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Tuesday, December 23, 2025

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4 hours ago
Immigration
Lawfare

Biden Judge Frees Convicted Illegal Immigrant Fraudster from ICE Custody.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A federal judge ordered the release of Muhammad Zahid Chaudhry, a Pakistani national with a fraud conviction, from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention on procedural grounds.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Muhammad Zahid Chaudhry, U.S. District Court Chief Judge David G. Estudillo, Assistant US Attorney Michelle Lambert, and activist groups including CAIR-Washington.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The ruling was issued recently in Washington State, following Chaudhry’s detention since August 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The lack of process that was provided [to] detaining him in the first instance.” – Judge David G. Estudillo

🎯IMPACT: Chaudhry will be released while his immigration proceedings continue, but authorities may re-detain him if proper procedures are followed.

IN FULL

Muhammad Zahid Chaudhry, a Pakistani national with a history of fraud convictions, has been ordered released from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention by U.S. District Court Chief Judge David G. Estudillo. The judge, appointed to the bench by former President Joe Biden, ruled that Chaudhry’s detention was unlawful due to procedural issues, specifically the lack of prior notice and opportunity to respond before his arrest.

Chaudhry was taken into ICE custody on August 21, 2025, after attending a naturalization interview. His detention sparked outrage among activists and sympathetic media outlets, who portrayed him as a victim of draconian immigration enforcement. However, Chaudhry’s extensive history of fraud, including convictions in Australia and false claims on U.S. immigration paperwork, has been largely ignored in these portrayals.

Judge Estudillo clarified that the ruling was not a determination on the merits of Chaudhry’s immigration case or his innocence. Instead, it was based on procedural grounds, as ICE failed to provide a written notice or an opportunity to challenge the detention. The judge stated that Chaudhry could be re-detained if authorities comply with proper procedures.

Chaudhry’s fraud history includes convictions for using stolen identities to obtain documents and credit cards while in Australia, as well as false claims on U.S. immigration forms and job applications. Despite being ordered deported in 2011, he has delayed removal through legal appeals for over a decade. Activist groups, including the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)-Washington, continue to advocate for him, describing his detention as unjust.

Adding to the political dimension, Chaudhry’s wife, Melissa Chaudhry, was a 2024 congressional candidate in Washington’s 9th District, and intends to run in the Democratic primary for the district in 2026, too.

Image by Sarahsiewe.

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33 minutes ago
Economy
World

Trump Imposes New Trade Duties on Cheap Food Containers From China, Vietnam to Protect U.S. Producers, Public Health.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Trump administration announced significant trade penalties on disposable food containers imported from China and Vietnam, citing unfair competition and safety concerns.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The Trump administration, U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC), Department of Commerce, and Yohai Baisburd of the American Molded Fiber Coalition.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The ITC ruling was issued on Monday, December 22, 2025, with duties expected in the coming weeks. The ITC report is due by January 23.

💬KEY QUOTE: “America continues to thrive when fair competition occurs. The Trump Administration is using every tool in the toolbox to enforce U.S. trade laws, and cheaters beware because they are coming after you.” – Yohai Baisburd

🎯IMPACT: U.S. manufacturers will benefit from a level playing field and increased ability to reinvest in operations and workers, while addressing health concerns over “forever chemicals.”

IN FULL

The Trump administration announced that it is taking action against the import of cheap disposable food containers from China and Vietnam by imposing significant trade penalties. These measures aim to protect American companies from unfair competition and ensure safer products for American consumers.

Yohai Baisburd, an attorney representing the American Molded Fiber Coalition, praised the administration’s efforts, stating, “The Trump Administration is using every tool in the toolbox to enforce U.S. trade laws, and cheaters beware because they are coming after you.”

The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) recently ruled that imports of thermoformed molded fiber products from these nations are materially injuring U.S. industry.

These products, which include disposable bowls, plates, and take-out containers made from natural fibers and recycled materials, have been “dumped” into the U.S. market at unfairly low prices, according to the ITC. As a result, the Commerce Department will issue final antidumping and countervailing duty orders, with duties reaching as high as 540 percent on certain Chinese producers and over 260 percent on Vietnamese producers.

