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  • Trump’s Tariffs: Key Updates and Ongoing Debate

    Trump’s Tariffs: Key Updates and Ongoing Debate

    One of President Trump’s myriad “first-day” promises, the plan to leverage tariffs against Canada, Mexico, and China drew attention on the campaign trail. Two weeks into his second term, the campaign promise came to fruition via three consecutive executive orders, sparking economic debate and what some are calling a trade war with neighboring countries. 

    The Executive Orders

    On February first, the White House released an emergency memo announcing new tariffs as a means to combat “the extraordinary threat posed by illegal aliens and drugs”. The declaration alluded to executive orders from the same day which invoked the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China. Collectively, these orders levied 25% tariffs on all goods from Canada and Mexico and a 10% tariff on all goods from China. The first order carves out a smaller 10% tariff on energy resources imported from Canada to limit domestic energy shortages.

    Diplomatic Standoff and Temporary Delay

    Just before the tariffs were set to take effect, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau negotiated a 30-day delay, agreeing to several conditions. The 30-day window sets a tight deadline for implementing the following measures, with the potential for future U.S. tariffs lingering in the case of failed implementation:

    Canada:

    • Appointing a Fentanyl Czar: Canada will designate a high-level official responsible for coordinating efforts to combat fentanyl production and distribution.
    • Designation of Drug Cartels as Terrorist Organizations: This move aims to enhance legal frameworks for tackling organized crime.
    • Intelligence Sharing and Funding: Canada will implement an intelligence directive targeting fentanyl and organized crime, supported by substantial funding.
    • Border Security Enhancements: Canada has pledged to bolster its border security measures to prevent illegal crossings and drug smuggling.

    Mexico:

    • Deployment of National Guard: Mexico will send 10,000 National Guard troops to its northern border to prevent drug trafficking and illegal immigration.
    • Cooperation on Weapons Trafficking: Mexico will work jointly with the U.S. to curb the trafficking of weapons into Mexico.

    China did not negotiate a delay, and instead retaliated immediately with its own tariffs on American energy and agricultural imports. China also filed an official dispute in the World Trade Organization.

    During negotiations for the 30-day-delay, Canada also retaliated with its own tariffs on U.S. goods. On February 4th, Prime Minister Trudeau implemented a CA$155 billion tariff package that will impact myriad products including steel and plastic, household appliances, and coffee. Mexico has not yet proposed retaliatory tariffs. 

    Prospective Impacts

    The Trump administration’s use of tariffs is not new; in his first term, President Trump levied considerable tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, impacting China, India, the European Union, and other trade partners. However, President Trump’s recent executive orders have drawn increased attention for their novel scope. This is the first time in American history that a sitting President has invoked IEEPA to leverage tariffs, bypassing the formal investigation process required under other tariff-related laws like Section 232. Supporters emphasize that the use of IEEPA allows President Trump to act more efficiently in light of the pressing opioid crisis, while critics warn that using IEEPA to implement tariffs risks unchecked executive authority. 

    Economically, some experts warn that this round of tariffs could raise consumer prices significantly more than the tariffs from the last Trump administration due to their expanded scope, targeting of consumer goods, and ongoing inflation. A report from the Tax Foundation estimates that tariffs will function as a hidden tax, potentially costing households hundreds of dollars annually. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called the tariffs “the beginning of a golden age of higher costs for American families”, warning that they would strain relations with allies and worsen supply chain issues. On the other hand, some argue that Trump’s tariff strategy has already succeeded in forcing Canada and Mexico to the negotiating table, leading to unprecedented commitments to address border security and the drug trade. They emphasize that the proposed tariffs were a strategic move to force cooperation from neighboring countries on pressing issues, despite the short-term economic cost. 

    Will the Tariffs Actually Be Imposed?

    While the 30-day delay provides an opportunity for Canada and Mexico to fulfill their commitments, President Trump has stated that he fully intends to impose tariffs if they fail to act decisively. Moreover, on February 13th, President Trump signed a memo calling for research on retaliatory tariffs, signaling that the White House is preparing to impose additional tariffs on nations like Canada and China that initially retaliated with tariffs of their own.

  • Pros and Cons of the Behavioral Health Information Technology Coordination Act

    Pros and Cons of the Behavioral Health Information Technology Coordination Act

    Despite an unprecedented demand for mental health and substance use services in the U.S., psychiatric hospitals utilize electronic health records (EHRs) at significantly lower rates than general medical practices. EHRs are electronic versions of patient health profiles, and include information such as relevant demographics, past diagnoses and treatments, lab report data, and vaccination history. EHRs are nearly ubiquitous in general medicine due to their ability to facilitate coordination between providers and reduce duplication in testing and treatment. The Behavioral Health Information Technology (BHIT) Coordination Act of 2023 aims to develop standards for mental health EHRs, promoting their adoption nationwide. If passed, the bill would allocate $20 million annually to grant funding for mental health providers over five years beginning in 2024. 

