Latest news with #CBP
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Miami Herald
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Palestinian man detained at TX airport for 10 days despite valid visa, lawyer says
A civil rights group is demanding the release of a Palestinian man it says is being held inside a Texas airport after entering the country legally. On July 5, Muhanad J. M. Alshrouf arrived at the George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston on an Emirates flight from Dubai after completing 'a years-long immigration process and receiving full approval for a U.S. immigrant visa,' according to a July 14 news release from the Council on American-Islamic Relations. McClatchy News reached out to Rusty Payne, a representative with U.S. Customs and Border Protection in Houston, who said he would look into the matter. Alshrouf, 22, has never been arrested and doesn't have a criminal record, according to CAIR. He passed 'rigorous background checks by both U.S. and Israeli authorities,' the organization said. 'His sole purpose in coming to the United States is to reunite with his U.S. citizen father and siblings and build a future in the country he has dreamed of since childhood,' according to the release. Since arriving in Houston, Alshrouf has been kept in a secondary screening room 'without access to legal counsel, a change of clothes, proper food, or basic hygiene,' CAIR said. His family said he is in the same clothes he arrived in, according to the organization. 'This young man legally entered the country with a U.S. immigrant visa, having passed every background check and security clearance. Yet he has been held in a secondary screening room for more than a week without due process or basic human compassion,' John T. Floyd, a board member of CAIR-Texas Houston and civil rights attorney, said in a statement. 'This type of treatment is unlawful, unjustified, and inhumane. We demand his immediate release and access to legal representation.' Payne did not comment on this individual case but provided McClatchy News with some general information regarding travel into the United States. 'Under U.S. immigration law [Section 291 of the INA [8 USC 1361] applicants for admission bear the burden of proof to establish that they are clearly eligible to enter the U.S. To demonstrate that they are admissible, the applicant must overcome all grounds of inadmissibility,' he said in an email. Payne explained there are '60 grounds of inadmissibility,' which can be due to many reasons including health-related grounds, criminality, security reasons and more. 'It is important to note that issuance of a visa or a visa waiver does not guarantee entry to the United States. A CBP officer at the port of entry will conduct an inspection to determine if the individual is eligible for admission under U.S. immigration law,' Payne said. However, Maria Kari, an attorney and executive director for Project TAHA, called the detainment 'unlawful, unjust, and profoundly inhumane,' the CAIR news release said. 'CBP's own policy requires individuals to be processed within 72 hours. Airports are not detention centers. Yet Muhanad has been subjected to an unconscionable confinement, forced to wear the same undergarments for over a week. Is this the dignity America offers its newest residents?' Kari said. 'Although CBP refuses entry to those who are not eligible to travel to the U.S., CBP continues to welcome legitimate travelers to the United States,' Payne said.
Fox News
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Fox News
Five Iranians nabbed at US northern border as terror fears grip small towns
A Customs and Border Protection (CBP) spokesman confirmed Tuesday that five Iranians were arrested while attempting to illegally cross the U.S. northern border with Canada. "On July 1, Border Patrol Agents from the Champlain, New York Station, responded to suspicious activity near Mooers Forks, NY," CBP's Swanton Sector said on Facebook. "Agents located a minivan occupied by five citizens of Iran and two citizens of Uzbekistan." The Champlain Station is part of the Swanton Sector. Swanton is a rural town in Vermont near Highway 89 just south of the Canadian Border. CBP said that all seven men had been previously arrested for attempting to cross the border illegally. All seven aliens are detained and awaiting deportation. "They are currently detained and pending removal proceedings," CBP said. "Border security is national security and directly correlates to public safety, Swanton Sector Agents remain vigilant and committed to protecting our borders and enforcing immigration laws." Earlier this month, a counterterrorism expert told Fox News Digital that Iranian terrorist sleeper cells could be hiding in plain sight. The U.S. military crippled several Iranian nuclear sites after targeted airstrikes on June 22. "Where these sleeper cells may be is in plain sight," former FBI special agent and terrorism task force member Jonathan Gilliam said. "And that's the real terrifying part of this is that putting people in place, as we've seen over the past four years, everyone's scrambling because certain amounts of people could come in here and get in here." Gilliam pointed to the Biden administration's border policies as a reason for concern. "They could even go to the border and say they [want to] seek asylum, and the Biden administration, instead of putting them into DHS housing or ICE housing and holding them there so they could have their first appearance. To be vetted and whether or not they get asylum," he said. In a 2023 terrorism report released by the State Department in December of last year, the federal government outlined numerous instances of worrying behavior by Iranian nationals in western countries. "In 2023 the U.S. Department of Justice unsealed an indictment charging three individuals connected with Iran in a plot to assassinate an Iranian dissident in New York City," that report said. "Also in 2023, a United Kingdom court found a man guilty of attempting to collect information for terrorist purposes on the London-based Iran International, a media company that is critical of the Iranian regime." "In recent years, Albania, Belgium, and the Netherlands have all either arrested, convicted, or expelled Iranian government officials implicated in various terrorist plots in their respective territories. Denmark similarly recalled its ambassador from Tehran after learning of an Iran-backed plot to kill an Iranian dissident in that country."
