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Trump hits dramatic milestone in massive departure from Biden border plan: 'What a difference'

Fri, 15 May 2026 17:43:26 -0400

The Trump administration marked a full year of "zero releases" at the southern border on Friday, a milestone officials touted as evidence that the president has effectively ended the catch-and-release policies that defined the Biden-era border crisis.

"Zero releases" refers to U.S. border patrol not releasing illegal border crossers into the U.S. interior after apprehension. It does not mean zero illegal crossings or zero apprehensions.

In a news release announcing the decline in releases at the southern border, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) pointed to broader enforcement statistics showing illegal crossings and apprehensions at levels officials said have not been seen in more than three decades. CBP said Border Patrol recorded 8,943 southwestern border apprehensions in April, 94% lower than the Biden administration’s monthly average, 96% below the December 2023 peak during Biden’s tenure and fewer than the number apprehended in just three days in April 2024.

"The days of catch and release are over," said Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin. "We are enforcing the nation’s laws and sending illegal aliens back to their home countries."

TRUMP ADMIN RELEASES SHOCKINGLY LOW NUMBER OF ILLEGAL ALIENS COMPARED TO BIDEN YEARS: 'UNPRECEDENTED'

Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, a senior fellow at the American Immigration Council, told Fox News Digital that the administration’s claim of "zero releases" from Border Patrol custody "does appear true," but noted that the figure does not capture migrants transferred to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody and later released on bond, parole, medical or humanitarian grounds, or after winning their cases.

"What a difference," CBP Commissioner Rodney S. Scott said. "The U.S. Border Patrol released zero illegal aliens into our country again this month, unlike April 2024 when more than 68,000 were released under President Biden. Every minute of every day President Trump’s border security policies are making every American safer."

DHS said the April daily average of 298 apprehensions was lower than a single hour during the height of the Biden-era surge, when officials said Border Patrol was averaging 336 apprehensions per hour in December 2023. CBP also said total encounters so far this fiscal year, 215,876, are 13% lower than the total recorded in April 2024 alone.

Beyond illegal crossings, CBP highlighted drug and trade enforcement numbers, noting that nationwide seizures of cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, fentanyl and marijuana by weight increased 60% from April 2024. The agency said it seized 463 pounds of fentanyl in April and has seized 61% more drugs so far this fiscal year than during the same period in FY 2024.

US DRUG OVERDOSE DEATHS PLUMMET 20% AS TRUMP ADMINISTRATION CRACKS DOWN ON SOUTHERN BORDER

"The specific claim of catch and release is in reference to the practice involving Border Patrol releasing migrants directly from Border Patrol custody," Reichlin-Melnick clarified when speaking to Fox News Digital. "Some people are still crossing the border, and then eventually being released. It’s just that they’re not being released directly from the Border Patrol."

Reichlin-Melnick acknowledged that Trump’s hardline immigration approach has produced results at the border, saying apprehensions are "down significantly" and that "the hardened tactics against migrants has produced results." But he argued the administration’s policies have gone too far by effectively shutting off access to asylum at the southern border.

"The Trump administration has sent the message to the world that the United States is no longer a place where people can seek safety," Reichlin-Melnick said.

Reichlin-Melnick agreed the asylum system had long needed major reform, including more asylum officers, more immigration judges and changes to screening standards. But, he said the goal should not be to end access to the system altogether, something he suggested the Trump administration has effectively done.

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"I think most Americans believe we should be a place where people can find safety," he said, invoking Ronald Reagan’s image of America as a "shining city on a hill." "I don’t think the answer was to shut it off completely."

DHS officials, however, have argued the dramatic decline in border crossings shows the administration’s policies are working after years of record-setting illegal immigration under Biden.

Fox News Digital reached out to representatives for Joe Biden, but did not receive a response in time for publication.

Former Kansas mayor who pleaded guilty to illegal voting turns himself in to ICE

Thu, 14 May 2026 16:51:59 -0400

The former mayor of a small Kansas town who pleaded guilty last month in connection with illegally voting in several elections turned himself in to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Wednesday.

Jose Ceballos-Armendariz, a Mexican green card holder, appeared at the ICE office in Wichita, FOX4KC reported. He is being held in the ICE's detention facility in Chase County.

"I don’t know what’s going to happen," Ceballos said outside the facility. "I don’t know where they’re going to take me and what I can and can’t do inside there."

KANSAS MAYOR HIT WITH CRIMINAL CHARGES FOR ALLEGEDLY VOTING AS NONCITIZEN IN SEVERAL ELECTIONS

Fox News Digital has reached out to Ceballos’ attorney for comment.

Ceballos, who formerly served as mayor of Coldwater, Kansas, for two terms, pleaded guilty in April to three counts of disorderly election conduct following a prosecution by Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach’s office.

He was issued a green card in 1990 and applied for U.S. citizenship in February. Ceballos also has a prior conviction for battery from 1995.

NICK SHIRLEY ALLEGES POTENTIAL VOTER FRAUD LOOPHOLE IN CALIFORNIA THAT COULD ENABLE ILLEGALS TO VOTE

On his citizenship application, Ceballos allegedly falsely claimed that he had never previously claimed to be a U.S. citizen.

He stated he thought his status as a green card holder with legal permanent residency gave him the right to vote in U.S. elections, FOXKC reported. Ceballos said he felt "misled" because he believed his situation would be resolved following his plea deal.

"Obviously, we’ll go through the process," Ceballos said. "We’ll do what they want us to do and, you know, take one day at a time. Just do what they ask; that is my goal."

In a statement to Fox News Digital, DHS Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis advocated for the SAVE America Act, the federal legislation designed to require documentary proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote in federal elections.

"The SAVE program is a critical tool for state and local governments to safeguard the integrity of elections across the country," she said. "President Trump has been unequivocal: Nothing is more fundamental than the integrity and security of our elections. That’s why the Trump Administration has repeatedly called on Congress to pass the SAVE America Act — commonsense legislation that requires voters to present photo ID and implements other critical measures to protect federal elections from fraud. Our elections belong to American citizens, not foreign citizens."

Since April 2025, more than 24,000 cases have been identified by SAVE as potential non-U.S. citizens who were on voter rolls, DHS said. Those cases have been referred to ICE's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) for further investigation.

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Ceballos’ attorney, Jess Hoeme, told the news outlet that his client was brought to the United States from Mexico when he was 4 years old. He added that Ceballos was encouraged to register to vote at age 18 on the spot during a school field trip to the Comanche County courthouse.

"I thought our system was smarter and better than this," Hoeme said. "I thought there was a degree of humanity and dignity included in the process. That doesn’t seem to be the case anymore."

Fox News Digital's Charles Creitz contributed to this report.

REP JIM JORDAN, REP TOM McCLINTOCK: Democrats think they can overrule laws

Thu, 14 May 2026 07:00:42 -0400

Students of American history may recall the nullification crisis of the 1830s, when South Carolina asserted for itself the right to declare federal law void inside its state borders. President Andrew Jackson asserted federal authority, South Carolina backed down, and the crisis passed peacefully.

The idea that a state could nullify federal law effectively ended three decades later with the bloodshed of the Civil War. It was further buried in the 1950s by Supreme Court decisions and President Dwight D. Eisenhower authorizing the National Guard to enforce federal law in Little Rock, Arkansas.

But for today’s radical Democrats, there is a new front in the nullification fight — this time around criminal aliens and so-called "sanctuary" jurisdictions.

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In sanctuary jurisdictions across the country, from California to Virginia, state and local officials are declaring themselves immune from federal immigration laws. These cities and states, all run by Democrats, each have policies or ordinances that obstruct federal immigration enforcement within their borders.

These sanctuary jurisdictions prohibit their law-enforcement agencies from working or even communicating with federal immigration officials. Some, like Washington and Colorado, prohibit local jails from delaying the release of criminal aliens so that federal authorities may safely take them into custody. Officials in Minnesota want to go even further, seeking to place restrictions on where and how federal authorities may enforce immigration law in the state.

By providing safe haven for illegal aliens — including violent criminals, child abusers, and drug traffickers — and impeding federal authorities from safely enforcing immigration statutes, sanctuary jurisdictions essentially declare federal immigration law to be void within their borders.

The debate over sanctuary jurisdictions isn’t merely some abstract legal disagreement — although the Constitution is crystal clear that federal law is the supreme law of the land, and Democrats’ appeals to states’ rights and an obscure legal concept known as the anti-commandeering doctrine fall short.

At least one-third of Americans live in localities that refuse to enforce federal immigration law. For these American citizens, radical Democrats’ sanctuary policies can be life and death.

Look no further than Fairfax County, Virginia. The far-left prosecutor there, Steve Descano, ran for office promising to make charging decisions that would "avoid immigration consequences." In December 2025, Descano’s office dropped assault charges against an alleged MS-13 gang member and released him onto the street, despite a request from federal immigration authorities to take the illegal alien into custody. Just one day after his release, the gang member allegedly committed a murder. If Fairfax County was not a sanctuary jurisdiction — if Descano and local officials allowed immigration authorities to enforce federal law—this killing could have been avoided.

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Sanctuary jurisdictions put law-enforcement officers in danger too. In Denver, for example, local authorities released an illegal alien and suspected Tren de Aragua gang member rather than allow federal immigration officials to take him into custody in a secure jail facility. When immigration officials sought to arrest the gang member on the street, he tried to flee and assaulted an officer. This attack on law enforcement could have been avoided.

Sanctuary policies act as a pull factor for illegal immigration, incentivizing foreign nationals to enter the country. As we saw during the Biden Administration, a record number of illegal aliens surged across the border, knowing if they could get to a sanctuary jurisdiction they would be here to stay. An untold number of illegal aliens — including criminals and terrorists — entered the United States in those four years.

