Senate Dems want to boost ICE’s power to arrest undocumented immigrants
Seven Democratic senators and two independents introduced legislation which would allow Immigration and Customs Enforcement to secure judicial warrants to arrest undocumented immigrants who are charged with violent crimes, according to The Hill. The move comes amid a contentious debate over the migrant crisis at the southern border.
Three of the bill’s sponsors are up for reelection. The sponsors include Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Conn., Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., and Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa.
“Even though we know migrants are less likely to commit crimes than Americans, it is also true that there are times when ICE needs to take custody of a noncitizen accused or convicted of a serious crime,” Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., said.
Under current law, ICE issues “detainer requests” to local governments to hold undocumented immigrants arrested by local police. However, not all jurisdictions reportedly comply with the request. So, by allowing ICE to request judicial warrants, the bill looks to guarantee the detention of undocumented immigrants by federal authorities.
Murphy maintains that the Democratic proposal is much different than the Republican alternative. Some Republican alternative plans have reportedly involved banning “sanctuary cities” and allow local police to detain any person suspected of being an undocumented immigrant.
Meanwhile, the bill is being dismissed by some critics. The National Republican Senatorial Committee accused the bill’s sponsors of simply using the legislation as political tactic.
New probe alleges staff kept migrants locked up during deadly Juarez fire
On March 26, 2023, a fire engulfed a migrant detention center in Juarez, Mexico, claiming the lives of 40 individuals and leaving 27 others injured. Nearly a year later, a new report suggests that staff may have knowingly kept detainees locked inside a holding cell as the fire burned.
Immediately following the fire, officials asserted that the keys to the cell couldn’t be found to release the trapped migrants. However, an investigation by Lighthouse Reports, in collaboration with La Verdad and El Paso Matters, found that the key to the detainees’ cell remained inside the facility until moments before the blaze.
Surveillance footage allegedly captures a staff member refusing to unlock the cell. The report indicates that a security guard passed the key to a colleague, who pocketed it.
Audio recordings purportedly capture a uniformed National Migration Institute member stating, “We are not going to open [the cell] for them, I already told those guys.”
Despite mounting evidence, the National Migration Institute has yet to issue a statement regarding the report.
Nine individuals, including federal and state agents, are facing charges in connection to the incident. The commissioner at the time remains in his position despite the criminal charges against him.
Bus company sued by NYC agrees to stop transporting migrants
Roadrunner Charters has agreed to halt the transport of migrants from Texas to New York, following a lawsuit filed by Mayor Eric Adams against the company and 16 others. The legal action alleges that these companies violated New York’s Social Services Law by transporting asylum seekers to the region without providing necessary support.
The city seeks approximately $708 million in damages, claiming the companies acted irresponsibly by bringing more than 33,600 migrants to New York since the spring of 2022 without ensuring their ongoing care. This action was deemed to be in “bad faith.”
“New York City continues to do our part as we lead the nation in managing this national humanitarian crisis, but reckless political games from the state of Texas will not be tolerated,” Adams said. “I am pleased to see that Roadrunner – one of the bus companies we sued for taking part in Texas Gov. Greg Abbott‘s scheme to transport tens of thousands of migrants to our city in an attempt to overwhelm our shelter system and shift costs to New York City – has agreed to halt the bussing of migrants into and around New York City while the lawsuit proceeds. We call on all other bus companies involved in this suit to do the same.”
As the lawsuit progresses, Roadrunner Charters will cease its operations of moving migrants to New York and its surrounding areas. Mayor Adams has voiced his criticism of Texas for what he perceives as politicizing the migration issue and commended Roadrunner’s decision to stop these transports. He also called on the other companies involved in the lawsuit to take similar action.
Court documents reveal that Texas has directed nearly 95,000 migrants to sanctuary cities, including New York, thereby straining the city’s shelter system.
Netanyahu speaks with Senate Republicans days after Schumer’s speech
Days after Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer called him an obstacle to peace, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addresses Senate Republicans. And Neuralink posts a video of a patient playing chess using his thoughts. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Thursday, March 21, 2024.
