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Category: Immigration

Trump Border Mass Deportations
June 23, 2025
Immigration

DATA: U.S. Illegal Population Down By Whopping ONE MILLION Already.

PULSE POINTS

âť“WHAT HAPPENED: Government data shows a steep decline in the illegal immigrant population, down by roughly one million since January 2025.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The Center for Immigration Studies (CIS), President Donald Trump, and the Census Bureau’s Current Population Survey team.

📍WHEN & WHERE: January–May 2025, United States (nationwide BLS/Census survey data).

💬KEY QUOTE: “We believe there is good evidence the illegal immigrant population has fallen considerably since January.” – Camarota & Zeigler, CIS.

🎯IMPACT: A shrinking illegal population could tighten the labor market, potentially raising wages and drawing more U.S.-born workers back into the workforce.

IN FULL

New analysis of the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Current Population Survey reveals one of the sharpest four-month declines in the foreign-born population in decades. Between January and May 2025, the foreign-born population—particularly non-citizens from Latin America—dropped sharply. The data points to a potential exodus of illegal immigrants amid Donald Trump’s return to power and increased immigration enforcement.

Researchers from the Center for Immigration Studies (CIS) estimate that the illegal immigrant population fell by about one million during this time frame, from 15.8 million in January to 14.8 million in May. The drop was entirely among non-citizens; the number of naturalized citizens rose slightly. Notably, a statistically significant decline occurred among Latin American non-citizens who arrived post-1980—a demographic that heavily overlaps with illegal immigrants.

This shift reverses a years-long trend of rising immigration under Joe Biden’s policies, including the CHNV program and border surges. Analysts credit the drop to the effect of Trump’s re-election, rhetoric, and swift action on enforcement. Nonetheless, they caution that some of the decline may be attributable to immigrants refusing to respond to government surveys or declining to identify as foreign-born.

The Center used CPS data and estimates of legal immigrant totals to isolate the likely illegal population. Though administrative data for May 2025 aren’t complete, their model shows a drop of roughly one million illegal immigrants. Before this, the illegal population had grown steadily since 2021, tracking the surge in border encounters, 84 percent of which were from Latin America.

The consequences could be profound: fewer illegal immigrants may boost wages for low-skilled American and legal workers, reduce labor competition, and motivate more U.S.-born men back into the workforce. While the report emphasizes the data’s limitations and preliminary nature, the decline in this population segment starkly contrasts with the Biden years, a tangible indicator of the Trump administration’s renewed approach.

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June 20, 2025
Immigration
News

House Democrats Are Still Trying to Give Citizenship to 11 Million Illegals.

PULSE POINTS

âť“WHAT HAPPENED: Representative Maxwell Alejandro Frost (D-FL) is lobbying for a pathway to citizenship for all illegal immigrants in the U.S.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Representative Maxwell Frost, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA), Representative Brandon Gill (R-TX), and other lawmakers.

đź“ŤWHEN & WHERE: June 2025, at a press conference in Orlando, Florida.

đź’¬KEY QUOTE: “I want to be clear, being undocumented [sic] is not a crime… Let’s document every single one of them with a speedy path to citizenship.” – Maxwell Frost

🎯IMPACT: The proposal has sparked backlash from Republican lawmakers, who have labeled it a “dangerous idea” and vowed to oppose it, and underlined Democrats’ ongoing support for open borders.

IN FULL

Democrat Representative Maxwell Frost (D-FL) has called for a pathway to citizenship for as many as 11 million illegal immigrants in the United States, stating that “we should document every single one of them.” Frost, the son of a Haitian migrant and a Lebanese-descended Puerto Rican, made the announcement during a press conference in Orlando, Florida, where he also unveiled the anti-deportation Stop Unlawful Detention and End Mistreatment Act (SUDEM) bill.

The SUDEM Act aims to provide detainees, their families, and legal representatives with detailed information about detention locations, reasons, and the legal authority behind each case, tying up federal immigration officials in red tape. Frost bizarrely claimed that being an illegal immigrant “is not a crime” and advocated for a “speedy path to citizenship” as a supposed solution to the issue of illegal immigrants in the U.S.

