Migrant Control Technologies Threaten Free Movement
By Caleb Harrison As the climate deteriorates and people around the world increasingly need to migrate, the United States (“US”) seeks to develop and implement migration control technologies like migrant databases and facial recognition technologies (“FRTs”) that threaten free movement.[1] For example, the US has recently begun implementing its “Extreme
Is the Trump Administrations Seizure of Syrian Oil a War Crime?
By Mike Franken In the past weeks, there have been numerous articles condemning President Trump’s securing of oil fields in southeastern Syria amidst the United States withdrawal from the conflict.[1] Further, there has been discussion on whether or not these acts are war crimes under the United States War Crimes
The Tentative Resolution of the “Ayodhya Dispute” Signals More Turmoil in India’s Future
By Amanda Tesarek On November 9, 2019, a group of lawyers huddled outside the Indian Supreme Court began to cheer, “Jai Shri Ram”[1] ; after a long legal battle, a unanimous verdict now declared a perennially-disputed 2.77-acre parcel of land in Ayodhya as the birthplace of the Hindu god Rama
Brazil’s Major Constitutional Questions Remain in Flux Following Lula’s Release from Prison
By Ryan Rainey On Nov. 8, a Brazilian judge ordered the release of former President Luiz Inácio “Lula” da Silva from a federal prison.[1] The order followed a decision from Brazil’s highest court to allow criminal defendants to avoid imprisonment while they await the outcome of their appeals.[2] Lula’s criminal
Will We Always Have Paris? President Trump Begins Formal Process of U.S. Withdrawal from the Paris Agreement
By Jenna Jonjua On Monday, November 4, 2019, the Trump administration served notice of U.S. withdrawal from the Paris Agreement to the United Nation.[1] In doing so, the U.S., only second in greenhouse gas emissions[2], begins the process of breaking from nearly every other country on the planet, a group
The US Sanctions Regime and Human Rights in Iran
By Elizabeth Frazier The Trump administration withdrew from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in May 2018, reimposing a sanctions regime on Iran in the months that followed.[1] In contrast to economic sanctions authorized by the UN Security Council under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, unilateral sanctions are
Trump is not the first to offer to purchase Greenland, but territorial acquisition in the modern day has changed
By: Jacky Arness In August of this year, President Donald Trump made an offer to purchase Greenland from Denmark.[1] Though the ensuing conduct of the President was, arguably, absurd,[2] this is not the first time that the United States has attempted to acquire the world’s largest island.[3] In fact, such
Canadian Federal Election Could Close “Legal Loophole” in Canada–United States Safe Third Country Agreement
By Scott May On September 11, 2019, Governor General Julie Payette dissolved the Canadian Parliament on the advice of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, initiating a six-week political sprint to the federal election on October 21, when Canadians from Québec to British Columbia will cast their ballots to decide which party
Children of Service Members May No Longer Be Eligible for Automatic Citizenship
By Lauren Russ In August, President Trump renewed fears of an attack on Birthright Citizenship when he confirmed at a press conference that he is “seriously” considering ending[1] the Constitutionally protected right to citizenship for individuals born in the United States. [2] While the President has not yet acted on
In Push by Pentagon’s Non-Lethal Weapons Office for Implementation of New Tools There is Benefit in Mentioning Legal Framework
By Brennan Lee Non-Lethal Weapons (NLW) “are explicitly designed and primarily employed so as to incapacitate personnel or materiel, while minimizing fatalities, permanent injury to personnel, and undesired damage to property and the environment.”[1] Despite the name, Non-Lethal Weapons do not include “any complete assurance against lethal effects of the