Benjamin Netanyahu speaks to GOP lawmakers
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu engaged in a closed-door meeting with Senate Republicans on Wednesday, March 20, just days after Democratic Majority Leader Chuck Schumer publicly criticized Netanyahu’s handling of the war in Gaza and suggested Israel should hold new elections once the conflict subsides.
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Netanyahu’s discussion with the GOP lawmakers occurred during their weekly policy lunch and was conducted virtually. The meeting comes in the wake of Schumer’s remarks on the Senate floor last week, where he labeled Netanyahu as an obstacle to peace in the Middle East.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and fellow Republicans relayed to reporters that Netanyahu provided a detailed presentation and fielded questions regarding the ongoing war and the situation concerning hostages. McConnell emphasized his stance to Netanyahu, asserting that the United States should not dictate the timing of elections for a democratic ally nor the strategies of its military campaigns. He noted a concern over what he perceives as waning bipartisan support for Israel in the U.S., particularly from the political left.
Senate Republicans reported that Netanyahu assured them Schumer’s comments would not deter Israel’s objectives to defeat Hamas and proceed with its military actions.
In a move highlighting the partisan tension surrounding the discussions, Schumer declined an invitation from Netanyahu to speak with Senate Democrats at their luncheon, advocating for these conversations to remain non-partisan.
Amidst these political dynamics, House Speaker Mike Johnson expressed intentions to potentially invite Netanyahu to address Congress. This comes as Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s upcoming travel plans to Israel this Friday, March 22, marking his sixth visit to the Middle East since the Gaza conflict began.
Bus company sued by NYC agrees to stop transporting migrants
Roadrunner Charters has agreed to halt the transport of migrants from Texas to New York, following a lawsuit filed by Mayor Eric Adams against the company and 16 others. The legal action alleges that these companies violated New York’s Social Services Law by transporting asylum seekers to the region without providing necessary support.
The city seeks approximately $708 million in damages, claiming the companies acted irresponsibly by bringing more than 33,600 migrants to New York since the spring of 2022 without ensuring their ongoing care. This action was deemed to be in “bad faith.”
As the lawsuit progresses, Roadrunner Charters will cease its operations of moving migrants to New York and its surrounding areas. Mayor Adams has voiced his criticism of Texas for what he perceives as politicizing the migration issue and commended Roadrunner’s decision to stop these transports. He also called on the other companies involved in the lawsuit to take similar action.
Court documents reveal that Texas has directed nearly 95,000 migrants to sanctuary cities, including New York, thereby straining the city’s shelter system.
Neuralink posts video of first patient moving cursor
Elon Musk’s Neuralink made headlines Wednesday, March 20, with a live video on X demonstrating its brain implant technology. The video featured 29-year-old Nolan Arbaugh, who has been paralyzed from the shoulders down for eight years following a diving accident, using the device to move a mouse cursor solely through neural signals.
Arbaugh also mentioned that the implant has enabled him to play video games, showcasing the device’s potential to restore a level of independence to individuals with severe mobility impairments.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) greenlit Neuralink for a clinical trial of its device in humans last May, marking a significant step forward for the company. While experts in the field note that the brain-computer interface (BCI) technology demonstrated by Neuralink is not entirely new—similar systems have been developed by other companies—the excitement surrounding Neuralink’s progress stems from its potential to significantly improve the lives of people who have become paralyzed.
Dodgers fire interpreter of Shohei Ohtani, accused of stealing millions
The controversy erupted hours after the Dodgers celebrated a 5-2 victory over the San Diego Padres in Seoul, with the interpreter translating for Ohtani post-game. Allegations involve the misappropriation of millions of dollars from Ohtani, with the funds allegedly used to place bets with a bookmaker in Southern California, currently under federal scrutiny.
In response to the accusations, the interpreter, told ESPN that Ohtani had no involvement in the betting activities. Despite this assertion, the Dodgers have confirmed the interpreter’s termination, stating, “We are aware of media reports and are gathering information.”
