Kilmar Abrego Garcia has returned to the United States and is facing criminal charges related to human smuggling. His situation became a significant point of contention during the Trump administration's intensified immigration enforcement efforts. Initially deported mistakenly to El Salvador, Garcia's case sparked a prolonged standoff between Trump administration officials and the courts over his return. The U.S. authorities obtained an arrest warrant from the El Salvador government, which prompted his return. He is accused of being involved in a human smuggling operation that illegally brought immigrants into the U.S. If convicted, Garcia will be deported back to El Salvador.
Attorney General Pam Bondi remarked on the return of Garcia, declaring it a reflection of American justice, while his attorneys dismissed the charges as “baseless.”
In a different development, President Donald Trump’s administration requested the Supreme Court to pause a lower court order that would reinstate nearly 1,400 Education Department employees who were dismissed in mass layoffs as part of the Trump administration’s goal to dismantle the agency. The Justice Department argued that U.S. District Judge Myong Joun overstepped his authority with the preliminary injunction reversing the layoffs, which they claim would undermine the administration's plans. Judge Joun warned that the layoffs could severely cripple the department’s operations.
Meanwhile, testifying in court, a woman referred to as "Jane" detailed her experiences with Sean "Diddy" Combs, claiming he ignored her pleas to stop engaging in drug-fueled sexual encounters, which she described as tormenting. Combs is facing charges of running a racketeering enterprise that enabled the abuse of women over two decades. He has pleaded not guilty, asserting that all the sexual activities were consensual.
In another development, law enforcement captured Grant Hardin, a former police chief and convicted killer known as the "Devil in the Ozarks," who had escaped from an Arkansas prison. After a nearly two-week manhunt, he was found 1.5 miles from the prison. Hardin, who served time for murder and rape, attempted to evade capture but was quickly apprehended by authorities. His identity was confirmed through fingerprinting, according to the Izard County Sheriff’s Office.
On the job front, U.S. employers added 139,000 jobs in May, indicating a slowdown in hiring compared to the previous month. The job growth, while above economists' forecasts, raised concerns due to a significant drop in the labor force and a decrease in the employment-to-population ratio. Healthcare and the hospitality sectors saw the most job gains, although the federal government experienced notable job losses amid Trump’s job cuts.
Health officials reported 122 additional cases of measles across the U.S., while outbreaks in Pennsylvania and Michigan have officially ended, with Texas experiencing only four new cases. The total number of confirmed measles cases in the U.S. has reached 1,168, with several other outbreaks still active in North America, particularly in Canada and Mexico.
A federal hearing in Boston highlighted the clash between state powers and President Trump's proposed overhaul of U.S. elections. Attorneys for 19 states argued that the executive order would interfere with their ability to set their own election rules, raising concerns over the implementation and associated costs. The changes could divert resources away from upcoming elections, potentially undermining public confidence in the electoral process.
Financial markets reacted positively to a better-than-anticipated jobs report on Wall Street. The S&P 500 marked a second consecutive week of gains, nearing its all-time high, while other indices, including the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the Nasdaq, also saw significant increases. Technology stocks led the rally, with companies like Nvidia and Apple showing strong performance.
Lastly, a federal appeals court delivered a partial loss to The Associated Press in its efforts to regain access to events with President Trump. The court ruled in favor of Trump, allowing a stay on a lower court's finding that the AP had been unfairly penalized for its editorial decisions. This ruling raises questions about free speech and the media's access to presidential events.
