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Trump news at a glance: Newark mayor Ras Baraka fights back over arrest at immigration detention center

Trump news at a glance: Newark mayor Ras Baraka fights back over arrest at immigration detention center

Yahoo12-05-2025

The battle with the Trump administration over illegal immigration continues, with Newark mayor Ras Baraka saying he would fight his arrest in court.
The mayor was arrested on Friday after joining three members of Congress at a protest and press conference outside a new Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) detention facility in Newark called Delaney Hall. The mayor was released about five hours later and charged with trespassing.
Baraka has pushed back against the construction and opening of Delaney Hall, a 1,000-bed detention center, arguing that it should not be allowed to open because of building permit issues.
Here are the key stories at a glance:
Speaking out after his arrest on Tuesday, Ras Baraka said his city would continue its fight in court against the company that runs an immigration detention facility in New Jersey.
'I know there are some protests that other people are planning and if I feel obligated to be there, I will,' Newark's mayor told the Rev Al Sharpton on MSNBC Saturday afternoon. 'This doesn't stop the city's contention with the Geo Group, and we're going to continue in court with them.'
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Military leaders and commanders at the Pentagon were ordered on Friday to go through their libraries and review all books that were related to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in the US military's latest anti-DEI move.
Leaders were ordered to 'promptly identify' materials that promote 'divisive concepts and gender ideology [that] are incompatible with the department's core mission', according to a memo sent to leaders that was seen by the Associated Press. The department gave leaders until 21 May to remove the books.
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Days after the University of Michigan president, Santa Ono, announced he was leaving his post to lead the University of Florida, his name was quietly removed on Wednesday from a letter signed by more than 600 university presidents denouncing the Trump administration's 'unprecedented government overreach and political interference' with academic institutions.
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The daughter of actors Maggie Gyllenhaal and Peter Sarsgaard was among those arrested at the latest Columbia University protests, marking the latest development in the anti-war demonstrations that also led to the temporary suspension of student journalists.
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Donald Trump's administration must temporarily halt its sweeping government overhaul because Congress did not authorize it to carry out large-scale staffing cuts and the restructuring of agencies, a federal judge in California said on Friday.
US district judge Susan Illston in San Francisco sided with a group of unions, non-profits and local governments in blocking large-scale mass layoffs known as 'reductions in force' for 14 days.
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A 4.1-magnitude earthquake in Tennessee woke up families and rattled homes as far away as Atlanta as it spread tremors across portions of the southern US on Saturday morning. No injuries or major damage were immediately reported.
Google has agreed to pay $1.375bn in a settlement in principle reached with the state of Texas over allegations the company violated users' data privacy, the Texas attorney general, Ken Paxton, said on Friday.
A recently introduced bill, if it passes, would allow research on cannabis despite its schedule I status, which some experts say could help policymakers 'craft effective' legislation in the future.
Catching up? Here's what happened on May 9.

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DHS wants National Guard to search for and transport unaccompanied migrant children
DHS wants National Guard to search for and transport unaccompanied migrant children

Yahoo

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DHS wants National Guard to search for and transport unaccompanied migrant children

