GET THE APP
Thursday, March 19, 2026

Category: News
December 12, 2025
Immigration

Obama-Era ICE Chief Praises Trump Deportation Efforts: ‘Remarkable Accomplishment.’

PULSE POINTS

âť“WHAT HAPPENED: A former Obama-era acting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) director called President Donald J. Trump’s deportation numbers “a remarkable accomplishment.”

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: John Sandweg, former acting Director of ICE, and key Trump administration officials, including White House Deputy Chief of Staff and Homeland Security Advisor Stephen Miller and Border Czar Tom Homan.

đź“ŤWHEN & WHERE: Comments were made during an MS NOW (formerly MSNBC) interview on Thursday.

đź’¬KEY QUOTE: “This is a—it is a remarkable accomplishment. These numbers are stunning to me.” – John Sandweg

🎯IMPACT: The high number of interior deportations under President Trump shows a significant shift in immigration enforcement compared to prior administrations.

IN FULL

John Sandweg, who previously served as acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) under former President Barack Obama, has called the deportation totals achieved under the Trump administration “a remarkable accomplishment.” He made the comments in an interview with MS NOW (formerly MSNBC), discussing “the way in which the White House structured this immigration enforcement operation with Stephen Miller running the policy, with Tom Homan being the Border Czar… that’s going to create tension.”

“I know there’s frustration at these numbers, but I have to tell you, this is a—it is a remarkable accomplishment. These numbers are stunning to me,” Sandweg said. “When I look at… 600,000 deportations this year, those are all from the interior. And I think this is a critical distinction,” he stressed, emphasizing that “during the Obama Administration, when there were 400,000 deportations, [but] the reality is about 250,000 of those were people caught right at the border.”

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) estimates that a total of 2.5 million illegal immigrants have left the U.S. since President Trump returned to office, including those who have left of their own accord to avoid forcible deportation. “Illegal aliens are hearing our message to leave now. They know if they don’t, we will find them, we will arrest them, and they will never return,” said DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin.

Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.

show less
show more
December 12, 2025
Culture
Immigration
Religion

This Western Country Just Banned Headscarves for Schoolgirls Under 14.

PULSE POINTS

âť“WHAT HAPPENED: A law banning headscarves in schools for girls under 14 years old has been passed in Austria.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The conservative-led coalition government, the opposition Freedom Party (FPÖ), and the Islamic Community in Austria (IGGÖ).

đź“ŤWHEN & WHERE: The law will take effect in September 2026, following a trial period beginning February 2026, in Austria’s public and private schools.

đź’¬KEY QUOTE: “It is not a measure against a religion. It is a measure to protect the freedom of girls in this country.” – Yannick Shetty, Neos party parliamentary leader.

🎯IMPACT: Critics argue the law is unconstitutional and discriminatory, while supporters claim it protects young girls.

IN FULL

Austria has approved new legislation that will prohibit girls under the age of 14 from wearing Islamic headscarves in both public and private schools, with full enforcement scheduled for September 2026. The conservative-led government says the ban covers “traditional Muslim” garments, including hijabs and burkas. A hijab generally refers to a headscarf that leaves the face visible, while a burka is a full-body covering with a mesh screen over the face, often associated with more stringent interpretations of modesty.

Supporters of the law argue that it promotes personal liberty for young girls who may face family or cultural pressure to dress in a particular way. Yannick Shetty of the liberal Neos party defended the measure, stating, “It is not a measure against a religion. It is a measure to protect the freedom of girls in this country.” Government estimates suggest roughly 12,000 children will be affected once the rules take effect. Officials say the law has been drafted to avoid the constitutional issues that sank a similar 2020 ban on headscarves for girls under 10, which the Constitutional Court overturned for targeting a specific religious group. A trial period focused on awareness-raising is set to begin in February 2026.

The Islamic Community in Austria (IGGÖ) has strongly criticized the legislation, arguing that it infringes on fundamental rights and will harm rather than help the children it claims to protect. In a statement, the organization warned, “Instead of empowering children, they will be stigmatised and marginalised,” and confirmed plans to challenge the law in court.

The populist Freedom Party (FPÖ), while voting in favor, argued the government’s approach is too limited. FPÖ spokesman Ricarda Berger said the party wants broader restrictions, insisting, “There needs to be a general ban on headscarves in schools; political Islam has no place here.”

Austria’s move comes as several European countries continue to debate or propose their own limitations on Islamic face coverings. In Italy, lawmakers have advanced proposals to ban burkas and niqabs in all public spaces as part of a larger initiative aimed at countering Islamic “separatism.” The Italian plan includes fines and additional oversight of religious funding.