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The modern Democrat Party has become the party of open borders and unlimited illegal immigration. It is a party that demonizes federal law-enforcement officers and defunds vital immigration law-enforcement operations. It is the party, quite simply, that prioritizes the protection of criminal aliens over the safety of American citizens.

The nullification of federal law died with the secessionists and segregationists decades ago. But today’s radical Democrats are reviving it to protect criminal aliens from federal immigration enforcement. That’s wrong and just plain dangerous. The sooner Democrats respect federal immigration law, the better for the public safety of all Americans.

Republican Tom McClintock represents California's 5th congressional district and is Chairman of the Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement.

Texas AG Paxton demands Dallas sheriff pursue ICE agreement as deadline dispute sparks legal threat

Wed, 13 May 2026 19:06:18 -0400

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Wednesday demanded Dallas County Sheriff Marian Brown comply with a new state law requiring cooperation with federal immigration authorities, warning he could take legal action if she fails to act.

Paxton announced he is investigating Brown over what he described as "sanctuary policies" and sent a formal letter ordering her to pursue a 287(g) agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which would allow local deputies to carry out certain federal immigration enforcement duties.

The demand stems from Senate Bill 8, which took effect Jan. 1, 2026, and requires sheriffs in counties that operate jails to seek agreements with ICE to increase cooperation on immigration enforcement.

TEXAS BILL REQUIRING SHERIFFS TO COLLABORATE WITH ICE GIVEN INITIAL APPROVAL BY STATE HOUSE

Known as 287(g) agreements, the partnerships allow federal authorities to delegate certain immigration enforcement powers to local officers, including questioning inmates about their immigration status and serving administrative warrants.

"I will not allow the people of Dallas County to suffer because the sheriff refuses to work with ICE to keep violent illegals off our streets," Paxton said, adding his office "will ensure" compliance with state law.

In the letter, Paxton accused Brown of publicly rejecting the requirement after the law passed, citing her October 2025 statement that "no additional efforts" would be made to secure such an agreement. He said her office has not reported any attempt to comply despite a state requirement that sheriffs show proof they have tried to enter into an agreement.

Paxton warned that failure to act could expose Brown to legal consequences and said his office has authority to bring action against sheriffs who do not comply with the statute. He has demanded that Brown report efforts to secure an agreement before June 1.

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He also pointed to other large Texas counties — including El Paso, Bexar, and Harris — that have either finalized agreements with ICE or are negotiating them.

Brown pushed back on Paxton’s claims, writing in a letter obtained by FOX 4 Dallas that his timeline is incorrect and that the Legislature set a compliance deadline of Dec. 1, 2026, not June 1.

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She also defended her department’s practices, saying Dallas County already works with federal immigration authorities.

"Dallas County currently maintains an active working relationship with ICE and participates in operational coordination substantially similar to the jail-enforcement model contemplated by Chapter 753," Brown said in a statement.

She added that her earlier remarks about making "no additional efforts" were taken out of context and reflected her view that existing cooperation already meets the law’s public safety goals.

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The dispute sets up a potential legal clash between the state’s top law enforcement official and one of Texas’ largest county sheriff’s offices over how far local agencies must go in assisting federal immigration enforcement.

Arrest of gang member convicted of murder puts Dem state's sanctuary policies on blast

Wed, 13 May 2026 17:04:09 -0400

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) worked with local authorities to foil California's sanctuary city policies and took into custody a gang member from Mexico who concluded a 12-year prison sentence for second-degree murder.

Local law enforcement in southern California handed over Valentin Galvez-Quintero, an alleged member of the Sureños-13 gang, to federal agents outside the John J. Benoit Detention Center immediately after he concluded his sentence last week, according to CBP.

The apprehension contrasts sharply with sanctuary city policies that have thrown up roadblocks for federal-state coordination. It also highlights the payoff that could happen with the types of partnerships the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) hoped to build with local authorities during President Donald Trump's administration.

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"This is a prime example of the great strides local, state and federal law enforcement can deliver to the American public in terms of safety when common sense cooperation exists," Daniel Parra, acting chief patrol agent at El Centro Sector, said in a statement to Fox News Digital.

"Honoring federal detainers, such as in this case, makes our communities safer."

Galvez-Quintero was first deported in 2014 by an immigration judge but was apprehended in the U.S. twice in 2015 during the Obama Administration.

If local authorities did not work with CBP, it's possible the gang member could have been released from jail and escaped into the U.S. without detection by immigration authorities.

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The recent arrest follows moves by Democrats, such as New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, to restrict federal-local partnerships. Last week, Hochul urged New York lawmakers to ban the 287(g) program, a law that allows local officers to assume authority to conduct immigration-related work normally carried out by federal officials.

Lauren Bis, acting assistant secretary for public affairs for the Department of Homeland Security, blasted the push by Hochul, which follows other blue states seeking to stifle federal immigration operations.

"Instead of working with us, Governor Hochul is choosing to release violent criminals from her jails directly back into our communities to perpetrate more crimes and create more victims," Bis said.

IGNORED ICE DETAINERS ‘PUT LIVES AT RISK,’ DHS SAYS, TARGETING NEWSOM, PRITZKER, HEALEY

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In addition to the second-degree murder conviction, Galvez-Quintero's criminal history includes felony possession of a gun, taking a vehicle without consent, battery and providing false identification to an officer.

Galvez-Quintero won't be deported immediately since he faces federal prosecution for reentry after deportation, according to CBP.

If he is sentenced, he will serve a sentence in federal prison.

The Sureños-13 gang, one of many groups that operates in and around Southern California, mainly deals in mid-level drug distribution schemes, according to records from the Department of Justice.

Six illegal immigrants, including 14-year-old, found dead in shipping container along southern border

Wed, 13 May 2026 15:58:47 -0400

Texas officials announced six illegal immigrants were found dead Monday inside a shipping container along the southern border, and officials pointed to extreme heat as the likely cause.

The Webb County Medical Examiner's Office confirmed three men, one woman and a 14-year-old boy were found dead at the Union Pacific Railyard in North Laredo.

The sixth person has not yet been positively identified.

Investigators said the deceased originated from Mexico and Honduras.

TRUMP PULLS US OUT OF UN-LINKED MIGRATION FORUM IN BOLD IMMIGRATION MOVE

After initial examinations, authorities determined the 29-year-old woman died of hyperthermia.

While formal medical exams for the remaining five people are pending, officials said it is "highly probable" hyperthermia was the cause of death for the entire group.

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The Webb County Medical Examiner's Office is working in close coordination with the Mexican Consulate to contact the migrants' families, confirm the final identity and assist with the repatriation process.

Webb County and Union Pacific did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.

ICE drops ‘uncontrolled’ fraud bombshell involving thousands of foreign students, ‘phantom employees’

Wed, 13 May 2026 14:47:35 -0400

Acting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Director Todd Lyons announced that federal investigators have uncovered more than 10,000 foreign students connected to "suspect employers" as part of another potentially massive fraud scheme, this time involving the federal STEM Optional Practical Training (OPT) extension program.

At a news conference Tuesday, Lyons said the cases uncovered thus far are "just the tip of the iceberg."

OPT is a U.S. immigration program that lets international students on F-1 visas work temporarily in the country in jobs related to their field of study. Lyons said that when the program was first created under the Bush administration and expanded under the Obama administration, the Department of Homeland Security expected "only a few thousand foreign students would receive training approval before returning home."

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"Instead," Lyons said, that OPT "ballooned into an uncontrolled guest worker pipeline with hundreds of thousands of foreign students working in the United States."

He added that "as the program size exploded, so has the fraud."

"Today, we are announcing we have identified over 10,000 foreign students who claim to be working for highly suspect employers, and that’s just among the top 25 OPT employers. This is only the tip of the iceberg," he said.

"We’ve dramatically expanded our oversight of OPT and can report that we found fraud nationwide."

According to Lyons, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) officers have visited "problematic OPT worksite employers" in Virginia, Texas, Georgia, Illinois, New York, New Jersey, North Carolina and Florida. He said that many of the suspicious employers include nongovernmental organizations.

According to Lyons, investigators have "discovered empty buildings and locked doors at addresses where hundreds of foreign students are allegedly employed." Investigators have also found hundreds of foreign students listed as working out of residential addresses.

"In many places," he continued, "multiple OPT employers claim to operate from the same address, but none actually lease the facility."

ICE PROBES SUSPECTED MINNESOTA FRAUD SITES AS OFFICIALS FOLLOW POTENTIAL $9B MONEY TRAIL

"When someone does open the door, their statements are inconsistent, or they claim no knowledge of the business," said Lyons.

The ICE director also said investigators uncovered what he referred to as "phantom employees," who he said are foreign students who obtained work authorization through OPT but never actually showed up for work at the sites they claimed to work out of.

"This is not accidental," Lyons concluded. "This is deliberate, coordinated and criminal."

He added that "this fraud is not victimless," calling it a "blatant attack on the goodwill of the American people."

EX-BIDEN DHS HEAD CONCEDES ADMINISTRATION COULD HAVE ACTED SOONER ON ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION

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Vice President JD Vance, who President Donald Trump appointed "fraud czar," celebrated the discovery in an X post as "another great win for our fraud task force."

Vance wrote that the administration "will not tolerate foreign nationals abusing our visa system at the expense of the American people."

Xavier Becerra draws fierce criticism after attempting to control terms of on-camera interview

Wed, 13 May 2026 13:14:53 -0400

Former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra faced criticism over a tense television interview with Annie Rose Ramos that began with the California gubernatorial candidate questioning whether the segment would be a "gotcha piece."