    The Problem

    The U.S. is facing a growing mental health and substance use crisis, with 21% of adults experiencing mental illness and 15% affected by substance use disorders. The pandemic exacerbated this issue, increasing symptoms of anxiety and overdose deaths, yet the demand for mental health services has not fully rebounded. In response, experts emphasize the urgent need for technology infrastructure to support behavioral healthcare and address these escalating issues.

    Research indicates a significant gap in EHR adoption between general and psychiatric hospitals. An analysis of American Hospital Association survey data from 2019 and 2021 found that 86% of general acute care hospitals had adopted a 2015 Edition certified EHR, compared to only 67% of psychiatric hospitals. Outdated privacy laws requiring providers to segregate their health records from others and inconsistent state regulations create challenges for mental health record sharing. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), privacy and disclosure laws for mental health records vary widely from state to state. Some states, like Massachusetts and Colorado, require strict consent procedures to share mental health records, while others, like Kansas and Mississippi, allow broader disclosures without patient consent.

    While the HITECH Act of 2009 allocated federal funds to incentivize the use of EHRs in healthcare systems, behavioral health systems were excluded from these incentive payments. Researchers believe this omission was likely due to the difficulty of reconciling national standards with the patchwork of differing state-level mental health privacy laws. 

    The Plan

    Behavioral health integration is becoming an increasingly high priority for both the healthcare industry and the federal government. Leaders at the Office of Policy of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) are looking to revamp EHR systems to be friendlier to behavioral health needs. Beginning in FY25, the BHIT Coordination Act aims to reach this goal by providing $20 million a year in grant funding. Specifically, under the Act, the ONC must grant awards to behavioral health care providers, including physicians, psychologists, and social workers, to support integration and coordination of services. These grants can be used to purchase or upgrade technology to meet specified federal certification standards for health information technology.

    The Pros 

    Proponents argue that enhanced adoption of Electronic Health Records (EHR) under the BHIT Coordination Act can significantly strengthen behavioral healthcare by improving coordination and expanding access to resources for patients. These systems promote better integration of mental health and addiction treatment, improving the quality of behavioral healthcare overall. Considering the increasing oversight of the behavioral health industry, including financial penalties for underperformance and underreporting, proponents say EHR technology can help create more accountable care models.

    Supporters argue that the integration of services through EHR systems can also bridge the gap between physical and behavioral health, enabling a “no wrong door” approach. This ensures that no matter how patients enter the healthcare system, they will have access to all available services. As Senator Cortez Masto, a strong supporter of the Act, stated, “Mental health is just as important as physical health, and it is essential that behavioral health care providers have the same access to the technology and electronic health records that other practices utilize daily.”

    Proponents also point to research that suggests implementing EHRs helps improve patient safety by reducing errors and streamlining care processes. They hold that coordinated care improves efficiency across the system, which can lead to better outcomes. A study of more than 90 clinical trials found that collaborative care improves access to mental health services and is more effective and cost-efficient than standard treatments for anxiety and depression. Proponents say the BHIT Coordination Act could benefit psychiatric hospitals and residential treatment centers especially, which are crucial parts of the mental healthcare system.

    Another potential benefit of the BHIT Coordination Act is that health IT data can be used to address clinical priorities, improve workflows, and provide technical information that helps better integrate services across behavioral health settings. Proponents emphasize that the data organization capabilities that come with EHRs can be valuable in identifying problems and improving healthcare delivery.

    The Cons

    The implementation of electronic health records (EHRs) and IT tools in behavioral health faces significant privacy and security challenges. As noted by the NIH, while these tools offer great potential to enhance behavioral health, they also create risks, particularly with sensitive data like narrative records which include personal histories and psychiatric diagnoses. This information, when exposed to breaches or misinterpretation, can have serious consequences for both patients and clinicians. If public health authorities disclose intimate information, individuals may suffer embarrassment, stigma and discrimination in employment, insurance and government programs. Although HIPAA privacy and security rules have been applied to protect psychotherapy notes and other behavioral health information, protecting this data remains a complex issue. Keeping records secure is a challenge that doctors, public health officials, and regulators are still working to fully address. Firewalls, antivirus software, and intrusion detection systems are needed to protect data. Employees must also follow strict rules to maintain privacy, such as avoiding sharing their EHR login information, always logging off, and using their own ID to access patient records. Critics of increasing EHR use in mental healthcare argue that providers must go to great lengths to ensure patient information stays confidential, which poses a risk of sensitive data leaks. 

