POLICY AND PUBLIC INTEREST
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement removes Costa Rican national wanted for drug trafficking back to home country
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement removed Josseth Santos-Fonseca, 30, a citizen of Costa Rica, to his home country where he is wanted by law enforcement authorities for drug trafficking.
Santos entered the U.S. near Laredo, Texas, without inspection or admission by an immigration official. The U.S. Border Patrol apprehended Santos on Nov. 8, 2018. While continuing with immigration proceedings, ICE received notification from Costa Rican authorities of Santos conviction related to drug smuggling. Once an immigration judge ordered Santos removed, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Seattle removed Santos to Costa Rica without incident.
“ERO Seattle continues to work with our international partners to ensure criminal aliens are unable to find refuge in the U.S. from justice in their home country,” said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Seattle Interim Field Office Director Cammilla H. Wamsley. “Drug trafficking is a serious offense, and the risk it presents will always be a motivator for our officers to locate and arrest those wanted in their country of origin.”
Members of the public who have information about foreign fugitives are urged to contact ICE by calling the ICE Tip Line at 1 (866) 347-2423 or internationally at 001-1802-872-6199. They can also file a tip online by completing ICE’s online tip form.
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S&P Dow Jones Indices Reports U.S. Common Indicated Dividend Payments Increase of $15.3 Billion in Q1 2025 as Dividend Growth Continues to Slow
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ICE Boston Arrests Fugitive Wanted in Brazil for Manslaughter
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement apprehended an illegally present 29-year-old Brazilian alien convicted in his native country for manslaughter while driving a motor vehicle Jan. 25 in Waltham.
The Brazilian fugitive failed to appear for his prison sentence following the manslaughter conviction.
“This Brazilian fugitive attempted to flee justice in his…
U.S. Punches Back at Iran-Backed Houthi Terrorists in Yemen
In the Red Sea, Iran-backed Houthi terrorists have been for years attacking U.S. ships and other nations, disrupting legal commerce for all seafaring nations.
Chief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell said today during his first public briefing at the Pentagon that the U.S. Central Command, at the direction of President Donald…
New California Legislation Would Legalize More Homes Near Transit
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Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association Wins Landmark Settlement in LEOSA Rights Case Against Rhode Island
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Transcom Asks Lawmakers for More Used Vessels
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“We need to both build it here, and we actually need to buy used,” Air Force Gen. Randall Reed, Transcom’s commander, told the Senate Armed Services Committee on Wednesday while…
Recent security engagements between U.S. and Panamanian forces culminated in the first official U.S.-Panama special operations forces talks, underscoring a decades-long bilateral partnership
Recent security engagements between U.S. and Panamanian forces culminated in the first official U.S.-Panama special operations forces talks, Feb. 18, 2025. The talks, along with concurrent joint combined exchange training exercises, underscore a decades-long bilateral partnership and highlight the global impact of U.S. special operations forces.
Since 2020, the U.S. Special Operations Command South’s continuous presence has enabled the United States to collaborate with its Panamanian partners daily.
“This enduring partnership is crucial for regional stability and reflects our shared commitment to a secure future,” said Navy Rear Adm. Mark A. Schafer, Socsouth commander.
During the meeting, Schafer thanked Frank Abrego, Panama’s public security minister, as well as leaders from Panama’s SOF community for their dedication and expertise, and for their role in ensuring the safety and stability of the region.
“The work you do is not just critical to Panama but serves as a cornerstone for regional security. Your contributions embody the highest standards of professionalism, courage and adaptability,” Schafer said.
The rear admiral added that the dialogue represented a shared commitment to addressing complex challenges — whether countering transnational threats, combating illicit trafficking, or responding to natural disasters with agility and resilience.
Schafer said these first talks are just the beginning, as they…
U.S. Defense Secretary Hegseth announces upgrade of U.S. Forces Japan to joint force headquarters amidst gtowing Indo-Pacific security concerns
During a joint press conference in Tokyo on Sunday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that the Defense Department has started phase one of upgrading U.S. Forces Japan to a joint force headquarters.
The department originally announced in 2024 that USFJ would be upgraded from a primarily administrative command to a joint force headquarters, meaning it would have more warfighting and operational responsibilities.
Hegseth said the USFJ upgrade will help improve the command’s ability to operate with Japan’s Joint Operations Command, which was just established March 24, 2025, and is responsible for commanding branches of the Japan Self-Defense Forces.
“We certainly welcome JJOC’s establishment this past week,” Hegseth said during his opening remarks.
“It’s more urgency territory,” he added.
As part of the USFJ’s upgrade, Hegseth said DOD will soon add additional personnel to both Tokyo and USFJ headquarters at Yokota Air Base to conduct activities aimed at strengthening bilateral bonds with the U.S. military’s Japanese counterparts, as well as deepening operational cooperation.
