Wrongly deported Salvadoran man charged with human smuggling in 2022
The Justice Department has brought human smuggling charges against a wrongly deported Salvadoran man whose removal to a notorious gang prison ignited a standoff with federal courts, according to an indictment made public Friday.
The charges against Kilmar Abrego García, stemming from a 2022 traffic stop in Tennessee, mean he could face prosecution in the United States and possible deportation to another country.
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Yahoo
28 minutes ago
- Yahoo
After bizarre burqa stunt, Morris County mayor says no more public meetings
Fed up after yet another Dover council meeting was disrupted by activists on May 27, Mayor James Dodd declared that he will bar the public from future meetings and instead present them only online. "We're gonna go virtual," Dodd said. The council later passed a resolution, drafted during the meeting, that said that "due to emergent circumstances ... future public meetings shall be held virtually until changed by the Town Council." The resolution passed 8-1, with council member Sandra Wittner casting the lone "no" vote and questioning the legality of the hastily authorized move. "To say that this is a safety risk is insulting to the hundreds of people who died in Dover" during COVID, said Wittner, who frequently clashes with the mayor. Town council meetings last went online during the pandemic lockdown, which, by contrast, was a "very real safety risk," she said. Dodd took his action after a bizarre confrontation during the meeting's public comment session, at which the council was addressed by a person dressed in a blue burqa covering their entire face and body. The speaker, claiming to be a Muslim woman, began to talk in an affected, falsetto voice. The encounter ground the meeting to a halt for about 40 minutes. Dodd identified the "woman" as Edward "Lefty" Grimes, a Bayonne resident and disability activist who has been a frequent critic of the mayor and council at recent meetings. Dressed in the burqa, Grimes appeared in a motorized wheelchair. Grimes has said he needs the chair after allegedly being injured by Dover police who were directed to remove him from a January meeting for using profanity. Officials advised Grimes there was a town policy against meeting attendees wearing full-face coverings. But Grimes continued his complaints about a smoking ordinance he felt would violate his rights as a medical cannabis user. He refused to unveil his face, citing "religious reasons." The meeting was adjourned and Grimes was approached by Dover police. They tried to escort the activist from council chambers before Grimes was finally called out by an angry Dodd. "There's a law against impersonating a religious belief, and that's exactly what you're doing, Ed Grimes!' Dodd shouted. "Your Jeep is outside. I took a picture of your license plate. I will now press charges against you." After Grimes finally left, Dodd resumed the proceedings and added the resolution to suspend in-person meetings to the agenda. Contacted on Friday, Grimes did not deny he was at the meeting, but added, "I'm not admitting to anything." He insisted the speaker wearing the burqa was a Muslim woman named Elram Pador. He said he witnessed the confrontation on a YouTube stream posted by Maria Chacon. The Dover resident has been streaming meetings since the town suspended the practice last year, citing the need for a new video system and a lack of money to pay for it. "We all know Dodd would not allow someone in a burqa to speak," Grimes said. "Elram proved it and exposed his Islamophobia, exposed his racism, exposed his ego, because all he had to do was let that woman speak for three minutes. But his ego would not allow it, and now he's got a [expletive] show on his hands. He's got issues now.' A burqa-clad "Elram Pador" has also spoken at public meetings in other New Jersey towns in recent months, including an appearance — without a wheelchair — in Edison on April 30. Grimes and other online activists have frequented Dover meetings over the past six months, typically taking aim at Dodd and Councilman Sergio Rodriguez, who retains the mayor's support despite facing multiple assault charges. One critic wore a football helmet to a meeting, claiming he expected to be attacked. "I'm not in a position to sit here and be ridiculed and humiliated," Dodd said at the May 27 meeting. "It's insanity. This has been going on for some time. Who knows if that guy has a shotgun under what he was wearing? And when somebody comes here and mocks a religious belief, and thinks it's OK, that's not acceptable. "These people are crazy," he continued. "I won't be part of that anymore and I don't think this town should be subject to that anymore, either." Wittner said Dodd directed town Attorney Ramon Rivera to draft the resolution while the session was adjourned to remove Grimes. Rivera cited provisions in the New Jersey Open Public Meetings Act, also known as the Sunshine Law, that would permit the suspension of in-person meetings due to security reasons and "emergent circumstances," as the resolution reads. The resolution said that council meetings "have been interrupted by unprecedented members of the public who violate the town's public-comment policies." Challenged by Wittner on the legality of the move, and questioned about the nature of the "emergent circumstances," Rivera said, "In my opinion, based on what