Privacy advocates are urging California to reconsider plans to share millions of driver records with a database after the Trump administration sought commercial driver’s license information for immigration enforcement.

California lawmakers debated whether the Department of Motor Vehicles could safely share driver’s license information with the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA), a nonprofit clearinghouse. State officials argued that participating was necessary to comply with federal REAL ID requirements and protect acceptance of California IDs at airports and federal buildings.

Lawmakers approved funding for the DMV to begin sharing non-commercial driver information with AAMVA. But at the time of the vote, they did not know federal agencies were already seeking bulk driver information from the organization.

Federal agencies first requested and later subpoenaed information covering about 17 million commercial driver’s license holders. An Aug. 11 subpoena from the Department of Homeland Security said the information was sought for “civil immigration enforcement.” It requested names, dates of birth, states of record, license numbers and Social Security numbers for drivers in AAMVA’s commercial database going back five years.

The dispute has intensified concerns because California plans to begin uploading information on all non-commercial license holders, including more than 1 million immigrants who obtained licenses under a 2013 California law allowing undocumented residents to be licensed.

AAMVA initially considered complying with an earlier June 25 federal request. State officials objected, arguing that bulk disclosure could violate agreements between AAMVA and state DMVs as well as privacy laws. California officials say an agreement with AAMVA prohibits sharing the state’s commercial driver information without written permission.

The California DMV did not learn about the federal request until July 23, according to a sworn declaration by Kristin Triepke, chief of the DMV’s Licensing Policy branch. That was 10 days after Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation enabling the data-sharing plan.

Triepke warned that federal access to driver information could discourage noncitizens from obtaining licenses, leading more people to drive unlicensed and creating public-safety concerns.

AAMVA later proposed allowing states to decide whether their commercial driver data could be provided in bulk. The federal government responded by threatening grants and contracts and DHS subsequently issued its subpoena.

Twenty-two state attorneys general, including California’s, sued to block the demand. On Aug. 21, U.S. District Judge Anthony Trenga temporarily prevented AAMVA from complying, calling the demand “unlawful.” A hearing on whether to issue a preliminary injunction was scheduled for Sept. 10.

The Newsom administration maintains that the commercial-license system involved in the subpoena is separate from the system California intends to use for non-commercial records. Spokesperson Diana Crofts-Pelayo said the systems are governed by different rules and legal authorities, and that California has not supplied the requested bulk data.

Privacy advocates remain deeply unconvinced. They argue that the subpoena demonstrates how information held by a national clearinghouse can become a target for federal demands. They are especially concerned that records for non-commercial drivers without conventional Social Security numbers could be used for immigration enforcement.

Saira Hussain of the Electronic Frontier Foundation said AAMVA’s response to the federal request was insufficient because the organization waited weeks to notify states and considered complying. She called on California to delay transferring non-commercial driver information while the case proceeds.

The DMV says it takes its responsibility to protect Californians’ personal information seriously and opposes releasing bulk commercial driver information.

DHS, meanwhile, argues that access to commercial-license records is connected to highway safety and enforcement of federal immigration law.

The legal fight now raises a broader question for California: whether privacy protections promised by the state can remain effective once driver information is placed in a national system subject to federal demands. Critics say the subpoena confirms the risks they warned lawmakers about before the Legislature approved the data-sharing plan.

Editor’s note: This article has been edited for length to fit available print space.

Deadline for Salvadoran TPS passes; no official decision yet on extension

September 12, 2026

by the El Reportero staff

As of press time on Thursday, September 10, no official decision had been announced regarding whether Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for El Salvador would be extended or terminated. The critical September 9 deadline passed without the Trump administration announcing a decision.

Meanwhile, approximately 170,000 to 200,000 Salvadorans living in the United States under TPS remain protected from deportation and authorized to work. They are awaiting a decision from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

The DHS confirmed on Thursday, September 10, that these protections remain in effect while the government considers its next step.

“An announcement regarding TPS for El Salvador will be made at the appropriate time,” the DHS stated. Until that announcement is made, beneficiaries retain their protection, including employment authorization.

This clarification is significant because the most recent TPS designation for El Salvador was scheduled to expire on September 9, creating considerable uncertainty among Salvadoran families, employers, and immigrant advocates.

