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Category: News
May 22, 2025
Education
Immigration

Trump Goes Even Further in Foreign Student Crackdown.

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❓What Happened: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) revoked Harvard University’s student visa program over allegations of non-compliance with federal requests for records and “fostering violence, antisemitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party on its campus.”

👥 Who’s Involved: DHS, Harvard University, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

📍 Where & When: Harvard University, effective for the 2025-2026 academic year.

💬 Key Quote: “As a result of your brazen refusal to comply with multiple requests to provide the Department of Homeland Security pertinent information… you have lost this privilege,” DHS Secretary Kristi Noem wrote.

⚠️ Impact: Harvard cannot enroll foreign students starting in the 2025-2026 school year, and current foreign students must transfer or leave the U.S. before the next academic year.

IN FULL:

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has revoked Harvard University‘s ability to host international students under the student visa program. The decision cites “pro-terrorist conduct” at campus protests and the university’s failure to comply with federal reporting requirements. The decision prohibits Harvard from enrolling foreign students for the 2025-2026 academic year, and current foreign students must transfer or leave the U.S. before the upcoming school year begins.

“This administration is holding Harvard accountable for fostering violence, antisemitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party on its campus,” DHS Secretary Kristi Noem wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter), adding: “It is a privilege, not a right, for universities to enroll foreign students and benefit from their higher tuition payments to help pad their multibillion-dollar endowments. Harvard had plenty of opportunity to do the right thing. It refused.”

Meanwhile, in a letter to Maureen Martin, Harvard’s director of immigration services, Noem stated that the university’s “brazen refusal” to provide requested records and its perpetuation of an “unsafe campus environment” led to the decision. Noem accused the university of fostering a hostile atmosphere for Jewish students, promoting pro-Hamas rhetoric, and implementing discriminatory Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies.

DHS had previously requested footage of protest activity involving visa-holding students, along with disciplinary records for the past five years. According to Noem, Harvard provided responses deemed “insufficient, incomplete, and unacceptable,” despite multiple follow-up requests. The university has been given 72 hours to comply fully with DHS demands to potentially regain its visa program for the next academic year.

The crackdown follows a series of pro-Hamas protests on U.S. campuses after the October 7 Hamas attacks against Israel. At least a dozen Harvard students have already had their visas revoked over protest-related activity. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Congress this week that “thousands” of student visas have likely been revoked nationwide, emphasizing that a visa is “a privilege, not a right.”

The Trump administration has also frozen nearly $3 billion in federal funding to Harvard, citing failures to address antisemitism and concerns over DEI policies. Investigations into the university are ongoing across multiple federal departments.

Currently, it is estimated that 27 percent of Harvard’s total enrolled student population is foreign, at just under 7,000. With the total cost for a foreign student to attend the Ivy League university estimated to be over $100,000 per year, the loss of those students could be a crippling financial blow to Harvard, in the hundreds of millions of dollars each year.

Image by Adam Fagen.

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May 22, 2025
Jack Montgomery
Crime

Far-Leftist Who Assaulted Top MAGA Official in DC Charged.

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❓What Happened: The Department of Justice (DOJ) has charged Emily Gabriella Sommer, who spat on then-Interim D.C. U.S. Attorney Ed Martin during a live interview earlier this month.

👤Who’s Involved: Emily Gabriella Sommer, Pardon Attorney Ed Martin, and DOJ prosecutors.

🧾Key Quote: “ED, that was me that spit in your face… A pleasure to hawk a dehydrated, pithy white foam spit into your face,” Sommer posted on X (formerly Twitter).

⚠️Fallout: Sommer now faces federal charges under 18 U.S.C. § 111, which criminalizes assaulting or impeding U.S. officials, after publicly claiming responsibility in a vulgar, racially-charged online rant.

📌Significance: The incident exposes the increasingly aggressive behavior of leftist agitators targeting America First officials.

IN FULL:

Emily Gabriella Sommer, the woman caught on video spitting on then-Interim U.S. Attorney for D.C. Ed Martin during a live interview, has been formally charged with assaulting a federal official under 18 U.S.C. § 111. The law prohibits assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers and employees of the United States. The DOJ confirmed the charge on Wednesday.

The now-viral incident occurred as Martin, who now serves as President Donald J. Trump’s Pardon Attorney and has a leadership role investigating the weaponization of government at the DOJ, was giving a live interview outside a D.C. courthouse earlier this month. Footage shows Sommer aggressively approaching Martin, shouting obscenities before spitting in his face. She shouts, “You’re a disgusting man!” before walking away.

