The Justice Department said it will comply with a federal judge’s order pausing President Trump’s proposed $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund. The program faces lawsuits and bipartisan criticism in Congress.
Posts tagged as “the Border Patrol”
A federal judge has temporarily blocked the Trump administration’s $1.8 billion Anti-Weaponization Fund amid lawsuits challenging its legality. The fund, created as part of a settlement involving Trump, faces bipartisan criticism and concerns over lack of oversight.
Raul Ortiz, the U.S. Border Patrol Chief, is retiring from federal service at the end of June after more than three decades with the agency. Acting Commissioner Troy Miller praised Ortiz for his service and leadership, and the agency is currently searching for a replacement. Ortiz's retirement comes after he helped oversee policy changes this month to curb irregular crossings at the U.S.-Mexico border.
On Thursday night, a group of migrants passed through Gate 42 at the El Paso border wall, just after the Biden administration officially ended the Title 42 policy. A lawsuit has been filed by the ACLU and other groups challenging the new Biden administration restriction on asylum, which took effect on Friday. Father Arturo Bañuelas was present to show solidarity with the migrants and to ensure their rights were respected. The Biden administration has stated that the new asylum rule is intended to deter illegal border crossings while also allowing for the processing of asylum claims.
Two migrants were found dead and at least 10 hospitalized after police in South Texas received a call that they were “suffocating” in a freight train near the U.S.-Mexico border. The train was stopped by US Border Patrol near the town of Knippa, northeast of Uvalde, and Union Pacific is working with local law enforcement and the Border Patrol to investigate the incident. The identities of the deceased and the hospitalized individuals have not been released and the cause of death is still under investigation.
U.S. Border Patrol Chief Raul Ortiz debunked a claim made by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) that agents had found an “explosive” near the southern border in January, confirming that the object was actually a piece of a plastic water bottle. All of the Democrats on the panel opted to boycott the hearing, arguing that Republicans were using the field hearing to “score political points” and spread misinformation. The incident highlights the ongoing political tensions between Republicans and Democrats in Congress.