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U.S. Judge Allows ICE Access to Medicaid Data for Deportations

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A United States federal court has cleared immigration authorities to access limited Medicaid information to aid deportation efforts.

The ruling this week is consistent with the Trump administration’s hardline approach to immigration enforcement and raises renewed concerns about data privacy and access to public services.

According to a report by CBS News, U.S. District Court Judge Vince Chhabria ruled that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) may obtain specific categories of Medicaid data for use by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

President Trump holds the Trump Gold Card while in flight on board Air Force One, en route to Florida in April. Photo: Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images

The information includes basic biographical and contact details, such as names, addresses, phone numbers, dates of birth, and immigration status.

The judge described the decision as consistent with federal law, noting that Congress has granted DHS authority to request certain data from other government agencies to carry out immigration enforcement. In his written order, Judge Chhabria said this authority would be ineffective if agencies were not required to comply with legitimate requests.

However, the ruling places clear limits on what ICE can access. The court barred the agency from obtaining medical records, treatment histories, or sensitive health information, and prohibited access to data relating to U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents. Judge Chhabria also stressed that any data requests must be narrowly focused on individuals suspected of being in the country unlawfully.

The decision represents a partial legal victory for the Trump administration, which has pledged to carry out what it has described as a large-scale deportation operation. Administration officials argue that the policy will strengthen enforcement of immigration laws and protect public resources.

In a statement to CBS News, DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin called the ruling “a victory for the rule of law and American taxpayers,” adding that the administration is committed to ensuring Medicaid benefits are reserved for those legally eligible. She accused the previous administration of allowing undocumented migrants to strain public systems.

The case was brought by around 20 Democratic-led U.S. states, led by California, which challenged the data-sharing policy on public health grounds. The states warned that allowing immigration authorities access to Medicaid-related data could discourage immigrants—particularly those without legal status—from seeking emergency or essential medical care.

Under U.S. law, undocumented immigrants are generally ineligible for Medicaid, but states are required to provide emergency medical services regardless of immigration status.

Some states also extend limited health benefits to undocumented residents, especially children and vulnerable groups.

Medicaid is administered by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), a subagency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, in partnership with individual states. Under the court order, CMS may begin sharing the approved categories of information with ICE starting January 5.

For observers outside the United States, including policymakers and legal experts in Africa and Europe, the ruling highlights the growing tension between immigration enforcement, data protection, and access to public services—issues that resonate globally as governments increasingly rely on shared databases to manage borders and social programmes.

Legal analysts predict further challenges are likely, particularly as the practical implications of the ruling become clearer and deportation efforts intensify.

Taste GH

Kuli Kuli: The Crunchy Peanut Snack That Travels Across Ghana’s Streets With Ease

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There’s a particular sound that follows Kuli Kuli down Ghana’s streets—the sharp, satisfying crunch that announces its presence long before the first bite.

Made from roasted groundnuts pressed into golden sticks or small clusters, this humble snack has earned a permanent place in everyday eating across the country.

Kuli Kuli carries the deep, nutty aroma of roasted peanuts, often enriched with a subtle kick of spice depending on who prepares it. Its texture is firm and crisp, breaking cleanly between the teeth and leaving behind a rich, earthy flavour that lingers. While simple in ingredients, it delivers a depth that makes it hard to eat just one piece.

Across Ghana, Kuli Kuli is more than a snack—it’s part of the rhythm of daily life. It shows up in woven baskets at lorry stations, in transparent bowls on street corners, and in the hands of schoolchildren heading home.

Traders often pair it with roasted groundnuts or sell it alongside other street favourites, making it an easy grab for commuters, workers, and travellers.

For many, it is a quiet companion during long journeys or busy afternoons. It is filling enough to take the edge off hunger, yet light enough to eat on the move. Visitors to Ghana often discover it unexpectedly, handed over in paper wraps or sold from roadside stalls where it sits alongside familiar street foods.

Beyond its taste and convenience, Kuli Kuli also carries a health appeal rooted in its primary ingredient—groundnuts. Rich in protein and healthy fats, it has long been considered a wholesome snack in many households, especially in communities where peanuts are a dietary staple.

Simple, durable, and deeply familiar, Kuli Kuli remains one of those foods that tells a story of resourcefulness and everyday Ghanaian life—one crunchy bite at a time.

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Sights and Sounds

Echoes of the Atlantic: A Walk Through the Living History of Jamestown

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The salt-heavy breeze of the Gulf of Guinea tangles with the scent of woodsmoke and freshly grilled tilapia as you step into the labyrinthine alleys of Jamestown.