This incident comes in the wake of a security scare involving a bomb threat aimed at Ohtani before the Dodgers’ game in Seoul, further complicating what has been a tumultuous period for the team and its celebrated player.
Reddit going public in first major social media offering since 2019
Reddit, the 19-year-old company famous for its vast network of online forums, is making headlines as it goes public today, marking Wall Street’s first significant social media offering since Pinterest in 2019.
On Wednesday, Reddit announced its initial public offering (IPO) price at $34 a share, hitting the top of its anticipated range and valuing the company at $6.5 billion. This move comes on the heels of Reddit’s recent partnership with Google, which allows the tech giant to utilize Reddit’s data for training AI models.
The company will list on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol RDDT, inviting investors to be a part of its journey as it transitions from a privately held entity to a public company. Reddit’s IPO is being closely watched by the market and industry analysts, given the significant role social media platforms play in the digital economy and the broader cultural landscape.
Taylor Swift fans create seismic activity at ‘Eras Tour’ concert
Taylor Swift’s fans, famously known as Swifties, have taken their fervor for the pop icon to seismic proportions—literally. A group of scientists from Caltech and UCLA discovered that Swift’s ‘Eras Tour’ concert at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, from August 20-23, caused actual seismic activity, now dubbed ‘Swift Quakes.’
The research team installed strong motion sensors at the stadium to measure the seismic signals generated by the dancing and jumping of the more than 70,000 attendees. By analyzing the data with spectrograms, which are graphs that track wave length frequencies, the scientists confirmed the crowd’s movements indeed created seismic activity.
Remarkably, the song that registered the highest magnitude on their scale, with a reading of 0.851, was Swift’s hit “Shake It Off.” This finding, recently published by the team, highlights the intense energy and enthusiasm of Swift’s fan base, proving that Swifties can literally move the earth with their collective celebration of their favorite artist’s music.
NYC migrants shelter in basement; Adams calls for sanctuary law change
Seventy-four migrants alternated turns sheltering in a Queen’s basement until a neighbor filed a complaint, leading to the migrants getting kicked out of the store. Simultaneously, New York City Mayor Eric Adams, D, is expressing frustration with the immigration system and advocating for changes to a decades-old sanctuary city law that offers certain protections to migrants in cities illegally.
Forty migrants were taking shelter in a New York City furniture store’s basement containing 14 bunk beds and 13 mattresses on the floor. The neighbor filed a complaint about the e-bikes migrants parked at the back of the building overnight, calling it a fire risk.
The furniture store owner, Ebou Sarr, received two violations for running the unsanctioned migrant shelter. Sarr stands by allowing the migrants to stay, emphasizing the hardships each person was going through.
Some migrants who were sheltering inside the store said they now try to sleep in the Subway as they look for any type of shelter.
“They don’t want to go,” Sarr said. “They don’t want to go through that again. This morning most of them called me, they said what they’ve been through is, they have never been through that last night. They’ve been through hell last night trying to find a place to stay. And they were, they were fine. We were fine. We were just, you know, doing what we have to do.”
Around 65,000 asylum-seekers are currently in New York City’s system receiving services and housing. More than 180,000 migrants are in the city, and the majority are in need of basic necessities while they wait for court dates amidst a backlog of asylum claims.
Adams said the housing shortage is only going to get worse as the growing demand further shrinks New York City’s supply.
“We have an inventory issue in the city and people should not be living in unsafe environments,” Adams said. “We’re going to do our job to investigate them, give them the appropriate shelter system. But the reality is with 180,000 people entering the city also looking for housing, over 65,000 currently in our system, if we don’t build more, we’re going to be building more problems.”
Adams also said it is not only a lack of housing contributing to a growing migrant crisis, but a lack of opportunity as thousands wait for work permits.
“How about taking those thousand people, training them for all these jobs we have available, so they’re not sitting around all day every day for months,” Adams said. “There’s a human element to this. You don’t have to be a behavioral scientist to state that we’re creating a terrible environment.”
Adams is challenging a portion of a sanctuary city law that prohibits the city from involving or alerting federal immigration officials to protect migrants from potential deportation.