Under federal immigration law, if the Secretary of Homeland Security does not make the required determination regarding a TPS designation, it can be automatically extended for six months. The Associated Press reported on Thursday that the administration’s failure to make a public announcement before the expiration has raised hopes that TPS for Salvadorans will be extended for that period.

However, immigration lawyers caution that the DHS has not formally announced a six-month extension. The administration could still issue a decision regarding the program. For the moment, the most important practical fact for beneficiaries is that the federal government maintains that their protection and work authorization remain in effect.

El Salvador has one of the longest-standing TPS populations in the United States. The designation dates back to 2001, when devastating earthquakes struck the Central American country. As a result, many Salvadoran beneficiaries have lived legally in the United States for more than two decades, forming families, buying homes, opening businesses, and raising U.S.-born children.The number of Salvadorans currently protected is estimated at about 170,000 by some organizations, while other estimates place the population closer to 200,000.

Their situation has attracted particular attention because the Trump administration has moved to terminate TPS protections for numerous other countries as part of its broader immigration policy. Administration officials have repeatedly emphasized that Temporary Protected Status was created as a temporary humanitarian program rather than a permanent immigration status.

El Salvador, however, presents an unusual political situation.

President Nayib Bukele has developed a close relationship with President Donald Trump and has cooperated with the United States on immigration and deportation policies. The Salvadoran government has accepted deportees from the United States, while Bukele’s aggressive crackdown on gangs has dramatically changed security conditions inside El Salvador — a factor that could be cited by the U.S. government in evaluating whether TPS remains necessary.

Those developments have also fueled speculation over whether the political relationship between Washington and San Salvador could influence the final decision.

For Salvadoran TPS holders, however, Thursday’s development provides immediate relief but not permanent certainty.

USCIS has made clear that beneficiaries should continue to be considered protected while DHS prepares its announcement. Their TPS-related employment authorization also remains in effect during this period.

The government has not announced when the final decision will be released or whether El Salvador’s designation ultimately will be extended or terminated.

That means thousands of Salvadoran families remain in a period of uncertainty despite having received an important temporary reprieve.

For now, however, the feared Sept. 9 deadline has passed without the immediate loss of legal protection.

Salvadorans covered by TPS remain protected from deportation and may continue working legally in the United States while awaiting the administration’s final decision.

Sources: U.S. Department of Homeland Security; U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services; Associated Press; Reuters.

Keiko Fujimori seeks broader powers to speed up immigrant deportations in Peru

September 12, 2026

latinbriefs2_Keiko Fujimori and Marco Rubio — La presidenta Keiko Fujimori se reúne con el secretario de Estado Marco Rubio. President Keiko Fujimori meets U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Lima.

Peru’s president is asking Congress for legislative powers to extend detention periods and expedite the removal of immigrants who are in the country illegally

by the El Reportero wire services

Peruvian President Keiko Fujimori has asked Congress to expand the executive branch’s authority to strengthen the country’s immigration enforcement measures, including extending certain detention periods and facilitating the deportation of foreign nationals who are in Peru illegally.

Fujimori defended her government’s request for legislative powers on Friday, saying some measures can be implemented under existing authority, while others require authorization from the legislative branch.

“To be able to extend these periods during which they are detained, and then deport them,” Fujimori said, explaining one of the changes her administration wants to implement. “Everything we can move forward with without [special] powers, we are doing, but we need the additional tools through Congress,” she added.

The president argued that the number of undocumented immigrants makes it necessary to strengthen existing enforcement mechanisms. One proposal would extend the detention period for foreign nationals in the country illegally who are linked to criminal activity while authorities complete the procedures necessary for their deportation.

Fujimori also said U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio supported the initiative during a recent visit to Lima. The U.S. official traveled to Peru as the country joins the so-called Shield of the Americas, a regional initiative focused on security cooperation.

At the same time, the Peruvian government is planning a restructuring of the National Police of Peru. According to Fujimori, the goal is to strengthen authorities’ ability to combat organized crime and remove officers involved in misconduct from the force.

The president said the process could receive international cooperation from the FBI, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Interpol, particularly through technical assistance and information sharing.

