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Friday, January 30, 2026
8 hours ago
Immigration
News

TX Attorney General Ken Paxton Launches Major H-1B Fraud Investigation.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) has launched an investigation into alleged H-1B visa fraud involving three North Texas businesses suspected of illegal activity.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Attorney General Ken Paxton, three unnamed businesses, and state officials are involved in the investigation. Governors Greg Abbott (R-TX) and Ron DeSantis (R-FL) have also taken action on related policies.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The investigation, announced late Wednesday, is ongoing in Texas, with related policy moves occurring in Florida and at the federal level.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Any criminal who attempts to scam the H-1B visa program and use ‘ghost offices’ or other fraudulent ploys should be prepared to face the full force of the law.” – Attorney General Ken Paxton.

🎯IMPACT: The investigation reflects growing scrutiny on H-1B visa practices at both the state and federal levels.

IN FULL

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) has launched an investigation into allegations of H-1B visa fraud involving three North Texas businesses suspected of illegal activity, according to a news release from his office. The probe centers on claims that the companies improperly used the skilled-worker visa program to sponsor foreign employees through deceptive practices. As the investigation is ongoing, and charges have yet to be filed, the companies have not been publicly named.

“Any criminal who attempts to scam the H-1B visa program and use ‘ghost offices’ or other fraudulent ploys should be prepared to face the full force of the law,” Paxton said. He added that fraud within the program harms Texans by taking away jobs and opportunities, stating, “I will use every tool available to uproot and hold accountable any individual or company engaged in these fraudulent schemes.”

State officials allege the businesses under investigation may have created “sham” companies and operated “ghost offices” to fraudulently obtain H-1B approvals. In one example cited by the attorney general’s office, a company reportedly listed a single-family home as its corporate headquarters while promoting a separate, unfinished building as its worksite in public-facing materials. Civil investigative demands have been issued seeking records related to the companies’ finances, operations, employee rosters, and internal communications.

The Texas inquiry comes amid a broader crackdown on alleged visa fraud at both the state and federal levels. Governor Greg Abbott (R-TX) has ordered a freeze on new H-1B petitions submitted by Texas state agencies and public universities through May 31, 2027. Similar actions have been taken in other states, including Florida, where Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL) directed the state university system to end H-1B hiring.

At the federal level, authorities under the Trump administration have intensified enforcement against visa abuse, launching more than 100 investigations into H-1B fraud schemes and revoking a record number of visas. Officials have also expanded efforts to revoke citizenship in cases involving immigration fraud, arguing that stricter enforcement is necessary to protect American workers and restore integrity to the system.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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9 hours ago
Immigration
News

Illegal From Ecuador Hides in Ecuadorian Consulate to Avoid Deportation to Ecuador.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) accused the Ecuadorian consulate in Minneapolis, Minnesota, of shielding an illegal immigrant criminal from arrest.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Jorge Miguel Bravo Uriles, Ecuadorian consulate staff, and ICE officers.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Tuesday, at the Ecuadorian consulate in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Unknown to the ICE officers at the time, the building housed the Consulate of Ecuador; however, the building was not clearly marked as the Ecuadorian Consulate.” – ICE spokesman

🎯IMPACT: The illegal immigrant remains at large, with diplomatic tensions arising between Ecuador and the United States.

IN FULL

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has accused the Ecuadorian consulate in Minneapolis of preventing federal agents from arresting an undocumented immigrant with a criminal history after he ran into the diplomatic building during an enforcement operation this week. The incident occurred on January 27 when ICE officers attempted to apprehend Jorge Miguel Bravo Uriles, an Ecuadorian national who had previously been convicted of driving under the influence in 2022 and had past arrests for sexual assault and two separate assault charges. According to ICE, Bravo Uriles fled when officers identified themselves.

“When ICE officers approached Bravo Urgiles and identified themselves as law enforcement, the criminal illegal alien fled into a nearby building,” an ICE spokesman said, adding: “Unknown to the ICE officers at the time, the building housed the Consulate of Ecuador; however, the building was not clearly marked as the Ecuadorian Consulate.”

