Thursday, July 17, 2025

WE ARE 100% INDEPENDENT AND READER-FUNDED. FOR A GUARANTEED AD-FREE EXPERIENCE AND TO SUPPORT REAL NEWS, PLEASE SIGN UP HERE, TODAY.

Dem-Run Border Town Declares Emergency Over Trump Deportations.

A Democrat-run border town in Arizona has declared a state of emergency, claiming President Donald J. Trump’s illegal alien deportation policies could impact the local economy. Douglas City Council’s Democrat Mayor, Jose Grijalva, declared the state of emergency this week. The Arizona town, located close to the Mexican border, is tied economically to Agua Prieta, Mexico, just two miles away.

Mayor Grijalva claims that this move is not politically motivated, but the declaration passed the council with a narrow 3-2 vote.

Douglas is a small town in Cochise County, Arizona, home to approximately 16,500 residents, while Agua Prieta has around 91,000 people. Grijalva claims residents of the Mexican account for “around 70 percent of our sales tax and any border policies effect our economy”—although this should not be an issue for Douglas if its customers from Agua Prieta are entering the U.S. legally.

So far, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE) has arrested over a thousand illegals across the country, many of them wanted for serious crimes up to and including murder. President Trump’s Border Czar, Tom Homan, has stated that ICE is currently prioritizing dangerous criminals for deportation but that all illegals fall under ICE’s purview.

Immediately after his inauguration on January 20, President Trump closed the major border crossing at El Paso, Texas, as part of his policy to secure the southern border. El Paso saw waves of illegals flood across the border from Mexico under the previous Biden-Harris regime, including an incident in March of last year where migrants started a riot, attacking National Guard troops.

By Popular Demand.
The National Pulse Now has an on-site comments section for members. Sign up today and be part of the conversation in our community of almost 15,000.
More From The Pulse

WE ARE 100% INDEPENDENT AND READER-FUNDED. FOR A GUARANTEED AD-FREE EXPERIENCE AND TO SUPPORT REAL NEWS, PLEASE SIGN UP HERE, TODAY.

Top Medical School Faces Civil Rights Complaint After Ignoring Anti-DEI Order.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: Johns Hopkins Medical School is facing a civil rights complaint for allegedly continuing to follow diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies despite a federal executive order banning them.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: America First Legal (AFL), Johns Hopkins Medical School, and the Department of Justice (DOJ).

📍WHEN & WHERE: The complaint was filed on Thursday, focusing on practices at Johns Hopkins Medical School in Baltimore, Maryland.

💬KEY QUOTE: “This is about restoring equal treatment under the law. Johns Hopkins has received billions in taxpayer dollars, but it is actively segregating opportunities based on race and sex. That is not just wrong—it’s unconstitutional.” – Megan Redshaw, AFL counsel.

🎯IMPACT: The complaint alleges systemic discrimination and a deliberate effort to evade the Supreme Court’s ruling banning affirmative action in admissions, potentially setting a precedent for future cases.

IN FULL

America First Legal (AFL) has filed a civil rights complaint with the Department of Justice (DOJ) against Johns Hopkins Medical School, alleging the institution continues to implement diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, which were banned for institutions receiving federal dollars under an Executive Order signed by President Donald J. Trump. The complaint accuses the school of engaging in “systemic, intentional, and ongoing discrimination” by factoring race into admissions and hiring processes and hosting programs that limit participation based on race, gender, or sexuality.

Megan Redshaw, counsel at AFL, criticized the school’s practices, stating, “This is about restoring equal treatment under the law. Johns Hopkins has received billions in taxpayer dollars, but it is actively segregating opportunities based on race and sex. That is not just wrong—it’s unconstitutional.”

The complaint also claims the medical school is attempting to circumvent a Supreme Court ruling banning affirmative action policies. AFL alleges that Johns Hopkins uses race-based outreach and pathway programs to “pre-filter applicants to achieve predetermined demographic outcomes.” Additionally, the school’s residency program allegedly includes leadership roles specifically aimed at recruiting individuals based on race, gender, or sexuality.

