has been charged in the U.S. with , nearly three months after the Trump administration mistakenly deported him to his native El Salvador.
The charges stem from a 2022 vehicle stop in which the Tennessee Highway Patrol suspected him of human trafficking. A report released by the Department of Homeland Security in April states that none of the people in the vehicle had luggage, while they listed the same address as Abrego Garcia.
Also Friday, it was the final day for active duty service members to the military voluntarily, while the National Guard and Reserve have until July 7. Lawmakers and conservative figures urged d茅tente between Elon Musk and President Donald Trump, from a prolonged feud. And the administration asked Supreme Court to allow Education Department layoffs.
Here's the latest:
Supreme Court allows DOGE team to access Social Security systems with data on millions of Americans
The Supreme Court cleared the way Friday for the Department of Government Efficiency to access Social Security systems containing personal data on millions of Americans.
The justices sided with the Trump administration in its first Supreme Court appeal involving DOGE, the team .
The high court halted an order from a judge in Maryland restricting the team鈥檚 access to the Social Security Administration under federal privacy laws.
Kilmar Abrego Garcia made more than 100 trips as part of smuggling ring, grand jury finds
The grand jury found that he made the trips as part of a ring that trafficked guns, drugs, children and women, Attorney General Pam Bondi said.
She said co-conspirators alleged that he abused women he was transporting and played a role in the killing of a rival gang member鈥檚 mother.
鈥淭hey found this was his full time job, not a contractor,鈥� Bondi said of the grand jury. 鈥淗e was a smuggler of humans and children and women.鈥�
Abrego Garcia returned to US to face charges related to human smuggling
, whose mistaken deportation to El Salvador became a political flashpoint in the Trump administration鈥檚 stepped-up immigration enforcement, was being returned to the United States to face criminal charges related to what the Trump administration said was a massive human smuggling operation that brought immigrants into the country illegally.
He is expected to be prosecuted and, if convicted, will be returned to his home country at the conclusion of the case, officials said.
鈥淭his is what American justice looks like,鈥� Attorney General Pam Bondi said Friday.
The charges stem from a 2022 vehicle stop in which the Tennessee Highway Patrol suspected him of human trafficking. A report released by the Department of Homeland Security in April states that none of the people in the vehicle had luggage, while they listed the same address as Abrego Garcia.
Abrego Garcia was never charged with a crime, and the officers allowed him to drive on with only a warning about an expired driver鈥檚 license, according to the DHS report. It said he was traveling from Texas to Maryland, via Missouri, to bring people to perform construction work.
State Department tells US embassies and consulates not to revoke previously issued visas
The instruction comes even as diplomatic outposts are to reject future visa applications from 12 mainly African and Middle Eastern countries starting next week under Trump鈥檚 new travel ban.
In a cable sent Friday, the department said 鈥渘o action should be taken for issued visas which have already left the consular section鈥� and 鈥渘o visas issued prior to the effective date should be revoked pursuant to this proclamation.鈥�
It suggests that there should be no entry issues for current visa holders from affected countries after the restrictions take effect June 9 at midnight ET.
However ports of entry are not controlled by State, and it will be up to the Department of Homeland Security and individual Customs and Border Patrol agents to determine if visa holders are eligible to enter.
The cable, signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, says the only people who should be denied entry are those currently outside the country who do not have a valid visa on the effective date.
Trump signs executive orders on drones, flying cars and supersonic flights
The orders will help clear the way for companies to use drones beyond operators鈥� line of sight, while also imposing restrictions to help protect against terrorism, espionage and public safety threats.
Drones have a wide range of civilian uses, but the war in Ukraine has highlighted some potential threats that concern officials as the World Cup and Olympics approach in the U.S.
White House officials also say regulations have slowed development of supersonic flights and flying cars.
Trump says he鈥檚 planning a ballroom at the White House
President Donald Trump says he鈥檚 planning to build a new ballroom at the White House, posting on his social media Friday that he 鈥渋nspected the site鈥� on the grounds.
