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Category: Immigration
April 9, 2025
Crime
Immigration

Noem Confirms El Salvador Prison Ready to Accept More U.S. Deportees.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: The Trump administration says it will continue to collaborate with El Salvador President Nayib Bukele to deport and house dangerous illegal immigrants in his country’s CECOT super prison. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem stated on Tuesday that thousands more illegal immigrants may soon be sent to the facility.

👥 Who’s Involved: Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, El Salvador President Nayib Bukele, Supreme Court justices, and the Trump administration.

📍 Where & When: Phoenix, Arizona, on a Tuesday morning, following a federal immigration raid.

💬 Key Quote: “You’ll see us continuing to partner with El Salvador. CECOT has the capacity for 40,000 individuals, and [El Salvador President Nayib Bukele] has said they’ll take as many as we want to send,” said Kristi Noem.

⚠️ Impact: The Supreme Court earlier this week ended a lower court’s pause on deportations to El Salvador, potentially leading to increased use of the Central American country’s prisons for criminal migrants.

IN FULL:

In the wake of a federal immigration enforcement operation on Tuesday, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is eyeing the relocation of substantial numbers of illegal immigrant criminal gang members to El Salvador’s CECOT prison. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem suggested, following the raid, that the CECOT facility can hold thousands more dangerous illegal immigrants and that the Trump administration is looking to ramp up expulsions under the Alien Enemies Act.

“You’ll see us continuing to partner with El Salvador. CECOT has the capacity for 40,000 individuals, and [El Salvador President Nayib Bukele] has said they’ll take as many as we want to send,” Noem said, adding: “There’s 14,000 there now.”

In addition, the DHS Secretary revealed that Bukele intends to build a second prison facility next to CECOT, which could be used to hold even more members of violent, illegal immigrant gangs like Tren de Aragua and MS-13.

President Donald J. Trump’s administration has used the 1798 Alien Enemies Act for expedited expulsions of illegal immigrants found to be members of Tren de Aragua, MS-13, and other violent criminal groups. Last month, a far-left U.S. District Court Judge temporarily halted the removals, prompting the Trump White House to file an emergency appeal with the Supreme Court. On Monday, the high court lifted the lower court’s restraining order, allowing Alien Enemies Act expulsions to resume.

Addressing the Supreme Court’s ruling and continued Democrat lawfare efforts against the Trump administration’s push to deport violent and dangerous illegal immigrants, Noem said: “We’re going to continue using that act in order to return people from these terrorist organizations to face consequences and be removed from our country.”

Meanwhile, the DHS Secretary also warned illegal immigrants that the Trump administration, later this week, will begin enforcing provisions of the Alien Registration Act of 1940. Under this law, foreign nationals who reside in the United States for more than 30 days must register with the federal government. Those failing to register will face severe financial penalties.

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April 9, 2025
Immigration
Lawfare

ACLU Launches Fresh Lawfare Attack on Alien Enemies Act After Trump SCOTUS Win.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration to stop deportations under the 1798 Alien Enemies Act (AEA).

👥 Who’s Involved: The ACLU, the Trump administration, two Venezuelan migrants, and the Supreme Court.

📍 Where & When: The lawsuit was filed on Tuesday in New York after a related Supreme Court decision on Monday.

💬 Key Quote: “The AEA has only ever been a power invoked in time of war… It cannot be used here against nationals of a country—Venezuela—with whom the United States is not at war,” the ACLU claims.

⚠️ Impact: The lawsuit challenges the use of presidential powers to deport designated “alien enemies,” potentially affecting over 130 illegals already removed from the U.S.

IN FULL:

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) initiated a new lawsuit against the Trump administration on Tuesday, seeking to halt the deportation of two Venezuelan migrants under the 1798 Alien Enemies Act. Filed with the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, the litigation follows a U.S. Supreme Court ruling on Monday that lifted a restraining order issued by Judge James Boasberg that prevented President Donald J. Trump from using the act to remove members of Tren de Aragua from the country. In addition, the Supreme Court determined that future challenges to deportation under the act must be filed with the lower court in the jurisdiction in which the migrant was detained.

In the filing, which asks U.S. District Court Judge Alvin Hellerstein to block the deportation of two Venezuelan illegal immigrants, the ACLU argues that the Alien Enemies Act has historically only been deployed during wartime and not against foreign nationals from countries with which the United States is at peace. “The AEA has only ever been a power invoked in time of war, and plainly only applies to warlike actions: it cannot be used here against nationals of a country—Venezuela—with whom the United States is not at war, which is not invading the United States, and which has not launched a predatory incursion into the United States,” the filing contends.

