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Thursday, February 5, 2026

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58 minutes ago
Immigration
News

Trump Now Wants ‘Softer Touch’ on Immigration Enforcement.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump suggested immigration enforcement could benefit from a “softer touch” following federal operations in Minnesota.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Trump, federal agents, anti-ICE activists Alex Pretti and Renee Good, White House Border Czar Tom Homan, and state and local authorities in Minnesota.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Late 2025 through early 2026 in Minnesota.

💬KEY QUOTE: “I learned that maybe we can use a little bit of a softer touch, but you still have to be tough.” – Donald J. Trump

🎯IMPACT: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced a partial drawdown of federal agents in Minnesota, citing increased cooperation with local authorities.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump has said that recent clashes between federal agents and far-left agitators in Minnesota have prompted him to consider a “softer” approach to immigration enforcement. During an interview, Trump was asked what he learned from the federal immigration operation in Minneapolis–St. Paul area following the fatal January shootings of Alex Pretti and Renee Nicole Good during confrontations involving federal agents and anti-ICE agitators.

“I learned that maybe we can use a little bit of a softer touch, but you still have to be tough,” Trump said. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) deployed approximately 3,000 federal agents to Minnesota in what it described as the largest immigration enforcement operation in U.S. history. Trump said he had personally reached out to state and local leaders during the operation. “I’ve called the Governor. I’ve called the Mayor [of Minneapolis], spoke to them, had great conversations with them,” he said. “And then I see them ranting and raving out there, literally, as though a call wasn’t made. We’ve done a great job everywhere.”

According to the administration, those conversations led to increased cooperation from Minnesota officials. Trump has said that Gov. Tim Walz (D) agreed to work with White House Border Czar Tom Homan to facilitate the transfer of illegal immigrants with criminal records from local jails into federal custody, reducing the need for large-scale street arrests.

Homan announced that this “unprecedented cooperation” would allow DHS to scale back its presence in the state. “Given this increase in unprecedented collaboration and as a result of the need for less law enforcement officers to do this work in a safer environment, I have announced, effective immediately, we will draw down 700 people,” Homan said.

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22 minutes ago
Politics
World

Trump Endorses Japan’s Anti-Mass Migration Prime Minister Ahead of Sunday Snap Election.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump issued a full endorsement of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi ahead of Japan’s legislative election.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Donald Trump, Sanae Takaichi, and Japanese voters.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The endorsement comes ahead of Japan’s February 8, 2026, legislative election. A meeting at the White House is scheduled for March 19, 2026.

💬KEY QUOTE: “SHE WILL NOT LET THE PEOPLE OF JAPAN DOWN! Good luck on your very important Sunday Vote.” – Donald Trump

🎯IMPACT: The endorsement highlights the strong U.S.-Japan relationship and emphasizes the shared priorities of Trump and Takaichi in national security, trade, and immigration.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump issued a high-profile endorsement Thursday for Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, calling Sunday’s snap Japanese legislative election “very important” and praising Takaichi as someone who has “already proven to be a strong, powerful, and wise Leader.”

In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump wrote that “The Great Country of Japan is having a very important Legislative Election on Sunday, February 8, 2026. The results of this Election are very important to the future of Japan.” He specifically highlighted Takaichi’s leadership and commitment to her country, saying she “truly loves her Country” and was impressive during his recent visit.

Trump also emphasized the close cooperation between the United States and Japan, noting that “the United States and Japan have worked closely together on making a very substantial Trade Deal, one that strongly benefits both Countries.”

Reiterating his support, the President wrote that “Prime Minister Takaichi is someone who deserves powerful recognition for the job she and her Coalition are doing and, therefore, as President of the United States of America, it is my Honor to give a Complete and Total Endorsement of her, and what her highly respected Coalition is representing.” He added a rallying message to Japanese voters: “SHE WILL NOT LET THE PEOPLE OF JAPAN DOWN! Good luck on your very important Sunday Vote.”

The endorsement comes as Japan prepares for a snap general election on February 8, 2026, to elect all 465 members of the lower house of its national legislature, the House of Representatives. The vote will shape the country’s political direction and could confirm the governing coalition’s mandate.