Image by Soheil sargolzayi.

Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.

show less
show more
December 12, 2025
News
UK

Hundreds of British Empire Artifacts Looted from Museum, Thieves Remain at Large.

PULSE POINTS

âť“WHAT HAPPENED: Over 600 artifacts were stolen from the British Empire and Commonwealth Collection in Bristol, England, in a burglary.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Four unidentified men captured on CCTV are suspected of the theft.

đź“ŤWHEN & WHERE: The burglary occurred in the early hours of September 25, 2025, at Bristol Museum, England.

đź’¬KEY QUOTE: “The theft of many items which carry a significant cultural value is a significant loss for the city.” – Officer Dan Burgan

🎯IMPACT: The stolen items, many of which were donated, represent a notable loss of historical and cultural artifacts tied to Britain’s imperial history.

IN FULL

British Police are appealing for information after more than 600 artefacts were stolen from Bristol Museum’s British Empire and Commonwealth Collection in Bristol, England, during a burglary in the early hours of September 25, 2025. Officers say the break-in occurred between 1:00 AM and 2:00 AM, when surveillance cameras captured four men carrying bags outside the building that houses the historic collection.

The stolen items include medals, badges, jewellery, carved ivory, silver and bronze pieces, geological specimens, and other culturally significant objects. Many of the artifacts were donated to the collection, which documents Britain’s historical links with countries that were once part of its empire. Police have stressed that the loss represents a severe blow to the city’s cultural heritage.

Dan Burgan, the officer leading the investigation, said, “The theft of many items which carry a significant cultural value is a significant loss for the city. These items, many of which were donations, form part of a collection that provides insight into a multi-layered part of British history.” Detectives have released grainy CCTV images of four men they wish to identify.

The theft is the latest in a series of major incidents targeting museums across Europe. In October 2025, thieves stole royal jewels from the Louvre in Paris in a carefully timed operation that investigators say succeeded with only seconds to spare. A French Senate inquiry later found that partial camera failures and delays in alerting security allowed the gang to escape before police arrived. The jewels, estimated to be worth tens of millions of euros, have not been recovered.

Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.

show less
show more
December 11, 2025
News

You Won’t Believe How Few People Actually Bought Olivia Nuzzi’s Book.

PULSE POINTS

âť“WHAT HAPPENED: Olivia Nuzzi’s new book, “American Canto,” experienced poor sales in its opening week, selling a humiliatingly low 1,165 copies, amid public scrutiny over her alleged affair with Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Olivia Nuzzi, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and Vanity Fair representatives.

đź“ŤWHEN & WHERE: Nuzzi’s book was released recently, with sales tracked during its first week. Allegations and fallout have unfolded over the past year.

đź’¬KEY QUOTE: “I had f—ed up. I did something wrong. Those ethics rules exist for a reason. They’re very good rules, and I had violated that.” – Olivia Nuzzi

🎯IMPACT: Nuzzi has parted ways with Vanity Fair, and her book has faced criticism and low sales, while Kennedy’s team denies a physical relationship occurred.

IN FULL

“American Canto,” the latest book by political journalist Olivia Nuzzi, sold just 1,165 copies in its first week, according to Circana BookScan. The book, while not a memoir, has drawn attention due to its references to her alleged relationship with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who is referred to as “the politician” in the text. Nuzzi’s representatives have not responded to requests for comment.

Nuzzi became embroiled in controversy last year when it was revealed she had engaged in a digital relationship with Kennedy after profiling him in 2023 for New York Magazine. Following the allegations, she left the publication. Her former fiancé, Ryan Lizza, has also accused her of an affair with former South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford, which she has denied.

During her book tour, Nuzzi addressed her alleged involvement with Kennedy, stating, “I had f—ed up. I did something wrong. Those ethics rules exist for a reason. They’re very good rules, and I had violated that.” She added that she took her actions seriously and recognized the importance of accountability, saying, “It struck me that it’s not like you just wake up one day, and you make a mistake, right? That it had to have been many imperceptible errors that contributed to really just a malformed perspective that led to that type of mistake.”

Last week, Vanity Fair announced that Nuzzi, who joined the magazine as its West Coast editor in September, would be leaving at the end of the year.

Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.

show less
PULSE POINTS show more
December 11, 2025
News

Trump Admin Disqualifies 9,500 Truck Drivers for Failing English Proficiency Tests.

PULSE POINTS

âť“WHAT HAPPENED: Over 9,500 commercial truck drivers have been disqualified for failing English-language proficiency checks.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, President Donald J. Trump, and federal and state transportation agencies.

