Latest news with #MehekCooke
Fox News
2 days ago
- Politics
- Fox News
Stephen A Smith calls out 'leaderless' Democrats amid party's record-low polling
Attorney Mehek Cooke on the Democratic Party's record-low polling, the work Republicans need to do to deliver promises to the American people and Jay Leno's criticism of late-night comedians for alienating half of their audience with politics.
Fox News
5 days ago
- Politics
- Fox News
Trump's Fed visit shows he ‘takes this seriously,' observes correspondent
Panelist Mehek Cooke and Monica Paige discuss President Donald Trump's trip to the Federal Reserve and more on 'Fox News @ Night.'
Fox News
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Legal expert reveals how Trump admin can deport major anti-Israel activist
As anti-Israel activist Mahmoud Khalil is now free for now in the United States, a Republican legal expert revealed what steps the Trump administration could take as the hotly debated immigration case continues. Khalil, who's technically a legal permanent resident, was arrested in March over his pro-Palestinian activism on the Columbia University campus in New York City, and an immigration judge ruled he could be removed from the country based on a memo from Secretary of State Marco Rubio that said his campus protests were at odds with U.S. foreign policy interests. He was released from federal detention in Louisiana last month after a court ruling. "The judge did not have the authority to decide on Khalil's detention status. This was specifically an only foreign immigration judge, not a federal judge. He doesn't have the wherewithal, the knowledge, or the legal backing to make this decision. Khalil should have never been released," Attorney Mehek Cooke said, agreeing with the administration's assessment that Khalil poses a threat due to his anti-Israel activism. "And the last time I checked, President Trump is the Commander-in-Chief, Secretary Rubio has determined Khalil not only to be a threat to national security, but under his jurisdiction, asked for his removal. And we're constantly seeing judges circumvent federal immigration law, the Commander-in-Chief, and now Secretary Rubio for political gain," she continued. In addition, the DHS said Khalil allegedly omitted key information from his green card application about groups with which he was affiliated, including the Columbia University Apartheid Divest, and Cooke said the allegations about his application strengthen the case for his removal. "I think that the prosecution needs to strategically pursue an appeal that specifically challenges the judge's lack of jurisdiction and get in front of an immigration court judge to say that this district court did not have the authority to remove him and an immigration court judge should be able to then get back to a detention hearing and put Khalil in a detention facility," she said. Rubio cited a provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act to justify his finding, and a New Jersey federal judge, Michael Farbiarz, later enjoined the secretary from using that determination to deport Khalil. Farbiarz was the judge who ultimately released Khalil on bail, with travel restrictions, as the case continues, according to CBS News. "I think that what's surprising to me today is that we have a rogue judge in New Jersey that's overriding the law to free somebody who's threatening American interests," Cooke said. "But I think we have to push for an immigration judge to swiftly rule and ensure that not only is Khalil deportable on foreign grounds, but find that because he was fraudulent, redetain him under the [Immigration and Nationality Act] Section 212, and immediately push for removal," she added. On the flip side, the American Civil Liberties Union has vocally advocated for Khalil, as they believe his detainment was a First Amendment issue. "It is an enormous relief that Palestinian human rights defender Mahmoud Khalil can return to New York while his case proceeds. Now, Mr. Khalil will thankfully be reunited with his wife and newborn — a bond that never should have been broken in the first place," Donna Lieberman, executive director at the NYCLU, said in a statement on June 20 amid news of his release. "Ideas are not illegal, and no administration should ever incarcerate people for expressing opinions they disagree with. We are heartened and relieved that Mr. Khalil can return to his family, community, and counsel, and the NYCLU will continue to fight back against Trump's unconstitutional attacks on free speech and dissent," Lieberman added. As for Cooke, she said that "there's a lot of debate about freedom of speech, but when you combat it with national security and terrorism, it isn't free speech anymore." "It's a megaphone for terror, and that's exactly what Khalil's protests are. It wasn't about debate. It was about destabilizing America," she added.