Peru maintains ties with Washington and Beijing

Fujimori also addressed Peru’s international relations amid growing U.S. interest in the country and China’s significant economic presence.

The president rejected the idea that Peru must choose between Washington and Beijing, saying her government intends to maintain commercial relations with countries belonging to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum (APEC).

Fujimori hopes to receive authorization from Congress to attend the next APEC summit, where she could meet with U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

“Peru will continue to be a trading partner of those who are part of the Asia-Pacific forum,” Fujimori said.

September 11: The wound that changed America

September 12, 2026

by Marvin Ramírez

Twenty-five years ago, on the morning of September 11, 2001, America was wounded in a way that an entire generation will never forget.

Nearly 3,000 innocent people were killed. Families went to work that morning expecting an ordinary Tuesday and never returned home. Firefighters, police officers, emergency workers and ordinary citizens ran toward danger while thousands desperately tried to escape it.

The attacks struck New York, the Pentagon and a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania. But the wound belonged to the entire nation.

For immigrants especially, America has represented something extraordinary: a country where millions from virtually every corner of the world have arrived seeking freedom, opportunity and the possibility of building a better life for their children.

On September 11, that country was attacked.

But something else happened afterward that deserves reflection 25 years later.

America became afraid.

Airports changed. Security checkpoints expanded. Surveillance increased. Government acquired new investigative powers. The USA PATRIOT Act was enacted within weeks of the attacks, dramatically expanding federal authorities in the name of preventing another catastrophe.

Many Americans accepted those changes because another attack seemed possible at any moment.

Perhaps some measures were necessary. Government has a fundamental responsibility to protect its people.

But September 11 taught us another lesson that we should never forget: fear can change a free society.

Once citizens surrender a freedom during an emergency, recovering it can be extraordinarily difficult.

The years following 9/11 produced intense debates over government surveillance, privacy, searches, intelligence gathering and the proper limits of state power. Those debates continue today.

There have also been countless theories questioning aspects of the attacks and the government’s explanations. Americans have the constitutional right to question their government, examine evidence and disagree. That freedom itself is part of what distinguishes this country.

But whatever anyone believes about those controversies, one historical fact cannot reasonably be disputed:

September 11 changed America.

Its victims also did not end with those who died that morning.

The enormous cloud created by the collapse of the World Trade Center exposed responders, workers, residents and survivors to hazardous dust and contaminants. Years later, firefighters, police officers, cleanup workers and civilians have suffered respiratory diseases, cancers and other illnesses associated with those exposures.

Today, the federal World Trade Center Health Program serves nearly 150,000 responders and survivors across the United States.

They are living reminders that for thousands of Americans, September 11 never completely ended.

So on this 25th anniversary, we should remember more than collapsing buildings.

Remember the firefighters climbing the stairs while everyone else was coming down.

Remember the police officers and paramedics.

Remember the passengers of Flight 93.

Remember the workers covered in dust searching through the ruins.

Remember those who became sick years afterward.

Remember the families who still look at an empty chair.

And remember something else.

America’s greatest strength is not its skyscrapers, military power or wealth. It is an idea written into a constitutional system that recognizes that government exists to protect the liberties of the people — not that people exist to serve the government.

Security matters. But so does liberty.

A terrorist attack should never be allowed to accomplish indirectly what terrorists could never accomplish militarily: making Americans permanently surrender the freedoms that define their nation.

For the millions of immigrants whom America welcomed and who made this country their home, the wound of September 11 was also ours.

We mourned together.

We rebuilt together.

And 25 years later, we should stand together again — remembering those who died, caring for those who still suffer, defending this nation and preserving the freedom that made it worth coming to in the first place.

We will remember September 11. And we must also remember the America we are determined to preserve.

Creo que “September 11: The Wound That Changed America” tiene el tono correcto: patriótico, solemne, pero también muy propio de una página editorial que defiende las libertades constitucionales.

Rafael Márquez begins new era as Mexico coach

September 12, 2026

by the El Reportero wire services

Rafael Márquez, one of the most accomplished players in Mexican soccer history, has officially begun a new chapter — this time from the sidelines.

