Latest news with #ImmigrationandCustomsEnforcement
Sky News AU
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Sky News AU
Karoline Leavitt savagely unleashes on CNN for promoting controversial ICE tracking app
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has unleashed on television network CNN. The slam came during a press briefing where Leavitt discussed CNN promoting an ICEBlock app. The new app informs people of the locations of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. During the press briefing, Leavitt was questioned by The Daily Wire's Mary Margaret Olohan about CNN's coverage of the app. 'I just watched a CNN segment on a new app called ICEBlock, and it kind of appeared to be promoting this app where you can tell people where ICE agents are,' Olohan said. 'Given the 500 per cent increase in assaults on ICE agents, I wanted to see if you could comment on that and why CNN would be promoting such an app.' Leavitt unleashed on CNN, saying this would just incite further violence against ICE agents. 'It's unacceptable that a major network would promote such an app that is encouraging violence against law enforcement officers," Leavitt said.
Newsweek
10 hours ago
- Politics
- Newsweek
ICE Raids on US Farms Leaves Crops Rotting
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Immigration enforcement operations on farms have left crops rotting and farm operations disrupted in major agricultural states including California, Texas, and Pennsylvania. Farm owners and industry representatives report that up to 70 percent of workers stopped reporting to work following Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) actions, resulting in significant crop losses and financial strain. "We do not have enough workforce in the United States to do manual work, to do those jobs that other people are not qualified to do and do not want to do it," Alexandra Sossa, CEO of Farmworker and Landscaper Advocacy Project, told Newsweek. "For example, we are running into a problem where we do not have enough farm workers to grow the food we eat every day. "Now we do not have enough workers to go to the meatpacking processing industries and factories to produce, to pack the food that we are eating." Why It Matters The labor shortage has drawn criticism from business leaders and renewed debate over the need for immigration and visa system reform, though Congress has yet to act to pass legislation to deliver security for farm workers. Some of those advocating for the mass deportations of illegal immigrants believe that their jobs should be done by legal immigrants or American citizens. On May Day farm workers march to a Hannaford supermarket to protest the supermarket chain's refusal to purchase milk from dairy suppliers who have committed to a set of fair labor practices, May 1, 2022,... On May Day farm workers march to a Hannaford supermarket to protest the supermarket chain's refusal to purchase milk from dairy suppliers who have committed to a set of fair labor practices, May 1, 2022, in Burlington, Vermont. More Andrew Lichtenstein/Corbis via Getty Images What To Know Labor shortages come amid estimates from the U.S. Department of Agriculture that nearly half of the nation's agricultural workforce is in the country without legal status. States like California, which produce more than one-third of the country's vegetables and three-quarters of its fruits and nuts, rely heavily on this labor force. Farmers say the increased enforcement in June led to widespread crop loss and food waste. Producers warn that continued labor disruptions could affect the food supply chain, drive up costs for consumers, and force farms to shut down or automate more quickly. The Pennsylvania Farm Bureau, which represents over 25,000 members, cautioned that instability in farm labor threatens both food affordability and availability nationwide. Similar labor shortages hit the Rio Grande Valley in Texas, where reports detailed entire farms left empty for days. Official statistics showed that up to 75 percent of farm workers did not report for duty in some regions after ICE enforcement. Consumer advocates warn of higher food prices and less reliable access to produce if labor shortages persist. Research from Oxford Economics stated native-born workers are unlikely to replace lost immigrant labor, as their employment patterns differ significantly. The future of American agriculture and food stability may hinge on how swiftly policymakers can respond to the sector's call for balancing enforcement with sustainable labor policies. President Trump and the White House have given mixed messages in recent weeks on whether ICE would carry out enforcement actions on farms, as well as at hospitality businesses. Trump initially said two weeks ago that he heard the concerns from these industries, with reports that agents had been told to pause raids. This was walked back a few days later, before Trump then said again that he was looking at a solution for farm workers specifically. The American Business Immigration Coalition and other advocacy groups, as well as Republican Representative Andy Harris, backed the idea of a long-term solution for farm workers. There have been some efforts in Congress to find a solution, with Representatives on both sides of the aisle reintroducing a 2019 bill in May, which would shore up the legal status of farm workers. As with many pieces of legislation around immigration, a definitive step forward is yet to be seen. The White House told Newsweek that Trump had been working to help farmers, including eliminating 10 regulations for every new regulation, as well as negotiating the U.K. trade deal, which expanded the markets available to them. What People Are Saying White House spokesperson Anna Kelly, in a statement to Newsweek: "President Trump has always stood up for our farmers, who were a major part of his November victory, by working to negotiate fairer trade deals and cut red tape. He will continue to strengthen our agricultural industry and boost exports while keeping his promise to enforce our immigration laws and remove the millions of unvetted illegals who flooded into the United States under Joe Biden." Alexandra Sossa, CEO of Farmworker and Landscaper Advocacy Project, told Newsweek: "It's