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7 hours ago
Immigration
News

Migrants Target Northern State as Trump’s Southern Border Becomes Impenetrable.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: Illegal immigrant crossings in Maine reached their highest level in 24 years, with 113 arrests in April, according to U.S. Border Patrol. They have been driven to target the northern state by President Donald J. Trump’s southern border crackdown.

👥 Who’s Involved: Migrants from at least 16 countries, primarily Ecuador, Guatemala, and Mexico; U.S. Border Patrol; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

📍 Where & When: Maine, particularly the Houlton Sector of the Canadian border, April 2025.

💬 Key Quote: “Due to the significant increase in arrests, the Houlton Sector coordinated air transport… to transfer 29 apprehended subjects… for further processing,” stated Border Patrol.

⚠️ Impact: Maine has seen a spike in illegal crossings, with numbers surpassing previous years, as migrants increasingly bypass the U.S.-Mexico border in favor of entry through Canada.

IN FULL:

Illegal border crossings in Maine surged to their highest point in 24 years last month, with U.S. Border Patrol reporting 113 arrests in April. This figure marks a significant increase from the 25 to 50 monthly encounters typical during the Biden government, according to officials in the Houlton Sector.

The rise in crossings comes as migrants from at least 16 countries, including Ecuador, Guatemala, and Mexico, increasingly opt to enter the U.S. via Canada, avoiding the southern border, which President Donald J. Trump is heavily protecting. Ecuadorians led the group, with 42 individuals apprehended, followed by 15 Guatemalans and 12 Mexicans. Six Venezuelans were also detained.

The Houlton Sector, covering Maine’s border with Canada, has already surpassed its total apprehensions from the previous fiscal year in just six months. In December, under the Biden government, only 18 migrants were encountered. That number rose to 50 in January after President Donald J. Trump took office, climbing steadily to 113 in April.

“Due to the significant increase in arrests, the Houlton Sector coordinated air transport with Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Enforcement Removal Operations (ICE ERO) to transfer 29 apprehended subjects… for further processing,” the Border Patrol noted in a statement.

The agency attributed the spike to enhanced enforcement efforts in Maine, even as crossings along the broader U.S.-Canada border have reportedly considerably declined. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reported that encounters in the Southwest Sector decreased by 95 percent in March. The sector covers parts of New York, Vermont, and New Hampshire.

President Trump threatened and later imposed tariffs on Canada in part because he believed it was not doing its part to stop the flow of drugs and migrants from north to south. Migrants entering the U.S. via Canada are particularly unlikely to have any legitimate asylum claims, with Canada being a relatively prosperous Western country.

Image by Lorie Shaull.

By Popular Demand.
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20 minutes ago
Crime

Fresh Trump Crackdown on Brutal Mexican Cartel.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: The Trump administration sanctioned two top members of Cartel del Noreste, a violent Mexican drug cartel and U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organization.

👥 Who’s Involved: Miguel Angel de Anda Ledzema and Ricardo Gonzalez Sauceda, leaders of Cartel del Noreste; U.S. Treasury Department; Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC); Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); Mexico’s Financial Intelligence Unit.

📍 Where & When: Sanctions announced Wednesday; Cartel del Noreste operates near the Laredo, Texas border region.

💬 Key Quote: “We will continue to cut off the cartels’ ability to obtain the drugs, money, and guns that enable their violent activities,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said.

⚠️ Impact: The sanctions aim to disrupt Cartel del Noreste’s operations, including drug trafficking, arms procurement, and violence on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border.

IN FULL:

The Trump administration has imposed sanctions on two senior leaders of the Cartel del Noreste, a violent Mexican drug cartel and designated foreign terrorist organization, according to an announcement from the U.S. Treasury Department on Wednesday.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) targeted Miguel Angel de Anda Ledzema and Ricardo Gonzalez Sauceda for their roles in facilitating the cartel’s operations. Officials say the group exerts significant control over the border area near Laredo, Texas.

Ledzema, a high-ranking cartel member, was identified as overseeing the acquisition and trafficking of firearms into Mexico. According to the Treasury Department, he coordinated payments to U.S.-based straw purchasers who misrepresented themselves to obtain weapons, later smuggling them into Nuevo Laredo. One such weapon was reportedly recovered after a March 2024 cartel attack on the Mexican military.

