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Category: Crime
November 20, 2025
William Upton
Crime
Lawfare

Biden Judge Orders End to Trump’s National Guard Deployment in D.C.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: U.S. District Court Judge Jia Cobb, appointed by former President Joe Biden, ruled on Thursday that President Donald J. Trump “exceeded the bounds of [his] authority” in ordering the deployment of National Guard troops in Washington, D.C.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Judge Jia Cobb, President Trump, and National Guard troops deployed in Washington, D.C.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The ruling was handed down late in the day on Thursday, November 20, 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The Court finds that the District’s exercise of sovereign powers within its jurisdiction is irreparably harmed by Defendants’ actions in deploying the Guards.” — Judge Cobb

🎯IMPACT: Judge Cobb voluntarily stayed her ruling for 21 days to allow the Trump administration time to file an appeal.

IN FULL

U.S. District Court Judge Jia Cobb, appointed by former President Joe Biden, ruled on Thursday that President Donald J. Trump “exceeded the bounds of [his] authority” in ordering the deployment of National Guard troops in Washington, D.C. In her ruling, Judge Cobb contends that Trump acted “contrary to law” when he deployed the National Guard “for non-military, crime-deterrence missions in the absence of a request from the city’s civil authorities.”

The National Pulse reported in late October that the Trump administration, using statutory authorities, had extended the National Guard deployment in the nation’s capital until February 2026. Notably, Judge Cobb voluntarily stayed her ruling for 21 days in order to allow the Trump administration time to file an appeal.

“The Court finds that the District’s exercise of sovereign powers within its jurisdiction is irreparably harmed by Defendants’ actions in deploying the Guards,” Judge Cobb wrote, also finding that Trump administration officials “lack statutory authority” to deploy Guard units from outside the District of Columbia.

In September, the District of Columbia’s attorney general filed a lawsuit challenging Trump’s National Guard deployment in the city, resulting in Cobb’s ruling.

“President Trump is well within his lawful authority to deploy the National Guard in Washington, DC, to protect federal assets and assist law enforcement with specific tasks,” White House deputy press secretary Abigail Jackson said in response to the court’s decision. “This lawsuit is nothing more than another attempt—at the detriment of D.C. residents—to undermine the President’s highly successful operations to stop violent crime in D.C.”

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November 20, 2025
Crime
Immigration

Illegal Immigrant Admits to Shoving ICE Officer Into Four-Lane Highway.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A Mexican migrant pleaded guilty to assaulting a federal immigration officer by shoving him into oncoming traffic during a traffic stop.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Ricardo Trejo-Martinez, a 41-year-old illegal alien from Querétaro, Mexico, and a U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement (ICE) deportation officer.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The incident occurred on May 20 in Commerce, Georgia, during a traffic stop.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Trejo-Martinez shoved the deportation officer into the four-lane highway where vehicles were passing,” stated the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia.

🎯IMPACT: Trejo-Martinez has pleaded guilty to assaulting a federal officer and is scheduled for sentencing on January 20.

IN FULL

Ricardo Trejo-Martinez, a Mexican migrant, has pleaded guilty to assaulting a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer. The guilty plea was announced by the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia late Wednesday.

The assault occurred on May 20 in Commerce, Georgia, during a traffic stop. The ICE officer had stopped Trejo-Martinez, 41, to execute an administrative arrest warrant for an illegal alien. Trejo-Martinez refused to identify himself and shoved the officer into a four-lane highway with oncoming traffic.

Trejo-Martinez, who is an illegal immigrant from Querétaro, Mexico, was charged with assaulting a federal officer and has now pleaded guilty. The U.S. Attorney’s office emphasized the dangerous nature of the assault, stating that vehicles were passing on the highway at the time.

The sentencing for Trejo-Martinez is scheduled for January 20, at which time he will face penalties for his actions.

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November 20, 2025
Corruption
Crime

Dem Rep Charged with Embezzling $5 Million in FEMA Funds.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Representative Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL) has been indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly stealing Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) disaster funds and laundering the money for personal and campaign use.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, her brother Edwin Cherfilus, and several co-defendants, along with federal prosecutors and investigators.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The alleged crimes occurred in 2021, involving FEMA funds tied to a COVID-19 vaccination staffing contract. The indictment was revealed late on November 19, 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Using disaster relief funds for self-enrichment is a particularly selfish, cynical crime,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi.

