Latest news with #U.S.DepartmentofHomelandSecurity
NBC News
7 hours ago
- Politics
- NBC News
Trump administration to end deportation relief for Haitians in the U.S.
U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem will end deportation protections for half a million Haitians, the latest move by the Trump administration to strip migrants of legal status as it ramps up deportations. Noem, who shortened the duration of Temporary Protected Status, or TPS, for some 521,000 Haitians earlier this year, will terminate the status on September 2, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security said. President Donald Trump, a Republican, has sought to crack down on both legal and illegal immigration during the first four months of his presidency. Noem, who shares Trump's hardline stance, moved in February to end TPS for some 350,000 Venezuelans, as well as thousands of people from Afghanistan and Cameroon. The Supreme Court ruled on May 19 that the Trump administration could proceed with ending TPS for those Venezuelans, signaling that other terminations also may be permitted to move forward. The court in a separate order on May 30 said that the administration could immediately revoke a separate status known as parole for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans. TPS — a humanitarian program created by the U.S. Congress in 1990 — is available to people whose home country has experienced a natural disaster, armed conflict or other extraordinary event. Two months before the status expires, the homeland security secretary must determine whether to renew it, expand it to include new arrivals from the country, or terminate it. 'People think TPS is a free pass, but it's not,' Abigail Desravines, a 35-year-old Haitian immigrant who came to the U.S. following the earthquake, told NBC News earlier this year. 'You have to keep renewing, pay fees and live with the fear that it could end at any time. It's not an easy path.' Trump sought to wipe out most TPS enrollment during his first term but was stymied by federal courts. In a statement, a DHS spokesperson said conditions in Haiti would now allow people to return but did not explain what exactly had changed to lessen the risk. 'The environmental situation in Haiti has improved enough that it is safe for Haitian citizens to return home,' the spokesperson said. Advocates argue that the conditions in Haiti warrant extending the relief. The country has not held an election in nearly a decade. Since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021, armed gangs have gained control over much of Port-au-Prince, creating a power vacuum that has made governing a challenge and fueled further violence, homelessness and starvation. More than 5,600 people were killed and 1,400 were kidnapped amid gang conflicts last year, according to the United Nations. The violence has rendered 1 million people homeless in Haiti, forcing many into makeshift shelters and exacerbating the country's economic challenges. Despite the dire conditions, the Trump administration has frozen some funding earlier pledged to support a U.N.-backed mission in Haiti.
Los Angeles Times
10 hours ago
- Politics
- Los Angeles Times
Newport Beach police awarded $170K grant as part DHS' Operation Stonegarden
The Newport Beach City Council approved a $170,000 grant allowing for its police department to participate in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Operation Stonegarden. Council members voted unanimously in favor of the grant without deliberation during Tuesday's council meeting. According to a city staff report, Operation Stonegarden's 'main objective is to raise the level of U.S. border and California coastline security amongst law enforcement agencies' while increasing law enforcement's overall presence against maritime drug and human smuggling crimes. The Newport Beach Police Department, as part of the grant approval, will collaborate and coordinate with federal U.S. Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Border Patrol agencies as the agreement describes California's coastline as a 'border-crime target.' Toward that end, Newport Beach police will use $70,000 from the grant to buy two mobile cameras and two handheld thermal imaging devices to monitor 'hot-spot' areas, such as parking lots and trailheads, while enhancing nighttime surveillance capabilities. The remaining $100,000 will go toward covering overtime expenses. Operation Stonegarden has raised some concerns as ramped up federal immigration raids have surfaced in Orange County and across Southern California. 'In view of the current conflict between state and federal agencies over immigration policy, the public may want additional assurances that the equipment and overtime will not be used to assist in the apprehension of law-abiding persons with long residence in our country,' Jim Mosher, a Newport Beach resident, wrote to the City Council. But even before President Donald Trump's federal immigration crackdown, pro-immigrant activists have kept a close eye on the program. Mai Nguyen Do, research and policy manager for the Harbor Institute for Immigrant and Economic Justice in Orange County, pointed to a number of law enforcement agencies and local governments in Arizona that have withdrawn from Operation Stonegarden in recent years for a variety of reasons, including misaligned missions. 'The justification for continuing to participate in Operation Stonegarden among many Southern California law enforcement agencies, is that it's technically not immigration enforcement,' Do said. 'But one of the main outcomes that's tracked for the program is arrests numbers, including immigration-related arrests.' 'One of the key elements that erodes trust between local law enforcement and communities, is not the nature of the cooperation, it's the cooperation itself,' Do added. A Newport Beach Police Department spokesperson couldn't be reached for comment by press deadline. DHS allocated $2.7 million for Operation Stonegarden for the 2024 fiscal year and tapped the Riverside County Sheriff's Department to act as the grants administrator. In addition to Newport Beach, other Orange County law enforcement agencies receiving grant money include police departments for Laguna Beach, Huntington Beach, Seal Beach, Costa Mesa and La Habra. Newport Beach police have until February 2027 to spend the grant funds.
