KANSAS CITY —A Kansas City man is facing multiple charges in connection with a fatal stabbing that occurred on Monday near East 30th Street and Mersington Avenue, according to&nbsp;Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson.

Leon J. Reese, 54, faces&nbsp;2nd Degree Murder, two counts of Armed Criminal Action, and Tampering with a Witness.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2560/Leon-Reese-PC-_Redacted">According to court records</a>, Kansas City police were dispatched near the 3000 block of Mersington Avenue on March 31 and located Kansas City Fire Department personnel rendering aid to the victim who was suffering from stab wounds to his stomach and abdomen. The victim was declared deceased.

Based on witness statements, Reese and the victim became involved in a verbal altercation, which escalated as the defendant approached the victim with a knife and stabbed him.&nbsp;

The next day, as detectives were collecting surveillance footage of the incident around the crime scene, they found Reese standing over a witness with a knife. Detectives gave verbal commands to drop the knife, and the Reese threw the knife in the direction of detectives who were then able to take him into custody. Reese&nbsp;is being held with no bond.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1743717198067.png" alt="Reese photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Reese photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —A Kansas City man is facing multiple charges in connection with a fatal stabbing that occurred on Monday near East 30th Street and Mersington Avenue, according to&nbsp;Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson.Leon J. Reese, 54, faces&nbsp;2nd Degree Murder, two counts of Armed Criminal Action, and Tampering with a Witness.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2560/Leon-Reese-PC-_Redacted">According to court records</a>, Kansas City police were dispatched near the 3000 block of Mersington Avenue on March 31 and located Kansas City Fire Department personnel rendering aid to the victim who was suffering from stab wounds to his stomach and abdomen. The victim was declared deceased.Based on witness statements, Reese and the victim became involved in a verbal altercation, which escalated as the defendant approached the victim with a knife and stabbed him.&nbsp;The next day, as detectives were collecting surveillance footage of the incident around the crime scene, they found Reese standing over a witness with a knife. Detectives gave verbal commands to drop the knife, and the Reese threw the knife in the direction of detectives who were then able to take him into custody. Reese&nbsp;is being held with no bond.&nbsp;

Police: KC murder suspect threatened witness with a knife

OSAGE COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a Kansas woman on drug allegations.

Just before 5:30 p.m. April 2, a Sheriff’s Office Investigator conducted a traffic stop in the 700 block of Market Street in Osage City for a traffic violation, according to Osage County Sheriff Chris Wells.

During the stop, the deputy found illegal narcotics.

Julie A. Roach, 44, of Osage City was taken into custody and transported to the Osage County Jail Facility on requested charges of Possession of methamphetamine, Possession of marijuana and No drug tax stamp.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1743685449952.png" alt="Roach photo Osage County" />
 <figcaption>Roach photo Osage County</figcaption>
 </figure>OSAGE COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a Kansas woman on drug allegations.Just before 5:30 p.m. April 2, a Sheriff’s Office Investigator conducted a traffic stop in the 700 block of Market Street in Osage City for a traffic violation, according to Osage County Sheriff Chris Wells.During the stop, the deputy found illegal narcotics.Julie A. Roach, 44, of Osage City was taken into custody and transported to the Osage County Jail Facility on requested charges of Possession of methamphetamine, Possession of marijuana and No drug tax stamp.

Kansas woman jailed for allegedly selling drugs

KANSAS CITY —One person died in an accident just before 11:30p.m. Friday in Kansas City.

A Ford Fusion was eastbound from 71 Highway on Gregory Boulevard, according to KCPD Captain Jake Becchina. The car traveled straight into a large tree located at Gregory and South Agnes Avenue,

The sole occupant was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased a few minutes later, according to Becchina.&nbsp; Police did not release the name of the victim.

KANSAS CITY —One person died in an accident just before 11:30p.m. Friday in Kansas City.A Ford Fusion was eastbound from 71 Highway on Gregory Boulevard, according to KCPD Captain Jake Becchina. The car traveled straight into a large tree located at Gregory and South Agnes Avenue,The sole occupant was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased a few minutes later, according to Becchina.&nbsp; Police did not release the name of the victim.

KCPD: Man dead after car strikes a large tree

WASHINGTON (AP) —Opponents of President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;and billionaire&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/elon-musk">Elon Musk</a>&nbsp;rallied across the U.S. on Saturday to protest&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/projects/trump-campaign-promise-tracker/">the administration's actions</a>&nbsp;on government downsizing, the economy, human rights and other issues.

More than 1,200 “Hands Off!” demonstrations were planned by more than 150 groups, including civil rights organizations, labor unions, LBGTQ+ advocates, veterans and elections activists. The protest sites included the National Mall in Washington, D.C., state capitols and other locations in all 50 states.

Protesters assailed the Trump administration's moves to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-doge-veterans-64722f96984f1b730fea88278f6bc93f">fire thousands of federal workers</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/social-security-offices-closures-doge-trump-b2b1a5b2ba4fb968abc3379bf90715ff">close Social Security Administration field offices</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/usaid-federal-judge-trump-administration-bdc919a5d98eda5ab72a32fdfe2f147d">effectively shutter entire agencies</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-deportations-el-salvador-justice-contempt-6085e64a04b5d6455f368175af83e724">deport immigrants</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/transgender-visibility-trump-orders-2f949cdab2673e3becdfc3d213158aa9">scale back protections for transgender people</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-covid-federal-money-lawsuit-restraining-order-hhs-4d534b9f04389161f71e3bc541e87d7a">cut federal funding for health programs</a>.

Musk, a Trump adviser who owns Tesla, SpaceX and the social media platform X, has played a key role in government downsizing as the head of the newly created Department of Government Efficiency. He says he is saving taxpayers billions of dollars.

Kelley Robinson, president of the Human Rights Campaign advocacy group, spoke at the Washington protest, criticizing the Trump administration's treatment of the LBGTQ+ community.

“The attacks that we’re seeing, they’re not just political. They are personal, y’all,” she said. “They’re trying to ban our books, they’re slashing HIV prevention funding, they’re criminalizing our doctors, our teachers, our families and our lives. This is Donald Trump’s America and I don’t want it y’all. We don’t want this America, y’all. We want the America we deserve, where dignity, safety and freedom belong not to some of us, but to all of us.”

Thousands of people marched in New York City's midtown Manhattan. In Massachusetts thousands more gathered on Boston Common holding signs including “Hands off our democracy,” “Hands off our Social Security” and “Diversity equity inclusion makes America strong. Hands off!”

In Ohio, hundreds rallied in the rain at the Statehouse in Columbus.

Roger Broom, 66, a retiree from Delaware County, Ohio, said at the Columbus rally that he used to be a Reagan Republican but has been turned off by Trump.

“He’s tearing this country apart,” Broom said. “It’s just an administration of grievances.”

Hundreds of people also demonstrated in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, a few miles from Trump's golf course in Jupiter, where he spent the morning at the club's Senior Club Championship. People lined both sides of PGA Drive, encouraging cars to honk and chanting slogans against Trump.

Archer Moran from Port St. Lucie, Florida, said, “They need to keep their hands off of our Social Security."

“The list of what they need to keep their hands off of is too long,” Moran said. “And it's amazing how soon these protests are happening since he’s taken office.”

The president plans to go golfing again Sunday, according to the White House.

Asked about the protests, the White House said in a statement that “President Trump’s position is clear: he will always protect Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid for eligible beneficiaries. Meanwhile, the Democrats’ stance is giving Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicare benefits to illegal aliens, which will bankrupt these programs and crush American seniors.”

Activists have staged&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/50501-protests-project-2025-trump-state-capitols-ddd341171a54ba9b498cbfe7530e18ab">nationwide demonstrations</a>&nbsp;against Trump or Musk multiple times since&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-inauguration-scene-rotunda-republicans-second-term-618e452b9e8fe294095937b27816d21a">Trump returned to office.</a>&nbsp;But the opposition movement has yet to produce a mass mobilization like the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/de267a3227574cb182b953cb60e69ae2">Women's March in 2017</a>, which brought thousands of women to Washington, D.C., after Trump's first inauguration, or the Black Lives Matter&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mo-state-wire-in-state-wire-mi-state-wire-minneapolis-virus-outbreak-55933b8695e36337a6bfe96728b3e7f3">demonstrations that erupted in multiple cities</a>&nbsp;after George Floyd's killing in 2020.

In Charlotte, North Carolina, protesters said they were supporting a variety of causes, from Social Security and education to immigration and women's reproductive rights.

“Regardless of your party, regardless of who you voted for, what’s going on today, what’s happening today is abhorrent,” said Britt Castillo, 35, of Charlotte. "It’s disgusting and as broken as our current system might be, the way that the current administration is going about trying to fix things — it is not the way to do it. They’re not listening to the people."

“All they’re doing is making sure that they have a parachute for them and their rich friends, and everybody else here that lives here — that makes the gears turn for this country — are just screwed at the end of the day,” she said.