Sauceda, previously second-in-command of the cartel, was arrested in February by Mexican authorities. He allegedly led an armed enforcement unit and was linked to violent assaults on Mexican military and police forces. At the time of his arrest, he was found with firearms, methamphetamine, and fentanyl pills.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent emphasized the administration’s commitment to confronting the cartel threat, stating, “We will continue to cut off the cartels’ ability to obtain the drugs, money, and guns that enable their violent activities.” Bessent also highlighted the cartel’s role in campaigns of violence, intimidation, and terrorism that endanger communities on both sides of the border.

The sanctions were coordinated with Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and Mexico’s Financial Intelligence Unit.

Paul Perez, President of the National Border Patrol Council, praised the administration’s actions, saying they fulfill President Donald J. Trump’s promise to prevent cartels from operating with impunity. “These actions deal a significant blow and send the message to all cartels that President Trump will follow through,” Perez stated.

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By Popular Demand.
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1 hour ago
NatSec

EXPLAINER: How Trump’s ‘Golden Dome’ Defense Shield Will Work.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) has drafted a plan for the “Golden Dome” missile defense system, which includes space-based sensors, to counter advanced threats from nations like China and Russia.

👥 Who’s Involved: President Donald J. Trump, the DoD, Space Force General Michael Guetlein, General Chance Saltzman, and former Canadian Defence Minister Bill Blair.

📍 Where & When: The system is planned for development in the United States, with key manufacturers from Georgia, Alaska, Florida, and Indiana. Trump expects it to be operational before his administration ends.

💬 Key Quote: Trump described the Golden Dome as “capable even of intercepting missiles launched from space, or launched from the other side of the world.”

⚠️ Impact: The system aims to counter hypersonic weapons and space-based threats, with initial funding of $25 billion, though long-term costs could exceed $500 billion.

IN FULL:

The U.S. Department of Defense has unveiled plans for a large-scale missile defense system, dubbed the “Golden Dome,” which aims to counter advanced aerial and space-based threats from adversaries like China and Russia. President Donald Trump announced the initiative, stating he expects the system to be operational before the end of his administration.

The Golden Dome would incorporate space-based sensors and is designed to intercept missiles launched from space or across the globe. Trump noted that the system would be significantly larger and more advanced than Israel’s Iron Dome, which has been operational since 2011. The U.S. system would target a broad array of threats, including hypersonic weapons and fractional orbital bombardment systems (FOBS).

According to Trump, Canada has expressed interest in joining the project. Former Canadian Defence Minister Bill Blair confirmed this during a visit to Washington earlier this year, describing participation as being in Canada’s “national interest.”

The project will be developed entirely in the United States, with manufacturers in Georgia, Alaska, Florida, and Indiana playing key roles. The system will be managed under a centralized command, with oversight from Space Force General Michael Guetlein. General Chance Saltzman, also of the U.S. Space Force, highlighted the unprecedented nature of the mission, citing “new and emerging requirements” for space-based military operations.

Initial funding of $25 billion has been allocated, but the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates long-term costs could exceed $500 billion over the next 20 years. Other government agencies project the total fiscal impact to range from $175 billion to $542 billion.

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By Popular Demand.
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2 hours ago
Jack Montgomery
News

BREAKING: Trump Confronts South African Prez on Rallies Calling for Murder of White Farmers.

PULSE POINTS:

❓ What Happened: President Donald J. Trump confronted South African President Cyril Ramaphosa with evidence of Julius Malema inciting violence against white farmers and opposed South Africa’s land expropriation laws, while offering Afrikaners U.S. refugee status.

👥  Who’s Involved: President Trump, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, and Julius Malema, leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters.

📍 Where & When: Diplomatic meeting, with Trump’s confrontation reported on May 21, 2025.

⚠️  Impact: Trump’s bold stance champions human rights and counters South Africa’s dangerous policies, reinforcing America First by protecting persecuted Afrikaners and challenging Ramaphosa’s denialism.

IN FULL:

President Donald J. Trump has confronted South African President Cyril Ramaphosa with videos of Julius Malema, leader of one of the largest parties in the South African legislature, calling for the murder of the country’s white minority.

Malema, previously the president of the youth wing of Ramaphosa’s party, the African National Congress (ANC), could be seen leading a packed stadium in chants of “Kill the Boer” and “Shoot to kill,” and performing impressions of a gun being fired. “Boer” refers to Afrikaners, mostly Dutch-descended, from South Africa’s Western Cape, but is commonly used to refer to all Afrikaners.