Takaichi, who became Prime Minister after winning the leadership of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and forming a coalition last year, is widely expected to secure victory in the election. Her campaign emphasizes economic stability, national security, and strengthening Japan’s role on the international stage. She has also expressed a decidedly anti-mass migration stance, vowing to crack down on criminal migrants in the country,

Trump’s endorsement underscores Washington’s strategic interest in continuity in Tokyo’s leadership. Trump also noted he looks forward to hosting Prime Minister Takaichi at the White House on March 19.

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2 hours ago
Education
Election Integrity

Liberal College Accused of Election Interference, Student Data Privacy Breaches.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Department of Education has launched two investigations into a Tufts University program over potential violations of federal privacy laws related to student data collection and sharing with the possible intention to influence American elections.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The Department of Education, Tufts University, the National Student Clearinghouse (NSC), and the National Study of Learning, Voting, and Engagement (NSLVE).

📍WHEN & WHERE: The investigations were announced on Thursday, with the program operating out of Tufts University.

💬KEY QUOTE: “American colleges and universities should be focused on teaching, learning, and research—not influencing elections.” — Secretary of Education Linda McMahon.

🎯IMPACT: Both investigations center on potential violations of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), which grants students and their legal guardians the right to control the disclosure of personal data.

IN FULL

The U.S. Department of Education revealed on Thursday that it has launched two investigations into a program at Tufts University that may be illegally collecting and sharing student information to influence elections. The department’s Student Privacy Policy Office (SPPO) is examining whether the National Study of Learning, Voting, and Engagement (NSLVE) complies with federal privacy laws.

The NSLVE program is able to access student data from thousands of campuses through various partnerships. Federal officials say they are concerned that this data may be shared with third-party political organizations aiming to influence American elections. An investigation has also been launched into the National Student Clearinghouse (NSC), which collaborates with NSLVE and has access to data from numerous colleges.

Both investigations center on potential violations of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), which grants students and their legal guardians the right to control the disclosure of personal data. Notably, the partnership between NSLVE and NSC was pushed by the former Obama government as part of an effort to boost student voter participation in elections.

“American colleges and universities should be focused on teaching, learning, and research—not influencing elections,” Secretary of Education Linda McMahon stated. She accused the former Biden government of encouraging institutions to share student data recklessly, adding that the department is revoking all Biden-era guidance that promoted such practices.

NSLVE provides reports to over 1,000 campuses to analyze student voting and registration rates, while NSC collects personal information, enrollment details, and academic records from nearly all U.S. colleges. Consequently, the Department of Education has issued guidance reminding institutions of their privacy obligations under FERPA, warning that using NSLVE data could place them in violation of federal law.

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3 hours ago
Religion
World

Trump Deploys Tactical Team to Nigeria Amid Continued Attacks Against Christians.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) announced the deployment of a small number of American military officers to Nigeria to assist in counter-terrorism efforts amid ongoing Islamist attacks against the country’s Christian communities.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: AFRICOM Commander General Dagvin R.M. Anderson, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, and U.S. State Department officials.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The deployment follows a summit in Rome in October 2025 and was confirmed during a press briefing earlier this week.

💬KEY QUOTE: “At that meeting, I was able to meet President Tinubu. We were able to share some thoughts and agree that we needed to work together on a way forward in the region.” — Gen. Anderson.

🎯IMPACT: The collaboration aims to enhance Nigeria’s counter-terrorism capabilities, particularly in combating Islamist groups like Boko Haram and ISWAP.

IN FULL

U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) has announced that a small team of American military personnel has been sent to Nigeria to aid the African nation in counter-terrorism operations. The deployment was disclosed by AFRICOM Commander General Dagvin R.M. Anderson earlier this week at a State Department briefing regarding ongoing efforts to end Islamist attacks against Christian communities in Nigeria.

The decision to deploy U.S. military officers follows a meeting between Gen. Anderson and Nigerian President Bola Tinubu last October at the Aqaba Process summit in Rome, Italy. The summit, founded by Jordan’s King Abdullah II and held usually three to four times a year, aims to address counter-terrorism practices and ongoing threats in regions of need, especially West and East Africa.