🎯IMPACT: If convicted, Cherfilus-McCormick faces up to 53 years in prison, with GOP lawmakers and federal agencies emphasizing the severity of the allegations.

IN FULL

Representative Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL) has been indicted in federal court, along with several co-defendants, for allegedly stealing Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) disaster funds and laundering the proceeds. Federal prosecutors allege that Cherfilus-McCormick and her brother, Edwin Cherfilus, used their family healthcare company to exploit a FEMA-funded COVID-19 vaccination staffing contract in 2021.

According to the indictment, the company received an overpayment of $5 million in FEMA funds in July 2021. The defendants are accused of conspiring to steal the funds, routing them through multiple accounts to obscure their origins. Prosecutors claim that a significant portion of the money was used for campaign contributions to Cherfilus-McCormick’s 2021 congressional campaign and for personal benefits.

Attorney General Pam Bondi stated, “Using disaster relief funds for self-enrichment is a particularly selfish, cynical crime. No one is above the law, least of all powerful people who rob taxpayers for personal gain. We will follow the facts in this case and deliver justice.”

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Kash Patel posted on X (formerly Twitter), “This individual and her family allegedly stole money from FEMA and then laundered it through friends toward her own personal benefits – including her campaign accounts. Today the FBI and partners at [the Justice Department] took action. No one is above the law.”

Republican lawmakers in the House have also reacted strongly to the indictment. Rep. Greg Steube (R-FL) wrote on X, “This is one of the most egregious abuses of public trust I have ever seen.” If convicted, Cherfilus-McCormick faces up to 53 years in prison.

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November 18, 2025
Crime

Woman Set Ablaze on Chicago Train in Late-Night Attack.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A 26-year-old woman was set on fire while riding a Chicago CTA Blue Line train, leaving her in critical condition.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The victim, an unnamed 26-year-old woman, and a suspect believed to be a 45-year-old man who fled the scene.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The attack occurred at 9:25 PM on the CTA Blue Line as the train approached the Clark and Lake stop in Chicago’s Loop.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Just seeing her lying on the ground and she was kind of hyperventilating and in a lot of pain,” a witness said, adding: “You could tell she was in really bad shape.”

🎯IMPACT: The victim remains hospitalized with severe burns, and police are searching for the suspect. The motive remains unclear.

IN FULL

A woman is fighting for her life after being set on fire aboard a Chicago CTA Blue Line train last night. The incident, involving a 26-year-old woman and a 45-year-old male assailant, occurred after 9:00 PM on Monday evening as the train approached the Clark and Lake stop in the Loop area, according to the Chicago Police Department (CPD).

The victim was doused in an unknown liquid before being set alight. She managed to stumble onto the platform, where bystanders extinguished the flames. The woman was rushed to Chicago’s Stronger Hospital with severe burns to her body and face and remains in critical condition.

Witnesses described the scene as harrowing. “Just seeing her lying on the ground and she was kind of hyperventilating and in a lot of pain,” one witness said. Another stated, “I saw a lady that was laying on the ground, and they were trying to give her CPR.” Both stressed the victim’s dire condition.

The suspect, described only as a 45-year-old man, fled the scene and remains at large. Police believe a verbal altercation between the victim and the suspect preceded the attack. Video footage of the incident has surfaced online, and the CTA Blue Line was halted, resuming operations at 1:30 AM.

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November 18, 2025
Crime
Immigration

Border Patrol Confirms Mexican Cartels on the Run Following Trump’s Military Deployment.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Major cartel-controlled smuggling corridors have been disrupted or shut down following a military-reinforcement directive along the U.S. southern border.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: U.S. Customs and Border Protection, National Guard units, and President Donald J. Trump.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Over the past six weeks in key sectors of Texas, Arizona, and California.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The cartels are on their heels, and they don’t know how to adapt to this level of pressure.” – Senior CBP official

🎯IMPACT: Cartel mobility has been severely reduced, with significant drops in smuggling activity and narcotics trafficking.

IN FULL

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) says President Donald J. Trump‘s deployment of U.S military assets to assist efforts to crack down on the flow of illicit drugs across the southern border is already bearing fruit. According to the agency, cartel-controlled smuggling corridors—some active for more than a decade—have been either entirely shut down or at least disrupted. The change in cartel position comes after the Trump administration launched a military reinforcement directive, known as Operation Sovereign Shield, six weeks ago.

