The Friday Brief by Girl Friday
The Friday Brief is a news podcast by Girl Friday, a boutique global affairs firm in Washington, D.C. We believe awareness impels action for a world of good.
The Friday Brief by Girl Friday
What is the U.S. government doing with immigrants' DNA?
Why is the Georgetown Law Center on Privacy and Technology part of a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security? It turns out that the Trump administration is using DNA technology to find and arrest immigrants, including children. Is this legal? Are they being transparent? Should Americans have the right to weigh in on this? We're also diving into the latest human rights debacles in Congo and looking at immigration policy debates between the UK and France. As always, we're giving you a global overview in under 15 minutes!
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Welcome to The Friday Brief, a news podcast by Girl Friday. I’m Phoenix Ricks, the CEO of Girl Friday and your host. This is your brief for June 3, 2025.
NBC News reported that the Trump administration has been using DNA technology to find and arrest alleged immigrants. Immigration advocates say that this administration is not being transparent about how they are using the genetic information. Two immigration advocacy groups and the Georgetown Law Center on Privacy and Technology (which is part of the university) are plaintiffs in a lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security. NBC says the trio filed the suit after trying for months, dating back to the Biden administration, to gain access to records about data collection.
The Department of Homeland Security has been enhancing its DNA program since 2020, and not all of the samples are from people who have even been accused of a crime. They give those samples to the FBI to put in CODIS, which is a massive DNA database that police across the country can access as they investigate crimes. According to Georgetown, Homeland Security is now the largest contributor to CODIS. Georgetown added a statement, explaining that the government is "collecting DNA from people accused of no crime and while operating with none of the constraints that are supposed to be in place before the government compels someone to give over their most sensitive personal information."
Now, looking to Africa. Human Rights Watch has a new report about violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo. They believe that M23 rebels, who are supported by Rwanda, executed at least 21 civilians in Goma over two days in February. Goma is the largest city in the North Kivu Province, and rebels currently control it. Human Rights Watch said, “Commanders and combatants who directly ordered or carried out abuses should be held criminally accountable.” Will there be more violence in Goma? Who can broker a peace deal?
The AP reported that former Congolese President Joseph Kabila recently met with religious leaders in Goma. That might sound reassuring, but the current government believes the former president supports the rebels. They do not seem to trust him at all. In fact, Congolese authorities recently “lifted his immunity amid a treason probe.” With that decision, Kabila can now be investigated for alleged treason, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. He responded by saying the government has become a dictatorship. But still, according to The AP, the religious leaders he met with in Goma believe he may be able to play a role in securing peace. In the meantime, there are still thousands of people in Congo who have been harmed and displaced because of the violence.
If you want to help, I recommend supporting Doctors Without Borders. On May 29th, they published an update about their work in the South Kivu province, where they are strengthening medical services. When you hear about unchecked wars and nonstop violence on the other side of the world, it might feel like it doesn’t have anything to do with you or your country. You might feel empathy or even want to help, but you may not know how the crisis will personally affect you or your nation. But, in some way, I believe we are all impacted by every major crisis on earth.
For instance, we can take a look at the immigration policy debate happening between the UK and France right now. ABC reported that on Sunday, UK government figures showed “nearly 1,200 migrants arrived in the country Saturday in small boats from France across the English Channel.” There’s been a lot of internal government pressure within the UK to halt these crossings, but the BBC says on the French side, there’s a loophole in their law “that prevents police from intervening when migrants are in the water.”
When you look at data on who makes these dangerous channel crossings, you’ll find a pattern. According to UK data for 2024, migrants often come from countries in conflict with few economic opportunities, like Afghanistan, Syria, Yemen, and Sudan. Migrants are often wooed by smugglers who weave lies about riches and prosperity abroad. They fail to mention that they may die in tiny boats crossing choppy waters to countries. They fail to mention that seeking asylum is a right, but asylum can be denied. The way to counter smugglers’ narratives is not just through extreme border policies or harsh deportation initiatives. It's through joint initiatives to further economic empowerment and ensure peace. The UK’s work on slowing Albanian migration is proof.
In February, the AP reported that “the number of Albanians crossing the English Channel in unsafe inflatable rafts in search of higher-paying jobs has dropped from 12,000 in 2022 to some 600 in 2024.” Acknowledging that progress, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said, “Quite an incredible reduction. And I think it’s a signal and an example of what can be done when two countries work together in this way.”
Thank you for listening to The Friday Brief. Make sure you and your friends don’t miss an episode! Check out thefridaybrief.com, and follow The Friday Brief on Instagram and TikTok. Until next time, I’m Phoenix Ricks signing off from Washington, DC. Let’s work together for a world of good.
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