The ITC’s ruling allows for at least five years of duties on these imports, with retroactive duties also authorized on Vietnamese products. Baisburd noted, “U.S. workers/companies can compete against anyone, anywhere. What they can’t do is outcompete Chinese and Vietnamese government subsidies that violate U.S. trade laws.”

The duties are separate from the Trump administration’s tariffs and are legally binding enforcement mechanisms. In addition to economic concerns, health risks from “forever chemicals” such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in imported containers have also been highlighted. The ITC reported that while some foreign producers claim their products are PFAs-free, U.S. manufacturers generally produce safer alternatives.

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1 hour ago
Education

Judge Rules California Schools Cannot Conceal Students’ Gender Transitions from Parents.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A federal judge blocked California school employees from misleading parents about their child’s gender presentation at school.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: U.S. District Court Judge Roger Benitez, California state officials, and school employees.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Monday, Southern District of California.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Parents and guardians have a federal constitutional right to be informed if their public school student child expresses gender incongruence.” – Judge Roger Benitez

🎯IMPACT: The ruling upholds parental rights over state-imposed policies on gender identity in schools.

IN FULL

California school employees will no longer be allowed to hide the gender presentation of a student from their parents or legal guardian, according to a ruling issued by a federal District Court judge in the state. U.S. District Court Judge Roger Benitez ruled that parents have a constitutional right to be informed of such matters, and California state and local officials cannot enforce laws or guidance that require employees to deceive parents.

According to Judge Benitez’s ruling, California educators and state officials are “enjoined from implementing or enforcing: (1) the Privacy Provision of the California Constitution, Cal. Const. art. I, § 1; (2) any other provision of California law, including equal protection provisions such as Cal. Educ. Code §§ 200, 220, Cal. Gov. Code § 11135; or (3) any regulations or guidance, such as the 2016 “Legal Advisory regarding application of California’s antidiscrimination statutes to transgender youth in schools” and accompanying FAQ page, or Cal. Code Regs., tit. 5, §§4900-4965, or the newly produced PRISM cultural competency training…”

Further, the state’s PRISM training materials must henceforth contain the following statement to educators: “Parents and guardians have a federal constitutional right to be informed if their public school student child expresses gender incongruence. Teachers and school staff have a federal constitutional right to accurately inform the parent or guardian of their student when the student expresses gender incongruence. These federal constitutional rights are superior to any state or local laws, state or local regulations, or state or local policies to the contrary.”

In his 52-page opinion, Judge Benitez criticized California’s policies, stating that they “purposefully interfere” with parents’ access to meaningful information about their children. He noted, “Preventing student bullying and harassment in school is a laudable goal. The problem is that the parent exclusion policies seem to presume that it is the parents that will be the harassers from whom students need to be protected.”

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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2 hours ago
Lawfare

Letitia James Claims Legal Win Over DHS.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: New York Attorney General Letitia James (D) announced that New York won its case against the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) regarding Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funding cuts.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: New York Attorney General Letitia James, the Department of Homeland Security, and local law enforcement leaders.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The announcement was made on Tuesday, December 23, 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: “This is a major victory for our law enforcement and local leaders who depend on these funds to keep New Yorkers safe,” said Letitia James.

🎯IMPACT: The ruling restores FEMA funding that James claimed was critical for national security and emergency response programs.

IN FULL

New York Attorney General Letitia James (D) announced Tuesday that the state had prevailed in its case against the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) over Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funding cuts. The announcement was made on X (formerly Twitter).

“We won our case against [DHS], restoring funding for lifesaving anti-terrorism and emergency response programs,” James wrote, adding: “This is a major victory for our law enforcement and local leaders who depend on these funds to keep New Yorkers safe.”

James had previously stated that the funding in question was used to support national security and emergency response programs. She alleged that the cuts were made because New York refused to support what she described as federal government “attacks on immigrants.”

Under James and New York’s Governor Kathy Hochul (D), the state has resisted President Donald J. Trump‘s crackdown on illegal immigration, acting instead as a sanctuary state. The National Pulse reported earlier this month that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) moved to freeze tens of millions in federal highway funding for New York after an audit found that 53 percent of sampled commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) issued by the New York Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) were unlawfully granted to foreign nationals residing in the U.S. illegally.

