Thursday, January 15, 2026

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NBC News Slashes DEI Teams.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: NBC News announced layoffs impacting seven percent of its workforce, particularly those specialized in reporting on ethnic minority and LGBT issues

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: NBC News, its parent company Comcast, and affected employees across various reporting teams.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The layoffs were reported recently, ahead of NBC’s planned split from MSNBC, which will be rebranded to “MSNOW.”

🎯IMPACT: Approximately 150 employees were laid off, with broader industry implications as other networks like CBS and CNN potentially face similar changes.

IN FULL

NBC News has laid off around 150 employees, roughly seven percent of its newsroom workforce, as part of a major restructuring plan that will separate the network from its cable affiliate MSNBC. The move comes ahead of MSNBC’s upcoming rebrand as “MSNOW.” The cuts impacted teams that specialized in reporting on minority and LGBT issues, including NBC BLK, NBC Asian America, NBC Latino, and NBC OUT. According to NBC, these verticals will continue to exist, but their coverage will be absorbed into the broader newsroom rather than being handled by dedicated teams.

The layoffs affect about 2,000 NBC News staffers and around two percent of the wider company workforce, which also includes employees at NBC and Telemundo’s local stations. The network has stated that more than 100 open positions remain available within the news division, and laid-off staff are encouraged to apply.

The reorganization is part of a broader corporate shift under NBC’s parent company, Comcast, which plans to group several networks, including CNBC and USA Network, under a new umbrella brand called Versant. Similar cost-cutting measures may soon be implemented at other major networks. Reports suggest CBS News and CNN could follow suit with staff reductions or pay cuts, including among high-profile anchors such as Anderson Cooper, Jake Tapper, and Gayle King, who are known for commanding multimillion-dollar salaries.

These changes come amid a broader trend in corporate America and public institutions pulling back on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Earlier this year, Microsoft disbanded its DEI team, citing “changing business needs.” Internal communications from the company reportedly acknowledged that the kind of systemic change DEI programs aim to create is no longer viewed as a business priority. In a separate move, the University of Florida laid off all DEI personnel and shut down related offices in compliance with new laws banning the use of public funds for DEI efforts.

At the federal level, a rollback of DEI programs is being driven by the Trump administration. In early 2025, the Department of Education removed hundreds of DEI-related documents from its website, canceled over $2 million in DEI training contracts, and placed several related staff on administrative leave.

In March, President Donald J. Trump signed an executive order aimed at dismantling the Department of Education itself, reducing its responsibilities, and initiating widespread layoffs.

Image by Tflynn17.

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Appeals Court Reopens Trump Deportation Case Against Pro-Hamas Activist.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: The Third Circuit Court of Appeals has overturned a lower court decision ordering the release of pro-Hamas activist Mahmoud Khalil, effectively reopening the Trump administration’s deportation case against him and the possibility of his detention.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Mahmoud Khalil, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, Judges Thomas Hardiman, Stephanos Bibas, and Arianna J. Freeman.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The ruling was handed down on January 15, 2026.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Did the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) strip the New Jersey District Court of subject matter jurisdiction? It did.” – Court ruling

🎯IMPACT: The ruling marks a significant setback for Khalil, while highlighting the administration’s stance against foreign pro-Hamas agitators.

IN FULL

A federal appeals court on Thursday reopened the Trump administration’s deportation proceedings against pro-Hamas activist and former Columbia University graduate student, Mahmoud Khalil. In a two-to-one decision, a three-judge panel from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit found that the New Jersey District Court Judge Michael E. Farbiarz was not the appropriate authority to rule on Khalil’s petition for release.

“The first question presented is whether the New Jersey District Court had jurisdiction over Khalil’s habeas petition. We hold that it did,” the majority opinion states, continuing: “Our conclusion about habeas jurisdiction requires us to answer a second question: Did the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) strip the New Jersey District Court of subject matter jurisdiction? It did.”

“Because the INA channels ‘[j]udicial review of all questions of law . . . arising from any action taken or proceeding brought to remove an alien from the United States’ into a single petition for review filed with a federal court of appeals, we hold that the District Court lacked jurisdiction over Khalil’s removal proceedings,” the ruling concludes, before ordering Khalil’s habeas petition vacated and dismissed.

