Ryan Farrick is a freelance writer and small business advertising consultant based out of mid-Michigan. Passionate about international politics and world affairs, he’s an avid traveler with a keen interest in the connections between South Asia and the United States. Ryan studied neuroscience and has spent the last several years working as an operations manager in transportation logistics.


Court Says Encouraging Illegal Travel to U.S. is Free Speech

A federal law barring Americans from encouraging or inducing foreign nationals to illegal travel to or stay in the United States has been stricken down. On Tuesday, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals reversed the conviction of California resident Evelyn Sineneng-Smith. Sineneng-Smith, writes Bloomberg.com, was prosecuted under a law the 9th Circuit called “unconstitutionally overbroad.”


Rep. Pramila Jayapal Visits Migrant Caravan Over Weekend

Washington Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D) headed across the U.S. border on Saturday, offering assistance and support for thousands of migrants gathered in Tijuana. Before setting off for the U.S.-Mexico border, Jayapal paused to offer her perspective on the migrant caravan that’s been prodding political tensions for weeks. Taking on President Donald Trump—who’s frequently referred to


Ill. Gov. Bruce Rauner Slams Airbnb, Politicizes Personal Ideology

Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner is calling for an investigation into Airbnb, claiming the company enforces discrimination against Israelis. The popular home-sharing agglomerate recently announced that it’d de-list any properties located in Israeli settlements in the West Bank. The West Bank, part of Muslim-majority Palestine, is crisscrossed by a series of small Jewish outposts. Often called


WSJ: Small, Inexpensive Handguns May Not Be Safe for Everyday Carrying

A Wall Street Journal investigation suggests that small, inexpensive handguns may not be safe for everyday use. Heading its story, the WSJ spoke to 34-year old teacher Travis Barthel. Barthel, a South Dakota native, regularly carried a pistol made by Utah Inc.’s Cobra Enterprises. As the owner of about 20 other guns, Barthel thought he


Iowa Inmates’ Suit to Keep Pornography in Prisons Struggles to Stay Afloat

A group of Iowa inmates intent on overturning the state’s decision to keep pornography out of prisons is beginning to buckle under legal pressure. The Des Moines Register reports that fifty-eight inmates from the Fort Dodge Correctional Center launched the suit in October. Filed in U.S. District Curt, the convicts claimed the pornography ban was



Marriott Offers to Reimburse Hacked Passports Following Congressional Demands

On Sunday, Democratic Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) asked Marriott International to foot passport replacement fees for consumers impacted by the hospitality chain’s data breach. Days later, company representatives said they’d implement a tentative program to recompense affected customers. The attack on Marriott’s Starwood systems, which went undetected for nearly four years, compromised the personal information


Guatemalan Mother Sues U.S. Gov’t Over Death of 19-Month Old Daughter

A Guatemalan woman is suing the U.S. government over the death of her 19-month old daughter, who died six weeks after being released from an immigration detention center. CNN reports that Yazmin Juarez was locked up alongside her young daughter, Marlee, until May of this year. The two spent twenty days in custody before being


Education Secretary Betsy DeVos Reverses Civil Rights Procedures

Department of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos is reversing her stance on how the agency investigates civil rights complaints. Education Week reports that, as of November 20th, the department is revising its Office of Civil Rights case-processing manual. Specifically, DeVos is backpedaling a recently-implemented instruction for investigators to dismiss multiple civil rights complaints if they originate


NYT: Trump’s Immigration Policies Spur Big Law into Doing More Pro Bono Work

The New York Times claims that the Trump administration’s harsh immigration policies have spurred Big Law into taking more pro bono cases than ever before. The Times highlights the example of Paul Weiss, characterized as a ‘prestigious Manhattan law firm.’ While the firm’s corporate lawyers have traditionally perused client documents and government regulations, they’ve lately