Homeless DC resident reacts to Trump's crackdown
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The Independent
28 minutes ago
- The Independent
Trump can't stop using false and misleading data to make his case for DC takeover
President Donald Trump has exaggerated and, at times, misstated statistics and facts about crime in Washington, D.C., to justify his decision to deploy the National Guard in the city. Despite violent crime rates falling in the nation's capital over the last two years, Trump asserted, on Monday, that the city 'has been taken over by violent gangs and bloodthirsty criminals, roving mobs of wild youth, drugged-out maniacs, and homeless people.' For that reason, the president has directed approximately 800 National Guard members to D.C. to help local law enforcement take control of what the president claims is uncontrollable crime. A portion of those National Guard members began patrolling the city on Tuesday. But Trump's depiction of D.C. as lawless and filled with violent criminals is inaccurate. Violent crime rates in D.C. peaked in 2023 post-pandemic, according to data collected by the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia. The number of homicides that year was 274, the highest since the late 1990s. 'Murders in 2023 reached the highest rate, probably ever,' Trump said on Monday. 'They say 25 years, but they don't know what that means because it just goes back 25 years, can't be worse.' The 2023 homicide rate was not the highest the city has ever experienced – data, which goes back to 1960, indicates homicides peaked in the nation's capital in 1991. The 2023 rate has declined by 63 percent since 1991. Overall, violent crime has gone down by 35 percent since 2023. Sex abuse rates have gone down 71 percent, and assaults with a dangerous weapon have dropped 62 percent. The White House released a fact sheet as part of Trump's announcement, citing D.C.'s homicide rate in 2024 as the fourth highest in the country, with 27.3 per 100,000 residents. However, the fact sheet appeared to incorrectly summarize information from a preliminary crime data report that exclusively used Washington Post reporting, which found D.C.'s 2023 murder rate to be the fifth highest among the largest cities. But that the homicide rate dropped in 2024 and was not ranked in the top four cities, according to the Post. Trump also compared D.C. homicide rates to those of 'the worst places on Earth,' claiming murders are higher in the U.S. city than Bogotá, Colombia, or Mexico City, Mexico. Data indicates that Washington, D.C. has a higher homicide rate than Mexico City, which recorded approximately 10 per 100,000 residents, or Bogotá, which recorded 15.2 per every 100,000 in 2024. But neither Mexico City nor Bogotá were ranked in the top 50 global cities with the highest homicide rates, according to the Igarapé Institute, a Brazilian think tank. Washington, D.C., was ranked 50 in 2023 – meaning there are at least 49 other cities with higher homicide rates.
The Independent
28 minutes ago
- The Independent
Judge orders ICE to release mom who came to the US as an unaccompanied minor a decade ago
A federal judge has ordered Immigration and Customs Enforcement to release a young mother who came to the U.S. as an unaccompanied minor from El Salvador almost a decade ago. Antonia Aguilar Maldonado, who doesn't have a criminal record, was detained by ICE officers on July 17 and was taken to the Kandiyohi County jail in central Minnesota. Her two young children were born in the U.S. and are citizens. A senior U.S. District Court Judge ordered the 26-year-old's release on a $10,000 bond as her immigration case progresses. She was set to be released on Wednesday, even as the Department of Homeland Security took steps to deport her. According to Fox 9, her attorney, Gloria Contreras Edin, said, 'She wants to be reunited with her children immediately.' "The breast milk that she's feeding her toddler is the only thing that her toddler can take,' she added. 'He is allergic to other forms of milk. And so, unfortunately, this baby has been without his mother's milk now for 26 days, and she wants to get to him right away and start nursing." As of Monday, more than 60,000 people were in immigration detention, breaking a record set during President Donald Trump 's first stint in office, internal ICE records reveal, according to The New York Times. In January, about 39,000 people were in immigration custody. The previous spike came in August 2019, when 55,654 people were detained. Trump has made the increased crackdown on immigration one of the top priorities of his second term. A previous ruling by an immigration judge stated that Aguilar Maldonado, who's seeking asylum and lives in Lake Elmo, Minnesota, wasn't a public safety threat, nor a flight risk. DHS appealed the ruling to keep the mother in custody. Attorneys for Aguilar Maldonado moved the dispute to the U.S. District Court in Minnesota, requesting that a federal judge order her release via a Habeas Corpus petition on July 31. Following Tuesday's oral arguments, senior U.S. District Court Judge Susan Richard Nelson ordered that she be released on bond. One of Aguilar Maldonado's lawyers, Hannah Brown, told Fox 9, "We are feeling very relieved that the judge made the right decision in this case.' Brown told the court on Tuesday that Aguilar Maldonado was suffering from emotional and mental distress due to the separation from her children. She added that her client faces physical harm as she can't pump on a set schedule or in sanitary conditions. Nelson said from the bench that ICE had violated their own policies for pregnant and nursing mothers. She noted that while ICE argues that an executive order from Trump, signed in January, revoked the rule, "nowhere in that policy is there a mention of nursing mothers." She went on to argue that agents made a 'mistake' when arresting Aguilar Maldonado, according to CBS Minnesota. "In the court's view, the irreparable harm to separating a nursing mother and her child is self-evident," said Nelson. A close friend of the mother, Telma Vides, said, "It is just amazing what God can do to get her out where it was not a possibility." Vides and Aguilar Maldonado are members of St. Paul church, which helped raise $10,000 for the bond. Church members were in the federal courtroom on Tuesday and erupted into a standing ovation when the release order came down. "These three weeks [have] been a roller coaster," Vides added. "No and then yes, and then no and yes, and tomorrow, next week, and then another court date and another court day, and then nothing. And we were like, 'What is going to happen? Is she really going to come out?' Are they really going to release her?'" Aguilar Maldonado was set to post her $10,000 bond on Wednesday, leading to her release. Her immigration case continues next Tuesday when she's set to return to court for proceedings as the government attempts to have her deported as an illegal immigrant.