Appellate Judges Thomas Hardiman (a Bush appointee) and Stephanos Bibas (a Trump appointee), who made up the Third Circuit panel’s majority, stated that Khalil’s attorneys should first seek legal redress through the federal immigration court system and, only once that avenue is exhausted, file the habeas petition with the federal district court. Judge Arianna J. Freeman (a Biden appointee) dissented, contending that Khalil’s claims of government violations of his fundamental rights should not be dismissed without judicial review.

The ruling is a significant blow to Khalil and his legal team, after his release from federal custody in March of last year. While an appeal is likely, the ruling—for now—transfers the proceedings to the U.S. immigration court system and could result in Khalil being returned to federal custody as his deportation case continues.

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65-Year-Olds Could Be Called Up for War.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: The British government is set to expand the age at which retired military personnel can be mobilised from 55 to 65, under new Armed Forces legislation.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The British government, military veterans, and Defence Minister Al Carns.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The new measures will be introduced in Parliament as part of a new Armed Forces bill. The announcement came in January 2026.

💬KEY QUOTE: War is “already knocking on Europe’s door,” said Al Carns

🎯IMPACT: The move aims to bolster Britain’s military readiness amid fears of potential conflict with Russia, while underscoring recruitment challenges, particularly among younger generations, which are skewing increasingly towards the children and grandchildren of immigrants.

IN FULL

The British government is preparing new legislation that would allow military veterans to be recalled to service up to the age of 65, expanding the country’s strategic reserve as officials warn of growing security threats in Europe. Under current rules, retired personnel can generally only be mobilised until the age of 55, but the proposed Armed Forces bill would raise that limit by a decade.

The move comes as the British Army has fallen to its smallest size in more than 200 years, with just over 70,000 full-time, fully trained troops. Defense planners believe broadening the pool of former soldiers eligible for recall would make it easier to mobilize tens of thousands of additional personnel if required. Notably, the military is facing worsening recruitment challenges among Britain’s youth, which is skewing increasingly towards the children and grandchildren of immigrants.

The bill would also lower the threshold for activating the strategic reserve to include “warlike preparations,” bringing it into line with the criteria already used for more recent reservists. Senior defense and security figures have increasingly warned that the risk of major conflict is rising, particularly in relation to Russia. Armed Forces Minister Al Carns has said war is “already knocking on Europe’s door.”

Alongside these changes, the government has committed approximately $250 million to upgrade armored vehicles and purchase new equipment as part of preparations for a possible peacekeeping mission in Ukraine. Media reports have suggested that up to 7,500 British troops could be deployed if a ceasefire agreement between Moscow and Kiev is reached, although the Ministry of Defence has said no final decisions have been made.

The proposed expansion of recall powers comes at a time when public opinion in Britain on war and military service appears deeply divided. Recent polling shows that close to half of Britons say they would not be willing to fight for their country under any circumstances, and only a minority say they would take up arms if Britain were at war.

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Trump Accuses Zelensky of Stalling Russia-Ukraine Peace Talks.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump stated that Ukraine, not Russia, is holding up a potential peace deal to end the war that began with Russia’s invasion in 2022.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Trump made the remarks during an interview in the Oval Office on Wednesday.

💬KEY QUOTE: “I think he’s ready to make a deal. I think Ukraine is less ready to make a deal.” – Donald Trump

🎯IMPACT: President Trump said he would be open to sitting down with Zelensky later this month at the World Economic Forum (WEF) summit in Davos, Switzerland, to discuss the proposed peace plan further.

IN FULL

Ukraine, not Russia, is holding up peace talks that could bring to an end a nearly four-year-long war between the two nations, President Donald J. Trump revealed on Wednesday. Speaking in the Oval Office, Trump stated that Russian President Vladimir Putin is ready to end the war, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky remains on the fence. The conflict began in 2022 with Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, with an estimated 1.4 million killed on both sides since.

“I think he’s ready to make a deal,” President Trump said, referring to Putin, adding: “I think Ukraine is less ready to make a deal.”

Pressed further as to why U.S. mediation had not yet produced a peace agreement, Trump replied, “Zelensky.” The America First leader declined to elaborate further on the Ukrainian leader’s motivations for delaying peace talks, but noted that Zelensky appears to be “having a hard time” accepting the concessions necessary for a peace deal.

