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Former Mexican beauty queen found shot dead as investigators examine possible family involvement: reports

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 21:21:55 -0400

A former Mexican beauty queen was found shot to death in her Mexico City apartment, with investigators examining the possible involvement of her mother-in-law, according to local reports.

Carolina Flores Gómez, 27, was found dead inside an apartment in the Polanco neighborhood, one of the city’s most affluent areas, Reporte Índigo, a Mexico-based news outlet, reported.

Authorities said the death is being investigated as a homicide, after initial findings indicated she suffered a gunshot wound to the head. Emergency responders were called to the scene, where paramedics confirmed she showed no signs of life.

Prosecutors are investigating whether Flores Gómez’s mother-in-law, Erika María, as well as a man described in reports as her partner or husband, may have been involved in her death.

CALIFORNIA HIKER'S BODY FOUND NAKED IN BIG SUR BACKCOUNTRY

The man, identified as Alejandro, accused his mother of killing Flores Gómez, Mexican news outlet Azteca Guerrero reported.

The outlet also reported that the woman’s mother-in-law was present at the scene when the gun was fired and that authorities are looking into the timeline of when the incident was reported.

WIDOW, SON OF LATE CHICAGO COMMISSIONER FOUND SHOT DEAD INSIDE HOME IN SUSPECTED HOMICIDE

Preliminary reports cited by Mexican news outlet Diario Puntual indicate that a security guard at the building did not hear gunshots, adding uncertainty about how the crime occurred.

Authorities in Baja California, Mexico, also responded to the case, Diario Puntual reported.

CIA PERSONNEL KILLED IN MEXICO CRASH TIED TO CARTEL OPERATION; QUESTIONS MOUNT OVER US ROLE

Baja California Gov. Marina del Pilar Ávila Olmeda expressed solidarity with the victim’s family and called for the case to be clarified.

State prosecutor María Elena Andrade Ramírez also said there is coordination with Mexico City authorities to support the investigation.

Flores Gómez previously competed in beauty pageants and was crowned Miss Teen Universe Baja California in 2017.

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The case has drawn attention in Mexico amid ongoing concerns about violence against women, with advocacy groups calling for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death.

The investigation into the matter is open and ongoing.

San Diego taco chain targeted by boycott over CEO's alleged Trump support

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 17:30:52 -0400

A popular San Diego-based taco chain is facing boycott calls after a social media user alleged the business's CEO supports President Donald Trump.

Roberto's Taco Shop, founded by Roberto and Dolores Robledo in San Diego in 1964, says it serves "fast traditional Mexican food" at more than 80 locations in California, Nevada and Texas. The chain's current CEO is their son, Reynaldo Robledo.

SFGate reported that the Latino-owned business came under fire after a TikTok user posted a video targeting Robledo's alleged political views.

The TikTok user, who says she exposes "Latino MAGA businesses that profit off La Raza," shared screenshots of posts supporting the president from a personal Facebook account bearing Robledo's name and image.

MINNESOTA RESTAURANTS BY THE DOZENS PLANNING TO SHUT DOWN FRIDAY TO PROTEST ICE ENFORCEMENT

The Facebook account appears to have since been made private.

"Did this CEO really forget that all of his restaurants are based on Mexican dishes, who wouldn’t have made it here without the immigrants that are currently being affected by the current administration that you are supporting?" the TikToker asks in the April 8 video. "You also forget that the majority of your clients are Latinos?"

"Are we going to allow these people to hide, say and lie to our face that they stand by us and then behind closed doors, they're somebody else?" she asked.

A public Facebook group called "A Strong Nevada" also called for a boycott of the business.

'TASTES LIKE DEMOCRACY': SAN FRANCISCO BAKERY SELLS ANTI-ICE COOKIES

"Did you know that Reynaldo Robledo, the CEO of Roberto's Taco Shop is a huge MAGA supporter and supports ICE!" the group posted last week. "Looks like you won't be getting our business anymore!"

A post on a San Diego Reddit also drew hundreds of disgusted comments from users vowing to avoid the taco chain.

SFGate also reported that Robledo appeared at a Latinos for Trump roundtable meeting with the president in 2020, where he thanked Trump for helping Latino businesses, according to a transcript from the American Presidency Project.

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The chain’s Las Vegas location posted a statement to Instagram distancing itself from the controversy.

"Roberto’s Taco Shop is proud to be a Latino-owned and operated franchise that serves diverse communities across Nevada. While our CEO may hold personal political beliefs, it is important to note that each of our 49 franchisees operate their stores independently," the statement read.

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"The day-to-day operations and livelihoods of our 600 team members reflect the hard work, values, and cultural heritage of families, many of whom are Latino immigrants, who are dedicated to serving their local communities."

Roberto’s did not immediately return Fox News Digital’s request for comment.

DHS releases new evidence in case of Dem staffer accused of impersonating ICE attorney

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 19:21:18 -0400

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has released additional evidence it says confirms that a staffer for Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-Texas, lied about being an attorney for detainees at a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) center in an effort to meet with them and sneak in smuggled cell phones.

In March, acting ICE Director Todd Lyons informed Escobar in a letter about Benito Torres, a senior caseworker on the congresswoman's staff, who Lyons said lied about being a lawyer for detainees in ICE custody at the Camp East Montana center at Fort Bliss in El Paso.

Lyons requested that Escobar answer several questions about Torres' alleged actions.

"Rep. Escobar refused to respond honestly. Instead, she took to X to defend Torres and gaslight the public," DHS said Thursday.

ILHAN OMAR KICKED OUT OF ICE FACILITY AFTER DHS REQUIRES WEEK'S ADVANCE NOTICE

Initially, DHS released an image of a sign-in log showing Torres allegedly claiming to be a "lawyer" visiting a "client." ICE records show he first misrepresented himself as a legal professional in September 2025, Lyons said.

A Feb. 18 memo states that, on a Jan. 23 visit to the center, Torres falsely claimed to be an attorney while requesting to see 22 detainees. It was determined that he was not a legal professional, the memo said.

The most recent incident allegedly happened Jan. 30.

ICE DIRECTOR STANDS HIS GROUND AFTER SWALWELL BLOWUP, SAYS DEMOCRATS ARE ‘MISLEADING THEIR CONSTITUENTS’

"Torres lied about being an attorney in order to gain access to an ICE detention facility," a DHS statement said. "He misrepresented himself repeatedly over the course of several months, talking directly to detainees even though he was NOT their legal counsel. He even passed a phone around multiple detainees during a January 2026 visit, a dangerous violation of security protocols.

"Actions like Mr. Torres’ are meant to undermine ICE’s statutory mission to enforce immigration laws and remove illegal aliens from the interior."

Fox News Digital has reached out to DHS and Escobar's office.

SHUTDOWN FLIPS ICE OVERSIGHT FIGHT AS DHS MOVES TO BLOCK SURPRISE LAWMAKER VISITS

At the time of the initial allegations by DHS, Escobar described Torres as "a dedicated public servant" and "Army veteran," saying the accusations against him were "unfounded."

She also criticized the facility and accused the Trump administration of retaliatory tactics.

"It is worth noting that ICE has refused to respond to multiple letters I’ve sent about Camp East Montana regarding deaths, including a homicide; outbreaks of diseases including COVID-19, measles, and tuberculosis; waste, fraud, and abuse; a lack of legal representation or medical care; and so much more," she said.

"This administration has a history of engaging in intimidation tactics against Members of Congress as well as continuously attempting to obstruct our ability to provide oversight.

ICE DIRECTOR REFUSES TO RESIGN UNDER PRESSURE FROM ERIC SWALWELL NOT TO 'SIDE WITH KILLERS'

"I stand proudly by the members of my team who have demonstrated nothing but dedication and integrity to serving our nation and our community," Escobar added.

The congresswoman has previously demanded the Camp East Montana center be shut down, describing it as "disastrous and inhumane."

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"The United States already has the largest immigration detention network in the world, and these added facilities serve only as tools for the administration’s inhumanity," she wrote in a March post on X.

Torres has been banned from ICE sites.