Johns Hopkins’ website openly supports DEI initiatives, stating its mission is to “recruit, promote, retain, and engage those underrepresented in medicine, science, nursing, and healthcare administration so that we can achieve health equity.” Scholarships offered by the school reportedly favor certain demographic groups, including non-U.S. citizens and minority students, while socioeconomic status is allegedly used as a proxy for race.

The Trump administration has prioritized dismantling discriminatory DEI programs. President Trump signed multiple executive orders to ban their use in federally funded programs, emphasizing the importance of adhering to the Civil Rights Act. The Department of Education under Trump also reinforced these priorities, notifying schools that racial discrimination would not be tolerated.

Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.

show less
show more
By Popular Demand.
The National Pulse Now has an on-site comments section for members. Sign up today and be part of the conversation in our community of almost 15,000.

WE ARE 100% INDEPENDENT AND READER-FUNDED. FOR A GUARANTEED AD-FREE EXPERIENCE AND TO SUPPORT REAL NEWS, PLEASE SIGN UP HERE, TODAY.

Grenell: Newsom Lied About Post-Wildfires ‘Land Grab.’

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: U.S. Special Envoy Richard “Ric” Grenell accused California Governor Gavin Newsom (D) of lying about plans for a “land grab” in fire-damaged areas.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Ric Grenell, Gavin Newsom, State Sen. Ben Allen (D), and local residents.

📍WHEN & WHERE: California, following January wildfires; accusations made Wednesday, July 16, 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: “They are changing the character of the Palisades and Malibu to fit their woke agenda. They don’t care what residents want. They can’t even deliver building permits properly,” said Grenell.

🎯IMPACT: Local residents expressed outrage over plans for low-income housing on fire-damaged lands.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump’s U.S. Special Envoy for Special Missions, Richard “Ric” Grenell, is accusing Governor Gavin Newsom (D-CA) of lying regarding California’s plans to engage in a “land grab” in the Pacific Palisades and other areas devastated by the Los Angeles wildfires. The allegations come as local residents are raising the alarm about what they say is a plan being pushed by Newsom to use some of the land under fire-damaged properties to build low-income housing.

“[Gov. Newsom] lied. He said he wouldn’t grab the land where homes burned down in the Palisades to build low-income housing facilities – but he and [Los Angeles Mayor] Karen Bass just did,” Grenell wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter). He continued: “They are changing the character of the Palisades and Malibu to fit their woke agenda. They don’t care what residents want. They can’t even deliver building permits properly.”

Grenell, who also serves as President of the Kennedy Center, added: “But this fight is not over. Stay tuned…”

Gov. Newsom earmarked an estimated $101 million last week to subsidize housing developers who plan to build low-income housing in areas impacted by the wildfires. This follows a prior move by Newsom to sign a proposal that rolls back environmental regulations that had previously blocked multi-unit housing construction in urban areas.

In addition, the California State Senate adopted a measure creating a new government entity that can use property revenues to purchase fire-impacted lots for low-income housing development. However, State Senator Ben Allen (D) announced on Wednesday evening that he was pulling his bill before it could reach the State Assembly, stating that it required more time for public consultation.

Notably, the legislation, along with Newsom‘s maneuvers, is sparking intense public backlash, especially in light of prior promises to assist residents with rebuilding. This included pledges to streamline permit approvals and clear other regulatory barriers that have yet to materialize.

Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.

show less
show more
By Popular Demand.
The National Pulse Now has an on-site comments section for members. Sign up today and be part of the conversation in our community of almost 15,000.

WE ARE 100% INDEPENDENT AND READER-FUNDED. FOR A GUARANTEED AD-FREE EXPERIENCE AND TO SUPPORT REAL NEWS, PLEASE SIGN UP HERE, TODAY.

