The 2015 Clean Water Rule, also known as the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) Rule, clarified and expanded the Federal Government’s authority to protect the nation’s waterways and water resources from pollution. Finalized under the Obama Administration, WOTUS extended Federal protection to smaller bodies of water such as streams, rivers, and wetlands, which previously had been vulnerable to pollution due to the lack of clarity in existing laws. The 2015 rule faced a barrage of lawsuits immediately after it was issued. As a result of these court challenges, the rule has been in effect in only 22 States, the…

The United States had a long-standing tradition of accepting immigrants fleeing political oppression, religious persecution, or violence through what’s known as the asylum process. Under existing policy, migrants must either present themselves to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) while crossing the border or request asylum if they are arrested. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services then holds a hearing to determine if they meet the criteria for asylum. As part of an attempt to limit immigration through the southern border, the Trump Administration in July issued a rule saying migrants cannot seek asylum in the United States if they have…