Latest news with #JanelleBynum
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
House Democrats demand closure of ‘Alligator Alcatraz'
House Democrats are calling for the closure of Florida's new migrant detention facility on a remote site nestled in the Everglades dubbed 'Alligator Alcatraz,' citing it as an example of what they argue is the Trump administration's 'shameful, dehumanizing approach to immigration.' Democratic Reps. Janelle Bynum (Ore.) and Maxwell Frost (Fla.) led a group of 24 Democrats in sending a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and acting Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Todd Lyons on Wednesday. The letter includes signatures from Reps. Pramila Jayapal (Wash.), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (N.Y.), Rashida Tlaib (Mich.) and Eric Swalwell (Calif.). The Democratic lawmakers panned the facility as a 'cruel and inhumane stunt.' The administration used money from the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Shelter and Services Program to build the facility, which is projected to cost about $450 million a year. 'This kind of cruel rhetoric and deliberate endangerment further exemplifies the administration's shameful, dehumanizing approach to immigration – an approach rooted in anti-immigrant hostility that is morally indefensible and in clear violation of fundamental human rights,' the members wrote in the letter. They said migrants detained there while awaiting deportation will be kept in tents 'with inadequate sanitation facilities' facing conditions including 'exposure to deadly pathogens, constant threats from unpredictable flooding and extreme weather events, and daily temperatures averaging 90 degrees, with a heat index often over 100 degrees Fahrenheit.' 'Erecting tents in the blazing Everglades sun, during hurricane season no less, and call it immigration enforcement is nothing short of disgusting and cruel. Donald Trump and his Administration don't care if migrant men, women, and children live or die – they only care about cruelty and spectacle,' Frost said in a statement. The group is demanding clarity on the funding and conditions at the facility and 'a commitment to humane treatment for all detainees at all detention facilities.' President Trump toured the site Tuesday to mark its opening, touting the facility alongside Noem. The facility was built through a partnership with state and federal resources to bolster Trump's immigration crackdown and features soft-sided units outfitted with chain-link cells that have been built to house hundreds of detainees. 'It's known as 'Alligator Alcatraz,' which is very appropriate, because I looked outside and it's not a place I want to go hiking anytime soon,' Trump said while at the facility. 'We're surrounded by miles of treacherous swampland and the only way out is, really, deportation.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
18-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Rep. Janelle Bynum questioned at town hall after ‘gratitude to law enforcement,' ICE vote
Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect the language of the House Resolution Bynum voted for on June 9, 2025. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Just one week ago, Congresswoman Janelle Bynum voted to 'express gratitude to law enforcement officers, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement personnel, for protecting the homeland' as part of House Resolution 488, which condemned the attack in Boulder, Colorado. On Monday night, she spoke in front of a packed Lake Oswego crowd at another public forum, just days after protesting Donald Trump and his immigration policies. So, what changed? Bynum told KOIN 6 that her vote wasn't an endorsement of everything in the resolution. She says the language tying antisemitism to support for ICE was a political move. Now, she wants to focus on protecting immigrants and keeping communities safe — without the fear and chaos she says the Trump administration is spreading. 'You can agree on the what, but the how is really, really disturbing,' Bynum said. 'It was a very politicized resolution, and I don't support that language.' At her eighth town hall, Bynum faced a crowd with tough questions. 'I'm here to ask the congresswoman about her voting record,' said Jonathan Greenlee at the event, 'I just want to know how she can answer to the immigrants in our community, who are feeling the unprecedented terror of the Trump administration right now? The town hall made it clear — immigration is top of mind for a lot of people. 'We are needing immigration reforms desperately. We need more people welcoming others rather than just sending them on their way,' said Nancy Chesney-Smith, who spoke at the event. 'Even though I love the USA, I've never been so down about Americans yelling at other Americans. Just the way we treat other people in general, there's got to be a better way,' added Jim Smith. President Trump announced he's shifting immigration raids away from farms and hotels to democratic-led cities, sparking backlash and fears of political targeting. While this plays out, many are simply looking for some sense of normalcy — even if that means a town hall: 'If anything, I'm just here to get a sense of hope,' said town hall attendee Erin Creane. 'I don't know what's gonna happen, I just know that we have to not just let it happen. We have to try to stop wherever we can and try to make it.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
18-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Gov. Kotek signs POWER Act to shield Oregonians from Big Tech utility bills
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – Gov. Tina Kotek has signed the Protecting Oregonians With Energy Responsibility (POWER) Act into law, effectively in the state. Now, thanks to , companies with facilities such as data centers or cryptocurrency operations will be held responsible for their utility bills. Woman dead, 3 teens seriously injured in Hwy 26 crash Kyle Herrig with Unlocking America's Future said the POWER Act is accountability. 'Hard-working Oregon families who earn their paychecks and pay their bills each month shouldn't have to subsidize the massive energy consumption of for-profit data centers through higher utility bills,' Herrig said. Kotek's signature means there will be a separate pricing system for energy users who demand more than 20 megawatts, or roughly the same usage as a small city, according to the Democratic Majority Office. Rep. Janelle Bynum questioned at town hall after 'gratitude to law enforcement,' ICE vote The Democratic lawmakers note that industrial users currently pay about eight cents a kilowatt hour, while households are charged more than double the rate at 19.6 cents per kilowatt hour. 'The bill helps protect everyday users, like families and small businesses, from paying the costs that big businesses are running up,' said , who co-sponsored the POWER Act. 'Household budgets are stretched far enough as they are. They shouldn't be covering corporate costs, too.' However, that the bill would discourage tech companies from growing their presence in Oregon. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Rep. Janelle Bynum calls Republican-backed tax bill ‘trash' during town hall in Portland