“At that meeting, I was able to meet President Tinubu. We were able to share some thoughts and agree that we needed to work together on a way forward in the region,” Gen. Anderson said, adding, “That has led to increased collaboration between our nations, to include a small U.S. team that brings some unique capabilities from the United States in order to augment what Nigeria has been doing for several years.”

While Gen. Anderson did not reveal how large the U.S. deployment is, he did note that the team will be able to support Nigerian counter-terrorism operations with “unique capabilities,” including Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) systems. The U.S. Department of War’s (DOW) ISR packages include “manned and unmanned airborne, space-borne, maritime, and terrestrial systems.” Nigerian Defense Minister Christopher Musa has confirmed the presence of the U.S. personnel.

The National Pulse reported last October that U.S. President Donald J. Trump designated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) due to a genocide of Christians by radical Islamic terrorists. This move followed a report from the International Society for Civil Liberties and the Rule of Law (Intersociety) which revealed that a staggering 100 churches are attacked every month in Nigeria, with a minimum of 7,087 Nigerian Christians murdered in the first 220 days of 2025—an average of 32 per day.

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3 hours ago
Crime

Over 600 Arrested in California Human Trafficking Sting.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A tip about a suburban home in California led to a statewide human trafficking takedown, rescuing nearly 20 children and resulting in over 600 arrests.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Multiple law enforcement agencies, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna, Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) Deputy Chief Alan Hamilton, and Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman.

📍WHEN & WHERE: California, including Los Angeles County, during a week-long operation titled “Operation Reclaim and Rebuild.”

💬KEY QUOTE: “How embarrassing that I could actually say that we have corridors of human sex trafficking throughout Los Angeles County.” – Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman

🎯IMPACT: The takedown exposed a vast trafficking network, rescued victims from multiple states, and highlighted Los Angeles County’s role as a trafficking hub.

IN FULL

The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), in conjunction with a number of other law enforcement agencies operating on a single tip, have busted a major human trafficking operation, resulting in more than 600 arrests and the rescue of around 20 children across California. In Los Angeles County alone, the law enforcement action—dubbed “Operation Reclaim and Rebuild”—saw the recovery of 12 adults and five children.

According to Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna, the investigation originated with a citizen tip regarding a home in the Los Angeles suburb of Walnut. A subsequent surveillance operation connected the home to several other nearby residences being used in a human trafficking ring.

“We have traffickers that are putting barely teenage girls on the streets of Los Angeles to be victimized, repeatedly, over and over again,” LAPD Deputy Chief Alan Hamilton said following the bust, adding, “These children did not come from one place. They came from Chicago, from Oklahoma, from Missouri, tribal lands… and from communities right here in the state of California.”

The operation resulted in a total of 611 arrests, including both suspected human traffickers and clients—often called “Johns.” Authorities, however, have not yet disclosed how many of those arrested will face felony human trafficking charges as opposed to lesser solicitation offenses.

“How embarrassing that I could actually say that we have corridors of human sex trafficking throughout Los Angeles County,” Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said, describing the criminal operation as having engaged in “modern slavery,” and lamenting Los Angeles’s continued prevalence as a hotspot for human traffickers.

Image by Jpesch95.

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4 hours ago
Economy
Sports

‘Trump Accounts’ Set for Big Super Bowl Boost.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced that a commercial for the new Trump Accounts program will air during the Super Bowl.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, President Donald J. Trump, and U.S. families expecting children between 2025 and 2028.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The Super Bowl commercial will air on February 8, 2026, at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Look for the commercial after the national anthem at the Super Bowl this weekend.” – Scott Bessent

🎯IMPACT: Millions of Americans could learn about the initiative, designed to give U.S.-born babies a financial head start.

IN FULL

The Trump administration will roll out a Super Bowl commercial during the big on Sunday educating the American public about the new Trump Accounts program, which will give enrolled U.S. babies—born between January 1, 2025, and December 31, 2028—$1,000 at birth to invest through a specialized 530A hybrid retirement account. A provision of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed into law by President Donald J. Trump earlier this year, the Trump Accounts program is set to launch on July 4, 2026.