Still, President Trump said he would be open to sitting down with Zelensky later this month at the World Economic Forum (WEF) summit in Davos, Switzerland. On Wednesday, Zelensky appeared to signal openness to continued discussions with the U.S., writing on X (formerly Twitter), “Work with America on security guarantees, on economic agreements, and on the political document needs to be swift. On our end, we are being as productive as possible. We also expect energy from the American side in their work.”

Meanwhile, President Trump also stated he was unaware of recent reports regarding a possible trip to Moscow involving White House special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner.

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Migrant Shot After Attacking ICE Officer With a Shovel.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: A Venezuelan migrant was shot in the leg after attacking a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer with a shovel during a targeted enforcement operation in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: ICE officers, a Venezuelan migrant, and others who attacked law enforcement during the operation.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Wednesday evening, near North Sixth Street and North 24th Avenue in Minneapolis.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Fearing for his life and safety as he was being ambushed by three individuals, the officer fired defensive shots to defend his life,” DHS officials said.

🎯IMPACT: Leftist agitators are protesting ICE operations in Minneapolis, with some confrontations between them and federal officers turning violent.

IN FULL

The target of a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) action—a Venezuelan migrant—was shot in the leg on Wednesday evening. Officials say the migrant assaulted an ICE officer by striking him with a shovel, trying to hit his head, and the officer fired in self-defense.

After this clash, the Venezuelan ran into a nearby home, where three other targeted migrants were located, and they barricaded the residence. ICE eventually breached the building with a specialized tactical unit, and all four migrants were eventually detained.

Homeland Security officials explained that the officer faced an attack not only from the primary suspect but also from two others who came out of a nearby apartment, wielding a snow shovel and a broom handle. “Fearing for his life and safety as he was being ambushed by three individuals, the officer fired defensive shots to defend his life,” DHS officials said in a statement.

Leftist agitators in Minneapolis protested following the incident, with demonstrators confronting police officers well into the night. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey (D) and Police Chief Brian O’Hara held a joint news conference, calling for calm while criticizing ICE. Frey stated, “We have ICE agents throughout our city and throughout our state who, along with Border Patrol, are creating chaos. This is not the path we should be on in America,” implicitly suggesting that violent illegal aliens should be effectively exempted from federal immigration law and left alone.

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche blamed Minnesota’s Democrat leaders for inciting violence against officers, saying, “Minnesota insurrection is a direct result of a FAILED governor and a TERRIBLE mayor encouraging violence against law enforcement. It’s disgusting.” Notably, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has previously compared ICE to Adolf Hitler’s Gestapo, and likened the current immigration enforcement operations in the North Star State to an “occupation.”

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By Popular Demand.
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Farage Trump

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Britain’s Conservative Party In EPIC Collapse Over Nigel Farage.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: Robert Jenrick, the Shadow Justice Secretary for the Conservative (Tory) Party in Britain, has been sacked by party leader Olukemi “Kemi” Badenoch for allegedly plotting to defect to Nigel Farage’s Reform Party.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Kemi Badenoch, Robert Jenrick, Nigel Farage, and other Tory and Reform Party figures.

📍WHEN & WHERE: January 15, 2026, in the United Kingdom.

💬KEY QUOTE: “I was presented with clear, irrefutable evidence that he was plotting in secret to defect in a way designed to be as damaging as possible to his Shadow Cabinet colleagues and the wider Conservative Party,” said Badenoch.

🎯IMPACT: Jenrick’s sacking has sparked speculation of major defections to Reform among Conservative lawmakers, as the populist party is increasingly displacing the formerly governing establishment center-right party in Britain.

IN FULL

Robert Jenrick has been removed from his role as the British Conservative (Tory) Party’s Shadow Justice Secretary by the party’s Nigeria-raised leader, Olukemi “Kemi” Badenoch, following allegations that he was secretly preparing to defect to Nigel Farage‘s Reform Party.

The Conservative Party, which is one of the oldest center-right entities on the planet, is now in mid-collapse with record low membership, polling figures, and top officials leaving every day.

Conservative sources said Badenoch acted after being presented with what they described as “totally irrefutable” evidence that Jenrick intended to defect, including a draft resignation speech and reports that he had held meetings with senior figures in Reform.