Republican lawmakers criticized the proposal, with Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA) describing it as “blanket amnesty” and a “dangerous idea.” Johnson stated on X (formerly Twitter), “We must defend common sense and the rule of law.” Texas Representative Brandon Gill also weighed in, accusing Democrats of pushing mass amnesty to “rig congressional apportionment in their favor.”

While Frost remains committed to advancing his legislation and plans to seek co-sponsors in Washington, D.C., the bill is unlikely to gain traction in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives. He has some support outside Congress, however, with far-left Late Show host Stephen Colbert inviting him on his show to promote the SUDEM bill and accuse ICE agents of kidnapping and human trafficking.

Immigration has been a key focus of President Donald J. Trump‘s policy agenda, with plans for increased border security, expanded deportations, and an end to federal benefits for illegal immigrants. Frost’s proposal comes amid heightened tensions over immigration enforcement, including violent protests and riots against recent ICE raids and legal challenges to the administration’s use of the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to expedite deportations.

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June 20, 2025
Crime
Immigration

An Illegal Alien Tried to Murder One of Trump’s U.S. Attorneys on the Street.

PULSE POINTS

âť“WHAT HAPPENED: A previously deported illegal immigrant, Saul Morales-Garcia, was arrested on attempted murder charges after lunging at U.S. Attorney John Sarcone with a knife in Albany.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Saul Morales-Garcia, U.S. Attorney John Sarcone, Albany County Sheriff’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

đź“ŤWHEN & WHERE: Tuesday night outside a hotel on Lodge Street in Albany, New York.

đź’¬KEY QUOTE: “I feared for my life, but I couldn’t let this individual harm and potentially kill others.” – John Sarcone

🎯IMPACT: Morales-Garcia is in custody, facing charges of attempted murder, felony weapons possession, and menacing. The case is now being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York.

IN FULL

Saul Morales-Garcia, a 40-year-old illegal immigrant from El Salvador with a lengthy criminal record, has been charged with attempted murder after allegedly attacking U.S. Attorney John Sarcone in Albany, New York. The incident occurred Tuesday night outside a hotel on Lodge Street, where Morales-Garcia reportedly lunged at Sarcone with a knife, making a slitting-the-throat gesture, according to prosecutors.

Sarcone, who was appointed by Attorney General Pam Bondi in March, stated he feared for his life but took action to prevent harm to others. Initially fleeing to safety inside the hotel, Sarcone ultimately returned to the scene to stop Morales-Garcia from escaping. The suspect charged at Sarcone a second time before being apprehended by Albany County Sheriff’s deputies.

“I felt an obligation to the public as the chief Federal law enforcement officer in the district that includes the city of Albany,” Sarcone said in a statement. “I feared for my life, but I couldn’t let this individual harm and potentially kill others.” Morales-Garcia was taken into custody, and the knife was recovered. He has been charged with attempted murder, felony weapons possession, and menacing. Police have described the attack as random.

Morales-Garcia, who unlawfully reentered the United States in 2021, has a criminal history spanning multiple states, including convictions for driving under the influence in Georgia and disorderly conduct on federal property in Virginia. He also has an active warrant in Forsyth County, Georgia, for failure to appear in court. The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York will now handle the prosecution, with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

“Public safety is our highest priority,” Sarcone emphasized. “I am relieved that no one was harmed. I appreciated the swift response by the Albany County Sheriff’s office, which was within minutes, although it seemed like an eternity.” Sarcone also expressed concerns about safety in Albany, stating, “I’m a resident of the city of Albany, and I can’t … I don’t feel safe to go out for a walk and have a cigar right near the state Capitol.”

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June 20, 2025
Immigration
Politics

The LA Dodgers Say They Stopped an ICE Raid at Their Stadium. DHS Says That’s a Lie.

PULSE POINTS

âť“WHAT HAPPENED: The Los Angeles Dodgers claims they denied U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) access to their baseball stadium parking lot for the purposes of a workplace raid; however, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) states the agents were members of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and were merely transferring detainees from an earlier raid nearby.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: ICE, the Los Angeles Dodgers, and DHS.

đź“ŤWHEN & WHERE: Thursday morning at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California.