“Look for the commercial after the national anthem at the Super Bowl this weekend,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told lawmakers while testifying before the House Financial Services Committee earlier this week. The National Pulse reported in late January that Bessent, during a White House summit discussing the initiative, explained, “Trump Accounts are not a government program. They are a radically new platform that returns us to a social contract anchored in individual ownership where everyone starts life on an investing journey.”

According to the White House, a Trump Account opened with only the $1,000 federal seed money in 2026 will reach $5,800 by age 18 and $18,100 by age 28. However, families who contribute the maximum $5,000 annually will see the accounts reach an estimated $303,800 by age 18 and $1,091,900 by age 28—assuming contributions continue through age 18 and the account is converted to an IRA. Each account is established in the child’s name—though a parent or guardian will act as a custodian until the child reaches 18.

Already a number of major U.S. corporations have pledged to contribute seed money to Trump Accounts for the children of their employees. Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, and Steak n Shake have each pledged a $1,000 match for accounts belonging to the children of their employees born between 2025 and 2028.

A record 127 million people worldwide tuned in to watch the Super Bowl last year, according Nielsen, with similar numbers expected again for this year’s match-up of the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks.

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5 hours ago
Crime
Immigration

Trucker Who Killed Four is CBP One Biden Migrant.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A semi-truck driver who caused a head-on collision in Indiana, resulting in four fatalities, is a migrant allowed into America by former President Joe Biden.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Bekzhan Beishekeev, a 30-year-old Kyrgyzstani national, is in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody following the crash.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The incident occurred on Tuesday in Jay County, Indiana.

💬KEY QUOTE:

🎯IMPACT: The crash has raised further concerns about immigration policies, and unqualified migrants operating trucks on America’s roads, in particular, which the Trump administration has been trying to tackle.

IN FULL

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has confirmed that a semi-truck driver, identified as Bekzhan Beishekeev, was arrested after causing a head-on crash in Indiana that resulted in the deaths of four people. Beishekeev is a Kyrgyzstani national who entered the United States thanks to the Biden government’s CBP One app on December 19, 2023, at the Nogales, Arizona, port of entry. Biden’s government paroled Beishekeev into the U.S.

The crash occurred on SR 67 in Jay County, Indiana. According to police, Beishekeev did not stop for a slowed semi-truck and instead swerved into oncoming traffic, colliding head-on with a van. The victims included several people from the Amish community, per local media.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) records indicate that Beishekeev is now in ICE custody. This suggests that local law enforcement honored a detainer and has already transferred him to federal authorities.

The CBP One app, introduced under Biden, permitted 50,000 to 60,000 otherwise inadmissible aliens to enter the U.S. legally every month under two-year humanitarian parole grants. President Donald J. Trump terminated the program on his first day in office and repurposed CBP One as a self-deportation app.

Unqualified illegal immigrant truck drivers, often awarded licenses by Democrat-led states like California, are a significant issue on America’s roads, causing multiple fatalities in multiple high-profile crashes. The Trump administration has been moving to address the issue, disqualifying thousands of foreign drivers and shutting down thousands of driving schools.

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6 hours ago
NatSec
World

Europe Continuing to Make Key Concessions on Greenland in Secret: Vance.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: European allies have made more concessions over Greenland than publicly admitted, according to Vice President J.D. Vance.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Vice President J.D. Vance, President Donald J. Trump, and European governments.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Wednesday, February 4, 2025, in an interview with Megyn Kelly.

💬KEY QUOTE: “We definitely have gotten much more than we initially had.” – Vice President Vance

🎯IMPACT: Vance indicated the framework agreement contains new, critical benefits for the United States beyond the existing security arrangement pertaining to Greenland.

IN FULL

Europe is making far more substantial concessions regarding American interests in Greenland than it publicly acknowledges, U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance revealed on Wednesday. Speaking with Megyn Kelly on her podcast, Vance remarked, “We definitely have gotten much more than we initially had.”

