April 10, 2026 — Timeline — Standing Record

Apr 10

DOJ fires six immigration judges, including two who blocked deportations of Öztürk and Mahdawi

The Justice Department on April 10, 2026 fired six immigration judges, among them Boston judge Roopal Patel, who ruled in January that the government had no grounds to deport Tufts doctoral student Rümeysa Öztürk, and Chelmsford, Massachusetts judge Nina Froes, who in February dismissed deportation proceedings against Columbia activist Mohsen Mahdawi. Both judges were dismissed by email mid-hearing near the end of their probationary periods, in a purge in which the National Association of Immigration Judges says at least 113 of roughly 750 immigration judges have been fired since January 2025.

Apr 10

DOJ sued Washtenaw County, Michigan to strike down ICE non-cooperation policies, invoking the Supremacy Clause

On April 10, 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a civil lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan against Washtenaw County, challenging three county policies that limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. The suit, authorized by Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, invokes the Constitution's Supremacy Clause and asks the court to permanently enjoin the county from enforcing the policies. Washtenaw County said it would vigorously defend its positions in court.

Apr 10

USCIS rescinded automatic deferred-action protection for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status youth a second time via Policy Memorandum PM-602-0198

On April 10, 2026, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services issued Policy Memorandum PM-602-0198, again eliminating automatic deferred-action consideration for youth with Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) who cannot yet obtain a green card because of the visa backlog — five months after a federal court stayed the agency's first attempt to end the same policy. The rescission, effective May 10, 2026, requires SIJS-approved youth to affirmatively request deferred action rather than receive it automatically, with USCIS evaluating each request case-by-case without treating SIJS approval as a strong positive factor.

Narrowing civil-rights protections

Apr 10

DOJ implements $68M Colony Ridge settlement without court approval after judge rejects deal

At an April 10, 2026 hearing in Houston, U.S. District Judge Alfred H. Bennett refused to approve the Justice Department's proposed $68 million settlement with land developer Colony Ridge — sued in 2023 for deceiving tens of thousands of Hispanic buyers into predatory high-interest loans — because it contained no compensation for victims while earmarking more than $20 million for policing and immigration enforcement. When Bennett offered revisions to win his approval, DOJ refused, dismissed the case with prejudice, and implemented the settlement out of court, leaving no judicial supervision of compliance and extinguishing the victims' claims.

Apr 10

Idaho Gov. Little signed HB 822 requiring schools and doctors to report minors' social transitions to parents

On April 10, 2026, Idaho Gov. Brad Little signed House Bill 822, the "Pediatric Secretive Transitions Parental Rights Act," which requires schools, healthcare providers, and childcare entities to notify a minor's parents within three days of any request by the minor to use a different name, pronouns, restroom, or sports team consistent with a gender identity different from their biological sex, and bars those entities from facilitating a social transition without written parental consent. Violations carry civil fines of up to $100,000 enforced by the attorney general, along with exposure to damages and adverse licensure action. The law took effect July 1, 2026.

Apr 10

Kansas Legislature overrode veto to enact 25-foot police buffer law and expanded local ICE detention authority

On April 10, 2026, the Kansas Legislature voted to override Gov. Laura Kelly's veto and enact House Bill 2372, the "Halo Act," making it a misdemeanor to come within 25 feet of a law enforcement or first-responder officer performing official duties. Senate President Ty Masterson said the buffer would protect officers and bystanders, while critics including the Kansas Press Association warned the vague standard would be used to obstruct journalists and bystanders from documenting police and ICE conduct.