đź’¬KEY QUOTE: “This morning, ICE agents came to Dodger Stadium and requested permission to access the parking lots. They were denied entry to the grounds by the organization.” – LA Dodgers statement.

🎯IMPACT: The decision sparked backlash on social media, with calls for boycotts and criticism of the baseball team’s stance.

IN FULL

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is denying the Los Angeles Dodgers’ claims that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) attempted to conduct a workplace raid at the baseball team’s stadium but was denied entry. On Thursday, the Dodgers claimed, “This morning, ICE agents came to Dodger Stadium and requested permission to access the parking lots. They were denied entry to the grounds by the organization. Tonight’s game will be played as scheduled.”

However, DHS, responding to the incident, has clarified that the presence of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) vehicles at the stadium was unrelated to any operational enforcement. “This had nothing to do with the Dodgers. CBP vehicles were in the stadium parking lot very briefly, unrelated to any operation or enforcement,” DHS stated. A post from ICE’s official X account also denied the Dodgers’ claims, stating, “False. We were never there.”

The incident drew significant attention online, with images of DHS vehicles circulating on social media. CBP officials note that the vehicles were part of a separate raid at a nearby Home Depot, and due to protests, were unable to transfer the illegal immigrants they apprehended at the scene of the raid. Instead, they traveled to the nearby stadium parking lot to place detainees in vans to take them to a federal detention facility.

The Dodgers have faced increasing pressure to align with pro-illegal immigration activists, particularly after anti-ICE riots in Los Angeles earlier this month. Notably, the controversy comes in the wake of another divisive decision by the Dodgers, when the team chose to honor the “Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence,” a drag group centered around blasphemous distortions of the Catholic faith.

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June 20, 2025
Crime
Immigration

Assaults on ICE Agents Have Surged 500%.

PULSE POINTS

âť“WHAT HAPPENED: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents are facing a 500 percent increase in assaults while conducting deportation enforcement operations, according to new Department of Homeland Security (DHS) data.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: ICE agents, DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin, and Democrat politicians, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass.

đź“ŤWHEN & WHERE: Recent weeks across the United States, including cities like Los Angeles, Seattle, and Portland.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Every day the men and women of ICE put their lives on the line to protect and defend the lives of American citizens,” said DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin.

🎯IMPACT: The assaults and anti-ICE rhetoric have coincided with pro-illegal immigrant riots and protests in several cities, raising concerns about the safety of ICE agents and the enforcement of immigration laws.

IN FULL

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has released new data revealing that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents are facing a 500 percent increase in assaults as they attempt to carry out deportation enforcement operations across the United States. DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin stated, “Today, the Department of Homeland Security released new data revealing that ICE law enforcement is now facing a 500 percent increase in assaults while carrying out enforcement operations.”

McLaughlin highlighted a recent case involving Roberto Carlos Munoz, a convicted child sex offender who entered the U.S. illegally. Munoz dragged an ICE agent 50 yards with his car while trying to evade arrest.

McLaughlin emphasized the daily risks ICE agents face, saying, “Every day the men and women of ICE put their lives on the line to protect and defend the lives of American citizens.” She also criticized Democrat politicians for their rhetoric, which she described as contributing to the surge in assaults. “Make no mistake, Democrat politicians like Hakeem Jeffries, Mayor Wu of Boston, Governor Tim Walz, and Mayor Bass of Los Angeles are contributing to the surge in assaults of our ICE officers through their repeated vilification and demonization of ICE,” McLaughlin added.

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu (D) and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (D) have previously compared ICE to the Nazis, while House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) threatened to expose the identities of ICE agents. Jeffries recently stated, “Every single ICE agent who is engaged in this aggressive overreach and are trying to hide their identities from the American people will be unsuccessful in doing that … every single one of them, no matter what it takes, no matter how long it takes will of course be identified.” This would expose ICE personnel and their families to possible reprisals from far-left extremists and terrorist and organized crime groups, such as the cartels.

In addition to the surge in assaults, protests against ICE have escalated, with some turning into riots in cities such as Los Angeles, Seattle, and Portland. However, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled unanimously Thursday evening that President Donald J. Trump has the authority to federalize California’s National Guard to protect federal agents, including ICE personnel, and federal property.