Associated Press writers Julie Carr Smyth in Columbus, Ohio, and Fatima Hussein in West Palm Beach, Florida, and video journalist Guillermo Gonzalez in Charlotte, North Carolina, contributed to this report.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1743876858648.png" alt="Image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —Opponents of President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;and billionaire&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/elon-musk">Elon Musk</a>&nbsp;rallied across the U.S. on Saturday to protest&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/projects/trump-campaign-promise-tracker/">the administration's actions</a>&nbsp;on government downsizing, the economy, human rights and other issues.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1743886007749.jpeg" alt="Protesters in Hays, Kansas on Saturday-&nbsp;Photo By Tony Guerrero/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Protesters in Hays, Kansas on Saturday-&nbsp;Photo By Tony Guerrero/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>More than 1,200 “Hands Off!” demonstrations were planned by more than 150 groups, including civil rights organizations, labor unions, LBGTQ+ advocates, veterans and elections activists. The protest sites included the National Mall in Washington, D.C., state capitols and other locations in all 50 states.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1743885445533.jpeg" alt="Protesters in Hays, Kansas on Saturday-&nbsp;Photo By Tony Guerrero/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Protesters in Hays, Kansas on Saturday-&nbsp;Photo By Tony Guerrero/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>Protesters assailed the Trump administration's moves to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-doge-veterans-64722f96984f1b730fea88278f6bc93f">fire thousands of federal workers</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/social-security-offices-closures-doge-trump-b2b1a5b2ba4fb968abc3379bf90715ff">close Social Security Administration field offices</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/usaid-federal-judge-trump-administration-bdc919a5d98eda5ab72a32fdfe2f147d">effectively shutter entire agencies</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-deportations-el-salvador-justice-contempt-6085e64a04b5d6455f368175af83e724">deport immigrants</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/transgender-visibility-trump-orders-2f949cdab2673e3becdfc3d213158aa9">scale back protections for transgender people</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-covid-federal-money-lawsuit-restraining-order-hhs-4d534b9f04389161f71e3bc541e87d7a">cut federal funding for health programs</a>.Musk, a Trump adviser who owns Tesla, SpaceX and the social media platform X, has played a key role in government downsizing as the head of the newly created Department of Government Efficiency. He says he is saving taxpayers billions of dollars.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1743885930456.png" alt="Image from HandsOff2025 video" />
 <figcaption>Image from HandsOff2025 video</figcaption>
 </figure>Kelley Robinson, president of the Human Rights Campaign advocacy group, spoke at the Washington protest, criticizing the Trump administration's treatment of the LBGTQ+ community.“The attacks that we’re seeing, they’re not just political. They are personal, y’all,” she said. “They’re trying to ban our books, they’re slashing HIV prevention funding, they’re criminalizing our doctors, our teachers, our families and our lives. This is Donald Trump’s America and I don’t want it y’all. We don’t want this America, y’all. We want the America we deserve, where dignity, safety and freedom belong not to some of us, but to all of us.”Thousands of people marched in New York City's midtown Manhattan. In Massachusetts thousands more gathered on Boston Common holding signs including “Hands off our democracy,” “Hands off our Social Security” and “Diversity equity inclusion makes America strong. Hands off!”In Ohio, hundreds rallied in the rain at the Statehouse in Columbus.Roger Broom, 66, a retiree from Delaware County, Ohio, said at the Columbus rally that he used to be a Reagan Republican but has been turned off by Trump.“He’s tearing this country apart,” Broom said. “It’s just an administration of grievances.”Hundreds of people also demonstrated in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, a few miles from Trump's golf course in Jupiter, where he spent the morning at the club's Senior Club Championship. People lined both sides of PGA Drive, encouraging cars to honk and chanting slogans against Trump.Archer Moran from Port St. Lucie, Florida, said, “They need to keep their hands off of our Social Security."“The list of what they need to keep their hands off of is too long,” Moran said. “And it's amazing how soon these protests are happening since he’s taken office.”The president plans to go golfing again Sunday, according to the White House.Asked about the protests, the White House said in a statement that “President Trump’s position is clear: he will always protect Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid for eligible beneficiaries. Meanwhile, the Democrats’ stance is giving Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicare benefits to illegal aliens, which will bankrupt these programs and crush American seniors.”Activists have staged&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/50501-protests-project-2025-trump-state-capitols-ddd341171a54ba9b498cbfe7530e18ab">nationwide demonstrations</a>&nbsp;against Trump or Musk multiple times since&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-inauguration-scene-rotunda-republicans-second-term-618e452b9e8fe294095937b27816d21a">Trump returned to office.</a>&nbsp;But the opposition movement has yet to produce a mass mobilization like the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/de267a3227574cb182b953cb60e69ae2">Women's March in 2017</a>, which brought thousands of women to Washington, D.C., after Trump's first inauguration, or the Black Lives Matter&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mo-state-wire-in-state-wire-mi-state-wire-minneapolis-virus-outbreak-55933b8695e36337a6bfe96728b3e7f3">demonstrations that erupted in multiple cities</a>&nbsp;after George Floyd's killing in 2020.In Charlotte, North Carolina, protesters said they were supporting a variety of causes, from Social Security and education to immigration and women's reproductive rights.“Regardless of your party, regardless of who you voted for, what’s going on today, what’s happening today is abhorrent,” said Britt Castillo, 35, of Charlotte. "It’s disgusting and as broken as our current system might be, the way that the current administration is going about trying to fix things — it is not the way to do it. They’re not listening to the people."“All they’re doing is making sure that they have a parachute for them and their rich friends, and everybody else here that lives here — that makes the gears turn for this country — are just screwed at the end of the day,” she said.___Associated Press writers Julie Carr Smyth in Columbus, Ohio, and Fatima Hussein in West Palm Beach, Florida, and video journalist Guillermo Gonzalez in Charlotte, North Carolina, contributed to this report.

Protesters tee off against Trump and Musk across the U.S.

FINNEY COUNTY —The Kansas Department of Health and the Finney County Health Department confirmed a positive case of measles in an adult Finney County resident (50+years-old), according to a statement from the health department in Garden City. The individual recently traveled out of state and it is currently unknown if this case of measles is linked to the ongoing measles outbreak in the United States.

On Wednesday, the KDHE&nbsp; reported only one new case of measles over the past seven days in Kansas. This was in a child under the age of four, according to the the KDHE's online reportable infections disease web site

In addition to this new case, Kansas has 25 cases in seven counties in the southwest part of the state.. Kiowa and Stevens counties have six cases each, while Grant, Morton, Haskell and Gray counties have five or fewer.

The state's first reported case, identified in Stevens County on March 13, is linked to the Texas and New Mexico outbreaks based on genetic testing, a state health department spokesperson said. But health officials have not determined how the person was exposed.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-new-mexico-mmr-outbreak-vaccines-408371700e3ab548777bf0354e586549">Measles</a>&nbsp;is caused by a highly contagious virus that's airborne and spreads easily when an infected person breathes, sneezes or coughs. It is preventable through vaccines, and has been considered eliminated from the U.S. since 2000.

The best way to avoid measles is to get the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/vaccine-safety/vaccines/mmr.html">measles, mumps and rubella</a>&nbsp;(MMR) vaccine. The first shot is recommended for children between 12 and 15 months old and the second between 4 and 6 years old.

People at high risk for infection who got the shots many years ago may want to consider getting a booster if they live in an area with an outbreak, said Scott Weaver with the Global Virus Network, an international coalition. Those may include family members living with someone who has measles or those especially vulnerable to respiratory diseases because of underlying medical conditions.

Adults with “presumptive evidence of immunity” generally don’t need measles shots now, the CDC said. Criteria include written documentation of adequate vaccination earlier in life, lab confirmation of past infection or being born before 1957, when most people were likely to be infected naturally.

A doctor can order a lab test called an MMR titer to check your levels of measles antibodies, but health experts don't always recommend this route and insurance coverage can vary.

Getting another MMR shot is harmless if there are concerns about waning immunity, the CDC says.

People who have documentation of receiving a live measles vaccine in the 1960s don’t need to be revaccinated, but people who were immunized before 1968 with an ineffective measles vaccine made from “killed” virus should be revaccinated with at least one dose, the agency said. That also includes people who don’t know which type they got.

Measles first infects the respiratory tract, then spreads throughout the body, causing a high fever, runny nose, cough, red, watery eyes and a rash.

The rash generally appears three to five days after the first symptoms, beginning as flat red spots on the face and then spreading downward to the neck, trunk, arms, legs and feet. When the rash appears, the fever may spike over 104 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the CDC.

Most kids will recover from measles, but infection can lead to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/measles/signs-symptoms/index.html">dangerous complications</a>&nbsp;such as pneumonia, blindness, brain swelling and death.

There’s no specific treatment for measles, so doctors generally try to alleviate symptoms, prevent complications and keep patients comfortable.

In communities with high vaccination rates — above 95% — diseases like measles have a harder time spreading through communities. This is called “herd immunity.”

But childhood vaccination rates have declined nationwide since the pandemic and more parents are claiming religious or personal conscience waivers to exempt their kids from required shots.

