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Amtrak Adirondack train at Rouses Point, New York, near the Quebec border — illustrative; the proposal does not name specific services — Photo: David McCormack, CC BY 2.0

Policy Watch|United States, Canada

U.S. border agency proposes making railways send it every cross-border passenger’s details an hour before the train leaves

A U.S. Customs and Border Protection proposed rule, scheduled for Federal Register publication on 13 October 2026, would require rail carriers to transmit each passenger’s and crew member’s name, date of birth, sex, citizenship, residence, travel-document details, itinerary, U.S. address, seat, and phone and email if given, at least 60 minutes before any train leaves for or from the United States, including trains to and from Canada. Sharing this data has been voluntary since 2005, and CBP says one carrier does it now. Comments are open for 60 days.

Daily Teabag Desk·Centre
Rio Grande in Big Bend National Park, Texas — Photo: Yinan Chen, public domain

Policy Watch|United States

DHS makes its fast-track fines for migrants who ignore removal orders permanent, after issuing about 176,000 under the interim rule

A joint DHS–Justice final rule, published 14 October 2026 at 91 FR 65390, adopts the June 2025 interim rule that lets ICE and CBP issue civil fines directly and moves appeals from the Board of Immigration Appeals to a DHS supervisor. The only change: ICE may accept a late appeal if documented mail delays caused it. Fines run up to $998 a day for willfully failing to leave after a final removal order. The rule is effective on publication.

Daily Teabag Desk·Centre
Abstract accountability illustration — The Daily Teabag

Accountability|United States

DHS watchdog: ICE received 3.1 million visa-overstay leads in 2021–24, and lead-driven investigations produced eight arrests

A DHS Inspector General audit (OIG-26-38, 29 September 2026) found ICE rated 104,049 overstay leads as potential security or safety concerns, deemed 21,885 viable, investigated 496 and made eight arrests from those investigations. A 2021 enforcement-priorities memo narrowed the work, and bad address data got in the way. ICE separately arrested thousands of overstays through other operations.

Daily Teabag Desk·Centre
Rio Grande in Big Bend National Park, Texas — Photo: Yinan Chen, public domain

Accountability|United States

Judge halts Big Bend border-barrier work until DHS follows the laws it waived

On 2 October 2026 Judge Kathleen Cardone (W.D. Tex.) granted a preliminary injunction in Friends of the Ruidosa Church v. Mullin, No. EP-26-CV-1099-KC. Effective immediately, defendants may not build border barrier or do ground-disturbing work in the Big Bend Sector until they comply with all applicable laws. The order stays the effect of the named Big Bend IIRIRA waivers. A memorandum opinion is still to come — this is not a final merits ruling.

Daily Teabag Desk·Centre
U.S. Supreme Court Building — Photo: Kjetil Ree, CC BY-SA 3.0

Accountability|United States

SCOTUS stays block on third-country removals — and takes the merits

On 29 September 2026 the Supreme Court granted the government’s emergency stay in DHS v. D.V.D. (No. 26A406), pausing a Massachusetts district-court judgment that had blocked third-country removal guidance, treated the application as a cert petition, granted review (No. 26-426), and set December 2026 argument. Justices Sotomayor, Kagan, and Jackson would have denied the stay.

Daily Teabag Desk·Slight right