On December 2, 2025, Jared Kushner, son-in-law of former U.S. President Donald Trump, traveled to Moscow to negotiate with Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding a potential peace deal related to Ukraine. Kushner was accompanied by Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and an interpreter. Analysts, including Judd Legum, have raised legal concerns about Kushner's participation, suggesting it may violate U.S. law. As a representative of the Trump administration, Kushner is classified as a Special Government Employee (SGE), which imposes specific legal obligations. However, Trump did not officially designate Kushner as an SGE, leading to ambiguity regarding his legal status during these negotiations.

Kushner's actions are particularly scrutinized under the Logan Act, which prohibits unauthorized foreign negotiations by private citizens, and the Foreign Emoluments Clause, which restricts government officials from accepting payments from foreign entities. Since leaving the White House, Kushner has reportedly raised nearly $5 billion for his private equity firm, with substantial funding from foreign governments, including an annual compensation of approximately $25 million from Saudi Arabia. Legum emphasized that these financial ties raise ethical questions about Kushner's involvement in foreign policy discussions.

In a separate incident, a 7-year-old student and his mother were detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during their travels over the Thanksgiving holiday. The family was stopped by federal immigration agents after making a wrong turn while traveling out of state. This incident marks a significant escalation in immigration enforcement, as it is the first reported case of a child being taken into custody by ICE in the Winooski school district, Vermont.

The mother and son are currently held at the Dilley Immigration Processing Center in Texas, awaiting a hearing to determine their immigration status. The Winooski School District has mobilized support for the family, including legal assistance and financial aid for the father. Superintendent Wilmer Chavarria condemned the incident, highlighting the fear experienced by immigrant families in the community. Earlier this year, the district adopted a 'sanctuary schools' policy to protect immigrant students and families from federal enforcement actions, underscoring the ongoing tensions surrounding immigration policy in the U.S.