President Trump also showed video of a field of white crosses, representing white farmers who have been murdered over the years, often with extreme brutality. Ramaphosa reiterated the South African government’s official line that these farmers are victims of mere “criminality.” Still, the attacks frequently involve a racial element, with phrases like ‘Kill the Boer’ sometimes being left at the scene. Trump also held up a number of printouts of news articles about these farm attacks.

The Trump administration is particularly opposed to the Ramaphosa government’s new legislation authorizing the expropriation of white farmers’ land without compensation—a policy previously tried in Zimbabwe, with disastrous consequences for the white minority and the country at large when food production subsequently collapsed.

In response to South Africa’s expropriation laws, the Trump administration has begun accepting Afrikaners into the United States as refugees. Ramaphosa has slammed these Afrikaners as “cowards.”

This story is developing…

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By Popular Demand.
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3 hours ago
1A
TECH

EU Funded $750M Anti-Free Speech Campaign.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: A report reveals the European Commission has spent nearly €649 million (~$736m) on projects aimed at regulating online speech under the guise of combating “hate speech” and “disinformation.”

👥 Who’s Involved: The European Commission, MCC Brussels think tank, and Dr. Norman Lewis, a digital communication and regulatory policy expert.

📍 Where & When: European Union (EU); report released recently by MCC Brussels.

💬 Key Quote: “This is a top-down, authoritarian, curated consensus, where expression is free only when it speaks the language of compliance established by the Commission,” the report warns.

⚠️ Impact: The report alleges EU-funded programs erode free expression, prioritize censorship, and promote ideological conformity through taxpayer-funded initiatives.

IN FULL:

A newly released report alleges that the European Commission, the European Union’s unelected executive, has funneled the equivalent of around $736 million of taxpayer money into hundreds of projects designed to regulate online speech under the pretext of combating “hate speech” and “disinformation.”

The document, titled Manufacturing Misinformation: The EU-Funded Propaganda War Against Free Speech, was authored by Dr. Norman Lewis, a specialist in digital communication and regulatory policy, and published by the Hungarian think tank MCC Brussels. It accuses the Commission of promoting a “soft authoritarianism” by funding 349 projects through non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and universities.

According to the report, this spending exceeds the EU’s annual budget for transnational cancer research by over 30 percent, a discrepancy the authors describe as deliberate. “The EU Commission regards stemming the cancer of free speech as more of a priority than the estimated 4.5 million new cancer cases and almost two million cancer deaths in Europe in 2022,” the report warns.

“This is a top-down, authoritarian, curated consensus, where expression is free only when it speaks the language of compliance established by the Commission,” the report states.

The report criticizes the Commission’s use of vague, euphemistic language—dubbed “NEUspeak”—to obscure its intentions. Project names like FAST LISA and VIGILANT are described as deliberately misleading, with MCC Brussels stating that such initiatives aim to suppress politically undesirable speech in real time using artificial intelligence (AI).

“VIGILANT is an AI surveillance suite aimed at monitoring, classifying, and profiling speech, users, and networks,” the report states, contradicting claims from its designers that the system is ethical and user-focused.

The report further highlights programs targeting young people, which it describes as indoctrination disguised as civic education. These initiatives allegedly train youths to act as “speech police” in a system designed to enforce narrative compliance.

Dr. Lewis argues that taxpayer-funded research is being used to affirm political orthodoxy rather than encourage genuine inquiry. “Research that systematically ‘proves’ this assumption is not research; it is the manufacturing of propaganda,” he writes.

The alarming report comes as the EU routinely regulates speech on social media platforms. Elon Musk, the billionaire owner of X, previously stated that the EU had offered him an illegal secret deal to censor posts on the platform.

Image by dimitrisvetsikas1969.

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By Popular Demand.
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4 hours ago
Corruption
Health

DOJ Investigating Andrew Cuomo for Lying to Congress About Covid.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has launched a criminal probe into former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo for allegedly lying to Congress about his COVID-19 pandemic decisions.

👥 Who’s Involved: Former Governor Andrew Cuomo, the U.S. Department of Justice, the House Oversight Committee, and New York City Mayor Eric Adams.

📍 Where & When: The U.S. Attorney’s office in Washington, D.C initiated the investigation about a month ago.

💬 Key Quote: Cuomo spokesman Rich Azzopardi stated, “This is lawfare and election interference plain and simple.”

⚠️ Impact: The case could affect Cuomo’s bid to return to frontline politics in the New York City Democratic mayoral primary.