ICE officials said no officers entered the consulate, but alleged that consular staff actively blocked their efforts to take Bravo Uriles into custody. Video of the encounter shows a consulate employee standing in the doorway and telling officers, “This is the consulate of Ecuador, you are not allowed to enter.” An ICE agent responded, “I did not enter. Relax … If you touch me, I will grab you.” Bravo Uriles was not arrested and remains at large.


Ecuador’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the event as an “attempted incursion” and said consulate personnel activated emergency protocols to protect Ecuadorian citizens inside the building. The ministry also filed a formal diplomatic protest with the U.S. Embassy in Ecuador, calling for assurances that similar incidents would not happen again.

Under international agreements governing diplomatic and consular relations, including those recognized by the United States, consular premises are protected from entry by local or federal authorities without permission from the head of the mission. While consulates are not considered sovereign foreign territory, U.S. law enforcement is generally prohibited from entering them without consent.

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10 hours ago
William Upton
Immigration

Here’s Why the Trump DOJ Is Suing an Illegal Immigrant for $1 Million:

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Trump administration has begun filing civil lawsuits against illegal immigrants who have failed to pay fines ranging from $100 to $500 for illegal entry, up to $10,000 for ignoring a deportation order, and $1,000 per day for failing to comply with removal.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and illegal immigrants like Marta Alicia Ramirez Veliz.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The lawsuit was filed last week in Virginia, following changes to federal rules that expedited the fines issued last year.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Defendant owes the civil penalty pursuant to section 274D(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (‘INA’), 8 U.S.C. § 1324d(a). That section provides that an alien who is subject to a final order of removal and willfully fails or refuses to depart shall pay a civil penalty.” — the DOJ’s civil lawsuit against Ramirez Veliz

🎯IMPACT: Several thousand illegal immigrants received notices of civil fines as of late last year, the DOJ is now pursuing nonpayment through civil litigation.

IN FULL

The Trump administration has begun filing civil lawsuits against illegal immigrants who have failed to pay fines ranging from $100 to $500 for illegal entry, up to $10,000 for ignoring a deportation order, and $1,000 per day for failing to comply with removal. In a civil filing made in Virginia, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is seeking the payment of $941,114 plus interest—which brings the total of the judgment sought to over $1 million—from Marta Alicia Ramirez Veliz for having failed to leave the United States for three years after her final appeal was dismissed by the Board of Immigration Appeals.

Notably, the total of just under $1 million is calculated based on a $ 998-per-day fine for each of the 943 days that Ramirez Veliz remained in the United States following the dismissal of her case and her receipt of a notice from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) regarding the fines last year. “Defendant owes the civil penalty pursuant to section 274D(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (‘INA’), 8 U.S.C. § 1324d(a). That section provides that an alien who is subject to a final order of removal and willfully fails or refuses to depart shall pay a civil penalty,” the DOJ states in its filing made in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.

While the fine total is significant, it is not the highest judgment sought by the Trump White House. The National Pulse reported in May last year that Wendy Ortiz, a 32-year-old Salvadoran illegal immigrant living in Pennsylvania, received a total fine of $1.8 million for having remained in the country after a final order for removal.

At the time of Ortiz’s fine, around 4,500 illegal immigrants had received notices of civil penalties. However, last summer, President Donald J. Trump announced that his administration would seek to expedite the fines, waiving the 30-day notice requirement and permitting immediate financial penalties against violators.

“DHS believes that the nature of the failure-to-depart and unlawful entry penalties supports the need for more streamlined procedures,” the rule reads. Trump first introduced the policy during his first term, but the Biden government paused it. Trump reinstated it after retaking office last January.

Official White House Photo by Daniel Torok.