Additionally, the ACLU accuses the Trump administration of violating the Supreme Court’s Monday ruling, which requires federal officials to provide those detained under the Alien Enemies Act with notice before they are deported. “Respondents seek to move Petitioners in secret, without due process, to a prison in El Salvador known for dire conditions, torture, and other forms of physical abuse—possibly for life,” the filing states, adding: “This has already borne out for over 130 individuals on March 15 who have lost all contact with their attorneys, family, and the world.”

The Trump White House has utilized the Alien Enemies Act to expedite the expulsion of illegal immigrants shown to be affiliated with violent criminal organizations and gangs like Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua and El Salvador’s MS-13. Those detained and deported under the law are sent to El Salvador’s Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT).

Previously, Judge Hellerstein—presiding over the case—twice rejected President Trump’s attempts last year to move Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s so-called hush money prosecution against him to federal court.

Image by Billy Wilson.

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April 8, 2025
William Upton
Crime
Immigration
World

Trial of American Accused of Fatally Stabbing Migrant Who Assaulted Her Begins.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: A 20-year-old German-American woman is standing trial in Germany after she stabbed a 64-year-old Eritrean asylum seeker who groped her at a railway station in 2024.

👥 Who’s Involved: A 20-year-old German woman with U.S. citizenship, 64-year-old Eritrean asylum seeker Alem Tekeste, and German prosecutors.

📍 Where & When: A 2024 stabbing incident at a Kaiserslautern, Germany, railway station; a 2025 trial that began this week in Germany.

💬 Key Quote: At the time of the woman’s arrest, Elon Musk asked in a post on X (formerly Twitter): “What’s wrong with Germany?”

⚠️ Impact: If found guilty, the 20-year-old woman could face upwards of 10 years in prison.

IN FULL:

The trial of a 20-year-old German-American dual national accused of fatally stabbing a 64-year-old Eritrean asylum seeker after he groped her buttocks in a Kaiserslautern, Germany, railway station finally began this week. Prosecutors opened the trial alleging that the unnamed woman could have avoided killing the migrant during the incident last summer. The woman faces up to 10 years in prison if found guilty.

Attorneys representing the U.S. citizen contend that she merely wished to keep Tekeste at a distance and that the fatal stabbing was an act of self-defense. Conversely, German prosecutors claim that Tekeste had retreated after the knife was produced and that the woman proceeded to pursue him, escalating the confrontation before Tekeste reached for the woman’s knife, resulting in her stabbing him.

According to prosecutors, after Tekeste grabbed the woman on the escalator, she produced a knife, causing the 64-year-old Eritrean asylum seeker to retreat. However, they contend the woman then pursued Tekeste, which prompted him to grab hold of her arm that was brandishing the knife. Prosecutors claim that after a brief struggle, the woman was able to free herself and “stabbed once in the same motion,” striking Tekeste and killing him “within seconds.”

The woman is charged with inflicting bodily harm resulting in death, indicating that German authorities believe she merely intended to injure Tekeste and not kill him. In 2024, the woman’s arrest received social media attention when X (formerly Twitter) owner Elon Musk—responding to a post arguing Germany was essentially holding the woman hostage—wrote: “What’s wrong with Germany?”

Image by Nika Poznyak.

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April 8, 2025
Immigration

Trump DHS Ends Legal Status for Migrants Registered Under Biden’s CBP One App.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: Illegal immigrants who entered the U.S. using the CBP One app during the Biden government are being told to leave the country immediately.

👥 Who’s Involved: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), illegal immigrants from countries like Honduras, El Salvador, and Mexico, and nonprofit organizations like Al Otro Lado.

📍 Where & When: United States, with the announcement made Monday; CBP One app in use since January 2023.

💬 Key Quote: “Canceling these paroles is a promise kept to the American people to secure our borders and protect national security,” said the DHS public affairs office.

⚠️ Impact: Over 900,000 illegal immigrants are affected, with the Trump administration noting that national security and public safety take precedence over the Biden parole program.

IN FULL:

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced that illegal immigrants who were temporarily permitted to reside in the U.S. via an appointment application launched during President Joe Biden’s term are being directed to leave the country immediately. It is estimated that over 900,000 illegal immigrants utilized the CBP One app under the former Biden government to enter the United States since its launch in January 2023.