Allies of the Tory leader framed the move as an effort to maintain discipline and authority amid growing pressure from the right. However, Jenrick was widely regarded as a threat to Badenoch’s leadership, having steadily increased his popularity while she has presided over a collapse in the party’s poll numbers. One ally of Jenrick argued, “This is just a move to take Robert out. There was no reason for him to defect. Many of us saw him as leader-elect. This could backfire badly on her.”

Farage acknowledged contact with Jenrick but denied any imminent defection agreement, stating that while discussions had taken place, nothing had been formally agreed.

Notably, while Jenrick adopted a strong populist stance on issues such as immigration ahead of the Tories’ ouster by Labour in mid-2024, he campaigned against Brexit in 2016, and was associated with many of the Tories’ liberal policies while they were in office, leading Farage and others in Reform to question his authenticity.

If Jenrick were to join Reform, he would follow other former senior Tories such as Nadine Dorries, Nadhim Zahawai, and Lee Anderson. Much of the party’s base is concerned Reform is becoming too centrist following the defections of a high number of centrist Tories.

Image by 10 Downing Street.

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Editor’s Notes

Behind-the-scenes political intrigue exclusively for Pulse+ subscribers.

RAHEEM J. KASSAM Editor-in-Chief
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Trump Considers Invoking Insurrection Act Amid Minnesota Unrest.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump has threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act to deploy U.S. military forces to Minnesota as protests escalate against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Trump, federal immigration agents, protesters, and violent anti-ICE protestors.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Trump referenced the Insurrection Act in a January 15, 2026, post on Truth Social in response to ongoing violent anti-ICE demonstrations in Minneapolis, Minnesota

💬KEY QUOTE: “If the corrupt politicians of Minnesota don’t obey the law and stop the professional agitators and insurrectionists from attacking the Patriots of I.C.E., who are only trying to do their job, I will institute the INSURRECTION ACT.” – Donald Trump.

🎯IMPACT: Invoking the Insurrection Act would allow President Trump to deploy U.S. military forces to the streets of Minneapolis to quell anti-ICE disorder.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump stated on Thursday that he will invoke the Insurrection Act in response to ongoing violent protests against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations in Minneapolis, Minnesota, unless state and local officials obey federal orders and end the demonstrations. The rarely used federal law would allow President Trump to deploy U.S. military forces to the city to quell the unrest.

“If the corrupt politicians of Minnesota don’t obey the law and stop the professional agitators and insurrectionists from attacking the Patriots of I.C.E., who are only trying to do their job, I will institute the INSURRECTION ACT, which many Presidents have done before me, and quickly put an end to the travesty that is taking place in that once great State,” Trump wrote in a post Truth Social on Thursday.

The Insurrection Act was first used by President Thomas Jefferson in 1807, though its use has been relatively rare in subsequent years. George H.W. Bush was the last U.S. president to invoke the act in 1992 to deploy troops to Los Angeles in response to the Rodney King riots.

Civil unrest in Minneapolis has intensified in recent days following the fatal shooting of an anti-ICE activist after she attempted to run over a federal immigration officer last week. Meanwhile, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reported late Wednesday that two individuals attacked an ICE agent with a broomstick and a snow shovel during an attempted detention of a Venezuelan man. The Venezuelan man was shot in the leg during the incident.

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Force Projection: Britain Will Send a Single Soldier to Greenland.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: Britain is deploying a single soldier to Greenland as President Donald J. Trump continues to push for the territory to be transferred to the United States.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: One British soldier, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, British Defence Secretary John Healy, and President Trump.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Healy announced the single soldier would take part in exercises at a press conference on January 14.

💬KEY QUOTE: “There is one UK military officer that is part of this reconnaissance group. It’s a reconnaissance group for a planned JEF-led Arctic endurance exercise.” John Healy.

🎯IMPACT: The British soldier is part of an exercise that could see tens of European troops deployed to Greenland.

IN FULL

British Defence Secretary John Healy has announced that the British military will be sending a single soldier to Greenland to support Denmark as part of a “reconnaissance group,” as President Donald J. Trump continues to insist that the territory should come under the control of the United States.

“There is one UK military officer that is part of this reconnaissance group. It’s a reconnaissance group for a planned JEF-led Arctic endurance exercise. We share President Trump’s concerns about the security in the High North, and you see this as part of NATO nd JEF nations,” Healy said in a press conference on January 14. Germany has also announced that a token force of 13 troops will also be sent to Greenland.