Arizona Mexican restaurant swamped with hate over free meals for ICE, but owners respond with ‘God bless you’

Wed, 11 Feb 2026 05:00:13 -0500

An Arizona Mexican restaurant run by immigrants has been swamped with hateful messages, calls and online reviews over it giving free meals to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, but the owners say they are responding with kindness.

"We're trying to respond in a positive way, just because I know that putting more hate onto hate is not going to lead anywhere good," Jorge Rivas, who owns Sammy’s Mexican Grill, told Fox News Digital on Tuesday.

In a recent video shared on social media by the outlet Pulso, Sammy’s Mexican Grill was highlighted as a restaurant that respects federal immigration enforcement agents and offers them free meals.

MOTHER OF OFFICER KILLED BY ILLEGAL MIGRANT CRITICIZES MINNESOTA LEADERS' 'WARPED VIEW' OF POLICE

"Everything started because a local reporter asked me that the offer that we have on the wall of the restaurant about serving free meals to law enforcement officers, if that also extended to ICE agents," said Rivas, who is originally from El Salvador.

"And I say, of course it does because they're also law enforcement agents," he said. "You know, there are agents that work for the federal government. Obviously, working under the great leadership of President Trump. And they're enforcing the laws that have been on the books for many years, the same laws that were enforced by other presidents like Obama, Clinton, et cetera. So they are not doing anything different. And for us to offer free meals, it's just our way of saying thank you for being out there, putting your life on the line, risking your safety."

Since the video went viral, Rivas said the restaurant has been inundated with hateful reviews and calls, but that staff try to respond politely.

"Many calls, we just say, you know, ‘God bless you, thank you, you have a great day,’" Rivas said.

Rivas said the surge of one-star reviews has concerned him, noting that some online posts accuse the restaurant of unsanitary conditions or food-related illnesses.

‘WE’RE BACK TO COVID’: MINNESOTA RESTAURANT OWNERS SAY ICE ENFORCEMENT IS CRIPPLING THEIR BUSINESSES

"But still, after so many calls, it tends to get you," he added. "You know, when you hear the negativity and the insults over and over, it bothers you, you know, whether you want it or not. And also all the one-star reviews on Google, I know sooner or later people are going to start wondering, you know, ‘Is this real, are they as horrible,’ because they write, ‘Oh this place is full of cockroaches,’ or ‘You know, I got so sick off eating a burrito.’"

Rivas emphasized that the policy of offering free meals to law enforcement is not new.

"We have been doing this for the last five years or more," Rivas said. "Officers have been coming over to our restaurant and, 90% of the time, they don't pay for it. Sometimes they say, ‘I want to pay for it because I got my last two free meals. Last time I came here, I got free meals,’ so they do pay every once in a while, but most of the time they do not. So this is not something new that we just started to do a couple of days ago."

INSIDE ICE’S ‘WARTIME’ HIRING SURGE, DOUBLING THE FORCE AS CRITICS WARN OF MILITARIZED POLICING

Rivas, an outspoken supporter of President Donald Trump, has been active in state Republican politics. He ran unsuccessfully in the GOP primary for Arizona's 7th Congressional District last year and even made a bid for the GOP gubernatorial nomination during the 2022 cycle.

Tensions surrounding ICE have increased after the death of Renee Nicole Good, who was shot and killed in January in Minneapolis by an ICE agent after she allegedly attempted to ram an officer with her vehicle.

Protests against federal agents have continued to escalate since the Border Patrol killing of Alex Pretti on Jan. 24.

In January, ICE reported that it has had an over 1,300% increase in assaults, a 3,200% increase in vehicle attacks aimed at officers and an 8,000% increase in death threats.

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Rivas told Fox News Digital that his message to the people who are protesting is to "use their life and their time doing something better."

"I know that many people feel that they need to have a goal, they need to have a purpose in their life," Rivas said. "And they think that by confronting ICE agents or federal agents, that will fill the void that they have in their heart. They need to look for Jesus and for God for moral values and that will make them feel better."

Fox News' Alba Cuebas-Fantauzzi contributed to this report.

From kneeling to Spanish anthems: How the NFL lost Middle America at halftime

Mon, 09 Feb 2026 16:56:45 -0500

After the chaotic early 2020s, when the NFL led the way by leaning into woke nonsense like kneeling for the national anthem or introducing "Lift Every Voice" as a separate anthem for Black Americans, there’s been a lack of trust between the average football fan and the Super Bowl halftime production. The sense is, "What are they going to try this time?"

The NFL responded with an all-Spanish halftime show and effectively challenged Americans to have a problem with it. What are viewers going to do — not watch?

But many didn’t.

BAD BUNNY'S SUPER BOWL HALFTIME SHOW IGNITES TRUMP'S FURY, DIVIDES VIEWERS

Turning Point’s "All-American Halftime Show" was announced a few months ago to contrast with what many expected would be a politicized halftime show by Bad Bunny, an artist whose songs are exclusively in Spanish and who has made political statements in the past, including "Ice Out" at the Grammy Awards and "F--- Trump" during the Black Lives Matter protests.

The New York Times puts the number of concurrent viewers of the alternative show at 6.1 million, while Turning Point says its total viewership was around 9 million. The show aired on streaming platforms like YouTube and Rumble. That number may be a fraction of the "official" halftime show, but the Super Bowl halftime show is one of the most expensive productions in entertainment, often running more than $10 million, and the artists, who are not paid, perform for the exposure.

TURNING POINT USA'S PATRIOTIC SUPER BOWL ALTERNATIVE EARNS PRAISE AS MILLIONS TUNE IN OVER BAD BUNNY

To lose anywhere from 6 million to 9 million viewers is not a win for the official show. That Turning Point was able to compete at all, with stars like Gabby Barrett and Kid Rock, is a testament to how much Americans are craving a normal show — one with performers who don’t hate them, don’t attack law enforcement and don’t despise the president they just re-elected.

There was some irony in the show, such as when Ricky Martin joined Bad Bunny on stage for the song "Lo Que Pasó en Hawái," which translates to "What happened to Hawaii." What happened to Hawaii is that an influx of people moved in unchecked, and the local population was displaced, with some forced to leave their homes.

NFL'S ROGER GOODELL BELIEVES BAD BUNNY 'UNDERSTANDS' SUPER BOWL LX PLATFORM IS MEANT TO UNITE AMID ICE OUTCRY

The lyrics could easily be applied to concerns many Americans have about unchecked, massive, illegal immigration during the Joe Biden presidency:

"Quieren al barrio mío y que tus hijos se vayan (They want my neighborhood and want your children to leave) / No, no suelte' la bandera ni olvide' el lelolai (No, don’t let go of the flag or forget the lelolai) / Que no quiero que hagan contigo lo que le pasó a Hawái (I don’t want them to do to you what happened to Hawaii)."

Before the show, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell called Bad Bunny "one of the great artists in the world," saying the performer "understood the platform he was on" and that the platform is used "to unite people and bring them together through creativity and talent."

He didn’t.

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His only spoken phrase in English — still the primary language of most Americans — was "God bless America," followed by a list of countries in Central and South America. The point, of course, was that America — the United States of America — is not special and not something worth celebrating.

That’s the problem with choosing someone like Bad Bunny for the Super Bowl halftime show. His music is fine on a beach, a few beers in, playing in the background. But the halftime show is supposed to be something else. As Goodell said, it’s supposed to unite.

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We’re in a new moment as Americans — a "vibe shift" following the re-election of Donald Trump — where we know we have something worth preserving and celebrating.

Bad Bunny doesn’t get that, and it showed.

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Why Bad Bunny’s polarizing Super Bowl halftime show felt like a slap at America

Mon, 09 Feb 2026 00:47:10 -0500

Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime show is officially behind us. Mercifully. What began with hype and outrage, and then more outrage, ended with a show most charitably described as polarizing and confusing for those who were not already Bad Bunny fans. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell promised that Bad Bunny would use the show to unite the world "in a really creative and fun way." It turns out that he was right. Most of the country, with the exception of some Democrats like California Gov. Gavin Newsom, was united in its revulsion over a show that was narrowly tailored to a niche audience despite being billed as inclusive and respectful of America.