“Canceling these paroles is a promise kept to the American people to secure our borders and protect national security,” the DHS public affairs office said regarding the decision. During the 2024 presidential campaign, President Donald J. Trump pledged to immediately reverse Biden’s open-borders policies and end the unprecedented flow of illegal immigrants into the United States.

While it is not currently known how many illegal immigrants who used the CBP One app to enter the U.S. have now received the notice requiring them to leave the country, the Trump administration has repurposed the app as CBP Home, allowing foreign nationals to notify the federal government of their self-deportation. Migrants from Honduras, El Salvador, and Mexico are among those known to be impacted by the announcement.

The Biden government implemented CBP One in January 2023 as part of an initiative to expand pathways for legal entry into the United States. However, the application faced serious problems, especially as it could not adequately identify and prevent fraudulent claims and entry—posing a potential national security risk.

Moments after taking office on January 21, 2025, President Trump suspended the CBP One app—effectively terminating its use.

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April 8, 2025
Immigration
News

France Overtakes Germany as EU’s Top Asylum Destination.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: Germany has dropped to third place in the European Union (EU) for asylum applications, behind France and Spain.

👥 Who’s Involved: Germany, France, the European Commission, asylum seekers.

📍 Where & When: European Union, first quarter of 2025.

💬 Key Quote: “For the first time in years, the majority of asylum applications are no longer being made in Germany,” said Nancy Faeser.

⚠️ Impact: Potential end of Germany’s long-standing position as the EU’s top asylum destination, possibly signaling a shift in migrant trends within Europe.

IN FULL:

Based on a confidential report by the European Commission, the European Union’s unelected executive, Germany is no longer the leading destination for asylum applications in Europe, falling to third place in the first quarter of 2025. Germany recorded 37,387 asylum applications, behind France at 40,871 and Spain with 39,318. The figures suggest a 41 percent decrease compared to the previous year.

The development was confirmed by Nancy Faeser, Germany’s Interior Minister, on Monday when discussing the latest asylum statistics. “For the first time in years, the majority of asylum applications are no longer being made in Germany,” Faeser stated, recognizing the apparent shift in trends across the EU.

Germany, the EU’s largest economy and most populous member state, had consistently been the primary choice for asylum seekers across Europe. If current trends continue, 2025 could mark a distinct change from 2011, the last year Germany was not the leading destination for migrants, according to the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA).

Faeser attributed the decline in Germany’s application numbers to national measures and collaboration within Europe. A significant reduction in asylum applications from Syrian nationals was noted, coinciding with recent political changes in Syria, where the Assad regime was overthrown by al-Qaeda operative Ahmed Hussein al-Sharaa, a.k.a Abu Mohammad al-Julani. Previously, Germany processed over 50 percent of Syrian asylum claims within the EU.

In recent years, the German government intensified efforts to manage and curtail illegal migration, responding to a rise in asylum applications peaking at 334,000 in 2023, reminiscent of levels during the 2016 migrant crisis. The government also enacted stricter measures following several mass stabbing attacks by migrants from Afghanistan and Syria last year, which corresponded with the right-populist Alternative for Germany (AfD) party increasing in popularity.

Image by Mighty.Germany.

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April 7, 2025
Immigration

Obese Illegal Alien Gloats Openly at Far-Left Rally.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: An activist identified her illegal immigrant status during a rally, sparking calls for her deportation.

👥 Who’s Involved: Greisa Martinez Rosas, a DACA recipient and activist; critics and supporters of President Donald J. Trump.

📍 Where & When: Washington, D.C., at the ‘Hands Off!’ rally on Saturday.

💬 Key Quote: “I am an immigrant, I am undocumented, unafraid, queer, and unashamed,” said Rosas at the rally.

⚠️ Impact: Online backlash ensued, with demands for her deportation and attention from Trump administration officials.

IN FULL:

In Washington, D.C., during the ‘Hands Off!’ rally against deportations, activist Greisa Martinez Rosas openly boasted about her illegal immigrant status, leading to calls online for her deportation. Rosas, affiliated with United We Dream, a large youth immigrant organization, characterized herself to the crowd of over 10,000 as “undocumented, unafraid, queer, and unashamed,” stirring a loud response from supporters and detractors alike.

Rosas arrived in the United States from Hidalgo, Mexico, as a minor, and has made a career out of advocating for immigrant rights. Her boasting about her illegal status was met with immediate backlash from America First supporters online, with some directing their comments to Tom Homan, the Trump administration’s border czar, in pressing for her removal from the country.

