reposted by Margaret H. Zhang
Night is dark
Day is bright
If you’re within our borders
You have constitutional rights
Day is bright
If you’re within our borders
You have constitutional rights
February 15, 2026 at 2:39 AM
Night is dark
Day is bright
If you’re within our borders
You have constitutional rights
Day is bright
If you’re within our borders
You have constitutional rights
Reposted by Margaret H. Zhang
Roses are red
Violets are blue
If you’re born here
You’re a citizen too
Violets are blue
If you’re born here
You’re a citizen too
a cartoon character holding a scroll of the u.s. constitution says hello i 'm the u.s. constitution
ALT: a cartoon character holding a scroll of the u.s. constitution says hello i 'm the u.s. constitution
media.tenor.com
February 14, 2026 at 11:49 PM
Roses are red
Violets are blue
If you’re born here
You’re a citizen too
Violets are blue
If you’re born here
You’re a citizen too
Reposted by Margaret H. Zhang
this is an excellent article that breaks down all the ways Trump might try to subvert the election and the practical realities thereof
he will bluster, he will rage, he will spread conspiracy theories that damage trust in our elections… and he will lose
if you’re really worried, read it
he will bluster, he will rage, he will spread conspiracy theories that damage trust in our elections… and he will lose
if you’re really worried, read it
His attacks on the midterms are real and dangerous… and aren’t going to work. Running down the case for an optimistic threat assessment @theunpopulist.net :
Worry, Don't Panic, Over Trump's Efforts to Subvert the Elections
America's system is quite foolproof but he can still try to delegitimize it
www.theunpopulist.net
February 14, 2026 at 5:22 PM
this is an excellent article that breaks down all the ways Trump might try to subvert the election and the practical realities thereof
he will bluster, he will rage, he will spread conspiracy theories that damage trust in our elections… and he will lose
if you’re really worried, read it
he will bluster, he will rage, he will spread conspiracy theories that damage trust in our elections… and he will lose
if you’re really worried, read it
Reposted by Margaret H. Zhang
It's one thing to get a "no true bill."
It's quite another to get *shut out* in the grand jury.
It's quite another to get *shut out* in the grand jury.
No grand jurors found the Trump DOJ met low probable cause threshold in failed indictment of Democratic lawmakers
www.nbcnews.com/politics/tru...
www.nbcnews.com/politics/tru...
No grand jurors found the Trump DOJ met low probable cause threshold in failed indictment of Democratic lawmakers
None of the D.C. grand jurors who heard the Trump administration’s pitch on why they should indict Democratic lawmakers over a video urging members of the
www.nbcnews.com
February 11, 2026 at 9:50 PM
It's one thing to get a "no true bill."
It's quite another to get *shut out* in the grand jury.
It's quite another to get *shut out* in the grand jury.
Reposted by Margaret H. Zhang
I know it's cringe to be like "we are going to win" but when you have career DOJ prosecutors flipping sides and being like "I quit two weeks ago and I'm ready to burn this bitch to the ground" I don't know what else to say
Don Lemon hires ex-U.S. prosecutor who quit amid concerns over investigation into Renee Good's killing
Joseph H. Thompson left as an assistant U.S. attorney based in Minnesota amid concerns over the Trump administration's handling of the investigation into the killing of Renee Nicole Good by an ICE off...
www.nbcnews.com
February 11, 2026 at 7:15 AM
I know it's cringe to be like "we are going to win" but when you have career DOJ prosecutors flipping sides and being like "I quit two weeks ago and I'm ready to burn this bitch to the ground" I don't know what else to say
Reposted by Margaret H. Zhang
RULE VOTE FAILS, 217-214.
Three Republicans- Thomas Massie, Kevin Kiley, and Don Bacon - buck the party to allow floor consideration of measures to end Trump's tariffs.
The first such measure, likely on Canada tariffs, could come up as soon as tomorrow
Three Republicans- Thomas Massie, Kevin Kiley, and Don Bacon - buck the party to allow floor consideration of measures to end Trump's tariffs.