In an uncensored video, Sommer can be heard screaming, “Who the f*ck are you?! You are Ed Martin!” moments before the assault.

In a pair of X posts made shortly after the incident, Sommer not only admitted to the assault but reveled in the act. Posting from the account @EmilyGabriellaS, she wrote: “ED, that was me that spit in your face today in front of your not USDC for D.C. Courthouse… A pleasure to hawk a dehydrated, pithy white foam spit into your face… I only apologize that this city left me so dehydrated… [Ed Martin] you punk ass bitch cuckold.”

She continued the rant in a second post: “That was meant exactly and every bit for your disgusting pig-headed swine blooded white privileged racist, misogynist… LOL. Bye, enjoy that spit on your $6k lapel, your other white bitch CRACKER. I’ll find that footage and laugh for a lifetime [sic].”

The attack on Martin—a prominent ally of President Trump—has reinforced concerns about the normalization of political violence from radicalized progressives, seemingly encouraged by the rhetoric of well-known figures like James Comey.

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May 22, 2025
News

Suspect Who Shot and Killed Israel Diplomats in DC Named.

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❓What Happened: An Israeli couple was fatally shot outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday evening.

👥 Who’s Involved: Elias Rodriguez, 30, was arrested and accused of the murders of Yaron Lischinsky, 28, and Sarah Milgrim, 26.

📍 Where & When: The shooting occurred outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C., following an event on May 21, 2025.

💬 Key Quote: “Early indicators are that this is an act of targeted violence,” said Dan Bongino, Deputy Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

⚠️ Impact: The attack has caused shock and mourning in the Jewish community and raised concerns about Islamist ideologies and pro-Hamas violence in the U.S.

IN FULL:

A 30-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the barbaric murder of an Israeli couple outside the Capital Jewish Museum on Wednesday night. Elias Rodriguez, believed to be from Chicago, is accused of killing Yaron Lischinsky, 28, and Sarah Milgrim, 26, who both worked for the Israeli embassy.

Authorities say Rodriguez shouted “Free, free Palestine” as he was apprehended. Social media posts linked to him revealed extremist sentiments supporting Hamas and advocating for violence. One post on X (formerly Twitter) stated, “Don’t blame me, I voted for Hamas,” while another called for escalating violence in support of Hamas in Gaza.

Rodriguez’s alleged online activity also included a post referencing a truck bomb attack on The New York Times‘ headquarters, as well as messages featuring anti-American rhetoric and symbols associated with the Marxist-Leninist group Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.

A manifesto, believed to belong to Rodriguez, calls for violent action against the Israeli and U.S. governments. “Public opinion has shifted against the genocidal apartheid state, and the American government has simply shrugged, they’ll do without public opinion then, criminalize it where they can, suffocate it with bland reassurances that they’re doing all they can to restrain Israel where it cannot criminalize protest outright,” he allegedly wrote. The document goes on to state, “An armed action is not necessarily a military action. It usually is not. Usually it is theater and spectacle, a quality it shares with many unarmed actions.” He also argued that he believes some Americans will see his actions as “sane.”

The victims, Lischinsky and Milgrim, were attending an event at the museum when the suspect approached a group of four people and opened fire, according to Metropolitan Police (MPD) Chief Pamela Smith. Officials confirmed the couple was planning to become engaged on an upcoming trip to Jerusalem. The shooting occurred amid heightened tensions related to the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, which began when Hamas terrorists murdered over 1,200 Israelis on October 7, 2023.

Dan Bongino, Deputy Director of the FBI, stated: “Early indicators are that this is an act of targeted violence.” On Thursday, the FBI raided Rodriguez’s home in Chicago’s East Albany Park neighborhood. Reportedly, the FBI has been interviewing the alleged shooter for over 12 hours as of the time of publication.

Rodriguez, who worked for a non-profit in the osteopathy field and held an English degree from the University of Illinois, was previously associated with the Party for Socialism. However, the group has distanced itself from him.

The American Jewish Committee, whose annual Young Diplomats reception appears to have been the target of the attack, expressed grief and solidarity with the victims’ families. Ted Deutch, the organization’s chief executive, remarked, “At this painful moment, we mourn with the victims’ families, loved ones, and all of Israel. May their memories be for a blessing.”

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May 22, 2025
Jack Montgomery
NatSec
News

Disaster As UK Hands Critical Diego Garcia Base Islands to China-Friendly Nation.