Her work as the executive director of United We Dream, which boasts a membership exceeding 400,000, aligns with her activism background, which dates back to organizing student protests in 2006. Martinez Rosas benefits from the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) scheme, which allows her certain temporary protections and a renewable work permit despite her lack of formal documentation.

Her activism drew national attention during the rally, one of many across over 1,200 U.S. locations, in protest of Trump’s deportation efforts and related socio-political grievances involving immigration. Alongside her in-person and social media campaigning for various leftist causes, Rosas has contributed opinion pieces to The New York Times.

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April 4, 2025
William Upton
Immigration
Lawfare

Federal Judge Bizarrely Orders Trump to Return a Deported MS-13 Gang Member to U.S.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: A federal judge is ordering the Trump administration to return an illegal immigrant gang member who was deported to El Salvador to the United States.

👥 Who’s Involved: U.S. District Court Judge Paula Xinis, Kilmar Abrego Garcia, President Donald J. Trump, El Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele, and federal immigration officials.

📍 Where & When: U.S. federal court on Friday, April 4.

💬 Key Quote: “You have an agreement with this facility where you’re paying the money to perform a certain service. It stands to reason that you can go to the payee and say, ‘We want the person back.’” — Judge Paula Xinis

⚠️ Impact: The ruling represents a significant usurpation of executive branch authority in the United States and potentially infringes upon El Salvador’s sovereignty over its own citizens.

IN FULL:

U.S. District Court Judge Paula Xinis is ordering the Trump administration to arrange for an illegal immigrant MS-13 gang member who was deported to El Salvador to be returned to the United States by midnight on Monday. The bizarre and unprecedented ruling represents a significant usurpation of executive branch power by a federal court and appears to imply United States law takes precedence over El Salvador’s own sovereignty.

“You have an agreement with this facility where you’re paying the money to perform a certain service,” Judge Xinis said when issuing her ruling on Friday, adding: “It stands to reason that you can go to the payee and say, ‘We want the person back.’”

The case involves the recent deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, an El Salvadoran national and illegal immigrant who was ordered to be detained by a U.S. immigration judge due to his affiliation with the violent MS-13 gang, which made him a danger to the community. While the judge ordered Abrego Garcia to be removed from the United States in 2019, the gang member and illegal immigrant was able to secure a grant of withholding preventing his deportation to El Salvador after convincing the court that a rival gang in the country had threatened his life should he return.

However, as part of President Trump’s deportation agreement with the El Salvadoran government, Abrego Garcia—still under the protective order—was included among other dangerous illegal immigrants and flown to El Salvador to be held in the country’s CECOT facility. Consequently, Abrego Garcia filed a lawsuit arguing his removal was unlawful, asking that the U.S. courts intervene and order his return to the United States.

Federal officials have been forward in admitting that Abrego Garcia’s removal and deportation to his home country was in error and that the court-issued protective order had been accidentally violated. However, since he is an El Salvadoran national and currently in the custody of the El Salvadoran government, the Trump administration contends that U.S. courts lack jurisdiction, noting that issues of diplomacy are a constitutionally reserved power of the executive branch.

El Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele, in response to the U.S. court’s order, posted on X (formerly Twitter) a gif of an animated rabbit making an exaggerated face expressing confusion.

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April 4, 2025
Immigration
News

Chinese Detainee Commits Suicide at Arizona Border Station.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: A Chinese national detained by U.S. border officers died by suicide while in custody at a border patrol station.

👥 Who’s Involved: The 52-year-old Chinese woman, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (D-WA).

📍 Where & When: The woman was initially detained in California and transferred to a Yuma, Arizona patrol station following her arrest on March 26.

💬 Key Quote: “There is no excuse for why agents cannot verify if some of the necessary welfare checks occurred” – Rep. Jayapal.

⚠️ Impact: Questions raised about the welfare check procedures, and concerns over detainee conditions.

IN FULL:

A Chinese national detained by U.S. border officers has died by suicide while in custody, according to Representative Pramila Jayapal (D-WA). The woman, 52, who was being held at a border patrol station in Yuma, Arizona, had been apprehended in California after it was determined she had overstayed her visitor visa.

Concerns have arisen regarding the welfare checks conducted during her detention. Representative Jayapal, an Indian immigrant who oversees immigration issues within a House subcommittee, noted discrepancies in the reported welfare checks on the detainee. “There is no excuse for why agents cannot verify if some of the necessary welfare checks occurred—or why some of the documented welfare checks were incorrectly reported,” she claimed.