Trump Economy Enjoys Significant Retail Sales Surge.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: Retail sales in the U.S. rose by 0.6 percent in June, far above expectations, and broke a three-month decline.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: U.S. consumers, the Commerce Department, and President Donald J. Trump.

📍WHEN & WHERE: June 2025, across the United States.

💬KEY QUOTE: “June’s retail sales were resilient and they show that the consumer is still willing and able to spend.” – Neil Saunders, a retail expert at GlobalData.

🎯IMPACT: The data reflects consumer resilience, with gains across multiple retail sectors.

IN FULL

Americans continued to shop in June, with retail sales increasing by 0.6 percent, according to data released by the U.S. Commerce Department on Thursday. This marks a significant turnaround from May’s 0.9 percent decline and ends a three-month slide in retail sales.

The June figures surpassed economists’ expectations of a modest 0.2 percent rebound. Gains were seen across several sectors, including a 0.9 percent rise in clothing and accessory stores, a 0.6 percent increase in restaurant sales, and a 0.4 percent boost for online retailers. Even when excluding autos and parts, retail sales rose by 0.5 percent overall.

Neil Saunders, a retail expert at GlobalData, commented on the data, stating, “June’s retail sales were resilient and they show that the consumer is still willing and able to spend.”

The strength of consumer sales continues to undermine the claims of critics of President Donald J. Trump‘s tariffs that the trade duties would reignite inflation, resulting in higher prices and lower consumer demand.

Earlier this week, the Labor Department announced that consumer prices increased by 2.7 percent in June, coming in well below expectations and signaling that inflation continues to remain subdued. With the June retail data showing additional positive economic signals, the Trump White House is pressing forward with its campaign for the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates.

“‘Too Late:’ Great numbers just out. LOWER THE RATE!!! DJT,” Trump posted on Truth Social on Thursday, in reference to Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, dubbed ‘Too Late’ by the America First leader.

Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.

show less
show more
By Popular Demand.
The National Pulse Now has an on-site comments section for members. Sign up today and be part of the conversation in our community of almost 15,000.

WE ARE 100% INDEPENDENT AND READER-FUNDED. FOR A GUARANTEED AD-FREE EXPERIENCE AND TO SUPPORT REAL NEWS, PLEASE SIGN UP HERE, TODAY.

These GOP Lawmakers Are Pushing Amnesty, ‘Dignity’ for Illegals.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: At least 11 GOP legislators are backing a de facto amnesty bill, The Dignity Act, which would increase immigrant inflows and grant multiple paths to amnesty for illegal immigrants.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Representative Maria Salazar (R-FL) is leading the effort, alongside other GOP House lawmakers and some Democrats.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The bill was announced on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, in Washington, D.C.

💬KEY QUOTE: “I don’t think that we should be arresting [illegal immigrants] who have been in the country more than five years, don’t have a criminal record, are good for the economy, and they are needed in construction, hospitality, and agricultural,” said Rep. Salazar.

🎯IMPACT: Critics argue the bill would harm American workers, weaken the GOP coalition, and benefit businesses relying on cheap foreign labor.

IN FULL

Representative Maria Salazar (R-FL) and at least 10 other GOP legislators are pushing The Dignity Act, a controversial immigration bill that includes multiple paths to amnesty for illegal immigrants. Despite Salazar’s denial of the term “amnesty,” the bill offers legal status to various immigrant populations, including individuals who have illegally voted in federal elections.

The bill also revives past proposals, such as President Joe Biden’s “Labor Neighbors” program and President George W. Bush’s 2001 “Any Willing Worker” plan, which would open the door to an unlimited influx of foreign workers. Among its provisions, the bill proposes creating immigration centers in Latin America and granting O visas to STEM PhD graduates from U.S. universities, allowing them to remain in the country.

Notably, Rep. Salazar’s legislation has cropped up several times in Congress, with a previous iteration, mostly backed by Democrats, being introduced in January this year. The National Pulse, at the time, provided a breakdown of the bill, which was then and is now tantamount to an amnesty measure.