The former Mexico captain and Barcelona defender was formally presented Thursday as head coach of the Mexican national team, taking command of El Tri as it begins the road toward the 2030 World Cup.

Márquez, 47, succeeds Javier Aguirre, under whom he served as an assistant during the 2026 World Cup. Rather than rebuilding the national team from the ground up, Márquez said he intends to continue developing the foundation established during the previous cycle.

“The way I finished working with Javier gives me a great deal of confidence to continue this process,” Márquez said. “I know the players quite well, I know the environment.”

His appointment carries special significance because of his long history with El Tri. Márquez represented Mexico at five consecutive World Cups — 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014 and 2018 — but each campaign ended in the round of 16.

Now he has an opportunity to accomplish from the bench what eluded him as a player.

“It did not happen for me as a player in those five World Cups; unfortunately, we always reached the same point,” Márquez said. “Today, I have this opportunity.”

Mexico showed progress at the 2026 World Cup, recording a perfect group stage and winning a knockout match for the first time in 40 years before being eliminated by England in the round of 16.

Márquez also brings extensive international experience. During his celebrated playing career, he won four Spanish league championships and two UEFA Champions League titles with Barcelona. He later coached Barça Atlètic before joining Aguirre’s Mexican national team staff.

His first test will come Sept. 26, when Mexico faces Colombia at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore. El Tri will then face Peru on Sept. 29, the United States on Oct. 3 and Chile in Los Angeles on Oct. 6.

For Márquez, however, success will involve more than victories.

“We want people to feel proud of their national team,” he said, emphasizing his goal of creating a team that competes regardless of the opponent.

Venezuelan conductor Rafael Payare returns to San Francisco with Montreal Symphony

September 12, 2026

arts_RafaelPayare_synphony_9.11.26 — El director venezolano Rafael Payare dirige la Sinfónica de Montreal y regresa a SF el 25 de octubre. Venezuelan conductor Rafael Payare leads Montreal Symphony, returning to SF October 25.

by the El Reportero staff

Three years after making his San Francisco Symphony debut, Venezuelan conductor Rafael Payare is returning to Davies Symphony Hall, this time at the helm of one of Canada’s most celebrated orchestras, the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal.

Payare will lead the Montreal Symphony on Sunday, Oct. 25, as part of the San Francisco Symphony’s 2026–27 season. Acclaimed Greek violinist Leonidas Kavakos will join the orchestra for Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto, while Payare will also conduct Shostakovich’s powerful Symphony No. 10.

The appearance marks another chapter in a remarkable international career that El Reportero followed when Payare made his San Francisco Symphony debut in May 2023.

Born in Barcelona, Venezuela, Payare entered the world of classical music through El Sistema, Venezuela’s internationally recognized music education program. He began studying the French horn at age 14 and eventually became principal horn of the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra, performing under some of the world’s most distinguished conductors.

His path eventually moved from playing in the orchestra to standing in front of it.

Payare studied conducting with El Sistema founder José Antonio Abreu and attracted international attention after winning first prize at Denmark’s Malko Competition for Young Conductors in 2012. Since then, his career has taken him to major concert halls and orchestras throughout Europe and North America.

Today, Payare serves as Music and Artistic Director of the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal and Music Director of the San Diego Symphony. His work has placed the Venezuelan musician among a prominent generation of Latin American conductors who have achieved international recognition in classical music.

His October visit also brings Payare back to a hall where Bay Area audiences have already seen him at work. In 2023, he conducted the San Francisco Symphony in Richard Strauss’ Ein Heldenleben during his debut engagement with the orchestra.

This time, however, he arrives with his own Montreal ensemble, giving local audiences an opportunity to hear the musical partnership he has developed with the orchestra he has led since 2022.

For Bay Area Latino audiences, Payare’s return carries an additional connection: a Venezuelan musician whose beginnings in a publicly supported youth music program ultimately led to the podiums of some of the world’s leading orchestras.

The Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, conducted by Rafael Payare, performs Sunday, Oct. 25, at Davies Symphony Hall, 201 Van Ness Ave., San Francisco.

Photo caption: Venezuelan conductor Rafael Payare returns to Davies Symphony Hall Oct. 25 leading the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal. Photo courtesy of OSM.