I saw tonight, there is a safety concern." More: In tense meeting, Dover council backs, then opposes, limits on immigration raids "The town is prohibited from conducting business" due to the interruptions, he added. Rivera noted in the resolution that "many entities conduct their meetings virtually in compliance with the OPMA," although he did not specify whether any governing bodies were currently doing so. Virtual meetings were common during the COVID lockdown but most local governing bodies switched back to in-person proceedings years ago. Rivera did not return a call seeking follow-up information. At the meeting, Dodd said he did not expect the move to be permanent. It would last only until the council felt it could safely resume public gatherings, he said. He added the town would come up with a plan to stream meetings within 30 days. Dover suspended online streaming of meetings last year, saying the town needed a new camera system and did not have the estimated $80,000 it would cost. Dodd said at the January reorganization meeting that he hoped to find money in this year's budget to resume the streaming. The streamed meetings will allow for public participation in that format, the mayor said at the latest meeting. "I don't expect this to be forever," Dodd explained. "But we need to conduct business, and we will." Chacon can be heard in her streaming video confronting the mayor. "It's unbelievable to me that we haven't had any livestreaming," she commented. She blamed Dodd for "elevating" the "chaos" at the meeting. "And then to come back and punish the public, the taxpayers who have a right to be here, it's appalling," she said. "To punish us for one person who got under the mayor's skin." State Sen. Anthony Bucco, who represents Dover in Trenton, speculated in an interview that Dover may be vulnerable to a court challenge. Bucco, a Republican representing the 25th District, is a municipal attorney by profession. "It's definitely an unusual step, outside of something like COVID," Bucco said. "Even before COVID, there were instances where towns held remote meetings, but they never closed the meeting room off." "So it will be interesting, he continued. "I would guess it would probably be challenged, and I don't know how a judge would rule." But Bucco, the Senate minority leader, also shared his concerns about what he sees as a troubling increase across the state of deliberate interruptions at meetings by members of the public. "It's a shame," Bucco said. "It seems lately, people have become more and more disrespectful at council meetings. People who come to meetings and say things that aren't accurate, or hide their identity, it's just not right for good government. And once one person becomes disrespectful, it starts to spread, and then a governing body cannot conduct business properly." On May 30, Dodd released a statement about the meeting and the decision to "go virtual." "Over the past several weeks, our meetings have been marred by behavior that has no place in public service," the mayor wrote. "We have witnessed individuals wearing full facial coverings, altering their voices, and delivering crude, vulgar remarks including sexually explicit references and disturbing comments. These actions have turned our council chambers into a spectacle that undermines the dignity of public discourse." "This decision wasn't made lightly," he continued. "But we cannot allow a small group to hijack the democratic process and create a toxic atmosphere that discourages community participation. We are committed to transparency, accountability, and — above all — civility in government." This article originally appeared on Morristown Daily Record: Dover NJ cancels public meetings after bizarre burqa stunt
Yahoo
41 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Loved ones honor officer killed in Baldwin Park shooting
A vigil was held to honor the life of Samuel Riveros, 35, a Baldwin Park police officer who was killed in the line of duty. Over 1,000 people gathered outside Baldwin Park City Hall on Friday night, where a large memorial filled with flowers, candles and mementos continues growing. A speaker at the memorial described Riveros as a 'man of character, thoughtfulness and courage.' On May 31, officers responded to a home on the 4200 block of Filhurst Avenue, on reports of a man firing a rifle in the street around 7:15 a.m. When they arrived, they located a victim, Darius Wong, 43, suffering from a gunshot wound to his upper body. He was transported to the hospital and later pronounced dead. The officers were met by gunfire from the rifle-wielding suspect. Riveros began running toward the shots to help his colleagues when he was shot by the suspect. Riveros was airlifted to the hospital where he died from his injuries. The second officer, who was also injured, was hospitalized in stable condition. The suspect, Eduardo Roberto Medina-Berumen, 22, was also struck by gunfire and was hospitalized in stable condition. Authorities said Wong, a father of two young daughters, had just parked his car and was walking to a family party when he was shot. Riveros was a nine-year veteran of the Baldwin Park Police Department. His colleagues remembered him as a dedicated officer and friend who loved serving his community. 'He had a care for this community and he had care for the department,' said Joseph Valencia, a colleague. 'Everything that he did was to make the patch look good and to make his brothers and sisters look good and most importantly, to protect the city.' 