Today's rays of light
2017-01-31 15:21:15.510422+00 by Dan Lyke 0 comments
Edit and addendum: Please read the post above this one first. If you came here from the Facebook post, you probably already did.
Yesterday I whined about all of the negativity on social media, so this morning have a big dose of good news:
Ali Khoshbakhti Vayeghan, Petitioner, v. Kelly, et al., Respondents (PDF):
On January 28, 2017, Petitioner Vayeghan filed a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus and Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief, an Order to Show Cause re Preliminary Injunction, and an Ex Parte Application for Temporary Restraining Order (“TRO”) staying his removal from the United States, and ordering his release from the custody of the Department of Homeland Security. [Doc. ##1, 2.] Before the Court could rule on the TRO, he was placed on a flight to Dubai to be removed to Iran. On January 29, 2017, he filed an Amended Ex Parte Application for Temporary Restraining Order (“Amended TRO”), which is currently before the Court. [Doc. # 4.]
Or, as Tom Lowenthal summarized on Twitter:
“You illegally deported that man in violation of my order so you are going to go over there and GET HIM BACK.”
—LA federal judge
American becomes Iranian traveler's hero as he enters U.S. during ban. When the opportunity presents itself, may we all be brave enough to stand up as Barbara Berger did. And, yes, may we all continue to support the ACLU so that they're there to back us up when we're needing to defend the Constitution.
Speaking of the Constitution, similarly, may we find heroes in government willing to stand up for it and the separation of powers the way Acting Attorney General Sally Yates did: Trump fires acting AG after she declines to defend travel ban
And kudos to 538: Tracking Congress In The Age Of Trump: An updating tally of how often every member of the House and the Senate votes with or against the president. Note that they rank not just by voting in-line with Trump's position, but sub-rank based on how far the person's expected position is from Trump's position. Our very own Dianne Feinstein, Democrat from California, leads the pack.
Finally, bookmark https://phonecongress.com/