    Distrust for EHRs and health IT technology also stands in the way of being able to integrate these technologies in behavioral health settings. Concerns about unauthorized access are particularly prominent. According to a study, more than half of adults over 30 report being either “very” or “somewhat” concerned that an unauthorized person may access their records. Another study, published by the NIH, found that a majority of mental health clinicians expressed concern over privacy issues that arose after the adoption of EHRs, with 63% expressing low willingness to record confidential information in an EHR, and 83% preferring that the EHR system be modified to limit access to their patients’ psychiatric records. This distrust can lead patients to avoid clinical tests and treatments, withdraw from research, or provide inaccurate or incomplete health information.

    The lack of clarity around health IT standards further complicates EHR implementation. There are still many unknowns regarding how to integrate EHRs in behavioral health settings. Although the BHIT Coordination Act plans to invest in developing EHRs and necessary equipment to enable the exchange of electronic health information, there is a lack of clear guidelines on how to fulfill these goals while ensuring the IT tools meet the needs of behavioral health practices.  

    Conclusion 

    The BHIT  Coordination Act aims to address the significant gap in EHR adoption between behavioral health providers and general medical practices. By providing funding to enhance the development and interoperability of mental health EHRs, the Act strives to improve care coordination for patients with mental health and substance use disorders. However, privacy concerns remain a critical issue; protecting sensitive information is essential to gaining the trust of both providers and patients. Balancing the need for improved data sharing with strong privacy protections will be key to the Act’s success.

  • The Laken Riley Act and Immigration Policy

    The Laken Riley Act and Immigration Policy

    On January 29th, President Trump signed the Laken Rikey Act into law. This law now requires the Department of Homeland Security to detain and deport non-U.S. nationals who are accused, but not yet convicted, of “theft, burglary, assaulting a law enforcement officer, and any crime that causes death or serious bodily injury.” The law has received support from Republicans and some Democrats, with 12 Democratic senators voting in support of the bill in order to send it to the President’s desk to be signed into law.

    Background

    Laken Rikey was a nursing student who was murdered by Jose Ibarra, a man who was initially arrested for illegal entry into the United States in 2022 near El Paso, Texas. Ibarra was temporarily released by immigration officials due to the surge in immigration and was allowed to pursue his case in immigration court. 

    Contents of the Law

    The law aims to immediately deport undocumented immigrants if they are arrested for specific crimes, regardless if they have been convicted of the crime. Trump and his Republican allies have pushed for the passing of the law, arguing that the law gives law enforcement the means to detain illegal immigrants once arrested. Additionally, the law also grants States the power to sue the federal government if it fails to enforce this immigration policy.

    Supporters of the law argue that the law provides the necessary to keep illegal immigrants accused of crime off the streets. The law also aims to enforce border security and mass deportation. They also believe that this law will “prevent situations like what occurred to Laken Riley” as stated by Arizona’s democratic Senator Ruben Gallego.

    Critics of the law argue that it strips migrants of their right to due process of the law as they would be deported without having been found guilty of the accused crime. The law would grant law enforcement the power to arrest, detain, and deport an immigrant even if the police later concluded that he was not involved in the crime. Critics argue that the nation currently lacks the safeguards necessary to ensure that immigrants who have temporarily protected status, such as immigrants under DACA, are protected from the law as they might be accidentally detained and deported before receiving their due process. Additionally, Democrats have criticized the law for failing to allocate funds to support the law’s initiative as the law is estimated to cost $83 billion over the next three years and does not address the root causes of immigration.  

  • Maria Tokarev, Liberty University

    Maria Tokarev, Liberty University

    Maria Tokarev is a dynamic individual originally from Ukraine, bringing a rich cultural perspective and multilingual background to every endeavor. Fluent in multiple languages, Maria bridges cultural and linguistic divides with ease, embodying a global mindset. As a dedicated doctoral student and aspiring law professional, Maria is passionate about exploring the intersection of law, politics, and international relations.With a deep commitment to understanding and addressing complex legal and political issues, Maria aims to advocate for justice and positive change. This passion for law and politics drives her academic pursuits, particularly in the areas of international relations and criminal law. Guided by a strong sense of purpose and an unwavering drive, Maria is set on a path to make meaningful contributions to the legal field, aspiring to shape policy and empower communities worldwide.