The first such measure, likely on Canada tariffs, could come up as soon as tomorrow
Republicans have been holding this vote open for 40 minutes or so, but the holdouts- Massie, Kiley, Bacon, reportedly left the Capitol. The absent Republican is Greg Murphy (R-NC), who has missed a lot of time since a mid December surgery.
Not clear why Johnson is still holding this vote open
Not clear why Johnson is still holding this vote open
February 11, 2026 at 2:57 AM
RULE VOTE FAILS, 217-214.
Three Republicans- Thomas Massie, Kevin Kiley, and Don Bacon - buck the party to allow floor consideration of measures to end Trump's tariffs.
The first such measure, likely on Canada tariffs, could come up as soon as tomorrow
Three Republicans- Thomas Massie, Kevin Kiley, and Don Bacon - buck the party to allow floor consideration of measures to end Trump's tariffs.
The first such measure, likely on Canada tariffs, could come up as soon as tomorrow
Reposted by Margaret H. Zhang
Reposted by Margaret H. Zhang
“Four of my children just evaporated,” Badran said, holding back tears. “I looked for them a million times. Not a piece was left. Where did they go?”
There are no words to adequately describe the evil here.
There are no words to adequately describe the evil here.
Israel used weapons in Gaza that made thousands of Palestinians evaporate
US-made thermal weapons burning at 3,500C caused 2,842 people to "evaporate" in Gaza, Al Jazeera investigation finds.
www.aljazeera.com
February 10, 2026 at 10:29 PM
“Four of my children just evaporated,” Badran said, holding back tears. “I looked for them a million times. Not a piece was left. Where did they go?”
There are no words to adequately describe the evil here.
There are no words to adequately describe the evil here.
Reposted by Margaret H. Zhang
The framers were wrong about a lot of stuff but they were definitely onto something with juries
More details here:
“Federal prosecutors …
sought and failed on Tuesday to secure an indictment against six Democratic lawmakers who posted a video this fall that enraged President Trump …
who demanded that the lawmakers be punished and even suggested that they should be executed.”
“Federal prosecutors …
sought and failed on Tuesday to secure an indictment against six Democratic lawmakers who posted a video this fall that enraged President Trump …
who demanded that the lawmakers be punished and even suggested that they should be executed.”
Grand Jury Rebuffs Justice Dept. Attempt to Indict 6 Democrats in Congress
www.nytimes.com
February 11, 2026 at 1:58 AM
The framers were wrong about a lot of stuff but they were definitely onto something with juries
Reposted by Margaret H. Zhang
We have juries in the US because it is a bulwark against government overreach. Don’t blow off jury duty.
NEWS
The Trump administration tried and failed on Tuesday to secure an indictment in connection with a video featuring six Democratic lawmakers urging members of the military and intelligence communities not to comply with unlawful orders.
Full Story: nbcnews.to/4r4Ts3v
The Trump administration tried and failed on Tuesday to secure an indictment in connection with a video featuring six Democratic lawmakers urging members of the military and intelligence communities not to comply with unlawful orders.
Full Story: nbcnews.to/4r4Ts3v
February 11, 2026 at 2:17 AM
We have juries in the US because it is a bulwark against government overreach. Don’t blow off jury duty.
Reposted by Margaret H. Zhang
Apparently you are allowed to remind troops to follow lawful orders: www.ms.now/news/grand-j...
Grand jury rejects sedition charges against Democratic senators
A grand jury refused to indict Mark Kelly and Elissa Slotkin over a video the president called seditious, delivering a blow to a prosecution Trump publicly demanded.
www.ms.now
February 11, 2026 at 2:27 AM
Apparently you are allowed to remind troops to follow lawful orders: www.ms.now/news/grand-j...
Reposted by Margaret H. Zhang
BONUS RULING: Judge Thomas Johnston, a George W. Bush appoiintee in West Virginia, used a recent ruling to warn of the dangers of defying due process for immigrants because of what it could also mean for Americans. It's worth a read.
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
February 10, 2026 at 11:48 AM
BONUS RULING: Judge Thomas Johnston, a George W. Bush appoiintee in West Virginia, used a recent ruling to warn of the dangers of defying due process for immigrants because of what it could also mean for Americans. It's worth a read.