Write-in candidacy opens for San Mateo County election

September 12, 2026

by the El Reportero staff

San Mateo County election officials have announced the opening of the write-in candidate filing period for the Nov. 3 Statewide General Election, offering eligible residents another opportunity to seek public office and become directly involved in serving their communities.

The San Mateo County Registration & Elections Division announced that the filing period opened Sept. 8 and will continue through 5 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 20.

For residents who may not have entered a race during the regular candidate filing period, the write-in process provides another path to becoming a candidate for an eligible public office. It also gives community members interested in public service an opportunity to participate in the electoral process as candidates rather than only as voters.

Candidates who successfully complete the process can receive write-in votes in the November election even though their names will not appear on the printed ballot.

To qualify, prospective candidates must submit a Statement of Write-In Candidacy along with all other required documentation to the San Mateo County Registration & Elections Division at 40 Tower Road in San Mateo.

The statement must include the candidate’s name and residential address, the specific public office being sought and the date of the election. Depending on the office, candidates may also be required to submit a Statement of Economic Interests, known as Form 700. All required documents must be filed at the same time, and there is no filing fee.

Residents interested in running can begin the process by requesting a registration form by email at CandidateServices@smcacre.gov. The completed form can also be returned by email. Elections staff will then contact the prospective candidate to arrange an electronic or in-person appointment to complete the filing process.
Although qualified write-in candidates will not appear on the Official Ballot or in the Sample Ballot and Official Voter Information Pamphlet, voters can find them through the county’s Roster of Candidates, which is updated daily. A list of qualified write-in candidates will also be available at Vote Centers beginning Oct. 23.

Meanwhile, the county is preparing for early voting. Vote-by-mail ballots will begin going to registered San Mateo County voters in October. Three Vote Centers will open Oct. 5, with additional centers opening throughout the early voting period leading up to Election Day on Nov. 3.

For information about the write-in candidate process, residents may contact San Mateo County Elections at (650) 312-5222.

Community Calendar — September 11, 2026

September 12, 2026

calendar2_tradicionPeruana_9.11.26 — Dancers from Tradición Peruana Cultural Center will perform at Santa Cruz’s Hispanic Heritage Month Festival on Sept. 19. Bailarinas de Tradición Peruana Cultural Center se presentarán en el Festival del Mes de la Herencia Hispana de Santa Cruz el 19 de septiembre.

by the El Reportero staff

September brings music, film, community activities and cultural celebrations throughout the Bay Area. From Latin jazz in Vallejo and a former Santana vocalist to veteran musicians taking center stage, the coming days offer a lively mix of entertainment and community events.

Julie Brand at Vallejo Art Walk

Latin jazz, salsa and boleros downtown

Julie Brand brings Latin jazz, salsa, boleros and timeless classics to the Vallejo Art Walk, accompanied by Carlos Ramirez, Jose Soto, Agosto Sandoval and Rafael Ramirez.

Friday, Sept. 11, 6–8 p.m., Downtown Vallejo. Free.

Sugarcane screens in Berkeley

Oscar-nominated documentary highlights Native voices

The Native Voices Film Series presents Sugarcane, the Oscar-nominated documentary examining the legacy of abuse and deaths at a Canadian Indian residential school. Co-director Julian Brave NoiseCat (Secwepemc) will attend the screening and participate in a conversation following the film.

Wednesday, Sept. 16, 7–10 p.m., David Brower Center, 2150 Allston Way, Berkeley.

Tony Lindsay takes two Bay Area stages

Former Santana vocalist performs in Berkeley and Larkspur

Tony Lindsay, Santana’s longest-tenured lea calendar_eng_9.11.26d singer, performs twice this week. He joins Nona Brown and Bryan S Dyer for Electric Blues & Classic Grooves at The Freight, followed by an appearance with The Ray Charles Project at Lark Theater.

Thursday, Sept. 17, 8 p.m., The Freight, 2020 Addison St., Berkeley. Saturday, Sept. 19, 7:30 p.m., Lark Theater, 549 Magnolia Ave., Larkspur; doors open 6:30 p.m.