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11 hours ago
News

Minnesota Man Arrested for Posing as FBI Agent in Plot to Free Luigi Mangione.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A Minnesota man was arrested for allegedly impersonating a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agent and attempting to free murder suspect Luigi Mangione.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Mark Anderson, 36, of Mankato, Minnesota; Luigi Mangione, accused of assassinating UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson; and FBI agents.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Anderson was arrested at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn on January 28, 2026.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Anderson also displayed and threw at the BOP officers numerous documents,” an FBI agent wrote in the complaint, adding: “I have reviewed those papers and they appear to be related to filing of claims against the United States Department of Justice.”

🎯IMPACT: Anderson faces charges of impersonating an FBI agent, while Mangione remains in custody as both state and federal prosecutors push forward with murder and related charges.

IN FULL

Mark Anderson, a 36-year-old man from Mankato, Minnesota, was arrested at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn on Wednesday evening after allegedly impersonating a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agent. Anderson claimed he had a court order to release Luigi Mangione, who is accused of assassinating UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. According to the criminal complaint, Anderson presented a Minnesota driver’s license when asked for credentials and carried a bag containing a barbecue fork and a pizza cutter.

“Anderson also displayed and threw at the BOP officers numerous documents,” an FBI agent wrote in the federal criminal complaint, adding: “I have reviewed those papers and they appear to be related to filing of claims against the United States Department of Justice.” The 36-year-old Minnesotan is charged with impersonating a federal agent and is set to appear in Brooklyn federal court.

Luigi Mangione, a 27-year-old accused of stalking and fatally shooting Brian Thompson on December 4, 2024, outside a Manhattan hotel, remains in custody without bail. Mangione was arrested five days after the incident at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania. He has pleaded not guilty to both state and federal charges.

Federal prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for Mangione if convicted, with a judge expected to rule soon on whether the death penalty will be pursued. Meanwhile, state prosecutors in Manhattan are aiming to set Mangione’s murder trial for July 2026, ahead of a separate federal case where jury selection is scheduled to begin in September.

The National Pulse reported last October that Mangione has reportedly built up a $40,000 commissary balance while in custody. The money, according to a jailhouse source, has come largely from his leftist supporters. Additionally, sources say Mangione receives between 100 to 200 letters a day, many of them reportedly from women expressing romantic interest. One letter writer allegedly expressed a desire to “bug out on his d**k.”

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12 hours ago
TECH
The Resistance

Meta Blocks Facebook, Instagram Users From Linking ‘ICE List’ Doxing Federal Agents.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Meta has blocked users on Facebook, Instagram, and Threads from sharing links to the “ICE List” database, citing privacy violations.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Meta, ICE List founder Dominick Skinner, and social media users attempting to share the database.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Restrictions confirmed this week across Meta platforms including Facebook, Instagram, and Threads.

💬KEY QUOTE: “If there’s a policy violation, we are the only one flagged, despite other sites sharing more.” – Dominick Skinner

🎯IMPACT: Meta’s actions prevent the spread of the database, highlighting the company’s enforcement of privacy policies and sparking debate over transparency and censorship.

IN FULL

Mark Zuckerberg‘s Meta technology company has restricted the ability of users to share links to a website known as the “ICE List” across Facebook, Instagram, and Threads, confirming this week that the site violates the company’s privacy policies. The ICE List database claims to publish identifying information on thousands of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and other federal law enforcement personnel.

Meta spokesman Andy Stone said the company acted under its community standards on privacy, which prohibit the sharing or solicitation of personally identifiable information. Those rules, he said, apply regardless of the political context surrounding the content.

Dominick Skinner, the founder of the ICE List website, has previously described his database project as a way to hold ICE agents accountable for alleged abuses of power. “If there’s a policy violation, we are the only one flagged, despite other sites sharing more,” he claimed.

The Trump administration has taken the opposite view, characterizing the database as doxing and warning that publishing agents’ identities could endanger law enforcement officers and their families. Database websites like ICE List are often used to target and harass suspected federal law enforcement and other government officials, and have resulted in violent confrontations.

The move by Meta comes amid heightened scrutiny of anti-ICE activism and organizing efforts. Recent reports revealed leaked messages from encrypted Signal chats in which activists coordinated efforts to monitor ICE activity and mobilize protests. In one message, a Democratic state lawmaker encouraged participation in such groups, stating, “We’ve got a couple of groups on the app Signal that we would love for you to join, whether or not you want to be part of the resistance network—I fully understand that you may not be comfortable with that.”