Daily Mirror
28 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Donald Trump issues Putin 'VERY severe consequences' warning if Ukraine war doesn't end
Donald Trump has issued a grave warning to Vladimir Putin after previously stating he would sting Russia with new sanctions if he failed to make a Ukraine deal Donald Trump has warned Vladimir Putin he faces severe consequences if he walks away from their Alaska summit without a stop to the war in Ukraine. Kyiv says the Russian despot is bluffing about his willingness to end the bloodshed. Keir Starmer said there is a viable chance of a ceasefire. Concerns in Kyiv and across Europe have risen ahead of the one-on-one summit in Alaska tomorrow between the US president and the Russian leader. Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelensky fears Mr Trump and Mr Putin may try to dictate the terms of peace in the three-year war. After being asked what would be the outcome if Mr Putin refuses to stop the killing, Mr Trump replied: 'Very severe consequences.' JD Vance talks about 'the bad guys' in Ukraine war - but doesn't say which side he means When pushed on what these consequences would be, he said: 'I don't have to say.' He added: 'If I do not get the necessary answers during the meeting with Putin, there will be no next meeting.' It was hours after Zelensky told Trump the Russian leader is lying. Zelensky said in a joint briefing in Berlin with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz: 'I told the US president and all our European colleagues that Putin is bluffing. 'He is trying to apply pressure before the meeting in Alaska along all parts of the Ukrainian front. Russia is trying to show that it can occupy all of Ukraine.' The comments followed a call involving Mr Trump, European leaders and Mr Zelensky, as Russian forces step up operations in eastern Ukraine. Speaking in Downing Street afterwards, Mr Starmer said Ukraine's territorial integrity must be protected. He added the UK is ready to increase pressure on Russia if necessary. Briefing the Coalition of the Willing after the calls, Mr Starmer said: 'This meeting [in Alaska]... is hugely important. As I've said to President Trump for the three-and-a-bit years this conflict has been going on, we haven't got anywhere near a viable way of bringing it to a ceasefire. 'And now we do have that chance, because of the work President [Trump] has put in.' The Prime Minister spoke as Kyiv officials expressed concern the Kremlin may attempt to use battlefield pressure to force Ukraine into concessions. Mr Zelensky said he hoped the primary focus of the Alaska talks would be an immediate ceasefire, with any discussions on territorial issues to be addressed at a meeting involving all three leaders. He said: 'Regarding our principles and territorial integrity, in the end, this is all decided at the level of leaders. Without Ukraine, it is impossible to decide this.' Mr Zelensky, who also called for stricter sanctions if Russia refuses to agree to a ceasefire, said: 'Putin definitely does not want peace – he wants to occupy Ukraine.' Nato's Secretary-General, Mark Rutte, said after a separate call with Mr Trump, Mr Zelensky and European leaders: 'We are united in pushing to end this terrible war. The ball is now in Putin's court.' When asked about potential concessions in the Donbas region, Mr Zelensky said: 'Any issue which deals with the territorial integrity of Ukraine cannot be discussed just like that, without looking at our constitution and the will of our people. I have no right to surrender my country's land.' Mr Merz, speaking alongside Mr Zelensky after the trilateral call, said: 'We made it clear Ukraine must be at the table at the next meeting. We want a ceasefire at the very beginning, and then a framework agreement must be drawn up. 'If Ukraine is prepared to talk about territorial negotiations, then we need to make sure that there are no violent changes to the border.' He added robust security guarantees are essential for Kyiv, including continued Western support. Mr Starmer thanked the coalition countries that contributed to military plans 'which are now ready in a form which can be used if we do get to that ceasefire'. No10 said European leaders thanked Mr Trump for getting Putin to the table. Downing Street added: 'The Prime Minister was clear that our support for Ukraine is unwavering – international borders must not be changed by force, and Ukraine must have robust security guarantees to defend its territorial integrity as part of any deal. 'Europe stands ready to support this and will continue to work alongside President Trump and President Zelensky for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine. They looked forward to speaking again following the meeting in Alaska.'