affecting the economy of the whole country and people who used to pay taxes and contribute to the economy now are in deportation centers." Frank Knapp, managing director of the Secure Growth Initiative, told Newsweek via email: "Clearly, farmers who depend on undocumented labor (which is most of them) are suffering and losing money. The harmful consequences to the economy and food supply is obvious. "No business should be given such life and death control over its employees. Plus, there should be no 'favored' industry regarding immigration enforcement. All small business owners suffer financially when their employees are taken or too scared to come to work. They all suffer financially when immigrants stop spending money in their local communities." California Democratic Representative Zoe Lofgren, in a May press release on the Farm Workforce Modernization Act: "As economic chaos and confusion continues, it is essential we provide stability to this critical workforce. The Farm Workforce Modernization Act would do so, which will protect the future of our farms and our food supply. It is well-past time we get this bipartisan legislation twice passed by the House of Representatives to the President's desk." What's Next Worksite raids by ICE are still underway, with the president yet to officially announce the solution he promised just over a week ago.
Time Magazine
13 hours ago
- Politics
- Time Magazine
What to Know About the ICEBlock App Amid Backlash
An iPhone app that alerts users about nearby sightings of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity is gaining traction amid President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown. And it's proving to be a controversial platform, with ICE speaking out against it on Monday. ICEBlock allows its users—of which there are over 30,000, according to the app's developer—to upload sightings of ICE activity. They can pinpoint the location on a map, and offer additional information about what they witnessed. Other users, within a five-mile radius, should then receive a push alert notifying them of the sighting. 'See something, tap something,' ICEBlock's slogan instructs. There are also measures in place to prevent spamming activity. Users can only post a sighting within a five-mile radius of their location once every five minutes, and the alerts are automatically deleted after five hours. 'In recent years, ICE has faced criticism for alleged civil rights abuses and failures to adhere to constitutional principles and due process, making it crucial for communities to stay informed about its operations,' reads a statement on the app's website. Joshua Aaron, ICEBlock's developer, describes the app as a grassroots, community-driven initiative in a conversation with TIME conducted over Signal. 'When I saw what was going on in this country, I just really felt like I had to do something,' Aaron says, referencing the ICE raids that have taken place following Trump's return to the White House. As of June, over 100,000 people have reportedly been arrested by ICE during Trump's second term. Growing up in a Jewish household, Aaron says he has had the opportunity to speak to Holocaust survivors and learn about the history of Nazi Germany, he argues that the current political climate, noting instances of 'authoritarianism' and 'fascism,' is akin to watching 'history repeat itself.' 'The app is 100% anonymous and free for anybody who wants to use it. We don't collect user data. We don't even capture user data. That's extremely important,' Aaron says, recognizing the privacy concerns people may have. As such, the app is not available on Android because it "requires a device ID in order to send push notifications, which requires a user account and a password." But ICE is concerned about the potential safety implications for its agents. In response to a request for comment, ICE referred TIME to a statement from acting director Todd Lyons, who called the app "sickening," saying it 'paints a target on federal law enforcement officers' backs' and 'incites violence.' Aaron says he hopes the app, which became available to iPhone users in April, is used as a tool to avoid interactions with ICE agents, rather than users directly involving themselves in potential altercations. 'The app is to inform, not obstruct. This is to have people avoid having that confrontation in the first place,' Aaron says, responding to concerns that people might use the app in order to locate and confront ICE agents. This sentiment is also supported by a warning issued to ICEBlock users, which reads: 'Please note that the use of this app is for information and notification purposes only. It is not to be used for the purposes of inciting violence or interfering with law enforcement.' Since returning to the White House, Trump has remade the country's immigration policies, including through ICE raids in major cities. Recent raids in Los Angeles sparked mass protests. Trump responded by deploying the California National Guard, and later the Marines, without the request of state Gov. Gavin Newsom, prompting much criticism and a legal battle. A court ultimately ruled that Trump was allowed to keep control of the National Guard in L.A. Aaron noticed a dramatic spike in users during the recent upset in L.A. 'Before [the protests started], there were around 2,500 users, and I was thrilled. Then I logged on two days later, and there were over 20,000 users, and the app went to number 32 for 'Social Networking' in the App Store,' he says. Protests opposing ICE raids rapidly spread across the U.S., with people talking to the streets in cities such as New York, Chicago, and San Antonio. Aaron says he has not kept a record of where users downloaded the app or registered the sightings, in order to protect user privacy. The app is available in 14 languages, including Arabic, Spanish, Hindi, and Nepali, each added after the development team conducted research on immigrant communities, seeking out the most commonly used languages aside from English. Amid the upset over ICEBlock, Aaron says his ultimate goal is to look out for the community. "When I see things like ICE outside of elementary schools, that's what we are trying to push back against, because you need to do more. You need to protect your neighbors,' he says.