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❓What Happened: British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer signed a deal transferring the Chagos Islands’ sovereignty to Mauritius, with a 99-year leaseback of the Diego Garcia military base for £101m annually.

👥 Who’s Involved: British and Mauritian governments, U.S. military, Chagossian community, Sir Keir Starmer, Reform Party leader Nigel Farage and deputy leader Richard Tice.

📍 Where & When: Chagos Islands, Diego Garcia; agreement signed on Thursday in a virtual ceremony.

💬 Key Quote: “Why is Starmer so desperate to give away the islands? There is no legal need, it will cost us approximately £52 billion, and play into the hands of China. Why?” — Reform Party leader Nigel Farage.

⚠️ Impact: The deal has sparked protests from Chagossians and raised concerns over Mauritius’ ties to China. Despite the Diego Garcia lease, the UK-U.S. base could still be undermined by Mauritius authorizing a Chinese base on a neighboring island in the archipelago.

IN FULL:

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has finalized a controversial agreement transferring sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius while securing a 99-year lease for the Diego Garcia military base, a key UK-US strategic site, at a cost of £101 (~$135.5 million) per year.

The deal, signed on Thursday during a virtual ceremony, has faced sharp criticism from opposition politicians and Chagossians. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch argued, “We should not be paying to surrender British territory to Mauritius”—although her party also conducted talks with Mauritius on handing over the islands when it was in government.

Reform Party leader Nigel Farage demanded, “Why is Starmer so desperate to give away the islands? There is no legal need, it will cost us approximately £52 billion, and play into the hands of China. Why?” Reform deputy leader Richard Tice denounced the agreement as “another Starmer surrender sell-out.”

The Chagos Archipelago was separated from Mauritius when the latter ceased to be a British colony, becoming the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT). However, Chagos had only been part of Mauritius for administrative purposes. The two island territories are around 1,200 miles apart, and the Chagossians, displaced from their islands in the late 1960s, oppose the islands’ transfer to Mauritius. Two Chagossian women, Bernadette Dugasse and Bertice Pompe, even unsuccessfully challenged the agreement in court, arguing Chagossians were excluded from decision-making about their ancestral homeland.

The United Nations’ International Court of Justice (ICJ) and General Assembly had ruled that Britain should transfer Chagos to Mauritius, but these were non-binding decisions, and Starmer was under no obligation to obey them, much less pay Mauritius for the privilege of surrendering British sovereign territory. Diego Garcia, the archipelago’s largest island, has hosted a joint UK-U.S. military base since the late 1960s, and it remains a vital strategic hub in the Indian Ocean.

Notably, even though Britain will continue to lease the Diego Garcia base from Mauritius, the latter’s ties to China raise concerns that it could render Diego Garcia largely redundant by allowing the Chinese military to establish a base on another Chagossian island nearby.

Britain previously transferred Hong Kong, the bulk of which was leased to Britain in perpetuity in the 1840s, with the New Territories being leased for 99 years in 1898, to Communist China, despite the agreements on the territory having been concluded with the former Qing Empire. Promises that Hong Kongers’ liberties would be preserved under a one-country, two-systems policy have unravelled, and they are now subject to authoritarian rule with no outside oversight.

Similarly, U.S. influence over the America-built Panama Canal waned when the late President Jimmy Carter agreed to transfer the Panama Canal Zone to the Panamanian government, despite the U.S. having purchased control over the zone from the Panamanians “in perpetuity.” Carter’s deal resulted in a rise in Chinese influence at the expense of the U.S., which is only now being corrected by concerted action on the part of the Trump administration.

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May 22, 2025
Health
News

Taxpayer Cash Earmarked for Disease Prevention Was Used to ‘Queer’ Children Instead.

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❓What Happened: Federal funds intended for disease prevention were redirected by a California school district into LGBT student clubs promoting gender ideology and queer activism.

👥 Who’s Involved: Oakland Unified School District (OUSD), U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Genders & Sexualities Alliance (GSA) Network, children and parents.

📍 Where & When: Oakland, California; misuse of funds occurred between 2018 and 2023.

💬 Key Quote: “My child was lured into a confidential GSA club disguised as an Art Club… Parents were completely kept in the dark about what the club really was,” said Erin Lee, a concerned parent.

⚠️ Impact: Nearly $60,000 in CDC HIV prevention funds were used for LGBT-focused programming, with additional funding for similar initiatives at elementary schools. The CDC has since canceled OUSD’s grant.