IN FULL:

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has opened a criminal investigation into former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo over allegations that he misled Congress about his administration’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. The inquiry, launched by the U.S. Attorney’s office in Washington, D.C., reportedly began a month ago.

The investigation follows a recommendation by House Republicans, who accused Cuomo of providing false statements during a congressional probe into nursing home deaths in New York. In March 2020, Cuomo’s administration issued a directive requiring nursing homes to accept COVID-19-positive patients, a move critics argue exacerbated outbreaks and led to thousands of deaths. Cuomo later rescinded the directive amid backlash.

A 2022 report by the New York state comptroller revealed that the state health department under Cuomo understated nursing home fatalities by as much as 50 percent at certain points during the pandemic.

Rich Azzopardi, a spokesman for Cuomo, described the investigation as politically motivated, stating, “This is lawfare and election interference plain and simple.” Cuomo is attempting a political comeback, campaigning in the Democratic primary for New York City mayor.

Cuomo’s main rival, current Mayor Eric Adams, is seeking re-election as an independent candidate. Notably, senior DOJ officials recently dismissed corruption charges against Adams.

House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer (R-KY) has been vocal in his criticism of Cuomo, calling the alleged falsehoods a “calculated cover-up” and emphasizing that lying to Congress is a federal crime. Comer pledged full cooperation with the DOJ’s investigation, stating, “This wasn’t a slip-up—it was a calculated cover-up by a man seeking to shield himself from responsibility.”

Image by Delta News Hub/ Chris Rank for Rank Studios.

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By Popular Demand.
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4 hours ago
Crime
Immigration

Far-Left Democrat Set for Court Debut After Assaulting ICE Agents.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: Representative LaMonica McIver (D-NJ) faces charges of assaulting two federal agents during a visit to a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facility in Newark, New Jersey.

👥 Who’s Involved: Rep. McIver, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka (D), Reps. Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), ICE agents, and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents.

📍 Where & When: Delaney Hall ICE detention facility, Newark, NJ, on May 9, 2025.

💬 Key Quote: McIver argues, “If I’m going to be charged with a crime for doing my job, it just speaks to where we’re headed in this country.”

⚠️ Impact: The incident poses a serious problem for Democrats as their more progressive and liberal wings work to portray the arrest as overreach by the Trump administration. However, more moderate and centrist party members, and voters at large, see the assault as an attack on law enforcement, and the Democratic Party’s continued defense of illegal immigrants over American citizens as distasteful.

IN FULL:

Congresswoman LaMonica McIver (D-NJ) is set to appear virtually before a federal magistrate judge on Wednesday following charges of assaulting two federal agents at an illegal immigrant detention facility in Newark, New Jersey, earlier this month. The Democrat lawmaker, alongside fellow New Jersey Reps. Robert Menendez and Bonnie Watson Coleman, was reportedly conducting oversight duties at the Delaney Hall U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility on May 9. Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was also present and was also arrested during the incident, though charges against him were later dismissed.

According to prosecutors, McIver allegedly used her forearm to strike a Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agent and attempted to restrain him. She is also accused of pushing and striking an ICE officer. Bodycam footage reportedly captured the events, which the Justice Department (DOJ) claims show McIver creating a “human shield” to block agents from detaining Baraka after he was warned to leave the property.

McIver has denied the allegations, calling them “purely political.” In a public statement, she said, “Earlier this month, I joined my colleagues to inspect the treatment of ICE detainees… We were fulfilling our lawful oversight responsibilities… ICE agents created an unnecessary and unsafe confrontation when they chose to arrest Mayor Baraka.”

During a CNN interview, McIver criticized federal agents, stating, “They caused the confrontation… We were there to do our jobs.” She added, “If I’m going to be charged with a crime for doing my job, it just speaks to where we’re headed in this country.”

The court approved McIver’s request to appear virtually for her initial hearing, where her rights and charges will be read, and a bail package determined.

Witness accounts suggest tensions escalated when Baraka attempted to join the lawmakers inside the facility and was denied access by federal officials. An argument ensued, leading to his arrest.

The case has drawn criticism from figures like former Border Czar Tom Homan, who argued McIver “broke the law” and should face accountability. Prosecutors maintain that McIver’s actions interfered with federal law enforcement duties, while the Congresswoman insists she was fulfilling her official responsibilities.

