Latest news with #CustomsandBorderProtection
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump TACOs World on Tariffs Except for One Target
President Donald Trump has singled out Canada for punishment in his latest round of tariff announcements, with a key component allowing a delay for other countries. Trump signed an executive order Thursday forcing new import taxes on dozens of countries under a new trade plan. As part of the latest tariff rollout, over 70 other countries will have until Aug. 7 until their new levies kick in. The same could not be said about Canada, however. Trump signed a separate executive order Thursday that included a new tariff rate—up from 25 percent to 35 percent—and an earlier deadline: 12:01 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time on Aug. 1. The order stated Canada—America's second-biggest trading partner—had failed to address 'illegal migration' and showed a 'lack of cooperation' in stopping fentanyl and other illicit drugs flowing into the U.S. as well as threatening to retaliate with its own tariffs. Trump had announced modified tariff rates in April, but put implementing them on hold following market turmoil. Under the newly signed guidelines, Trump raised the baseline tariff rate from 10 percent to 15 percent for all countries with which the United States has a trade deficit. The 10 percent rate will remain for countries with a trade surplus. The highest tariff is on goods from Syria, at 41 percent. Switzerland's rate, not far behind, increased from 31 percent to 39 percent. China, currently in talks with the administration, keeps its baseline tariff at 10 percent, as agreed upon in May. Although the average effective tariff rate on imports to the U.S. sits at its highest level in nearly a century, some countries saw their rates decrease following trade agreements. Imports from the European Union, Japan, and South Korea will be taxed at 15 percent, all having struck deals with Trump in the last week. The levies will be paid by importers in the United States and would typically be passed on to American consumers. The executive order effectively pushes the tariff deadline back by a week—despite Trump declaring Wednesday on Truth Social, 'THE AUGUST FIRST DEADLINE IS THE AUGUST FIRST DEADLINE — IT STANDS STRONG, AND WILL NOT BE EXTENDED. A BIG DAY FOR AMERICA!!!' The delay is reportedly so Customs and Border Protection can make necessary changes, according to CNN and The Washington Post, but will also allow trading partners more time to negotiate. The increased tariffs for Canada, which come despite the country scrapping its digital services tax as a concession to Trump, apply only to goods not covered by the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement, so 85 percent of Canadian imports remain duty-free. Canada is the top buyer of U.S. exports, according to CNN. Trump had earlier agreed to a 90-day extension with Mexico to cut a trade deal, crediting it for negotiating more cooperatively than Canada. 'We have a good relationship with Canada; we work well with their officials and government,' a senior administration official told reporters, according to CNN. 'But they haven't shown the same level of constructiveness that we've seen from the Mexican side.' Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said he was 'disappointed' in a statement after midnight Thursday, adding Canada accounted for 1 percent of U.S. fentanyl imports. 'While we will continue to negotiate with the United States on our trading relationship, the Canadian government is laser-focused on what we can control: building Canada strong,' he said. 'Canada's government is making historic investments in border security to arrest drug traffickers, take down transnational gangs, and end migrant smuggling... We will continue working with the United States to stop the scourge of fentanyl and save lives in both our countries.' Ontario Premier Doug Ford said the hike is 'concerning,' and declared in an X post: 'We need to stand our ground.' He also called for PM Carney to 'hit back' with a 50 percent tariff on U.S. steel and aluminum. Solve the daily Crossword
New York Post
a day ago
- New York Post
Illegal migrants plotted brazen ‘robbery spree' before shooting off-duty CBP agent in NYC park: DA
The pair of illegal immigrants arrested in the shooting of an off-duty Customs and Border Protection officer allegedly plotted a brazen 'robbery spree' over WhatsApp before the shocking attack, prosecutors revealed Wednesday. Alleged shooter Miguel Francisco Mora Nunez, 21, was slapped with attempted murder charges in an 11-count indictment leveled in Manhattan Supreme Court, District Attorney Alvin Bragg announced alongside Mayor Eric Adams. His fellow Dominican Republic national Christhian Aybar-Berroa, 22, was indicted on robbery, assault and weapon charges. Bragg commended the 42-year-old CBP officer, who was shot in the face during the botched robbery inside Fort Washington Park on July 19, for brave actions that likely prevented future crimes. Advertisement 'This was a robbery planned on text message, and it was the second,' Bragg said. 