The pre-show hype around Bad Bunny’s invitation to perform at this year’s Super Bowl began with his "SNL" demand that viewers "learn Spanish." He walked the dig back at the pre-Super Bowl press conference, but the sentiment ended up being true.

Then there was the online rumor that Bad Bunny would wear a dress during his halftime performance and honor Hispanic LGBTQ+ figures. That turned out to be a hoax.

BAD BUNNY'S SUPER BOWL HALFTIME SHOW IGNITES TRUMP'S FURY, DIVIDES VIEWERS

You’ve got to hand it to Bad Bunny and his marketing team. In the weeks leading up to the Super Bowl, they made sure to captivate people’s attention, whether positive or not.

The Super Bowl halftime show was a condensed version of the show he put on during his Puerto Rico residency. As America watched, Bad Bunny began with a walk through a sugar cane field. He passed by several scenes typical of Puerto Rico as he opened with "Tití Me Preguntó ("Auntie Asked Me")," such as a coconut water stand and a domino table. As he arrived at a house, viewers were treated to a mashup of several of his other hits before transitioning to a homage to ’90s and ’00s reggaeton and the blink-and-you’ll-miss-it depiction of two dudes grinding.

GREEN DAY FRONTMAN TELLS ICE AGENTS TO 'QUIT THAT S----Y JOB' AT SUPER BOWL PARTY PERFORMANCE

Had any of the show been in English, we would’ve heard a mostly positive message from Bad Bunny: "My name is Benito Martinez Ocasio. And if I’m here today at Super Bowl LX, it’s because I never, never stopped believing in myself. You should also believe in yourself. You’re worth more than you think. Believe me."

We then proceeded to the highlight of the show: Lady Gaga joining the salsa band in a version of "Die With a Smile" on a stage built to resemble the El Morro fortress in Old San Juan — the one moment where perhaps a majority of those present at Levi Stadium could sing along.

NFL LEGEND BLASTS LEAGUE FOR CHOOSING BAD BUNNY AS HALFTIME PERFORMER: 'ANYTHING FOR MONEY'

But wait, there’s more. This segues into Bad Bunny’s "Baile Inolvidable (Unforgettable Dance)," "Nueva Yol (New York)," and a symbolic handover of his Grammy.

Up until this point, there wasn’t anything in the show that could be perceived as overtly anti-American. That changed when Ricky Martin began singing the chorus of "Lo Que Le Pasó a Hawaii (What Happened to Hawaii)," which translates to:

"They want to take the rivers and the beaches away from me They want to take my neighborhood and for Grandma to go away No, don’t let go of the flag and don’t forget the le lo lai (song) I don’t want them to do with you what happened to Hawaii."

KID ROCK SAYS TPUSA'S ALTERNATE HALFTIME SHOW IS FOR PEOPLE WHO LOVE JESUS AND AMERICA

"What happened to Hawaii" is that it was admitted into the Union as its 50th state. Bad Bunny, who sings under the auspices of a record label founded by a former Venezuelan intelligence officer, would prefer that Puerto Rico separate from the United States in order to become an independent country — an option that only 12% of the island’s voters chose in 2024. The record shows that Bad Bunny also endorsed the pro-independence, Chávez- and Castro-sympathizing candidate for governor of Puerto Rico.

The Grammy-winning artist’s halftime show ended with a depiction of power outages, the titular "Debí Tirar Más Fotos, and his Grammy quote, "The only thing more powerful than hate is love," flashing on the big screen.

Bad Bunny walked off the field with a flag-bearing entourage in tow. His shout of "God Bless America!" really meant "América," as in the Americas, not the United States. A grand finale that was stilted, confusing, and subtly but passively aggressively anti-American.

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This begs the question: Why even invite Bad Bunny to do the show in the first place? Could the NFL make a business argument to bring him in as the halftime performer? Yes. As the league expands into Latin America and other markets, Bad Bunny makes sense. They both share Mexico as their biggest overseas market, for example. It was a no-brainer.

On the other hand, this was a clear vetting failure. The halftime show was carefully constructed to mainstream two similarly toxic ideas to viewers in the United States: first, the idea of Puerto Rico as a separate nation from the United States. Second, the idea of Latino identity as a nation within a nation, a permanent immigrant status separate from the American mainstream.

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Far from uniting the world "in a really creative and fun way," Bad Bunny delivered a highly divisive show that put identity politics front and center. The final product fell far short of Goodell’s hype, leaving a sour taste in the mouths of millions of viewers.

One shudders to think what the league might have in mind for next year if they insist on forsaking their core audience in pursuit of global expansion.

Costa Rica swings right as voters embrace tough-on-crime leader amid surging violence

Mon, 02 Feb 2026 17:50:34 -0500

Costa Ricans have elected conservative populist Laura Fernández as their next president, according to preliminary results, making her the latest right-leaning leader to win office in Latin America.

With results from 96.8% of polling places counted, Fernández of the Sovereign People’s Party won 48.3% of the vote, the Supreme Electoral Tribunal reported.

Her closest challenger, economist Álvaro Ramos of the National Liberation Party, trailed with 33.4%, the Associated Press reported.

Ramos conceded the race on election night, with Fernández, 39, to begin her four-year term in May.

TRUMP-BACKED CANDIDATE ASFURA WINS HONDURAS PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

A former government minister, Fernández is the chosen successor of outgoing President Rodrigo Chaves, who is constitutionally prohibited from seeking re-election.

She campaigned on continuing Chaves’ populist agenda, which reshaped Costa Rican politics by arguing against traditional parties and promising tougher action on crime.

Fernández served as minister of national planning and later as minister of the presidency, giving her a central role in Chaves’ administration.

LATIN AMERICA FRACTURES OVER TRUMP’S MADURO CAPTURE AS REGIONAL ALLIES SHIFT RIGHT

Crime had dominated the campaign in Costa Rica amid sharp rises in homicides, gang activity and drug trafficking by cartels.

The murder rate had increased by 50% over the last six years, according to reports.

Fernández pledged a hard-line security strategy, including increased cooperation with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and tougher measures against organized crime.

She has also floated controversial proposals inspired by El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele.

This included construction of a special prison for gang leaders, the Associated Press reported.

MARCO RUBIO EMERGES AS KEY TRUMP POWER PLAYER AFTER VENEZUELA OPERATION

"My hand won’t shake when it comes to making the decisions we need to restore peace in Costa Rican homes," Fernández said during the campaign.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio congratulated Fernández in a statement Monday.

"Under her leadership, we are confident Costa Rica will continue to advance shared priorities to include combating narco-trafficking, ending illegal immigration to the United States, promoting cybersecurity and secure telecommunications, and strengthening economic ties," Rubio said.

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"I hope that we can immediately lower the flags of whichever political party and start working only in favor of the Costa Rican flag," Fernández said after the result.

"I believe the Costa Rican people expect nothing less of us," she added.

House candidate predicts historic rise of ‘new generation’ in Congress as parties target key demographic

Sat, 24 Jan 2026 08:00:14 -0500

After making historic inroads with Hispanic voters in the last several election cycles, the Republican Party is going all in on winning the Latino vote this midterm election. The party, which currently holds a razor-thin majority in the House of Representatives, is confident that Hispanic voters will help it retain and shape the future of its majority both this November and in the years to come.

Longtime South Texas Democratic Judge Tano Tijerina told Fox News Digital during an interview that he and Hispanics are ready to buck the Democrats and embrace a "new generation" of political leadership.

Alongside former assistant U.S. attorney Eric Flores and former California mayor Kevin Lincoln, Tijerina is one of three Hispanic Republicans running to unseat Democrats in Congress whom President Donald Trump has endorsed. There are eight other Hispanic Republicans running in competitive, heavily Latino districts in border states, Texas, New Mexico and California.

If elected, these candidates will join an already influential group of Hispanics in Congress, including Reps. Maria Salazar, R-Fla., Monica De La Cruz, R-Texas, Nicole Malliotakis, R-N.Y., Juan Ciscomani, R-Ariz., and Gabe Evans, R-Colo.