Earlier this year, a federal prosecution against James for mortgage fraud was thrown out in federal court after the federal attorney overseeing the case was disqualified. However, the Department of Justice (DOJ) is currently appealing the disqualification and seeking to reinstitute the criminal charges against James.

Image by Maryland GovPics.

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2 hours ago
Politics
World

Trump Orders Recall of Biden-Era Ambassadors.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Trump administration is recalling dozens of ambassadors from posts in various countries, including Africa, Asia, Europe, and Central America.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Donald J. Trump, ambassadors appointed by former President Joe Biden, and State Department officials.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Ambassadors were reportedly told to vacate their posts by January 15 or 16, impacting countries such as Algeria, the Philippines, and Nigeria.

💬KEY QUOTE: “An ambassador is a personal representative of the President, and it is the President’s right to ensure that he has individuals in these countries who advance the America First agenda.” – Senior State Department official.

🎯IMPACT: Despite the abruptness of the announcement, significant shake-ups in the U.S. diplomatic sphere are not uncommon and do tend to occur from one presidential administration to another.

IN FULL

The Trump administration has initiated the recall of dozens of U.S. ambassadors and diplomatic staff from posts across Africa, Asia, Central America, and Europe who were appointed during the Joe Biden era. Despite the abruptness of the announcement, significant shake-ups in the U.S. diplomatic sphere are not uncommon and tend to occur from one presidential administration to another.

“This is a standard process in any administration. An ambassador is a personal representative of the president, and it is the president’s right to ensure that he has individuals in these countries who advance the America First agenda,” a State Department official said of the move.

Reports indicate the countries impacted include Algeria, Armenia, Burundi, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Fiji, Gabon, Guatemala, Ivory Coast, Laos, Mauritius, Montenegro, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Uganda, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam. Ambassadors and diplomatic staff, according to John Dinkelman, who heads the union representing diplomats, were told they would need to vacate their posts by January 15 or 16.

Additionally, key permanent ambassadors have yet to be filled as appointments stall in the Senate. Countries without a permanent ambassador include Australia, Germany, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, and Ukraine.

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By Popular Demand.
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3 hours ago
NatSec
TECH

CCP Cries Discrimination as Trump FCC Bans Foreign-Made Drones as Security Threat.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced a ban on new foreign-made drones, including those from Chinese manufacturers DJI and Autel, citing national security concerns.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The FCC, Chinese drone companies DJI and Autel, U.S. lawmakers, and industry stakeholders like Michael Robbins of AUVSI and American drone manufacturers.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The announcement was made on Monday, following a review mandated by a defense bill passed in 2024. The decision impacts the U.S. market.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Recent history underscores why the United States must increase domestic drone production and secure its supply chains,” said Michael Robbins of AUVSI.

🎯IMPACT: The decision aims to reduce dependence on Chinese technology and bolster American manufacturing.

IN FULL

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced on Monday its decision to ban new foreign-made drones, including those manufactured by Chinese companies DJI and Autel. The move follows a review mandated by a defense bill passed in 2022, which raised concerns about the national security risks posed by Chinese-made drones.

The FCC stated that all drones and critical components produced in foreign countries pose “unacceptable risks to the national security of the United States and to the safety and security of U.S. persons.” However, exemptions may be granted for specific drones or components if the Department of War (DOW) or Department of Homeland Security (DHS) determines they do not pose such risks.

“Recent history underscores why the United States must increase domestic drone production and secure its supply chains,” Michael Robbins, president and CEO of the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI), said in a statement welcoming the decision. He emphasized the need for the U.S. to reduce reliance on China and strengthen its domestic drone manufacturing capabilities.

Chinese drone maker DJI expressed disappointment, claiming the decision reflects protectionism rather than evidence-based security concerns. “Concerns about DJI’s data security have not been grounded in evidence and instead reflect protectionism, contrary to the principles of an open market,” the company said in a statement. On Tuesday, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesman declared the ban “discriminatory.”