'He really is my little brother, but he was my crutch and he didn't know that,' said Sunny Kim, Riveros' police partner. 'I looked to him for that.' 'There is no way for us to convey to you the emptiness and heartache we feel at the loss of our beloved Sammy,' Riveros' sister said at the candlelight vigil on Friday night. On June 3, the suspect, Medina-Berumen, was charged with two counts of murder, along with other charges, the L.A. County District Attorney's Office announced. The charges include special circumstance allegations of multiple murders and the murder of a peace officer. These special circumstances could make Medina-Berumen eligible for the death penalty if he is convicted. L.A. County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said his office will decide at a later date whether to pursue capital punishment. Friends remembered Riveros as a snowboarder and an avid Dodgers fan. Riveros became a law enforcement officer after studying criminology, law and society at UC Irvine. He is survived by his mother, sister and two brothers. His family said funeral arrangements are still in the planning stages and no date has been set. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
41 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Flash-bangs, tear gas and arrests as ICE raids protests continue in Los Angeles
A series of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids ignited widespread protests, confrontations and scenes of chaos as federal agents detained at least 44 individuals across Los Angeles on Friday. Protesters swarmed the streets, some jumping in front of law enforcement vehicles, as KTLA captured the escalating tensions from both the air and ground through the day and night. Agents moved in on at least three locations throughout the day. One of the most visible confrontations took place outside a Home Depot in the Westlake District, where day laborers often gather for temporary work. ICE agents in riot gear were seen clashing with and chasing people through the parking lot as stunned shoppers looked on. Another raid unfolded at a clothing store on Towne Avenue in the Fashion District. Several workers were taken into custody in handcuffs and loaded into waiting vans. Outside, other agents in tactical gear engaged in tense standoffs with onlookers and activists, some of whom used megaphones to urge garment workers not to sign documents or speak with federal agents. Later in the evening, flash-bang grenades and tear gas filled the air as Los Angeles Police Department officers responded to mounting unrest in the Civic Center area. At 7:51 p.m., LAPD Central Division declared an unlawful assembly at Alameda and Temple streets, warning that those who failed to leave would be subject to arrest. Minutes later, the department reported that a group of violent individuals was throwing large pieces of concrete. Officers were authorized to use less-lethal munitions to disperse the crowd. By 8:24 p.m., the LAPD issued a citywide tactical alert, requiring all officers to remain on duty. A traffic advisory was also issued: Alameda Street was closed between Aliso and 1st streets, with detours recommended via Los Angeles, Main, or Spring streets. East-west traffic was rerouted to 1st Street. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), a division of ICE, confirmed that agents executed four federal search warrants with partner agencies, including the FBI and the Drug Enforcement Administration. 'Approximately 44 people were administratively arrested and one arrest for obstruction,' an HSI spokesperson said. 'The investigation remains ongoing, updates will follow as appropriate.' That single obstruction arrest was confirmed by US Attorney Bill Essayli as David Huerta, president of the California branch of the Service Employees International Union. Essayli posted an image of the union leader handcuffed and placed in the back of a vehicle. Video of the purported incident that led to his arrest was also posted. It showed Huerta briefly standing near the front of an unmarked white SUV that was used in the operation before being pushed out of the way by a federal agent. He is seen falling to the ground with several agents around him before he is presumably taken into custody while protesters and agents exchange shoves. The arrest of Huerta, who union members said was also injured, was condemned by California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who called Huerta a 'respected leader, a patriot, and an advocate for working people.' 'No one should ever be harmed for witnessing government action,' Newsom added. In a news release issued Friday evening, SEIU California said Huerta was treated at a local hospital for injuries he suffered during his arrest, but currently remains in federal custody. He made the following statement through the union: 'What happened to me is not about me; This is about something much bigger. This is about how we as a community stand together and resist the injustice that's happening. Hard-working people, and members of our family and our community, are being treated like criminals. We all collectively have to object to this madness because this is not justice. This is injustice. And we all have to stand on the right side of justice.' Chris Wolfe, Travis Schlepp and Cameron Kiszla contributed to this report. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
