Latest news with #ChuyGarcia
CBS News
19 hours ago
- Politics
- CBS News
Immigrant rights leaders speaking out against Trump's policies during Chicago rally
Immigrant rights leaders will speak out against President Trump's immigration policies during a rally Monday morning. Congressman Jesus 'Chuy' Garcia will join leaders from several immigrant rights groups to fight back against what they describe as attacks on their communities. Members of the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, the Arab American Action Network, the Coalition for a Better Chinese American Community, and labor leaders from SEIU will also attend the rally. They will highlight what they consider "cruelty" by the Trump administration, regarding its deportation policy, attacks on sanctuary cities, and the new travel ban. The rally follows a protest in Pilsen on Sunday, where people gathered to condemn ICE's detention of several people at an immigration supervision program site in the South Loop last week. Witnesses said at least 10 people were loaded into vans. It was unclear why they were detained. Protesters spoke out against what they saw as Chicago police working with ICE agents. CPD confirmed officers were on scene to help with crowd control, not assisting ICE. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem last week directed ICE agents to ramp up activity targeting immigrants who have overstayed their visas in the U.S. Over the weekend, the Trump administration deployed the National Guard to Los Angeles in response to large-scale protests following dozens of arrests Friday in citywide Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations.
The Independent
5 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
‘No coincidence' Trump introduced travel ban while negotiating spending bill, Democrats say
Democrats, including Sen. Chris Murphy, claim President Trump 's newly announced travel ban is a distraction from his spending bill, which they say favors the wealthy at the expense of regular Americans. Murphy stated that the travel ban, announced as the spending bill is debated in the Senate, is an attempt to divert attention from the bill's impact on the poorest Americans. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that extending the tax cuts in Trump's bill would increase the national debt by $3.8 trillion. Other Democrats, like Congressman Jesus 'Chuy' Garcia, echoed the sentiment, calling the travel ban a distraction from the Trump administration's corruption. Democrats claim Trump's travel ban is just a distraction so his spending bill can get through Congress
Fox News
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Father of suspect accused of killing Israeli Embassy staffers in DC was guest at Trump's joint address
Print Close By Julia Bonavita Published May 23, 2025 The father of the man accused of shooting two Israeli Embassy staffers outside the Washington, D.C., Capital Jewish Museum earlier this week attended President Donald Trump's joint address in March at the invitation of a Democratic Illinois representative. "Eric Rodriguez was our guest during the President's Joint Speech to Congress, but we don't know his family," a spokesperson for Rep. Jesús "Chuy" García, D-Ill., told Fox News Digital in a statement. Rodriguez is an Iraq war veteran and steward for the Service Employees International Union who works at a Chicago VA hospital, according to the organization's website. SUSPECT ACCUSED OF KILLING ISRAELI EMBASSY STAFFERS IN DC COULD FACE MORE CHARGES "Eric represents the very best of our community – someone who has served his country, continues to serve his fellow veterans and fights every day to protect the dignity of working people," García previously said in a statement. On the day of Trump's address, Rodriguez denounced the administration's treatment of veterans in a video posted by SEIU. Rodriguez and SEIU did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment. ISRAELI AMBASSADOR CONNECTS EMBASSY STAFFERS' SLAYING TO 'VERY IMPORTANT' BIGGER PICTURE "The reason why I am in Washington, D.C., is because I'm concerned about what Donald Trump, Elon Musk and DOGE are doing to the VA system," Rodriguez said. "They're indiscriminately cutting people's jobs, they're cutting funding and people rely on these funds. People rely on these services." On Thursday, Rodriguez's son, Elias, appeared in federal court to face multiple charges, including two counts of first-degree murder, after allegedly gunning down Yaron Lischinsky, 28, and Sarah Milgrim, 26, as they were leaving the Capital Jewish Museum. Authorities allege Elias traveled from Chicago to Washington, D.C., the day before the shooting, transporting the legal firearm in checked luggage before purchasing a ticket to an event hosted by the American Jewish Committee. SUSPECT CHARGED WITH MURDERING ISRAELI EMBASSY STAFF COULD FACE DEATH PENALTY According to an unsealed FBI affidavit, surveillance footage allegedly shows Elias approaching Lischinsky and Milgrim from behind as they entered a crosswalk before opening fire on the couple. As the victims collapsed to the ground, investigators say Elias allegedly continued shooting before pausing to reload his weapon and firing again. Upon being approached by authorities, Elias allegedly said, "I did it for Palestine. I did it for Gaza. I am unarmed." As he was being arrested, bystander video shows Elias yelling, "Free Palestine." CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP If convicted, Elias could face the death penalty with a minimum sentence of 30 years in prison. "I strongly condemn this horrible, senseless act of antisemitism," García said in a statement posted to X. "My heart is with the victims and everyone impacted by the attack. We mourn the lives lost and reject the idea that justice can be won through violence." Fox News Digital's Sarah Rumpf-Whitten contributed to this report. Print Close URL