The decision has sparked mixed reactions. Gene Robinson, a Texas-based law enforcement trainer who uses DJI drones, acknowledged the challenges posed by the ban but supported the need for the U.S. to regain manufacturing independence. “We need to suck it up, and let’s not have it happen again,” he said.

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3 hours ago
News

Hunter Biden Says He’s $15M in Debt and Has ‘No Idea’ How to Repay It.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Hunter Biden revealed he is up to $15 million in debt and has “no idea” about how to repay it during a podcast interview.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Hunter Biden, Shawn Ryan, Garrett Ziegler, and former President Joe Biden.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The interview was released on Monday on the Shawn Ryan Show podcast.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Nobody’s riding to the rescue for Hunter Biden.” – Hunter Biden

🎯IMPACT: The admission highlights ongoing financial challenges for Hunter Biden and sheds light on his legal and personal struggles.

IN FULL

Hunter Biden, the son of former President Joe Biden, disclosed in a new interview that he is facing debts of up to $15 million and admitted that he has “no idea” how to repay the money. The revelations came during a five-hour episode of the “Shawn Ryan Show” podcast, which was released on Monday.

“Nobody’s riding to the rescue for Hunter Biden,” the 55-year-old said, claiming that his father, former President Joe Biden, entered the presidency as “the poorest man to ever take the office.” He also dismissed claims of hidden wealth, stating, “I don’t have any, you know, despite what these guys say, like there’s no billions of dollars buried underneath my dad’s house.”

Hunter Biden attributed much of his financial hardship to the costs of litigation, including lawsuits related to the release of his infamous laptop. In March, he requested that a federal judge dismiss a lawsuit he filed against Garrett Ziegler, a former Trump White House aide whose Marco Polo website documented evidence from the laptop, including allegations of drug use, payments for sex, and financial irregularities.

The financial struggles also extend to his artistic and literary ventures. According to court filings, Hunter Biden has sold only one piece of abstract art for $36,000 since December 2023. This is a stark contrast to the nearly $1.5 million he earned from art sales following his father’s election. Similarly, his memoir, Beautiful Things, has seen a sharp decline in sales, dropping from 3,200 copies sold in its first six months to just 1,100 in the subsequent period.

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5 hours ago
Politics

Minnesota Mayors Warn of Looming Financial Crisis Under Walz’s Leadership.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Minnesota mayors are urging state leaders to address budget issues as tax increases loom for residents.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Mayors from multiple Minnesota cities, state officials, and taxpayers.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The letter was published late Monday, with investigations into fraud ongoing in Minnesota.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Fraud, unchecked spending, and inconsistent fiscal management in St. Paul have trickled down to our cities—reducing our capacity to plan responsibly, maintain infrastructure, hire and retain employees, and sustain core services without overburdening local taxpayers.” — Letter from 98 Minnesota mayors

🎯IMPACT: Potential tax hikes and financial strain could affect Minnesota residents significantly if no resolution is reached.

IN FULL

Mayors across Minnesota are urging state leaders to address ongoing budget shortfalls that could result in significant tax increases for residents. A total of 98 mayors are warning that Governor Tim Walz‘s (D) reckless fiscal policy has left local budgets strained and that the state government has turned a $18 billion budget surplus into an estimated $3 billion deficit for the 2028-29 biennium.

Among the top concerns of the local leaders is the Walz administration’s inability to handle a massive and sprawling social services fraud scheme involving Minnesota’s Somali immigrant community. An estimated $9 billion in taxpayer dollars appears to have been stolen through schemes targeting food assistance programs and Medicaid.

“Fraud, unchecked spending, and inconsistent fiscal management in St. Paul have trickled down to our cities—reducing our capacity to plan responsibly, maintain infrastructure, hire and retain employees, and sustain core services without overburdening local taxpayers,” the letter signed by the group of mayors states. “There is a growing disconnect between state-level fiscal decisions and the strain they place on the cities we lead. When the state expands programs or shifts responsibilities without stable funding, it is our residents—families, seniors, businesses, and workers—who ultimately bear the cost.”