HEALTHCARE, ECONOMY AND THE 'ONE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL': WELCOME TO THE MIDTERMS

Tijerina is running to unseat longtime Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar in a district along the Texas-Mexico border. He said that despite long being a Democratic stronghold, the Biden administration’s mismanagement of the border and prioritization of DEI "really opened up a lot of eyes of the Hispanics down here in South Texas."

"Being a Democrat after so many years, I'm just sick and tired of seeing all the social issues that the Democrats are [promoting]. And I'm not the only one. That's why Webb County, that's why South Texas, voted for Trump plus 10 numbers."

"We have always been conservative, everybody knows it," he went on, adding, "Down here in South Texas, the only thing that we care about is good-paying jobs [and] making sure that we're getting protected."

Cuellar also counts himself as one of the last "blue dog" conservative Democrats in the House of Representatives. He was highly critical of the Biden administration’s handling of the border and immigration issues. Cuellar has said that it was this stance that led to him being indicted by the Biden Department of Justice on foreign bribery charges. He was later given an unconditional pardon by Trump, who also posited that the charges were politically motivated.

Though there was much speculation that Cuellar would switch parties after his pardon, he rebuffed those rumors, saying he would remain a blue dog Democrat. Tijerina said that it is just as well because the people of South Texas "deserve somebody that's actually going to go fight for them and not fight for themselves."

"[Cuellar] comes around and says, ‘I'm your money guy, I'm the one that brings the money.’ When in all reality, I, as a county judge, know that we've gone through commissioner's court, we're the ones with the ideas, we're are the ones that ask for the federal funding, we're the ones who do the cash match," said Tijerina.

"Henry's been for Henry all these years, and it's very obvious," he went on. "It's time for a new generation."

CALL TO DUTY: IN BATTLE FOR HOUSE, REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS LOOKING TO VETERANS

In response, Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Spokesperson Madison Andrus told Fox News Digital that "during his time in office, Congressman Cuellar has brought billions of dollars back home to South Texas through his powerful position on the House Appropriations Committee."

Andrus knocked Tijerina for "fighting for a controversial $10 million spending project in Webb County" to purchase property for a new tax office.

"Tano should focus on his own backyard and do his homework on how members bring money back to their districts," she said.

A national Democratic strategist told Fox News Digital that Tijerina’s assertion that Cuellar has failed to bring money back to the district stems from a "misunderstanding" of how the House appropriations process works.

"Just based on how the House works, Tano will not be able to bring as much money to the district as Cuellar is," said the strategist, adding, "It is exceedingly rare that a freshman member of Congress gets a seat on the Appropriations Committee. So, Tano would not be able to sit on it, that just wouldn't happen. And so, that would necessarily lead to a significant decrease in the federal funding that Texas 28 would get."

SENATE MAJORITY LEADER JOHN THUNE PREVIEWS REPUBLICAN MIDTERM MESSAGE HEADING INTO 2026

Tijerina, however, is not the only candidate forecasting that the Democrats' hold on the Hispanic vote is nearing its end.

"For too long, Democrats took South Texas for granted, assuming our votes were virtually guaranteed, while they turned their backs on our values," said Flores, an Army veteran running as a Republican in the Texas Rio Grande Valley.

Flores asserted that Democrats have "traded the needs of hardworking families for a radical agenda that has left our borders open and our economy in shambles."

Lest one think this phenomenon is isolated to the Texas border, this sentiment was further echoed by Lincoln, a Marine veteran who is also running in California.

Lincoln told Fox News Digital that Hispanic families in the California Central Valley are "feeling the crushing pressures of the affordability crisis driven by Democrats from Sacramento to Washington who put political ideology ahead of kitchen table issues."

"Generations of families like mine came to America in pursuit of the American Dream, and the Republican Party is earning their trust by working to restore the affordability and opportunity that allows working families to get ahead again," said Lincoln.

GOP SEIZES ON DEM CIVIL WAR AS PROGRESSIVES JUMP INTO KEY 2026 SENATE RACES: ‘THEY'RE IN SHAMBLES’

Despite this, the Democratic Party is also leaning into the affordability message and remains confident that Hispanic voters will stand by them.

"While Republicans are pushing policies that make everyday life unaffordable, Democrats are focused on lowering costs, creating good-paying jobs, and protecting health care for every American," DCCC spokesperson Bridget Gonzalez told Fox News Digital.

"Latino voters see through the GOP’s empty, hypocritical rhetoric because they’re living with the consequences of Republican extremism every day," said Gonzalez, adding, "Republicans can trot out all the talking points they want, but Latino families know who’s actually fighting for them — it’s the Democrats."

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Meanwhile, National Republican Congressional Committee spokesman Christian Martinez told Fox News Digital that "outstanding" candidates like Flores, Lincoln and Tijerina "reflect their communities, understand the challenges working families face, and are stepping up to help grow a House majority focused on opportunity, security, and the American Dream."

"Republicans aren’t just talking about earning Hispanic voters’ trust, we’re continuing to work and build it," said Martinez.

Five severed heads found hanging on Ecuador beach amid escalating gang clashes

Sun, 11 Jan 2026 22:45:25 -0500

Five severed human heads were found hanging from ropes on a beach in southwestern Ecuador Sunday in a gruesome display linked to ongoing gang violence sweeping across the country, according to reports.

The killings came amid a wave of bloody violence tied to drug trafficking and organized crime, which has surged across Ecuador in recent years.

The Associated Press reported that the grim discovery underscores the tactics used by criminal groups competing for control of territory and trafficking routes, especially along the country’s coastline.

TREN DE ARAGUA GANG LEADER CHARGED WITH RACKETEERING CONSPIRACY AND COCAINE TRAFFICKING UNDER TRUMP CRACKDOWN

Police said the heads were found on a tourist beach in the small fishing port of Puerto Lopez, in Manabi province.

The images shared by Ecuadorian media and on social media showed the severed heads tied with ropes to wooden poles planted in the sand, with blood visible at the scene.

A wooden sign left beside the heads carried a threatening message aimed at alleged extortionists targeting local fishermen.

The message warned those demanding so-called "vaccine cards" protection payments commonly extorted by gangs that they had been identified, the report said.

RUBIO IDENTIFIES 'SINGLE MOST SERIOUS THREAT' TO THE US FROM WESTERN HEMISPHERE

Authorities said the display was likely the result of a conflict between criminal groups operating in the area.

Drug-trafficking networks with links to transnational cartels are active along Ecuador’s coast and have used fishermen and their small boats to transport illicit shipments, according to local police.

President Daniel Noboa launched an armed campaign against gangs and declared states of emergency in several provinces, including Manabi, deploying the military to support police operations.

Despite his efforts, violence has continued to escalate with police increasing patrols and surveillance in Puerto Lopez following recent massacres in the province, The Associated Press said.

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In 2025, at least nine people, including a baby, were killed there in an attack that authorities blamed on clashes between local gangs also.

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As previously reported by Fox News Digital, in 2025, infighting between factions of a gang vying for control over territory in Ecuador's largest city, Guayaquil, left nearly two dozen people dead.

Ecuador ended the year with a record homicide rate of 52 per 100,000 people, according to the Organized Crime Observatory, making it the deadliest year on record.

Venezuelan-American journalist sounds alarm on pro-Maduro protests, calls them a 'threat to national security'

Tue, 06 Jan 2026 12:56:48 -0500

A Venezuelan-American journalist who fled the South American country as a child condemned protesters calling to "free Maduro," denouncing the demonstrations as an insult to Venezuelans who suffered under the regime and a threat to U.S. national security.

"It's disgusting, both as an American and as a Venezuelan. It's so obvious there's not one Venezuelan in those protests," said Germania Rodriguez Poleo, who escaped Venezuela with her mother when she was 11 years old.

"These people are disrespecting our tragedy, are disrespecting our political prisoners, those we have lost, those who are still in Venezuela's jails, those who are still starving."

FETTERMAN DEFENDS TRUMP'S VENEZUELA MILITARY OPERATION AGAINST CRITICISM FROM FELLOW DEMOCRATS

Poleo called the demonstrations "absolutely shameful" Tuesday on "Fox & Friends" and said the fact that so many Americans went out to show support for a "criminal dictatorship" was a "threat to national security."