đź“ŤWHEN & WHERE: Enforcement began in May 2025 across the United States, following directives issued by the Trump administration.

💬KEY QUOTE: “We’ve now knocked 9,500 truck drivers out of service for failing to speak our national language—ENGLISH!” – Sean Duffy

🎯IMPACT: States face federal funding cuts, and stricter licensing enforcement aims to improve road safety.

IN FULL

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced that more than 9,500 commercial truck drivers have been taken off the road this year after failing federally required English-language proficiency checks, reflecting a major enforcement push under the Trump administration. Duffy revealed the number in a December 10 post on X (formerly Twitter), declaring, “We’ve now knocked 9,500 truck drivers out of service for failing to speak our national language—ENGLISH!” He added that the Trump administration “will always put you and your family’s safety first.”

The stepped-up checks follow a May 2025 directive reinstating strict English-language requirements for commercial drivers. Under the rule, operators must be able to read signage, communicate with law enforcement, and understand safety instructions during inspections. Federal officials say the renewed standards have already removed thousands of unqualified drivers during roadside assessments.

The policy gained momentum after several deadly crashes involving foreign drivers who reportedly failed English tests or obtained commercial driver’s licenses through improper processes. One widely publicized case involved a truck driver who made an illegal U-turn that resulted in three deaths, intensifying scrutiny on state licensing systems and federal oversight.

Duffy has also warned that states could lose federal highway safety funds if they do not properly enforce English-language and licensing requirements. California has been singled out following federal audits that identified extensive noncompliance in issuing commercial driver’s licenses. Officials have signaled that the state could lose tens of millions of dollars in funding if it does not correct the deficiencies.

The crackdown extends beyond language proficiency. Federal regulators have recently removed nearly 3,000 truck driver training schools from the national registry for failing to meet training, documentation, and compliance standards, while thousands more have been warned that they risk losing certification. Duffy characterized the action as necessary to combat “illegal and reckless practices” that allow inadequately trained drivers onto public roads.

Meanwhile, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has highlighted the connection between immigration enforcement and trucking safety. In coordinated operations earlier this year, federal authorities arrested 146 illegal immigrants accused of operating commercial trucks without proper documentation or licensing. Officials argued that illegal aliens and improperly trained drivers pose elevated risks, citing a series of crashes involving migrant drivers, including one that killed American newlyweds when an illegal immigrant truck driver failed to control his vehicle.

Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.

show less
show more
December 11, 2025
Education

Democrat Lawmaker Reveals She Doesn’t ‘Feel Good About Being White’ During DEI Debate.

PULSE POINTS

âť“WHAT HAPPENED: State Senator Lindsey Tichenor presented a bill to eliminate Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) practices in K-12 education in Kentucky, sparking a heated debate during a legislative committee meeting.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: State Senator Lindsey Tichenor, Representative Sarah Stalker, and members of the Kentucky House Interim Joint Committee on Education.

đź“ŤWHEN & WHERE: During a recent committee meeting in the Kentucky House of Representatives.

đź’¬KEY QUOTE: “While presenting on my upcoming bill to end DEI in K12, I honestly did not expect to hear this. Her comment is a prime example of how the ideology of DEI warps a person’s brain.” – Lindsey Tichenor

🎯IMPACT: The debate highlighted the growing controversy over DEI initiatives, with critics citing misuse of funds and lack of measurable academic improvement.

IN FULL

A state Representative in Kentucky told fellow lawmakers that she does not “feel good” about being white because she believes it grants her a “point of privilege” over others. The bizarre comments were made by state Representative Sarah Stalker (D-KY) during a recent Kentucky House Interim Joint Committee on Education hearing regarding legislation introduced by state Senator Lindsey Tichenor (R-KY) that would end diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) components found in K-12 education curricula in the state.

“I’m going to be honest, I don’t feel good about being white every day for a lot of reasons, because it’s a point of privilege that I get to move through the world in a way that so many of my other colleagues and friends and family members in the community don’t get the privilege to do,” Rep. Stalker said, turning the hearing contentious. “I think we’re missing an opportunity when kids have a moment to reflect about how the color of their skin does and does not allow them to move through the world,” she added.

Sen. Tichenor responded to Stalker’s remarks, calling them an example of how DEI ideology “warps a person’s brain.” She emphasized that no child should feel bad about their skin color and criticized DEI programming for its lack of focus on academic achievement. Tichenor also pointed out significant financial concerns, including credit card statements showing lavish spending on DEI-related travel, such as a $30,000 trip to Australia.

Additionally, Tichenor highlighted that under DEI initiatives, proficiency in math and reading has declined statewide. She criticized the Biden government for funneling over $1 billion into DEI programming, bloating administrative budgets to indoctrinate students.