Instead, Adams wants to cooperate with federal officials when migrants commit crimes in the city.
“I don’t believe people who are violent in our city should have the privilege of being in our city,” Adams said. “Like the individual did a serious crime, then got out and assaulted and did a robbery, you don’t have the right to be in our city and tarnish the overwhelming number i hear following the rules.”
A recent Monmouth University poll found that the majority of Americans believe illegal immigration is a “very serious problem.” The poll’s release comes as President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump plan head to the border on Thursday, Feb. 29.
Biden, Trump to visit U.S.-Mexico border on same day
As Michigan voters cast their ballots in Tuesday’s primary elections, with immigration at the forefront of their minds, the upcoming simultaneous border visits by President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump later this week highlight the pressing nature of immigration issues in today’s political landscape. Biden, last at the southern border in January 2023, faces criticism from Trump and Republicans over his approach to managing migrant crossings into the U.S.
Biden and Trump are making dueling trips to the Mexico border in Texas on Thursday, AP sources say https://t.co/nqKQxVhfnz
President Biden is set to travel to Brownsville, Texas, where the White House has announced he will meet with U.S. Border Patrol agents and law enforcement officials on Thursday. He plans to urge Congress to pass bipartisan border security measures during his visit.
Meanwhile, Trump plans to visit the border town of Eagle Pass, where his campaign has stated he will deliver remarks.
A Monmouth University poll released on Monday, Feb. 26, highlights the national concern over illegal immigration, with six in ten Americans viewing it as a very serious problem. Furthermore, 53 percent of Americans are in favor of building a wall along the southern border, indicating significant public interest in border security measures.
“Illegal immigration has taken center stage as a defining issue this presidential election year. Other Monmouth polling found this to be Biden’s weakest policy area, including among his fellow Democrats,” said Patrick Murray, director of the independent Monmouth University Polling Institute.
Biden considers executive action to handle crisis at U.S.-Mexico border: The Morning Rundown, Feb. 22, 2024
President Biden is reportedly considering taking executive action for the migrant crisis at the southern border. And it’s the return of “panda diplomacy” as China plans to send two giant pandas to the U.S.
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Reports: Biden considering executive action to handle border crisis
President Joe Biden is considering taking executive action to get a handle on the migrant crisis at the southern border. According to multiple reports citing officials within the administration, the changes being considered are not yet finalized and would be weeks away from taking effect.
CNN reported the Justice Department is reviewing the proposed executive action to determine if it could withstand legal challenges. In January, U.S. border patrol reported more than 124,000 migrant encounters along the U.S.-Mexico border. According to federal data, apprehensions dropped 50% from December 2023 amid ongoing talks between the U.S. and Mexico.
The news of a possible executive action comes after Republicans blocked a bipartisan bill in the Senate addressing immigration reform and foreign aid. A White House spokesperson released a statement in response to these reports criticizing Republicans for rejecting the border security bill.
“No executive action, no matter how aggressive, can deliver the significant policy reforms and additional resources Congress can provide,” the spokesperson added.
Boeing replaces head of 737 Max program after midair mishap
Investigators believed bolts needed to keep the panel in place were missing when it left the Boeing factory. The FAA later limited Boeing’s production of 737 Max jets. In an email to employees, Boeing said several leadership changes were underway as the company focuses on ensuring every one of its planes meets or exceeds safety requirements.
Chipmaker Nvidia’s profits surge amid growing demand for AI
The California company makes chips for AI systems developed by Microsoft and Meta. Nvidia currently accounts for around 70% of all AI semiconductor sales. The company said revenue for the current quarter is expected to be $24 billion, an increase of 233% from 2023.
President Biden’s dog ‘bit staff 24 times in one year’
Secret Service records released recently have unveiled that President Joe Biden’s German shepherd, Commander, was involved in at least 24 biting incidents over the past year, more than what was initially reported. The disclosure, which includes 269 pages of related emails, sheds light on the severity and frequency of these incidents.