Miami Herald
a day ago
- Politics
- Miami Herald
JD Vance Bald Baby Face Meme Shown in Irish Parliament
Irish lawmaker Ivana Bacik held up a meme depicting Vice President JD Vance, in her country's parliament on Tuesday following reports a 21-year-old Norwegian tourist was refused access to the U.S. because he had the image on his phone. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has denied this allegation ,saying the tourist was refused entry "for his admitted drug use." Newsweek contacted Vance for comment on Thursday via email outside of regular office hours. Since the Trump administration assumed office in January it has sought to clamp down on illegal immigration whilst also revoking the visas of some international students who have taken part in pro-Palestinian demonstrations. There have since been a number of reports of tourists from other developed economies being detained or refused entry into the U.S. and several European countries have updated their travel advice raising fears for the U.S. tourism industry. Bacik, the leader of Ireland's Labour Party, which is the fourth largest party in the legislature, held up a printout of a meme which Norwegian tourist Mads Mikkelsen said was found on his phone by U.S. border guards, who then denied him entry to the country. The image was a modified image of Vance portraying the vice president as bald, with smooth skin, and a rounder face. Some of his facial features are also exaggerated. It is part of a series of memes Internet users have dubbed the "JD Vance Babyface Edits." Addressing Jim O'Callaghan, Ireland's Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, Bacik said: "This week a young Norwegian tourist detained by ICE at Newark Airport and sent back to Oslo. Why? He had this meme on his phone minister, a meme depicting Vice President JD Vance as a baby. I mean extraordinary, extraordinary. "That a young person with this amusing meme on their phone depicting a public person, that this would be used as an excuse to detain him for five hours and then deport him back to Oslo." Bacik then asked "what can you do to reassure young people here who hope to travel to the U.S. on a J1 visa?" J1 visas allow entry to the U.S. for education or cultural exchanges. O'Callaghan said "I can't control the U.S. immigration system" but added the Irish government would raise the issue with American authorities. Changes to J1 student visa application rules implemented by the Trump administration mean applicants must disclose all social media accounts they have used over the past five years so they can be viewed by U.S. authorities before any visa is granted. Speaking to Norwegian publication Nordlys, Mikkelsen said he was detained after arriving at Newark Airport in New Jersey on June 11 for a vacation, held in a cell for several hours and "asked questions about drug trafficking, terrorist plots and right-wing extremism totally without reason." Mikkelsen added he gave his phone password to officers after being threatened with five years in prison or a $5,000 fine if he refused to comply, where the meme of Vance was found. He was then instructed to return to Oslo. Tricia McLaughlin, assistant secretary at the Department of Homeland Security, described claims Mikkelsen was denied access to the U.S. as "BS" and "FALSE" adding on X: "Mikkelsen was refused entry into the U.S. for his admitted drug use." In the Irish Parliament Bacik said new social media rules for J1 applications were a "major incursion on freedom of expression" adding: "Generally [a J1 sponsored trip is] a very positive experience, but things have changed drastically under U.S. President Trump, with the recent authoritarian announcement that students would have to hand over social media accounts." O'Callaghan replied: "I think it is regrettable that these new measures are being introduced by the United States. I welcome the fact that the Taoiseach [ Irish prime minister] and Tánaiste [Irish deputy prime minister] have indicated they think it's inappropriate, we'll mention it with the U.S. authorities." Speaking to Nordlys about his experience Mikkelsen said: "I was pushed up against a wall and was strip-searched with a lot of force. They were incredibly harsh and used physical force the whole time. "I felt completely devastated and broke down, and was close to crying several times. I was on the verge of panic. It felt like I was a terrorist suspect where I was sitting. I tried to pull myself together several times, but in the end, I just wanted to get home again." The requirement that U.S. authorities can view prospective J1 visa applicant's social media accounts is likely to cause further controversy, with critics arguing it's a form on censorship whilst supporters say it protects America from foreign political agitators. Related Articles Popular Airline Is Forcing Some of Its Employees To Pay Them Back-Here's WhyGreen Card Holder in US for Decades Was Held by ICE for Over 2 WeeksTikTok Illegally Sent Personal Data to China: RegulatorDad Finds Angry Letter Years After Making Son Pay Rent-but There's a Twist 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