Federal authorities have since confirmed they are reviewing those communications. FBI Director Kash Patel said the bureau is investigating the Signal groups, warning, “If they break the law, you should be worried; it’s that simple.”

Tech companies have previously faced pressure from federal officials over tools perceived as facilitating the tracking of ICE agents. Apple removed several ICE-tracking applications from its App Store after law enforcement raised safety concerns.

Image byAnthony Quintano.

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13 hours ago
Immigration

Now ICE Says It Won’t Operate At the Super Bowl.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents will not patrol Levi’s Stadium during Super Bowl LX, despite earlier warnings of immigration crackdowns.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: ICE agents, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem, President Donald J. Trump, and local California officials.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Super Bowl LX, February 8, 2026, Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, California.

💬KEY QUOTE: “We’ll be all over that place. We’re gonna enforce the law.” – Sec. Kristi Noem in a previous statement

🎯IMPACT: The lack of ICE presence in and around Levi’s Stadium comes as the Trump administration signaled it will draw down the number of ICE agents operating in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area of Minnesota, earlier on Thursday.

IN FULL

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents will not be conducting enforcement operations at Super Bowl LX or at NFL-sponsored events in the lead-up to the big game on February 8. While an unknown number of Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officers will be present as part of a federal security contingent at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, the lack of ICE operations contradicts prior statements from administration officials who had warned that immigration enforcement efforts would continue, even at the Super Bowl.

In the lead-up to the February 8 game, federal officials indicated that immigration enforcement agents would be present and conduct enforcement operations. “Those who are here legally and are not breaking other laws have nothing to fear,” one Trump administration official said last week. Previously, in October last year, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem stated that ICE agents will be “all over” the Super Bowl in February, particularly in light of halftime performer Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, a.k.a. Bad Bunny, saying he does not want to perform at events where illegal immigrants could be arrested.

Importantly, according to details on the federal government’s security presence, ICE agents may not be present at Levi’s Stadium or at NFL events at all. Instead, they will serve an auxiliary role in and around nearby San Francisco and the greater Bay Area. Notably, major sporting events, like the Super Bowl, are considered Special Event Assessment Rating (SEAR) 1, which almost always entails a heavy presence of federal agents, along with state and local law enforcement and private security.

The emphasis on security over immigration enforcement ahead of the big game comes as the Trump administration appears set to reduce the number of ICE agents operating in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area of Minnesota. The National Pulse reported earlier on Thursday that White House border czar Tom Homan announced that the Trump administration will begin drawing down the number of ICE agents in Minnesota. The reduction in the number of federal immigration agents is part of an agreement reached between Homan and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison (D).

DHS photo by Tia Dufour.

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14 hours ago
War
World

EU Finally Names Iran’s IRGC as Terror Org Ahead of Possible U.S. Strikes.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The European Union (EU) has designated Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization in response to its role in a violent crackdown on protesters.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The IRGC, EU foreign ministers, Kaja Kallas, Jean-Noel Barrot, and Iranian authorities.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The decision was announced in Brussels on January 29, 2026; mass demonstrations occurred in Iran in December and January.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Repression cannot go unanswered.” – Kaja Kallas

🎯IMPACT: The IRGC will face EU sanctions, including travel bans and asset freezes; however, diplomatic channels with Iran are expected to remain open even as potential U.S. military strikes against Iran loom.

IN FULL

European Union (EU) foreign ministers agreed Thursday in Brussels to designate Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization, citing its role in the violent suppression of recent anti-government protests. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the move was intended to send a clear signal, declaring, “Repression cannot go unanswered.”

The designation comes amid a major buildup of United States military assets in the Middle East and possible strikes against the Iranian regime and IRGC targets in the coming days or weeks. Earlier this week, the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group, consisting of the carrier and three guided-missile destroyers, entered the Central Command region of the Middle East, which includes Iran.