Operation Sovereign Shield authorized the deployment of over 7,000 National Guard personnel, 24-hour-a-day aerial drone surveillance zones, rapid-response military patrol teams, and mobile checkpoints at known cartel transit routes. The initiative has led to a 72 percent reduction in cartel foot traffic in the Del Rio sector, a 64 percent collapse in vehicle smuggling activity around Yuma, and a 56 percent drop in narcotics seizures as cartels struggle to transport products, according to internal CBP documents.

“We’re seeing corridors that have been active since the Obama years go completely black,” said a senior CBP official. Persistent drone coverage has been instrumental, eliminating smugglers’ ability to operate under the cover of darkness or weather. National Guard units have forced traffickers into bottlenecks, disrupting long-standing routes and increasing the cost of illegal passage.

Since the operation began, six major stash houses tied to the Sinaloa and Gulf cartels have been raided, over 1,200 illegal immigrants intercepted, and cartel scout towers along the Rio Grande abandoned. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials report intercepted communications showing cartel panic, with some leaders calling the U.S. side “unworkable.”

President Trump called the results a “historic turning point” and stated, “For the first time in years, the cartels are losing—not winning. And we’re not stopping until the entire border is secure.”

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November 18, 2025
Crime
Immigration

Senate Democrat Staffer Fired for Posing as Lawyer to Free Illegal Immigrant.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A staffer in Senator Tammy Duckworth’s (D-IL) office was terminated after allegedly deceiving the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) into releasing an illegal immigrant from custody by falsely claiming to be their attorney.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Edward York, a Constituent Outreach Coordinator in Duckworth’s office, and Jose Ismael Ayuzo Sandoval, a Mexican national with a criminal record.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The incident occurred on October 29, 2025, at a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in East St. Louis, Illinois, with the termination effective November 17, 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Upon reviewing the matter, I can confirm that neither I nor my leadership team was aware of, authorized or directed what your letter describes as the employee’s conduct.” – Sen. Duckworth

🎯IMPACT: The incident has raised questions about internal oversight and the process of securing the release of individuals in DHS custody, as well as the continued interference and motivations of far-left Democrats.

IN FULL

A staffer in Senator Tammy Duckworth’s office (D-IL), identified as Edward York, was fired on November 17, 2025, after allegedly deceiving the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to secure the release of an illegal immigrant. According to a letter from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Acting Director Todd Lyons, York falsely claimed to be the attorney of Jose Ismael Ayuzo Sandoval, a Mexican national with a criminal record.

DHS stated that Ayuzo Sandoval had been deported four times previously and has a conviction for driving under the influence. ICE reported that York entered an ICE facility in East St. Louis, Illinois, on October 29, 2025, and presented a signed G-28 form, which authorizes legal representation, while falsely claiming to represent Sandoval as his attorney.

Lyons’s letter to Senator Duckworth detailed York’s actions, stating: “At approximately 1:29 PM, an individual identified as Edward York… entered the field office lobby, and in a discussion with a federal officer, claimed to be Mr. Ayuzo’s attorney. Mr. York demanded to speak with his ‘client.’”

On Monday, Senator Duckworth confirmed York’s termination and denied any prior knowledge or authorization of his actions. “Upon reviewing the matter, I can confirm that neither I nor my leadership team was aware of, authorized, or directed what your letter describes as the employee’s conduct,” Duckworth wrote in a letter responding to Lyons.

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November 17, 2025
Crime
Immigration

Human Trafficking Spiked in This Democrat-Led City Amid Gang Activity.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A significant rise in human trafficking cases took place in North Carolina last year, with 301 cases and 580 victims identified in 2024, according to the National Human Trafficking Hotline.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Victims included 214 females, 63 males, and four gender minorities. Traffickers often include organized crime groups such as the Bloods, as well as criminals targeting minors.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The cases occurred primarily in the Charlotte area, with a 76 percent increase in minor trafficking cases from 2020 to 2024. North Carolina is ranked ninth in the U.S. for human trafficking.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Trafficking happens everywhere. It happens in every city and every town, whether you’re rural [or in a] city – it really doesn’t matter.” – Hannah Arrowood, executive director of Present Age Ministries.

