POLICY AND PUBLIC INTEREST
Federal agencies urge Governor Gavin Newsom not to release more than 33,000 criminal illegal aliens as tensions over sanctuary policies escalate
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have issued a rare and urgent call to Governor Gavin Newsom and California officials regarding concerns about sanctuary policies and public safety, according to federal officials.
In a statement published this week, DHS and ICE described what they termed a “sanctuary calamity” in California and urged state leadership to ensure that 33,179 undocumented immigrants with active immigration detainers and criminal convictions are not released into communities without notification or cooperation with federal authorities.
The federal appeal comes amid ongoing national debate over sanctuary jurisdictions and rising tensions between state and federal authorities on immigration enforcement. California has long maintained policies limiting local and state law enforcement cooperation with ICE detainers for people who have not been convicted of serious crimes, a point of contention for federal immigration officials pushing for broader enforcement.
The latest DHS statement coincides with broader federal immigration enforcement operations in California, where authorities have arrested thousands of illegal aliens, including convictions for serious and violent crimes, during the past year. Federal officials said these actions continued despite pushback and large demonstrations in parts of Los Angeles and other communities.
Governor Newsom’s office has pushed back against some federal claims, calling certain figures and interpretations inaccurate and vowing that California’s prison system cooperates with ICE on serious and violent offenders under state law. State officials have also sought to clarify the scope of cooperation and reinforce that legal safeguards remain in place.
The confrontation highlights the broader national struggle over immigration policy, sanctuary jurisdictions, and how federal law enforcement works with state and local governments. California’s sanctuary policies remain a flashpoint that…
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ICE Arrests Dozens of Criminal Illegal Aliens in Minnesota Operation
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New data shows Louisiana leads the nation in per capita export surplus as trade tensions linked to President Donald Trump’s tariffs intensify
Several U.S. states are at risk of disproportionate effects from rising global trade tensions, as new tariffs threaten export demand, according to a new study examining state-level trade performance.
The research highlights which states generate the strongest export surpluses per capita, revealing how exposed certain regional economies may be if international trade slows amid tariff policies introduced under President Donald Trump.
According to the study, Louisiana ranks as the best state for exporting goods in the United States, posting a trade surplus of $2,853.71 per resident. With exports far exceeding imports, the state has more to lose than any other if foreign demand weakens.
The analysis was conducted using demand-planning software by Algo and examined average annual import and export data from the International Trade Administration for 2019-2023. States were ranked by their average per-capita net export surplus, using population data from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Louisiana leads the nation with an export-to-import ratio of 2.7. The state recorded average annual exports of $20.83 billion and imports of $7.71 billion, resulting in an annual surplus of $13.12 billion. On a per-capita basis, this figure is more than four times that of the second-ranked state.
North Dakota ranks second, despite much smaller overall trade…
Law enforcement group warns unpaid officers and strained operations could undermine public safety nationwide
The Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association (FLEOA) is urging Congress to immediately pass the remaining fiscal year (FY) 2026 appropriations bills, warning that another federal government shutdown would unfairly burden federal law enforcement officers and could jeopardize public safety across the United States.
According to FLEOA, federal law enforcement officers are classified as “essential” employees and are legally required to continue working during a shutdown, even if they do not receive their scheduled pay until the government reopens. The organization says this places a significant financial strain on officers and their families.
“Federal law enforcement officers will always show up and do their jobs, even in the middle of a shutdown, because that is who they are,” said Mathew Silverman, National President of FLEOA. “But it is fundamentally wrong to force them to protect this country without a paycheck. While the Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019 guarantees back pay eventually, families cannot pay mortgages, buy groceries, or cover childcare with promises. A shutdown means real financial pain, real stress, and real harm to the men and women who keep this country safe.”
FLEOA also highlighted operational challenges that arise during shutdowns. While sworn…
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Maduro Appears in U.S. Federal Court in New York Facing Narco Terrorism and Drug Charges
Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro appeared Monday in a U.S. federal courtroom in Manhattan for his initial arraignment, formally entering not guilty pleas to a sweeping set of criminal charges that place him at the center of one of the most consequential international prosecutions in recent history.
Maduro and his wife,…
ICE Announces Historic 120 Percent Workforce Expansion Following Recruitment Campaign
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has announced a historic expansion of its workforce after completing what officials describe as the most successful recruitment campaign in the agency’s history. According to federal officials, ICE increased its workforce by approximately 120 percent, adding thousands of officers and personnel nationwide.
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U.S. Military Captures Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in Dramatic Overnight Operation
President Donald J. Trump announced on January 3, 2026, that U.S. military forces successfully carried out a coordinated overnight operation in Caracas, Venezuela, resulting in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. According to official Pentagon reporting released today, the extraction marks a significant…
Veterans, officials and students gather at Sicily-Rome American Cemetery to honor Allied landings at Anzio and Nettuno
By D’Arcy Sardone / Culture EditorU.S. and Italian military personnel, dignitaries, families of fallen service members, and local residents came together on January 22, 2026, to commemorate the 82nd anniversary of Operation Shingle, the decisive World War II amphibious landings at Anzio and Nettuno that helped break the stalemate in the Italian campaign.
The ceremony took place at the Sicily-Rome American Cemetery and Memorial, the final resting place of nearly 7,900 American service members who lost their lives in the Italian theater of war.
Military leaders from both nations paid tribute to the courage and sacrifice of the Allied soldiers who fought in the brutal campaign that began on January 22, 1944. U.S. Army Maj. Gen. John L. Rafferty Jr., the chief of staff of U.S. European Command, participated in the wreath-laying ceremony alongside other U.S. and Italian officials.
Honoring Service and Sacrifice
Army Master Sgt. Joshua Van Horn of the U.S. Army Southern European Task Force reflected on the symbolic significance of the event as he walked among the rows of white marble headstones. His personal connection to the 82nd Airborne Division added emotional weight to the remembrance.
“Coming here gives you a sense of purpose,” Van Horn said. “It reminds me why we do what we do.”
The ceremony also featured local schoolchildren who sang songs, recited poetry, and laid roses at gravesites to honor those buried in the cemetery. Officials recognized Army 1st Lt. Carl Hood, the first service member interred at the Sicily-Rome American Cemetery, highlighting the personal stories behind the historic battle.
A Historic World War II Campaign
Operation Shingle was a…
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OFAC targets transnational narcotics and money laundering group linked to cocaine shipments bound for the United States and Europe
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The sanctions respond to a growing role for Costa Rica as a key transshipment point in the global cocaine supply chain, and represent the latest coordinated effort by U.S. and international law enforcement to disrupt narcotics trafficking networks and their financial infrastructure.
Targets Include Key Leaders and Supporting Entities
Five Costa Rican nationals and five Costa Rica-based companies have been added to OFAC’s sanctions list for their involvement in drug trafficking and money laundering activities. At the center of the network is Luis Manuel Picado Grijalba, widely known as “Shock,” who U.S. authorities have identified as one of the most prolific cocaine traffickers operating in the Caribbean region. His brother, Jordie Kevin Picado Grijalba, also known as “Noni,” is similarly sanctioned.
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