Hegseth also said reorganizing USFJ into a warfighting headquarters would necessitate increased staff…
Space Force Chief Gen. Chance Saltzman Outlines Urgent Priorities for Achieving Space Superiority at Warfighter Symposium
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“It is our job to contest and control the space domain, to fight and win so that we assure freedom…
U.S. Department of Energy Removes Barriers for LNG Marine Fuel Use, Boosting Shipping Industry Growth
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Attorney General Pamela Bondi Releases First Phase of Declassified Epstein Files
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ICE New York City Arrests Guatemalan National With Prior Deportation and Criminal Convictions in Airmont
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement apprehended an illegally present Guatemalan national previously removed from the United States when officers arrested Yoni Wilfredo Gregorio Ortiz, 44, in the village of Airmont, Feb. 23.
“Not only does Gregorio have contempt for our nation’s immigration laws as proven by his illegal return after…
Socom Works to Deter Conflict, Win if Deterrence Fails
In terms of warfighting, there needs to be an equilibrium between readiness, modernization and operations, said Army Command Sgt. Maj. Shane Shorter, senior enlisted leader of Special Operations Command, during a panel discussion at the National Defense Industrial Association’s 35th annual Special Operations Symposium in Washington, Feb. 20, 2025.
During…
More efficient and faster acquisition, better technology and military hardware, and better medical care to keep service members healthy were among the commitments made on Capitol Hill by three Defense Department nominees
By Sandy Di Angelis / Associate WriterMore efficient and faster acquisition, better technology and military hardware, and better medical care to keep service members healthy were among the commitments made on Capitol Hill on Thursday by three Defense Department nominees.
Lawmakers from the Senate Armed Services Committee heard testimony from Michael P. Duffey, nominated for undersecretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment; Emil G. Michael, nominated for undersecretary of defense for research and engineering; and Keith M. Bass, nominated for assistant secretary of defense for health affairs.
“If confirmed, I would assume responsibility to implement President Hegseth’s priorities by providing the military with the capabilities and force structure necessary to deter our adversaries and, if necessary, prevail in conflict,” Duffey said.
DOD’s acquisition and sustainment communities are primarily responsible for ensuring warfighters have the tools to fight and win in any conflict. Duffey said he would change how the department operates to achieve that goal.
“This will require the department to modernize how it manages the integration of requirements, budgeting and acquisition processes, aligning incentives to deliver results,” he said. “We must deepen our understanding of the strengths and vulnerabilities within our defense industrial base and seek to revitalize through reindustrialization, increased investment, flexible contracting, enhanced workforce recruitment and training and increased competition.”
If confirmed, Duffey told senators he’d focus on four priorities:
- Accelerating the delivery of tools to warfighters.
- Increasing the speed, performance and affordability of acquisition systems.
- Strengthening the defense industrial base.
- Bringing modern business systems and management practices to DOD.
Michael told senators that China…
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Federal Highway Administration Revokes Approval for New York City’s Central Business District Tolling Program
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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth hosted a visit to the Pentagon by industrialist, tech billionaire and head of the Department of Government Efficiency, Elon Musk
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth hosted industrialist and presidential advisor Elon Musk at the Pentagon today.
Department officials said the meeting was not related to his efforts with the Department of Government Efficiency but was rather the result of a personal invitation by Hegseth for Musk to visit the department’s headquarters.
During a private meeting in the secretary’s office, which lasted about an hour, defense officials said the two men discussed innovation, efficiency and smarter production, as they might apply to the Defense Department.
In a message to the force days after taking office, Hegseth said rebuilding the U.S. military would rely on all three things he discussed with Musk.
“We will rebuild our military by matching threats to capabilities,” he said. “This means reviving our defense industrial base, reforming our acquisition process, passing a financial audit and rapidly fielding emerging technologies. We will remain the…
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DOD’s Acquisition Community Already Working on Golden Dome, Big Team Effort Required
Hegseth Lauds U.S.-Poland Alliance, Reemphasizes Call for NATO Countries to Increase Defense Spending
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Friday praised the U.S. alliance with Poland during a joint press conference with that country’s defense minister in Warsaw.
“We see Poland as a model ally on the continent, willing to invest not just in their defense, but in our shared defense and defense of…
Kennedy Urged to Prioritize Care for People With Disabilities Amid Promised Healthcare Disruption
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U.S., Australia, and UK Join Forces to Target Russian Bulletproof Hosting Provider Supporting LockBit Ransomware
On Tuesday, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and the United Kingdom’s Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office are jointly designating Zservers, a Russia-based bulletproof hosting (BPH) services provider, for its role in supporting LockBit ransomware attacks. LockBit, a…