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June 20, 2025
Wake Up Right
Immigration
Lawfare

Newsom’s National Guard Lawfare Suit Against Trump Got Thrown Out Unanimously.

President Donald J. Trump scored a YUGE legal victory over California Governor Gavin Newsom in their battle over the National Guard.

The details: The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled unanimously yesterday that President Trump has the authority to federalize California’s National Guard, rejecting a lawsuit brought by Gov. Newsom.

  • The panel, which included a Biden appointee, found the president has broad authority over the Guard under existing precedent.
  • Newsom’s claim that Trump acted unlawfully by not consulting him was dismissed—the court said the President is not legally required to do so.

Key quote: In their decision, the court wrote: “Newsom had no power to veto or countermand the President’s order.” Ouch…

Back up: Trump federalized the California National Guard earlier this month when anti-ICE riots broke out in Los Angeles.

Trump takes a victory lap: The President wrote on Truth Social:

  • “BIG WIN… The Judges obviously realized that Gavin Newscum is incompetent and ill prepared, but this is much bigger than Gavin, because all over the United States, if our Cities, and our people, need protection, we are the ones to give it to them…”

What happens next: Newsom can appeal to the Supreme Court. But for now, this is a devastating blow to his “resistance” movement.

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President Donald J. Trump scored a YUGE legal victory over California Governor Gavin Newsom in their battle over the National Guard. show more
June 19, 2025
Crime
Immigration

Chinese Student Convicted Over International Rape Spree.

PULSE POINTS

âť“WHAT HAPPENED: A Chinese PhD student, Zhenhao Zou, was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 22 years and 227 days after being convicted of drugging and raping 10 women in London, England, and his native China. Evidence suggests there are dozens of additional victims.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Zhenhao Zou, a 28-year-old student, and his victims, three of whom have been identified, with police suspecting many more.

đź“ŤWHEN & WHERE: Crimes occurred between September 2019 and May 2023 in London and China; sentencing took place at Inner London Crown Court on Thursday, June 19.

đź’¬KEY QUOTE: “The sheer scale of his offending, which spanned two countries, makes him one of the most prolific predators we have ever seen.” – Detective Inspector Richard Mackenzie

🎯IMPACT: Zou’s case highlights ongoing concerns related to migrant crime across the Western world, where foreign nationals have been convicted of offenses from burglary, to rape, to murder.

IN FULL

Zhenhao Zou, a 28-year-old Chinese PhD student, has been sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 22 years and 227 days for drugging and raping 10 women across London, England, and China. The Inner London Crown Court heard that Zou filmed nine of the rapes and kept a trophy box of his victims’ belongings, with police fearing the actual number of victims could be far higher.

Judge Rosina Cottage described Zou as a “very bright young man” who used a “charming mask” to manipulate and hide his predatory behavior. She added that his crimes had “devastating and long-term effects” on the victims. Zou was convicted of 11 counts of rape, three counts of voyeurism, and several related charges, including possession of sedative drugs with intent to commit sexual offenses.

Detective Inspector Richard Mackenzie noted, “The sheer scale of his offending, which spanned two countries, makes him one of the most prolific predators we have ever seen.” Zou, who lived in London as an international engineering student, targeted fellow Chinese students through WeChat and dating apps, inviting them to his flat where he would drug and assault them.

One victim, in her impact statement, said, “I have lost faith in human beings, I have no trust in others. Before this incident, I was not aware that a human could do such evil things.” Another victim described being “haunted” by nightmares of Zou’s actions, stating, “What happened that night is etched into my soul forever.” Scotland Yard revealed that 24 additional women have come forward following media coverage of Zou’s trial, believing they may have been his victims.

Commander Kevin Southworth of the Metropolitan Police encouraged other potential victims to come forward, assuring them they would be treated with “empathy, kindness, and respect.” Police have video evidence of 50 additional victims that they are still attempting to trace, and at least 24 women have already come forward in the wake of his conviction.

In the U.S., the Trump administration is currently moving to increase the vetting of foreign students, particularly from China, who often have ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

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June 19, 2025
Immigration
News

WATCH: Hundreds Storm ICE Field Office, Attack Feds With Fireworks, Blinding Lasers.