Trump pledged it would go up 鈥渜uickly鈥� and be a 鈥渨onderful addition鈥� to the complex, but provided no design details about the location, how much it would cost or who would foot the bill.
Trump has long complained that the East Room is too small for the large events he and other presidents want to host, which often necessitates the installation of tents on the South Lawn.
鈥淔or 150 years, Presidents, and many others, have wanted a beautiful Ballroom, but it never got built because nobody previously had any knowledge or experience in doing such things,鈥� Trump posted, adding 鈥淏ut I do.鈥�
US and China meet for trade talks on Monday in London
President Donald Trump says U.S. and Chinese delegations will meet in London on Monday for another round of trade talks.
Trump wrote in a social media post Friday that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer would represent the U.S. at the talks.
He previewed the meeting on Thursday after a call with Chinese President Xi Jinping, but a time and location had not yet been revealed.
Yemeni Americans could make Trump pay at the polls over his travel ban, Detroit imam says
A Michigan imam who presided over a prayer service marking the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha says President Donald Trump鈥檚 new travel ban could backfire on the Republican Party.
The travel ban announced Wednesday by the White House applies to citizens of Yemen and 11 other nations.
鈥淲e saw the price that the Democratic Party had to pay for undermining the Palestinian voice. There are many people that avoided voting altogether just because of this country鈥檚 policies toward Gaza,鈥� Imam Imran Salha told The Associated Press, referring to Trump in November becoming the first Republican presidential candidate since 2000 to win the majority-Arab city of Dearborn.
鈥淟et鈥檚 not make the same mistake,鈥� Salha said.
Salha spoke to AP on Friday, after leading the Eid service at the Islamic Center of Detroit, a mosque with a significant number of Yemeni American worshippers.
Transgender troops face a deadline and a difficult decision: Stay or go?
As transgender service members face a , hundreds are taking the financial bonus to depart voluntarily. But others say they will stay and fight.
For many, it is a wrenching decision to end a career they love, and leave units they have led or worked with for years. And they are angry they are being forced out by the Trump administration鈥檚 .
Active duty service members with gender dysphoria have until Friday to the military voluntarily, while the National Guard and Reserve have until July 7. Then the military will begin involuntary separations.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e tired of the rollercoaster. They just want to go,鈥� said one transgender service member, who plans to retire. 鈥滻t鈥檚 exhausting.鈥�
For others, it鈥檚 a call to arms.
鈥淚鈥檓 choosing to stay in and fight,鈥� a noncommissioned officer in the Air Force said. 鈥淢y service is based on merit, and I鈥檝e earned that merit.鈥�
The service members spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they fear reprisals.
World Pride鈥檚 human rights conference ends with drag show amid mounting threats to LGBTQ+ community
鈥檚 human rights conference ended Friday with a drag show featuring some of the most prominent stars from Rupaul鈥檚 Drag Race ahead of a weekend parade, rally and concerts amid over an increasingly hostile political environment for the LGBTQ+ community in the U.S.
Courtney Act, the first drag performer in the world to debut on a major label, crooned a slowed-down version of Lady Gaga鈥檚 鈥淧oker Face鈥� against a backdrop of glittering rainbow pixels. Peppermint, the first trans woman to originate a principal Broadway role, strutted in a shimmering bodysuit to Whitney Houston鈥檚 鈥淚鈥檓 Your Baby Tonight.鈥�
Bob the Drag Queen, a nonbinary comedian, actor and drag performer, belted Dionne Warwick鈥檚 鈥淚 Got Love.鈥� And TV personality and actor Mrs. Kasha Davis twirled in a sparkling black gown to Kelly Clarkson singing the words 鈥淲e are all misfits living in a world on fire. Sing it for the people like us.鈥�
Many LGBTQ+ travelers have or decided to skip due to anxieties about safety, border policies and a hostile political climate. Yet cross-national strategizing has still been central to as international attendees at the human rights conference echoed that they wanted to send a clear to U.S. officials with their presence.
