February 9

Ninth Circuit lets Trump end TPS for 60,000 Honduras, Nepal, and Nicaragua holders

A three-judge Ninth Circuit panel on February 9, 2026, granted the Trump administration's request to stay a district court order that had blocked the termination of Temporary Protected Status for approximately 60,000 holders from Honduras, Nepal, and Nicaragua. The stay lifted a December 31, 2025 district court vacatur, immediately reinstating the TPS terminations and revoking work authorization for affected holders while the merits appeal continues. USCIS updated its TPS pages to reflect that status had terminated.

Olympian Chloe Kim defends teammate Hess after Trump calls him a loser over immigration comments

Olympic snowboarder Chloe Kim publicly defended freestyle skier Hunter Hess on February 9, 2026, after President Trump called Hess "a real Loser" on Truth Social. Hess had told reporters at the Winter Olympics in Milan that representing the US "brings up mixed emotions" given immigration enforcement actions — a statement Trump mischaracterized as refusing to represent the country. Kim, whose parents are Korean immigrants, said athletes have a right to voice opinions and urged teammates to "lead with love and compassion."

Trump threatens to block Gordie Howe Bridge opening over Canada trade dispute

President Trump threatened on February 9, 2026 to block the opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge connecting Detroit, Michigan to Windsor, Ontario, demanding full compensation before the structure opens. The cable-stayed bridge stretches 1.5 miles and was financed entirely by Canada at a cost of $5.7 billion, including the US-side approach. Major construction was complete with a 2026 opening planned. Trump cited DHS border staffing as a potential lever, though no clear legal authority was identified.

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Trump excludes Democratic governors from NGA White House meeting, breaking 88-year tradition

The Trump White House announced in early February 2026 that it would invite only Republican governors to the annual National Governors Association meeting at the White House, breaking a bipartisan tradition dating to 1938. The NGA responded by canceling its formal meeting with the White House entirely. Maryland Governor Wes Moore and Colorado Governor Jared Polis were specifically excluded; Moore, the nation's only Black governor and NGA vice chair, noted the exclusion carried added weight. Eighteen Democratic governors announced a boycott of the White House dinner.

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Minnesota ICE enforcement triggers public health crisis at Twin Cities hospitals

Healthcare workers at Twin Cities hospitals documented a public health crisis driven by Operation Metro Surge, reporting ICE agents entering facilities without warrants, handcuffing patients to beds, covering security cameras, and detaining a healthcare worker at M Health Fairview Southdale. Immigrant patients, legal residents, and citizens stopped seeking medical care out of fear of detention, with one OB-GYN reporting increased requests for home births. Medical residents at multiple hospitals declared a public health emergency requiring immediate policy response.

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Maxwell pleads Fifth before Congress and offers to testify if Trump grants clemency

Ghislaine Maxwell appeared before the House Oversight Committee on February 9, 2026, invoking her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination on every question. Her attorney David Oscar Markus announced she would testify "fully and honestly" about Jeffrey Epstein's network only if President Trump granted her clemency. Committee Chair James Comer rejected the offer, and the White House said clemency was not under consideration.

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Rep. Brandon Gill frames Dallas-area Muslim communities as 'foreign threats' to Texas

Rep. Brandon Gill described Muslim communities near Dallas with language that framed them as a foreign intrusion in Texas civic life. The remarks targeted Muslim and Pakistani communities and connected their public presence to a fear-based political narrative.

Massie and Khanna review unredacted Epstein files at DOJ

Reps. Thomas Massie and Ro Khanna reviewed unredacted Epstein files at the Justice Department under the controlled reading-room process. After the review, they criticized DOJ redactions and said the public release still hid names that Congress could see in the unredacted material.

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