ICE could release thousands of detained migrants due to budget deficit
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is reportedly considering a plan to release thousands of migrants held in detention facilities due to a lack of funding to sustain operations. Detention facility operations amount to some of the costliest expenses for the agency. To trim costs while facing a budget deficit, more migrants could potentially be released in the U.S., according to drafted plans first obtained by The Washington Post.
Releasing migrants could ease the strain on ICE’s budget, but it could also add to a problem major cities face. Migrants are already being processed and released by other border agencies by the thousands. Streets and shelters in Denver, Chicago, New York City and others are overcrowded by migrants awaiting asylum court proceedings.
The immigrants detained by ICE crossed the border illegally or are charged with crimes and awaiting deportation. Because of the historic number of crossings at the southern border in 2023, the demand on resources is straining the entire immigration system and burning through funding.
ICE has an annual budget of $8.5 billion but faces a $700 million deficit. It is the largest shortfall the agency says it has faced in recent years, according to the Post.
News of this internal memo suggesting mass migrant releases to shave costs comes after the agency was heavily relying on Congress to pass the $118 billion dollar foreign aid package that failed in February.
Nearly $8 billion of that package’s funding would have gone to ICE, and the agency could have put $3 billion toward detention efforts. Lawmakers failed to pass the aid package after they couldn’t come to an agreement on how to fund and address the border crisis.
These developments have forced ICE to look at alternatives to cut costs, including cutting bed space. The internal proposal to save money would reduce capacity from 38,000 beds to 22,000.
This route would involve the potential release of thousands of detained immigrants and it would just add to what other border agencies are already doing. Since 2021, Customs and Border Protection has documented more than 2.3 million migrants processed and released into the U.S.
NYC under scrutiny for releasing migrants without bail, migrant debit cards
Manhattan’s district attorney is being criticized by fellow state Democrats over migrants released without bail after attacking police officers. New York City is also getting national attention for giving migrant families debit cards with a monthly allowance.
A Jan. 27 attack on New York police officers landed seven migrants in jail temporarily. Six were released without bail following a decision by District Attorney Alvin Bragg. One migrant remains held on $15,000 bail for allegedly instigating the attack.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, D, and New York State Attorney General Letitia James, D, both criticized Bragg.
“All I can say is that under the laws of New York — the bail laws I was instrumental in changing that allow judges more discretion — certainly an assault on a police officer is bail eligible,” Hochul said. “All I know is that an assault on a police officer means you should be sitting in jail.”
“Bail should’ve been set, it was a serious felony. Why it was not set? I do not know,” James said.
When the migrants were released from custody, they flipped off camera crews as they walked free. While the migrants are ordered to be back in court on Feb. 20, police sources told CBS that four of the six migrants have already caught a bus headed to California.
The District Attorney Bragg stands by his decision as his office continues to investigate the incident.
“There’s no evidence in this case, we are investigating allegations of it,” Bragg said. “This is the beginning of the process, and we will hold those accountable who did these heinous acts.”
Meanwhile, New York City Mayor Eric Adams, D, is defending the decision to give debit cards with a $1,000 monthly limit to some migrants in the city.
“I know that the first brush you look at it and you’re like, ‘Wait you’re giving people cards?’ But once you dig into the numbers you’ll see it’s a small policy shift in a pilot project with 500 people,” Adams said. “If this is successful, we’ll expand it even more.”
The city is losing millions in food prepared for migrants that goes to waste. The debit card program will allegedly save $7.2 million a year by cutting down on that waste. Migrants have to sign a paper saying the debit card will only be spent on food, groceries and baby supplies.
NY Gov. Hochul suggests deporting migrants accused of attacking officers
New York City Mayor Eric Adams says he is “disgusted” after watching a video of two NYPD officers being assaulted in Times Square over the weekend of Jan. 19. According to NYPD, the group that allegedly assaulted the officers mostly consisted of migrants who are in the U.S. illegally.
“You saw the video. Reprehensible. Cowards,” said John Chell, chief of patrol for NYPD.
In the video, two uniformed police officers tell a group of people to keep moving along the sidewalk. Moments later, a scuffle ensues as the officers attempt to apprehend a man in a yellow jacket. In the midst of the scuffle, they all crash to the ground.