She said her mother, also a journalist, was accused of terrorism for speaking out against then-Venezuelan leader Hugo Chávez, forcing them into hiding before fleeing the country.

Even after American forces captured Nicolás Maduro last week, Poleo said the country remains under authoritarian control.

"Today, we're still under the same tyranny. We have hope, but my friends, my family in Venezuela remain terrorized by the regime. That's why you don't see them celebrating on the streets, because they're scared for their lives," she said, adding that the government has threatened to take action against U.S. sympathizers.

VENEZUELA ORDERS NATIONWIDE MANHUNT FOR SUPPORTERS AFTER MADURO'S ARREST BY US FORCES

"But they are hopeful. They are afraid of what comes next, but they feel they have hope for the first time in 26 years."

Maduro was succeeded by his vice president, Delcy Rodríguez, who was recently sworn into office as Venezuela's new president.

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Poleo thanked President Donald Trump for taking action, and urged him to "finish the job" amid fears stemming from Rodríguez’s leadership.

"She's even more radical than Maduro," Poleo said. "She's a true ideologue, but she's very smart and worldly, and she knows how to handle herself. So right now, we Venezuelans fear that they're gonna leave us with Delcy Rodríguez, who we know as our chief of torture."

LA Mayor Bass laments historic Latino Border Patrol recruitment surge across southern border

Fri, 26 Dec 2025 15:34:42 -0500

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is lamenting the historic numbers of Latinos joining the Border Patrol.

In an interview Friday with Wolf Blitzer on "The Situation Room," Blitzer asked Bass, "But first, let me get your reaction to that report from David Culver we just heard. What did you think?"

"Well, in a way, I think it’s sad," Bass responded. "I think that those Border Patrol agents are going to have a difficult time when they’re out in the field and they see what actually happens in real life separate from their training. But I do understand that their primary incentive is financial. I think it just speaks to the financial situation that millions of Americans find themselves in. And I definitely am concerned about that report."

Culver did a special report on CNN talking to new Border Patrol recruits.

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At one point, Culver spoke with Border Patrol recruit Juan Peralta, a 20-year-old who said friends back home were surprised that he'd joined up and would say things like, "How do you feel about arresting your own kind?"

"And how do you answer that when you hear that?" Culver asked.

Peralta responded, "They didn‘t come in the right way. So, they aren‘t my kind."

According to CBP, applications are up 70% from one year ago and over half of the agents serving on the southern border are Hispanic.

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In October, the Trump administration announced it had closed out fiscal year 2025 with the lowest U.S. Border Patrol apprehensions since 1970, with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reporting 237,565 southwest border apprehensions in fiscal year 2025 compared to 201,780 in fiscal year 1970.

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Editor's note: This article previously stated CNN reporter David Culver asked a Border Patrol recruit how he felt about arresting his own kind, but it was the recruit who used those words while paraphrasing his friends. This has been corrected.

Pope Leo appoints pro-immigration bishop to diocese home to Trump’s Mar-a-Lago

Mon, 22 Dec 2025 21:00:07 -0500

Pope Leo XIV has announced a pro-immigration pastor as bishop of Palm Beach, Florida, which is home to President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago.

On Friday, Pope Leo named Rev. Manuel de Jesús Rodríguez, pastor of Our Lady of Sorrows Parish in Queens, New York, as the new bishop of Palm Beach, Florida.

Rodríguez, born in the Dominican Republic and ordained a priest in 2004, has been described as a supporter of immigrant rights.

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In an interview with the Associated Press, Rodríguez said, "I never, never, never expected anything even close to this," and added, "I’m even a little bit scared. But I trust in God’s assistance. One thing I can tell you is that this diocese is a diocese of hard-working priests and hard-working people, and I’m here to help."

Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate is located in the Diocese of Palm Beach, and Rodríguez said he wants to "help" Trump when it comes to immigration.

"The president is doing really good things, not only for the United States, but for the world. But when it comes to the migrant, the immigration policy, we want to help," Rodriguez told the AP. "We want to assist the president as a church because we believe that we can do better… than the way we’re doing this right now."

Rodríguez said he believes it isn’t appropriate to enforce immigration policy on minors.

"When it comes to enforcing immigration laws, we shouldn’t be enforcing them by focusing on deporting 5-year-olds, 12-year-olds, 9-year-old kids, people that have never committed any crime," Rodriguez said. "So, we’re here to help. We’re willing to help, and God willing, we will."

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In November, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops issued a "special message" on immigration, which said in part: "Catholic teaching exhorts nations to recognize the fundamental dignity of all persons, including immigrants. We bishops advocate for a meaningful reform of our nation’s immigration laws and procedures. Human dignity and national security are not in conflict. Both are possible if people of good will work together."

It added, "We recognize that nations have a responsibility to regulate their borders and establish a just and orderly immigration system for the sake of the common good. Without such processes, immigrants face the risk of trafficking and other forms of exploitation. Safe and legal pathways serve as an antidote to such risks."

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Trump-style law-and-order conservative clinches Chile’s presidency as violent crime crisis reshapes nation

Mon, 15 Dec 2025 11:42:22 -0500

Chile delivered its sharpest political shift in decades as José Antonio Kast, a hard-right former lawmaker who campaigned on restoring public order and tightening the country’s borders, won the presidency in a decisive vote Sunday.

Kast, who captured 58% of the vote, enters office with a platform centered almost entirely on security and immigration, promising what he describes as the most aggressive public-order campaign in a generation.

The 59-year-old father of nine was born to a German immigrant family in Santiago. He spent years in Chile’s congress and previously ran for president in 2017 and 2021 before breaking through in 2025. His long political trajectory and established conservative identity made him a familiar figure to voters even as he framed this campaign as a mandate for sweeping security reform.

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In a message that echoes that of U.S. President Donald Trump, Kast has pledged mass deportations of undocumented migrants, expanded policing and the deployment of the military to confront drug trafficking and organized crime. He argues that rising homicides and cartel activity demand extraordinary measures, including deadlines for irregular migrants to leave the country before facing enforced removal.

His victory reflects a broader regional trend in which voters are turning to candidates who promise crime control rather than ideological transformation.

Kast defeated left-wing candidate Jeannette Jara, a former labor minister who campaigned on expanding social programs, strengthening workers’ rights and raising taxes on high earners to pay for new public benefits. Jara also backed a more lenient immigration policy and emphasized protections for women and LGBTQ Chileans — a clear contrast to Kast’s security-first agenda.

"Here, no individual won, no party won — Chile won, and hope won," Kast said in a victory speech. "The hope of living without fear. That fear that torments families."

He added: "When we tell an irregular migrant that they are breaking the law and must leave our country if they ever want the chance to return, we mean it … We must show great firmness against crime, organised crime, impunity and disorder."

Kast had predicted his own victory on Chilean radio after Trump won the U.S. election in 2024.

"We are going to win, too," he said at the time.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio was quick to praise Kast's win.

"Under his leadership, we are confident Chile will advance shared priorities to include strengthening public security, ending illegal immigration and revitalizing our commercial relationship," he said.

Chile, long considered one of Latin America’s safest countries, has seen a sharp rise in violent crime in the past several years, driven in part by the spread of transnational criminal groups and a surge in drug trafficking. Homicide rates have climbed to their highest levels in decades, and police say organizations such as Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua have expanded extortion, kidnapping and narcotics operations inside the country.

The spike in violence has unsettled a population accustomed to relative stability and has turned public security into Chile’s top political issue.

Although he has long held staunchly conservative positions on abortion, gender policy and same-sex marriage, Kast downplayed those issues during the campaign as he sought to broaden his appeal. Instead, he emphasized structural changes he says are necessary to confront the security crisis, including shrinking parts of the bureaucracy, tightening Chile’s asylum system and giving the presidency greater authority to respond to organized crime.

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Kast also intends to steer Chile toward a more market-oriented economic model, with tax cuts, deregulation and expanded mining development — particularly in lithium and copper, two of the country’s most important exports. He has signaled interest in strengthening ties with the United States and other Western partners, even as China remains Chile’s largest trading partner and a major buyer of its mineral output.