Critics argue Salazar’s bill prioritizes business interests over American workers. It has drawn support from GOP lawmakers Don Bacon (R-NE), Mario Rafael Diaz-Balart (R-FL), Gabe Evans (R-CO), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Mike Kelly (R-PA), Young Kim (R-CA), Mike Lawler (R-NY), Dan Newhouse (R-WA), Marlin Stutzman (R-IN), and David Valadao (R-CA). A number of Democrats, including Veronica Escobar (D-TX) and Adriano Espaillat (D-NY), are also supporting.

However, pro-American legislators, including Rep. Brandon Gill (R-TX), are pushing back, denouncing the proposal as a “wage-cutting, coalition-breaking giveaway.”

Image by World Economic Forum / Benedikt von Loebell.

Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.

show less
show more
By Popular Demand.
The National Pulse Now has an on-site comments section for members. Sign up today and be part of the conversation in our community of almost 15,000.

WE ARE 100% INDEPENDENT AND READER-FUNDED. FOR A GUARANTEED AD-FREE EXPERIENCE AND TO SUPPORT REAL NEWS, PLEASE SIGN UP HERE, TODAY.

Senate Approves Trump’s $9 Billion Cut to Foreign Aid, Biased Media.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: The U.S. Senate passed a $9 billion federal spending cuts package targeting foreign aid and public broadcasters accused of bias.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Donald J. Trump, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, NPR, PBS, and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

📍WHEN & WHERE: Early Thursday morning in the U.S. Senate, with a House vote expected this week.

💬KEY QUOTE: “It’s a small but important step toward fiscal sanity that we all should be able to agree is long overdue.” – John Thune

🎯IMPACT: The bill eliminates taxpayer funding for NPR, PBS, and foreign aid programs, aligning with Trump’s fiscal priorities.

IN FULL

The United States Senate approved the Trump White House rescission request early Thursday morning, cutting nearly $9 billion in previously appropriated spending, primarily for public broadcasting and foreign aid. Notably, the rescission package includes significant cuts to NPR and PBS, essentially cutting off the public broadcasters’ access to taxpayer dollars—marking a significant victory for President Donald J. Trump’s legislative agenda.

In addition to addressing funding for NPR and PBS, the rescission package also pulls back funding for grants handled by the now-defunct United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Despite having now passed the House and Senate, the spending clawback will need to head back to the lower chamber of Congress, as the Senate did enact some changes to the measure, including restoring funding for the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). The House must pass the rescissions by Friday for them to take effect.

The funding cut measure includes an $8 billion reduction in foreign aid, which includes several immigrant and refugee assistance programs. Several programs dealing with international disaster relief and global health initiatives will also receive significant cuts.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) described the move as “a small but important step toward fiscal sanity that we all should be able to agree is long overdue.” Despite resistance from two senior Republicans on the Appropriations Committee, Thune secured the passage of the bill with only a handful of changes.

Image by Ron Cogswell.

Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.

show less
show more
By Popular Demand.
The National Pulse Now has an on-site comments section for members. Sign up today and be part of the conversation in our community of almost 15,000.

WE ARE 100% INDEPENDENT AND READER-FUNDED. FOR A GUARANTEED AD-FREE EXPERIENCE AND TO SUPPORT REAL NEWS, PLEASE SIGN UP HERE, TODAY.

Far-Left UK Govt Dropping Voting Age to 16, Weakening Voter ID—Farage May Benefit.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: The British government announced plans to lower the voting age to 16 before the next general election, alongside weakening voter ID rules and a move toward automatic voter registration.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and the far-left Labour Party, Democracy Minister Rushanara Ali, and the Electoral Commission.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The changes are set to be implemented before the next general election, which must occur no later than 2029, across the United Kingdom.