"By the way, this is a profile piece, this is not a gotcha piece, right?" Becerra asked Ramos before the interview formally began.

The exchange immediately turned awkward when Ramos responded that the questions were intended to help voters learn more about him as a candidate.

"The way I describe profile is you talk about all the things that I’ve done, things I want to do, and along with some tough questions," Becerra said. "But not only tough questions."

DEM CA GUBERNATORIAL HOPEFUL LECTURES REPORTER, SAYS INTERVIEW SHOULD BE A PROFILE, NOT A 'GOTCHA PIECE'

The interview quickly generated backlash from conservative commentators and Republican activists online, many of whom accused Becerra of appearing defensive and combative during the exchange with Ramos.

Jennifer Van Laar, managing editor of RedState, praised KTLA for airing the full exchange and argued that Becerra briefly showed anger during the interview.

"Wow.... the STATION posted this. And good for them," Van Laar said on X. "There’s a microexpression on his face a few seconds before the end of this clip where you can see his anger briefly, which he quickly replaces with a smile."

EX-BIDEN OFFICIAL RUNNING IN BLUE STATE GUBERNATORIAL RACE MUST TACKLE KEY ISSUE AMID SKYROCKETING COSTS

Van Laar also criticized the former HHS secretary’s demeanor during the interview.

"Trying to come across as jovial, kind Becerra... but that ain’t who he is," she said.

Michael Trujillo, a Democratic strategist, criticized Becerra’s opening exchange with Ramos and framed it as dismissive toward a younger female reporter.

"I’ve seen this a lot in my community," Trujillo said on X. "A man telling a younger woman how to do her job."

Dana Loesch, a conservative radio host and former NRA spokesperson, also weighed in on the exchange and referenced prior reporting involving migrant children.

"It’s insane that the NYT story alone first didn’t end his political career," Loesch said on X. "This is all just so, so bad."

Kevin Dalton, a conservative political commentator, said, "KTLA just ended Xavier Becerra."

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The sharpest exchange came during a discussion of Becerra’s tenure at HHS, when Ramos referenced a New York Times investigation involving migrant children released to sponsors by federal authorities.

"That’s not accurate," Becerra said after Ramos cited findings that the department could not account for tens of thousands of children. "What you just read is not accurate."

Becerra then accused Ramos of echoing Republican messaging.

"You’re essentially, I don’t know if you got those talking points from Donald Trump," Becerra said.

Ramos pushed back, noting she was referencing reporting published by The New York Times.

"That’s not what the New York Times article said," Becerra responded. "The New York Times said that individuals, the children and their sponsors, did not respond to calls. They didn’t say we couldn’t find kids."

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Ramos later said she was surprised by the tone of the interaction because it differed from her interviews with other gubernatorial candidates.

"Honestly, I was caught off guard because it was so dramatically different from any of the other candidates that we had approached and sat down with," Ramos said.

"This was one of our final interviews," Ramos said. "As you saw, we’ve interviewed Sheriff Chad Bianco, Tom Steyer, and really, the only question I’ve gotten from anyone consistently is, ‘Is it Annie or Annie Rose?’"

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When reached for comment, the Becerra campaign referred Fox News Digital to a previous statement from spokesman Jonathan Underland, who said that "unlike some candidates in the race, Becerra doesn’t walk away when the questions get difficult."

"Over decades in public service, he’s consistently shown up, answered tough questions and respected the role journalists play in holding public officials accountable," Underland added.

Dem ripped for ‘disgusting’ absence on bill to punish violent criminals after girl strangled in grisly killing

Wed, 13 May 2026 11:34:27 -0400

FIRST ON FOX: Democratic U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico is being ripped by critics accusing him of making a "disgusting" decision to be absent during a vote on a Texas bill to automatically deny bail to illegal immigrants charged with violent felonies after a local preteen was strangled to death.

As a member of the Texas House of Representatives in 2025, Talarico was absent during the final voting on a bill dubbed by state lawmakers "Jocelyn’s Law," in honor of slain Houston preteen Jocelyn Nungaray. The measure, which would have added a Texas constitutional amendment to deny bail to illegal immigrants charged with violent felonies, ended up failing due to lack of bipartisan support.

Before being absent for the final vote, Talarico voted against killing two amendments to the bill that would have exempted immigrants present in the country on humanitarian parole, an order of supervision, a pending green card application, trafficking or Violence Against Women Act victim protections, visa extension applications, deferred action or Temporary Protected Status.

He is now taking flak over his absence as he runs for U.S. Senate in one of the states most impacted by illegal immigrant crime. Nungaray, 12, was sexually assaulted and killed, allegedly by two Venezuelan illegal immigrants, in a Houston neighborhood in June 2024.

Zach Kraft, a spokesperson for the Republican National Committee, slammed Talarico for what he said amounts to helping to kill the bill, saying, "It is disgusting that James Talarico is letting his anti-American agenda show by siding with a violent illegal over a Texas family."

DA TO SEEK DEATH PENALTY AGAINST ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS ACCUSED IN NUNGARAY MURDER CASE

Kraft told Fox News Digital that Talarico’s alleged opposition to the bill has "once again … proven his priority is criminals, not the safety of Texans."

JT Ennis, a spokesperson for Talarico’s campaign, pushed back on this, telling Fox News Digital that "James is a law and order Democrat who supports prosecuting violent felons, and has a proven track record voting for tighter bail laws for violent offenders and voting repeatedly to increase funding for Texas police."

Ennis added that "while [incumbent Sen.] John Cornyn, [challenger Texas Attorney General] Ken Paxton, and the billionaires who prop them up lie about James’ record, he will continue standing up against both political parties to fix this broken, corrupt political system."

Texas bore much of the brunt of the border crisis during the Biden administration.

Prosecutors say Nungaray was abducted, sexually assaulted and strangled. Her body was later found in a creek drainage area. Two men, Johan Jose Martinez-Rangel and Franklin Jose Peña Ramos, both Venezuelan nationals illegally present in the U.S., have been charged with capital murder in the case.

JAMES TALARICO IS NEWEST TEXAS DEMOCRAT MEDIA DARLING, BUT DREAMS OF STATE 'GOING BLUE' HAVE LONG BEEN DASHED

Before Nungaray’s killing, the men were encountered by U.S. Border Patrol near El Paso, Texas, in early 2024. However, they were released on their own recognizance under the Biden administration into the U.S. The murder happened just months after their illegal entry.

According to data gathered by the House Homeland Security Committee toward the end of the Biden administration, there were more than 10.8 million border encounters and roughly two million known gotaways under former President Joe Biden.

Against this backdrop, Talarico has been criticized as soft on crime and pro-defund the police, the latter of which he has denied as a "flat-out lie."

During his time in the Texas House, he has also voted against the Damon Allen Act, a bill that restricted bail for certain offenders named in honor of Texas state trooper Damon Allen, who was killed by a career criminal out on bail. In 2021, he also voted against a proposed constitutional amendment that would deny bail for anyone accused of violent sexual offenses or trafficking.

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On the immigration issue, Talarico has taken heat for saying in 2019 that "undocumented Americans" are "also my constituents."

In a graphic put out by United We Dream, an activist group that supports abolishing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Talarico encouraged people not to open their doors to federal immigration agents. He instructed people not to sign any documentation without an attorney and to "fight back."

Fox News Digital's Leo Briceno and Alexandra Koch contributed to this report.

Ex-Biden DHS head concedes administration could have acted sooner on illegal immigration

Wed, 13 May 2026 06:00:15 -0400

Former Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas appeared to admit that the Biden administration could have and should have enacted more border security measures sooner.

In an interview at the Politico Security Summit on Tuesday, Mayorkas was asked about border policies under former President Joe Biden, which became a significant issue ahead of the 2024 presidential election. Mayorkas remarked that, despite some "areas of disagreement," he was largely satisfied with his work under Biden.

"I was very pleased that in June of 2024, we took executive action that, I thought, made reforms that were sensible and that proved successful," Mayorkas said.

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When asked whether he believed Biden acting sooner on border reform could have prevented President Donald Trump from being elected, Mayorkas was less direct but acknowledged that he would be "better rested" if Biden did.

"I am not in a position to speculate, but I will tell you that I would be far more better rested and less punched," Mayorkas remarked.

Fox News Digital reached out to Biden's office for comment.

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Mayorkas faced the ire of Republicans throughout his tenure after repeatedly claiming that the border was "secure" despite record numbers of illegal border crossings under the Biden administration. More than 7 million people reportedly crossed the border into the U.S. under Biden.

Despite this backlash, Mayorkas touted the "tougher" border stance Biden took in June 2024 as a successful and "humanitarian" response.

"Our tougher border stance in June of ‘24 was coupled with an increased focus on providing lawful pathways for people to arrive at the United States outside the hands of smugglers — more secure and more humanitarian. Those two combined — our numbers dropped 70, 75 percent," Mayorkas told Politico.

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In 2024, Mayorkas blamed Congress for Biden failing to act on the border until five months before the presidential election, claiming they would have acted sooner if they knew "irresponsible politics" would prevent congressional action.

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"Looking back now in hindsight, in 2020, if we had known that irresponsible politics would have killed what was clearly a meritorious effort and a meritorious result, perhaps we would have taken executive action more rapidly," Mayorkas said.

Illegal alien ‘monster’ charged with raping dead girlfriend’s daughter, DHS blames Biden-era policies

Tue, 12 May 2026 17:07:23 -0400

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has lodged a detainer asking Montana officials to not release an illegal alien from jail who is charged with raping his dead girlfriend's daughter.