The U.S. saw&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-cdc-outbreak-chicago-mmr-vaccine-7ecdfef41e6dbd659c7ac8b80d5de38f">a rise in measles cases in 2024</a>, including an outbreak in Chicago that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-chicago-migrant-shelter-cdc-e58517c830f73e42266d45d45983c12b">sickened more than 60.</a>

-The Associated Press contributed to this report.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741908251964.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>FINNEY COUNTY —The Kansas Department of Health and the Finney County Health Department confirmed a positive case of measles in an adult Finney County resident (50+years-old), according to a statement from the health department in Garden City. The individual recently traveled out of state and it is currently unknown if this case of measles is linked to the ongoing measles outbreak in the United States.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1743609969085.png" alt="KDHE data reported April&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>KDHE data reported April&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>On Wednesday, the KDHE&nbsp; reported only one new case of measles over the past seven days in Kansas. This was in a child under the age of four, according to the the KDHE's online reportable infections disease web siteIn addition to this new case, Kansas has 25 cases in seven counties in the southwest part of the state.. Kiowa and Stevens counties have six cases each, while Grant, Morton, Haskell and Gray counties have five or fewer.The state's first reported case, identified in Stevens County on March 13, is linked to the Texas and New Mexico outbreaks based on genetic testing, a state health department spokesperson said. But health officials have not determined how the person was exposed.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-new-mexico-mmr-outbreak-vaccines-408371700e3ab548777bf0354e586549">Measles</a>&nbsp;is caused by a highly contagious virus that's airborne and spreads easily when an infected person breathes, sneezes or coughs. It is preventable through vaccines, and has been considered eliminated from the U.S. since 2000.<h2>Do you need an MMR booster?</h2>The best way to avoid measles is to get the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/vaccine-safety/vaccines/mmr.html">measles, mumps and rubella</a>&nbsp;(MMR) vaccine. The first shot is recommended for children between 12 and 15 months old and the second between 4 and 6 years old.People at high risk for infection who got the shots many years ago may want to consider getting a booster if they live in an area with an outbreak, said Scott Weaver with the Global Virus Network, an international coalition. Those may include family members living with someone who has measles or those especially vulnerable to respiratory diseases because of underlying medical conditions.Adults with “presumptive evidence of immunity” generally don’t need measles shots now, the CDC said. Criteria include written documentation of adequate vaccination earlier in life, lab confirmation of past infection or being born before 1957, when most people were likely to be infected naturally.A doctor can order a lab test called an MMR titer to check your levels of measles antibodies, but health experts don't always recommend this route and insurance coverage can vary.Getting another MMR shot is harmless if there are concerns about waning immunity, the CDC says.People who have documentation of receiving a live measles vaccine in the 1960s don’t need to be revaccinated, but people who were immunized before 1968 with an ineffective measles vaccine made from “killed” virus should be revaccinated with at least one dose, the agency said. That also includes people who don’t know which type they got.<h2>What are the symptoms of measles?</h2>Measles first infects the respiratory tract, then spreads throughout the body, causing a high fever, runny nose, cough, red, watery eyes and a rash.The rash generally appears three to five days after the first symptoms, beginning as flat red spots on the face and then spreading downward to the neck, trunk, arms, legs and feet. When the rash appears, the fever may spike over 104 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the CDC.Most kids will recover from measles, but infection can lead to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/measles/signs-symptoms/index.html">dangerous complications</a>&nbsp;such as pneumonia, blindness, brain swelling and death.<h2>How can you treat measles?</h2>There’s no specific treatment for measles, so doctors generally try to alleviate symptoms, prevent complications and keep patients comfortable.<h2>Why do vaccination rates matter?</h2>In communities with high vaccination rates — above 95% — diseases like measles have a harder time spreading through communities. This is called “herd immunity.”But childhood vaccination rates have declined nationwide since the pandemic and more parents are claiming religious or personal conscience waivers to exempt their kids from required shots.The U.S. saw&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-cdc-outbreak-chicago-mmr-vaccine-7ecdfef41e6dbd659c7ac8b80d5de38f">a rise in measles cases in 2024</a>, including an outbreak in Chicago that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-chicago-migrant-shelter-cdc-e58517c830f73e42266d45d45983c12b">sickened more than 60.</a>-The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Measles reported in another adult in Kansas

WASHINGTON (AP) —The Association of Public and Land-grant Universities including Kansas State University, the University of Kansas and Wichita State University, is requesting a meeting with the State Department, alarmed that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">the Trump administration’s widening crackdown</a>&nbsp;will persuade sought-after foreign students to stay away from the United States.

College officials say the new, harsher tactics and vague justifications being used to push some students out of the country will have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/college-admissions-international-student-enrollment-trump-fd8b6b8f298629bbcc7339568b1c76f3">much broader consequences</a>.

America’s universities have long been seen as a top destination for the world’s brightest minds — and they’ve brought important tuition revenue and research breakthroughs to U.S. colleges. But international students also have other options, said Fanta Aw, CEO of NAFSA, an association of international educators.

WASHINGTON (AP) — A crackdown on foreign students is alarming colleges, who say the Trump administration is using new tactics and vague justifications to push some students out of the country.

College officials worry the new approach will keep foreigners from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/college-admissions-international-student-enrollment-trump-fd8b6b8f298629bbcc7339568b1c76f3">wanting to study</a>&nbsp;in the U.S.

Students stripped of their entry visas are receiving orders from the Department of Homeland Security to leave the country immediately — a break from past practice that often permitted them to stay and complete their studies.

Some students have been targeted over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-foreign-students-campus-gaza-protests-deportation-9e2d4abc1c158454da1f68c01062c9ef">pro-Palestinian activism</a>&nbsp;or criminal infractions — or even traffic violations. Others have been left wondering how they ran afoul of the government.

At Minnesota State University in Mankato, President Edward Inch told the campus Wednesday that visas had been revoked for five international students for unclear reasons.

He said school officials learned about the revocations when they ran a status check in a database of international students after the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/university-of-minnesota-graduate-student-detained-ice-f71f517521a2567c795343092ef4e0b2">detention of a Turkish student</a>&nbsp;at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. The State Department said the detention was related to a drunken driving conviction.

“These are troubling times, and this situation is unlike any we have navigated before,” Inch wrote in a letter to campus.

<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;campaigned on a promise to deport foreign students involved in pro-Palestinian protests, and federal agents started by detaining Columbia graduate student&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/columbia-university-protester-mahmoud-khalil-immigration-arrest-5ae6eeb3ac95f190a505abebc4ee0944">Mahmoud Khalil</a>, a green-card-holder and Palestinian activist who was prominent in protests at Columbia last year. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said last week students are being targeted for involvement in protests along with others tied to “potential criminal activity.”

In the past two weeks, the government apparently has widened its crackdown. Officials from colleges around the country have discovered international students have had their entry visas revoked and, in many cases, their legal residency status terminated by authorities without notice — including students at Arizona State, Cornell, North Carolina State, the University of Oregon, the University of Texas and the University of Colorado.

Some of the students are working to leave the country on their own, but students at Tufts and the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/campus-protests-immigration-alireza-doroudi-alabama-ae498838deb04b22864ef485a71bac27">University of Alabama</a>&nbsp;have been detained by immigration authorities — in the Tufts case, even&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rumeysa-ozturk-deportation-tufts-massachusetts-student-1dd330bef8fb44b05f9818c0020728a0">before the university knew</a>&nbsp;the student’s legal status had changed.

Feds bypass colleges to move against students

In this new wave of enforcement, school officials say the federal government is quietly deleting foreigners’ student records instead of going through colleges, as was done in the past.

Students are being ordered to leave the country with a suddenness that universities have rarely seen, said Miriam Feldblum, president and CEO of the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration.

In the past, when international students have had entry visas revoked, they generally have been allowed to keep legal residency status. They could stay in the country to study, but would need to renew their visa if they left the U.S. and wanted to return. Now, increasing numbers of students are having their legal status terminated, exposing them to the risk of being arrested.

“None of this is regular practice,” Feldblum said.

At North Carolina State University, two students from Saudi Arabia left the U.S. after learning their legal status as students was terminated, the university said. N.C. State said it will work with the students to complete their semester from outside the country.

Philip Vasto, who lived with one of the students, said his roommate, in graduate school for engineering management, was apolitical and did not attend protests against the war in Gaza. When the government told his roommate his student status had been terminated, it did not give a reason, Vasto said.

Since returning to Saudi Arabia, Vasto said his former roommate’s top concern is getting into another university.

“He’s made his peace with it,” he said. “He doesn’t want to allow it to steal his peace any further.”

Database checks turn up students in jeopardy

At the University of Texas at Austin, staff checking a federal database discovered two people on student visas had their permission to be in the U.S. terminated, a person familiar with the situation said. The person declined to be identified for fear of retaliation.

One of the people, from India, had their legal status terminated April 3. The federal system indicated the person had been identified in a criminal records check “and/or has had their visa revoked.” The other person, from Lebanon, had their legal status terminated March 28 due to a criminal records check, according to the federal database.

Both people were graduates remaining in the U.S. on student visas, using an option allowing people to gain professional experience after completing coursework. Both were employed full time and apparently had not violated requirements for pursuing work experience, the person familiar with the situation said.

Some students have had visas revoked by the State Department under an obscure law barring noncitizens whose presence could have “serious adverse foreign policy consequences.” Trump invoked the law in a January order demanding action against campus antisemitism.

