5 things to know for March 19: Immigration, Gaza, Trump, Gas prices, Abortion

CNN’s 5 Things brings you the news you need to know every morning.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is basking in an election victory that will officially secure him a third full decade of rule. Devoid of any credible opposition, he received 87% of the country’s vote, Russian officials said after all the ballots were counted Monday. Here’s what else you need to know to Get Up to Speed and On with Your Day. The Supreme Court on Monday indefinitely blocked Texas from enforcing a controversial law that would allow state officials to arrest and detain people they suspect of entering the US illegally. Senate Bill 4, signed into law by Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott in December, raised concerns among immigration advocates of increased racial profiling as well as detentions and attempted deportations by state authorities in Texas, where Latinos represent 40% of the population. Shortly after the order was announced Monday, Abbott issued a response saying that “Texas will continue utilizing every tool and strategy to respond to this Biden-made border crisis.” The Israeli military launched an operation on Monday against Gaza’s largest hospital facility, Al-Shifa, which it said was being used by Hamas to “conduct and promote terrorist activity.” Gaza’s Health Ministry reported multiple casualties at the complex, where it said about 30,000 people were sheltering. Hamas accused Israel of striking targets at the facility “without regard” for the patients or medical staff inside, though CNN cannot independently verify these allegations. Meanwhile, the Biden administration will meet with Israeli officials “soon” in Washington to discuss alternatives to a planned military ground offensive in Gaza’s southern city of Rafah, where more than 1 million Palestinians are stranded and suffering from catastrophic levels of hunger. Former President Donald Trump is unable to make the $464 million bond in his civil fraud case. Trump’s attorneys said he has approached 30 underwriters but argued few insurance companies “will consider a bond of anything approaching that magnitude.” Last month, Trump was ordered to pay $355 million in disgorgement, or “ill-gotten gains,” by New York Judge Arthur Engoron in a civil fraud case brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James. Engoron wrote in his decision that Trump and his co-defendants — including his adult sons — were liable for fraud, conspiracy and issuing false financial statements and false business records, finding that they fraudulently inflated the value of Trump’s assets to obtain favorable loan and insurance rates. The amount Trump owed surpassed $450 million with interest included. Prices at the pump are rising and industry experts anticipate they will keep going up in the coming weeks and months — especially if Russian oil facilities continue to get hit by drone attacks. This is an unwanted development for consumers heading into spring. It’s also a problem for White House and Federal Reserve officials hoping to declare victory over inflation. The national average price for regular gas climbed to $3.48 a gallon today, according to AAA, up by 40 cents since mid-January. Although the US is pumping more oil than any country in history, this marks the first time since late last year that US gas prices are now higher on a year-over-year basis.