“I’m sorry, it’s all bogus,” Vice President Vance said regarding claims pushed by the corporate media that a new framework agreement contains little in new benefits for the United States, adding, “The idea that they haven’t made any accommodations or concessions to the United States, it’s not true.”

While the Vice President avoided revealing any specifics, he stated that the framework deal struck by President Donald J. Trump last month contains new key benefits for the United States that are not currently public and did not exist prior. Just before the preliminary deal was reached on January 21, Trump had threatened to impose new tariffs on European countries working against American interests in Greenland. However, following a “very productive meeting” with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Trump announced that a framework was in place and that the trade levies no longer take effect on February 1.

“It’s one of the unwritten rules that everybody knows that if the Chinese or the Russians affected one of our critical missile defense systems, we would necessarily defend that. But we’re not getting anything for it,” Vance explained. “Let’s rewrite the rules a little bit here and say that if the United States is going to protect the entire world’s missile defense system—primarily our own, but other people benefit from it—we should get some benefit from the bargain.”

The National Pulse previously reported that Vance, just two days after the framework was announced, had stated that much of the pushback from European leaders on Greenland is just posturing, noting they are more receptive in private to U.S. interests in the Arctic island.

He reiterated this perspective on Wednesday, telling Megyn Kelly, “It’s so funny because the Europeans, they’re so friendly in private, and they’re willing to make a lot of accommodations, and then publicly they attack us.”

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7 hours ago
News

Anti-ICE ‘Antifa General’ Captured, Hit With Federal Charges.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A self-identified Antifa member was arrested on federal charges of cyberstalking and threatening communications against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Kyle Wagner, 37, a self-proclaimed Antifa member, and federal immigration officers were involved.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The arrest took place on January 5, 2026, in Minneapolis.

💬KEY QUOTE: “This man allegedly doxxed and called for the murder of law enforcement officers,” said Attorney General Pam Bondi.

🎯IMPACT: The arrest underscores the federal government’s commitment to tackling threats against law enforcement.

IN FULL

Kyle Wagner, a self-identified member of Antifa, was apprehended on charges of cyberstalking and threatening communications. The allegations involve serious threats against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers in Minneapolis, Minnesota, according to the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Attorney General Pamela Bondi stated, “This man allegedly doxxed and called for the murder of law enforcement officers, encouraged bloodshed in the streets, and proudly claimed affiliation with the terrorist organization Antifa before going on the run,” adding: Today’s arrest illustrates that you cannot run, you cannot hide, and you cannot evade our federal agents: if you come for law enforcement, the Trump Administration will come for you.”

Wagner is accused of making multiple threats via social media, encouraging violence against ICE officers. He allegedly referred to them as “Gestapo”—like Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (D)—and “murderers,” and called for confrontations.

In a video posted on January 8, Wagner threatened ICE agents directly, saying, “I’ve already bled for this city, I’ve already fought for this city, this is nothing new, we’re ready this time, ICE we’re f***ing coming for you.”

“This is kill or be killed,” he insisted, urging people to “hunt” ICE and declaring, “This is where ICE has come to die.”

“We want to know who they are. We will identify every single one of them and we will prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law. If it has to be done at the barrel of a gun, then let us have a little f***ing fun,” he said in one video, stating explicitly in another that he was “not talking about peaceful protests anymore” and adding: “Get your f***ing guns and stop these f***ing people.”

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7 hours ago
Crime
World

Trump DOJ Targets Cartel Crypto Laundering Networks.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is targeting financial networks of Mexico’s violent drug cartels, focusing on money brokers who launder drug profits through cryptocurrency.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: U.S. prosecutors, Mexican authorities, and defendants, including Eduardo Rigoberto Velasco Calderon, Eliomar Segura Torres, Manuel Ignacio Correa, and Cesar Linares-Orozco.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The transfer of high-level cartel operatives from Mexico to the U.S. began in January 2024 and remains ongoing, with 37 new defendants handed over to the DOJ last month.

💬KEY QUOTE: “If you cut off the money, you hurt the cartels, and that’s what we’re trying to do.” — U.S. Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva

🎯IMPACT: The focus on financial networks aims to disrupt cartel operations, leading to potential indictments of higher-level leaders.