But some students targeted in recent weeks have had no clear link to political activism. Some have been ordered to leave over misdemeanor crimes or traffic infractions, Feldblum said. In some cases, students were targeted for infractions that had been previously reported to the government.

Some of the alleged infractions would not have drawn scrutiny in the past and will likely be a test of students’ First Amendment rights as cases work their way through court, said Michelle Mittelstadt, director of public affairs at the Migration Policy Institute.

“In some ways, what the administration is doing is really retroactive,” she said. “Rather than saying, ‘This is going to be the standard that we’re applying going forward,’ they’re going back and vetting students based on past expressions or past behavior.”

The Association of Public and Land-grant Universities is requesting a meeting with the State Department over the issue. It’s unclear whether more visas are being revoked than usual, but officials fear a chilling effect on international exchange.

Many of the association’s members have recently seen at least one student have their visas revoked, said Bernie Burrola, a vice president at the group. With little information from the government, colleges have been interviewing students or searching social media for a connection to political activism.

“The universities can’t seem to find anything that seems to be related to Gaza or social media posts or protests,” Burrola said. “Some of these are sponsored students by foreign governments, where they specifically are very hesitant to get involved in protests.”

There’s no clear thread indicating which students are being targeted, but some have been from the Middle East and China, he said.

“We should not take for granted that that’s just the way things are and will always be,” she said.

WASHINGTON (AP) —The Association of Public and Land-grant Universities including Kansas State University, the University of Kansas and Wichita State University, is requesting a meeting with the State Department, alarmed that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">the Trump administration’s widening crackdown</a>&nbsp;will persuade sought-after foreign students to stay away from the United States.College officials say the new, harsher tactics and vague justifications being used to push some students out of the country will have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/college-admissions-international-student-enrollment-trump-fd8b6b8f298629bbcc7339568b1c76f3">much broader consequences</a>.America’s universities have long been seen as a top destination for the world’s brightest minds — and they’ve brought important tuition revenue and research breakthroughs to U.S. colleges. But international students also have other options, said Fanta Aw, CEO of NAFSA, an association of international educators.-------------------WASHINGTON (AP) — A crackdown on foreign students is alarming colleges, who say the Trump administration is using new tactics and vague justifications to push some students out of the country.College officials worry the new approach will keep foreigners from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/college-admissions-international-student-enrollment-trump-fd8b6b8f298629bbcc7339568b1c76f3">wanting to study</a>&nbsp;in the U.S.Students stripped of their entry visas are receiving orders from the Department of Homeland Security to leave the country immediately — a break from past practice that often permitted them to stay and complete their studies.Some students have been targeted over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-foreign-students-campus-gaza-protests-deportation-9e2d4abc1c158454da1f68c01062c9ef">pro-Palestinian activism</a>&nbsp;or criminal infractions — or even traffic violations. Others have been left wondering how they ran afoul of the government.At Minnesota State University in Mankato, President Edward Inch told the campus Wednesday that visas had been revoked for five international students for unclear reasons.He said school officials learned about the revocations when they ran a status check in a database of international students after the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/university-of-minnesota-graduate-student-detained-ice-f71f517521a2567c795343092ef4e0b2">detention of a Turkish student</a>&nbsp;at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. The State Department said the detention was related to a drunken driving conviction.“These are troubling times, and this situation is unlike any we have navigated before,” Inch wrote in a letter to campus.<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;campaigned on a promise to deport foreign students involved in pro-Palestinian protests, and federal agents started by detaining Columbia graduate student&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/columbia-university-protester-mahmoud-khalil-immigration-arrest-5ae6eeb3ac95f190a505abebc4ee0944">Mahmoud Khalil</a>, a green-card-holder and Palestinian activist who was prominent in protests at Columbia last year. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said last week students are being targeted for involvement in protests along with others tied to “potential criminal activity.”In the past two weeks, the government apparently has widened its crackdown. Officials from colleges around the country have discovered international students have had their entry visas revoked and, in many cases, their legal residency status terminated by authorities without notice — including students at Arizona State, Cornell, North Carolina State, the University of Oregon, the University of Texas and the University of Colorado.Some of the students are working to leave the country on their own, but students at Tufts and the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/campus-protests-immigration-alireza-doroudi-alabama-ae498838deb04b22864ef485a71bac27">University of Alabama</a>&nbsp;have been detained by immigration authorities — in the Tufts case, even&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rumeysa-ozturk-deportation-tufts-massachusetts-student-1dd330bef8fb44b05f9818c0020728a0">before the university knew</a>&nbsp;the student’s legal status had changed.<h2>Feds bypass colleges to move against students</h2>In this new wave of enforcement, school officials say the federal government is quietly deleting foreigners’ student records instead of going through colleges, as was done in the past.Students are being ordered to leave the country with a suddenness that universities have rarely seen, said Miriam Feldblum, president and CEO of the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration.In the past, when international students have had entry visas revoked, they generally have been allowed to keep legal residency status. They could stay in the country to study, but would need to renew their visa if they left the U.S. and wanted to return. Now, increasing numbers of students are having their legal status terminated, exposing them to the risk of being arrested.“None of this is regular practice,” Feldblum said.At North Carolina State University, two students from Saudi Arabia left the U.S. after learning their legal status as students was terminated, the university said. N.C. State said it will work with the students to complete their semester from outside the country.Philip Vasto, who lived with one of the students, said his roommate, in graduate school for engineering management, was apolitical and did not attend protests against the war in Gaza. When the government told his roommate his student status had been terminated, it did not give a reason, Vasto said.Since returning to Saudi Arabia, Vasto said his former roommate’s top concern is getting into another university.“He’s made his peace with it,” he said. “He doesn’t want to allow it to steal his peace any further.”<h2>Database checks turn up students in jeopardy</h2>At the University of Texas at Austin, staff checking a federal database discovered two people on student visas had their permission to be in the U.S. terminated, a person familiar with the situation said. The person declined to be identified for fear of retaliation.One of the people, from India, had their legal status terminated April 3. The federal system indicated the person had been identified in a criminal records check “and/or has had their visa revoked.” The other person, from Lebanon, had their legal status terminated March 28 due to a criminal records check, according to the federal database.Both people were graduates remaining in the U.S. on student visas, using an option allowing people to gain professional experience after completing coursework. Both were employed full time and apparently had not violated requirements for pursuing work experience, the person familiar with the situation said.Some students have had visas revoked by the State Department under an obscure law barring noncitizens whose presence could have “serious adverse foreign policy consequences.” Trump invoked the law in a January order demanding action against campus antisemitism.But some students targeted in recent weeks have had no clear link to political activism. Some have been ordered to leave over misdemeanor crimes or traffic infractions, Feldblum said. In some cases, students were targeted for infractions that had been previously reported to the government.Some of the alleged infractions would not have drawn scrutiny in the past and will likely be a test of students’ First Amendment rights as cases work their way through court, said Michelle Mittelstadt, director of public affairs at the Migration Policy Institute.“In some ways, what the administration is doing is really retroactive,” she said. “Rather than saying, ‘This is going to be the standard that we’re applying going forward,’ they’re going back and vetting students based on past expressions or past behavior.”The Association of Public and Land-grant Universities is requesting a meeting with the State Department over the issue. It’s unclear whether more visas are being revoked than usual, but officials fear a chilling effect on international exchange.Many of the association’s members have recently seen at least one student have their visas revoked, said Bernie Burrola, a vice president at the group. With little information from the government, colleges have been interviewing students or searching social media for a connection to political activism.“The universities can’t seem to find anything that seems to be related to Gaza or social media posts or protests,” Burrola said. “Some of these are sponsored students by foreign governments, where they specifically are very hesitant to get involved in protests.”There’s no clear thread indicating which students are being targeted, but some have been from the Middle East and China, he said.America’s universities have long been seen as a top destination for the world’s brightest minds — and they’ve brought important tuition revenue and research breakthroughs to U.S. colleges. But international students also have other options, said Fanta Aw, CEO of NAFSA, an association of international educators.“We should not take for granted that that’s just the way things are and will always be,” she said.<h2>___</h2>

College officials worry crackdown tactics will turn foreign students away

A lawsuit challenging the deportation has been filed in a Texas court against U.S. Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol and other government officials

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/marysanchez/">MARY SANCHEZ</a>&nbsp;-

Evenezer Cortez Martinez wanted to pay respects to a beloved grandfather who died last fall.

He ended up deported, sent back to Mexico, a country the 39-year-old Kansas husband and father left at the age of 4.

“Everything was approved, and I arrived here with no problem,” said Cortez Martinez, a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.uscis.gov/DACA" target="_blank">DACA</a>&nbsp;recipient, in a phone interview from Cuernavaca, a city south of Mexico City.

On March 23, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials stopped Cortez Martinez at the Dallas Fort Worth International Airport as he presented documents to board a flight back to Kansas City.

He was held, questioned and put on a flight to Mexico City that evening.

“I asked them, ‘Can I just call my lawyer and try to see if I can work things out,’” Cortez Martinez said. “They said, ‘No, you don’t have that option.’”