Several people can then be seen surrounding the officers, throwing punches, and kicking them in their faces as the officers wrestle with the man in the yellow jacket.
The entire attack lasted about 25 seconds before the crowd dispersed. So far, police have arrested five people.
“The four who were arrested [on scene] should be sitting in Rikers right now,” Chell said. “On bail. They should be indicted this week and taken off our streets.”
Most of the assailants are back on the streets as the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office said four of the five suspects have been released without bail. The suspects are charged with assault on a police officer, gang assault and disorderly conduct. According to the district attorney, they’re facing a maximum of 7 years in prison.
“I think that’s something that should be looked at,” Gov. Hochul told reporters when asked if the suspects should be deported. “I mean, if someone commits a crime against a police officer in the state of New York and they’re not here legally, definitely worth checking into.”
According to the Straight Arrow News Media Miss™ tool, this story is a Media Miss for the left. The Media Landscape indicates that while right-leaning and center-oriented outlets are covering this story, fewer left-leaning outlets are reporting on the topic.
The suspects arrested so far range in age from 19 to 24. Investigators are still looking through surveillance video and interviewing witnesses to see if more arrests need to be made. Prosecutors say more charges could be brought in the case.
Proposed solutions to migrant influx in Chicago cause conflict among Dems
A wealthy Chicago suburb is considering having residents open up their homes to migrants who are on the streets of the Windy City. The idea is being pitched as a possible answer to help with the influx of migrants arriving at Chicago bus stations as lawmakers struggle to find a solution.
Chicago has been a sanctuary city for decades. The designation implies it will protect migrants and assist them with city services. This attracts migrants, knowing resources will be made available to them.
However, some Democrats are saying city resources are becoming depleted because of the influx of migrants arriving. Democrats contend the resources would otherwise be helping other minorities in need.
Now, Chicago is being sued over its handling of the migrant influx.
“We would like to see our status as a sanctuary city removed,” Chicago Democratic government employee Cata Truss said. “We would also like to see a better plan in place. There is no money to take care of the migrants, nor is there money to take care of the people that are there.”
Not only are Democrats coming for the city’s left-leaning policies, but some are also looking to recall their Democratic mayor over the migrant crisis.
The crisis has also spread into the suburbs where one Naperville councilman is vowing not to use his city’s taxpayer money to house migrants. Instead, he is asking residents if they would be willing to help and house migrant families.
“We do know there’s increasing pressure for suburbs to, I guess, do our part,” Naperville councilman Josh McBroom said. “You know we do have a very affluent community, a lot of big homes. What I would like to do is direct staff to create a sign up sheet. So for individuals that would be willing to house migrant families. And if there’s people to do that, God bless them.”
Big sanctuary cities like Chicago are struggling to keep up with tens of thousands of migrants who have entered the U.S., and every month at the southern border, hundreds of thousands continue to cross.
Texas bus company sues Chicago over law targeting buses carrying migrants
Fighting between state and city leaders is leaving migrants out in the cold — literally and figuratively. With the near-constant busing of thousands of migrants from Texas to cities like New York and Chicago, finding warm shelter space is next to impossible. Chicago uses public transportation buses as makeshift warming centers for migrants, many of whom officials said were dropped off with no winter clothing.
“I slept sitting because there is almost no space left,” Angelo Travieso, a migrant sent from Texas to Chicago, said. “The buses are also small, and you practically have to stay inside because of the heating because it is deadly cold outside.”
The volume of migrants being dropped off has led city officials in Chicago to implement rules restricting where and when buses could drop off migrants and to notify the city ahead of time or risk having buses impounded and fines of up to $3,000. The rule rippled across the Windy City, with suburbs and counties surrounding Chicago implementing similar requirements, even putting up signs warning buses carrying migrants to keep driving.
