Story perspectives

Judge Denies Restraining Order on $1.8B Anti-Weaponization Fund

8/22/2026

Summary

Leon Denies Restraining

U.S. District Judge Richard Leon denied a restraining order blocking the $1.8 billion Anti-Weaponization Fund.
Attorney General Todd Blanche said the fund is not moving forward, but CREW says the settlement remains active.
CREW attorney Nikhel Sus warned the fund could siphon $1.8 billion from the Treasury’s Judgment Fund.
U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams ordered U.S. President Donald Trump’s lawyers to respond to fraud claims by Friday.

Summary

Vargas Blocks Ban

Judge Jeannette Vargas ruled the visa ban violated the 1965 nationality-discrimination prohibition.
The State Department used Council of Economic Advisers data showing over 30% of immigrant households received assistance.
Six U.S. citizens sued, alleging the ban blocked family-based visas for relatives in Ghana, Jamaica, Guatemala, and Ethiopia.
An internal State Department cable instructed consular officers to refuse visas even when applicants proved self-sufficiency.

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Leon Denies Restraining

U.S. District Judge Richard Leon denied a restraining order blocking the $1.8 billion Anti-Weaponization Fund.
Attorney General Todd Blanche said the fund is not moving forward, but CREW says the settlement remains active.
CREW attorney Nikhel Sus warned the fund could siphon $1.8 billion from the Treasury’s Judgment Fund.
U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams ordered U.S. President Donald Trump’s lawyers to respond to fraud claims by Friday.

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