His attorney argues otherwise, filing a case Wednesday, April 2, with a Texas federal court.

“How many others are out there that this has also happened to, but who didn’t have the ability to get counsel?” said&nbsp;<a href="https://sharma-crawford.com/" target="_blank">Rekha Sharma-Crawford</a>, the Kansas City-based attorney who filed the case in the U.S. District Court of the Northern District of Texas. “The law is on his side.”

<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1uDXHrV0N6Lc4Eelx7CwU5TeP3fD9myeQ/view" target="_blank">The case</a>&nbsp;could become a test of the limits of the Trump administration’s reach.

Advocates argue the administration’s zeal to deport is increasingly overstepping, scooping up immigrants, even those legally present, and not allowing due process.

The lawsuit seeks “declaratory, injunctive and mandamus relief to find that Defendants actions were arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion, or otherwise not in accordance with law.”

It’s filed against the U.S. Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol and other government officials.

U.S. Immigration officials do not generally comment on specific cases.

But&nbsp;<a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/04/01/nx-s1-5339698/green-card-holders-detained-border-crackdown" target="_blank">in a statement released to NPR</a>&nbsp;recently, Customs and Border Protection argued it was merely enforcing the law.

“Those who violate these laws will be processed, detained, and removed as required,” CBP Assistant Commissioner Hilton Beckham said in the statement.

Customs agents in Dallas told Cortez Martinez that he had been ordered removed in absentia on June 11, 2024, and that his documents to travel had been issued in error.

Cortez Martinez said he had never been notified of a removal order, which is the legal term for what most people colloquially refer to as deportation.

The Roeland Park, Kansas, resident is staying with the one Mexico relative he knows, an uncle.

Cortez Martinez is believed to be the first Kansas City-area case of a DACA&nbsp; (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) recipient caught in the Trump administration’s vow to deport millions of people.

The latest Trump plan is called&nbsp;<a href="https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline" target="_blank">Operation Take Back America</a>.

The lawsuit argues that Cortez Martinez has the right to appear before an immigration judge.

“Under current regulations, a holder of an Advance Parole document cannot be barred from the country (removed) without a formal removal hearing before an Immigration Judge,” the suit states.

Advance parole is the process Cortez Martinez went through, with the aid of an attorney, to travel outside of the U.S. as a DACA recipient.

His recurring two-year renewals of DACA had been approved by the government like clockwork. His current DACA is valid until October 2026.

DACA was designed by the Obama administration in 2012. It was meant to be a carveout for immigrants known as “Dreamers,” those who’d been brought to the U.S. as young children, without legal status.

DACA is a temporary reprieve from deportation. It also allows for work authorization and for people to apply for travel outside of the country, through advance parole.

The removal order the government cited is from June 2024.

“He’s not hiding, Sharma-Crawford said. “He’s doing everything that he’s supposed to be doing.”

Cortez Martinez has lived in the Kansas City area for nearly 20 years.

His wife, child and stepchildren are anxiously waiting for his return to their suburban home.

Cortez Martinez’s case is the first deportation of a Kansas City-area DACA recipient that Nubia Estefes is aware of occurring.

“It’s one of our fears,” said Estefes, executive director of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ksmoda.org/daca" target="_blank">Kansas Missouri Dream Alliance</a>, an advocacy group for “Dreamers.”

Before Trump took office, a few other area DACA recipients traveled back to their birth nations on the same documents that Cortez Martinez used, advance parole.

The trips were taken with counsel by attorneys, to ensure that nothing could be resurrected in their history as a rationale for deportation, Estefes said.

“It’s personal discretion on the part of the officers,” she said of the scrutiny that occurs at Customs.

News stories that even documented people have been deported are alarming the immigrant community.

“We’re definitely siding with the cautious side,” Estefes said. “If you don’t have to go, if it’s not life or death, I would suggest you wait it out.”

<a href="https://www.elcentroinc.com/advocacy-3/daca-clinics/" target="_blank">El Centro</a>, a Kansas social service agency, is also&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2025/03/14/schools-look-to-landmark-supreme-court-ruling-to-protect-undocumented-immigrant-students-from-ice/" target="_blank">advising immigrants to be careful</a>.

Justin Gust, vice president of community engagement, said the agency is continuing the help with DACA renewal applications.

But even immigrants who are legal permanent residents are being advised to take precautions, especially when traveling.

“It just seems like everything is unknown these days,” Gust said. “What was a protected status, or a protected issue, is no longer protected.”

People are disabling face recognition or a thumbprint to open their cellphone, as a safeguard against having their data combed for anything a customs agent might deem offensive to the Trump administration’s goals.

“We’re advising people that they really do need to talk to their lawyer first and don’t go just to go, because you definitely need to know that you can come back,” Gust said.

A beloved grandfather, hazy memory of Mexico

Cortez Martinez’s sole memory of his native Mexico is a limited one, possibly bolstered more by family stories than a true memory.

Cornelio Martinez Dominguez owned a panaderia, a bakery.

“I’ve been told that every time the bread was ready, I’d run to my grandpa,” Cortez Martinez said.

Through the years, he spoke with his grandfather by phone. But he’d never returned to Mexico.

Sharma-Crawford first contacted the CBP Watch Commander at the Dallas Fort Worth airport, seeing if the office would intervene.

“There are real questions if he was properly notified,” she said of Martinez’s order of removal.

Still, the existence of the order wouldn’t negate his right to be granted advance parole, she said.

Sharma-Crawford suspects that the Trump administration has begun re-calendaring removal cases that had previously been closed.

“I never got any notice,” Cortez Martinez said of the removal order. “I never got any citations to go see a judge.”

Cortez Martinez received the approval to travel from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in early March. The document is valid until April 14, 2025, according to the lawsuit.

Still, he had been initially hesitant to take the trip.

He only considered doing so, as his grandfather’s health worsened.

In November, his grandfather died before the paperwork was approved.

The visit was shortened to a three-day excursion, just enough time to reach the cemetery a few hours outside of Mexico City, and then return to Kansas City.

“That’s the grandpa I wanted to be able to say goodbye to,” Cortez Martinez said.