“Our state owes it to our citizens to practice responsible fiscal management and to stop taxing our families, seniors, and businesses out of Minnesota. We urge the Legislature to course-correct and to remember that every dollar you manage belongs not to the Capitol, but to the people of Minnesota,” the mayors’ letter adds.

The National Pulse reported on Monday that the House Oversight Committee has expanded its investigation into alleged fraud within Minnesota’s social services programs, issuing requests for interviews with current and former state officials and seeking cooperation from federal agencies. Chairman James Comer (R-KY) sent letters to seven Minnesota officials asking them to participate in transcribed interviews scheduled for late January and early February 2026. The committee also contacted Attorney General Pam Bondi and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to request federal assistance with the inquiry.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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5 hours ago
News

DOJ Releases Another 30,000 Epstein Documents.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Department of Justice (DOJ) released nearly 30,000 additional pages of documents related to deceased child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, including claims against President Donald J. Trump deemed “untrue and sensationalist” by the department.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Jeffrey Epstein, accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell, President Trump, the DOJ, and unnamed individuals referenced in the documents.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Documents released on Tuesday follow a prior release on Friday; claims date back to the 1990s and were submitted before the 2020 election.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The Department of Justice has officially released nearly 30,000 more pages of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein. Some of these documents contain untrue and sensationalist claims made against President Trump that were submitted to the FBI right before the 2020 election.” – DOJ statement.

🎯IMPACT: One item in the release is an email from a prosecutor in the federal government claiming Trump appeared on passenger manifests for Epstein’s jet on multiple occasions from 1993 to 1996, with Ghislaine Maxwell present on some flights, which interested parties will likely seek to corroborate.

IN FULL

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has made public nearly 30,000 more pages of materials connected to the late convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, building on a previous disclosure of extensive records. This latest batch includes various items such as press articles, correspondence, and legal documents. Among them are pre-2020 election allegations submitted to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) involving President Donald J. Trump, which the DOJ characterizes as “untrue and sensationalist.”

“The Department of Justice has officially released nearly 30,000 more pages of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein. Some of these documents contain untrue and sensationalist claims made against President Trump that were submitted to the FBI right before the 2020 election,” the DOJ announced on Tuesday. “To be clear: the claims are unfounded and false, and if they had a shred of credibility, they certainly would have been weaponized against President Trump already,” the department argued.

One item in the release is an email from a prosecutor in the federal government claiming Trump appeared on passenger manifests for Epstein’s jet on multiple occasions from 1993 to 1996, with Epstein accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell present on some flights. Another document references a limousine driver from Dallas, Texas, who reportedly heard Trump “continuously stat[ing] the name ‘Jeffrey’ while on the phone, and ma[king] references to abusing some girl” during a telephone call. The DOJ says these claims are unsubstantiated.

President Trump has rejected any accusations of wrongdoing, calling them a politically driven “hoax” with no proof. He noted his earlier decision to bar Epstein from his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, and argued the files form part of an attempt to divert attention from the work of his administration. On his Truth Social platform, the President posted: “Nobody cared about Jeffrey Epstein when he was alive and, if the Democrats had anything, they would have released it before our Landslide Election Victory.”

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6 hours ago
Immigration
NatSec
UK

Muslims Convicted in ISIS-Inspired Plot to Massacre Jews.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Two men were convicted of plotting an Islamic State-inspired mass shooting targeting the Jewish community in Manchester, England.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Walid Saadaoui, Amar Hussein, undercover operative Farouk, and Greater Manchester Police.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Manchester, between December 2023 and May 2024, with arrests on May 8, 2024. The pair were convicted in December 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Some of the things he said made it very clear that he regarded a less sophisticated attack… as not being good enough, as he saw it was his duty to kill as many Jewish people as he could.” – Assistant Chief Constable Robert Potts

🎯IMPACT: The plot was foiled, preventing what police described as a potentially catastrophic attack.

IN FULL

Two men in Britain have been convicted of preparing acts of terrorism after plotting an Islamic State-inspired mass shooting targeting Manchester’s Jewish community, a court heard. Walid Saadaoui, 38, and Amar Hussein, 52, were found guilty after prosecutors said they were motivated by a “visceral dislike” of Jewish people and intended to cause mass casualties.