PULSE POINTS

âť“WHAT HAPPENED: Around 250 pro-illegal immigrant rioters stormed a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) field office in Portland, Oregon, targeting federal law enforcement with fireworks and lasers.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Protesters, federal agents, and ICE officials.

đź“ŤWHEN & WHERE: June 2025, at an ICE field office in Portland, Oregon.

đź’¬KEY QUOTE: “We won’t sit idly by and watch these cowards.” – Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin.

🎯IMPACT: Increased scrutiny of agitators targeting federal immigration enforcement efforts, bolstered by National Guard and regular military forces deployed by President Donald J. Trump.

IN FULL

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reported that 250 protesters stormed a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) field office in Portland, Oregon, launching fireworks and using lasers to blind federal agents. The incident drew significant attention due to the level of violence involved.

DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin described the event as a “violent targeting” of federal law enforcement. “Last night, Portland rioters violently targeted federal law enforcement—250 rioters launched fireworks, shined lasers in officers’ eyes to temporarily blind them, and stormed an ICE field office,” she stated. “We won’t sit idly by and watch these cowards,” she vowed.

According to the Portland Police Bureau, arrests were made during the chaos. Eduardo Diaz, 22, was detained for allegedly pointing a laser at officers while wearing a ballistic vest and gas mask. He was charged with Unlawful Directing of Light from a Laser Pointer. Another individual, Mariana M. Rivera-Loza, 19, was arrested for trespassing in a restricted area.

Federal agents responded to the attack using flashbang devices and pepperballs. McLaughlin emphasized the challenges faced by law enforcement, citing a 413 percent increase in assaults on officers. “ICE and our federal law enforcement partners will continue to enforce the law. And if you lay a hand on a law enforcement officer, you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” she warned.

This incident is just the latest act of violence by far-left extremists against federal agents—a particular problem in Portland, where Antifa members have been mainly shielded from prosecutions at the local level by leftist officials in recent years.

WATCH:

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June 19, 2025
Education
Immigration

Trump Is Increasing Vetting for Foreign Students. Here’s How:

PULSE POINTS

âť“WHAT HAPPENED: The State Department announced the resumption of student visa application interviews with new social media vetting protocols.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The U.S. State Department, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and President Donald J. Trump.

đź“ŤWHEN & WHERE: The announcement was made on Wednesday, with immediate plans to resume visa interviews.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Every visa adjudication is a national security decision.” – U.S. State Department.

🎯IMPACT: Stricter vetting aims to prevent foreigners with anti-American or violent ideologies from entering the U.S. education system.

IN FULL

The State Department will resume granting student visas, but with heightened social media protocols to monitor possible support for terrorism or “a history of political activism” associated with violence or anti-American views. The Trump administration announced Wednesday that it would soon start scheduling student visa application interviews after all new applications were frozen last month. Potential exchange students will be asked to make their social media profiles public to allow for vetting.

“We use all available information in our visa screening and vetting to identify visa applicants who are inadmissible to the United States, including those who pose a threat to U.S. national security,” the State Department said. “Under new guidance, we will conduct a comprehensive and thorough vetting, including online presence, of all student and exchange visitor applicants.”

The Trump administration has expressed concern about foreign students who have engaged in violent anti-Semitic protests on campuses across the country, as well as Chinese students connected to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). “Every visa adjudication is a national security decision,” the department’s announcement continued, adding: “The United States must be vigilant during the visa issuance process to ensure that those applying for admission into the United States do not intend to harm Americans and our national interests, and that all applicants credibly establish their eligibility for the visa sought, including that they intend to engage in activities consistent with the terms for their admission.”

Meanwhile, a cable to American diplomats instructed them to search the social media accounts of students for “any indications of hostility towards the citizens, culture, government, institutions or founding principles of the United States,” “advocacy for, aid or support for foreign terrorists and other threats to U.S. national security” and “support for unlawful antisemitic harassment or violence.” One specific terrorist group they were urged to watch out for was Hamas. The diplomats were also told to determine if “applicants who demonstrate a history of political activism” were associated with violence and asked to “consider the likelihood they would continue such activity in the United States.”