The deceased initially entered the U.S. on a B-1/B-2 visa, utilized for short-term business or tourism purposes. A CBP spokesman stated that the woman became unresponsive in her cell at the Yuma facility. Despite receiving medical attention and being transported to a nearby hospital, she was pronounced dead shortly thereafter.

The case has prompted an investigation by the office charged with monitoring agency conduct, and the death has been reported to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of Inspector General.

The specific details surrounding the woman’s initial detainment remain partially unclear. However, social media updates from the Yuma sector of the Border Patrol detailed that two Chinese nationals were apprehended on March 26 in Needles, California. This led to the discovery of more than $220,000 in cash, suspected of being connected to illegal activities. However, it has not been confirmed whether the money is linked directly to the deceased woman.

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April 3, 2025
Immigration
News
World

Trump to Host Bukele at White House for Strategic Talks.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: President Donald J. Trump invited El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele to the White House in a formal letter shared by Bukele.

👥 Who’s Involved: President Donald Trump, President Nayib Bukele, and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem.

📍 Where & When: The White House, Washington, D.C. The invitation is set for April 14.

💬 Key Quote: “Your support of my efforts to combat illegal immigration is greatly appreciated,” stated Trump.

⚠️ Impact: The invitation highlights cooperation between the U.S. and El Salvador in dealing with border security and gang issues, showing joint efforts against illegal activities.

IN FULL:

President Donald J. Trump has extended an invitation to El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele for a visit to the White House. The April 14 invitation was outlined in a letter, which Bukele shared on the social media platform X.

The invitation acknowledges Bukele’s participation in U.S. initiatives to combat illegal immigration. It also highlights his administration’s use of the newly built prison facilities for housing criminals from notorious gangs such as Tren de Aragua. Trump praised Bukele’s handling of these security matters as a model of leadership.

“Your support of my efforts to combat illegal immigration is greatly appreciated,” Trump told Bukele. “For far too long, our southern border has been an open door. With the assistance of friends like you, we have made great progress in protecting Americans from illegal border activity,” Trump said. Bukele responded with appreciation for Trump’s words, emphasizing continued cooperation.

This follows a joint military operation that resulted in the deportation of 17 dangerous gang criminals from the United States. According to Bukele, these individuals are high-profile offenders, including six charged with crimes against minors.

President Trump has faced push-back from U.S. District Judge James Boasberg, an Obama appointee, who has tried to block deportation flights of gang members. Late last month, President Trump announced he would be taking Boasberg to the U.S. Supreme Court to appeal Boasberg’s order barring the use of the Alien Enemies Act to deport gang members.

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April 2, 2025
Education
Immigration
News

Israel-Hating Cornell Student Evades ICE, Self-Deports.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: Momodou Taal, a student from Cornell University, left the United States after his student visa was revoked due to involvement in anti-Israel demonstrations.

👥 Who’s Involved: Momodou Taal, a dual citizen of the United Kingdom and Gambia; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE); the Trump administration.

📍 Where & When: Cornell University in Ithaca, New York; Taal’s departure occurred after a recent federal court decision.

💬 Key Quote: “I have lost faith I could walk the streets without being abducted,” Taal said online.

⚠️ Impact: Taal’s departure sheds light on the increased deportation measures for foreign students involved in political agitating. Other international students facing similar issues include Columbia University’s Mahmoud Khalil and Georgetown University’s Badar Khan Suri.

IN FULL:

According to his own online statements, a Cornell University student whose visa was rescinded due to participation in anti-Israel activism has fled the United States. Momodou Taal, a 31-year-old citizen of the Gambia and the United Kingdom, disclosed that he left voluntarily. He cited fears of detention by immigration authorities. He also stated that his decision followed a recent federal ruling that refused to intervene against potential detention while he contested his deportation order.

“I have lost faith I could walk the streets without being abducted,” Taal claimed. U.S. authorities attributed Taal’s recent visa cancelation to his involvement in anti-Semitic campus demonstrations. They were also said to be a violation of university policies, which fostered a hostile setting for Jewish students.

Taal recently attempted to challenge his deportation, asserting his actions should be protected by free speech. However, he reported that the first motion in his lawsuit was denied. He expressed skepticism about remaining in the country without apprehension by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.

Taal’s case is just one of several cases involving students who were ordered to leave amid allegations of involvement in anti-Semitic protests. Notably, Columbia University’s Mahmoud Khalil and Georgetown University’s Badar Khan Suri are entangled in similar disputes. President Donald J. Trump has pledged a strict stance on anti-Israel activism by foreigners at educational institutions, resulting in increased scrutiny and deportations.

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