The emails document the concern among Secret Service agents, with at least 11 of these incidents necessitating medical attention. The situation has highlighted the challenges faced by security personnel in managing the First Family’s pet within the confines of the White House.
Commander, Biden's banished German shepherd, had at least 25 biting incidents in a year https://t.co/ntR2hK6jhB
Commander, a gift to Biden from his brother James in December 2021, had to be removed from the White House premises in October. The decision came after one particularly severe incident where a Secret Service agent was bitten and required medical treatment. The two-year-old German shepherd’s behavior has sparked discussions about pet management and safety protocols within the presidential residence.
China to send more pandas to US, bringing back panda diplomacy
The announcement came months after a family of pandas who had lived at the Smithsonian National Zoo since 1972 was sent back to China, and as the last remaining family of pandas living in the U.S. at the Atlanta Zoo is set to return to China next year. According to San Diego Zoo officials, if all goes to plan, the zoo could welcome the new pandas as soon as the end of summer 2024. In return, the Associated Press reports, zoos typically pay the China Wildlife Conservation Association $1 million per year.
At a meeting in San Francisco in November 2023, Chinese President Xi Jinping and President Biden reportedly talked about panda diplomacy, which has long been a part of U.S.-China relations. While those relations have been rocky, Xi said at the meeting that China would again begin to lend the U.S. pandas to strengthen relations between our “two peoples.”
Odysseus, @Int_Machines’ uncrewed Moon lander, is targeted to touch down at the lunar South Pole at 5:30pm ET (2230 UTC) Feb. 22. Watch live with us as this Moon delivery brings science instruments to study the region. https://t.co/7U0WfJG56bpic.twitter.com/9JXBdD4y6K
NASA paid $118 million for the private spacecraft to deliver six experiments, including a stereo camera and radio receiver. The agency will be live-streaming the landing on its NASA TV service. Odysseus hopes to be the first private spacecraft ever to touch down on the moon and the first American moon landing since 1972.
NYPD warns of migrant crime in NYC after shelter altercation caught on video
The New York Police Department said there is a migrant crime wave in the city. At the city’s largest migrant shelter on Randall’s Island, a recent altercation between police and migrants was caught on camera, Thursday, Feb. 15.
In the video, recorded from inside the shelter and posted to social media, migrants are seen throwing large objects at officers. Seconds later, there is a migrant on the ground surrounded by officers.
Police said the migrant man was resisting arrest and fighting with a security guard after being asked to leave because the shelter said he wasn’t supposed to be there.
The struggle to apprehend the man continued for several minutes. Officers carried him out by his arms and legs. More objects flew at officers before they rushed for the doors.
The migrant was arrested but prosecutors declined to move forward with the case, according to sources who spoke with the New York Post.
This isn’t an isolated event at the shelter on Randall’s Island. There have been several other altercations leading to a permanent police presence at the facility.
Since the start of 2024, a migrant was stabbed to death by another migrant in the food line. Two weeks later, a security guard was stabbed in the neck but survived — 18 migrants were taken into custody following the incident. One migrant was arrested after fighting police while intoxicated, sending an officer to the hospital with injuries.
While these are some of the incidents that have happened on the island, another altercation caught on camera in Times Square received national attention after migrants assaulted officers in the streets.
Police are warning of a rise in crime related to migrants, but New York City Mayor Eric Adams said the majority of them are not part of the problem.
“The overwhelming majority of migrants in our care came to our city in search of a better life and the American dream,” Adams said. “The small number of those disrupting that journey for the rest of the migrants in our care by acting violently will face enforcement to the fullest extent of the law.”
Why major cities are slashing services to pay for the migrant crisis
Bus after bus, major cities far from the border are starting to buckle under budgetary pressures of the nation’s migrant crisis. S&P Global Ratings is monitoring the credit health of New York, Denver and Chicago as they face sheltering tens of thousands of asylum-seekers.
“The issue will destroy New York City,” Mayor Eric Adams said last year.
New York
For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, New York City spent $1.5 billion in asylum-seeker costs. In the current fiscal year, which ends June 30, 2024, the city expects costs to nearly triple.