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said the United States does not want to import anti-American agitators to disrupt and undermine the education system. The resumption of student visa application interviews comes after President Donald J. Trump announced last week that the United States would continue to allow Chinese students into the country as part of a trade deal.

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June 18, 2025
Lauren Gallagher
Crime
Immigration

These Democrats Have All Been Arrested for Interfering With Federal Immigration Enforcement.

PULSE POINTS

âť“What Happened: Multiple elected Democrats have been arrested or charged with crimes tied to obstructing federal immigration enforcement across several U.S. cities and courtrooms.

👤Who’s Involved: Sen. Alex Padilla, Rep. LaMonica McIver, Mayor Ras Baraka, New York City Comptroller Brad Lander, Judge Hannah Dugan, and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials.

đź“ŤWhen & Where: Arrests occurred between April and June 2025 in California, New Jersey, New York, and Wisconsin.

🎯Impact: The arrests highlight growing federal-local tensions over immigration enforcement and raise legal questions for several prominent Democratic figures ahead of 2026.

IN FULL

A growing number of Democrats, including elected officials, have now been arrested or charged with obstruction of justice and other crimes. The cases reflect mounting tensions between federal immigration enforcement and Democrats, particularly in sanctuary cities and states that have long resisted cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) was handcuffed by federal agents for interrupting a news conference. The conference was held by Kristi Noem, the Homeland Security Secretary, in a federal building in West Los Angeles on June 12, 2025. Noem was addressing recent pro-illegal immigrant riots in Los Angeles when Padilla abruptly stood up and approached, shouting, “I have questions for the secretary!” before being confronted by Secret Service agents. Video footage shows the senator struggling with multiple agents before being dragged from the room and ultimately pinned to the ground by federal agents and arrested.

Brad Lander, New York City Comptroller and a Democratic mayoral candidate, was arrested on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, by federal agents at an immigration courthouse in Lower Manhattan. He was holding onto an illegal alien whom federal agents were seeking to arrest and demanding to see a warrant. A Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spokeswoman said that Lander had assaulted and impeded a law enforcement officer. He has yet to face any formal charges.

“You don’t have the authority to arrest U.S. citizens,” Mr. Lander insists repeatedly in video footage of the incident. “I’m not obstructing. I’m standing right here in the hallway. I asked to see the judicial warrant.” However, immigration lawyers say agents do not require judicial warrants to make arrests in immigration courts because they’re public spaces.

Ras J. Baraka, Mayor of Newark, was arrested at a disorderly protest outside an ICE detention center. Additionally, three Congress members with Baraka were detained at the scene on May 9, 2025. Baraka was taken to a separate federal ICE detention facility in Newark and charged with trespassing. Five hours later, he was released. Tricia McLaughlin, for the DHS, called the episode a “bizarre political stunt” in a social media post. She shared video footage from the arrest, stating, “The mayor has been informed that he is more than welcome to enter the facility, as long as he follows security protocols like everyone else.”

New Jersey Representative LaMonica R. McIver was indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly assaulting two federal agents while trying to block the arrest of Newark Mayor Ra J. Baraka outside the Delaney Hall federal immigration detention center on May 9. Robert Tansey, a special agent with the DHS, said that McIver tried to use her body to prevent the mayor’s arrest, “slammed her forearm” into an agent, and “tried to restrain” him by “forcibly grabbing him.” If convicted, McIver faces up to a maximum of eight years for the two obstruction counts and one year for the third count.

Milwaukee County Judge Hannah Dugan, who is officially nonpartisan, has been charged in federal court with felony obstruction of justice and misdemeanor concealment after allegedly helping a man avoid arrest by U.S. immigration authorities in April 2025. According to federal prosecutors, Dugan escorted Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, 31, and his lawyer out of her courtroom through a back door on April 18, 2025, after learning of U.S. ICE agents in the courthouse seeking to arrest Flores-Ruiz for being in the country illegally. Dugan could face up to six years in prison and a $350,000 fine if convicted. She has pleaded not guilty, and her trial has been postponed. The Wisconsin Supreme Court has suspended the judge, saying it is in the public interest to temporarily relieve her of her duties as she faces federal charges.

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