Newsweek
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Newsweek
Border Marines Now 'Operational' in Arizona After Trump Order
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Five hundred Marines and sailors from California's Camp Pendleton have been deployed on the United States-Mexico border in southern Arizona, where they've taken "operational responsibilities." The troops, part of Combat Logistics Battalion 15, 1st Marine Logistics Group, are operating as Task Force Forge under Joint Task Force–Southern Border. They are working alongside Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the U.S. Border Patrol. Newsweek reached out to U.S. Northern Command and CBP for comment via email. Why It Matters The Marine Corps announced the deployment on July 14. Their mission includes engineering and logistics work under President Donald Trump's January 20 executive order, which declared a national emergency at the southern border and called on the Department of Defense to step in. Days later, on January 23, an additional 500 Marines from Camp Pendleton were sent to San Diego and El Paso as part of Task Force Sapper. Members of the U.S. Army 212 Infantry 2nd Brigade stand next to the U.S.-Mexico border wall in Douglas, Arizona, as part of Joint Task Force Southern Border, on April 3, 2025 Members of the U.S. Army 212 Infantry 2nd Brigade stand next to the U.S.-Mexico border wall in Douglas, Arizona, as part of Joint Task Force Southern Border, on April 3, 2025 Ross D. Franklin/AP What To Know The Marines assigned to Task Force Forge spent several weeks training alongside Camp Pendleton personnel from Task Force Sapper before taking over duties along the border. Officials say the unit will establish operations east of Yuma to enhance ongoing support in the region. "As part of its deployment, Task Force Forge will establish its presence eastward in the Yuma sector, bolstering [the] current support activities in the region," military officials told The Orange County Register. Lieutenant Colonel Colin Graham, who leads Task Force Forge, told the outlet the mission is to support federal partners and maintain readiness while helping secure the border. There are now more than 10,000 military troops, including active‑duty soldiers and Marines and National Guard forces, stationed along the southern border. They are engaged in various support roles, such as logistics, barrier construction, surveillance, and data operations, in coordination with border agents. Under federal law, active-duty military personnel are prohibited from conducting domestic law enforcement. A U.S. Marine stationed at one of two border walls separating Mexico from the United States in San Diego, California, on March 21, 2025. A U.S. Marine stationed at one of two border walls separating Mexico from the United States in San Diego, California, on March 21, 2025. Gregory Bull/AP In April, two Marines from Camp Pendleton, Lance Corporal Albert A. Aguilera and Lance Corporal Marcelino M. Gamino, died in a car accident while on a convoy in New Mexico during their assignment with Task Force Sapper. Executive Order 14167, issued on January 20, 2025, directed the military to assist in securing the southern border and preventing unauthorized crossings, citing national sovereignty and security. An April follow-up memo granted the military, along with the Departments of the Interior, Agriculture, and Homeland Security, access to the necessary federal lands for operations. What People Are Saying Lieutenant Colonel Colin Graham, commanding officer of Task Force Forge, told the Orange County Register: "Our mission is clear. Support our federal partners and Joint Task Force-Southern Border, strengthen operational readiness, and support upholding the territorial integrity of our nation's border with professionalism and precision." Lance Corporal Marcelino M. Gamino's mother said in a statement to Fresno's KSEE: "Marcelino is a hero to this country and a hero in our family. My son was loving, respectful, kind and filled with Joy and he brought two families together for which we became one. He had goals to become something, because growing up we didn't have a lot. I did the best to raise him with what little we had. I love you so much son and I will never forget you. We are all so proud of you Markie. We shall see each other again. Thanks to all who are supporting me and my family during this difficult time." What Happens Next The Marines will provide additional resources to support border security efforts alongside federal agencies. They will focus on providing engineering and logistical support.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Woman caught smuggling 12 guns into Mexico at El Paso border, CBP says