Wualter Jesus Travieso Soto, 29, who authorities say entered the United States illegally in 2023 and was later released, is being held in Flathead County on felony charges of sexual intercourse without consent involving a child under 16, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

The Flathead County Sheriff’s Office started to look into Soto in May 2025 after his former girlfriend’s sister told authorities that he took custody of her sister’s children after she died in a car accident in 2024.

SUSPECTED TEXAS KILLER IS AN ILLEGAL FROM MEXICO ACCUSED IN RASH OF 'EXTREME VIOLENCE' AGAINST WOMEN

Soto's former girlfriend’s sister fought over guardianship of the children after she said she discovered photos and videos of the Venezuelan national allegedly "kissing and holding her eldest niece ‘in a romantic manner,’" the Daily Inter Laken reported.

After the children’s aunt secured guardianship, the girl told investigators Soto had raped her multiple times and, in one alleged incident, choked her, according to DHS.

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Soto was arrested Feb. 1 and remains jailed on $200,000 bail, authorities said.

"This monster repeatedly raped the child of his dead girlfriend," DHS Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis said in a statement Thursday.

"He would not be in this country in the first place if it weren’t for the Biden Administration’s disastrous catch and release policies that allowed him into our country. ICE is asking officials in Montana to turn this perverted criminal over to ICE custody so that we can get him off our streets and out of our country. With cooperation from our local partners, we will ensure this predator NEVER harms another innocent child."

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DHS said in a post on X that ICE, with cooperation from Montana authorities, "will ensure this predator NEVER harms another innocent child."

Records reviewed by Fox News Digital also showed he sought legal guardianship of at least one of the children in court following his girlfriend's death in the car accident in 2024.

He pleaded not guilty before Judge Danni Coffman at his April 9 arraignment. Soto remains in the county jail, held on an immigration detainer and $200,000 bail. His next court date is Aug. 3.

Attorney raises broader concerns after mayor admits to acting as Chinese agent in shocking case

Tue, 12 May 2026 12:45:17 -0400

Attorney Katie Zacharia sounded the alarm Tuesday after a California mayor agreed to plead guilty to acting as an agent of the Chinese government, warning the case could be just the tip of the iceberg.

"There needs to be a wholesale review of not just legal permanent residents, but people who are here from adversarial countries..." Zacharia said on "Fox & Friends First."

"There has to be a complete takedown of these green card holders, and they need to be sent back home," she added.

Zacharia's concerns came after the Justice Department announced that Eileen Wang, former mayor of Arcadia, California, had been charged with acting as an illegal agent of the People’s Republic of China.

CALIFORNIA MAYOR ACCUSED OF SECRETLY WORKING FOR CHINA, SPREADING PROPAGANDA WHILE IN OFFICE: FEDS

Wang agreed to plead guilty to the felony offense, insisting the decision was "personal in nature" and "does not reflect [her] love and commitment to Arcadia, which will always remain strong."

She now faces up to 10 years in federal prison along with a potential $250,000 fine, though any sentence would be determined by a federal judge.

Zacharia, however, finds the prospect of 10 years appalling.

MOST SHOCKING EXAMPLES OF CHINESE ESPIONAGE UNCOVERED BY THE US THIS YEAR: 'JUST THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG'

"That's actually kind of offensive as a United States citizen," she said.

"This person was acting as a foreign agent on behalf of the CCP. There should be no grace. They literally should be sent back to the People's Republic of China."

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Per previous reporting, federal prosecutors said Wang admitted she acted "at the direction and control" of Chinese government officials from at least 2020 through 2022, coordinating with individuals in the U.S. to spread pro-Beijing messaging without notifying the U.S. attorney general as required by law.

The described conduct occurred before Wang took office on the Arcadia City Council in December 2022.

Local officials said Wang's conduct had no impact on city operations.

Fox News' Stepheny Price and Matt Finn contributed to this report.

Sanctuary laws could stop police from protecting kids. So we’re suing California

Tue, 12 May 2026 09:00:02 -0400

I never thought I would sue the state I have lived in my whole life. But standing outside El Cajon City Hall, I announced that our city is taking California Attorney General Rob Bonta to court. It might be one of the most important official acts of my life.

Here is the moment that brought us here.

A few months ago, the federal Department of Homeland Security contacted our city with a list of names and addresses of children who may be living unsupervised in unsafe conditions alongside illegal alien adults. Knowing the prevalence of human trafficking in this region, we were gravely concerned about the wellbeing of these kids. We asked the attorney general’s office a simple question: could El Cajon police conduct welfare checks on these children who are potentially in danger? The answer from the Attorney General's office was essentially "no"– not if our officers wanted to remain compliant with California law. The AG’s office told us that doing those welfare checks would violate Senate Bill 54, the state's sanctuary law.

I'M A MAYOR TRYING TO FOLLOW LAW BUT CALIFORNIA IS MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR COPS

Read that again. The state told a city of 110,000 people that its police officers could not check on potentially endangered children simply because doing so may expose the addresses of illegal aliens.

That is the opposite of public safety – it is moral collapse.

I am the Mayor of a working-class border city ten miles from Mexico. My residents are nurses, teachers, mechanics, veterans, small business owners. They pay their taxes. They follow the law. They expect the people they elect to do the same. When Sacramento tells our police they cannot cooperate with federal authorities to protect children, every parent in California should be alarmed.

Here is what California has built. The state’s sanctuary laws prohibit local police from working with federal immigration enforcement. On top of that, the state hands out driver's licenses to people here illegally. It hands out in-state college tuition. It hands out disability benefits. The state government brags about all of it on official websites.

Federal law makes it a felony to encourage or induce someone to reside in this country unlawfully. California is doing exactly that.

Our lawsuit, filed by the America First Policy Institute, asks a court to answer one question: which law reigns supreme? Federal law or state law? The Constitution settled this in 1788. The Supremacy Clause is not a suggestion. It is the foundation of the country. And we want the courts to make it official with respect to California’s sanctuary laws.

Other cities have tried to affect this outcome using different laws. Huntington Beach went to federal court last year and lost. But our case is different. We are not arguing about state resources or state funding. We are arguing that California's entire sanctuary regime – the licenses, the tuition, the benefits – was designed to induce illegal residence in violation of federal criminal law. That argument has not been tested. It deserves to be.

It is likely to be a long, hard-fought battle. If California's courts don’t settle the score, we’re fully prepared to see this case all the way through to the United States Supreme Court. The necessity of answering this question cannot be overstated.

Attorney General Bonta has already told the press that El Cajon should prepare for another loss. He says our lawsuit is a baseless attack. He claims SB 54 makes Californians safer.

Tell that to the children this law is endangering.

NEWSOM OFFICE DISMISSES CRIME FEARS, DEFENDS SANCTUARY POLICIES AMID SURGE IN VIOLENCE: 'FAKE NEWS'

This is not a Republican issue or a Democrat issue. It is a rule of law issue. When the state hands out benefits explicitly designed to attract people across the border illegally, something has gone wrong. When police officers go to work every day knowing they will break either federal law or state law before lunch, something has gone wrong.

El Cajon is a small city. We do not have Sacramento's budget or its lobbyists or its political machine. What we have is a City Council that voted to follow federal immigration law, a community that backed us, and a Constitution that still means what it says.

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The American Dream is not a sanctuary policy. It is the promise that we live under one set of laws, applied fairly to everyone. That promise is worth defending. So we are defending it.

California's leaders made a choice. They chose to protect their politics over our police, our residents, and vulnerable kids. In a courtroom in San Diego County, El Cajon made a different choice. We chose the law.

Minnesota Senate votes to ban ICE from wearing masks, allow residents to sue for constitutional violations

Tue, 12 May 2026 01:40:16 -0400

The Minnesota Senate on Monday narrowly passed a bill that would restrict federal agents from concealing their identities, with exceptions, and create a path for lawsuits over alleged constitutional violations stemming from immigration enforcement in the state.

The bill narrowly passed with a 34-33 party line vote. It now heads to the House, where it faces an uphill battle with the chamber evenly split between Democrats and Republicans.

The legislation also instructs schools, daycares and healthcare facilities to deny access to agents seeking to conduct civil immigration enforcement on their premises without a signed judicial warrant, with some exceptions. And it prohibits certain civil immigration arrests of people attending court proceedings.

Additionally, it gives state officials the authority to investigate deaths involving federal agents’ use of force and creates penalties or civil liability in certain cases when someone fails to render aid after a shooting.

TRUMP'S IMMIGRATION CRACKDOWN IN THE SPOTLIGHT AHEAD OF MIDTERMS AS FATAL MN SHOOTINGS IGNITE BACKLASH

Democratic Sen. Omar Fateh, a co-sponsor of the bill, said the federal government's raids in Minnesota displayed "a show of force against immigrant communities," according to The Minnesota Star Tribune.

"They said agents were here to enforce law and order," Fateh said. "Again, they lied. They broke down doors without a warrant, denied people due process, assaulted, arrested, tear-gassed and shot peaceful people."

This comes as several Democratic-led states have sought to adopt restrictions on immigration agents, particularly after the fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens in separate incidents in January during immigration raids in Minneapolis that triggered nationwide protests.

Lawmakers in New York reached an agreement with Gov. Kathy Hochul on a final state budget to limit state and local cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement and place restrictions on masked agents and warrantless searches of homes, schools and other locations. The deal would also allow residents to sue immigration agents.

A mask ban was also passed by California lawmakers, but similar restrictions have faced federal court challenges, including rulings blocking parts of California’s law.

