Senate border security talks grind on as Trump invokes Nazi-era 'blood' rhetoric against immigrants
Time slipping, White House and Senate negotiators are struggling to reach a U.S. border security deal that would unlock President Joe Bidenโs request for billions of dollars worth in military aid for Ukraine and national security.
311 child victims of sexual exploitation identified in โcold cases,โ Homeland Security says
More than a dozen international law enforcement organizations worked together under U.S. leadership to identify and locate victims of child sexual exploitation in a just-completed operation that officials say is likely the most successful of its kind.
Mayorkas tours border to prepare for asylum limits to end
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas says authorities are prepared for an expected increase in migrants along the U.S.-Mexico border amid plans to lift a public health order that has been used to turn away migrants nearly 2 million times without a chance to seek asylum.
Families separated at Mexico border ask for residency, aid
A mother who was separated from her children on the U.S.-Mexico border during former President Donald Trumpโs administration says that she and other parents who experienced similar separations asked the Homeland Security Secretary for permanent legal residency in the United States and compensation.
Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalezโs nomination to lead ICE approved by Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee
The Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee approved on Wednesday the nomination of Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzales to be Assistant Secretary for Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Pipeline CEO defends paying ransom amid cyberattack
A pipeline company CEO is making no apologies for his decisions to abruptly halt fuel distribution for much of the East Coast and pay millions to a criminal gang in Russia as he faced down one of the most disruptive ransomware attacks in U.S. history.
Correction: Domestic Extremism story
In a story May 14, 2021, about a national terrorism alert from Friday warning that violent extremists may take advantage of the easing of pandemic restrictions to conduct attacks, The Associated Press erroneously reported that a national terrorism bulletin issued in January would expire Aug. 13.
Texas explains requirements after social media posts suggest vaccine was open to all
HOUSTON โ Despite some social media posts, the Texas Division of Emergency Management said certain COVID-19 vaccination events in Liberty and Matagorda counties will not be open to almost anyone. The doses initially went to folks who are homebound, as well as those 65 and older, said TDEM spokesman Seth Christensen. People ages 50 to 64 are part of group 1C in Texas, which is open for vaccination. Also on Thursday, a post on the Matagorda County Emergency Operation Centerโs Facebook page discussed a vaccination event at the county fairgrounds scheduled for Thursday and Friday. Christensen said nothing has changed in terms of which population groups have been approved to receive the vaccine.
Child border crossings surging, straining US facilities
FILE - In this Aug. 23, 2019 file photo, immigrants seeking asylum walk at the ICE South Texas Family Residential Center, in Dilley, Texas. The number of children crossing by themselves, mostly from Central America, appears to be surging in particular in the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas. AdThe total of 561 unaccompanied minors from Monday offers a snapshot of how quickly conditions have changed along the border. โTheyโre all coming across the border, theyโre coming fast, and theyโre wearing Biden T-shirts,โ said the Oklahoma Republican. The Biden administration last week ended a Trump policy that made relatives reluctant to contact HHS to retrieve children for fear of being deported themselves.
US govt seizes over 10M phony N95 masks in COVID-19 probe
They have no utility whatsoever,โ Homeland Security Secretary Ali Mayorkas said of the fake masks. Homeland Security officials would not say which states the phony masks were sent to, but said criminal charges would be forthcoming. The company delivered some 2 billion N95 masks in 2020 as the pandemic intensified, but in the earlier months, when masks were in short supply, fraudsters took advantage. But phony masks have already made it to front-line workers in other cases. Over the past year there has been more than 1,250 raids by law enforcement resulting in the seizure of millions of fake masks.
Acting Homeland Security chief resigns
FILE - In this Sept. 23, 2020, file photo, Department of Homeland Security acting Secretary Chad Wolf makes an opening statement at his confirmation hearing before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington. (Greg Nash/Pool Photo via AP, File)WASHINGTON โ Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf is stepping down from his post, days after criticizing President Donald Trump over the riot at the U.S. Capitol. He said Pete Gaynor, who ran the Federal Emergency Management Agency, would become the acting homeland security secretary. Last week, Wolf asked Trump and all elected officials to โstrongly condemn the violenceโ that took place at the Capitol. He tweeted โwe now see some supporters of the President using violence as a means to achieve political endsโ and called that unacceptable.
Human smuggling suspect released on $5,000 bond; Police fear he will flee
HOUSTON โ Homeland Security agents and Houston police rescued six naked men from a human trafficking operation Monday at an apartment in southwest Houston. READ: Man accused of smuggling after 6 people found inside southwest Houston apartmentAt his probable cause hearing this morning, the prosecutors asked for a high bond of $25,000. So Iโm going to set your bond in the amount of $5,000 and grant you a personal bond on this charge,โ Castro said in court. District Attorney Johna Stallings said a high bond was is needed in the case to ensure Chavez doesnโt flee and to ensure the victims are protected. โAs a prosecutor of smuggling, trafficking and violent offenses, I donโt think itโs appropriate that a personal bond be granted in this case,โ Stallings said.