🎯IMPACT: The rise in trafficking highlights vulnerabilities in local law enforcement resources, as well as the need for increased vigilance among parents and communities.

IN FULL

North Carolina saw a troubling increase in human trafficking cases last year, with 301 cases involving 580 victims reported in 2024, according to data from the National Human Trafficking Hotline. These cases include sex trafficking, labor trafficking, and other forms of exploitation. Of the reported cases, 145 involved sex trafficking, 73 involved labor trafficking, and 38 combined both forms.

Experts attribute the rise to several factors, including North Carolina’s expansive interstate highway system, demand for cheap foreign labor in the agricultural sector, and a surge in gang activity. “Part of the reason why Charlotte is such a huge trafficking hub is because of the highway system,” said Toby Braun, founder of the American Special Investigative Group. “A lot of these traffickers are running victims and may start in South Florida… Oftentimes there, they may put them in safe houses.”

Hannah Arrowood, executive director of Present Age Ministries, noted that traffickers target children in both urban and rural areas, with many victims being minors. Data from the Charlotte Metro Human Trafficking Task Force revealed that 48 percent of trafficking cases in 2024 involved individuals aged 15 or younger. From 2020 to 2024, Charlotte experienced a 76 percent increase in reported cases of minor trafficking.

Organized crime groups, such as the Bloods, play a significant role in trafficking operations in Charlotte, according to Braun. “The Bloods have a huge stronghold in human trafficking. They’re one of the primary organized crime groups responsible for trafficking [in Charlotte].” Arrowood also highlighted the prevalence of online platforms as a recruitment tool, describing the process as “digital grooming.”

Despite the alarming numbers, many cases remain unreported due to the covert nature of trafficking crimes and limited resources within law enforcement agencies. Arrowood emphasized the challenges local officials face, stating, “Agencies are just always at limited capacity in terms of the amount of work, or the amount of people and manpower they have to manage the amount of referrals that are coming in.”

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November 17, 2025
Crime
Immigration

Officer Injured as Suspect Rams Police Cars During Immigration Raid.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A law enforcement officer was injured after a man allegedly drove a van toward officers, rammed their vehicles, and led them on a high-speed chase during an immigration enforcement operation in Charlotte, North Carolina.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The suspect, a U.S. citizen with a prior criminal record, and federal agents conducting immigration raids.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Sunday afternoon near the University City area in Charlotte.

💬KEY QUOTE: “During the chase, he attempted to ram into law enforcement vehicles—posing a serious public safety threat.” – Department of Homeland Security

🎯IMPACT: The incident highlights the risks faced by law enforcement during immigration operations and underscores the federal push to address public safety threats.

IN FULL

On Sunday, a law enforcement officer was injured during a federal immigration enforcement operation in Charlotte, North Carolina, after a group of officers were rammed in their vehicles by a suspect unconnected to the raid. The immigration raids, which have resulted in the arrests of at least 81 illegal immigrants, were part of a federal enforcement effort, according to Border Patrol officials.

The suspect, identified as a U.S. citizen, accelerated his van at officers conducting the operation near the University City area, according to a post on X (formerly Twitter) from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). After fleeing the scene, the suspect initiated what the DHS described as a “dangerous high-speed chase through a densely populated area” before agents managed to box him in.

“During the chase, he attempted to ram into law enforcement vehicles—posing a serious public safety threat,” DHS said in a statement. “As agents were boxing him in—the driver proceeded to ram law enforcement vehicles in an attempt to escape.” One officer was injured in the incident, and a firearm was later discovered in the suspect’s van, officials confirmed.

The DHS noted that the perpetrator has “prior arrests for resisting law enforcement, public disturbance, and intoxication/disruptive conduct.” The encounter occurred during a major immigration enforcement operation in Charlotte over the weekend, where U.S. Border Patrol agents were seen making arrests across the city of more than 900,000 residents.

DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin stated that the operation is part of a federal push to ensure “Americans are safe and public safety threats are removed.” Similar immigration enforcement raids have recently been conducted in California, Illinois, Oregon, and New York.