Other Democratic-led states, including New Jersey and Massachusetts, have proposed ⁠similar plans to block immigration agents from wearing masks during President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown.

Minnesota Democratic Sen. Ron Latz, another co-sponsor of the bill passed on Monday, said the measure aims bringing accountability and "ensuring that what happened here never happens again."

"What we endured was one of the darkest periods in American history when the government ... sent masked men — armed, untrained and unrestrained — to terrorize our communities," Latz said, according to The Minnesota Star Tribune.

Republicans, meanwhile, accused Democrats of inflammatory rhetoric about the immigration raids and said Minnesota officials should be cooperating with ICE.

"We need more cooperation in this state between our federal, state and local officials," GOP Sen. Michael Kreun said, according to the outlet. "More cooperation, not less cooperation. That will help reduce the need for street-level enforcement, which many people are very uncomfortable with."

Republican Sen. Glenn Gruenhagen argued that immigration crackdowns have made cities across the country safer, although local officials have blamed the Trump administration for violence after immigration agents shot multiple people in recent months.

Senate Republicans also said the package would cost taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars in potential litigation since the state will likely be sued.

"This bill will put Minnesota on a collision course with dangerous illegal immigrants who roam freely while federal authorities face legal challenges," Senate Republican Leader Mark Johnson said in a statement.

The legislation's mask ban for federal agents carves out some exceptions, including for medical needs.

MASSACHUSETTS BILL WOULD FORCE ICE AGENTS TO UNMASK

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A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson told Fox News Digital that "sanctuary politicians attempting to ban our federal law enforcement from wearing masks is despicable and a flagrant attempt to endanger our officers."

"To be crystal clear: we will not abide by unconstitutional bans. The Supremacy Clause makes it clear that Minnesota’s sanctuary politicians do not control federal law enforcement," the spokesperson said.

"ICE officers wear face coverings for one reason: to protect themselves and their families from real-world threats including agitators," the statement continued. "The danger is not hypothetical. Public databases and online "lists" have been created to expose officers’ identities. Today, our ICE law enforcement officers face a more than 1,300% increase in assaults, 3,300% increase in vehicular attacks, and an 8,000% increase in death threats against them."

The spokesperson said the "ability of law enforcement to make arrests of criminal illegal aliens in courthouses is common sense."

"It conserves valuable law enforcement resources because they already know where a target will be," the spokesperson added. "It is also safer for our officers and the community. These illegal aliens have gone through security and been screened to assure they do not have any weapons."

Trump administration rejects UN migration declaration, says 'mass migration was never safe'

Mon, 11 May 2026 21:36:58 -0400

The U.S. State Department ‌announced on Monday that it refused to back an International Migration Review Forum "progress" declaration, accusing the U.N. of efforts to "advocate and facilitate replacement immigration in the United States and across the broader West."

The U.S. did not participate in the second International Migration Review Forum, held May 5–8 at U.N. Headquarters in New York, and will not support the declaration, the department said in a statement on Monday.

The forum is the U.N.’s main global platform for member states to review implementation of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, according to the U.N. Network on Migration. The 2026 forum was scheduled to produce an intergovernmentally agreed "Progress Declaration."

President Donald Trump ended U.S. participation in the U.N. process to develop the Global Compact for Migration during his first term in 2017, and now the State Department says the federal government will again affirm its opposition.

TRUMP PULLS US OUT OF UN-LINKED MIGRATION FORUM IN BOLD IMMIGRATION MOVE

The Global Compact was adopted in 2018 after the U.S. withdrew from the process. The U.N. and International Organization for Migration describe the compact as a cooperative framework intended to improve migration governance across countries.

"As Secretary Rubio said, opening our doors to mass migration was a grave mistake that threatens the cohesion of our societies and the future of our peoples," the department's statement reads. "In recent years, Americans witnessed first-hand how mass immigration laid waste to our communities: crime and chaos at the border, states of emergency in major cities, and billions of taxpayer dollars funneled towards hotels, plane tickets, cell phones and cash cards for migrants."

"Much of this was driven by UN agencies and their partners, which did not just facilitate the invasion of our country, but proceeded to redistribute our own people’s wealth and resources to millions of foreigners from the worst corners of the world," it continued.

The department argued there was nothing safe, orderly or regular about any of this, adding that the costs "were borne primarily by working Americans forced to compete for scarce jobs, housing, and social services."

"The UN has little to say about them," the department wrote.

TRUMP UNVEILS ‘REVERSE MIGRATION’ PLAN TO HALT ‘THIRD WORLD’ IMMIGRATION, REVOKE BIDEN-ERA ENTRIES

"President Trump is focused on the interests of Americans, not foreigners or globalist bureaucrats," the statement reads. "The United States will not support a process that imposes, overtly or by stealth, guidelines, standards, or commitments that constrain the American people’s sovereign, democratic right to make decisions in the best interests of our country."

The department concluded its statement by saying its goal is not to "manage" migration, but to "foster remigration."

In a thread on X also announcing the move to object to the declaration, the department said UN agencies "systematically facilitated mass migration into America and Europe, even as citizens of these nations called for restrictions on migration." It added that U.N. materials related to the Global Compact call for expanding regular migration pathways and reference "regularization" of migrants.

The International Organization for Migration says the forum is held every four years for countries to review progress and shape next steps on migration policy. IOM, which coordinates the U.N. Network on Migration, says the network includes 39 U.N. agencies working to support countries on migration issues.

The department alleged that "UN agencies – working with the NGOs they fund – established a migration corridor through Central America and to the U.S. border," the post reads. "As the American people suffered under an unprecedented wave of mass migration, the UN was on the ground pipelining migrants to our southern border."

"After facilitating mass migration to the United States, UN agencies condemned the deportation of illegal immigrants," the post continued. "While the United Kingdom faced unprecedented illegal boat crossings, UN agencies condemned plans for deportations. UN officials lobbied aviation regulators to prevent the deportation of migrants – an appalling violation of the UK’s national sovereignty."

The U.N. Network on Migration describes the compact as "non-legally binding." A U.N.-hosted text of the compact also says it respects states’ sovereign right to determine their national migration policies and to distinguish between regular and irregular migration status.

The declaration itself says the Global Compact is a cooperative framework and acknowledges that no state can address migration alone, while also upholding the sovereignty of states.

The department pushed back on the compact’s framing of migration as "safe, orderly and regular."

"For the citizens of Western nations, mass migration was never safe. It introduced new security threats, imposed financial strains, and undermined the cohesion of our societies," it wrote.

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"The United States will not legitimize global compacts that enable mass migration into America or Western nations," the post added.

U.N. materials frame the compact as a cooperative framework for issues that often cross borders, including labor migration, border management, migrant protections and development. U.N. agencies, including the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, describe the IMRF as a state-led review process with participation from relevant stakeholders.

Fox News Digital has reached out to the U.N. for comment.

Texas man accused in pregnant wife's murder fights to remain in Italy, citing 'lifestyle and culture'

Mon, 11 May 2026 19:11:52 -0400

A Texas man accused of killing his pregnant wife and then cutting off his ankle monitor and fleeing the country told a judge in Italy that he is innocent and does not want to return to the United States.

Lee Mongerson Gilley appeared Monday in a Milan courtroom after his arrest earlier this month, where he refused to consent to extradition and instead sought to remain in Italy while pursuing asylum.

"My wife is dead, and they wrongly blamed me. I am innocent. I did not kill my wife," Gilley told the court, according to NBC News. "The only crime I committed was fleeing."

Gilley told the judge he fled because he feared for his life and said he does not trust the U.S. justice system. He added that he chose Italy in part because of what he described as stronger due process protections and opposition to the death penalty.

TEXAS MAN ACCUSED OF KILLING PREGNANT WIFE ALLEGEDLY CUTS OFF ANKLE MONITOR AND FLEES TO ITALY

In court Monday, Gilley told the judge that he would like to remain in Italy "because of the lifestyle, the culture, the international protection, and to receive a fair trial," according to NBC News.

Italian officials have not yet decided whether to extradite him back to the United States, the outlet reported.

Gilley, 39, is charged with capital murder in the 2024 death of his wife, Christa Bauer Gilley, who was found unresponsive in the couple’s Houston home on Oct. 7, 2024.

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Authorities initially responded to a reported overdose or suicide, but investigators later determined she died from strangulation. An autopsy found she was pregnant at the time.

HUSBAND CHARGED IN PREGNANT PHYSICAL THERAPIST WIFE'S MURDER AFTER GIVING POLICE A DIFFERENT STORY

Charging documents obtained by KPRC allege Gilley caused her death by applying pressure to her neck and upper body. Prosecutors have said he gave inconsistent accounts of what happened and initially claimed he tried to save his wife with CPR. He later acknowledged she was not suicidal and that the couple had been arguing before her death, according to the outlet.

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Gilley was arrested days after the incident but later released on bond. His trial had been scheduled to begin this month.

Authorities say Gilley cut off his court-ordered GPS ankle monitor and fled the country ahead of a scheduled court appearance. The monitor alerted authorities after it was tampered with, according to KPRC.

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Investigators believe Gilley traveled from Texas to Canada and then on to Italy, where he was detained upon arrival in Milan. Court filings cited by NBC News state he was traveling under a pseudonym and carrying forged Belgian identification documents.

Prosecutors have also alleged that while out on bond, Gilley discussed plans to flee the country and obtain a new identity, including inquiries about securing foreign identification and devising a plan to remove his GPS monitor.

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Instead of returning to Texas, Gilley is now seeking asylum in Italy, arguing he is being "wrongfully prosecuted" and fears the death penalty. His attorney, Dick DeGuerin, told KPRC that Gilley’s decision to flee should not be interpreted as an admission of guilt.