This&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2025/04/03/kansas-man-deported-after-visiting-grandfathers-grave-in-mexico/" target="_blank">article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/" target="_blank">Beacon: Kansas City</a>&nbsp;and is republished here under a&nbsp;<a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/" target="_blank">Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1743775932922.png" alt="A family photo of Evenezer Cortez Martinez, pictured on the far right, with his wife and children. The Roeland Park family is now awaiting a federal lawsuit filed on his behalf. Despite having DACA status and permission to travel, the husband and father was detained, deported and denied entry back to the U.S. after a trip to Mexico (photo submitted)." />
 <figcaption>A family photo of Evenezer Cortez Martinez, pictured on the far right, with his wife and children. The Roeland Park family is now awaiting a federal lawsuit filed on his behalf. Despite having DACA status and permission to travel, the husband and father was detained, deported and denied entry back to the U.S. after a trip to Mexico (photo submitted).</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>A lawsuit challenging the deportation has been filed in a Texas court against U.S. Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol and other government officials</h2>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/marysanchez/">MARY SANCHEZ</a>&nbsp;-Evenezer Cortez Martinez wanted to pay respects to a beloved grandfather who died last fall.He ended up deported, sent back to Mexico, a country the 39-year-old Kansas husband and father left at the age of 4.“Everything was approved, and I arrived here with no problem,” said Cortez Martinez, a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.uscis.gov/DACA" target="_blank">DACA</a>&nbsp;recipient, in a phone interview from Cuernavaca, a city south of Mexico City.On March 23, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials stopped Cortez Martinez at the Dallas Fort Worth International Airport as he presented documents to board a flight back to Kansas City.He was held, questioned and put on a flight to Mexico City that evening.“I asked them, ‘Can I just call my lawyer and try to see if I can work things out,’” Cortez Martinez said. “They said, ‘No, you don’t have that option.’”His attorney argues otherwise, filing a case Wednesday, April 2, with a Texas federal court.“How many others are out there that this has also happened to, but who didn’t have the ability to get counsel?” said&nbsp;<a href="https://sharma-crawford.com/" target="_blank">Rekha Sharma-Crawford</a>, the Kansas City-based attorney who filed the case in the U.S. District Court of the Northern District of Texas. “The law is on his side.”<h2>Potential test case</h2><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1uDXHrV0N6Lc4Eelx7CwU5TeP3fD9myeQ/view" target="_blank">The case</a>&nbsp;could become a test of the limits of the Trump administration’s reach.Advocates argue the administration’s zeal to deport is increasingly overstepping, scooping up immigrants, even those legally present, and not allowing due process.The lawsuit seeks “declaratory, injunctive and mandamus relief to find that Defendants actions were arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion, or otherwise not in accordance with law.”It’s filed against the U.S. Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol and other government officials.U.S. Immigration officials do not generally comment on specific cases.But&nbsp;<a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/04/01/nx-s1-5339698/green-card-holders-detained-border-crackdown" target="_blank">in a statement released to NPR</a>&nbsp;recently, Customs and Border Protection argued it was merely enforcing the law.“Those who violate these laws will be processed, detained, and removed as required,” CBP Assistant Commissioner Hilton Beckham said in the statement.Customs agents in Dallas told Cortez Martinez that he had been ordered removed in absentia on June 11, 2024, and that his documents to travel had been issued in error.Cortez Martinez said he had never been notified of a removal order, which is the legal term for what most people colloquially refer to as deportation.The Roeland Park, Kansas, resident is staying with the one Mexico relative he knows, an uncle.Cortez Martinez is believed to be the first Kansas City-area case of a DACA&nbsp; (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) recipient caught in the Trump administration’s vow to deport millions of people.The latest Trump plan is called&nbsp;<a href="https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline" target="_blank">Operation Take Back America</a>.The lawsuit argues that Cortez Martinez has the right to appear before an immigration judge.“Under current regulations, a holder of an Advance Parole document cannot be barred from the country (removed) without a formal removal hearing before an Immigration Judge,” the suit states.Advance parole is the process Cortez Martinez went through, with the aid of an attorney, to travel outside of the U.S. as a DACA recipient.His recurring two-year renewals of DACA had been approved by the government like clockwork. His current DACA is valid until October 2026.DACA was designed by the Obama administration in 2012. It was meant to be a carveout for immigrants known as “Dreamers,” those who’d been brought to the U.S. as young children, without legal status.DACA is a temporary reprieve from deportation. It also allows for work authorization and for people to apply for travel outside of the country, through advance parole.The removal order the government cited is from June 2024.“He’s not hiding, Sharma-Crawford said. “He’s doing everything that he’s supposed to be doing.”Cortez Martinez has lived in the Kansas City area for nearly 20 years.His wife, child and stepchildren are anxiously waiting for his return to their suburban home.<h2>Rising immigrant fears of being deported</h2>Cortez Martinez’s case is the first deportation of a Kansas City-area DACA recipient that Nubia Estefes is aware of occurring.“It’s one of our fears,” said Estefes, executive director of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ksmoda.org/daca" target="_blank">Kansas Missouri Dream Alliance</a>, an advocacy group for “Dreamers.”Before Trump took office, a few other area DACA recipients traveled back to their birth nations on the same documents that Cortez Martinez used, advance parole.The trips were taken with counsel by attorneys, to ensure that nothing could be resurrected in their history as a rationale for deportation, Estefes said.“It’s personal discretion on the part of the officers,” she said of the scrutiny that occurs at Customs.News stories that even documented people have been deported are alarming the immigrant community.“We’re definitely siding with the cautious side,” Estefes said. “If you don’t have to go, if it’s not life or death, I would suggest you wait it out.”<a href="https://www.elcentroinc.com/advocacy-3/daca-clinics/" target="_blank">El Centro</a>, a Kansas social service agency, is also&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2025/03/14/schools-look-to-landmark-supreme-court-ruling-to-protect-undocumented-immigrant-students-from-ice/" target="_blank">advising immigrants to be careful</a>.Justin Gust, vice president of community engagement, said the agency is continuing the help with DACA renewal applications.But even immigrants who are legal permanent residents are being advised to take precautions, especially when traveling.“It just seems like everything is unknown these days,” Gust said. “What was a protected status, or a protected issue, is no longer protected.”People are disabling face recognition or a thumbprint to open their cellphone, as a safeguard against having their data combed for anything a customs agent might deem offensive to the Trump administration’s goals.“We’re advising people that they really do need to talk to their lawyer first and don’t go just to go, because you definitely need to know that you can come back,” Gust said.<h2>A beloved grandfather, hazy memory of Mexico</h2>Cortez Martinez’s sole memory of his native Mexico is a limited one, possibly bolstered more by family stories than a true memory.But his grandfather is central.Cornelio Martinez Dominguez owned a panaderia, a bakery.“I’ve been told that every time the bread was ready, I’d run to my grandpa,” Cortez Martinez said.Through the years, he spoke with his grandfather by phone. But he’d never returned to Mexico.Sharma-Crawford first contacted the CBP Watch Commander at the Dallas Fort Worth airport, seeing if the office would intervene.She did not receive a reply.“There are real questions if he was properly notified,” she said of Martinez’s order of removal.Still, the existence of the order wouldn’t negate his right to be granted advance parole, she said.Sharma-Crawford suspects that the Trump administration has begun re-calendaring removal cases that had previously been closed.“I never got any notice,” Cortez Martinez said of the removal order. “I never got any citations to go see a judge.”Cortez Martinez received the approval to travel from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in early March. The document is valid until April 14, 2025, according to the lawsuit.Still, he had been initially hesitant to take the trip.He only considered doing so, as his grandfather’s health worsened.In November, his grandfather died before the paperwork was approved.The visit was shortened to a three-day excursion, just enough time to reach the cemetery a few hours outside of Mexico City, and then return to Kansas City.“That’s the grandpa I wanted to be able to say goodbye to,” Cortez Martinez said.This&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2025/04/03/kansas-man-deported-after-visiting-grandfathers-grave-in-mexico/" target="_blank">article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/" target="_blank">Beacon: Kansas City</a>&nbsp;and is republished here under a&nbsp;<a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/" target="_blank">Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License</a>.

Kansas City area man deported after visiting grandfather’s grave in Mexico

Children’s Mercy Kansas City&nbsp; announce a comprehensive $152 million expansion plan for Children’s Mercy Hospital Kansas (CMHK) aimed at enhancing patient care and improving access to existing services and new clinical programs, according to a media release from the hospital.&nbsp;

“As the only freestanding pediatric hospital in the state of Kansas, this expansion will allow for even more families to have access to world-class care closer to home,” said Alejandro Quiroga, MD, MBA, CEO &amp; President, Children’s Mercy. "We're really excited about this project because it shows how dedicated we are to giving the best care possible to our community. By bringing all our outpatient services together, improving our hospital facilities, and creating a modern, connected campus, we're making sure we can meet the growing needs of patients and families in the region.”&nbsp;

The first phase of the project, already underway, is the expansion of surgical services which includes the renovation of the Sterile Processing Department and the addition of new pre-op, post-op, and procedural spaces. Construction is set to be complete by summer 2026.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“We have teams of nationally recognized surgeons and proceduralists. The addition of new procedures rooms and expanded facilities will allow CMHK to meet the growing demand for procedural services in specialties such as ENT, Orthopedics and Gastroenterology,” said Shawn St. Peter, MD, Senior Vice President, Surgeon-in-Chief, Children’s Mercy.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The expansion project also includes:&nbsp;

“We listened to the needs of physicians and families in this community and the expansion of our Kansas hospital strengthens our capacity to serve the growing pediatric population,” said Amy Fallon, MPH, PhD, President of Regional Operations, Children’s Mercy. “This is more than just adding rooms or advancing technology; it’s about deepening our commitment and reaffirming our dedication to delivering top-quality, accessible health care to every child that needs it.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