鈥淭his is World Pride on Trump鈥檚 doorstep,鈥� said Yasmin Benoit, a British model and asexual activist.
鈥楽ee you in the woodchipper,鈥� ex-USAID staffers tell Musk
A social media account run by recently terminated staffers of the U.S. aid agency that Elon Musk helped destroy had Friday after his public falling-out with President Donald Trump.
鈥淲e鈥檒l see you in the woodchipper,鈥� the group, Friends of USAID, said on Instagram.
Ex-staffers of the U.S. Agency for International Development began the account in the early days of the agency鈥檚 dismantling by the Trump administration and Musk鈥檚 Department of Government Efficiency.
The remark referenced Musk鈥檚 own Feb. 3 boast on X after his DOGE team helped rout USAID staffers from the agency鈥檚 headquarters and computer systems.
鈥淪pent the weekend feeding USAID into a wood chipper,鈥� Musk said then.
Musk and Trump turned on each other this week over the administration鈥檚 funding legislation this week. The dispute led Trump to threaten to yank billions of dollars in government contracts from Musk.
The sign-off to Friday鈥檚 Friends of USAID post noted DOGE鈥檚 hands-on role in cuts at USAID and other federal agencies.
鈥淪incerely, one of the 50,000 people you laid off by email鈥�
Rep. Becca Balint says GOP control of the US House limits ways Dems can protect LGBTQ+ rights
In the final hour of World Pride鈥檚 human rights conference, Democratic Rep. Becca Balint, of Vermont, acknowledged that GOP control of the U.S. House limits the ways that Democrats can work to protect LGBTQ+ rights amid mounting threats.
Balint emphasized the importance of working with Republicans across the aisle and with human rights groups that have sued the Trump administration.
The Trump administration has issued executive orders to recognize people as being only male or female, keep transgender girls and women out of sports competitions for females, oust transgender military troops, restrict federal funding for gender-affirming care for transgender people under age 19 and threatened research funding for institutions that provide the care.
All the efforts are being challenged in court, and judges have put some policies on hold.
鈥淚n this time of incredible fear and anxiety in our community, of course, it feels like we, as representatives, are not doing enough,鈥� Balint said. 鈥�... We have to get creative about how we do this work.鈥�
Rep. Becca Balint urges Dems to take advantage of GOP confusion amid Trump, Musk fallout
In the final event of World Pride鈥檚 human rights conference, Democratic Rep. Becca Balint, Vermont鈥檚 first woman and first openly gay person to represent the state in Congress, urged Democrats to take advantage of the confusion within the GOP amid , especially to protect transgender rights.
鈥淲e do have an opportunity here because our colleagues don鈥檛 know who to support and they鈥檙e scared, and we must exploit that,鈥� Balint said.
Rep. Emily Randall, who won her race for Washington鈥檚 6th Congressional District in 2024, said the tension between Trump and Musk 鈥渋s reflective of the chaos within the Republican party.鈥�
House leader Jeffries sees 鈥榦pportunity鈥� in Trump-Musk feud
The House Democratic Leader calls the Trump-Musk breakup feud a 鈥渨elcome development鈥� in his efforts to defeat the GOP tax breaks and spending cuts package.
鈥淭o the extent that Musk has declared the bill a 鈥榙isgusting abomination,鈥� we agree,鈥� said Rep. Hakeem Jeffries.
鈥淭he opportunity that exists right now is to kill the GOP tax scam,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e have to keep the pressure on House Republicans and Senate Republicans to do the right thing.鈥�
Senators urge Pentagon to reverse transgender ban
Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Illinois, and 22 other Senate Democrats are calling on the Pentagon to reverse its decision to force transgender service members out of the military.