💬KEY QUOTE: “At 16, a young person can work, they pay taxes, they can join the Army. So there’s no reason why from that age, they shouldn’t have a say in who governs our country.” – Rushanara Ali

🎯IMPACT: The proposed changes would expand the electorate by approximately 1.5 million 16 and 17-year-olds and introduce new voter ID and registration systems.

IN FULL

Britain’s leftist Labour Party government has announced significant electoral changes, lowering the voting age to 16 before the next general election. This change, part of broader election reforms, also includes expanding the range of acceptable voter ID and exploring automated voter registration systems.

Democracy Minister Rushanara Ali defended the decision, stating, “At 16, a young person can work, they pay taxes, they can join the Army. So there’s no reason why from that age, they shouldn’t have a say in who governs our country.” This marks the most significant change to the electorate since the voting age was reduced from 21 to 18 in 1969.

The reforms mean that 16 and 17-year-olds will now be able to vote in all British elections. Young people will also be allowed to register to vote from age 14. However, the age to stand as a candidate remains at 18.

Additionally, changes to voter ID rules will allow voters to use even British bank cards displaying their names as proof of identity, alongside existing forms of ID such as passports and driving licenses, significantly weakening security. Automated voter registration is also being explored, with pilot programs already underway in Wales.

The next general election must be held by August 2029, but it could occur earlier at Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s discretion.

Polling reveals that half of those aged 16 and 17 do not even want to be able to vote, and only 18 percent said they would vote if an election were tomorrow.

Reform Party leader Nigel Farage believes lowering the voting age could benefit Labour due to a strong left-wing bias in the educational system. On X, Farage said, “Giving 16 and 17-year-olds the right to vote is an attempt to rig the political system,” but he added that Labour may be in for a shock as Reform polls in second place among the same demographic.

The populist party appears to be particularly popular among young men; a phenomenon that has also been observed in countries such as Germany and Poland.

Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.

show less
show more
By Popular Demand.
The National Pulse Now has an on-site comments section for members. Sign up today and be part of the conversation in our community of almost 15,000.

WE ARE 100% INDEPENDENT AND READER-FUNDED. FOR A GUARANTEED AD-FREE EXPERIENCE AND TO SUPPORT REAL NEWS, PLEASE SIGN UP HERE, TODAY.

Musk’s Approval Has Cratered Since He Turned on Trump.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: Elon Musk’s favorability rating has dropped significantly, particularly among Republicans, following his fallout with President Donald J. Trump.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Elon Musk, President Trump, and polling respondents.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Poll results were published on Thursday by CNN.

🎯IMPACT: Despite his slide in popularity, Musk’s proposed “America Party” could still siphon votes from the GOP, benefiting Democrats in future elections.

IN FULL

Elon Musk’s favorability rating has plummeted to 23 percent, according to new polling data released Thursday. The Tesla CEO, who has faced mounting criticism following his fallout with President Donald J. Trump, now sees 60 percent of Americans holding an unfavorable opinion of him. This marks a 12-point drop in favorability since March, alongside a seven-point increase in unfavorable views.

The decline found in the poll, released by CNN, is most pronounced among Republicans. In March, 75 percent of Republicans viewed Musk favorably, but that figure has since fallen to just 42 percent. This shift coincides with Musk’s announcement of his “America Party,” a new political venture aimed at creating a third-party alternative in the U.S.

Musk’s new party is struggling to gain traction. While an unscientific poll Musk conducted on X (formerly Twitter) showed support for the initiative, CNN’s scientific poll found that only 25 percent of Americans back the idea, with 74 percent opposed. The lack of enthusiasm could spell trouble for Musk’s ambitions, especially as the party’s impact appears to be limited to siphoning votes from Republicans.

According to Echelon Insights, the “America Party” would garner just five percent on a generic congressional ballot in 2026. However, that five percent would come entirely from Republican voters, shifting the balance from Republicans +1 to Democrats +4. This potential realignment could have significant consequences for upcoming elections.

Musk’s efforts to establish himself as a political force continue to face challenges, with his declining favorability and the potential disruption his party might cause within the American right. The fallout with President Trump appears to have further alienated a key base of support for the South African billionaire.

Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.

show less
show more
By Popular Demand.
The National Pulse Now has an on-site comments section for members. Sign up today and be part of the conversation in our community of almost 15,000.
China Spying

WE ARE 100% INDEPENDENT AND READER-FUNDED. FOR A GUARANTEED AD-FREE EXPERIENCE AND TO SUPPORT REAL NEWS, PLEASE SIGN UP HERE, TODAY.

Microsft Accused of Exposing Pentagon to Chinese Spies.

Microsoft is accused of allowing China-based engineers work on U.S. military cloud systems with minimal oversight and safeguards, according to a bombshell ProPublica report.

The details: Beginning in 2016, Microsoft established a program dubbed “digital escorting” where it paid U.S. contractors $18/hr to pair with foreign engineers who worked on federal cloud systems.

  • The digital escorts were often ex-military with minimal tech skills.
  • The “escorts” acted as intermediaries, entering commands into Pentagon servers on behalf of China-based engineers.
  • The data fell below “classified” levels but included materials crucial to military operations.

In simple terms: Microsoft was paying these escorts for access to their security clearances.

Red flag: Experts worry that the digital escorts lacked the tech savvy to detect whether the Chinese engineers were engaging in sabotage or installing malware.

Aren’t there regulations to prevent this? Yes. Per Defense Department policy, individuals must be U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents to access sensitive data.

Zoom out: In 2023, Chinese hackers breached Microsoft’s cloud and accessed data from the Commerce Secretary, the Ambassador to China, and the Pentagon.

What is Microsoft saying? They claim these foreign workers never had “direct access” to Pentagon data.

The last word goes to Michael Sobolik of the Hudson Institute, who said this program was “like asking the fox to guard the henhouse.”

Be sure to subscribe to the Wake Up Right newsletter! 

show less
Microsoft is accused of allowing China-based engineers work on U.S. military cloud systems with minimal oversight and safeguards, according to a bombshell ProPublica report. show more
By Popular Demand.
The National Pulse Now has an on-site comments section for members. Sign up today and be part of the conversation in our community of almost 15,000.

WE ARE 100% INDEPENDENT AND READER-FUNDED. FOR A GUARANTEED AD-FREE EXPERIENCE AND TO SUPPORT REAL NEWS, PLEASE SIGN UP HERE, TODAY.

Maurene Comey, Epstein Prosecutor & Daughter of Ex-FBI Chief, Fired.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: Maurene Comey, daughter of former FBI Director James Comey, was fired from the Manhattan US Attorney’s Office.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Maurene Comey, James Comey, and the Southern District of New York.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Wednesday, at the Manhattan US Attorney’s Office.

💬KEY QUOTE: A spokesman for the Southern District of New York declined to comment.

🎯IMPACT: The reason for her firing remains unclear, but it follows her role in high-profile cases, including those involving Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.

IN FULL

Maurene Comey, the daughter of former FBI Director James Comey, was fired Wednesday from the Manhattan US Attorney’s Office, where she prosecuted cases involving Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. The reason for her dismissal has not been disclosed.

Comey, an assistant US attorney in the Southern District of New York since 2015, worked on several high-profile cases. These included the prosecution of Epstein and Maxwell, who was sentenced to 20 years in prison for multiple sex crimes. Most recently, she worked on the sex trafficking case against Sean “Diddy” Combs, which resulted in the jury acquitting him of significant charges such as racketeering and sex trafficking.

In the Diddy trial, the jury reached a verdict on four out of five charges, finding him guilty only of transportation to engage in prostitution. The nearly month-long trial concluded with Combs avoiding the most severe penalties.

The Southern District of New York declined to comment on the firing. Politico first reported Comey’s dismissal.