The Bill Ortiz Group

Veteran trumpeter begins a new musical chapter

Bay Area veteran trumpeter Bill Ortiz celebrates a new chapter leading his own band. The free concert features Howard Wiley, Ken Cook, Gary Brown, Leon Joyce Jr., John Santos and vocalist Zoe Ellis.

Friday, Sept. 18, 4:30 p.m., Music Concourse, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco. Free.

Danilo y Orq. Universal bring an evening of salsa and dancing to ¡Baila! in Berkeley on Sept. 18.

Danilo y Orq. Universal at ¡Baila!

Salsa takes over Berkeley

Danilo y Orq. Universal headline ¡Baila!, joined by DJ Ron, DJ José Ruíz and In Lak’ech Dance Academy for an evening of music and dancing.

Friday, Sept. 18, 8 p.m.–1 a.m., 3105 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley. $25 advance; $30 at the door.

Hispanic Heritage Month Festival

Peruvian traditions celebrated in Santa Cruz

Tradición Peruana Cultural Center performs during Santa Cruz’s Hispanic Heritage Month Festival, part of an afternoon celebrating Hispanic culture and community.

Saturday, Sept. 19, noon–6 p.m., 119 Madrone St., Santa Cruz. Tradición Peruana performs 2:30–3 p.m.

Beyond the breakfast plate: The surprising array of foods that out-protein the humble egg

September 12, 2026

by Ava Grace

In an era of fitness trackers and macro-counting, the quest for adequate protein dominates dietary conversations. For decades, the egg has reigned as a gold standard of convenient, affordable nutrition. But many other foods provide considerably more protein per serving, underscoring the value of a varied, balanced diet.

The gold standard, reconsidered

The egg’s reputation is rooted in its biological completeness. It contains all nine essential amino acids and provides highly bioavailable protein. Yet modern nutritional science emphasizes that focusing too heavily on any single food can overlook the benefits offered by other protein sources, each with its own combination of vitamins, minerals, fats and fiber.

Several animal foods easily outpace an egg in total protein. A modest three-ounce serving of cooked chicken breast delivers nearly 24 grams of protein, compared with about six grams in a large egg. Lean beef and cooked shrimp provide approximately 23 and 25 grams, respectively. Fatty fish such as salmon offers about 17 grams of protein along with beneficial omega-3 fatty acids.

However, protein quantity alone does not determine a food’s nutritional value. Digestion, amino-acid composition, accompanying nutrients and an individual’s overall diet also matter.

Plant and dairy alternatives

Meat is hardly the only alternative. Edamame, or immature soybeans, delivers more than 18 grams of complete protein per cooked cup. Lentils provide nearly 18 grams per cooked cup, along with substantial dietary fiber, minerals and other beneficial nutrients.

Dairy products are also strong contenders. A half-cup of low-fat cottage cheese contains roughly 13 grams of protein, while Greek yogurt can provide a similar amount depending on the product and serving size.

These choices demonstrate why dietary variety can be more valuable than simply seeking the food with the highest protein number. Plant proteins, for example, can contribute fiber that animal foods naturally lack, while fish can provide beneficial fatty acids.

The nuance of nutritional value

The protein debate often focuses excessively on quantity while neglecting the complete nutritional package. Twenty-five grams of protein consumed as part of a meal containing eggs, whole grains and vegetables is nutritionally different from the same amount obtained through a highly processed product.

Protein intake can also be important in discussions of kidney health. The kidneys help remove waste products generated during protein metabolism. People with impaired kidney function may need to carefully manage both the amount and sources of protein they consume. Individual requirements vary, however, and those with kidney disease or other medical conditions should seek professional medical or nutritional guidance before making major dietary changes.

Moving beyond monotony

Protein is essential for building and repairing tissues and plays important roles throughout the body. But concentrating excessively on protein can crowd out vegetables, whole grains, fruits and other foods that provide fiber and micronutrients.

“Protein is essential for muscle repair and growth and for maintaining healthy hair, skin and nails,” said BrightU.AI’s Enoch. “Consuming it regularly helps stabilize blood sugar levels and reduces cravings for sugary foods. It also provides sustained energy throughout the day, supporting overall wellness.”