The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights recently notified Jefferson County, Kentucky, that its racial equity funding model violated Title VI by unlawfully considering race and engaging in so-called racial balancing.

Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.

show less
show more
December 11, 2025
Immigration
News

DHS Claims Record 2.5 Million Illegal Immigrants Have Left U.S.

PULSE POINTS

âť“WHAT HAPPENED: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has claimed a record-breaking achievement in immigration enforcement, with over 2.5 million illegal aliens leaving the United States since President Donald J. Trump took office.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Donald J. Trump, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin, and federal immigration authorities.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Since January 20, during President Trump’s current term, across the United States.

💬KEY QUOTE: “They know if they don’t [leave], we will find them, we will arrest them, and they will never return.” – DHS spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin

🎯IMPACT: Americans are seeing relief in the housing market, with rents decreasing and housing availability improving due to the significant drop in illegal immigrants.

IN FULL

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) under President Donald J. Trump claims that more than 2.5 million people without legal status have left the United States since Trump returned to office in January. DHS says U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has carried out over 605,000 formal removals, most involving individuals with pending criminal charges or convictions, while close to two million others have opted to return home, some through the agency’s CBP Home mobile app, which offers no-cost flights and a $1,000 stipend for voluntary departures.

“The Trump Administration is shattering historic records with more than 2.5 million illegal aliens leaving the U.S. DHS has deported more than 605,000 illegal aliens, and another 1.9 million have self-deported,” spokesman Tricia McLaughlin said. “Illegal aliens are hearing our message to leave now. They know if they don’t, we will find them, we will arrest them, and they will never return.”

The enforcement push comes alongside a sustained drop in migrant releases at the southern border. For six months, DHS has not released a single illegal immigrant into the country, a shift it argues has helped ease pressure on the housing market. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Scott Turner recently pointed to four consecutive months of rent declines, while Vice President J.D. Vance said, “The connection between illegal immigration and skyrocketing housing costs is as clear as day. We are proud to be moving in the right direction.”

Additional reporting indicates ICE’s operational tempo has increased sharply in 2025. The administration has expanded removals across multiple nationalities, including recent deportation flights carrying Iranian nationals through third-country transit points.

Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.

show less
show more
December 11, 2025
News

ICE Crackdown in Dem City Captures Rapists, Smugglers, Child Abusers.

PULSE POINTS

âť“WHAT HAPPENED: Federal immigration teams in New Orleans, Louisiana, arrested dozens of criminal immigrants accused of violent crimes, including rape, human smuggling, domestic abuse, and child endangerment.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials, local law enforcement, and criminal illegal immigrants from countries such as Cuba, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Chile.

đź“ŤWHEN & WHERE: This week in New Orleans, Louisiana, as part of a nationwide operation targeting localities with sanctuary protections.

💬KEY QUOTE: “We will continue going after the worst of the worst across this nation until EVERY criminal illegal alien is arrested.” – DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin.

🎯IMPACT: The arrests highlight federal efforts to dismantle sanctuary protections and prioritize public safety by removing dangerous criminal aliens from American communities.

IN FULL

Federal immigration enforcement operations in New Orleans, Louisiana, this week saw the arrest of dozens of criminal illegal immigrants suspected of crimes including rape, armed theft, human smuggling, domestic abuse, and child endangerment, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The operations are notable as Democrat-dominated New Orleans considers itself a sanctuary city, despite the Republican state government of Louisiana backing the Trump administration’s crackdown on illegal immigration.

“DHS law enforcement continues to arrest rapists, thieves, human smugglers, domestic abusers, and child endangerers who sought sanctuary in New Orleans. Well, those days are over,” said DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. She added, “President Trump and Secretary Noem have made it abundantly clear: criminal illegal aliens are NOT welcome in the U.S., even if liberal activists think they are.”

Among those arrested was Jorge Vierra-Serrano, a convicted rapist from Cuba who had also been arrested for aggravated battery. Others included Hander Bladimar Monrroy-Santiago from Guatemala, arrested for human smuggling, and Anthony Jose Sarria-Gutierrez from Nicaragua, a known 18th Street Gang member.

Additional arrests included Carlos Arturo Padilla-Meza, Willian Orlando Zuniga-Euceda, Andres Vladimir Prieto-Rencoret, and Ingres Estel Hernandez-Murillo, all of whom had histories of violent or predatory crimes such as domestic abuse, theft, and resisting arrest. DHS officials emphasized that these arrests are part of a broader effort to remove dangerous criminal aliens from U.S. communities.