IN FULL

The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) is opening a new front in the Trump administration’s efforts to destroy Mexico’s drug cartels with an initiative focused on dismantling the financial networks utilized by money brokers who use cryptocurrencies to launder illicit profits. These brokers, according to the DOJ, use cryptocurrencies to move the profits from drug sales in the United States back to Mexico and to cartel leaders.

“If you cut off the money, you hurt the cartels, and that’s what we’re trying to do,” Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva said, explaining the DOJ’s new strategy. Federal prosecutors believe that shutting down the cryptocurrency money brokers in the U.S. will cut off a critical point in the cartels’ financial system, potentially crippling their operations.

Mexico has already handed over around 90 high-level cartel operatives to the U.S. as part of the DOJ effort. The defendants, of whom 37 were transferred to the DOJ this past January alone, are each believed to have direct knowledge of cartel distribution networks and money laundering methods. Critically, the four most recent cases filed by the DOJ include alleged money brokers, Eduardo Rigoberto Velasco Calderon, Eliomar Segura Torres, Manuel Ignacio Correa, and Cesar Linares-Orozco.

The DOJ says it will use the prosecutions as leverage to obtain intelligence and detailed knowledge of how the cartels are evolving and utilizing alternative financial networks to avoid law enforcement detection. Assistant Attorney General Duva says federal prosecutors “want to hear on the distribution side how it works, who is involved, and seek additional indictments, and on the money laundering side, exactly the methods that they are using to get the money out of the United States through the U.S. banks.”

“He added, There’s bulk cash smuggling that has been going on since the beginning of time, and then also sort of the newer trend of taking the cash, buying cryptocurrency, and then trading that cryptocurrency.”

Image by G. Edward Johnson.

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8 hours ago
Crime
World

FBI Recaptures Alex Saab, Maduro’s Top Money Launderer Released by Biden.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Colombian businessman Alex Saab, considered a top money launderer for Nicolás Maduro, was reportedly arrested in Caracas during a joint U.S.-Venezuela operation.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Alex Saab, Nicolás Maduro, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Venezuelan authorities, and businessman Raúl Gorrín.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Saab was captured on Wednesday, February 4, 2026, in Caracas, Venezuela.

🎯IMPACT: Saab had initially been captured by the U.S. in 2020, but was subsequently released by former President Joe Biden as part of a prisoner exchange with the Maduro regime.

IN FULL

Former Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro’s top money launderer, Alex Saab, was captured in a joint operation by the United States and Venezuelan authorities on Wednesday in the country’s capital of Caracas. Saab—a Colombian businessman with extensive ties to Maduro and the illicit narcotics trade—was apprehended in an operation led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), along with Venezuelan businessman Raúl Gorrín, the head of Globovision TV network and another close Maduro ally.

The United States placed sanctions on Saab and Gorrín during President Donald J. Trump‘s first term in office. In June 2020, U.S. law enforcement arrested Saab in Cape Verde during a stopover on a flight from Venezuela to Iran and charged him with laundering $350 million taken from Venezuela’s treasury through the U.S. financial system.

However, in 2023, as part of a prison swap with the Maduro regime, former President Joe Biden signed an order for Saab’s release and return to Venezuela. Officials in the former Biden government argued that Maduro would be more inclined to help reduce the number of Venezuelan illegal immigrants attempting to enter the U.S. as a result of the release. Upon his return, Saab was appointed by Maduro as Venezuela’s Minister of Industry and National Production, a role he held until he was stripped of it by acting President Delcy Rodríguez, Maduro’s former deputy, in January.

Despite U.S. officials confirming Saab’s arrest, his lawyer Luigi Giuliano claimed late Wednesday that Saab was still in Caracas and called reports of his capture “fake news.” Giuliano claimed that Saab may make a public appearance to refute the reports of his capture, but thus far, that has not materialized.

Venezuelan businessman Raúl Gorrín was also apprehended during the operation. A close associate of Maduro, Gorrín was indicted in 2024 by a U.S. federal grand jury in Florida for a scheme to launder $1.2 billion. Like Saab, Gorrín was sanctioned by the Trump administration for corruption.

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