IN FULL:

The Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) in California reportedly misused federal funds meant for disease prevention to finance LGBT student clubs and gender activism programs. The funds, part of a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) grant designed to reduce HIV and sexually transmitted diseases among students, were instead funneled into woke Genders & Sexualities Alliance (GSA) clubs.

Between 2018 and 2023, OUSD received over $3 million through the CDC’s “Healthy Oakland Teens” initiative. Nearly $60,000 of these funds were allocated to pay staff members, referred to as “LGBTQ Liaisons,” to oversee GSA clubs in middle and high schools and to promote “affirming” environments for LGBT students. An additional $50,000 was later directed toward similar programs for elementary school students. The GSA clubs, described as student-led but adult-supervised, focus on topics such as transgenderism, sexuality, and activism.

OUSD’s 2018 grant application cited reducing LGBT bullying as a key objective. However, $20,000 of the funds went to hire a consultant to organize an annual GSA Day for middle and high schools, while $10,000 was used to cover the event’s costs, including workshops and student-led advocacy.

Concerns have also been raised over OUSD’s “gender support plan,” which outlines how staff can facilitate a student’s gender transition at school without informing parents.

Erin Lee, a parent from Colorado, described her experience with a similar GSA club in her daughter’s school. “My child was lured into a confidential GSA club disguised as an Art Club in her 6th-grade classroom. She was deceived by her ‘trusted adult’ teacher about what the club entailed, and parents were completely kept in the dark about what the club really was,” she said. “They planted seeds of distrust towards parents… They lied to her. And they lied to us.”

Judges have previously ruled that schools secretly transitioning children are violating the rights of their parents. A Wisconsin judge banned schools from allowing or requiring staff to use names or pronouns at odds with the biological sex of children without their parents’ consent in 2023.

However, some whistleblowers have been charged for exposing the secret transitioning of children, such as Dr. Eithan Haim, who was charged by the former Biden government’s DOJ. President Donald J. Trump dropped the charges against Haim earlier this year.

Image by SF LGBT Center.

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May 22, 2025
News

Trump, Grenell Secure Release of US Air Force Veteran.

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❓What Happened: A U.S. Air Force veteran detained in Venezuela since November has been released.

👥 Who’s Involved: Joseph St. Clair, his parents Scott and Patti St. Clair, former Trump envoy Richard Grenell, and Venezuelan officials.

📍 Where & When: St. Clair was handed over during a diplomatic handoff on Tuesday in a neutral location.

💬 Key Quote: “This news came suddenly, and we are still processing it, but we are overwhelmed with joy and gratitude,” said St. Clair’s parents.

⚠️ Impact: St. Clair’s release is part of ongoing diplomatic efforts that have freed multiple Americans detained abroad.

IN FULL:

A U.S. Air Force veteran detained in Venezuela for nearly a year has been freed, according to his family and U.S. officials. Joseph St. Clair, a decorated language specialist who served four tours in Afghanistan, was handed over to former Trump administration envoy Richard Grenell during a diplomatic exchange on Tuesday.

“Joe St. Clair is back in America,” Grenell confirmed in a post on X (formerly Twitter). “I met Venezuelan officials in a neutral country today to negotiate an America First strategy,” he continued, adding that this was “only possible because [Donald Trump] puts Americans first.”

St. Clair’s parents, Scott and Patti St. Clair, expressed their relief in a statement: “This news came suddenly, and we are still processing it, but we are overwhelmed with joy and gratitude.”

The veteran had traveled to South America seeking treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) when Venezuelan authorities detained him in November. No public charges were ever announced against him, according to his father’s prior comments to the press.

This release follows a series of quiet diplomatic negotiations involving Grenell, including the freeing of six other Americans detained by Venezuela’s government after its controversial presidential election in July. Grenell had previously met with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in Caracas earlier this year, urging the return of Venezuelan nationals in the U.S. who had committed crimes. Hundreds of deportations have since occurred.

Maduro later thanked Grenell and President Donald J. Trump for facilitating the return of a young Venezuelan girl separated from her mother, calling it a “profoundly humane” act.

St. Clair’s safe return adds to a growing list of Americans released from foreign detention through focused diplomatic efforts.

Image via @RichardGrenell.

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May 21, 2025
News

WATCH: Reporter Leaves Chicago Mayor Speechless After ‘Racism’ Question.

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❓What Happened: Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson faced accusations of racism from a reporter during a press conference, following a Department of Justice (DOJ) investigation into the city’s hiring practices.

👥 Who’s Involved: Mayor Brandon Johnson, independent reporter William J. Kelly, and the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division.