McLaughlin concluded, “We will continue going after the worst of the worst across this nation until EVERY criminal illegal alien is arrested.”

Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.

show less
show more
December 11, 2025
William Upton
Immigration

Trump Admin Will Deny Visas to Foreign Nationals Suspected of Gaming ‘Birthright Citizenship.’

PULSE POINTS

âť“WHAT HAPPENED: The Trump administration on Thursday announced it will begin denying tourist visa applications if the applicant is suspected of wanting to travel to the United States to give birth so that their child is granted American citizenship.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The U.S. Embassy in India, the Trump administration, and foreign nationals.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The U.S. Embassy in India announced the policy change on Thursday, December 11, 2025.

đź’¬KEY QUOTE: “U.S. consular officers will deny tourist visa applications if they believe the primary purpose of travel is to give birth in the United States to obtain U.S. citizenship for the child. This is not permitted.” — the U.S. Embassy in India

🎯IMPACT: The visa application policy change aims to crack down on “birth tourism,” which is especially prevalent among Indian nationals who seek to use children born in the U.S. as anchors to bring entire families to the country.

IN FULL

United States consular officers will now deny tourist visa applications to any foreign national suspected of seeking to travel to the country for the purposes of giving birth so that their child will receive U.S. citizenship and act as an immigration anchor for additional family members. The announcement was made by the U.S. Embassy in India on Thursday, with the practice of birth tourism being especially prevalent among Indian nationals.

“U.S. consular officers will deny tourist visa applications if they believe the primary purpose of travel is to give birth in the United States to obtain U.S. citizenship for the child,” the U.S. Embassy in India stated in a post on X (formerly Twitter), adding: “This is not permitted.”

The National Pulse reported in late January this year that Indian women in the United States were requesting dangerous pre-term caesarean sections from doctors so they could give birth before President Donald J. Trump’s Executive Order banning birthright citizenship took effect. Most of the women were reportedly in their eighth or ninth month of pregnancy, but several were said to be much earlier in their terms.

Currently, a challenge to Trump’s birthright citizenship order is set to be heard before the United States Supreme Court, with oral arguments anticipated to occur in April 2026. Previously, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals handed down a ruling in July declaring the Executive Order unconstitutional, allowing automatic birthright citizenship to continue for the time being.

Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.

show less
show more
December 11, 2025
Jack Montgomery
News

Far-Left UK Govt Pushing Authoritarian Policies, Canceling Elections Amid Cratering Public Support.

PULSE POINTS

âť“WHAT HAPPENED: The Labour Party government in the United Kingdom is advancing several controversial measures, including digital ID and expanded surveillance, and canceling local elections as its support crashes.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The Labour Party, its leader, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, and academic Matthew Goodwin, honorary president of the student wing of Nigel Farage’s Reform Party.

đź“ŤWHEN & WHERE: Since Labour entered office in mid-2024, across the United Kingdom.

đź’¬KEY QUOTE: “They preach tolerance but practice censorship.” – Matthew Goodwin

🎯IMPACT: Labour’s measures are significantly undermining civil liberties and democracy in Britain.

IN FULL

Matthew Goodwin, an academic and pollster, has highlighted the mounting authoritarian policies of Britain’s Labour Party government, led by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, as its public support craters to just 14 percent. These include the imposition of digital ID, the cancellation of local elections, and the expansion of facial surveillance and so-called “non-crime hate incidents.”

Goodwin, who serves as the honorary president of the student wing of Nigel Farage’s Reform Party, Students4Reform, also expressed concern over the government’s plans to scrap many jury trials and introduce an official definition of Islamophobia “that will shut down debate about Islam.”

According to Goodwin, the Labour government, despite retaining the support of only 14 percent of the British public after just over a year in office, is attempting to consolidate power, including by packing the legislature’s House of Lords with compliant appointees to dominate the legislative process more thoroughly.

He described the government’s agenda as “classic Left Progressivism,” stating, “They preach tolerance but practice censorship.” He added: “They don’t want to have the argument – they want to stop it from taking place altogether.”

Notably, Farage’s Reform Party appeared poised to win every one of the local elections that the Labour government has canceled or postponed. Additionally, Labour politicians are also pushing election regulators to investigate Farage’s election to the House of Commons on the grounds of alleged overspending.

The National Pulse Editor-in-Chief Raheem Kassam, a former senior advisor to Farage, recently warned, “I said it a while back. They’re going to try to do with Nigel Farage what they did with Marine Le Pen… and have some activist lefty judge try to ban him from office.”

Image by Simon Dawson / No 10 Downing Street.

Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.

show less
show more