Earlier this week, reports emerged stating that British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer was considering deploying troops to Greenland, after he and several other European leaders signed a letter suggesting they would defend Denmark’s sovereignty. However, many expected the number of troops involved in such a deployment to be higher than one.

The announcement comes amid heightened focus on Greenland, with President Trump having repeatedly stated that the U.S. intends to acquire the territory from the Kingdom of Denmark. Trump said on January 9 that the United States will take Greenland “whether Denmark likes it or not,” and reiterated that strategic competitors such as Russia and China would otherwise fill a security vacuum near North America.

Trump administration officials have also indicated potential near-term actions on Greenland, with White House Arctic policy chief Thomas Dans suggesting developments in “weeks or months” as the U.S. seeks to advance its Arctic agenda.

The strategic importance of Greenland has been underscored by changes within U.S. defense planning. In mid-2025, the Pentagon shifted responsibility for Greenland’s defense from U.S. European Command to U.S. Northern Command, aligning oversight of the territory with the command that focuses on homeland defense.

Greenland, a semi-autonomous Danish territory, has significant geopolitical value due to its location between North America and Europe, across the Atlantic, and between North America and Russia, across the Arctic. It is also rich in rare-earth minerals and freshwater reserves, but the Danes have done little to develop it over several hundred years, and the great majority of its small population are indigenous Inuit.

Image by Simon Dawson / No 10 Downing Street.

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Outrage as Judge Reduces Charges of Migrant Who Impregnated 10-Year-Old.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: An Italian judge downgraded sexual assault charges against a 29-year-old migrant who impregnated a 10-year-old girl, sparking widespread outrage.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: A 29-year-old Bangladeshi migrant, a 10-year-old girl, and Italian politicians.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The abuse occurred in the summer of 2024 at the Hotel Il Cacciatore migrant centre in Collio, Lombardy, Italy.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The mere five-year sentence handed down to a person responsible for the atrocious and unspeakable violence against a child leaves me stunned.” – Simona Bordonali, a lawmaker from the League (Lega) party that forms part of Italy’s ruling coalition.

🎯IMPACT: The reduced sentence has provoked anger among Italian politicians and citizens, questioning the proportionality of justice in cases involving minors.

IN FULL

A court ruling in Italy has ignited widespread backlash after a judge downgraded charges against a 29-year-old Bangladeshi migrant who impregnated a 10-year-old girl at a migrant reception center. The abuse took place in the summer of 2024 at the Hotel Il Cacciatore in Collio, Lombardy, a facility housing roughly 20 asylum seekers.

The child, originally from sub-Saharan Africa, was taken to hospital after her mother noticed troubling changes in her behavior and complained of abdominal pain. Medical tests revealed the girl was pregnant, and she later underwent an abortion.

Prosecutors initially charged the perpetrator with aggravated sexual assault against a minor. However, the judge reclassified the offense as sexual acts with a child, a lesser charge under Italian law, as he claimed to be in a relationship with the child. Combined with a fast-track trial procedure that automatically reduced the penalty by one-third, the decision resulted in a meager five-year prison sentence.

During proceedings, the migrant’s lawyers argued there was no violence, a position that played a role in the court’s dubious decision to downgrade the charges. The court’s formal reasoning is expected to be filed within 90 days.

The ruling has drawn sharp criticism, particularly from the League (Lega) party, which is a junior partner of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s Brothers of Italy (FdI) party in Italty’s ruling coalition. League lawmaker Simona Bordonali said, “The mere five-year sentence handed down to a person responsible for the atrocious and unspeakable violence against a child leaves me stunned.” She called for changes to sentencing laws to ensure punishments reflect the gravity of crimes against minors.

League leader Matteo Salvini also condemned the decision, calling it “appalling” and “unacceptable.”

The case has reignited Italy’s broader debate over migration, crime, and public safety. Prime Minister Meloni has repeatedly argued that failures in border enforcement can have serious social consequences. However, while her government has reported sharp declines in illegal arrivals following an initial increase early in her term, it has also expanded legal migration channels to address supposed labor shortages, drawing criticism from immigration skeptics.