Daily Mail
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Father of alleged DC Jewish Museum shooter came face-to-face with Trump in the Capitol two months ago
The father of the accused gunman who shot and killed two Israeli staffers at the Capital Jewish Museum was a special guest of a Democratic congressman for President Donald Trump 's March address to Congress. 'Eric Rodriguez was our guest during the President's Joint Speech to Congress, but we don't know his family,' a spokesperson for Rep. Jesús 'Chuy' García (D-Ill.) confirmed to the New York Post. At the time, García's office celebrated Rodriguez as an 'outspoken advocate against attacks on veterans' services and the rights of unionized federal employees.' Eric Rodriguez identified himself as a disabled Iraq War veteran and was involved in anti-Trump protests of cuts to the federal government. 'Veterans, we're under attack,' he said tearfully at an event with congressional Democrats. 'They're slashing staff, crushing unions and selling out the VA, for what?' he said. 'So billionaires can make more money while veterans sit on wait lists, or worse, they'll get no treatment.' Congressman Garcia hailed Rodriguez, the father of the shooter, as a hero. 'Eric represents the very best of our community — someone who has served his country, continues to serve his fellow veterans and fights every day to protect the dignity of working people,' the congressman said in a statement at the time. He also posted video of Rodriguez's speech on Instagram. His son, Elias Rodriguez, was charged in court for shooting and killing a young couple, Yaron Lischinsky, 28, and Sarah Milgrim, 26, as they left an event at the museum. 'I did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza,' Rodriguez told officers who arrested him, according to the charging documents. After the shooting, Rep. Garcia condemned the shooting as a 'horrible senseless act of antisemitism.' 'My heart is with the victims and everyone impacted by the attack. We mourn the lives lost and reject the idea that justice can be won through violence,' he wrote on social media. Elias Rodriguez graduated from the University of Illinois Chicago and was increasingly involved in left-wing activism. He also donated $500 Joe Biden's presidential campaign in 2020. His mother Elvira Rodriguez declined to comment to ABC News. 'He is my son but right now I have no comment, thank you,' she replied on the phone. Rodriguez, 30, worked as a far-left activist who worked as an 'oral history researcher' on African American communities at educational non-profit TheHistoryMakers, participated in anti-capitalist demonstrations, and has been a member of the party for 'socialism and liberation.'
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Veterans, advocates rally against proposed VA cuts that could eliminate 80K jobs
HINES, Ill. — Politicians and unions are raising concerns over potential cuts to the Department of Veterans Affairs, as officials consider a reorganization that could eliminate more than 80,000 jobs. 'Politicians will show up for parades and wave those flags. We'll give our speeches about how much we love veterans. But this is the proof,' U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin said. 'What are we willing to do to give dignity to those veterans when they need that help the most?' Sen. Durbin joined veterans, nurses, union members and local leaders outside Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital in a rally against the Trump administration's plans. 'We're facing cuts in the VA system that will really disable the system,' Heather Fallon with National Nurses United said. As of now, it's unclear what workers would be laid off. 'With that comes the complications of answering calls on time, providing the medications, making sure that the veterans get all of their meals on time,' Monica Coleman, a registered nurse, said. 'We are so worried and so concerned and so afraid that we won't be able to give that care that the VA knows is known for.' Congressman Chuy Garcia also spoke out. 'We will defend, protect and fight every inch of the way, no matter the threats,' he said. This week, Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins appeared before the Senate VA Committee. During a tense back and forth, he insisted no final decision had been made on job cuts. During an interview with WGN's sister station in Charlotte, Secretary Collins says any cuts he makes will focus on bureaucracy, not actual healthcare. 'We're not looking at anyone that's actually a veteran in the sense of frontline care,' he said. Back at Saturday's rally, veterans shared their experiences with the VA. 'As I returned from Iraq in 2009, I'm going to be honest with you, I didn't have the help that I needed and the resources that the VA had didn't go far enough,' Curtis Burch said. 'But if it wasn't for the VA, I wouldn't have been able to receive those services anywhere else.' Unions like SEIU Healthcare fear the ripple effect cuts will have on veteran services. 'The wounds that they experience, both physical and mental while serving in a wartime are significant,' Anne Igoe, VP of SEIU Healthcare Illinois, said. The rally was part of a nationwide campaign with other rallies happening in Atlanta, Manhattan and San Diego. Secretary Collins says he expects to start making changes sometime this summer. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