The community is invited to be part of this initiative. Philanthropic gifts will advance this renovation to improve the health of all children and families, bringing expert care closer to home.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1743709952900.png" alt="Children's Mercy Renderings provided by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/hdrinc?__cft__[0]=AZVJPlaGVfpaostW4hN6qAczNWPuzGNM2jVgwWD60UXwLJl4tvu9vXBZOkQwXTeSa0ZN3s5hZr0ohJJah4PlpBSK-ZJg03kDA2FWOAzxXSUcnOfVrlReujZMmp3KpCJniHdmsGugzpEo-8O7_f3FktNgSvkGoFQ3NXAKXEH3yyfrcHRn12UovzBnYjOq9eX-N54&amp;__tn__=-]K-R">HDR</a>" />
 <figcaption>Children's Mercy Renderings provided by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/hdrinc?__cft__[0]=AZVJPlaGVfpaostW4hN6qAczNWPuzGNM2jVgwWD60UXwLJl4tvu9vXBZOkQwXTeSa0ZN3s5hZr0ohJJah4PlpBSK-ZJg03kDA2FWOAzxXSUcnOfVrlReujZMmp3KpCJniHdmsGugzpEo-8O7_f3FktNgSvkGoFQ3NXAKXEH3yyfrcHRn12UovzBnYjOq9eX-N54&amp;__tn__=-]K-R">HDR</a></figcaption>
 </figure>Children’s Mercy Kansas City&nbsp; announce a comprehensive $152 million expansion plan for Children’s Mercy Hospital Kansas (CMHK) aimed at enhancing patient care and improving access to existing services and new clinical programs, according to a media release from the hospital.&nbsp;“As the only freestanding pediatric hospital in the state of Kansas, this expansion will allow for even more families to have access to world-class care closer to home,” said Alejandro Quiroga, MD, MBA, CEO &amp; President, Children’s Mercy. "We're really excited about this project because it shows how dedicated we are to giving the best care possible to our community. By bringing all our outpatient services together, improving our hospital facilities, and creating a modern, connected campus, we're making sure we can meet the growing needs of patients and families in the region.”&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1743710012719.png" alt="Children's Mercy Renderings provided by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/hdrinc?__cft__[0]=AZVJPlaGVfpaostW4hN6qAczNWPuzGNM2jVgwWD60UXwLJl4tvu9vXBZOkQwXTeSa0ZN3s5hZr0ohJJah4PlpBSK-ZJg03kDA2FWOAzxXSUcnOfVrlReujZMmp3KpCJniHdmsGugzpEo-8O7_f3FktNgSvkGoFQ3NXAKXEH3yyfrcHRn12UovzBnYjOq9eX-N54&amp;__tn__=-]K-R">HDR</a>&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Children's Mercy Renderings provided by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/hdrinc?__cft__[0]=AZVJPlaGVfpaostW4hN6qAczNWPuzGNM2jVgwWD60UXwLJl4tvu9vXBZOkQwXTeSa0ZN3s5hZr0ohJJah4PlpBSK-ZJg03kDA2FWOAzxXSUcnOfVrlReujZMmp3KpCJniHdmsGugzpEo-8O7_f3FktNgSvkGoFQ3NXAKXEH3yyfrcHRn12UovzBnYjOq9eX-N54&amp;__tn__=-]K-R">HDR</a>&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>The first phase of the project, already underway, is the expansion of surgical services which includes the renovation of the Sterile Processing Department and the addition of new pre-op, post-op, and procedural spaces. Construction is set to be complete by summer 2026.&nbsp;&nbsp;“We have teams of nationally recognized surgeons and proceduralists. The addition of new procedures rooms and expanded facilities will allow CMHK to meet the growing demand for procedural services in specialties such as ENT, Orthopedics and Gastroenterology,” said Shawn St. Peter, MD, Senior Vice President, Surgeon-in-Chief, Children’s Mercy.&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1743710105263.png" alt="Children's Mercy Renderings provided by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/hdrinc?__cft__[0]=AZVJPlaGVfpaostW4hN6qAczNWPuzGNM2jVgwWD60UXwLJl4tvu9vXBZOkQwXTeSa0ZN3s5hZr0ohJJah4PlpBSK-ZJg03kDA2FWOAzxXSUcnOfVrlReujZMmp3KpCJniHdmsGugzpEo-8O7_f3FktNgSvkGoFQ3NXAKXEH3yyfrcHRn12UovzBnYjOq9eX-N54&amp;__tn__=-]K-R">HDR</a>" />
 <figcaption>Children's Mercy Renderings provided by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/hdrinc?__cft__[0]=AZVJPlaGVfpaostW4hN6qAczNWPuzGNM2jVgwWD60UXwLJl4tvu9vXBZOkQwXTeSa0ZN3s5hZr0ohJJah4PlpBSK-ZJg03kDA2FWOAzxXSUcnOfVrlReujZMmp3KpCJniHdmsGugzpEo-8O7_f3FktNgSvkGoFQ3NXAKXEH3yyfrcHRn12UovzBnYjOq9eX-N54&amp;__tn__=-]K-R">HDR</a></figcaption>
 </figure>The expansion project also includes:&nbsp;<ul>
 <li>New Medical Office Building (MOB):&nbsp;A state-of-the-art facility to consolidate outpatient services currently spread across multiple locations, providing a seamless and connected experience for patients and families. The MOB is scheduled to open in the Summer of 2027.&nbsp;</li><li>Hospital Renovations:&nbsp;Upgrades to the hospital space vacated by the consolidation of outpatient services, enhancing the overall patient and staff experience. These renovations are expected to be completed by the Summer of 2029.&nbsp;</li><li>New Service Offerings: Introduction of new programs such as Inpatient Rehab, Intensive Outpatient Programs, an expanded GI Motility program and a Neuroscience Center of Excellence.&nbsp;</li><li>Parking and Exterior Updates:&nbsp;Modern parking structures, new entrances, and exterior improvements to facilitate better wayfinding and accessibility. (Parking and Emergency services will still be accessible throughout construction.)&nbsp;</li>
 </ul>“We listened to the needs of physicians and families in this community and the expansion of our Kansas hospital strengthens our capacity to serve the growing pediatric population,” said Amy Fallon, MPH, PhD, President of Regional Operations, Children’s Mercy. “This is more than just adding rooms or advancing technology; it’s about deepening our commitment and reaffirming our dedication to delivering top-quality, accessible health care to every child that needs it.”&nbsp;&nbsp;The community is invited to be part of this initiative. Philanthropic gifts will advance this renovation to improve the health of all children and families, bringing expert care closer to home.&nbsp;

Children’s Mercy Kansas announces multi-million dollar expansion

SHAWNEE COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 1:30a.m. Saturday in Shawnee County.

According to Topeka Police Lt. Ron Ekis, a vehicle was traveling on a portion of Interstate 70 that was blocked off and under construction. The vehicle traveled off the Interstate overpass near 2nd and S. Kansas Avenue.

Medical personnel pronounced the driver deceased on scene. No other vehicles were involved, and the driver was the sole occupant of the vehicle. 

Police have not released the name of the driver or additional details.

SHAWNEE COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 1:30a.m. Saturday in Shawnee County.According to Topeka Police Lt. Ron Ekis, a vehicle was traveling on a portion of Interstate 70 that was blocked off and under construction. The vehicle traveled off the Interstate overpass near 2nd and S. Kansas Avenue.Medical personnel pronounced the driver deceased on scene. No other vehicles were involved, and the driver was the sole occupant of the vehicle. Police have not released the name of the driver or additional details.

Fatal crash: Vehicle traveled off I-70 overpass in blocked off construction zone 

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Republicans plugged away overnight and into early Saturday morning to approve their&nbsp;<a href="https://www.budget.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/senate_amendment_h_con_res_14.pdf">multitrillion-dollar tax breaks and spending cuts framework</a>, hurtling past hardened Democratic opposition toward what&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;calls the “big, beautiful bill” that's central to his agenda.

The vote, 51-48, fell along mostly party lines, but with sharp dissent from two prominent GOP senators. It could not have come at a more difficult political moment. The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/video/trump-tariff-bombshells-have-echoes-in-past-us-economic-policies-60b175c030cd422bbf494d4d100bdccd">U.S. economy is churning</a>&nbsp;after Trump's vast tariff scheme&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/market-rates-trump-tariffs-d86db525c370e9da834e6dfb76e23b86">sent stocks plummeting</a>, and experts are warning of soaring costs for consumers at home and threats of a potential recession. Republican Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Rand Paul of Kentucky both voted against.&nbsp; Kansas U.S. Senators Jerry Moran and Roger Marshall voted with the majority.

But&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/senate-budget-trump-tax-cuts-0e1c1cf43e10b55ba8c1f3e20d16b153">with a nod from Trump</a>, GOP leaders held on, determined to march ahead. Approval paves the way for Republicans, in the months ahead, to try to power a tax cut bill through both chambers of Congress over the objections of Democrats, just as they did in Trump’s first term with unified party control in Washington.

“Let the voting begin," Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said Friday night.

The evening kicked off what's called vote-a-rama as Democrats were intent on making the effort as politically painful as possible, with action on some two dozen amendments to the package that GOP senators will have to defend before next year’s midterm elections.

Among them were proposals to ban tax breaks for the super-wealthy, end&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-republicans-senate-house-2409e9ff50290edac738ad6e4e8e78b9">Trump's tariffs,</a>&nbsp;clip his efforts to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-elon-musk-doge-c4c8e4f4766dee7dfff4d24161e0cf3f">shrink</a>&nbsp;the federal government and protect Medicaid, Social Security and other services. One, in response to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ap.org/news-highlights/spotlights/2025/the-atlantic-releases-the-signal-chat-showing-hegseths-detailed-attack-plans-against-the-houthis/">Trump national security team's use of Signal</a>, sought to prohibit military officials from using any commercial messaging application to transmit war plans. They all failed, though a GOP amendment to protect Medicare and Medicaid was accepted.

Democrats accused Republicans of laying the groundwork for cutting key safety net programs to help pay for more than $5 trillion tax cuts they say disproportionately benefit the rich.

“Trump's policies are a disaster," said Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer of New York, as is Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency. “Republicans could snuff it out tonight, if they wanted.”

The Republicans framed their work as preventing a tax increase for most American families, arguing that unless Congress acts, the individual and estate tax cuts that Republicans&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2d9e099660064f2b8a8fc2237b4e7e4e">passed</a>&nbsp;in 2017 will expire at the end of this year.

The Senate package pulls in other GOP priorities — including $175 billion to bolster Trump's mass deportation effort, which is running short of cash, and another $175 billion for the Pentagon to build up the military — from an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/senate-budget-trump-tax-cuts-deportations-48f6565ccb0fd6002734dbb5c3c3ffb7">earlier budget effort</a>.

Sen. John Barrasso, the No. 2 ranking GOP senator, said voters gave Republicans a mission in November, and the Senate budget plan delivers.

“It fulfills our promises to secure the border, to rebuild our economy and to restore peace through strength,” Barrasso said.

The framework now goes to the House, where Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., could bring it up for a vote as soon as next week as he works toward a final product by Memorial Day.

The House and Senate need to resolve their differences. The House Republicans had already approved their version, with $4.5 trillion in tax breaks over 10 years and some $2 trillion in budget cuts pointed at changes to Medicaid, food stamps and other programs, and some have panned the Senate's approach.