PORTLAND, Ore. () — U.S. Representative Janelle Bynum (D-OR) held a town hall in Portland Tuesday night, in part to rail against the Republican-backed tax bill she voted against. The public event was open to all and focused on her pushback against the policies of President Donald Trump's administration. It was the second town hall in a 10-part series this summer, taking place across Oregon's District 5. 'Lot less trash': PPB ratchets up deflection referrals The Lewis and Clark College Agnes Flanagan Chapel in Portland hosted Rep. Bynum's self-described 'Give 'Em Hell Tour' event, representing the sixth total town hall she has helmed since joining Congress. Many people at the town hall expressed worry about the future, especially when it comes to potential cuts to Social Security, Medicaid and SNAP benefits, all targeted in the piece of legislation. The , which Bynum called 'trash' at one point, recently passed the Republican-controlled House of Representatives by a razor-thin margin. Nicknamed by its supporters as the 'big, beautiful bill,' it includes huge spending reductions, stricter requirements for federal aid programs, and increased border funding, among other things. The 1,000-page document also slashes billions from SNAP or food stamps. The bill is now headed to the U.S. Senate. Pokémon cards worth $1K+ stolen from game store Bynum has joined in condemning the bill. On Tuesday night, she emphasized that she voted 'no' during the reading of the bill, which went late into the overnight hours, in Washington D.C. last week. 'One of the reasons we're having these townhalls is to raise awareness and put public pressure on my Republican counterparts to not cut things that are so precious and important to Americans,' Bynum said. Bynum's constituents expressed similar disdain for the proposed law. However, others at the town hall also criticized the lawmaker for other issues, such as her stance on the Israel-Gaza war. At one point during the proceedings, a couple of people heckled Bynum for what they said was in protest of the congresswoman allegedly accepting funds from pro-Israeli groups. However, emcees at the event quickly shut down the commotion. One woman asked why Bynum voted 'yes' on the Laken Riley Act, a law aimed at cracking down on immigrants charged with certain crimes. 'What are you doing to make up for this shameful vote, protect immigrants, and protect due process?' the woman asked. Bynum will be in Albany next week, the third stop in her 'Give 'Em Hell Tour.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Oregon Rep. Janelle Bynum plans 10 summer town halls as Democrats push back against Trump
U.S. Rep. Janelle Bynum, D-Oregon, speaks with constituents in Silverton. (Photo by Julia Shumway/Oregon Capital Chronicle) The first-term Democratic congresswoman in Oregon's closest congressional district plans to hold seven in-person and three telephonic town halls over the next three months in a major change from her predecessor, whose lack of meetings inspired constituents to question a cardboard cutout. Rep. Janelle Bynum, D-Oregon, plans to hold meetings in big cities and small towns through Clackamas, Deschutes, Linn, Marion and Multnomah counties as part of her 'Give 'Em Hell' tour. She described it as an effort to connect with constituents of Oregon's 5th Congressional District and fight back against the Trump administration. 'Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and the rest of this administration are making life more expensive, tanking our economy, and ripping away key programs that we rely on, all while dismantling the foundations of our country in the process,' Bynum said in a statement. 'We can't let that happen. I'm traveling across my district to turn up the heat on Donald Trump and Republicans — they will hear our stories and they will feel our outrage. Let's give 'em hell Oregon!' Democrats nationwide have stepped up their use of town halls following Trump's return to the White House, but Oregonians have long been accustomed to frequent in-person town halls. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley famously hold town halls in every county every year, and Wyden has won multiple awards from a grassroots national group for having more open meetings with constituents than any other U.S. senator. But Bynum's predecessor, one-term Republican Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, deviated from that practice. Instead of public meetings in the district, she held quarterly telephonic town halls, which she defended as a more efficient way to reach all constituents. Activists in the district organized a series of events where constituents asked questions to a cardboard cutout of Chavez-DeRemer and volunteers tried to answer them based on her public statements and their own research. Bynum has held five town halls since taking office in January. Her full summer schedule, with details of most events to be announced: May 10: Sisters with Merkley 5:30 p.m., Sisters High School, 1700 W. McKinney Butte Road, Sisters, OR 97759 May 27: Portland June 2: Albany June 10: telephonic June 16: Lake Oswego June 28: Redmond July 16: telephonic July 28: Molalla Aug. 2: Silverton Aug. 4: telephonic Merkley has additional May 10 town halls scheduled in Crook and Jefferson counties, with details here. Other members of Oregon's congressional delegation haven't announced summer town halls yet, but Oregonians can find meetings as they're announced by Wyden, Democratic Reps. Suzanne Bonamici, Maxine Dexter and Val Hoyle and Republican Rep. Cliff Bentz on their congressional websites. Rep. Andrea Salinas, D-Oregon, shares town hall information on social media and constituent newsletters. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