LUIGI MANGIONE ASSASSINATION CASE SIGNALS DOJ SHIFT ON DEATH PENALTY IN BLUE STATES, EXPERT SAYS

"I’m concerned that the prosecution will try to say that it’s evidence of consciousness of guilt that he’s running from it, but I think he’s just scared," DeGuerin said.

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DeGuerin has also indicated that Texas authorities may need to assure Italian officials that Gilley will not face the death penalty in order to secure extradition, though he has said prosecutors are not currently seeking it.

A U.S. judge has issued a gag order in the case, limiting what attorneys can publicly say. Italian officials have also signaled they are unlikely to comment publicly while the case is pending.

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Fox News Digital has reached out to Gilley’s attorneys and the Harris County District Attorney’s Office for comment.

Fox News Digital's Julia Bonavita contributed to this report.

Congress must fund every part of DHS and stop playing politics with our safety

Mon, 11 May 2026 09:00:57 -0400

The failure of Congress to provide funding to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and, specifically, to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) had real world consequences — our country and its borders were less safe during a time of war, and the men and women in law enforcement were left to wonder if they would receive a paycheck while their lives were on the line.

The fact is that protecting our nation’s homeland doesn’t stop, and neither should DHS’ officers’ paychecks. Were it not for the extraordinary measures taken by President Donald Trump and his administration to pay these employees, this crisis would have been even greater. These officers, and our country, are fortunate we averted any disaster or lasting damage.

Finally, Congress has voted to end the shutdown after a grueling and agonizing 76 days. It is thanks to the continued efforts of President Trump and his administration that the spending measure reached his desk and was signed into law. However, this bill still leaves immigration enforcement agencies like ICE and CBP unfunded because of partisan policy disputes. In order to rectify this issue, Congressional leaders are turning to budget reconciliation, a process that began with the Senate’s recent passage of a budget resolution, S. Con. Res. 33. This is the first step in the reconciliation process that will allow Congress to fund our immigration enforcement agencies.

BORDER CZAR HOMAN VOWS TO 'FLOOD' NEW YORK WIHT ICE AGENTS DESPITE HOCHUL'S RESISTANCE

The appropriations process has been wrecked by partisan policy fights, which is a grave disservice to our nation. If the House can pass the Senate resolution, we would be on track for President Trump to sign it into law by June 1. Any changes to the bill as written would require it to be returned to the Senate, creating an unacceptable delay and putting the entire process at risk. We are calling on every single member of Congress to pass this reconciliation bill and fund every part of DHS as soon as possible. Delay is unacceptable.

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It is said that we must learn from history or we are condemned to repeat it. We must remember this lesson — leaving DHS unfunded for over 70 days is unprecedented and frankly, shameful. It was also dangerous and should never happen again.

Angel families plead with leaders to 'choose' American children over protecting illegal immigrants

Sat, 09 May 2026 11:43:29 -0400

Grieving parents of American children killed by illegal immigrants issued a desperate plea to the nation’s leaders: "Choose us."

Angel families are supporting the Gorman family, who spoke on "The Story" about the failures that led to their daughter’s death.

"I don't understand what these politicians are thinking," Jess Gorman, mother of Sheridan Gorman, said Thursday.

Sheridan Gorman, a first-year student at Loyola University, was shot and killed in Chicago in March.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said the suspect — Jose Medina-Medina, an illegal immigrant from Venezuela — was released from custody months earlier despite an active Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainer.

GORMAN FAMILY CALLS OUT JOHNSON AND PRITZKER FOLLOWING COLLEGE STUDENT'S KILLING IN CHICAGO

"To me, things like that show that they value these undocumented migrants more than they value our American citizens, our American children. And honestly, you almost want to just make a plea: 'Choose us. Choose my American child,'" Jess Gorman added.

Now, angel families are calling for accountability.

"Isn't that their jobs to keep us safe? And they're just, they're not," Cheryl Minter said Friday on "Fox & Friends First."

ANGEL MOM, GOP BLAME SPANBERGER AFTER ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT WITH 30 ARRESTS CHARGED IN KILLING

Minter's daughter, Stephanie, was stabbed and killed at a Virginia bus stop in February. Authorities charged a suspect from Sierra Leone with a lengthy criminal history.

"They're allowing all these people that just do horrendous crimes over and over again to stay in our streets, and they're not even detaining them at all," Minter said. "It's just horrible that this keeps happening."

ANGEL FATHER SCOLDS LIBERAL MEDIA OUTLETS FOR DOWNPLAYING TRUMP CEREMONY HONORING VICTIMS

Joe Abraham, whose daughter Katie was killed in a January 2025 hit-and-run in Urbana, Illinois, said he shares that concern. Abraham argued the man, an illegal immigrant, convicted in his daughter's case was "protected every step of the way" by state policies.

WAVE OF ALLEGED MIGRANT MURDERS IGNITES FURY ACROSS US AS OFFICIALS WARN OF MORE CARNAGE, CRACKDOWN NEEDED

"Not every victim dies like Katie or Sheridan. There are so many victims that are created every day because of these reckless guardrailless policies," Abraham said.

"It's amazing to me, no one in Illinois steps up and says, 'Yeah, we got to reassess, and we've got to change direction a little bit.'"

The Gormans say their daughter's death was not "senseless violence," but the result of systemic failures.

"I just think that when policies are in place that protect unvetted migrants who do commit a crime, there is a risk," said Tom Gorman, Sheridan’s father.

"I have to live every day with a choice in my head. Was my daughter an unintended consequence of good policy or the consequence of bad policy? And I know the answer for me," he said.

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At an event at the White House Friday, President Donald Trump issued a statement to the mothers in attendance: "I just want to wish you all a very happy Mother’s Day. We’re going to have a great Mother’s Day."

"And for those mothers that lost their child, many of whom are with us today, the angel moms and others, Gold Star moms, we love you especially. We love you, maybe even the most," he added.

Following the Gormans’ comments, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker's office issued a statement to Fox News: "The family of Sheridan Gorman remains in Governor Pritzker’s thoughts as they grieve and navigate the unimaginable loss of their daughter. He believes the person responsible for their daughter’s death needs to be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law and with the entire weight and urgency of our justice system that her family deserves."

Padres top pitching prospect self-deports to Mexico after pleading guilty to human smuggling charge: report

Sat, 09 May 2026 10:37:41 -0400

A top pitching prospect reportedly self-deported to his native country of Mexico after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor related to human smuggling in Arizona.

San Diego Padres pitching prospect Humberto Cruz pleaded guilty to a charge of receiving money to transport noncitizens within the United States.

The pitcher admitted to officials that he responded to an advertisement for drivers "to pick up people for easy money" and was offered $1,000 per person, knowing "they were illegal," The Athletic said.

According to The Athletic, Cruz, in the country legally with a work visa, was driving a vehicle that carried two immigrants in the country illegally. Cruz, 19, was initially driving south on State Route 85 in Lukeville, Ariz., but was spotted driving north roughly an hour later with two other passengers. Agents were suspicious that Cruz would not have had enough time to reach the Lukeville Port of Entry to pick up passengers.

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The San Diego Padres told the San Diego Tribune that Cruz would likely lose his work visa for 10 years, but can reapply after five years if he demonstrates good behavior.

"To my teammates, the organization, our fans, and my family, I want to express my sincere regret for a recent lapse in judgment that has caused disappointment to many people I deeply respect. I understand that my actions have fallen short of the standards expected of me as a professional and as a representative of this organization," Cruz said in a statement, via The Athletic.

"I take responsibility for my conduct and recognize the impact it has had on my teammates, the club, and those who support us. To my teammates and coaches, I apologize for becoming a distraction and for not upholding the level of professionalism you deserve. To the fans, I am sorry for letting you down and for failing to meet the trust placed in me.

"I am committed to reflecting on this moment, learning from it, and taking the appropriate steps to move forward in a positive and responsible manner. I will cooperate fully with the organization and any steps required of me. … Thank you to everyone who has reached out with support and honesty. I understand that trust must be earned, and I am prepared to do that through my actions going forward."

REDS ANNOUNCERS FUME AT 'MIDDLE SCHOOL MISTAKE' VS DIVISION RIVAL CUBS AS HORRID LOSING STREAK CONTINUES

Cruz pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge in November in exchange for prosecutors dismissing a felony charge of transportation of illegal aliens for profit. He was sentenced to 30 days in prison with credit for time served.

The plea deal, The Athletic said, stated Cruz understood his deportation would be "practically inevitable and a virtual certainty."

The Padres placed Cruz, who they signed out of Monterrey, Mexico, for $750,000 in February 2024, on the restricted list in March.

Cruz underwent Tommy John surgery last August and had been rehabbing at the team’s spring training facility in Arizona in late October at the time of his arrest.

In 14 starts in both rookie and A-ball, Cruz pitched to a 7.58 ERA. MLB.com lists Cruz as the team's fifth-best prospect -- three of the four ahead of him are pitchers.

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The Padres did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Tom Homan answers how many more deportations needed to restore country: ‘One hell of a shot’

Sat, 09 May 2026 06:00:25 -0400

President Donald Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan, responded to a question about how many more deportations are needed to bring the U.S. back to a country of legal citizens, saying, "millions."

Speaking with Fox News’ Will Cain on Thursday, Homan pushed back on rumors that the administration is ramping down its immigration enforcement surges, saying he expects the deportation numbers to actually increase.

"We’re going to continue to surge resources, especially to sanctuary cities, because we know we have a problem there," he said. "So, I expect the numbers to increase while the border numbers continue to decrease."