The city budgeted $4.2 billion to care for incoming migrants, most bused from the border. In fiscal year 2025, that category will increase to $4.9 billion.
To offset costs, Adams announced 5% budget cuts for every city agency, from education to public safety.
“It’s really the cities that are on the hook to cover the majority of the expenses,” said Felix Winnekens, lead analyst of public finance for S&P Global Ratings.
“New York City is in a bit of a unique situation because of its right to shelter,” Winnekens told Straight Arrow News. “So basically, anyone in the city – could be a homeless person, could be a migrant or an asylum-seeker – that needs shelter, the city has to provide shelter. That’s part of a consent decree that the city entered into back in the 1980s.”
Adams has moved to suspend aspects of right-to-shelter while the city currently houses more than 60,000 asylum-seekers.
The state, which supports Adams’ request to suspend, has had to dip into reserves to help shoulder costs, Winnekens said.
Chicago
In Illinois, a battle is brewing between governments. The state, Cook County and Chicago officials estimated it will cost $321 million to support migrant operations through the end of the year.
While the state and Cook County have pledged $250 million, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has reportedly backed away from the city committing to $71 million to cover the shortfall.
“I don’t believe anyone in Chicago is questioning my commitment to this mission,” Johnson said.
According to the city, there are currently more than 12,000 migrants in Chicago shelters as of Feb. 20.
Denver
Denver is facing a $180 million gap in the city budget that must be filled to shelter existing and incoming asylum-seekers.
“Without any federal support, without any work authorization, without changes to policy, we are going to have to make changes to what we can do in terms of our city budget,” Denver Mayor Mike Johnston said earlier this month. “This is a plan for shared sacrifice.”
The Department of Motor Vehicles and Parks and Recreation are the first areas in the city to see cuts, but they won’t be the last, Johnston warned.
In 2023, the city received more migrants per capita than any other city in the nation.
A national problem without a national response
Unlike the federal government, most cities and states are required to pass balanced budgets. When migrant costs surge, money has to be cut from other services to make ends meet.
“We do not see any near-term pressure on the ratings, but I think it’ll be a continued struggle for those cities to find the right balance between cutting expenditures and making ends meet to address the increase in asylum-seeker costs,” Winnekens said.
While Abbott criticized the federal government’s border policies, the Democratic mayors of these affected cities also took issue with the federal response.
“We’re getting no support on this national crisis,” Adams said last year.
With Congress at a perceived impasse, Winnekens said cities could be on their own to shoulder costs at least through the election. While New York, Chicago and Denver have faced the brunt of migration after border towns, S&P is also eyeing Washington, D.C., Boston, Los Angeles and San Francisco as asylum-seekers seek out more big cities.
Michigan asks residents to help house, settle migrants
Michigan is encouraging residents to welcome migrants into their homes to help integrate them into society. Michigan, like many other states, is experiencing an influx of migrants traveling north from the southern border as they await asylum claims.
Shelters in Detroit are over capacity, leading to migrant transfers, which send migrants to hotels or other shelters with room. The city is directly asking residents to help ease the influx.
Michigan’s Labor and Economic Opportunity Department explained how residents can help through a sponsorship program called “Welcome Corp.”
Sponsors would be asked to pick migrant families up from the airport, secure a place for the migrants to stay temporarily, enroll migrant children in a local school and help adults with employment opportunities. Volunteers must commit for at least 90 days.
The U.S. State Department launched the Welcome Corp in 2023. There are partnerships across Minnesota, Massachusetts and New York. The migrants that families sponsor come from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua or Venezuela.
“I’m confident if you join the Welcome Corp, you won’t just change the lives of the refugees you help, you’ll change your own lives as well,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said of the group.
Residents are not required to help house migrants, however, similar requests are getting more common across the U.S. as crossings at the southern border increase.
“Expanded refugee resettlement pathways empower more Michiganders to support our state’s growing refugee population and build a more welcoming and inclusive Michigan for all,” Poppy Hernandez, Michigan’s chief equity and inclusion officer, said after news of the state’s volunteer request.