Throughout the day, the debate was generally one-sided, as Democrats took full advantage of the all-night voting frenzy. Pizza was wheeled in on a cart, for Republicans. Tacos, for Democrats.

Republicans used their majority to swat back the Democrats' amendments, often in rambunctious voice votes. A few Democratic proposals, however, did draw some GOP support, including those to protect health care, Social Security and the bargaining rights of federal workers, a potential sign of unrest ahead.

Collins said she voted against the full package because potential Medicaid cuts in the underlying House bill “would be very detrimental to a lot of families and disabled individuals and seniors in my state.”

And Paul questioned the math being used by his colleagues that he said would pile on the debt load. “Something's fishy,” he said.

One Republican, Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, expressed his own misgivings about tax breaks adding to the federal deficits and said he has assurances that Trump officials would seek the cuts elsewhere.

“This vote isn’t taking place in a vacuum,” he said, a nod to the turmoil over Trump’s tariffs.

One crucial challenge ahead will be for the House to accept the way the Senate’s budget plan allows for extending the tax cuts under a scoring method that treats them as not adding to future deficits, something many House Republicans reject. A new estimate from the Joint Committee on Taxation projects the tax breaks will add $5.5 trillion over the next decade when including interest, and $4.6 trillion not including interest.

On top of that, the senators added an additional $1.5 trillion that would allow some of Trump’s campaign promises, such as no taxes on tips, Social Security benefits and overtime, swelling the overall the price tag to $7 trillion.

Republicans are also looking to increase the $10,000 deduction for state and local taxes, something that lawmakers from states such as New York, California and New Jersey say is necessary for their support.

The House and Senate are also at odds over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/debt-limit-cbo-federal-default-borrowing-treasury-4487cd96c611bd1645a5ab099ca8fcd5">increasing the debt limit</a>&nbsp;to allow more borrowing. The House had boosted the debt limit by $4 trillion in its plan, but the Senate upped it to $5 trillion to push any further votes on the matter until after next year’s midterm elections.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1743821102619.png" alt="Kansas U.S. Senator Roger Marshall was the presiding officer during a portion of the late night session -image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Kansas U.S. Senator Roger Marshall was the presiding officer during a portion of the late night session -image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Republicans plugged away overnight and into early Saturday morning to approve their&nbsp;<a href="https://www.budget.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/senate_amendment_h_con_res_14.pdf">multitrillion-dollar tax breaks and spending cuts framework</a>, hurtling past hardened Democratic opposition toward what&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;calls the “big, beautiful bill” that's central to his agenda.The vote, 51-48, fell along mostly party lines, but with sharp dissent from two prominent GOP senators. It could not have come at a more difficult political moment. The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/video/trump-tariff-bombshells-have-echoes-in-past-us-economic-policies-60b175c030cd422bbf494d4d100bdccd">U.S. economy is churning</a>&nbsp;after Trump's vast tariff scheme&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/market-rates-trump-tariffs-d86db525c370e9da834e6dfb76e23b86">sent stocks plummeting</a>, and experts are warning of soaring costs for consumers at home and threats of a potential recession. Republican Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Rand Paul of Kentucky both voted against.&nbsp; Kansas U.S. Senators Jerry Moran and Roger Marshall voted with the majority.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1743863063041.png" alt="A crowded Senate floor at 1:27a.m. CDT Saturday&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>A crowded Senate floor at 1:27a.m. CDT Saturday&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>But&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/senate-budget-trump-tax-cuts-0e1c1cf43e10b55ba8c1f3e20d16b153">with a nod from Trump</a>, GOP leaders held on, determined to march ahead. Approval paves the way for Republicans, in the months ahead, to try to power a tax cut bill through both chambers of Congress over the objections of Democrats, just as they did in Trump’s first term with unified party control in Washington.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1743821021436.png" alt="Kansas U.S. Senator Roger Marshall was the presiding officer during a portion of the late night session -image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Kansas U.S. Senator Roger Marshall was the presiding officer during a portion of the late night session -image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>“Let the voting begin," Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said Friday night.The evening kicked off what's called vote-a-rama as Democrats were intent on making the effort as politically painful as possible, with action on some two dozen amendments to the package that GOP senators will have to defend before next year’s midterm elections.Among them were proposals to ban tax breaks for the super-wealthy, end&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-republicans-senate-house-2409e9ff50290edac738ad6e4e8e78b9">Trump's tariffs,</a>&nbsp;clip his efforts to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-elon-musk-doge-c4c8e4f4766dee7dfff4d24161e0cf3f">shrink</a>&nbsp;the federal government and protect Medicaid, Social Security and other services. One, in response to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ap.org/news-highlights/spotlights/2025/the-atlantic-releases-the-signal-chat-showing-hegseths-detailed-attack-plans-against-the-houthis/">Trump national security team's use of Signal</a>, sought to prohibit military officials from using any commercial messaging application to transmit war plans. They all failed, though a GOP amendment to protect Medicare and Medicaid was accepted.Democrats accused Republicans of laying the groundwork for cutting key safety net programs to help pay for more than $5 trillion tax cuts they say disproportionately benefit the rich.“Trump's policies are a disaster," said Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer of New York, as is Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency. “Republicans could snuff it out tonight, if they wanted.”The Republicans framed their work as preventing a tax increase for most American families, arguing that unless Congress acts, the individual and estate tax cuts that Republicans&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2d9e099660064f2b8a8fc2237b4e7e4e">passed</a>&nbsp;in 2017 will expire at the end of this year.The Senate package pulls in other GOP priorities — including $175 billion to bolster Trump's mass deportation effort, which is running short of cash, and another $175 billion for the Pentagon to build up the military — from an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/senate-budget-trump-tax-cuts-deportations-48f6565ccb0fd6002734dbb5c3c3ffb7">earlier budget effort</a>.Sen. John Barrasso, the No. 2 ranking GOP senator, said voters gave Republicans a mission in November, and the Senate budget plan delivers.“It fulfills our promises to secure the border, to rebuild our economy and to restore peace through strength,” Barrasso said.The framework now goes to the House, where Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., could bring it up for a vote as soon as next week as he works toward a final product by Memorial Day.The House and Senate need to resolve their differences. The House Republicans had already approved their version, with $4.5 trillion in tax breaks over 10 years and some $2 trillion in budget cuts pointed at changes to Medicaid, food stamps and other programs, and some have panned the Senate's approach.Throughout the day, the debate was generally one-sided, as Democrats took full advantage of the all-night voting frenzy. Pizza was wheeled in on a cart, for Republicans. Tacos, for Democrats.Republicans used their majority to swat back the Democrats' amendments, often in rambunctious voice votes. A few Democratic proposals, however, did draw some GOP support, including those to protect health care, Social Security and the bargaining rights of federal workers, a potential sign of unrest ahead.Collins said she voted against the full package because potential Medicaid cuts in the underlying House bill “would be very detrimental to a lot of families and disabled individuals and seniors in my state.”And Paul questioned the math being used by his colleagues that he said would pile on the debt load. “Something's fishy,” he said.One Republican, Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, expressed his own misgivings about tax breaks adding to the federal deficits and said he has assurances that Trump officials would seek the cuts elsewhere.“This vote isn’t taking place in a vacuum,” he said, a nod to the turmoil over Trump’s tariffs.One crucial challenge ahead will be for the House to accept the way the Senate’s budget plan allows for extending the tax cuts under a scoring method that treats them as not adding to future deficits, something many House Republicans reject. A new estimate from the Joint Committee on Taxation projects the tax breaks will add $5.5 trillion over the next decade when including interest, and $4.6 trillion not including interest.On top of that, the senators added an additional $1.5 trillion that would allow some of Trump’s campaign promises, such as no taxes on tips, Social Security benefits and overtime, swelling the overall the price tag to $7 trillion.Republicans are also looking to increase the $10,000 deduction for state and local taxes, something that lawmakers from states such as New York, California and New Jersey say is necessary for their support.The House and Senate are also at odds over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/debt-limit-cbo-federal-default-borrowing-treasury-4487cd96c611bd1645a5ab099ca8fcd5">increasing the debt limit</a>&nbsp;to allow more borrowing. The House had boosted the debt limit by $4 trillion in its plan, but the Senate upped it to $5 trillion to push any further votes on the matter until after next year’s midterm elections.The Senate calls for just $4 billion in spending cuts, but GOP leadership emphasizes that's a low floor and that committees will be on the hunt for far more.Already, the GOP leaders are confronting concerns from fiscal hawks in deep red states and congressional districts who want trillions of dollars in spending cuts to help pay for the tax breaks. At the same time, dozens of lawmakers in swing districts and states are worried about what those cuts will mean for their constituents, and for their reelection chances.The GOP leadership has encouraged members to just get a budget plan over the finish line, saying they have time to work out the tough questions of which tax breaks and spending cuts to include.Extending the the 2017 breaks would cut taxes for about three-quarters of households but raise them for about 10%. In 2027, about 45% of the benefit of all the tax cuts would go to those making roughly $450,000 or more,&nbsp;<a href="https://taxpolicycenter.org/taxvox/those-making-450000-and-would-get-nearly-half-benefit-extending-tcja">according</a>&nbsp;to the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center, which analyzes tax issues.