Asked how many more deportations are needed, Homan said, "Millions. Look, I see it all the time. There’s 12 million illegal aliens in the country. We used 12 million 25 years ago. I think its well over 20 million. So, we’re going to do everything we can to arrest as many people as we can."

BORDER CZAR HOMAN VOWS TO 'FLOOD' NEW YORK WITH ICE AGENTS DESPITE HOCHUL'S RESISTANCE

Pressed on whether the logistics of such large-scale deportation operations are possible, Homan responded, "I’ll give it one hell of a shot."

"I mean, bottom line is we’re not going to give up on President Trump’s promise to the American people on mass deportations," he continued.

Homan confirmed the administration is hiring 10,000 more immigration enforcement agents. He said there are about 7,000 "on board" and 3,000 more going through training.

TRUMP BORDER CZAR TOM HOMAN WANTS POPE LEO XIV TO RIDE ALONG WITH ICE AGENTS: 'THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND'

The border czar said he expressed his opinion to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin that the "vast majority" of these agents "need to go to sanctuary cities."

"Why is that? We go to Florida, every sheriff, every [police] chief is working with us. They honor detainers. We’ve got less of a problem in states like that, Florida and Texas," he explained.

"However, in states that want to lock us out of jails, that refuse, sheriffs and chiefs, to work with us in any capacity, that’s where we know it's a problem, because we know they are releasing public safety threats, illegal aliens every day."

Homan recently issued a warning to New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, vowing to "flood the zone" with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers despite her efforts to block federal operations.

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He responded to Hochul’s claim that federal agents aren’t welcome in her state without permission and that she is not asking for help, by saying, "Well, Governor Hochul, I’m not asking either. I said it. We’re going to do it."

"This is what we have to do because she forces this position. And we're going to do it. They're not going to stop us. They can put all the roadblocks they want, but we're [going to] do this job," he said.

Fox News Digital's Madison Colombo contributed to this report.

BRET BAIER: Why Americans still believe our best days are ahead, even in divided times

Fri, 08 May 2026 15:38:40 -0400

When my new book, "The Case for America," was launched this month, the first thing I wanted to do was hear from my listeners and readers about how they would make the case. So, I published an invitation on my website asking people to record short videos, and I’ve been playing some of them on air during "Special Report."

I’ve been happy with the diverse contributions from across the country. The optimism and pride are like a tonic in a time often characterized by disagreement. Here are the voices of our fellow Americans making the case. I hope you are as inspired by them as I have been.

In the book, I write about the immigrant success story that continues to stand as proof of our special nature. Charlie C. is an example of the immigrant success story.

"I believe the U.S. is unique because it's a place where immigrants can rise from the lower middle class to the top 3% in just one generation," Charlie said, describing his own experience.

BRET BAIER: AHEAD OF 250TH, AMERICA HAS WITNESSED TRIUMPH OF RESILIENCE OVER DESPAIR

"My family moved here when I was 10, and we started in suburban Philadelphia with very humble means. McDonald's was a luxury. My English was very limited, but through hard work, I went on to attend an Ivy League school and earn a Ph.D.

"Now I'm one of the top engineers at a Fortune 500 company, surrounded by 18,000 colleagues. I'm grateful for a wife of 24 years and three wonderful kids. I believe my achievements would not be possible anywhere else, as this country is the only one founded on a belief in life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for all."

Well said.

Gus F. also weighed in on the immigrant experience, saying that, as a proud Latino and Native American, his case for America is personal.

"This country is not perfect. No nation is," he acknowledged.

"But America is still a place where history, struggle, sacrifice, faith, family and freedom come together to create a future bigger than the past. Both my people know hardship. We also know resilience. We know what it means to be overlooked, underestimated and still rise. That's why I believe in America, not because she has never fallen short, but because she gives us the right, the voice and the opportunity to make her better."

The theme of opportunity is a mainstay of the people’s cases for America.

"For 250 years, the men and women who have served this country have helped build it from the ground up in every industry and in every generation," Lisa D., a retired veteran, said. "This is not coincidence. That is American character. America has always had a secret weapon. They are the visionaries, the entrepreneurs, the innovators, the risk-takers, the ones who never stopped dreaming."

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Manufacturing opportunity was a theme that resonated. Brian H. weighed in as the proud owner and president of WIC Industries in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

"We make the ADA switches that you push when you walk into some of the most beautiful buildings in the world, including the White House, the U.S. Capitol and the Washington Monument," he said.

Brian mentioned that his company had made the largest capital investment in its history as a result of the 2025 tax bill (the One Big Beautiful Bill).

"We have always been a manufacturer in the U.S. We will continue to make things here," he promised. The strength of our manufacturing sector has always been a defining characteristic of America.

But as Anthony L. pointed out, it’s not just our rich material resources that make us strong. It’s our character.

"America's future depends on certain nonmaterial social resources — trust, honor and love," he said. "Trust is a boundary condition and requires boundaries. Honor differentiates us from one another and is the basis of individual dignity.

"Love draws and holds us together. We will always prosper as a nation if we cherish these social goods in our law and our politics."

Some of our great founders, including Thomas Jefferson, John Adams and Benjamin Franklin, often spoke and wrote about those very themes.

IF YOU WANT TO HELP AMERICA, START SERVING

Michael R. also talked about the moral underpinnings of a great society.

"I think William Penn once wrote, ‘Those people who will not be governed by God will be ruled by tyrants,’" he said. "And I think he was speaking about people who can't govern themselves morally. I also think he was speaking about strong societies, that they have not always been rooted in institutions, but in people who have goodness, common sense and humility, and care for others.

"We don't have to agree fully to move forward, but we do need a shared commitment to good, to service to one another. The challenges we face today are not the end of our 250-year history, but they are an opportunity to rebuild from the inside out. The question probably is not what's happening around us, but who we choose to be as individuals."

Many people pointed proudly to service as a meaningful part of their American experience and what makes America strong.

Shannon told me, "I was born and raised in a family that is so grateful, full of service members who have served this country and helped make freedom accessible for everyone. People come from all over the world because they know what we have is a great thing going. Here, as a woman, as a person of faith, I couldn't be more grateful to be an American citizen. We have so much opportunity, so much freedom, and I never take it for granted."

Shannon offered her congratulations to all of us who get to call America home.

LET'S TEACH OUR KIDS WHY AMERICA IS WORTH FIGHTING FOR

A number of people expressed hope in the next generation and talked about how that opportunity is being passed on to them.

Thomas said, "My case for America is simply that I grew up in a small area of Kentucky in a trailer park. My daughter is now working on her second master's degree. This one is at Georgetown, the first one at George Washington University.

"She lives in D.C. She was a major in the Army. Her husband works in the Pentagon. They've got a young grandson growing up in D.C. There's a lot of great people out there, in finance, technology, business, doing great things for America, and a lot of great patriots out there. So, keep the education coming and keep the fight."

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Christine also made the case for the youth.

"I'm very hopeful for our United States of America," she said. "My husband and I, married for 40 years, have two kids who both, as adults, ended up a lot more liberal than we are, but knowing them makes my heart happy because they are both kind, caring, competent, hardworking individuals, and I know, left in their hands and the hands of their friends, our nation is going to be just fine."

As the father of two sons, the oldest graduating high school this year, I share Thomas and Christine’s optimism about the emerging generation who will make the most of our opportunities.

Jerry, a member of that younger generation, weighed in with inspiring words.

"I'm making my case for America because I'm proud to call it home. While we all have different lifestyles and opinions from coast to coast, what makes us great is how we unite under our values during tough times," Jerry said.

"I'm thankful for a country where your background doesn't define your potential, and where freedom of speech and religion are guaranteed. From the Great Depression to liberation efforts in world wars, America has been resilient and generous. We wouldn't have this amazing, free country without the sacrifice of our veterans. That is my case for the greatest country."

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Finally, I couldn’t resist Jon L.’s appeal to this golfer’s heart. He made the case for America in terms any golfer would appreciate.

"America's best days are ahead. We're just teeing up for the back nine. This nation's always had a talent for the long game, and right now we're positioned for a birdie run," Jon L. said.

"Sure, we've had some lies in the rough where we needed a solid recovery shot, but the fairway ahead looks open. We've got the skill, the grit and the course knowledge to make a championship round. The greens are within reach. We just need to stay focused and trust our swing. America ain't done playing yet."

Thanks, Jon, and thank you to everyone who has participated. If you haven’t made your personal case for America yet, I encourage you to go on the website and share your thoughts. I’ll continue to share them as we celebrate America’s 250th anniversary.

Editor's note: Bret Baier's new book, "The Case for America: An Argument on Behalf of Our Nation," was published May 5, 2026, in celebration of the nation’s 250th anniversary.

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Trump DOJ escalates citizenship crackdown on group accused of hiding terror ties, violent crimes

Fri, 08 May 2026 14:00:06 -0400

The Department of Justice has ramped up its use of a rarely deployed legal tool to strip citizenship, targeting 12 naturalized Americans accused of hiding ties to terrorism, violent crimes and other offenses and signaling more cases will follow.

The action on Friday against 12 immigrants included bringing civil complaints or charges against those from Iraq, Somalia, China and India. It comes as acting Attorney General Todd Blanche touts expanding the typically difficult effort to denaturalize people and also follows the DOJ Civil Division ordering more denaturalizations in a memo last summer about the Trump administration's priorities, which include cracking down on illegal immigration and fraud.

Blanche said in a statement to Fox News Digital about Friday's sweeping enforcement action that anyone "who intentionally concealed their criminal histories or misrepresented themselves during the naturalization process will face the fullest extent of the law."