Above, the scarlet and white stripes of the iconic 1930s lighthouse pierce a hazy blue sky, standing as a silent sentry over a neighborhood that refused to be forgotten. To walk these streets is to feel the heartbeat of Accra—raw, rhythmic, and fiercely soulful.

Here, the past doesn’t sit behind glass; it lives in the peeling paint of colonial storefronts and the vibrant mural-lined walls that serve as the community’s open-air canvas.

The geography of Jamestown is a visual timeline of Ghana’s evolution. At the edge of the Atlantic, the Ga Mashie community thrives around the bustling fishing harbor.

From the vantage point of the old harbor walls, you can watch hundreds of hand-painted wooden pirogues, draped in colorful flags, bobbing on the surf as fishermen haul in the morning’s catch. Just a stone’s throw away, the somber, whitewashed walls of Ussher Fort and James Fort provide a stark architectural contrast.

These structures, remnants of Dutch and British colonial presence, offer a heavy but necessary reflection on the transatlantic slave trade, their dungeons echoing with centuries of history that shaped the modern world.

A walking tour here is an exercise in sensory immersion. One moment, you are navigating the narrow “Brazil House” lane, learning about the Tabom people—formerly enslaved Afro-Brazilians who returned to their ancestral home—and the next, you are surrounded by the chaotic energy of a street-side boxing gym.

Jamestown is the undisputed pugilist capital of West Africa; the rhythmic thud of gloves against heavy bags is as much a part of the local soundtrack as the highlife music drifting from corner bars.

Visitors shouldn’t miss the chance to climb the lighthouse for a panoramic view that captures the duality of the city: the old colonial footprint dissolving into the rising glass skyscrapers of the modern business district.

Jamestown demands that you slow down and engage. It is a place where a simple “Agooo” (the local way of asking for passage or attention) opens doors to hidden courtyard cafes and artisan workshops.

By the time the sun begins to dip, painting the harbor in hues of molten gold and violet, you realize that Jamestown isn’t just a destination on a map; it is a masterclass in resilience and the enduring power of community.

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Taste GH

Golden, Airy, Irresistible: The Simple Magic of Bofrot

No elaborate fillings. No icing. Just nutmeg, a whisper of sugar, and decades of street-side perfection.

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There’s a moment just before dawn in Accra when the air changes—still thick with harmattan dust but suddenly split by the sweet, yeasty whisper of bofrot hitting hot oil. That scent is an alarm clock no one resists.

For the uninitiated: bofrot is Ghana’s golden-fried dough ball, airy as a cloud, crisp on the outside, and tender within. No elaborate fillings. No icing. Just nutmeg, a whisper of sugar, and decades of street-side perfection.

Vendors pile them high in woven baskets near lorry parks, school gates, and market corners. A small bag costs pocket change, yet it fuels everyone from office workers to toddlers tugging at their mothers’ skirts.

Unlike heavier doughnuts, bofrot is surprisingly light—no greasy linger. It’s vegan by tradition, making it an accidental ally for plant-based travelers.

You’ll see Ghanaians tearing pieces to dip into koko (spiced millet porridge) at breakfast or eating them plain as a 4 p.m. pick-me-up. At weddings and outdoorings (naming ceremonies), bofrot arrives in pyramids, a quiet symbol of hospitality and joy.

@akosuahstastyrecipe NO FAIL GHANAIAN BOFROT🇬🇭 ✅INGREDIENTS 3 cups hard flour 1 cup sugar 1 pack instant yeast 1/2 teaspoon salt 1-2 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon grated nutmeg 1 and half cup lukewarm water 1 teaspoon vanilla extract Oil for frying ✅NOTE Please make sure the water you will use for the yeast is lukewarm not hot #ghanatiktok🇬🇭 #fyp #foodblogger #viral_video #accra #foodies #homemade #bofrot #puff #puffpuff #doughnut @Flottycastiron_and_kitchen ♬ Big Baller – Flavour

Visitors often ask, “Is it just puff puff?” Close, but not quite. Bofrot has a tighter crumb, a deeper caramel blush, and a distinct Ghanaian soul.

Try one from a Mamprobi street cart, steam still rising. You’ll understand why no recipe book can replicate the rhythm of the woman who’s flipped a million of them—her wrist flicking dough into oil like she’s telling time. That’s the real secret.

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