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November 14, 2025
Crime
UK

Police Investigating Only a Fraction of Identified Child Sex Abuse Cases in Khan’s London.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Metropolitan Police is investigating only “tens of cases” related to child sex abuse gangs in London, despite identifying 9,000 historic cases weeks ago.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley, London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan, and London Assembly members, including Susan Hall.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The update was provided during a London Assembly meeting on Thursday in London.

💬KEY QUOTE: “It is important for us to use precise language and consider its impact on victims and public understanding,” said Sir Mark Rowley.

🎯IMPACT: The investigation faces challenges due to the scale of cases, resource limitations, and the need for clarity in public discourse.

IN FULL

The Metropolitan Police in London, England, say they are currently pursuing only “tens of cases” in their large-scale review of historic child sex abuse, even though nearly 9,000 were initially flagged for potential reinvestigation. Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley told officials, including London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan, that after examining 2,200 of those cases in detail, just 1,200 still fell within the parameters of the inquiry. However, he added that once all preliminary checks are completed, an estimated 2,000 to 3,000 cases may ultimately qualify for renewed investigation.

Rowley urged caution in describing the review as a probe into “grooming gangs,” explaining that the national audit had used an expansive definition that included familial abuse, institutional failures, peer-on-peer exploitation, and online offending. Because of this wide scope, he warned that the public perception of grooming gangs does not necessarily align with the types of cases being examined. He stressed that the offenders reflect “the diversity of London’s population,” which is around two-thirds non-white.

“We do not see the typology reported elsewhere where there have been cases of offending committed by groups of Pakistani men on white British children being the sole or majority case,” he claimed.

Mayor Sadiq Khan also faced criticism over accusations that he downplayed grooming gang concerns and mocked victims by Conservative Susan Hall. “In January, I asked if we had grooming gangs in London. You dismissed my question by pretending you didn’t know what I meant,” Hall said.

Other investigations have described police and social services repeatedly missing opportunities to intervene, particularly in cases involving vulnerable white girls targeted by older South Asian men working in coordinated groups. Police and local officials feared being accused of racism, or damaging so-called “community relations.”

Police forces outside London have recently announced new arrests linked to historic grooming gang abuse, including a case in West Yorkshire in which 19 men were detained on suspicion of offences such as rape, sexual assault, and trafficking.

Image by Jon Clempner.

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November 14, 2025
Crime
Immigration

DHS Blasts California Sanctuary Law Following Fatal DUI by Illegal Immigrant.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A 71-year-old California man, Barry William Tutt, was killed in a hit-and-run involving an illegal immigrant driving under the influence.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The victim, Barry William Tutt, the suspect, Mexican illegal immigrant Humberto Munoz-Gatica, who has a criminal record, and California Democrats, including Governor Gavin Newsom.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The killing occurred last Friday in Orange County, California.

💬KEY QUOTE: “How many Americans must be killed before [Governor Gavin Newsom’s] sanctuary state of California works with federal law enforcement—instead of against them?” – Department of Homeland Security

🎯IMPACT: The case has reignited debates over sanctuary state policies and their impact on public safety.

IN FULL

Barry William Tutt, a 71-year-old man from California, was killed last Friday in a hit-and-run incident in Orange County. The suspect, Humberto Munoz-Gatica, a 57-year-old Mexican illegal immigrant, was reportedly driving under the influence when he struck Tutt and fled the scene. Witnesses helped law enforcement locate Munoz-Gatica, who now faces charges related to hit-and-run and suspicion of DUI.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a statement condemning California’s sanctuary state policies, which hinder cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. “This criminal illegal alien from Mexico, Humberto Munoz-Gatica, was released by the Obama Administration. He NEVER should have been here,” DHS posted on X (formerly Twitter), adding: “How many Americans must be killed before [Gavin Newsom’s] sanctuary state of California works with federal law enforcement—instead of against them?”

DHS Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs, Tricia McLaughlin, added that this tragedy is “yet another example of sanctuary and open border policies putting American lives at risk.” According to DHS, Munoz-Gatica entered the United States on a tourist visa that expired in 2008. He was arrested by ICE in 2011 under the former Obama government, but was later released into the country. DHS noted that he has a prior conviction for grand theft.

Democrat California Governor Gavin Newsom office responded to DHS’s criticism, with Brandon Richards, Newsom’s spokesman, claiming that “Despite the Trump Admin’s repeated false claims, California cooperates with the federal government when it comes to criminals.”

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