Republicans reduce economic support for Trump over war with Iran

New banking rules against immigrants without status

Donald Trump’s government announced a new immigration tightening. Starting this Monday, banking regulators will issue guidelines for financial institutions to better monitor loans granted to people without work permits.

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and the National Credit Union Association will remind banks and credit unions of their “know your customer” obligations. They will be recommended to more rigorously evaluate the applicants’ ability to pay, considering the risk that deportation will prevent them from meeting financial obligations.

The federal government does not explicitly order closing accounts or denying credit. But he maintains that this group represents a greater risk due to the uncertainty about their permanence in the country. There is no precise data on how many people without legal status maintain accounts or credit in the US.

Measures that are already underway

This action is part of the executive order that Trump signed in May. He instructed regulatory agencies to review the citizenship and immigration status of bank customers in more detail. That same month, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) issued an advisory to detect possible identity theft, tax fraud and money laundering related to hiring people without work authorization.

Additionally, in November the Treasury Department announced that certain refundable tax credits will be considered federal public benefits. That would prevent some immigrant taxpayers from receiving them. Specialists warn that the measure could also affect beneficiaries of the DACA program and people with Temporary Protected Status (TPS).

The death of Republican Senator Lindsey Graham represents a severe setback for Ukraine. kyiv loses one of its biggest defenders in Washington, a figure with direct access to President Donald Trump. Ukrainian lawmakers and officials expressed concern about the impact his absence will have on the bilateral relationship, at a critical time in the war with Russia.

Graham visited kyiv just two days before his death. There he assured that a new package of economic sanctions against Russia was close to being finalized. The initiative, promoted together with Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal, sought to increase pressure on Moscow. Graham hoped to gain congressional support upon his return.

Reactions and legacy

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy deeply mourned the loss. He recalled that they maintained a constant dialogue and that Graham visited Ukraine ten times since the beginning of the Russian invasion. Other officials called him an unwavering friend and a staunch defender of the Ukrainian cause.

Analysts believe that its disappearance could weaken Ukraine’s ability to influence the Trump administration. Graham was seen as the main bridge between Zelenskyy and the US president, especially given the uncertainty about the future of US military and economic support.

Despite his closeness to Trump, Graham maintained firm positions in favor of Ukraine, NATO and a policy of greater pressure against Russia. His allies in the Senate, including Blumenthal, indicated that they will seek to move forward with the sanctions package as a tribute to his legacy. Graham’s death is not only a personal loss for many in Ukraine, but it raises questions about American support at a decisive moment in the conflict.

The incident in Biddeford

An immigration operation in Biddeford, Maine, ended in tragedy this Monday. An ICE agent shot a driver who, according to authorities, tried to run over the officers during an attempted deportation arrest.

The man was identified by civil organizations as a 26-year-old Colombian citizen. He had a work permit and Social Security number. His family claims that he was on his way to work when the incident occurred and demands a transparent investigation.

Senator Angus King reported that the Secretary of Homeland Security explained that the driver used his vehicle as a weapon when trying to escape. The officers were not wearing body cameras, which will make it difficult to clarify whether the action was justified. The FBI is already investigating the facts.

Hours later, dozens of demonstrators gathered near the site to protest against the Trump administration’s immigration policies. With banners, they condemned the use of force in operations and called for a stop to mass deportations.

This is the second case in a week in which an ICE agent used deadly force. The fact revives the debate about transparency and accountability in this type of operations.