A 33-year-old woman was arrested for attempting to smuggle 12 guns, 20 magazines, and other firearm parts into Mexico through an El Paso port of entry, officials said. The woman, a Mexican citizen, was driving a 2025 Volkswagen Virtus about 8 p.m. July 3 across the Bridge of the Americas international crossing, U.S. Customs and Border Protection spokesperson Roger Maier said in a news release. The woman, whose name was not released, was alone in the car. Officers selected her vehicle for an "intensive exam," the news release states. An X-ray exam of the car revealed anomalies in the doors. Officers removed multiple plastic-wrapped guns and firearm components that were hidden in the doors. The officers seized 12 firearms and 28 magazines. Other items hidden in the car seized included rifle optics, buttstocks, and a handgun lower receiver, the news release states. The woman was arrested and turned over to Homeland Security Investigations agents. She is facing federal charges in connection with the failed smuggling attempt, the news release states. 'The intermittent pulse and surge southbound operations that CBP officers perform at area ports will often identify individuals attempting to smuggle weapons, ammunition, unreported currency and other violations,' CBP El Paso Director of Field Operations Hector Mancha said in a statement. 'These important enforcement actions play a significant role in helping keep our border communities safer.' Aaron Martinez covers the criminal justice system for the El Paso Times. He may be reached at amartinez1@ or on X/Twitter @AMartinezEPT. This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Mexican woman arrested for smuggling guns at Texas border
Los Angeles Times
a day ago
- Los Angeles Times
The messy aftermath of an immigration sweep in Pacoima
The 54-year-old woman was splayed on the sidewalk with her shirt half-raised, unconscious. Nearby, federal immigration agents stood guard as people screamed at them. Arturo Hermosillo, a U.S. citizen, was in his work van, recording it all when an agent ordered him to back up to make room for an ambulance that was en route for the woman. As he was reversing, he said, another agent started banging on his window and side view mirror, pushing it in. He couldn't see behind him and felt a bump. Hermosillo opened his door to tell the agents he couldn't move. But not long after, they dragged him out of his van. 'I told them I didn't do anything illegal,' he said. Hermosillo was arrested and sent to the Metropolitan Detention Center in downtown L.A. The woman, who later said she had fainted while an agent bear-hugged her to the point she struggled to breathe, underwent heart surgery at a Providence Holy Cross Medical Center. A doctor told her she had suffered a heart attack. The immigration sweep on June 19, just outside a Lowe's Home Improvement store, is one of many that have taken place in Southern California and encapsulates the chaotic methods employed to detain people over the last month. A federal judge on Friday ruled that there was sufficient evidence that agents were using racial profiling to target people and ordered a halt to the indiscriminate sweeps, saying they violated the 4th Amendment. Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security Tricia McLaughlin said in an email response to The Times that a person 'rammed his vehicle into a law enforcement vehicle' during the June 19 operation. 'CBP Agents were also assaulted during the operation and verbally harassed ... despite this, CBP arrested 30 illegal aliens in Hollywood and 9 illegal aliens in San Fernando and Pacoima,' she wrote. The Times sought clarification as to which operation involved the ramming of the federal vehicle, but neither McLaughlin nor the agency responded to the follow-up question. Eyewitness videos, as well as interviews with Hermosillo and the 54-year-old woman, tell a different story and underscore the public's outrage and criticism of the immigration sweeps. Matilde, who declined to give her last name because of her immigration status, said she was selling tamales by the entrance of the parking lot shared by Lowe's and other businesses when the 54-year-old got word that federal immigration agents were in the area. Matilde got nervous and began taking down her stand. She was about to put her umbrella away when a white car with tinted windows pulled up. 'I saw two agents get out,' she said in a phone interview. 'I didn't run.' She said the agent that ran to her never identified himself, provided a warrant or requested documentation of her immigration status. Instead, she said, he grabbed her from behind. 'I could feel his vest against my ear,' said Matilde, who is about 5 feet tall. 'I told him I couldn't breathe.' A second agent showed up to grab her hands to handcuff her. She said as they tried to do that one of the agents unintentionally lifted her shirt, exposing her bra. She reached to pull her shirt down and the agents used more force as if she were resisting. What happened next is something Matilde can't fully recall. 'I don't know if I fainted or if they threw me down,' she said. But she woke up on the ground and started to plea with agents. 'I told them: I can't breathe, I can't breathe and that my chest hurts,' she said. 