Fox News
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Legal expert reveals why centuries-old law is crucial for Trump admin in immigration fight
As the Alien Enemies Act continues to be a focal point of the immigration debate in the early days of President Donald Trump's second term, Republican attorney Mehek Cooke told Fox News Digital about why the White House is making use of the 1798 law. Some federal judges have disagreed with the Trump administration's decision to use the act to send suspected MS-13 and Tren De Aragua gang members outside the United States, including to El Salvador's CECOT prison. Trump designated those two groups as foreign terrorist organizations shortly after taking office. "Under this act, it allows us to detain, apprehend, and deport alien enemies," Cooke said. "This immediately allowed under the Alien Enemies Act for President Trump and his administration to accelerate deportations of individuals from Venezuela and gang members," she later added. Earlier last week, U.S. District Judge James Boasberg asked the Justice Department about public comments Trump and other Cabinet officials made about deportation proceedings under the Alien Enemies Act and floated the idea of moving some migrants to Guantánamo Bay. During the hearing, Boasberg specifically pressed Justice Department lawyers about statements made by Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem about CECOT, the maximum-security prison in El Salvador where the U.S. has deported hundreds of migrants, and the White House's ability to secure someone's release. Cooke noted that the debate over due process has to do with the perspective of who gets those rights in the U.S. "I think today, when we talk about due process, people have to understand there's American citizens that deserve due process under our Constitution," she said. "There's illegal aliens that are in our country that we have given a sliding scale of due process. And then there are terrorists that deserve very little process, as we're expediting their removal. Our immigration judges and our courts don't have enough time to stand there with every single individual that's a Tren de Aragua member and bicker back and forth," Cooke continued. The Republican attorney said that from her perspective, many federal judges are questioning the president's ability to actually decide what is considered an alien enemy. "What's happening today is courts through judicial activism are actually challenging that. So what they're saying is that the president can't designate somebody an alien enemy. They can't designate Tren de Aragua an alien enemy. And more importantly, courts are pushing and saying that these individuals that are illegal terrorists in our country deserve due process," Cooke explained.
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Bill to regulate sale of cats, dogs in Kentucky, overriding local bans, fails
FRANKFORT, Ky. (FOX 56) — An effort to bring a uniform retail pet sale law to the Commonwealth fell short in Frankfort. At least 5 cities and 1 county in Kentucky, including Lexington, have adopted local ordinances banning any over-the-counter sale of dogs and cats in an effort to turn away businesses from 'puppy mills' and encourage buyers to purchase from rescues. Kentucky severe weather deaths rise to 23 Soldier had 90 images, 70 videos containing child sexual abuse while stationed in Fort Campbell Bill to regulate sale of cats, dogs in Kentucky, overriding local bans, fails Executives for the retail chain Petland argued that the ordinances are threatening their stores and that they've tried to offer transparency about their breeders. 'We're just saying don't shut us down overnight, regulate us, pass more bills, give us civil penalties. We will abide by all of your rules and regulations,' Mehek Cooke, a lobbyist for Petland, told lawmakers on the Senate Agriculture Committee Tuesday. 'They do not come from regulated breeders. They come matted, covered in feces and urine. They're scared. They're shaking. They're packed in cages,' Miriam Arena told reporters following the meeting. Arena is a former employee of Petland Lexington who says she was employed there for six months. 'We have a quilt work of regulation, and that's, I think, what this legislation was trying to prevent. Just a uniform opportunity to regulate places where people can buy animals,' Sen. Robin Webb (D-Grayson) told FOX 56 Bondi warns states to comply with Trump order on transgender athletes Bill to regulate sale of cats, dogs in Kentucky, overriding local bans, fails Lawmakers Unite for Funding for 9/11 Victims, State-Sponsored Terrorism Claims Webb was among those in favor of Senate Bill 122 and felt the proposal was pro-business. However, enough lawmakers had concerns that the bill could step on local control or weren't strong enough to effectively penalize puppy mills. 'I still have some concerns about the back end of the bill when it comes to regulating and what those fines look like,' Sen. Matt Deneen said while explaining his 'no' vote. The bill failed in committee on a tie vote of 5 to 5. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