📍 Where & When: Chicago, Illinois; DOJ investigation announced Monday; press conference held Tuesday morning.

💬 Key Quote: “Real Chicagoans want to know: why are you a racist?” – William J. Kelly.

⚠️ Impact: The DOJ investigation could significantly affect the city’s hiring policies and political discourse around racial issues in Chicago.

IN FULL:

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson faced pointed accusations of racism during a press conference on Tuesday, as the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) launched an investigation into the city’s hiring practices for potential violations of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.

The DOJ’s Civil Rights Division announced Monday that it would examine whether Chicago’s employment practices reflect a “pattern or practice of racial discrimination.” The investigation appears to have been prompted by Johnson’s recent remarks emphasizing his preference for hiring black people.

“There are some detractors that will push back on me and say, ‘The only thing the mayor talks about is the hiring of black people.’ No. What I’m saying is, when you hire our people, we always look out for everybody else. We are the most generous people on the planet. I don’t know too many cultures that have play cousins,” Johnson had said.

Independent journalist and former political candidate William J. Kelly confronted Johnson at the press event, accusing the mayor of engaging in divisive racial rhetoric. “Real Chicagoans woke up this morning relieved that the Department of Justice is finally investigating your race hustle,” Kelly said. He described Johnson’s remarks as “embarrassing and dangerous” for the city.

When pressed by Kelly with the blunt question, “Why are you a racist?” Johnson rejected the premise entirely. “Well, you know, first of all, I reject the idea and the premise that, somehow, that that’s an actual, legitimate question,” Johnson responded.

Kelly followed up, asking what the mayor would say to those who perceive him as racist. Johnson reiterated his dismissal of the question, stating, “Again, I reject the premise that, somehow, that your question has any legitimacy. Thank you for your time.”

The DOJ investigation could lead to significant changes in city policies, depending on its findings.

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May 21, 2025
News

Prosecutors Hit Tommy Robinson with New Charges a Day After Judge Rules for Early Prison Release.

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❓What Happened: Tommy Robinson has been charged with harassing two men, a day after a judge ruled he could be released from prison early.

👥 Who’s Involved: Tommy Robinson, Kent Police, and Jamal Hijazi.

📍 Where & When: Incidents occurred in England in July 2024 and August 2024; Robinson is currently held at HMP Woodhill, Milton Keynes.

⚠️ Impact: Robinson faces new legal challenges ahead of his release from prison next week.

IN FULL:

Tommy Robinson has been charged with two new counts of harassment causing fear of violence, just one day after a judge ruled he could be released from prison early. The charges are linked to incidents in August 2024.

Robinson, currently incarcerated in His Majesty’s Prison (HMP) Woodhill in Milton Keynes, England, is also accused of refusing to provide the PIN code for his mobile phone during a July 2024 stop by Kent Police in Folkestone.

The development comes as Robinson is set to be released next week after his sentence was reduced. He was initially jailed in October after he repeated allegations he had made against a Syrian migrant, Jamal Hijazi, previously ruled to be defamatory in a civil case. Robinson alleged Hijazi attacked girls at a school in Huddersfield, and produced a documentary defending these allegations after Hijazi successfully sued him, and a court issued an injunction barring Robinson from repeating the claims.

Robinson has been repeatedly targeted by police and prosecutors in recent years, sometimes on highly dubious pretexts. A case against him, brought on the basis that he refused an unlawful police order to leave a protest because his mere presence could cause distress, collapsed shortly before his most recent imprisonment.

Image by Shayan Barjesteh van Waalwijk van Doorn.

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Migrant Crime
May 21, 2025
William Upton
Immigration
Lawfare

Biden Judge Halts Trump Plan to Deport Criminal Illegals to South Sudan.

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❓What Happened: A federal judge ruled on Wednesday that the Trump administration violated his order to provide “meaningful” due process to a group of illegal immigrants facing deportation. In the decision, U.S. District Court Judge Brian Murphy also suggested that Trump immigration officials could have committed criminal contempt by moving forward with the deportation flight.

👥 Who’s Involved: Illegal immigrants from Burma, Vietnam, Mexico, Cuba, and Laos; U.S. District Court Judge Brian Murphy; and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

📍 Where & When: The illegal immigrants were allegedly flown from Texas earlier this week; Judge Murphy issued his ruling on Wednesday, May 21, after ordering DHS to maintain custody of the deportees late on Tuesday.

💬 Key Quote: “A local judge in Massachusetts is trying to force the United States to bring back these uniquely barbaric monsters who present a clear and present threat to the safety of the American people and American victims,” DHS Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin said before the ruling on Wednesday.