You seem to have no interest in working on bipartisan solutions to the border crisis because that would put an end to your cruel political game, but I am writing to you today hoping to appeal to your humanity.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker, D-Illinois
“So when we started learning about these buses dropping in our surrounding counties, counties like Kankakee county, for example, I spoke with Sheriff Downey, who told me that he learned that several buses had dropped in his county at 4:30 in the morning, basically kicked the people off the bus and said, ‘Welcome to Chicago’ and left,” said Ken Briley, Grundy County sheriff.
“You seem to have no interest in working on bipartisan solutions to the border crisis because that would put an end to your cruel political game, but I am writing to you today hoping to appeal to your humanity,” Pritzker wrote.
While Pritzker acknowledged the federal government does need to make meaningful steps in reforming border policy, he concluded there needs to be action “for mercy for the thousands of people who are powerless to speak for themselves.”
In a Jan. 12, 2024, press release, Abbott detailed sending more than 100,000 migrants to cities nationwide, including 30,800 to Chicago since August 2022.
Docs show DHS knew migrants died before claiming TX blocked rescue efforts
Following the death of a mother and two children in the Rio Grande River, a filing from the Department of Justice confirmed that the migrants had died an hour before federal officials made contact with state officials. Initial headlines blamed Texas officials for “physically barring” and preventing federal officials from saving the migrants drowning near Eagle Pass, Texas.
The confusion stemmed from the entrance gate of Shelby Park, a park in Eagle Pass on the border of the Rio Grande. This area used to be controlled by Border Patrol until the week of Jan. 8, 2024.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, R, said the federal government was not doing enough to stop the flow of people coming from Mexico to Texas at that section of the border. Now, the Texas National Guard is standing post, not allowing migrants into Shelby Park.
On the night of the incident when three migrants died, Border Patrol still wanted to go inside the park area following reports of other migrants in distress. Border Patrol was denied entry and Texas officials apprehended the other migrants.
The Biden administration has asked the Supreme Court to intervene. The battle over who has jurisdiction could come to a head at Shelby Park.
State, federal officials trade blame over migrant drownings
A mother and two children have drowned trying to cross the Rio Grande into Texas. The border tragedy has pitted federal and state officials against each other once again.
The Biden administration claims Texas prevented border agents from trying to rescue the migrants. However, Texas said that description of events is “wholly inaccurate,” and that the migrants were already dead when Border Patrol contacted them.
This story is being covered across the political spectrum.
Regardless of coverage, however, the facts of the story seem to depend on the source as federal and state officials are reciting different versions of events.
“In responding to a distress call from the Mexican government, Border Patrol agents were physically barred by Texas officials from entering the park,” the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement. “The Texas governor’s policies are cruel, dangerous, and inhumane, and Texas’s blatant disregard for federal authority over immigration poses grave risks.”
“The Texas Military Department and the Texas National Guard did not grant access to Border Patrol agents to save the migrants,” Texas Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar said.
According to the Texas Military’s investigation, when Border Patrol contacted the state’s National Guard to request access to Shelby Park, Mexico officials were already recovering three bodies on its side of the river. Border Patrol requested access to the park to help with two other migrants who crossed with the group. Those two people were apprehended by Texas guardsmen. Texas officials patrolled the river to ensure no other migrants were in distress.
Turns out @RepCuellar (& some media) were so eager to point finger at Texas for drowning of migrants they forgot to get the facts.
When BP requested access to river the drownings had already occurred & found in MX.
“Turns out @RepCuellar (& some media) were so eager to point finger at Texas for drowning of migrants they forgot to the get the facts,” Gov. Abbott said on X. “The fact is the deaths are because of Biden’s open border magnet.”
This particular portion of the border at Shelby Park is an area that Texas officials took control of last week. The state said federal officials weren’t doing enough at this sector to deter illegal crossings, and they are not letting Border Patrol agents enter the park.
However, the state’s authority to take over the responsibility from the federal government is being challenged in court by the Justice Department. This is just the latest in a slew of legal battles as state and federal officials spar over the border crisis.
Straight Arrow News strives to provide unbiased, fact-based news in addition to offering a comprehensive look at how the media is covering stories that matter most. Learn more about the Media Miss™ tool and decide for yourself.