Chile’s rightward turn follows a similar shift in neighboring Argentina, which elected libertarian firebrand Javier Milei on a platform of radical economic reform and political disruption.

But the two leaders represent distinct strains of the right: Milei is an anti-establishment libertarian who thrives on theatrical confrontation and sweeping proposals to remake Argentina’s economy, while Kast is a more traditional conservative focused on order, border enforcement and institutional authority. Their wins stem from similar voter frustrations, but they offer sharply different governing styles.

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Kast is also one of South America’s most outspoken critics of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, frequently citing Venezuela’s economic collapse and mass migration as warnings for Chile. He has accused Maduro of allowing criminal networks to flourish and has linked Venezuela’s crisis directly to Chile’s migration and security challenges.

His party’s lack of a congressional majority could slow or dilute parts of his agenda, but Kast’s decisive margin suggests Chilean voters are prepared to test his hard-edged security strategy after years of political gridlock and rising public anxiety.

Jasmine Crockett walks back claim Hispanic Trump voters have 'slave mentality'

Tue, 09 Dec 2025 21:53:10 -0500

Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, denied believing that Hispanic Trump voters had a "slave mentality" when asked about her past claims on Tuesday.

CNN's Jake Tapper reminded the Texas Senate candidate of comments she made to Vanity Fair in 2024, when she compared Latinos who voted for President Donald Trump to slaves who would "hate" themselves.

"It almost reminds me of what people would talk about when they would talk about kind of like ‘slave mentality’ and the hate that some slaves would have for themselves," she said.

"It’s almost like a slave mentality that they have. It is wild to me when I hear how anti-immigrant they are as immigrants, many of them. I’m talking about people that literally just got here and can barely vote that are having this kind of attitude."

PRESIDENT TRUMP HITS BACK AT JASMINE CROCKETT, CALLS HER ‘A VERY LOW IQ PERSON’

Tapper asked if all Hispanic Trump voters still have a "slave mentality."

"No, and that‘s not what that said at all, to be clear," Crockett said. "It did not say that every Latino has that type of mentality."

"No, no, but the ones that vote for people that believe in strong or Trump‘s immigration policy," Tapper clarified.

JASMINE CROCKETT SAYS SHE DOESN'T NEED TO CONVERT TRUMP SUPPORTERS IN HER TEXAS SENATE BID

"So, I don‘t believe that the people that voted for Trump believe in what they‘re actually getting. That is No. 1. What Trump said is that he was going to kick out the bad guys. And that‘s what I was talking about," Crockett said.

Crockett reiterated that she didn't "understand what's happening" with Latinos who insisted that there were people who entered the country "the wrong way."

"At the same time, I knew what Trump meant because Trump had a record. Trump had a record of locking up kids and putting them in cages. So, I knew what Trump meant. And, so, that‘s why it wasn‘t making sense to me," Crockett said.

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Fox News Digital reached out to Crockett and her campaign for comment.

In the Vanity Fair interview, Crockett also disparaged White women, claiming they "retreated" and failed Democratic candidates.

"I said I don’t trust White women. I said I’m just telling you, and I think you need to have conversations with your sisters because they are the group that failed Hillary Clinton. I mean, when you go back and look at the numbers, White women were the ones that failed her. And, so, in my mind, if they failed Hillary, I don’t know that I can believe that they won’t fail Kamala," Crockett said.

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She also accused Black men of "flaking" on former Vice President Kamala Harris.

Crockett is trying to become the first Democrat to win a U.S. Senate race in Texas since 1988. Trump carried the state easily in 2024 over Harris as he made major gains with Latino voters, and no Democratic White House candidate has won Texas since 1976.

Journalist arrested while covering anti-Trump protest granted bail amid deportation battle

Tue, 01 Jul 2025 19:33:49 -0400

A Georgia immigration judge granted bond for a Spanish-language journalist who was arrested last month while covering a demonstration in DeKalb County, though his challenges are not over as the federal government is seeking to deport him.

The Associated Press reported that 47-year-old Mario Guevara, a native of El Salvador, was arrested by local police on June 14 while covering a protest in DeKalb County, just outside Atlanta.

Several days after his arrest, local police turned Guevara over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which has kept him in an immigration detention center in Folkston ever since.

Guevara started the digital news outlet MG News nearly a year ago, and on Tuesday, the outlet shared on social media that a judge granted him bond.

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"The immigration judge has granted bail to Mario Guevara," a post on the outlet’s Facebook feed read. "The immigration process continues but free and in Atlanta."

The post also thanks Guevara’s attorneys for assisting with the legal process and getting bail for Guevara.

In another post, MG News stated Guevara was able to pay $7,500 bail after his arrest while covering the "No Kings" protest on June 14.

Guevara left El Salvador 20 years ago and has since built a following covering immigration in Atlanta as a journalist.

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At the time of his arrest, Guevara was livestreaming on social media from a DeKalb County "No Kings" rally against President Donald Trump and his administration, when police arrested him.

In video captured by Guevara, the Spanish-speaking journalist is seen wearing a helmet, red shirt and a vest that read "PRESS." Guevara captured video clips of riot police moving in formation, while he also described the scene in Spanish.

Then, police can be seen on the video approaching Guevara, when he said, "Officer. Officer. I’m a member of the media, officer."

Guevara’s phone then goes blurry until he asks the officer to pick up his phone because he needs it for work.

DeKalb police charged Guevara with obstruction of police, unlawful assembly and being a pedestrian on the roadway.

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County Solicitor-General Donna Coleman-Stribling dismissed the charges last week, noting that there was not enough evidence to support a prosecution, though there was probable cause to support Guevara’s arrest.

"At the time of his arrest, the video evidence shows Mr. Guevara generally in compliance and does not demonstrate the intent to disregard law enforcement directives," Coleman-Stribling’s office said in a press release.

At that point, though, Guevara was already in ICE custody.

Guevara had warrants issued for his arrest in connection with charges of distracted driving, failing to obey a traffic control device and reckless driving, which were secured by the Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office on June 20.

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The charges stemmed from a May 20 incident that was reported on June 17, the AP reported.

Guevara’s attorney, Giovanni Diaz, has said his client is not a legal resident though he has authorization to work in the U.S. Guevara also has a pending green card application, which was sponsored by his U.S. citizen son, the AP reported.

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said on its site that it welcomed the court’s order to release Guevara, adding that the organization is concerned by the prosecution’s argument that livestreaming the protest "presented a danger to the public by compromising the integrity and safety of law enforcement activities."

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"We are heartened to see that Mario Guevara was ordered to be released from Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody at his bond hearing, though we remain concerned about the arguments the prosecution made that Guevara’s work as a reporter presented a danger to the community," CPJ U.S., Canada, and Caribbean Program Coordinator Katherine Jacobsen said. "The fact that Guevara was arrested while exercising his First Amendment rights as a journalist and was subsequently held for over two weeks by various law enforcement bodies sends an alarming message to the media and has effectively silenced Guevara’s coverage of his community. We urge law enforcement to thoroughly investigate why Guevara was arrested in the first place."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Puerto Rico permits nonbinary gender marker on birth certificates in landmark court decision

Tue, 03 Jun 2025 02:41:29 -0400

Puerto Rico’s Supreme Court has reached a decision to allow nonbinary and gender-nonconforming people to update their birth certificates.

The action was brought about by six non-binary individuals born in Puerto Rico who filed a lawsuit claiming that "the Commonwealth’s current Birth Certificate Policy violates the right to equal protection under the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution, according to the court filing."

The court's decision will now allow people who identify as nonbinary or gender-nonconforming to select "X" as their gender marker on birth certificates.

TEXAS LAWMAKERS CONSIDERING BILL TO BAN GENDER CHANGES ON BIRTH CERTIFICATES

In the filing, the court explains that there would be no rational basis to deny the request.

"The current Birth Certificate Policy of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico arbitrarily distinguishes between binary and nonbinary individuals and subjects nonbinary individuals to disfavored treatment, without any justification for doing so. In such cases, it is the duty of the federal courts to intervene, to guarantee the equal protection of all persons under the law," it states.