U.S. President Donald J. Trump has warned Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, that the repression of demonstrators must end or the U.S. would respond with force. The National Pulse reported on Tuesday that President Trump described the situation regarding Iran as being “in flux,” but suggested that Iran’s ruling mullahs are looking to cut a deal. “They want to make a deal. I know so. They called on numerous occasions. They want to talk,” Trump said.

The EU’s decision to designate the IRGC as a terrorist group was spearheaded by Italy and marked a shift by France, which had previously been reluctant to support the designation. The designation places the IRGC on the EU’s terrorist list alongside groups such as al-Qaeda and the Islamic State, triggering measures including asset freezes and travel bans. Kallas said that despite the move, diplomatic channels with Tehran would remain open.

With this decision, the EU has finally aligned itself with the United States, Canada, and Australia, all of which have already labeled the IRGC a terrorist group. The United Kingdom (UK) has not yet taken the same step.

Photo by the Fars Media Corporation.

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15 hours ago
William Upton
Immigration
The Resistance

WATCH: Dems Mistake TSA for ICE, Protest Their Dinner.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Anti-ICE agitators mistakenly targeted two Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents having dinner at a restaurant in Lynwood, California, on Wednesday evening—prompting the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s office to be called and engage in crowd control.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Anti-ICE agitators, Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers, and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s office.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Wednesday evening in Lynwood, California.

🎯IMPACT: The Wednesday night demonstration follows weeks of anti-ICE agitators confronting federal law enforcement agents in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area of Minnesota.

IN FULL

Anti-ICE agitators mistakenly targeted two Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents having dinner at a restaurant in Lynwood, California, on Wednesday evening—prompting the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s office to be called and engage in crowd control. The two TSA agents were mistakenly identified by unknown individuals as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers, prompting a crowd of demonstrators to show up outside the restaurant, with several carrying Mexican flags and others carrying anti-ICE signs.

In footage from the scene, several Los Angeles County Sheriff officers can be seen forming a loose perimeter around the dining establishment, while several dozen anti-ICE agitators blow horns, whistles, and wave flags and signs. Local reports indicate the TSA agents were forced to call the sheriff for backup as the crowd gathered outside.

When one of the protest organizers was asked whether the group thought it was ICE dining at the restaurant, she responded, “Potentially.” After a brief standoff, the TSA agents were escorted out of the area by sheriff’s department deputies. There were no arrests or injuries.

The Wednesday night demonstration follows weeks of anti-ICE agitators confronting federal law enforcement agents in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area of Minnesota. In addition, other cities have seen numerous vehicle ramming incidents where activists—and in some cases criminal illegal immigrants—have purposely slammed their cars into vehicles believed to be occupied by ICE and other federal agents.

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16 hours ago
News
Religion

Car Rams Chabad World Headquarters, Synagogue in Targeted Brooklyn Attack.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A Honda sedan repeatedly rammed into the Chabad world headquarters in Brooklyn in an apparent attack.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: A male suspect, who was taken into custody, and law enforcement officials.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Wednesday evening around 8:46 PM at 770 Eastern Parkway, Crown Heights, Brooklyn.

💬KEY QUOTE: “We are deeply disturbed by reports of an incident that occurred tonight in Brooklyn. Just minutes ago, a car repeatedly rammed into 770 Eastern Parkway. This building is not only a synagogue, but also the worldwide @ChabadHeadquarters and a beloved symbol of Judaism around the world.” – Chabad organization in a statement.

🎯IMPACT: No injuries were reported, though the incident is being investigated as a targeted attack against the Jewish community.

IN FULL

A car repeatedly crashed into the Chabad world headquarters in Brooklyn on Wednesday evening in what police believe may have been an intentional act, prompting heightened concern within the Jewish community amid broader national debates over antisemitism. According to law enforcement, a Honda sedan drove onto the sidewalk and struck the building at 770 Eastern Parkway in Crown Heights around 8:46 PM, ramming the entrance and double doors multiple times. Video footage circulated online shows the vehicle backing up and slamming into the structure repeatedly.