2,000 migrants shelter in NYC high school, students pivot to remote learning
Some high school students in New York will be learning remotely while their school is occupied by thousands of migrants in need of temporary shelter as a storm rolls through. Around 2,000 migrants are in need of shelter as high winds and dangerous flood conditions threaten the city.
Migrants were staying at a shelter site at Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn which was made up of seven large climate-controlled tents. However, the city said the site wasn’t a safe place to be as high winds could damage or topple the tents.
Migrants were loaded up on dozens of buses and sent to James Madison High School where they will be temporarily stay in gymnasiums, the cafeteria, and the auditorium to ride out to storm.
The temporary solution by the city has received some criticism.
“Every time that there is a flood, are they going to find a new school to move migrants to?” Inna Vernikov, a New York City councilwoman, posted on X. “Our schools are not migrant shelters. They are a place of learning for our students paid for by our taxpayer dollars. This is not good for anyone, the migrants, their children and not students and families.”
New York Assemblyman Michael Novakhov is leading an emergency rally outside the school alongside concerned parents and community members.
“City officials are now setting a dangerous precedence for the future of this crisis – opening public institutions that are supposed to be among the safest places for our youth to an illegal and largely unknown migrant population,” New York Assemblyman Mike Reilly said on X.
Many of the migrants in New York City have been processed by the government and released while they wait for their asylum hearings. More than 157,000 asylum-seekers are in New York City with more arriving every day.
New Jersey officials order cops to ensure immigrants sent from Texas go to NYC
In New Jersey, elected leaders want nothing to do with the ongoing migrant crisis dispute between New York City’s Democratic Mayor Eric Adams and Texas’ Republican Gov. Greg Abbott. However, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy is criticizing Abbott’s actions, emphasizing the need for a solution.
“The last thing we need is governors like Greg Abbott doing political stunts,” Murphy said. “This is not a time for stunts. This is a time to figure out a solution that is broad and comprehensive.”
In the last week, Abbott has bused more than 1,000 migrants to New Jersey after Mayor Adams signed an executive order requiring chartered buses from Texas to give 32-hour advance notice when dropping off migrants. The order also limits the time those buses can arrive in the port authority.
Abbott circumvented the executive order and instructed the buses to deliver migrants to New Jersey, specifically in municipalities such as Secaucus, Trenton, and Edison. This was done to enable the migrants to utilize public transportation to reach Gotham.
New Jersey cities — like Secaucus, Trenton and Edison — prompted local leaders to express resource limitations. To ensure migrants do not stay, New Jersey law enforcement officers have been told to make sure migrants board trains for New York City, according to photos obtained by the New York Post.
New Jersey leaders said they don’t have the resources to care for the migrants.
“This is not a local issue,” said Edison Mayor Sam Joshi on “Good Day New York.” “I can’t be any more clear that as a mayor, you know, Edison does not have the ability or means or financial means to support migrants.”
Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the city’s inability to accommodate the influx.
“We don’t have the capacity to house them or to feed them or take care of their medical needs as much as we would like to,” said Gusciora in an interview with CBS Philadelphia.
However, Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop expressed a willingness to help migrants.
“At the end of the day, they’re desperate people who need help,” Fulop said. “And we want to do the right thing and be helpful.”
In response, Mayor Adams is suing 17 charter bus companies for $708 million, accusing them of violating state law. He criticized Abbott’s use of migrants as political pawns, labeling it chaotic and inhumane.
South Korean opposition leader stabbed, attacker arrested as cameras record: The Morning Rundown, Jan. 2, 2024
An attacker stabs the leader of South Korea’s opposition party during a press event. And a plane with nearly 400 people on board catches fire while landing in Japan. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2024.
Political leader in South Korea stabbed on livestream
The leader of South Korea’s opposition Democratic party continues to recover this morning after being wounded in a stabbing that was live-streamed just hours ago. Lee Jae-Myung was stabbed in the neck during a visit to the country’s southern city of Busan.
This type of violence must never be tolerated under any circumstances.
President Yoon Suk Yeol
Lee was touring the site of a proposed airport in South Korea when the video showed the assailant wearing a paper crown with Lee’s name on it approaching him. Police say the suspect asked Lee for an autograph and then stabbed him in the neck with a 7-inch knife.