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France BANS British Anti-Migration Activists for Disrupting Illegal Boat Crossings.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: Ten members of a British anti-illegal immigration group were prohibited from entering France after being accused of destroying small boats used by migrants crossing the English Channel.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Activists from the Raise the Colours group and the French Interior Ministry.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Prohibition enacted on Tuesday; actions took place along the northern French coastline.

🎯IMPACT: Cross-Channel migration remains high, with over 41,000 people making the journey last year, despite the British government paying the French government tens of millions of pounds to stop the crossings. French action against British activists for destroying the boats the French authorities are failing to seize themselves increases the perception that Paris is not really interested in ending the crisis.

IN FULL

French authorities have barred ten members of the British anti-mass migration activist group Raise the Colours from entering or remaining in France, citing their involvement in actions targeting migrant boats along France’s northern coastline. The French Interior Ministry confirmed on Wednesday that the ban was imposed on Tuesday and applies to individuals within the movement who have taken action on French soil to disrupt illegal immigration to Britain.

In a statement, the ministry said the activists had been involved in operations against boats linked to cross-Channel migration and had also carried out “propaganda activities” along the coast. Notably, the British government has been paying the French government tens of millions of pounds annually to stop these boats, but it has failed to do so.

Cross-Channel migration remains a politically charged issue in Britain, where more than 41,000 people arrived in small boats last year, according to government data. While that figure is below the record 45,000 crossings seen in 2022, it remains extremely high by historical standards.

Public concern in Britain has been heightened by a series of criminal cases involving migrants who entered the country by boat. In one recent case, a migrant was convicted of raping a teenage girl within weeks of his arrival.

Critics argue that France is to some extent actively facilitating crossings, at times distributing life jackets and other safety equipment to migrants preparing to launch boats from French beaches rather than detaining or otherwise deterring them.

Deportations from Britain to France remain limited. Estimates from 2024 suggested that only around 0.5 percent of boat migrants had been removed.

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Mass Deportations Have Made Homes More Affordable, Boosted Wages, and Cut Crime.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: President Trump’s administration achieved significant reductions in crime, improved housing affordability, and boosted wages for American workers through strict immigration enforcement and mass deportations.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Donald J. Trump, American workers, law enforcement, and local jurisdictions impacted by immigration policies.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Throughout 2025, with notable impacts in cities such as Washington, D.C., Chicago, Memphis, and New Orleans.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Under President Trump, the America First promise is a reality. While Democrats fight to sabotage these gains and drag us back to the chaos of open borders, skyrocketing costs, and rampant crime, President Trump remains unwavering in his commitment to delivering the security, prosperity, and safety the American people deserve.” – White House statement

🎯IMPACT: Reduced crime rates, increased wages for blue-collar workers, improved housing affordability, and improved safety in America’s cities.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump’s focus on border security and immigration enforcement has produced tangible benefits for Americans in his first year back in office. Large-scale deportations are contributing to falling home prices in 14 of the top 20 metropolitan areas that have significant populations of illegal immigrants by reducing pressure on housing, showing year-over-year declines in December. Notably, three areas that experienced slight price increases were all sanctuary cities.

Blue-collar wages have also increased at the fastest pace in decades, with truck drivers and construction workers, whose sectors have been heavily infiltrated by sometimes dangerously unqualified illegal immigrants, among those seeing substantial pay raises. Real wages for American workers are projected to have risen by 4.2 percent overall during President Trump’s first full year back in office.

Between January and December 2025, employment increased by two million native-born Americans, while 662,000 foreign-born workers experienced job losses, indicating that the administration’s policies are rebalancing the economy away from cheap foreign labor.

The near-halt to illegal immigration and increase in deportations, particularly in America’s interior, has also been accompanied by the country’s largest-ever single-year decline in murders last year, along with reductions in rapes, robberies, aggravated assaults, shooting deaths, traffic fatalities, and overdose fatalities—with the last of these likely to have been further influenced by the administration’s aggressive military action against drug traffickers in Latin America.

In Washington, D.C., murders fell by 60 percent, carjackings decreased by 68 percent, and overall crime dropped by nearly a third, according to the White House. Chicago, subject to the administration’s Operation Midway Blitz against illegal immigrants, posted its lowest number of murders since 1965, while Memphis had fewer than 200 murders for the first time since 2019, and New Orleans achieved its lowest homicide rate in nearly 50 years.

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