Saadaoui, a Tunisian national, sought to smuggle four AK-47 rifles, two handguns, and 900 rounds of ammunition into the United Kingdom. He believed he was working with a fellow extremist to arrange the importation, but the contact was in fact an undercover operative known as Farouk. Saadaoui paid a deposit for the weapons, unaware that counter-terrorism officers were monitoring his plans.

The plot was stopped on May 8, 2024, when Saadaoui was arrested in Bolton while attempting to collect what he believed were deactivated firearms. More than 200 counter-terrorism officers were involved in the operation to disrupt the plan, which police said could have resulted in one of the deadliest terrorist attacks in British history.

Assistant Chief Constable Robert Potts said Saadaoui’s statements revealed the scale of his intent. “Some of the things he said made it very clear that he regarded a less sophisticated attack… as not being good enough, as he saw it was his duty to kill as many Jewish people as he could,” Potts said. He also commended the undercover officer, adding, “There was very real risk and danger for Farouk, who undoubtedly saved lives.”

The Jewish Community Security Trust said the case would heighten fears within the Jewish community. Its chief executive, Mark Gardner, said, “To hear now that somebody was trying to obtain weapons and had put together a meticulous attack plan to go and kill as many Jews as possible… will make people very, very fearful.”

The convictions come amid heightened concern following the attack on a Manchester synagogue earlier this year, when an Islamic State-inspired Syrian migrant carried out a violent attack during a religious observance. Investigations later found the attacker had pledged allegiance to the Islamic State and was on bail for rape at the time of the attack. Subsequent inquiries also led to additional terrorism charges against an associate linked to that case.

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6 hours ago
Immigration
NatSec

African Man Gets Life Sentence for Planning 9/11-Style Attack.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A Kenyan man was sentenced to life in prison for planning a terrorist attack on Atlanta’s Bank of America Plaza in 2019.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Cholo Abdi Abdullah, a member of the Somali-based terrorist group al-Shabaab, and U.S. federal prosecutors.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Sentencing took place Monday; the plot targeted Atlanta, Georgia, and involved actions in Somalia, the Philippines, and the U.S.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Abdullah admitted to FBI agents that he was training to become a pilot on behalf of al-Shabaab so he could hijack a plane.” – U.S. Department of Justice

🎯IMPACT: Abdullah was sentenced to two consecutive life terms for conspiring to commit a 9/11-style attack.

IN FULL

Cholo Abdi Abdullah, a 34-year-old Kenyan man, was sentenced to two consecutive life terms in prison on Monday, December 22, 2025, for plotting to hijack a commercial airliner and crash it into Atlanta‘s Bank of America Plaza, according to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). Abdullah, a member of the Somali-based terrorist group al-Shabaab, was convicted on November 4, 2024, for multiple terrorism-related crimes.

Abdullah joined al-Shabaab in 2015 and underwent extensive military-style training in Somalia, including firearms and explosives training. He later enrolled in a flight school in the Philippines between 2017 and 2019, where he trained to become a commercial pilot as part of a larger plan to carry out a mass-casualty terrorist attack on behalf of al-Shabaab. His tuition was financed by the group, which funds its operations—in part—through extortion in Somalia.

Prosecutors revealed that Abdullah researched U.S. transit visas, airplane cockpit security, and the feasibility of smuggling weapons onboard flights. He specifically targeted the 55-story Bank of America Plaza in Atlanta, Georgia, as the site of his planned attack. Abdullah admitted to Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents that he expected to die in the attack and acknowledged that others would be killed or injured.

The DOJ detailed that Abdullah was arrested in the Philippines in July 2019, just before completing the final requirements for his commercial pilot license. He was transferred to U.S. custody in December 2020. His conviction included charges such as conspiring to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization and conspiring to commit aircraft piracy, among others.

Concerningly, the recent social services fraud scandal that has gripped Tim Walz’s Minnesota has likely seen the state’s Somali immigrant community funnel possibly over one billion in taxpayer dollars to al-Shabaab. Governor Walz (D) has defiantly pledged to bring more Somali immigrants to his state despite the scandal.

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