News & Current Events

The Justice Department filed a statement of interest on August 27, 2026, asking a federal court to dismiss the Oklahoma Attorney General's nuisance lawsuit against a proposed primary aluminum smelter in Inola, arguing the suit is premature because federal Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act permitting processes are the appropriate venue. DOJ cited national security grounds, noting the U.S. currently produces less than 1% of global primary aluminum and the facility, backed by a $500 million DOE grant, would more than double domestic output. The smelter remains in engineering and permitting stages with no final environmental approvals issued, and the court has not yet ruled on the dismissal request.

Judge Allison D. Burroughs of the U.S. District Court for Massachusetts lifted an administrative stay on the termination of Temporary Protected Status for Somalia, denying emergency relief for an estimated 1,082 approved beneficiaries and allowing the termination to proceed effective August 14, 2026. The court found plaintiffs had not demonstrated sufficient likelihood of success on due process or equal protection claims, though it did not issue a final ruling on whether the termination was lawful. Plaintiffs filed an appeal the same day, now docketed as First Circuit case number 26-1930, and the merits of the termination remain unresolved.