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
This was very comprehensive.
How the Trump administration skirts — and defies — court rulings on ICE detentions
How the Trump administration skirts — and defies — court rulings on ICE detentions
A POLITICO review of hundreds of cases brought by ICE detainees shows a pattern of noncompliance that has frustrated judges across the country.
dlvr.it
February 10, 2026 at 12:29 PM
This was very comprehensive.
Reposted by Margaret H. Zhang
This is an eloquent statement on the place of religion in a free society and the rights of non-citizens.
Tomorrow I will testify before subcommittee of House Judiciary Committee against the proposed "Preserving a Sharia-Free America Act," which would authorize exclusion/deportation of all or most non-citizen Muslim immigrants. My written testimony posted here: reason.com/wp-content/u...
reason.com
February 10, 2026 at 10:26 AM
This is an eloquent statement on the place of religion in a free society and the rights of non-citizens.
Reposted by Margaret H. Zhang
The lawless killing spree at sea continues.
As usual, the "designated terrorist organization" supposedly operating the vessel is unidentified.
And based on recent history, the likelihood that the USG successfully rescues the survivor seems low.
Real killing in a make believe armed conflict.
As usual, the "designated terrorist organization" supposedly operating the vessel is unidentified.
And based on recent history, the likelihood that the USG successfully rescues the survivor seems low.
Real killing in a make believe armed conflict.
February 10, 2026 at 1:07 AM
The lawless killing spree at sea continues.
As usual, the "designated terrorist organization" supposedly operating the vessel is unidentified.
And based on recent history, the likelihood that the USG successfully rescues the survivor seems low.
Real killing in a make believe armed conflict.
As usual, the "designated terrorist organization" supposedly operating the vessel is unidentified.
And based on recent history, the likelihood that the USG successfully rescues the survivor seems low.
Real killing in a make believe armed conflict.
Reposted by Margaret H. Zhang
An immigration court dropped its case against Turkish graduate student Rumeysa Ozturk, a little less than a year after federal agents arrested her on a street near Tufts University
Immigration Court Drops Case Against Tufts Student Rumeysa Ozturk
The Turkish national had been arrested by plainclothes federal officers outside her apartment.
on.wsj.com
February 9, 2026 at 11:53 PM
An immigration court dropped its case against Turkish graduate student Rumeysa Ozturk, a little less than a year after federal agents arrested her on a street near Tufts University
To all my fellow survivors of childhood trauma or there, you know that this administration's horrors will live on in the poor kids as they grow up. I can only hope that all of them have the support they need to heal. 😥
Super Bowl viewers Sunday speculated that 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos appeared in the halftime show. In fact, he has been in hiding with his family.
“He can’t sleep well at night. He wakes up three or four times a night screaming, ‘Daddy, Daddy,’” Liam's father Adrian Conejo Arias, said.
“He can’t sleep well at night. He wakes up three or four times a night screaming, ‘Daddy, Daddy,’” Liam's father Adrian Conejo Arias, said.
‘He’s not the same’: Father of Liam Conejo Ramos says 5-year-old continues to suffer
Some people thought they say the 5-year-old during the Super Bowl halftime show. But Liam is still in hiding with his family, after he and his father were detained and then released from a Texas deten...
www.mprnews.org
February 10, 2026 at 2:33 AM
To all my fellow survivors of childhood trauma or there, you know that this administration's horrors will live on in the poor kids as they grow up. I can only hope that all of them have the support they need to heal. 😥
Reposted by Margaret H. Zhang
All the people who say we need good billionaires should be up in arms about this.
Jimmy Lai, Hong Kong's pro-democracy media mogul, sentenced to 20 years in prison
Jimmy Lai, Hong Kong's pro-democracy media mogul, sentenced to 20 years in prison
At age 78, the vocal critic of the Chinese Communist Party was sentenced to jail on Monday under the national security law. The businessman headed the media group Next Digital and was a influential figure of Hong Kong's pro-democracy camp.
www.lemonde.fr
February 9, 2026 at 11:02 AM
All the people who say we need good billionaires should be up in arms about this.