Latest news with #AndrewGarbarino
The Guardian
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
Democrat urges hearing into ‘human rights abuses' at El Salvador megaprison
Congresswoman Delia Ramirez is 'urgently' requesting a congressional hearing regarding the use of federal funds to pay El Salvador to detain immigrants inside a secretive terrorism prison, according to a letter she sent to the US House's homeland security committee. Ramirez, an Illinois representative and Democrat who sits on the committee, is requesting a hearing to address 'human rights abuses' at the facility, where the US government sent nearly 300 immigrants after Donald Trump's second presidency began in January. The Guardian viewed Friday's request letter, sent by Ramirez to the homeland security committee chair, Andrew Garbarino, a New York Republican. Details continue to emerge regarding the treatment of Venezuelans by Salvadorian prison officials. On 18 July, the US, El Salvador and Venezuela engaged in a prisoner swap that released 252 Venezuelan men from the notorious Central American megaprison. According to press reports, Venezuelan immigrants who were sent by the US to El Salvador's Terrorism Confinement Center, known as Cecot for its Spanish acronym, have said they were subjected to horrific abuse, including beatings, torture, denial of food and, in one case, sexual assault. Lawyers for some of the men said they endured 'state-sanctioned torture', the Guardian reported. 'I am concerned that, in paying the Salvadoran government to detain immigrants at Cecot, the administration funded human rights violations with taxpayer dollars,' Ramirez's letter says. 'I urgently request that we hold a hearing on how US funds were used to enable these flagrant human rights abuses at Cecot.' Garbarino did not immediately respond to a request from the Guardian for comment about Ramirez's letter. The second Trump administration has designated a Venezuelan gang, Tren de Aragua, a foreign terrorist organization. In March, the Trump administration invoked the Alien Enemies Act and claimed that the Venezuelan government had sent members of Tren de Aragua to 'invade' the US. Intelligence agencies reportedly contradicted the administration's claims linking the gang to the Venezuelan government. But in mid-March, immigration officers quietly filled planes with Venezuelan and Salvadorian immigrants who were detained by the US and quickly sent them to El Salvador to be detained in the Cecot prison. A federal judge ordered the planes to return after they took off. Despite the court order, the flights arrived in El Salvador, setting the stage for a unresolved court battle between the Trump administration and the federal judiciary. See more of the Guardian's immigration crackdown charts and data here. The Trump administration sent more people to El Salvador's Cecot prison later in March. After the expulsions and deportations, news reports revealed that the US government relied on flimsy evidence to accuse the deported immigrants of gang membership. One case that gained significant media attention was that of Andry Hernández Romero, a 32-year-old gay make-up artist whose crown tattoos near the words 'Mom' and 'Dad' in Spanish were cited as evidence that he was a gang member. His attorney has said that one of the tattoos honored his favorite soccer team, Real Madrid, whose logo includes a crown. The Venezuelan men were detained in Cecot for months and released on 28 July in a prisoner swap. The Venezuelan men were sent back to Venezuela, while a number of US nationals detained in the country were returned to the US – among them a former US marine who had been convicted of a triple-murder. The Salvadoran men sent to Cecot by the US government were not released as part of the swap. After his release, Hernández Romero told journalists his time in Cecot was 'an encounter with torture and death', Reuters reported. 'Many of our fellows have wounds from the nightsticks; they have fractured ribs, fractured fingers and toes, marks from the handcuffs, others have marks on their chests, on their face ... from the projectiles.' In another interview with Venezuelan media, Hernández Romero said he was sexually abused by guards. The Venezuelan government has said it will investigate El Salvador's president Nayib Bukele, a close Trump ally, over the alleged abuses. Bukele's Cecot prison has been a defining centerpiece of his administration in recent years. In 2022, Bukele declared a state of exception, leading to a massive crackdown on gangs in the country and the construction of a network of secretive prisons, including Cecot. Bukele's government has invited US representatives, social media influencers and international media to tour the facility. Details of the deal between the US government and El Salvador to detain the nearly 300 immigrants are still mired in secrecy. The US frequently invoked the 'state secrets' privilege during court proceedings to avoid any disclosures regarding its deal with Bukele. In recent months, more questions have arisen regarding the deal between the Trump administration and Bukele. During the Alien Enemies Act expulsions, the Trump administration expelled a top MS-13 leader to El Salvador and is currently trying to return a second one, leading to accusations that the US is trying to do a favor for Bukele. Bukele reportedly requested the return of key MS-13 leaders from US custody, critics say, to allegedly prevent them from revealing further information about a controversial 2019 pact between his government and the gang.
