Verified brief — 19 October 2026

Express Entry adds high-wage points and drops LMIAs for job offers from 3 November. A federal judge dismisses DOJ’s suit against New York City’s sanctuary laws. Trump sets out and waives the Graham Act’s Russia tariffs. An Ohio appeals court strikes EdChoice, with a stay. Brussels drafts manure-digestate flexibility for farmers. Alberta votes today.

Published Oct 19, 2026, 7:40 a.m. EDT

Item 1
IRCC (16 October): from 3 November a new Express Entry ‘Labour Market Integration’ factor awards up to 150 CRS points. Canadian experience earns up to 70 extra in high-wage occupations; high-wage job offers earn 100/70/50. LMIAs are no longer required for Express Entry job offers. Draws pause up to two weeks for re-scoring.
Read the article →IRCC release + program pages
Item 2
E.D.N.Y. (United States v. City of New York, 25-cv-04084): Judge Reyes dismissed DOJ’s suit against NYC’s sanctuary provisions on 15 October. No standing; preemption and intergovernmental-immunity claims fail; anticommandeering bars relief. Judgment entered 16 October.
Read the article →ECF 79, ECF 80
Item 3
White House order (16 October) implementing the Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act sets a 500% duty on Russian goods and 100% secondary duties. It waives all of them, and most new sanctions, the same day under § 115. Existing EO sanctions on Russia are unaffected.
Read the article →WH presidential action 16 Oct
Item 4
Ohio Tenth District (2026-Ohio-4047, 15 October, 3–0): EdChoice and EdChoice Expansion violate the ‘thorough and efficient’ common-schools clause. Enforcement is stayed pending an expected Supreme Court of Ohio appeal. About $700M a year goes to participating private schools.
Read the article →2026-Ohio-4047
Item 5
European Commission (19 October): one-month feedback opens on a Nitrates Directive amendment extending RENURE to certain manure-derived liquid digestates. The 170 kg N/ha manure cap stays. Next: Nitrates Committee QMV, then three months of EP/Council scrutiny.
Read the article →DG ENV news 19 Oct; JRC 16 Oct
Item 6
OFAC GL 135 still authorizes Russian-origin diesel transactions through 7 April 2027. OFAC’s recent-actions page shows no newer Russia-related licence (latest entries 16 October, Venezuela).
Read the article →OFAC recent actions check 19 Oct
Item 7
IRS dyed-diesel highway penalty relief (IR-2026-122) runs through 31 December. Newer releases IR-2026-123 (adoption-credit refunds) and IR-2026-124 (tax-pro week) bring no 7508A diesel-tax postponement.
Read the article →IRS newsroom 19 Oct
Item 8
EPA RFS small-refinery reallocation proposal (FR Doc. 2026-21155): hearing registration closes 28 October, virtual hearing 4 November, comments due 4 December.
Read the article →FR Doc. 2026-21155
Item 9
SCOTUS 26A416 (Kingdom / BOP gender-dysphoria policy): still no order on the docket after the 8–9 October response and reply.
Read the article →SCOTUS docket 26A416
Item 10
UK: no judgment reported yet in Meta’s High Court judicial review of Ofcom’s fees and penalties rules (heard 13–14 October). Meta’s separate Upper Tribunal appeal of the Instagram/WhatsApp Category 1 labels is also undecided.
Read the article →judiciary.uk order AC-2025-LON-004500; check 19 Oct
Item 11
Canada Gazette jammer exemption order for 27 police services remains a proposal; comments still close about 9 November. Part I of 17 October has no beat-relevant follow-up.
Read the article →Canada Gazette I, 10 & 17 Oct
Item 12
CBP/DHS preliminary FY2026 figures (16 October release): 98,708 southwest-border Border Patrol apprehensions, 379,243 nationwide encounters, and zero Border Patrol releases. These are agency-reported preliminary numbers, not yet in the final monthly tables.
CBP national media release 16 Oct
Item 13
Clocks: Alberta referendum today (19 October); House to midnight with C-38 from 6:30 p.m.; C-31 ministers at FINA 19–20 October; EIA weekly fuel prices 20 October; S-210 vote 21 October; C-31 amendments due noon 22 October; B.C. election 24 October.
Elections Alberta / Projected Order / EIA / Elections BC