Ultimately, recognizing that many foods rival or surpass the egg in protein content is not an indictment of eggs. Eggs remain an affordable and nutritionally valuable source of complete protein.

The larger lesson is diversification. Combining eggs with lean poultry, fish, legumes, soy foods and dairy products can provide ample protein while supplying a broader spectrum of nutrients. Instead of searching for one perfect protein source, a varied diet can offer the nutritional balance needed to support long-term health and overall well-being. Food.news.

Trump’s $5,000 promise: Is a campaign promise legally enforceable?

September 11, 2026

by the El Reportero staff

President Donald Trump has put a striking proposition before American voters: If Republicans retain control of both chambers of Congress in the November midterm elections, American adults could receive a $5,000 “dividend.”

The proposal immediately raises two separate questions. Can the government actually finance payments of that magnitude? And if Republicans win Congress, is Trump legally obligated to deliver the money?

The second question has a relatively straightforward answer: generally, no. A campaign promise is normally not an enforceable contract between a politician and individual voters.

Contracts require legal elements such as offer, acceptance and consideration, as well as an intention to create a binding obligation. Political promises — whether involving taxes, Social Security, health care or government payments — generally do not create personal contracts with voters.

Therefore, someone who votes Republican after hearing Trump’s $5,000 proposal ordinarily could not sue Trump personally for $5,000 if the payments never materialize.

But that doesn’t mean the proposal should be dismissed.

Trump announced the dividend at the GOP’s midterm convention and tied it to Republicans maintaining control of the House and Senate. The proposal would reportedly distribute approximately $1.2 trillion among roughly 270 million American adults.

The administration also argues that the money would not necessarily come from taxpayers or additional deficit spending.

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has said the government could generate the money Trump wants to distribute. Among the potential sources he cited is the proposed Trump Platinum Card, an immigration initiative under which applicants would pay substantial fees and contributions to the U.S. government.

Lutnick has said more than 100,000 people are interested in the program and argued that it could generate hundreds of billions of dollars. He also pointed to gains associated with the federal government’s investment in Intel as another potential source of revenue.

White House National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett has separately suggested that funding for the dividend could emerge through a congressional reconciliation package.

Those arguments are important because they provide the administration’s explanation of how Trump believes the promise could be fulfilled. Whether those projected revenues would actually produce enough money to finance approximately $1.2 trillion in payments is another question.

And skepticism is not confined to Democrats.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican, has criticized the proposal because of the nation’s growing debt. DeSantis warned against borrowing another trillion-plus dollars and injecting it into the economy, arguing that doing so could generate additional inflation.

The disagreement illustrates why the financing question and the legal question should not be confused.

Even if the administration identifies sufficient revenue, a president does not possess unlimited authority to take federal money and distribute it to Americans. Congress controls federal appropriations, meaning lawmakers would play an essential role in authorizing a program of this magnitude.

There is another question because Trump explicitly connected the payments to Republican victory: Is that buying votes?

Federal law prohibits paying or offering payment to an individual in exchange for voting. “Vote for me and I will personally give you $100” would present a dramatically different legal situation.

A general campaign proposal for a government benefit, however, has traditionally been treated differently. Democrats and Republicans routinely campaign on tax cuts, credits, subsidies and government programs that could financially benefit voters.

The Supreme Court addressed an important aspect of this distinction in Brown v. Hartlage in 1982, emphasizing constitutional protection for political campaign speech. Promising a government policy that financially benefits voters is not automatically equivalent to purchasing individual votes.

Trump is also hardly the first president to promise something he cannot accomplish without Congress. Presidents routinely campaign on legislation that ultimately requires lawmakers’ approval.

That is why journalism should apply the same standard regardless of who occupies the White House.

The press should neither dismiss Trump’s $5,000 proposal simply because it comes from Trump nor tell Americans that $5,000 checks are guaranteed. The administration’s financing argument deserves to be reported, and so do the legal, congressional and economic obstacles.

Ultimately, voters can judge the promise themselves.

A campaign promise may not be an enforceable contract. But politicians of every party should expect their words to be remembered and compared with what they eventually deliver.

That isn’t partisan politics.

It is accountability.

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As California debated sharing data on drivers, Homeland Security subpoenaed 17 million records

September 12, 2026