Active duty troops with gender dysphoria have until today to identify themselves and leave voluntarily, and Guard and Reserve members have until July 7. After that, the department will begin involuntary removals.
In a letter to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, the senators said the ban will hurt military readiness, lethality and unit cohesion.
鈥淏anning them from service will compromise good order and discipline, take deployable servicemembers out of the fight and create national security risks felt for years to come,鈥� the letter said.
The department has said that 鈥渋t is not in the best interests of the military鈥� or national security to allow troops with gender dysphoria to serve.
Trump administration asks Supreme Court to leave layoffs at Education Department in place
The Trump administration is asking the Supreme Court to pause a court order to reinstate Education Department employees who were fired in as part of his plan to .
The Justice Department鈥檚 emergency appeal on Friday to the high court said U.S. District Judge Myong Joun in Boston exceeded his authority last month when he issued a preliminary injunction reversing the layoffs of nearly 1,400 people and putting the broader plan on hold.
Joun鈥檚 order has blocked one of the Republican president鈥檚 biggest campaign promises and effectively stalled the effort to wind down the department. A federal appeals court refused to put the order on hold while the administration appealed.
The judge wrote that the layoffs 鈥渨ill likely cripple the department.鈥�
But Solicitor General D. John Sauer wrote on Friday that Joun was substituting his policy preferences for those of the Trump administration.
Democratic attorneys general challenge Trump鈥檚 election overhaul in court
Democratic state attorneys general are to block President Donald Trump鈥檚 proposal for an overhaul of U.S. elections in a case that tests a constitutional bedrock 鈥� the separation of powers.
The top law enforcement officials from 19 states filed a federal lawsuit after the Republican president signed the executive order in March. The states say the order steps on states鈥� power to set their own election rules.
During a Friday hearing in federal court in Boston, lawyers for the states argued the changes outlined in the order could not be implemented before the next election and could cost California alone $1 billion to implement.
Lawyers for the U.S. government say the next federal election is 18 months away and the harm the states claim is speculative.
Trump plans to attend UFC 316 in New Jersey
Trump is set to attend Saturday鈥檚 nights UFC 316 in Newark, New Jersey 鈥� continuing his trend of largely traveling domestically to attend sport events.
Since retaking the White House in January, Trump went to the Super Bowl in New Orleans and the Daytona 500 in Florida, as well as a UFC fight in Miami and the NCAA wrestling championships in Philadelphia.
That means he鈥檚 traveled more frequently to watch sports than to attend political rallies or make other trips focused on domestic policy. Trump planned to spend Friday night at his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, which makes for a short trip to be there for Saturday鈥檚 fight.
Johnson confident of passing big tax and immigration bill despite Musk criticism
Speaker Mike Johnson is expressing confidence that the growing dispute between President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk will not harm the GOP鈥檚 prospects of passing Trump鈥檚 big tax and immigration bill.
Musk has tweeted on X that lawmakers should call lawmakers and 鈥淜ILL the BILL.鈥�
Johnson told reporters that he exchanged text messages with Musk on Thursday, but he would not reveal the content. He also said he was in constant communication with Trump.
鈥淢embers are not shaken at all,鈥� Johnson said of the dispute. 鈥淲e鈥檙e going to pass this legislation on our deadline.鈥�
Watchdog investigates if staff was asked to delete Hegseth鈥檚 Signal messages
The Pentagon watchdog is looking into whether any of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth鈥檚 aides were asked to delete Signal messages that may have shared sensitive military information with a reporter.
That鈥檚 according to two people familiar with the investigation and documents reviewed by The Associated Press. The people weren鈥檛 authorized to discuss the investigation and spoke on condition of anonymity.
The inspector general is asking some past and current staffers who were with Hegseth on the day of the airstrikes on Houthi targets in Yemen who actually posted the information and who had access to his phone.
Details about the military strikes were shared in multiple Signal chats, including one that inadvertently included The Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg.
Neither the Pentagon nor the inspector general鈥檚 office immediately responded to requests for comment.