Newsweek
2 days ago
- Politics
- Newsweek
Green Card Holder Detained by ICE for Over 4 Months After Making Wrong Turn
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. Milad Aspari, a green card holder from Iran, was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs (ICE) after mistakenly crossing into Canada and was arrested upon reentry. Advocates warn that his potential deportation to Iran could endanger his life, given his Kurdish identity. Newsweek reached out to Aspari's attorney, ICE, and USCIS for comment via email on Thursday. Why It Matters Aspari's detention comes amid an immigration crackdown by the Trump administration and inflamed U.S. relations with Iran. His legal team argues that his Kurdish ethnic and religious minority identity will complicate his security matters even more after President Donald Trump struck three of the country's nuclear sites, Isfahan, Fordow, and Natanz, on Saturday. Iran later struck a U.S. base in Qatar. The Trump administration has pledged to launch the largest mass deportation operation in U.S. history. In addition to people residing in the country illegally, immigrants with valid documentation, including green cards and visas, have been detained and face legal jeopardy. Many people have been deported as a result of Trump's invocation of the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, which grants the president authority to deport noncitizens without appearing before a judge, among other wartime authorities. What To Know On February 20, Aspari was arrested by ICE officials after he and his work team, who were working just two miles from the Canadian border, accidentally turned into Canada for a few miles due to construction and road closures. As they turned back into the U.S., Aspari was taken into custody. He is currently being held at the Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma, Washington. Aspari is a green card holder who is the father of a U.S. citizen daughter. His girlfriend, Ruth, whose last name is protected for security reasons, told Seattle news station KING 5 that Aspari left Iran due to religious and political persecution. His lawyer has filed an asylum claim. Around 10 percent of the population in Iran identifies as Kurdish, roughly between 8 and 12 million people. The ethnic and religious minority has a history of being persecuted in Iran. On September 16, 2022, a Kurdish Iranian woman, Mahsa (Jina) Amini, died in police custody, with many speculating she was killed by the country's morality police. She was arrested for a dress code violation, a common arrest for women in Iran. The suspicious circumstances of her death sparked protests across the country and world, branded as the "Woman, Life, Freedom" movement. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma, Washington, where Milad Aspari is being detained. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma, Washington, where Milad Aspari is being detained. JASON REDMOND/AFP via Getty Images Aspari's lawyer told KING 5 that a previous assault conviction and a violation of a no-contact order are the reasons his client is still being held in detention. The outlet reported that the no-contact order has been dismissed. Ruth previously stated that the no-contact order was related to a verbal argument between the couple three years ago. Aspari was booked over it and later signed paperwork that he didn't understand due to language barriers, Ruth told KING 5. Their daughter appeared at the court hearing on Wednesday, when the judge ruled to postpone the next hearing for several months. The Department of Homeland Security arrested 11 Iranian nationals earlier this week amid tensions with Iran. What People Are Saying Aspari's girlfriend Ruth told KING 5 News: "If he goes back to Iran, they're going to kill him for sure because of religion." A spokesperson for U.S. Customs and Border Protection told Newsweek on June 25, regarding a different case: "Possessing a green card is a privilege, not a right; and under our nation's laws, our government has the authority to revoke a green card if our laws are broken and abused. In addition to immigration removal proceedings, lawful permanent residents presenting at a U.S. port of entry with previous criminal convictions may be subject to mandatory detention." Tricia McLaughlin, assistant secretary of the Department of Homeland Security said in a June 24 press release about the arrest of 11 Iranian nationals: "Under Secretary [Kristi] Noem, DHS has been full throttle on identifying and arresting known or suspected terrorists and violent extremists that illegally entered this country, came in through Biden's fraudulent parole programs or otherwise. "We have been saying we are getting the worst of the worst out—and we are. We don't wait until a military operation to execute; we proactively deliver on President Trump's mandate to secure the homeland." What Happens Next Aspari's next hearing is expected to take place on July 8.