FEDS LAUNCH OPERATION TARGETING MINNESOTA REFUGEES FOR POTENTIAL DEPORTATION AMID FRAUD INVESTIGATION

One of the dozen, Ali Yousif Ahmed, gained citizenship after saying he fled Iraq in 2009 because al Qaeda terrorists attacked his family, authorities said. But, authorities said, Iraq sought Ahmed's extradition in 2019 after he allegedly murdered two Iraqi police officers while a leader in al Qaeda, a detail he allegedly omitted from the U.S. government.

Another, Salah Osman Ahmed of Somalia, naturalized in 2007 and pleaded guilty in 2009 to providing material support for terrorists and belonging to the terrorist group al-Shabab, Fox News Digital learned. The DOJ alleged that joining a terrorist group within five years of naturalization was grounds for revoking citizenship.

Others included Abduvosit Razikov of Uzbekistan, who allegedly entered into a sham marriage to gain citizenship, and Oscar Alberto Pelaez of Colombia, a priest who was convicted in the United States of 13 counts of sexual abuse of a minor, including sodomy, and allegedly lied about the crimes during the naturalization process, Fox News Digital learned.

Denaturalization has long been an infrequent tool for immigration enforcement.

In the span of about 30 years, the DOJ filed about 305 denaturalization cases. Then, when Trump first took office in 2017, the government brought 168 cases. The figure drastically reduced under President Joe Biden, and now with Trump back in office, the effort has returned to the fore.

SENATE REPUBLICANS PUSH TO DEPORT, DENATURALIZE FRAUDSTERS AMID MINNESOTA SCANDAL

Prosecutors must meet a high bar to denaturalize immigrants by proving with "clear and convincing" evidence that "material fraud" occurred during the naturalization process, Neama Rahmani, a California-based former federal prosecutor, told Fox News Digital, saying it was not an easy process.

Blanche warned during a recent CBS News interview that people "should be worried" if they obtained citizenship through fraud.

"Who our targets are? We are not limiting ourselves to anyone in particular except to say that, unfortunately — and I think you're going to hear more about this in the coming days and weeks — there are a lot of U.S. citizens who shouldn't be," Blanche said.

TRUMP IS TARGETING NONVIOLENT AND LEGAL IMMIGRANTS. AMERICANS ARE STARTING TO NOTICE

Pressed on denaturalization being a "very drastic penalty," Blanche shot back, "It's a very drastic reward being naturalized, committing fraud."

Immigrants rights groups have raised worries that some 24 million naturalized citizens in the United States have been left unsettled by the Trump administration's broadened pursuit of revoking citizenship.

"There are concerns that the federal government’s denaturalization efforts could lead to the revocation of U.S. citizenship of many individuals who made minor or unintentional mistakes or omissions in their naturalization application," Forum policy expert Christian Penichet-Paul wrote last summer.

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Rahmani noted that the alleged fraud cannot be trivial or negligent, but instead must be significant and intentional.

"It has to be something material, and material means that the citizenship would not have been granted had DHS known," Rahmani said. "That's really the standard."

World Cup stadium union workers say FIFA's lack of privacy concerns put them at risk of ICE targeting

Fri, 08 May 2026 10:37:52 -0400

A union that includes nearly 2,000 SoFi Stadium workers issued a complaint to the attorney general of California, stating that they could be at risk of being targeted by ICE due to FIFA's accreditation process.

SoFi Stadium is one of 11 USA venues hosting World Cup matches this summer, but members of the UNITE HERE Local 11 union fear that FIFA's process violates their rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act.

According to the complaint, via The Athletic, workers had to share their Social Security number, nationality, address and country of birth. They also were required to consent to the "collection, use, and disclosure" of their "personal data, including any sensitive personal data, as described in (FIFA’s) Privacy Notice."

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The complaint also reportedly says that workers needed to consent to their information being shared with "local, regional, and/or federal government authorities or a third-party for the purposes of conducting a security background check."

The complaint, according to The Athletic, has called on FIFA to publicly ensure that ICE will not be present at World Cup venues throughout the tournament. The FBI has said that the Department of Homeland Security would be a "key partner" in the accreditation process.

CIVIL RIGHTS GROUPS ISSUE FLORIDA TRAVEL ADVISORY FOR FIFA WORLD CUP OVER IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT TACTICS

The process "has put stadium workers in an impossible bind of having to choose between their livelihood and their right to privacy under California law."

"FIFA is now endangering the very workers inside the U.S. who make the World Cup possible," the complaint says.

"FIFA’s accreditation process runs counter to California law and to its 2026 slogan that ‘Football Unites the World.’ Stadium workers are the backbone of the World Cup experience for fans — they proudly prepare food, serve drinks, and clean the stadium."

It remains unknown what ICE's presence will be at World Cup games, but acting director Todd Lyons did say that it would play a "key part" in ensuring security during the tournament.

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Eight games will be played at SoFi Stadium, including the U.S.' opener against Parguay on June 12.

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Dem governor in the hot seat after testing limits of authority with major move against ICE

Fri, 08 May 2026 08:00:20 -0400

New York Governor Kathy Hochul is using her 2027 budget request to push new restrictions targeting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in the Empire State, testing the limits of her authority to impose requirements on federal agencies — a test that experts say is doomed from its outset.

The Local Cops Local Crimes Act would block local law enforcement from acting on behalf of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Alongside a proposed ban on masks and new operational limits in certain settings, Hochul’s efforts continue Democrats' efforts to use state-level policies to push back on President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown.

"ICE will no longer be able to use our police, our jails and our resources to carry out civil immigration enforcement. Because guess what: Our officers paid for by local taxpayer dollars were hired to protect their communities, to be there to assist with a traffic accident, to go after retail theft, stop domestic violence," Hochul said at a press event on Thursday.

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"They’re not there to do the federal government’s bidding."

Since the beginning of President Donald Trump’s second term, governors in states like Illinois, California and Virginia have thrown up barriers to local-federal immigration cooperation by limiting communication, data sharing and more.

In Hochul’s case, the Local Cops Local Crimes Act rescinds and prevents the expansion of any new agreements under the 287(g) program — a federal law that allows local officers to assume authority to conduct immigration-related work that is normally carried out by federal officials.

It also comes alongside a slew of separate immigration-related reforms Hochul is pressing for, including establishing a state right to sue ICE for "constitutional violations," a prohibition on masks for local and federal law enforcement and a restriction that would prevent ICE from entering schools, libraries, polling locations and homes without a judicial warrant.

Hans von Spakovsky, a legal scholar with Advancing American Freedom, believes those additional changes won’t survive long — even if they do become law.

"If the question is: can she do any of that? The answer is no. This is not an ambiguous issue," Spakovsky said.

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Spakovsky, pointing to the 1890 Supreme Court case In re Neagle, said states can’t hold federal agents responsible for carrying out federal mandates.

The Local Cops Local Crimes Act stipulates that local law enforcement would still have to comply with warrants issued for an immigration-related arrest.

"Nothing in this section shall be intended to limit local government law, law enforcement agency, correctional facility, or local correctional facility from enforcing any valid state or federal court-issued warrants or orders, or any other actions as required by law," the bill reads.

Even so, Laurin Bis, acting assistant secretary for public affairs for the Department of Homeland Security, blasted Hochul’s announcement, calling it a dangerous development for NYC residents.

"Governor Hochul's policies of not cooperating with ICE put New Yorkers in danger. When politicians bar local law enforcement from working with DHS, our law enforcement officers have to have a more visible presence so that we can find and apprehend the criminals let out of jails and back into communities," Bis said.

Bis said DHS feared that NYC would end up allowing more immigration-law violators back onto the street.

"Instead of working with us, Governor Hochul is choosing to release violent criminals from her jails directly back into our communities to perpetrate more crimes and create more victims."

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Hochul’s office did not immediately respond to requests for comment on whether New York would refuse to hold suspects in violation of immigration law.

The office also did not respond to questions about why the Local Cops Local Crimes Act had been included alongside the 2027 budget request.

Disney cruise workers busted in child porn sting, hauled off ships for deportation

Thu, 07 May 2026 17:29:23 -0400

More than two dozen cruise ship employees, including Disney cruise workers, were arrested by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in a child exploitation ring bust at a port in San Diego.

In all, 28 people from three different countries — 26 from the Philippines, one from Indonesia and another from Portugal — were interviewed, and 27 were found to have taken part in the "receipt, possession, transportation, distribution, or viewing of [child sexual exploitation material] or child pornography," according to CBP.

It is unclear how many of those people worked for Disney Cruise Line.

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In a statement to Fox News Digital, Disney said: "We have a zero tolerance policy for this type of behavior and fully cooperated with law enforcement. While the majority of these individuals were not from our cruise line, those who were are no longer with the company."

CRUISE SHIP CRIME REACHES 2-YEAR HIGH, CASTING ‘DARK CLOUD’ FOR TRAVELERS: EXPERT

CBP agents boarded a total of eight cruise ships in the Port of San Diego between April 23 and April 27 in search of the suspects.

CBP said the suspects' visas have been revoked, and they are scheduled for deportation.

Dharmi Mehta told the California Post that she was a passenger on one of the ships and that it was "really unsettling" seeing the arrests, including one worker who was her server during the five-day trip.

"He was full in uniform, which was in a blazer, tie. Some of the other employees were still in their chef’s uniforms with their name tags on it," Mehta said, told the outlet.

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The Port of San Diego told Fox News Digital that it was not involved in the law enforcement action, and that under California law, local and state authorities do not cooperate with federal immigration authorities.