WATCH:

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By Popular Demand.
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5 hours ago
News
Politics

‘Maybe One Day,’ Don Jr Says of Presidential Ambitions.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: Donald Trump Jr. hinted at the possibility of a future presidential run during a panel discussion in Qatar.

👥 Who’s Involved: Donald Trump Jr., eldest son of President Donald J. Trump, and attendees of the Qatar Economic Forum.

📍 Where & When: Qatar Economic Forum in Doha, May 21, 2025.

💬 Key Quote: “I don’t know, maybe one day, you know—that calling is there.”

⚠️ Impact: Sparks speculation about a potential continuation of the Trump family’s political influence.

IN FULL:

Donald Trump Jr., the eldest son of President Donald J. Trump, suggested on Wednesday that he may consider a bid for the presidency in the future. Speaking at Bloomberg’s Qatar Economic Forum in Doha, Trump Jr. was asked about the possibility of seeking the White House after his father.

“It’s an honor to be asked and an honor to see that some people are OK with it,” he said during the panel discussion, receiving applause from some audience members. “You never know,” he added.

The 47-year-old executive vice president of The Trump Organization has been a strong advocate of his father’s America First agenda, serving as something of a de facto ambassador for the MAGA grassroots to the administration. Reflecting on the transformation of the Republican Party under his father’s leadership, he said, “I think my father has truly changed the Republican Party. I think it’s the America First party now, the MAGA party, however you want to look at it,” he remarked.

He further emphasized the strength of the party’s current lineup, stating, “For the first time ever, the Republican Party actually has a bench of America First fighters.”

In March, speculation about a potential 2028 presidential run for Trump Jr. surfaced in a report by the left-leaning website Mediaite, which he denied at the time. However, his comments on Wednesday leave the door open for future political ambitions. “I don’t know, maybe one day, you know—that calling is there,” he said.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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By Popular Demand.
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6 hours ago
News

Senior Democrat Passes Away Following Cancer Battle.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: Congressman Gerry Connolly (D-VA) passed away at the age of 75 after battling esophageal cancer.

👥 Who’s Involved: Rep. Gerry Connolly, his family, and colleagues in Congress.

📍 Where & When: Connolly died at his home in Virginia on Wednesday morning, May 21, 2025.

💬 Key Quote: “His absence will leave a hole in our hearts, but we are proud that his life’s work will endure for future generations,” Connolly’s family said in a statement.

⚠️ Impact: Connolly’s death marks the loss of a long-serving Democrat who represented Virginia’s 11th district since 2009 and served as the Democratic ranking member on the House Oversight Committee until stepping down in April. His death also tilts the math for the passage of legislation in the House slightly more in favor of the slim Republican majority.

IN FULL:

Congressman Gerry Connolly (D-VA) passed away at his home on Wednesday morning at the age of 75, his family confirmed in a statement. The Democratic representative had been battling esophageal cancer, a diagnosis he revealed shortly after the 2024 election.

Connolly’s family announced his death with a message shared on his X (formerly Twitter) account, stating, “His absence will leave a hole in our hearts, but we are proud that his life’s work will endure for future generations.”

The Democrat lawmaker had served Virginia’s 11th congressional district since 2009. A staunch ally of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Connolly defeated the progressive Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) for the ranking member position on the influential House Oversight Committee at the start of the current Congress in January. However, in April, he stepped down from the role after revealing that his cancer had returned.

In a letter to constituents earlier this year, Connolly reflected on his decades of public service, writing, “With no rancor and a full heart, I move into this final chapter full of pride in what we accomplished together over 30 years.” He also confirmed that this term would be his last in Congress.

Rep. Connolly was a noted foe of President Donald J. Trump and one of the more vocally partisan Democrats in the House of Representatives. During former President Joe Biden’s lawfare campaign against Trump, the Virginia Congressman pushed a proposal to rename a federal prison after Trump—a subtle reference to Democratic Party efforts to see the America First leader imprisoned.

Image by April Brady/Project on Middle East Democracy.

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By Popular Demand.
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6 hours ago
Christopher Tomlinson
News
World

This European Country Just Outlawed OnlyFans.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: The purchase of sex acts online has been banned in Sweden, leading to sites like OnlyFans being essentially outlawed.

👥 Who’s Involved: Swedish parliament, OnlyFans, Social Democrat lawmaker Teresa Carvahlo, Minister for Gender Equality Nina Larsson.

📍 Where & When: Sweden, the Swedish parliament passed the legislation on May 20.

