Now, the Kremlin has warned that it may take retaliatory action if the properties are not returned.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov described the seizure as “robbery in broad daylight,” according to the state-run TASS news agency. “Decent and well brought-up people do not behave in such way,” he added.

The compound issue “is expected to dominate” the discussion between Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov and U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Thomas Shannon, according to Tass.

NPR’s Michele Kelemen reported last month that the Trump administration may be open to the possibility of granting the Russians access to the compounds, as part of an effort to “find areas of cooperation.”

Steve Hall, a retired CIA Russian operations officer, mentioned a few reasons why the U.S. would evict the Russians in a December interview with All Things Considered:

“It’s possible that some of the intelligence led them to speculate or believe that the Russians were using these residential compounds for some sort of espionage activity. The second possible explanation is that it would simply be an irritant and would send a message to the Russians that, you know, we are displeased, and it would be sort of an annoyance.”

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Grandparents now welcome under travel ban: Reuters

Grandparents of U.S. residents from six predominantly Muslim countries included in the Trump administration’s travel ban will be allowed to obtain visas and enter the United States, according to a report by Reuters. 

The news agency viewed a State Department cable that indicates the administration will comply with a court ruling that found grandparents and other relatives should not be included in the ban. 

A Supreme Court decision earlier this summer allowed the Trump administration to move forward with its executive order, but said that people with close family relationships should be able to apply for a visa and enter the United States.

The Trump administration, however, took a narrow scope of who could be considered as a close relative. It said grandparents did not count, nor did grandchildren, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, uncles, aunts, nephews, nieces and cousins.

A Hawaii District Court judge said that such relatives of individuals living in the U.S. should be considered as close relatives.

The State Department cable, dated July 14, reportedly states that “grandparents, grandchildren, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, aunts and uncles, nephews and nieces, and cousins” are considered close family members and as a result can win visas.

The Department of Justice, however, is pushing back on the Hawaii court’s decision. It filed a motion last week asking the Supreme Court to clarify its June 26th ruling. DOJ said the district court’s interpretation “empties the court’s decision of meaning, as it encompasses not just ‘close’ family members, but virtually all family members.” 

The parties challenging the ban have until noon on Tuesday to respond to the government’s request for the Supreme Court to clarify its ruling.  

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