Newsweek
2 days ago
- Politics
- Newsweek
JD Vance Bald Baby Face Meme Shown in Irish Parliament
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. Irish lawmaker Ivana Bacik held up a meme depicting Vice President JD Vance, in her country's parliament on Tuesday following reports a 21-year-old Norwegian tourist was refused access to the U.S. because he had the image on his phone. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has denied this allegation ,saying the tourist was refused entry "for his admitted drug use." Newsweek contacted Vance for comment on Thursday via email outside of regular office hours. Lawmaker Ivana Bacik speaking in the Dáil Éireann, the lower chamber of the Irish parliament, on Tuesday (left) and the meme of Vice-President Vance which a Norwegian student said border control viewed on his phone... Lawmaker Ivana Bacik speaking in the Dáil Éireann, the lower chamber of the Irish parliament, on Tuesday (left) and the meme of Vice-President Vance which a Norwegian student said border control viewed on his phone before he was refused entry to the U.S. (right). More Dáil Éireann/X Why It Matters Since the Trump administration assumed office in January it has sought to clamp down on illegal immigration whilst also revoking the visas of some international students who have taken part in pro-Palestinian demonstrations. There have since been a number of reports of tourists from other developed economies being detained or refused entry into the U.S. and several European countries have updated their travel advice raising fears for the U.S. tourism industry. What To Know Bacik, the leader of Ireland's Labour Party, which is the fourth largest party in the legislature, held up a printout of a meme which Norwegian tourist Mads Mikkelsen said was found on his phone by U.S. border guards, who then denied him entry to the country. The image was a modified image of Vance portraying the vice president as bald, with smooth skin, and a rounder face. Some of his facial features are also exaggerated. It is part of a series of memes Internet users have dubbed the "JD Vance Babyface Edits." Addressing Jim O'Callaghan, Ireland's Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, Bacik said: "This week a young Norwegian tourist detained by ICE at Newark Airport and sent back to Oslo. Why? He had this meme on his phone minister, a meme depicting Vice President JD Vance as a baby. I mean extraordinary, extraordinary. "That a young person with this amusing meme on their phone depicting a public person, that this would be used as an excuse to detain him for five hours and then deport him back to Oslo." Bacik then asked "what can you do to reassure young people here who hope to travel to the U.S. on a J1 visa?" J1 visas allow entry to the U.S. for education or cultural exchanges. O'Callaghan said "I can't control the U.S. immigration system" but added the Irish government would raise the issue with American authorities. Changes to J1 student visa application rules implemented by the Trump administration mean applicants must disclose all social media accounts they have used over the past five years so they can be viewed by U.S. authorities before any visa is granted. Speaking to Norwegian publication Nordlys, Mikkelsen said he was detained after arriving at Newark Airport in New Jersey on June 11 for a vacation, held in a cell for several hours and "asked questions about drug trafficking, terrorist plots and right-wing extremism totally without reason." Mikkelsen added he gave his phone password to officers after being threatened with five years in prison or a $5,000 fine if he refused to comply, where the meme of Vance was found. He was then instructed to return to Oslo. What People Are Saying Tricia McLaughlin, assistant secretary at the Department of Homeland Security, described claims Mikkelsen was denied access to the U.S. as "BS" and "FALSE" adding on X: "Mikkelsen was refused entry into the U.S. for his admitted drug use." In the Irish Parliament Bacik said new social media rules for J1 applications were a "major incursion on freedom of expression" adding: "Generally [a J1 sponsored trip is] a very positive experience, but things have changed drastically under U.S. President Trump, with the recent authoritarian announcement that students would have to hand over social media accounts." O'Callaghan replied: "I think it is regrettable that these new measures are being introduced by the United States. I welcome the fact that the Taoiseach [ Irish prime minister] and Tánaiste [Irish deputy prime minister] have indicated they think it's inappropriate, we'll mention it with the U.S. authorities." Speaking to Nordlys about his experience Mikkelsen said: "I was pushed up against a wall and was strip-searched with a lot of force. They were incredibly harsh and used physical force the whole time. "I felt completely devastated and broke down, and was close to crying several times. I was on the verge of panic. It felt like I was a terrorist suspect where I was sitting. I tried to pull myself together several times, but in the end, I just wanted to get home again." What Happens Next The requirement that U.S. authorities can view prospective J1 visa applicant's social media accounts is likely to cause further controversy, with critics arguing it's a form on censorship whilst supporters say it protects America from foreign political agitators.