💬 Key Quote:  The online sex industry “serves as a gateway for young girls from the digital world to physical prostitution.” — Minister for Gender Equality Nina Larsson.

⚠️ Impact: The law cripples sites like OnlyFans in Sweden and could see those who try to purchase sex acts online be sentenced to a year in prison.

IN FULL:

Sweden, once synonymous with leftist progressivism, has banned the sale of sexual acts online, essentially outlawing the popular pornography website OnlyFans. Swedish lawmakers voted on May 20 to make it illegal to purchase sexual acts remotely online, which will affect webcam pornography sites as well as OnlyFans.

The law prohibits people from purchasing sex acts online and also makes it illegal for anyone to promote or financially exploit someone to perform sexual acts as well.

“This is a new form of sex purchase and it is high time that we modernize the Sex Purchase Act, and that we also include purchases that take place remotely on digital platforms such as Onlyfans,” Social Democrat lawmaker Teresa Carvahlo said following the bill’s passing.

Those found to violate the law could face up to a year in prison if found guilty, and the new rules are set to come into force on July 1 of this year. Minister for Gender Equality Nina Larsson argued that the online prostitution “serves as a gateway for young girls from the digital world to physical prostitution.”

OnlyFans has had legal troubles in other European countries, including the United Kingdom, where it was fined $1 million. The fine stemmed from the site refusing to provide information on how it accesses the ages of those using it.

OnlyFans has been accused of allowing children to access pornography and failing to provide adequate age verification measures. Some have also found the site has hosted child pornography at times, though it has removed offending material when alerted.

Sweden’s new law, which is an extension of the country’s strict anti-prostitution laws, comes as several states in America have also enacted their own laws to keep children away from pornography by demanding age verification of users. As a result of the laws, major websites like Pornhub have shut down some of their operations.

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By Popular Demand.
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20 hours ago
Crime
Immigration

Migrants Face Fines Up to $1.8 Million.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: U.S. immigration authorities are issuing fines, some as high as $1.8 million, to illegal immigrants who failed to leave the country after deportation orders.

👥 Who’s Involved: Wendy Ortiz, a Salvadoran migrant; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE); Customs and Border Protection (CBP); immigration lawyers; and the Trump administration.

📍 Where & When: United States, with fines beginning to be issued in recent weeks under the Trump administration.

💬 Key Quote: “It’s not fair. Where is someone going to find that much money?” — Wendy Ortiz, fined $1.8 million.

⚠️ Impact: Illegal immigrants face steep financial penalties, potential property seizures, and legal challenges, with many unable to pay the fines for ignoring their deportation orders.

IN FULL:

U.S. immigration authorities have begun issuing substantial fines to illegal immigrants who have failed to leave the country after being ordered to do so, with penalties reaching as high as $1.8 million. Wendy Ortiz, a 32-year-old Salvadoran illegal immigrant living in Pennsylvania, was among those fined. Ortiz allegedly left her home country a decade ago.

“It’s not fair,” Ortiz told reporters. “Where is someone going to find that much money?” Her attorney, Rosina Stambaugh, has requested a 30-day extension to contest the fine, citing Ortiz’s lack of a criminal record and the supposed dangers she faces if deported. Notably, Ortiz failed to show up for her asylum hearing and later ignored a deportation order, though she claims she never received notification of either.

The fines are part of a Trump administration policy aimed at encouraging voluntary departure, or “self-deportation,” among illegal immigrants. A senior Trump official disclosed that over 4,500 migrants have been issued fines totaling more than $500 million. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has been responsible for issuing the fines, while Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is tasked with handling potential property seizures.

The fines stem from a 1996 law that Trump administration immigration officials are enforcing. Under this policy, illegal immigrants can be fined $998 per day for failing to comply with deportation orders, with penalties applied retroactively for up to five years. This framework has resulted in fines as high as $1.8 million.

Immigration lawyers across the country have expressed shock at the severity of the penalties. Robert Scott, a New York-based attorney, noted that one of his clients, a low-income Mexican woman living in the U.S. for 25 years, was also fined $1.8 million. Scott—like attorneys for other illegal immigrants—claim the woman was unaware of her 2013 deportation order and is now seeking to reopen her case.

The Trump administration previously withdrew the imposition of similar fines during its first term after legal challenges but resumed issuing smaller penalties. The Biden government later dropped the fines in 2021.

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By Popular Demand.
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