    https://www.linkedin.com/in/maria-tokarev-27752421

  • Angel Gao, University of California Berkeley

    Angel Gao, University of California Berkeley

    Xing (Angel) Gao is an undergraduate student at UC Berkeley, pursuing a major in Legal Studies with a minor in French. Angel has a diverse research background, including studies on racial inequality, comparative evaluations of the presidencies of Joe Biden and Donald Trump, regulatory frameworks for unmanned vessels, and the innovative application of artificial intelligence in jury science. As an immigrant herself, Angel is deeply passionate about exploring the social and legal challenges faced by immigrant communities. She has a strong passion for promoting inclusivity, equity, and access to justice within immigration systems, aiming to support and empower underserved populations. Angel chose to minor in French to deepen her understanding of global cultures and expand her ability to engage with diverse perspectives. By studying French, she seeks to enhance her ability to foster cross-cultural understanding and collaboration. Outside of school, Angel enjoys photography and traveling, capturing moments from her adventures around the world. She also finds relaxation in baking, despite her ongoing challenge of perfecting a sponge cake after four unsuccessful attempts.

    https://www.linkedin.com/in/xinggao1001/

  • Valerie Ferguson, University of Texas at Austin

    Valerie Ferguson, University of Texas at Austin

    Valerie Ferguson is a first-year graduate student at the University of Texas at Austin, where she is working on her master’s in Global Policy Studies. Her primary focus in school is security studies and environmental policy and how these two can help to provide security from the ground up. She particularly likes to focus on how these two intersect with cultural preservation. Through these passions, she was able to learn more about international immigration and the reasons that would motivate someone to do so. Valerie had the opportunity to learn more about the refugee process through her internship with Refugee Services of Texas. There, she was able to create maps tailored to different regional markets or cultural hubs to try and help the refugees feel comfortable in Austin, Texas. Outside of school and work, she enjoys reading of any genre and hiking.

    www.linkedin.com/in/valerie-ferguson-36baa41a9 

  • Michael Azimi, Brandeis University

  • Ashley Eduardo Espinoza, George Mason University

    Ashley Eduardo Espinoza, George Mason University

    Ashley Eduardo Espinoza is a senior at George Mason University, majoring in Sociology with a minor in Immigration Studies. She has cultivated a strong academic and professional foundation as a research assistant at her university’s research lab, where she has contributed to articles and participated in projects focused on social stratification, higher education, and immigration. As a second-generation immigrant, Ashley’s connection to immigration is deeply personal, rooted in her lived experiences and those of her community. Growing up in a diverse, immigrant-dense area, she has had the opportunity to engage closely with immigrants and refugees, inspiring her passion for researching, understanding, and advocating for equitable immigration policies that foster inclusion and opportunity. Her work reflects her commitment to using research as a tool to address systemic inequities and drive social justice. Beyond her academic and professional pursuits, Ashley is dedicated to building meaningful connections with those around her. She enjoys traveling to explore new cultures, attending concerts of all genres, and watching movies with her friends and family.

    www.linkedin.com/in/ashleyeespinoza

  • Taylor Petrosino, University of South Carolina

    Taylor Petrosino, University of South Carolina

    Taylor Petrosino (she/her) is a Pre-Law student at the University of South Carolina Honors College studying Public Policy for Social Justice. She is currently interning at the Richland County Office of Community Development, and has previously worked with South Carolina Legal Services, the Office of Economic Opportunity, and the USDA’s Summer Break Cafe program. Taylor founded the Student Mutual Aid Network, through which she facilitates partnerships between universities and K-12 schools aimed at providing students with equitable access to resources. She has previously been a scholar at the American Civil Liberties Union’s Advocacy Institute and the Public Policy and International Affairs Program’s Public Service Weekend. She witnessed early on what personal finances can make people vulnerable to, and is dedicated to making improvements at the intersection of victim advocacy and economic justice. In her free time, Taylor enjoys volunteering, oil painting, archery, and learning to play the lyre harp. 

    www.linkedin.com/in/taylor-petrosino-55515623a

  • Helen Yibrah, Columbia University

    Helen Yibrah, Columbia University

    Helen is a junior at Columbia University studying Sustainable Development with a concentration in Sociology. Originally from Denver, she grew up surrounded by Colorado’s beautiful natural landscape which fostered her interest in environmental work. Combining her interest in the environment with social justice, Helen began to explore the broad impacts of environmental justice issues. Through her studies, she developed particular policy interests in housing, energy, and transportation equity. Her previous experience includes an internship at the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law, researching how the National Environmental Policy Act impacts clean infrastructure projects, and a position as a student researcher for the energy opportunity lab at the Center on Global Energy Policy. She is excited to dive deeper into housing and transportation policy while contributing to ACE’s existing research as a student fellow. In the future, Helen hopes to address issues within these spaces through legal and policy pathways. During her free time, she enjoys nice hikes, runs, and coffee shops!

    https://www.linkedin.com/in/helen-yibrah/