CNBC
6 days ago
- Business
- CNBC
A new bill could make it easier to build a tiny home in your backyard—here's what to know
Granny flats, backyard cottages, garage apartments, in-law suites, guest houses — whatever you call them, a new bipartisan bill could make them easier to finance. The SUPPLY Act, introduced in the House last week by Reps. Sam Liccardo, D-Calif., and Andrew Garbarino, R-N.Y., would allow homeowners take out a government-backed second mortgage to build an accessory dwelling unit on their property. Second mortgages tailored for ADU construction are virtually non-existent, according to the Urban Institute, because lenders see them as risky and hard to resell without government backing. Currently, most homeowners who build ADUs have to rely on cash savings or home equity loans — options that aren't available to many lower- and middle-income households. That financing gap has made it harder for less affluent homeowners to build ADUs. The proposal comes as the U.S. faces a shortage of roughly 4 million homes, according to estimates, a supply gap that has pushed housing prices higher nationwide. Whether it's a detached backyard unit or a converted garage apartment, ADUs could help boost housing supply, especially in states like New York and California where shortages are most acute, the bill's co-sponsors say. These small dwellings can also provide homeowners with rental income to help offset rising housing costs. An ADU, as currently defined by the bill, is a self-contained living space with a kitchen, bathroom and sleeping area that's built onto, inside or next to a single-family home. The bill amends the National Housing Act to authorize FHA insurance for second mortgages used to build accessory dwelling units. It also allows Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to purchase and securitize these loans, which helps lenders manage risk and offer the loans more broadly. Homeowners could qualify for larger loans by including up to 50% of the ADU's projected rental income. Lenders could also base the loan on the home's post-construction value, not just its current appraised value, according to the bill. The bill has bipartisan backing and support from housing industry groups, including the Mortgage Bankers Association and National Association of Home Builders. While the bill focuses on financing, it doesn't change state or local rules that govern where and how ADUs can be built. In many cities and suburbs, ADUs are still banned or heavily restricted, often through minimum lot size requirements, owner-occupancy rules or high permitting and utility connection fees. A handful of states have taken steps to loosen those rules. In California, recent reforms eliminated owner-occupancy mandates, capped permit fees and allowed ADUs by right in most residential areas. The state built about 23,000 ADUs in 2023 — more than seven times the number completed in 2018, according to the Wall Street Journal. One of the "biggest barriers" to more ADUs "is still local zoning," says Jenna Stauffer, a broker at Sotheby's International Realty. "There's too much red tape and too many upfront costs that discourage building. That keeps inventory low and prices high. It's something that has to be addressed at the local level — there needs to be more collaboration between local, state and federal leaders."
Daily Mail
23-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
A new law could introduce mortgages for building tiny homes
A new proposed law could make it easier to take on a loan to build a mobile home. Two congressmen have joined forces to present a bill that would create a new government-backed loan for Americans who want to build a tiny home on their property. Mobile homes have become increasingly popular as the rising cost of housing has shut many out of the dream of home ownership. Now existing homeowners want to build tiny homes on their properties - known as accessory dwelling units, or ADUs - to house their adult children, elderly parents or to let out to guests as a way of generating income. Even home builders are including ADUs as a selling point on properties. Sam Liccardo, a Democrat from California and Andrew Garbarino, a New York Republican, are co-leading the ADU bill that would allow for the unique second mortgages. 'This is a really pressing issue for Americans,' Liccardo said of the housing crisis. 'But it has not become nearly pressing enough for Congress,' he told The Wall Street Journal. ADUs are studio-style housing units which are normally between 600 and 1,200 square feet. The bill aims to ease the risk for private lenders to offer second mortgages for ADU construction by providing a government backstop in case the homeowner defaults, according to the Journal. So far the bill has been endorsed by at least 16 Democratic and Republican House members as well as the National Association of Home Builders and other influential industry groups. In 2020 around 1.4 million American homes had a supplemental tiny home on their property, and the trend is only gathering pace. The US is currently short 4 million homes and almost one third of all households are deemed to be 'cost-burdened,' because they spend more than a third of their income on rent or mortgage payments, the Journal reported. The housing crisis is increasingly encroaching onto politics and lawmakers are taking note. California Governor Gavin Newsom recently rolled back a landmark environmental law in a bid to boost house building. Lawmakers are also warming up to the idea that tiny homes could be a way to ease the housing crisis as they can be erected quicker and more cheaply, and often encounter less red tape than traditional full-size properties. Republican Andrew Garbarino (pictured) has worked with Democrat Liccardo to present the bill 'This happened to be a lower-hanging fruit,' Liccardo explained. 'It helps to start in an area where you can actually get something done.' For that reason modular home builders have targeted victims of the Los Angeles fires with offers of cheaper and quicker rebuilding options. Many homeowners who saw their properties burned to the ground were then met with the compounding heartbreak of home insurance payouts that will only cover a fraction of the rebuilding costs. Now businesses such as ICON and Hapi Homes see an opening to the mass market their tiny homes, which are built off-site with the help of 3-D printers and then transported to their final location. Building new homes off-site is often much cheaper because materials can be purchased in bulk and fewer workers are required for less time. After wildfires devastated Maui, Hawaii, in 2023 more than 100 modular companies flooded the building market.