Pedro Julio Serrano, president of Puerto Rico’s LGBTQ+ Federation, called Friday’s ruling a historic one that upholds equality, according to the Associated Press.

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The defendants named in the case opposed the request, arguing that "the government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico has a legitimate interest in maintaining vital records and statistics regarding its citizens."

The filing argued that this argument ignores the fact that the Commonwealth already permits its citizens to amend information on their birth certificates, including modifying the gender marker.

The legislators have already enacted legislation to ensure that, in the case of modifications, the original, unaltered birth certificates are preserved by the state.

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Puerto Rico joins at least 17 U.S. states that permit their residents to include the nonbinary or gender-neutral sex on their birth certificates.

AOC tells voters worried about grocery prices to just 'wait until the farms are empty' from deportations

Thu, 06 Feb 2025 21:00:25 -0500

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., warned people who voted based on grocery prices to just "wait until the farms are empty" after mass deportations.

The Democratic lawmaker recently addressed the Trump administration’s crackdown on illegal immigration through thousands of arrests and deportations conducted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

As more raids are conducted throughout the country, Ocasio-Cortez emphasized the danger of losing illegal immigrants as "assets" to the United States economy.

"But let’s be clear, the people who are voting in this way oftentimes don’t respond to a case of compassion and humanity," Ocasio-Cortez said on the "Latino USA" podcast on Sunday. "And so, if you want to be hard-nosed about it, understand that America’s immigration force and our community of immigrants, including and especially the millions of undocumented people in this country, are why America has prospered, especially why we survived the COVID-19 pandemic."

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"For all of the people who cast a vote based on grocery prices and inflation, if you think your groceries are expensive now, wait until the farms are empty," she continued. "If you think houses are expensive now, wait until there’s no one building them. If you think that having someone in your home to take care of your ailing mother or grandmother while you have to go out and earn an honest living while you’re at work, if you think that’s expensive now, wait until that immigrant workforce is gone. Understand the consequences of what this means because for America to not accept immigrants is the definition of cutting off your nose to spite your face."

She also criticized arguments that the administration is primarily focused on removing violent criminals.

"First and foremost, this idea that people are immigrants or illegal, etc… we’re talking about ourselves. This is the fabric of our country, the fabric of our community and when people say ‘I think it’s fine, they just need to be here legally,’ they’re shutting down all legal pathways," Ocasio-Cortez said.

Although she argued Trump has shown "hostility" towards the immigrant and Latino community, Trump gained significant ground among Latino voters in the last election. Among Hispanics, he improved his numbers by six points, reaching 41% of the demographic.

Ocasio-Cortez suggested this was due to the Trump campaign dividing sects of the community and "right-wing misinformation."

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"I will tell you in our community, the anger was less about ‘we need to deport immigrants.’ The anger was actually how the Trump administration and the campaign was actually very surgical and very sophisticated about drawing a wedge between undocumented people and recent arrivals and asylum seekers," Ocasio-Cortez said. "That resentment exists because of the lack of movement on a path to citizenship."

"The amount of misinformation that has exploded because people are chasing retweets of a lie has been really painful," she added. "We, especially in terms of social media, are on the platforms of billionaires. These billionaires modify these algorithms, and they wield them politically. We see that most explicitly with Twitter, but it is also at play on Meta, on Facebook, etc. I think it was really hard watching people and communities that I am aligned with fall for right-wing misinformation."

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Republican appears likely to flip majority-Latino California state assembly seat

Sat, 16 Nov 2024 13:29:43 -0500

Republicans in a majority-Latino district in California that includes Indio and Coachella are on course to flip a Democratic state Assembly seat red.

Jeff Gonzalez, an Iraq and Afghanistan war veteran, is set to beat out Democrat Joey Acuña, a school board member, for the 36th Assembly District.

Gonzalez is ahead by an insurmountable 4,362 votes, or 3.1%, as of Friday, per official count numbers.

If Gonzalez gets over the line, it will be the first time since 1992 that Republicans in California have picked up a seat in the state legislature during a presidential cycle, according to California state Assembly member Bill Essayli.

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If elected, Gonzalez will replace longtime Democratic legislator Eduardo Garcia as the next state assembly member in a sprawling district. Garcia, from Coachella, decided not to seek re-election this year and instead endorsed Acuña, the Coachella Valley Unified School District board president, per the Desert Sun.

The soon-to-be stunning seat win is underlined by the fact that Democrats make up about 42.3% of the 245,500 people registered to vote in the district, while Republicans account for 28.7%. Voters with no party affiliation were 21.6% of the total, according to the Desert Sun.

In the March primary, Gonzalez received about 21,000 votes compared to about 12,000 for Acuña. However, Democratic candidates overall earned about 4,500 more votes than Republicans.

California, a deep blue state, was easily won by Vice President Harris, who is currently leading President-elect Trump by 58.8% to 38% with 92.85% of the votes counted.

Gonzalez is a 21-year veteran of the Marine Corps who also served on embassy protection missions in Honduras and the Czech Republic, working closely with former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, according to his campaign website.

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He is also a pastor and the owner of three small businesses, per his website. He is married with four sons, one of whom is physically and mentally challenged and lives with he and his wife for caregiver support.

Gonzalez ran on a platform of cutting red tape, lowering taxes and fees on groceries and gas and "reviving the California Dream."

He also wants to address inflation by passing "the largest middle-class tax cut in California history."

Gonzalez is also vowing to improve education, saying he is concerned about falling test scores and graduation rates. He wants to hire more teachers and more school security to create a safer learning environment as well as promote bipartisanship by supporting good ideas from both parties.

Acuña ran on tackling affordability, housing and public safety.

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"I want to make sure the kids who grow up in our district have access to good-paying jobs, safe neighborhoods, world-class schools, and clean air and water," he states on his website.

Acuña is serving his fifth term on the Coachella Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees. In this role, he said he has worked to improve graduation rates, enhance after-school programs, and expand the district’s college and career pathway programs, according to his website.

He works professionally as development manager for health clinics and a grant writer for a local tribe.

Latino parents lash out at school board after teacher's 'racist' anti-Trump meltdown in classroom

Fri, 15 Nov 2024 07:24:32 -0500

A southern California school board received a tongue-lashing from Latino parents after a high school teacher went viral for his profane rant in the classroom against Latino voters who supported President-elect Donald Trump.

Several students, parents and members of the public showed up to the Moreno Valley Unified School District (MVUSD) board meeting on Tuesday. A few students spoke out in support of the Valley View High School teacher, whom they identified as AP World History teacher Maximiliano Perez, after he was placed on administrative leave. But other members of the community were outraged by the teacher's behavior.

Clips of his rant went viral after being shared to X by American Culture Project senior fellow Corey DeAngelis last week. Perez, who identified himself as Mexican-American in the clips, warned students that they could end up in "concentration camps" or with "no human rights" because of Trump.

He also made several disparaging comments about Latinos who voted for Trump.

CALIFORNIA HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER CAUGHT IN PROFANITY-LACED RANT AGAINST TRUMP PUT ON ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE

"I know a lot of Latino men that wish they were White, and they will never admit it to you. A lot of your fathers. A lot of your uncles. A lot of your grandfathers. God, they want to be White so bad but they never will be. I hate that s---. I hate Latino men that oppress the women in their family, their own daughters, and they turn around and vote for a man that wants to oppress them," Perez said at one point in his lengthy rant.

Several Latino community members at the school board meeting called for the teacher to face serious consequences, calling his behavior unacceptable and unprofessional, according to audio of the meeting posted to the MVUSD YouTube channel.

"Can you ensure every parent that is in the teacher's classroom that did all of those racial outbursts, won't be bullied?" one Hispanic mother named Bethany asked. "Can you guarantee that every child who has that teacher, [whose] father or grandfather voted for President Trump, will they be bullied?"

"It's time that this school district stop tolerating hate speech in class," she went on.

"To say that a Hispanic man wants to be White?" she paused in frustration. "I'm offended. Yo soy Mexicana. I am Chicana. I am indigenous, and my family voted for Trump."

"This teacher should be fired, there should be zero tolerance for hate speech," she demanded.