Straits Times
13 hours ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
Trump administration sues Los Angeles over immigration enforcement
Protesters rallying against detentions by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, in the Los Angeles County city of Compton, on June 22. PHOTO: REUTERS WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump's administration sued Los Angeles on June 30 over policies limiting city cooperation with federal immigration authorities, continuing a confrontation over the Republican's deportation efforts in a largely Democratic city. The lawsuit, filed by the US Justice Department, alleges that policies barring city resources from aiding in immigration enforcement operations or collecting information about individuals' citizenship status violate federal law. 'We will keep enforcing federal immigration law in Los Angeles, whether or not the city's government or residents agree with it,' Mr Chad Mizelle, a senior Justice Department official, said on social media. 'And we will not tolerate any interference with the federal government's duty to enforce the law.' The lawsuit comes weeks after Mr Trump deployed California National Guard troops to quell protests in Los Angeles against deportation operations. The demonstrations were limited to a small section of the city, but included some instances of looting, property destruction and attacks on law enforcement. A spokesperson for Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the lawsuit. California officials, including Ms Bass, accused Mr Trump of inflaming tensions and exacerbating a situation local authorities had under control. The complaint marked the latest instance of the Justice Department under Mr Trump challenging so-called sanctuary city policies that prevent local jurisdictions from sharing information or participating in immigration raids. The lawsuit blames Los Angeles' policies for sparking confrontations that led to this month's protests, which came after US Immigration and Customs Enforcement conducted raids on workplaces in and around the city. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
USA Today
15 hours ago
- Politics
- USA Today
Justice Department sues Los Angeles to end 'sanctuary' immigration policies
The department has also sued New York and filed criminal charges against a Wisconsin judge over immigration enforcement. WASHINGTON – The Justice Department filed a lawsuit on June 30 against the city of Los Angeles to end policies that restrict cooperation with President Donald Trump's enforcement of immigration laws. The lawsuit comes after sometimes violent protests in Los Angeles earlier in the month against federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials, which led Trump to mobilize the National Guard. It is the latest to challenge so-called 'sanctuary' policies, in which state or local law enforcement do not collaborate with ICE, which the Trump administration contends are unlawful. The department has also sued New York state and filed criminal charges against a Wisconsin judge over immigration enforcement. It also sued federal judges in Maryland on June 25, for blocking deportation orders. 'Sanctuary policies were the driving cause of the violence, chaos, and attacks on law enforcement that Americans recently witnessed in Los Angeles,' Attorney General Pamela Bondi said in a statement. 'Jurisdictions like Los Angeles that flout federal law by prioritizing illegal aliens over American citizens are undermining law enforcement at every level – it ends under President Trump," Bondi added. ICE raids earlier this month in Los Angeles sparked several days of protests that included people hurling rocks at federal officials and setting fire to cars. Attacks on federal officials are up 500%, according to the Department of Homeland Security. "We will keep enforcing federal immigration law in Los Angeles, whether or not the city's government or residents agree with it," Chad Mizelle, the department's chief of staff, said on social media. "And we will not tolerate any interference with the federal government's duty to enforce the law."