New York Post
22-07-2025
- Politics
- New York Post
LI Rep. Garbarino to lead powerful House Homeland Security Committee
Long Island Republican Rep. Andrew Garbarino is set to become the next chair of the powerful House Homeland Security Committee. The South Shore representative edged out fellow Congressmen Michael Guest (R-Miss.), Carlos Giménez (R-Fla.) and Clay Higgins (R-La.) in a committee vote Monday for the highly coveted role, which oversees the panel that deals with a portfolio of domestic security issues. 'As a lifelong New Yorker and representative of a district shaped by 9/11, I understand the stakes of this responsibility. 'Never forget' is more than a slogan,' Garbarino said in a statement. 'It is a commitment I have carried with me throughout my entire adult life and one that will continue to drive my work. 'We have serious work ahead of us. Securing the border, confronting terrorism, strengthening our cybersecurity, and hardening our national defenses are all critical to keeping Americans safe.' Advertisement Garbarino will be succeeding former Chairman Mark Green (R-Tenn.), who has resigned from the House, shrinking the GOP's razor-thin edge in the lower chamber. 3 Long Island GOP Rep. Andrew Garbarino has served on the House Homeland Security Committee throughout his tenure in Congress. CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images 3 The committee's previous chairman, Mark Green, resigned from the House this month to pursue another gig. REUTERS Advertisement Green tendered his resignation after the passage of President Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act for a mysterious new job that reportedly involves business opportunities in Guyana. The retired rep drew headlines in September after his wife accused him of having an affair and filed for a divorce. She alleged that he was having a dalliance with a woman employed by Axios at the time but later backtracked. 3 Garbarino pointed to his experiences in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks while vying for the chairmanship role. CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images Garbarino, who was first elected to the House in 2020, raised eyebrows himself in May for snoozing through an all-night marathon session of Congress debating the House's first iteration of the Big Beautiful Bill. Advertisement The rep, who has served on the Homeland Security Committee throughout his tenure, won the panel' chairmanship in a vote by the House Steering Committee, which works to assign lawmakers to various committees in the lower chamber. Now his nomination will head to the House Republican Conference, which usually rubber stamps recommendations from the steering panel. The Long Island Republican has been the chairman of the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection since 2023. Advertisement He also previously served as an impeachment manager against former Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, who survived the effort by the GOP-led House to oust him.
Miami Herald
22-07-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Steering Committee taps Garbarino to serve as Homeland Security chair
WASHINGTON - The House Republican Steering Committee late Monday recommended Rep. Andrew Garbarino of New York to succeed Mark E. Green to chair the House Homeland Security Committee. Garbarino, who currently chairs the committee's Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection subcommittee, beat three other candidates who sought the gavel: Michael Guest of Mississippi, Carlos Gimenez of Florida and Clay Higgins of Louisiana. Though seventh in line in GOP seniority, Garbarino is considered a close ally of Speaker Mike Johnson. He's also a member of the steering committee. He was selected on the second ballot. The full GOP conference will need to ratify his selection. Garbarino, 40, whose district includes Long Island, is a member of the Problem Solvers Caucus, a group equally split between Republicans and Democrats, as well as the Republican Main Street Caucus, a 60-plus member bloc of center-right lawmakers. He has served on the Homeland Security Committee since his freshman term and was almost immediately elevated to the top Republican slot on the Cybersecurity subcommittee. He got the subcommittee gavel at the start of the 118th Congress when Republicans took over the House majority. As subcommittee chairman, Garbarino focused on cyber attacks in critical sectors, including one that affected hospitals in several states in summer 2023. In 2024, he was one of the managers appointed by the House to conduct the impeachment proceedings of then Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas. His predecessor as chairman, Green, a Tennessee Republican, announced in June that he would resign from Congress after the House vote on the reconciliation package. In a coincidence, Garbarino's predecessor in Congress, Peter T. King, was also a previous chairman of the committee. The new chairman takes the gavel just weeks after Congress infused the Trump administration with $170 billion as part of the reconciliation law to implement its immigration enforcement priorities. The chair will be charged with oversight of the executive branch on immigration enforcement, as well as consideration of new legislative language tightening border security rules. The committee was created in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks as a select committee tasked with oversight of the Department of Homeland Security. It was made a permanent committee in January 2005. Copyright (C) 2025, Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Portions copyrighted by the respective providers.