⚠️ Impact: The ruling marks the latest interference by the U.S. federal courts in President Donald J. Trump’s efforts to deport dangerous illegal immigrants from the United States, some with removal orders dating back decades.

IN FULL:

A federal judge has intervened after reports surfaced that at least a dozen criminal illegal aliens, including migrants from Burma, Vietnam, and Mexico, were deported to South Sudan earlier this week. U.S. District Court Judge Brian Murphy on Wednesday blocked the deportations and ordered the return of the illegal immigrants to the United States. In a previous ruling in April, the Joe Biden appointee ordered the Trump administration to ensure illegal immigrants slated for deportations to third countries received “meaningful” due process, but declined to provide detailed instructions as to what that would entail.

Late Tuesday, Judge Murphy issued an order instructing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to maintain custody of the deportees, who were alleged to be on a plane sitting on a South Sudanese runway. The directive, according to the federal district court judge, was to give him time to determine whether the removals were unlawful—a determination he made just several hours later.

While Judge Murphy acknowledged his April ruling did not provide details regarding what he expected in terms of due process for the deportees, he insisted the 12-hour notice given by U.S. immigration officials was “obviously insufficient.” Likewise, attorneys representing the illegal immigrants argued that immigration authorities violated the April ruling, contending that they were not given an adequate opportunity to contest deportation to third countries where their clients had no ties and could face safety concerns.

On Wednesday, before the court hearing, DHS officials confirmed that a flight carrying at least eight individuals departed from Texas. However, DHS declined to confirm whether South Sudan was the final destination. A list released by the department identified the passengers as having criminal records and included illegal immigrants from Cuba, Laos, and Mexico.

“A local judge in Massachusetts is trying to force the United States to bring back these uniquely barbaric monsters who present a clear and present threat to the safety of the American people and American victims,” DHS Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin said before the ruling.

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May 21, 2025
Crime

Fresh Trump Crackdown on Brutal Mexican Cartel.

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❓What Happened: The Trump administration sanctioned two top members of Cartel del Noreste, a violent Mexican drug cartel and U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organization.

👥 Who’s Involved: Miguel Angel de Anda Ledzema and Ricardo Gonzalez Sauceda, leaders of Cartel del Noreste; U.S. Treasury Department; Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC); Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); Mexico’s Financial Intelligence Unit.

📍 Where & When: Sanctions announced Wednesday; Cartel del Noreste operates near the Laredo, Texas border region.

💬 Key Quote: “We will continue to cut off the cartels’ ability to obtain the drugs, money, and guns that enable their violent activities,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said.

⚠️ Impact: The sanctions aim to disrupt Cartel del Noreste’s operations, including drug trafficking, arms procurement, and violence on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border.

IN FULL:

The Trump administration has imposed sanctions on two senior leaders of the Cartel del Noreste, a violent Mexican drug cartel and designated foreign terrorist organization, according to an announcement from the U.S. Treasury Department on Wednesday.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) targeted Miguel Angel de Anda Ledzema and Ricardo Gonzalez Sauceda for their roles in facilitating the cartel’s operations. Officials say the group exerts significant control over the border area near Laredo, Texas.

Ledzema, a high-ranking cartel member, was identified as overseeing the acquisition and trafficking of firearms into Mexico. According to the Treasury Department, he coordinated payments to U.S.-based straw purchasers who misrepresented themselves to obtain weapons, later smuggling them into Nuevo Laredo. One such weapon was reportedly recovered after a March 2024 cartel attack on the Mexican military.

Sauceda, previously second-in-command of the cartel, was arrested in February by Mexican authorities. He allegedly led an armed enforcement unit and was linked to violent assaults on Mexican military and police forces. At the time of his arrest, he was found with firearms, methamphetamine, and fentanyl pills.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent emphasized the administration’s commitment to confronting the cartel threat, stating, “We will continue to cut off the cartels’ ability to obtain the drugs, money, and guns that enable their violent activities.” Bessent also highlighted the cartel’s role in campaigns of violence, intimidation, and terrorism that endanger communities on both sides of the border.

The sanctions were coordinated with Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and Mexico’s Financial Intelligence Unit.

Paul Perez, President of the National Border Patrol Council, praised the administration’s actions, saying they fulfill President Donald J. Trump’s promise to prevent cartels from operating with impunity. “These actions deal a significant blow and send the message to all cartels that President Trump will follow through,” Perez stated.

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