Trump's Task Force Sought to Clear an MS-13 Leader While Pursuing Abrego Garcia
But by this spring, the group was redirected into carrying out what appeared to be contradictory goals.
The unit's agents and prosecutors were asked to unwind some of the charges they had brought against MS-13's highest-ranking leaders even as they diverted resources into prosecuting a defendant whose ties to the gang were far more tenuous but whose case had become a political liability for the Trump administration.
In late April, Vulcan prosecutors were engaged in a pitched legal battle to dismiss the criminal case against an MS-13 leader named Vladimir Arévalo Chávez who was accused of serious crimes, including multiple murders. The goal was to release Mr. Arévalo from U.S. custody and send him back to his homeland in El Salvador.
At the same time, the Vulcan team was assembling a criminal case against Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, a Maryland man accused of belonging to the gang who had been wrongly deported to El Salvador. Prosecutors were seeking to free Mr. Abrego Garcia from Salvadoran custody and bring him back to the United States to face indictment on charges of smuggling undocumented immigrants.
By any measure, the task force's split-screen mission was unusual as Vulcan team members unraveled indictments against some of the most senior members of MS-13 even as they began to build one against Mr. Abrego Garcia — a man who, according to the charges that were ultimately filed, appeared to be a midlevel functionary in the gang.
Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Upturn
3 minutes ago
- Business Upturn
Uncovered Long-Hidden U.S. Resource Reserve In Resurfaced Presentation from Former White House Advisor That Could Quietly Reshape Trump's Economic Playbook
Washington, D.C., July 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — As political debate intensifies over the cost and scale of President Trump's sweeping legislative proposal—referred to by insiders as the 'Big Beautiful Bill'—a released presentation by Jim Rickards suggests the U.S. government may already control the means to fund the majority of programs just like this internally. Rickards, a veteran advisor to the CIA and Treasury Department, points to a massive store of untapped wealth resting beneath federally owned land—assets that have remained restricted for decades, but may now be on the verge of being unlocked. 'This land… it's held on deposit across all 50 states,' Rickards explains. '$516 billion in the Salton Sea area of California… $3.1 trillion in Nome, Alaska. And $7.35 trillion in Midland, Texas…' The Untapped Engine of U.S. Growth According to the presentation, these lands contain key minerals and raw materials critical to the development of next-generation technology, infrastructure, and energy systems. And while their value has steadily grown, access has remained sealed off—until now. 'The nature of this 'trust' – as I call it – is such that politicians haven't been able to raid it… which has allowed it to grow untouched… for decades' . 'It's not some kind of government program like those COVID relief checks,' Rickards says. 'But it is a chance for the average American to become richer than they ever imagined'. Could This Be the Missing Piece in Trump's Fiscal Agenda? Although President Trump has not publicly linked these federal lands to his economic renewal efforts, Rickards believes they align perfectly with the spirit of the administration's goals: reduce dependence on foreign nations, revive American industry, and rebuild with domestic resources. 'Trump is re-opening our mineral-rich Federal Lands. And fast-tracking companies that could recover trillions of dollars' worth of resources, right here in America' . 'We have everything we need right under our feet… and now we may finally have the clearance to access it' . A Century-Old Resource, a 21st Century Solution Many of the resource zones outlined in the presentation have been trapped in bureaucratic limbo for decades: 'Resolution Copper Mine… sitting for 29 years' 'Pebble Mine… mothballed since 1990 'Thacker Pass Lithium Mine… stalled since 1978' Rickards contends that unlocking even a fraction of these projects could ease pressure on taxpayers and deliver the material resources needed for infrastructure, defense, and energy independence. 'We know exactly where these minerals are. We know they're worth trillions of dollars. And now—for the first time in half a century—we can go get them' . 'The Asset Is Already Ours' Unlike stimulus checks or bond-funded bailouts, Rickards emphasizes that this is not about redistribution—but reclamation. 'It's not earmarked for any specific individual,' he notes. 'I'm just trying to use terminology that will make the most sense to viewers'. 'This is different. Very different'. With major fiscal battles looming in Congress, the presentation offers a new way of thinking about national wealth—not as something to borrow, but something to unearth. About Jim Rickards Jim Rickards is a former advisor to the White House, CIA, Pentagon, and U.S. Treasury. He helped craft the Petrodollar Accord, has counseled top-level officials through multiple global financial threats, and is the New York Times bestselling author of seven books. He currently provides strategic insight on economic preparedness and national resilience. Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with GlobeNewswire. Business Upturn takes no editorial responsibility for the same. Ahmedabad Plane Crash
Business Upturn
3 minutes ago
- Business Upturn
Loeffler Issues Statement on One Big Beautiful Bill Signing
By GlobeNewswire Published on July 5, 2025, 03:00 IST WASHINGTON, July 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Today, after President Donald J. Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill into law, Kelly Loeffler, Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), released the following statement: 'The One Big Beautiful Bill is a landmark victory for America's small businesses, and it cements President Trump's legacy as the greatest small business champion our country has ever known,' said Loeffler. 