The video shows the 66-year-old attacker being taken down and restrained by several in the crowd. Photographs from the scene show Lee on the ground with people pressing a handkerchief against his neck. He was taken to a hospital for emergency treatment; health officials said his injuries appeared to be non-life-threatening. Lee narrowly lost the 2022 presidential election to Yoon Suk Yeol. The president condemned the attack in a statement from his office.
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“This type of violence must never be tolerated under any circumstances,” Yoon Suk Yeol said.
Lee is currently on trial for bribery allegations. He has denied any wrongdoing. The stabbing suspect’s motives remain under investigation.
Japan earthquake kills at least 48 on New Year’s Day
At least 48 people have been killed after a 7.6 magnitude earthquake struck Japan on New Year’s Day. Rescue teams continue to attempt to reach isolated areas where buildings were toppled, and fires are burning in hopes of finding more survivors.
The Japanese government said there are around 120 cases of people awaiting rescue. The afternoon quake led to tsunami waves striking Japan’s western coast, sending people fleeing for higher ground. The earthquake knocked out power to tens of thousands, damaged rail services, and forced the closure of an airport due to cracks in its runway. Japan’s meteorological agency is reporting roughly 200 aftershocks have been detected and warning more tremors could strike in the coming days following the country’s deadliest earthquake since 2016.
Airplane catches fire on runway in Japan
Also in Japan, a new video, this morning shows a plane with nearly 400 people aboard catching fire as it skids down the runway after local media reports it crashed into another aircraft while landing. The video shows the Japan Airlines plane engulfed in flames at the airport in Tokyo around 6 p.m. local time on Tuesday, Jan. 2, with firefighters working to extinguish the blaze.
Officials said the plane collided with a Coast Guard aircraft, local media has reported that most of the Coast Guard crew was killed. The airline said all 379 passengers and 12 crew members were safely evacuated.
Sources: Illegal crossings at U.S. border reach historic numbers
Illegal crossings at the southern border saw record high numbers last month, according to sources with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Fox News reported that sources said more than 302,000 migrants were documented attempting to cross the border in December, making it the highest total ever recorded for a single month, as well as the first time the total has surpassed the 300,000 mark.
The historic numbers come as Texas continues to send migrants to cities run by Democratic mayors; Gov. Greg Abbott’s, R, office said the operation is an effort to force the Biden administration to secure the border.
Over the holiday weekend, New Jersey officials said 13 charter buses carrying nearly 450 migrants from Texas on their way to New York City were detoured to New Jersey in an apparent attempt to bypass an executive order passed last week by New York City Mayor Eric Adams, D, limiting when charter bus companies can drop off migrants in the city and requiring 32-hours advanced notice. Officials said once in New Jersey, bus chaperones assisted the migrants in transferring to trains or other buses headed to New York.
Deadly upstate New York New Year’s morning crash being investigated as possible terrorism
Two people are dead and several others injured after a crash outside of a concert venue in Rochester, New York, in the early morning of Monday, Jan. 1. According to law enforcement, the crash is being investigated as possible terrorism.
The collision happened just before 1:00 a.m. on New Year’s Day; police said a Ford Expedition barreled through an Uber that was leaving a parking lot at the Kodak Center, bursting into flames, killing two passengers and injuring the Uber driver. The fiery crash spilled into a nearby crosswalk, hitting pedestrians and two other vehicles; according to police, three people using the crosswalk were hit, one left with life-threatening injuries, and two suffering non-life-threatening injuries.
Law enforcement said the driver of the Ford, a Syracuse man, was transported to the hospital with life-threatening injuries. Police said he rented the large SUV from the Syracuse airport, and after firefighters were able to put the fire out, they found at least a dozen gas cans in and around the SUV.
The Joint Terrorism Task Force is leading an investigation. While authorities don’t yet know if the crash was terrorism, they said it is being investigated as such until they can determine what happened and why.
‘Steamboat Willie’ Mickey Mouse enters public domain
Straight Arrow News reporter Simone Del Rosario explained that it is the day Disney has dreaded for decades and spent considerable capital trying to avoid. You can find Simone’s full report here on Public Domain Day.