After the collisions, the driver exited the vehicle and was heard shouting, “I fucking slipped, you asshole.” Police confirmed that one male suspect was taken into custody. Authorities said the investigation remains ongoing and have not yet released information regarding a possible motive. No injuries were reported.


The Chabad organization, a movement within ultra-Orthodox Hasidic Judaism, issued a statement expressing alarm over the incident and emphasizing the importance of the site. “We are deeply disturbed by reports of an incident that occurred tonight in Brooklyn. Just minutes ago, a car repeatedly rammed into 770 Eastern Parkway. This building is not only a synagogue, but also the worldwide @ChabadHeadquarters and a beloved symbol of Judaism around the world,” the statement read.

The incident comes as antisemitism continues to be a major point of concern nationwide. In recent years, Jewish institutions, synagogues, and schools have reported increased threats and attacks, while political and cultural disputes over antisemitism have intensified. Last year, the Trump administration moved to halt approximately $500 million in federal funding to Brown University, citing concerns over the school’s handling of antisemitism complaints and campus safety for Jewish students.

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17 hours ago
Immigration
News

Top Dems Admit Taxpayer-Funded, Organized Anti-ICE Operations

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson (D) admitted he is in regular communication with other mayors of so-called “sanctuary cities” to impede federal immigration enforcement.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Democratic Mayors Brandon Johnson (Chicago), Jacob Frey (Minneapolis), Michelle Wu (Boston), and others, alongside U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol agents.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Johnson revealed the coordination among Democrat mayors at a press conference on Wednesday, January 28, 2026.

💬KEY QUOTE: “We are working on additional measures that we believe will make Chicago the first city in the country to be able to effectively hold ICE and Border Patrol officers accountable for criminal misconduct.” – Brandon Johnson

🎯IMPACT: The remarks allude to an organized effort by Democrat sanctuary city mayors to actively obstruct and interfere with federal immigration enforcement operations beyond refusing to cooperate with ICE detainers.

IN FULL

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson (D) said Wednesday that he has been in “regular communication” with other mayors of so-called sanctuary cities to coordinate responses to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations. Speaking at a press conference at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., Johnson said cities including Minneapolis, Portland, Oakland, Boston, Denver, and Baltimore are sharing strategies. He specifically credited Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass (D) for offering guidance, saying, “To respond to the operation in Chicago, I leaned heavily on other cities’ responses, like Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass shared her experience governing while the city was in Trump’s crosshairs.”

Johnson pointed to Chicago’s creation of “ICE-Free Zones” as a cornerstone of its approach. The policy bars ICE and Border Patrol agents from using city-owned property or entering it without a judicial warrant. “In August, we signed our most sweeping executive order. This executive order established what we call ICE-Free Zones, essentially prohibiting ICE and Border Patrol from staging on city properties and entering city properties without a judicial warrant… This had not been done anywhere in the country…,” Johnson said.

The mayor said Chicago is preparing other actions aimed at federal agents, adding, “We are working on additional measures that we believe will make Chicago the first city in the country to be able to effectively hold ICE and Border Patrol officers accountable for criminal misconduct.” He has previously threatened legal consequences for agents accused of wrongdoing during enforcement actions.


The comments come amid rising tensions tied to immigration enforcement nationwide. In Minneapolis, two fatal shootings occurred during confrontations involving Department of Homeland Security (DHS) personnel and anti-ICE activists. Other cities have seen violent incidents as well. In Portland, anti-ICE rioters targeted an ICE facility and allegedly planned to use lasers against federal law enforcement aircraft. In Chicago, ICE agents have reported vehicle ramming attempts and gunfire during operations.

Chicago has been at the center of immigration controversies under Johnson’s leadership. In 2025, he drew criticism after calling the term “illegal alien” “racist” and “nasty,” arguing the city should use “undocumented” instead. That same year, a Cook County grand jury declined to indict several armed anti-ICE agitators accused of violent conduct during protests.

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