A Department of Homeland Security request for 21,000 National Guard troops to support "expansive interior immigration enforcement operations" includes a call for troops to search for unaccompanied children in some cases and transport them between states, three sources briefed on the plan tell NBC News. Having National Guard troops perform such tasks, which are not explained in detail in the DHS request, has prompted concern among Democrats in Congress and some military and law enforcement officials. The tasks are laid out in a May 9th Request for Assistance from the Department of Homeland Security to the Pentagon. The document states that, 'this represents the first formal request by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for the deployment of National Guard personnel in support of interior immigration enforcement operations.' The request calls for National Guard troops to be used for 'Search and Rescue for UACs [Unaccompanied Alien Children] in remote or hostile terrain,' and 'Intra- and inter-state transport of detainees/ unaccompanied alien children (UACs)," without clearly explaining what that would entail. Most of the troops, about 10,000, would be used for transporting detained individuals, the DHS said. Roughly 2,500 troops would be used for detention support but the document does not specify where. Another 1,000 troops would be assigned to administrative support, such as processing detainees. The request also asks for up to 3,500 troops to 'Attempt to Locate — Fugitives' and to conduct 'surveillance and canvassing missions,' as well as 'night operations and rural interdictions.' It also asks for support for ICE in 'joint task force operations for absconder/fugitive tracking,' according to the three sources familiar with the plans. NPR first reported the details of the DHS request. 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But one source briefed on the plans said that Secretary of Defense Peter Hegseth is close to approving some elements of the request and considering which state governors to approach first regarding National Guard units. 'We are so much closer to this being real,' said the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity. DHS is requesting the National Guard troops under Title 32 status, which means they would remain on state active duty under the command of their governor but would be federally funded. Title 32 status generally allows National Guard troops to conduct law enforcement activities without violating the Posse Comitatus Act, an 1878 law that bars the use of federal troops in law enforcement operations. A National Guard member who opposes troops performing such tasks told NBC News, 'I plan to leave the National Guard soon over this.' The Pentagon is also being asked by DHS to pay the full cost of deploying the 21,000 National Guard troops. 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US tariffs, export controls not directed at Singapore, says Rubio in meeting with Vivian
US tariffs, export controls not directed at Singapore, says Rubio in meeting with Vivian

Yahoo

time22 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

US tariffs, export controls not directed at Singapore, says Rubio in meeting with Vivian

SINGAPORE – Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan has raised the impact of America's tariffs and export controls with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who said these were not directed at Singapore. 'Nevertheless, there is a lot of work in the next few months to ensure that there are no adverse secondary impacts on Singapore, so we will have to continue to engage the administration very, very closely in the months ahead,' said Dr Balakrishnan in a statement after they met on June 4. Dr Balakrishnan is in Washington on a working visit. He and Mr Rubio had a 'substantive and wide-ranging discussion' on bilateral ties and international developments, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA). It added that Dr Balakrishnan registered the impact of the US' tariff policy on Singapore as a small and open economy that is highly dependent on trade, and the Republic's commitment to constructive engagement with the US to find mutually beneficial arrangements, including on pharmaceutical exports. In May, Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong said preferential or even zero tariffs on Singapore's pharmaceutical exports to the US are possible concessions that emerged in ongoing talks between the countries. However, the secondary impact has already hit the Republic, with Singapore's factory activity contracting for a second month in May off the back of US President Donald Trump's tariffs continuing to threaten the global economy. The majority of Mr Trump's sweeping global tariffs have been paused for 90 days, with the pause expected to expire at the start of July. On June 4, Mr Trump signed an order to double tariffs on steel and aluminium imports from 25 per cent to 50 per cent. During their meeting, Dr Balakrishnan and Mr Rubio also reaffirmed the longstanding and substantive bilateral relationship between the two countries in traditional areas of the economy, defence and security, as well as emerging areas such as critical technologies, energy and artificial intelligence. MFA said they also discussed other potential areas for collaboration, such as when the US holds the presidency for the Group of 20 major economies in 2026 and how Singapore can contribute to US priorities in meaningful and practical ways. In a separate statement, a spokesperson for Mr Rubio said he reaffirmed the strength of the US-Singapore strategic partnership and the shared commitment of both countries to a 'safe, secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific region'. Dr Balakrishnan is on a working visit to London and Washington from June 3 to 7, aimed at advancing bilateral cooperation in traditional and emerging areas of mutual interest. His visit to Washington – where he will meet senior administration officials, members of Congress and other senior personalities – is the first ministerial visit from Singapore to the US following both governments' new terms in office. He will also participate in a fireside chat hosted by US think-tank Hudson Institute, to discuss how the US can deepen engagement with Singapore and the region. Anjali Raguraman is a correspondent at The Straits Times. She covers politics, as well as consumer stories spanning tourism, retail and F&B. Source: The Straits Times © SPH Media Limited. Permission required for reproduction Discover how to enjoy other premium articles here

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