'But they didn't listen. They ignored me.' She said she looked up at the tree where she had a framed picture of the Virgin Mary and began to pray: 'Virgin Mary, please help me, don't abandon me. I don't want to die.' She said a third agent came and told her he was a paramedic, asking her if she had any medical conditions. She told him she suffered from high blood pressure and diabetes and that her chest was hurting. He took her pulse before the agents dialed 911. She said the agents left her on the ground. Videos taken by people at the scene and shared on social media show Matilde on the ground, unconscious and surrounded by agents. In another video, firefighters are caring for her while a small crowd shame the agents for hurting the woman, especially those agents who appear to be Latinos. 'You have Latino blood,' one woman yelled at the agents in Spanish. 'Does it feel good doing this?' another woman screamed out. As paramedics arrived to transport Matilde to the hospital, three federal agents were trying to drag Hermosillo out of his van. A video shows an agent pulling on Hermosillo's leg to drag him out. A second agent tries to do the same before trying to snatch Hermosillo's arm but loses his grip and falls down. A third agent with a vest that reads 'medic' joins in shortly after. 'Dude, let him go!' a woman screams in the background. 'Oh my God, why [do] you guys act like animals?' the woman recording the video says. 'What has he done?' a man screams out at agents trying to keep people back. The video shows the three agents struggling to pull Hermosillo out. Once he's out of the van, he is shoeless on one foot and is pushed down to the hot ground so they can handcuff him. 'What's your name?' the woman recording yells out to Hermosillo, who responds with his name. 'Tell us where you're from so we can get you out of jail. Where are you from? What's your address? We want to call your family,' people call out. In another video, Hermosillo is seen being placed in the back of a white van, screaming: 'Fight back, fight back.' 'We're going to fight for you!' a woman shouts back to him. Once in custody, he said agents accused him of obstruction and took him to the Metropolitan Detention Center in downtown L.A. There, he said, the agents mocked him. 'They were saying things like I was never going to get out and that I better lawyer up,' he said. When one agent told him he didn't understand why the public was making a big deal of the immigration sweeps, he got angry. 'It's because you guys are Nazis,' Hermosillo said he told the agent. He said they continued to tell him he would be in prison for nearly a decade. Hermosillo told the agents he was fine with that. 'I was like, they're not going to break me,' he said. 'I'm going to continue my education in here; I'm going to continue organizing in here.' He said that after some time, Homeland Security agents showed up to speak to him. 'They told me, 'You were never arrested. You're just being detained, but you can't leave L.A. County for six months to a year,' and that they were going to proceed with the offense but that they were letting me go.' He said he signed release documents. 'They let me out in the street with no shoe, no phone,' he said. 'I had nothing with me because it was in the vehicle.' Hermosillo said he recorded the incident but declined to provide it to The Times as part of his defense against the federal government. 'You know the difference between them and us,' he said. 'It's that our struggle comes from love, and all they have is hate. 'My struggle is for the love of my people.' Once Matilde was placed on a gurney and moved into an ambulance, she was taken three miles to Providence Holy Cross Medical Center. There, she said, doctors treated her partially blocked arteries in the heart, telling her she had suffered a minor heart attack. 'The doctor said I was lucky they weren't too clogged up or else they would have needed to do open heart surgery,' she said. She stayed in the hospital for five days and was prescribed heart medication as well as medication for anxiety, which she developed after the June 19 incident. 'At night I can't sleep because I have nightmares,' she said. The anxiety creeps up on her. Sometimes, she said, she can feel the agent's breath when he held her tightly. She said she has bruises on her legs, arms and belly and has been unable to do much, even cook. It's not the America Matilde envisioned when she came to the U.S. 29 years ago. She and her husband came for work and a steady income. They wanted to send money back home so her husband's parents, who were bouncing from one relative's home to another, could have their own place. They also wanted to raise a family, but in a country that provided better opportunities. She said her 28-year-old daughter is a nurse assistant, and her 15-year-old son wants to go to college to become a structural engineer. 'We both suffered from our sacrifice,' she said. 'But we wanted a better future for our kids. 'We wanted things just to be better.'
