Health & Human Services

A federal judge ordered U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services on Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025, to resume considering deferred action (deportation protection) and work permits for youths with Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, after the Trump administration rescinded the 2022 program in June. The ruling by U.S. District Judge Eric Komitee requires USCIS to accept applications from new and existing SIJS designees while the lawsuit proceeds, affecting eligible immigrant youth nationwide, including in the Twin Cities.

After the federal shutdown prompted USDA to pause SNAP disbursements and initially push a roughly 65% partial‑payment plan, a coalition of states sued and district judges in Rhode Island and Massachusetts ordered USDA to use contingency and other funds to provide full November benefits. The 1st Circuit upheld the lower‑court order requiring full funding (after a brief Supreme Court stay), leaving some states that already issued full payments in limbo as the Supreme Court prepares to decide whether the administration may enforce the 65% cap.