IDAHO HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER UNDER INVESTIGATION AFTER ALLEGEDLY WISHING ‘UNWANTED PREGNANCY’ ON TRUMP SUPPORTER

Kenneth Prado, a trustee in the neighboring Hemet Unified School District who was speaking in his capacity as an individual, also decried the teacher's comments as bigoted.

"The majority of your student population is Hispanic," he said of MVUSD, whose student population is 75% Hispanic.

"What you just did was make the most racist comment, to tell them that their fathers - blessed to have their fathers in their home, like myself - that if they voted for Trump, that they only did it because they wish they were White. That is the worst of it all. Shame on him and I know you will do your due process," he told the board.

Another Latino conservative called on the board to remove the teacher. "He's cussing, he's calling people like us that are conservative, that we want to be White," Oscar Avila said. "I say you strip him, he can’t work with schools anymore, remove him of his duties."

Fred Banuelos, who identified himself as a Mexican-American Trump supporter, called what Perez said in the classroom, "unacceptable."

"He said things that should have never been said. He used profane language and it was just unacceptable…He has a right to say those things, but not at our schools. That was just crossing the line," he said.

"There needs to be some major consequences," he continued.

UNIVERSITY OF OREGON OFFICIAL TELLS TRUMP VOTERS HE HOPES THEY ‘JUMP OFF OF A F—ING BRIDGE’

Parents and community members who criticized the teacher had to wait over three hours before they were given the opportunity to address the board, during the public comments section, and a still image was put over the video when they spoke. Several of the parents accused the leaders of trying to stifle opposing voices.

DeAngelis also posted clips to X of the speakers' comments, with both image and audio, that one community member recorded of the meeting.

The Moreno Valley Unified School District previously told Fox News Digital the teacher had been placed on administrative leave and an investigation had been launched into his actions.

"We were recently made aware of an incident at one of our high schools, in which a staff member's discussion about the election results turned unprofessional. We do not condone the behavior that occurred, and an immediate investigation has been launched. The staff member involved has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of this review," the district said in a statement. "We recognize the heightened emotions surrounding the current political climate, and we deeply value the diversity of our community, which encompasses a wide range of perspectives and beliefs. Our goal is to foster a respectful and inclusive learning environment that supports all students."

"We appreciate those who came forward to share their concerns and inform us of the situation. By working together, we can continue to cultivate a positive and supportive educational experience for all students in our Moreno Valley Unified School District," the statement concluded.

According to a report in The Los Angeles Times, dozens of students at Valley View High who supported Perez walked out of class on Tuesday morning in protest and demanded the school reinstate him.

Five of the teacher's students also showed up to defend him at the board meeting, saying he shouldn't be fired for this one incident.

"I believe that the way he approached it was a little unprofessional," student Ezell Moreno said before the board meeting, according to the LA Times report. "I believe that he had good faith, but is he going to be fired for one incident when he’s done so many good things throughout his time as a teacher?"

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Another student, Jailene Bailey, said the teacher had "saved her life" when she was going through a dark period, by giving her encouragement.

"Mr. Perez saved my life and helped me further pursue my education by telling me that I matter in the sea of thousands of students, and I believe that he has the power to help other students just as he helped me," she said. "I really hope that in the future I will still be able to see him and give him the biggest smile and wave."

Dem Rep. Ritchie Torres blasts Joy Reid for shaming pro-Trump Latino men: 'Patronizing' progressivism

Tue, 12 Nov 2024 08:25:33 -0500

Rep. Ritchie Torres, D-N.Y., slammed MSNBC host Joy Reid for shaming Latino men who supported President-elect Trump in last week's election.

On Friday, Reid took aim at various voting blocs, like White women and men across all age brackets, that didn't carry Vice President Kamala Harris over the finish line.

She then singled out Latino men, showing how 55% of them voted for Trump, according to the NBC News exit poll.

JOY REID SAYS BLACK WOMEN NO LONGER INTERESTED IN ‘SAVING AMERICA’ AFTER BETRAYAL OF WHITE FEMALE VOTERS

"Also, Latino men, who, despite the utter disrespect shown by Trump and his promise to deport some of your mixed-class, mixed-status families, most of them voted in a 55% majority to make the deportations happen," Reid said. "You all voted with Stephen Miller and David Duke and against your own sisters who chose Kamala Harris with 60% of their votes."

"So you own everything that happens to your mixed-status families and to your wives, sisters and abuelas from here on in," Reid told Latino men.

‘THE VIEW’ MELTS DOWN OVER TRUMP'S RESOUNDING ELECTION VICTORY: ‘PROFOUNDLY DISTURBED’

Torres, the first openly-gay Afro-Latino member of Congress, called out the "ReidOut" host on social media.

"Stop scapegoating, shaming, and scolding working-class Latinos," Torres told the liberal host Monday night on X.

"A patronizing paternalistic progressivism will not attract working-class Latino men back to the Democratic Party. It will repel them," the lawmaker warned.

TRUMP'S VICTORY DOESN'T GO OVER WELL WITH LIBERAL MEDIA: ‘I’M GONNA THROW UP'

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Harris supporters in the Democratic Party as well as the legacy media continue to grapple with Trump's landslide victory, which resulted in him winning all seven battleground states and improving support across all voting blocs including minority voters.

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Acosta told a Latino Republican his vote for Trump would have immigrants 'rounded up' and put in 'camps'

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John Leguizamo fails to sway Latino Trump voters on 'Daily Show' despite his 'inflammatory' rhetoric

Sat, 02 Nov 2024 20:09:51 -0400

In a segment for "The Daily Show" this week, actor John Leguizamo failed to convince a group of Latino Trump supporters to change their minds.

The comedian went undercover as a Trump super PAC member to speak with six "undecided" Latino voters who were considering voting for the former president despite what Leguizamo called his "inflammatory" rhetoric.

"Trump's rhetoric about Latinos is darker than a 12-hour chocolate mole. But does that matter to these voters?" Leguizamo asked in a voiceover.

He first asked the group what they liked best about Trump, who is trying to become the second president ever to win non-consecutive terms.

JOHN LEGUIZAMO SAYS TRUMP IS GAINING SUPPORT AMONG RELIGIOUS LATINOS BECAUSE THEY'RE 'HOMOPHOBIC'

"He's not evasive," one male voter said. "It's pretty clear, I mean, this is someone that's been at the forefront for a very long time speaking his mind."

"When he was in the government, the economy was better than we have it right now. That's the only part that I like," a female voter added.

The voters also said they would not be convinced by endorsements from Latino celebrities like Bad Bunny and, humorously, Leguizamo himself.

The comedian began showing clips of Trump’s comments regarding illegal immigrants, such as his promise to launch "the largest domestic deportation operation in American history." The panel appeared to agree with Trump’s plan.

"It’s an excellent way to fix a very, very severe problem," a voter responded.

"What do you love about deportation?" Leguizamo asked.

"You have criminals. They should all be removed, no?" the voter elaborated.

Another voter said, "If he's saying immigration is a problem, it's like you have a leak in your house. You've gotta turn it off, the water supply, fix it, then turn it on. Maybe that's what he's trying to do, like, let's close down the border for a while."

"But who would you call to fix your leak if all the Latinos are gone?" Leguizamo joked.

He then showed a clip of Trump saying illegal immigrants were "poisoning the blood of our country." The voters were less comfortable with those comments, calling them "poison" and admitting there were "better words he could use."

"We all misspeak sometimes," a voter said.

"He misspeaks from the heart," Leguizamo replied.

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Another voter added, "This is stereotyping Latinos, it's stereotyping immigrants, and the more that you demonize people, it doesn't bring us together."

One of the panelists said he would "rather not see" comments like that and said they were the reason "why many will tell you that they don't like them."

"Now I understand. The only way Trump is acceptable is if you never see or hear him," Leguizamo said in a voiceover.

At the end of the segment, Leguizamo revealed himself and gave one last attempt to change their minds.

"Now that I've shown you all these awful things about Trump, does that change your vote?" Leguizamo asked.

All the voters unanimously replied, "No."

In late October, a USA Today/Suffolk University poll showed Trump leading by 11 points among Latino voters.

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