鈥� Tara Copp
Elon Musk pulls back on threat to withdraw Dragon spacecraft
Musk is dialing back his threat to decommission a capsule used to take astronauts and supplies to the International Space Station for NASA. The threat came as President Donald Trump and Musk argued on social media on Thursday.
Trump said he could cut government contracts given to Musk鈥檚 rocket company, SpaceX. Musk responded by saying SpaceX would begin decommissioning its Dragon spacecraft.
It was unclear how serious Musk鈥檚 threat was, but several hours later 鈥� in 鈥� he said he wouldn鈥檛 do it. SpaceX is the only U.S. company capable right now of transporting crews to and from the space station, using its four-person Dragon capsules. It could also pay Russia to ferry astronauts.
Elon Musk could lose big profits for Tesla under a new GOP budget proposal
Republican senators have inserted language into the budget bill amid the Musk v. Trump feud that would eliminate fines for gas-powered cars that fall short of fuel economy standards. Tesla has a thriving side business selling 鈥渞egulatory credits鈥� to other automakers to make up for their shortfalls.
The credits business was widely thought vulnerable to cuts even before the feud, and Musk has downplayed its importance. But the changes would hurt Tesla as it reels from boycotts. Credit sales jumped by a third to $595 million in the first three months of the year as total revenue slumped.
Hiring was slow but steady last month; unemployment rate stayed at 4.2%
The government鈥檚 monthly jobs report, released Friday, showed that employers added 139,000 jobs last month, down slightly from the previous month鈥檚 gain of 147,000. Hiring at that level is typically enough to keep the unemployment rate from rising over time, but represents a slowdown compared with a year ago, when nearly 200,000 jobs were added.
The hiring mostly occurred in the health care, restaurant and hotels, and financial services industries. The Trump administration鈥檚 top economists have previously criticized job gains in those areas as mostly either low-paying or, in the case of health care, partly dependent on government spending.
Manufacturing, a particular focus of the White House and the intended beneficiaries of President Donald Trump鈥檚 tariffs, cut 8,000 jobs last month. Since Trump鈥檚 inauguration, the sector has gained just 6,000 positions. It shed jobs last year.
The overall job gains were slightly better than financial markets expected, so stock futures rose on the news.
What鈥檚 next for Trump-Musk relationship?
After Thursday鈥檚 spectacular blow-up between President Donald Trump and Elon Musk -- which unfolded in real time -- the big question for this Friday is: What next?
In a call with ABC 蜜桃视频app on Friday, Trump called Musk a 鈥渕an who has lost his mind.鈥� According to the network鈥檚 correspondent, Jon Karl, the president said he is 鈥渘ot particularly鈥� interested in speaking with Musk directly.
Still, Trump said Musk wants to talk to him,
Shares of Elon Musk鈥檚 electric vehicle maker as investors dumped holdings, as investors fear his dispute with President Donald Trump could end up hurting the company.
There appear to be no plans for a call between the two men Friday
A source familiar with Trump鈥檚 thinking said Musk wants to have a call but the president doesn鈥檛 want to do it today. The person requested anonymity to disclose private conversations.
鈥� Chris Megerian
Judge puts temporary hold on Trump鈥檚 latest ban on Harvard鈥檚 foreign students
A federal judge late Thursday temporarily blocked a by Trump that banned foreign students from entering the U.S. to attend Harvard University.
Trump鈥檚 proclamation was the latest attempt by his administration to prevent the nation鈥檚 oldest and wealthiest college from enrolling a , who account for much of Harvard鈥檚 research and scholarship.
Harvard the next day, asking for a judge to block Trump鈥檚 order and calling it illegal retaliation for Harvard鈥檚 . Harvard said the president was attempting an end-run around a previous court order.
A few hours later, U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs in Boston issued a temporary restraining order against Trump鈥檚 Wednesday proclamation.
The Associated Press