'These historic tax cuts lay the foundation for generational prosperity on Main Street – ushering in a new era of growth, hiring, investment, and opportunity for job creators. I applaud Congressional Republicans for their efforts to pass the One Big Beautiful Bill, and I thank President Trump for his visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to putting American workers and job creators first.' Administrator Loeffler has been one of the Trump Administration's most outspoken proponents of the One Big Beautiful Bill. Last month, she embarked on a national tour to tout its benefits alongside America's small business owners – traveling to Florida, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, and North Carolina. In addition to delivering the largest tax cut in history for middle and working-class Americans – increasing annual take-home pay by at least $10,000 for most families – the One Big Beautiful Bill includes revolutionary reforms to end entitlement abuse, secure the border, stop the Green New Scam, and slash wasteful spending. It also includes numerous provisions that will directly empower small businesses and workers, including: Prevents the largest tax hike in history, making the 2017 Trump Tax Cuts permanent and increasing the standard deduction for every American family. making the 2017 Trump Tax Cuts permanent and increasing the standard deduction for every American family. Makes the Small Business Tax Deduction Permanent, preserving the 199A 20% small business deduction, which will generate $750 billion in economic growth and create over 1 million new Main Street jobs. Without the One Big Beautiful Bill, 26 million small businesses would have seen their top tax rate double to 43%. preserving the 199A 20% small business deduction, which will generate $750 billion in economic growth and create over 1 million new Main Street jobs. Without the One Big Beautiful Bill, 26 million small businesses would have seen their top tax rate double to 43%. Supports the return of Made in America by allowing 100 percent expensing for new factories, factory improvements, equipment, and research and development. by allowing 100 percent expensing for new factories, factory improvements, equipment, and research and development. Ends the war on the gig economy by removing the requirement that Venmo, PayPal, and other gig transactions over $600 be reported to the IRS. by removing the requirement that Venmo, PayPal, and other gig transactions over $600 be reported to the IRS. Protects family farmers by preventing the death tax from hitting 2 million family-owned farms who would otherwise see their exemptions cut in half. by preventing the death tax from hitting 2 million family-owned farms who would otherwise see their exemptions cut in half. Cuts taxes on seniors, tips, and overtime , saving tipped and overtime workers up to $1,750 per year. , saving tipped and overtime workers up to $1,750 per year. Protects Medicaid for working Americans , by ending benefits for at least 1.4 million illegal immigrants who are gaming the system. , by ending benefits for at least 1.4 million illegal immigrants who are gaming the system. Increases the child tax credit to $2,200 per family. # # # About the U.S. Small Business Administration The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of entrepreneurship. As the leading voice for small businesses within the federal government, the SBA empowers job creators with the resources and support they need to start, grow, and expand their businesses or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with GlobeNewswire. Business Upturn takes no editorial responsibility for the same. Ahmedabad Plane Crash GlobeNewswire provides press release distribution services globally, with substantial operations in North America and Europe.
CNN
an hour ago
- CNN
Fact check: Trump falsely claims his highly unpopular big bill is the ‘single most popular bill ever signed'
On Friday, before signing his massive domestic policy bill, President Donald Trump proclaimed at the White House that 'it's the most popular bill ever signed in the history of our country,' adding for emphasis that 'this is the single most popular bill ever signed.' That is an up-is-down reversal of reality. The bill is wildly unpopular, poll after poll has found. While polls can be off, this bill wouldn't be popular – let alone the most popular US bill ever signed – even with a massive and widespread polling error. In a Fox News poll in mid-June, 59% of registered voters said they opposed the bill and 38% said they favored it, with another 3% saying they didn't know. In a Quinnipiac University poll in late June, 55% of registered voters said they opposed the bill and 29% said they supported it, with another 16% not weighing in. In a Pew Research Center poll in early June, 49% of adults said they were opposed and 29% said they were in favor, with 21% unsure. Reviewing these numbers and the similar findings of two other polls about the bill, CNN chief data analyst Harry Enten said on air on Monday: 'You just never see numbers this poor. I have been trying to look through the history books to find if there was another piece of legislation that was on the verge of passing that was as unpopular as this one, and…I cannot find one.' CNN senior reporter Aaron Blake reported June 20 that the polling numbers made the bill 'more unpopular than any piece of major legislation passed since at least 1990, according to data crunched by George Washington University political science professor Chris Warshaw.' And in an analysis published Friday, before Trump spoke, data journalist G. Elliott Morris wrote, 'On average across pollsters and methods, 31% of Americans support the One Big Beautiful Bill, while 54% oppose it. That net rating of -23 is, to put it mildly, absolutely abysmal.' It's possible that Trump has seen private polling that has found different numbers. And, of course, the popularity of legislation can improve after it passes and Americans feel its impacts; that's what happened with Obamacare. But if Trump has any evidence for his claim that this is the most popular bill in American history, he did not provide it on Friday. The president also made other false claims in his White House remarks: – A false claim that 'we've delivered … no tax on Social Security for our great seniors.' The bill does not completely eliminate tax on Social Security; rather, it creates a temporary additional tax deduction of $6,000 per person age 65 and older every year from 2025 through 2028 (it's a smaller deduction for individuals earning more than $75,000 per year). The White House has said that 88% of seniors will not pay tax on Social Security benefits with this additional deduction in place, up from 64% not paying tax on those benefits under current law, but even if the White House is right, the millions of seniors in the remaining 12% will still have to pay – and so will some Social Security recipients under the age of 65, who do not get this new deduction. – A false claim, which Trump has made repeatedly, that President Joe Biden allowed in '21 million' migrants. Through December 2024, the last full month under Biden, the country had recorded under 11 million nationwide 'encounters' with migrants during that administration, including millions who were rapidly expelled from the country. Even adding in so-called gotaways who evaded detection, estimated by House Republicans as being roughly 2.2 million, there's no way the total is 21 million.