James Comey, her father, has been a controversial figure, especially following President Trump’s firing as FBI director in 2017. The Trump administration has investigated him for potential misconduct during the FBI’s 2016 Trump-Russia probe. Earlier this year, Comey faced scrutiny for a cryptic Instagram post that led to Trump’s accusations of incitement.

show less
show more
By Popular Demand.
The National Pulse Now has an on-site comments section for members. Sign up today and be part of the conversation in our community of almost 15,000.

WE ARE 100% INDEPENDENT AND READER-FUNDED. FOR A GUARANTEED AD-FREE EXPERIENCE AND TO SUPPORT REAL NEWS, PLEASE SIGN UP HERE, TODAY.

Businessman, Police Chiefs Indicted for Obtaining Visas for Illegals.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: Federal prosecutors have filed a 62-count indictment against a Louisiana businessman and four senior law enforcement officials over an alleged scheme to use false police reports to obtain U-Visa status for illegal immigrants who paid them tens of thousands of dollars.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Local Louisiana businessman Chandrakant “Lala” Patel; Chad Doyle, Chief of Police for the City of Oakdale; Glynn Dixon, Chief of Police for the City of Forest Hill; Tebo Onishea, former Chief of Police for the City of Glenmora; Michael “Freck” Slaney, Marshal of the Ward 5 Marshal’s Office in Oakdale; and unnamed illegal immigrants.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The indictment was revealed on July 16, 2025; the scheme is alleged to have taken place from at least December 26, 2015, until July 15, 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: According to the Department of Justice (DOJ), “[T]he defendants each face a sentence of up to five years in prison on the conspiracy charge; up to 10 years on the visa fraud charges; up to 20 years on the mail fraud charge; and Patel faces up to 10 years on the bribery charge. In addition, they could be ordered to pay a fine of up to $250,000 on each count. “

🎯IMPACT: The federal charges raise questions regarding the legitimacy of U-Visa status and the potential for the program’s abuse.

IN FULL

The U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Louisiana has moved to indict three local Louisiana police chiefs, a city marshal, and a prominent business leader over an alleged immigration fraud scheme that gamed the U nonimmigrant status (“U-Visa”) system.

According to the 62-count indictment, local Louisiana businessman Chandrakant Patel—also known as “Lala”—conspired from at least December 26, 2015, until July 15, 2025 with Chad Doyle, Chief of Police for the City of Oakdale; Glynn Dixon, Chief of Police for the City of Forest Hill; Tebo Onishea, former Chief of Police for the City of Glenmora; and Michael “Freck” Slaney, Marshal of the Ward 5 Marshal’s Office in Oakdale to fabricate crimes in which illegal immigrants or legal immigrants with expiring status would be named as victims or witnesses. This allowed the immigrants to falsely obtain a U-Visa, allowing them to remain in the United States legally.

Federal prosecutors allege that illegal and legal immigrants would contact Patel either directly or through an intermediary to request to be named as “victims” in false police reports, paying Patel tens of thousands of dollars for the criminal act. Subsequently, after payment, Patel would proceed to contact either Doyle, Slaney, Dixon, or Onishea in order to have a false police report, usually regarding armed robbery, created with the immigrant’s name listed as the victim or witness. This would then allow the immigrant to file an application for a U-Visa, with the police report nearly guaranteeing they would secure status.

Notably, the U nonimmigrant status or U-Visa was created in 2000 through Congress’s adoption of the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act. The law’s intent is to aid law enforcement investigations by granting the ability to provide certain legal protections to illegal immigrants who are either victims or material witnesses to a crime—effecively removing the threat of deportation in exchange for their cooperation.

According to the Department of Justice (DOJ), “[T]he defendants each face a sentence of up to 5 years in prison on the conspiracy charge; up to 10 years on the visa fraud charges; up to 20 years on the mail fraud charge; and Patel faces up to 10 years on the bribery charge. In addition, they could be ordered to pay a fine of up to $250,000 on each count. “

Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.

show less
show more
By Popular Demand.
The National Pulse Now has an on-site comments section for members. Sign up today and be part of the conversation in our community of almost 15,000.