'We don't know what would have happened afterwards had he not acted courageously.' 3 Miguel Francisco Mora Nunez and Christhian Aybar-Berroa face new charges in the shooting of an off-duty Customs and Border Protection officer. Advertisement 3 Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg announced an 11-count indictment Wednesday against the pair. Stephen Yang The new case — which will run parallel with a separate federal prosecution against the allegedly dastardly duo — fleshed out details about run-up to the fateful confrontation near the red lighthouse under the George Washington Bridge. Mora Nunez and Aybar-Berro — who each racked up lengthy rap sheets since crossing the US-Mexico border in 2023 and 2022, respectively — had hatched plans to commit robberies in the park over the secure calling and messaging app, Bragg said. Both rode a moped into the park shortly before midnight and first robbed a woman of her cellphone, the district attorney said. Advertisement They then spotted the off-duty CBP officer with another person, sitting on a jetty facing the water under the bridge, Bragg said. Mora Nunez and Aybar-Berro didn't appear to know their would-be victim worked for Customs and Border Protection, as he was not in uniform, authorities said. As Aybar-Berro turned his moped around for a quick getaway, Mora Nunez crept along rocks before pulling out his gun and pointing it at the officer's head, prosecutors said. The agent pulled out his own firearm — and Mora Nunez then fired off a shot, Bragg said. Advertisement 3 The botched robbery in Fort Washington Park was captured on surveillance video. Obtained by NY Post The officer — who was shot in the face and hand and wrist — shot back and struck Mora Nunez in the thigh and groin. Mora Nunez was arrested at a Bronx hospital after being unceremoniously dumped outside it by Aybar-Berro, who himself was nabbed the next day, prosecutors said. The CBP officer, who has not been publicly identified, remains in a hospital recovering, officials said. Adams touted collaboration between the NYPD, federal law enforcement and Manhattan prosecutors. 'A small number of people are repeat criminal offenders and carry out dangerous acts, so we want to thank this office for bringing this indictment and bringing these criminals to justice,' he said. 'They are dangerous, they did not care who they were harming on our streets.' Hizzoner then made a hasty exit before he faced any thorny questions on immigration policy or sanctuary cities. Ricky J. Patel, special agent in charge for Homeland Security Investigations, which helped in the probe, said Mora Nunez and Aybar-Berro — who were being held in federal custody — shouldn't have been in the US. Advertisement The pair had both illegally crossed the southern border, but were released ahead of immigration hearings. They also were arrested several times by the NYPD, but let free. 'If they were deported or not allowed to be in this country, this tragedy would never have happened,' Patel said.
2 days ago
- Politics
'I operate as my own independent agency': How Laura Loomer's pressure campaigns are reshaping the Trump administration
In mid-July, far-right activist Laura Loomer fired off a lengthy post on X targeting a senior Customs and Border Protection official, accusing him of having "Anti-Trump, pro-Open Borders, and Pro-DEI Bias," and demanding his removal from the federal government. "Why is this guy a Senior national security advisor at CBP, and why is he the Director of the National Vetting Center at @CBP?" Loomer wrote of the official, Monte Hawkins, who served under four presidents, both Democrat and Republican, and was previously appointed by the Trump administration in 2018. Less than 48 hours later, after also sending an appeal directly to the Department of Homeland Security, Loomer says an official personally contacted her, thanked her for amplifying the information, and later informed her that Hawkins had been removed. "I posted my report 2 days ago. Now he's FIRED," Loomer wrote on X. When asked about Hawkins' status, a DHS official told ABC News that Hawkins was placed on administrative leave. The episode is a clear example not only of how Loomer's pressure campaigns operate, but how she has increasingly carved out an unofficial but influential role as a political enforcer targeting administration officials she sees as disloyal to President Donald Trump. 'I don't keep count anymore' In Trump's second term, Loomer's efforts to single out officials for removal are being treated with growing urgency by the federal agencies she targets -- handing an outside ally of Trump a significant level of power. Loomer, who got her start as an undercover operative for the right-wing sting group Project Veritas, has been on a self-proclaimed mission to rid the administration of officials she says are disloyal to the president -- particularly those who served under the Biden administration or have previously disparaged Trump -- including some who served in Trump's first term. By ABC News' count, Loomer's pressure campaigns have so far contributed to the ouster of at least 15 individuals from Trump's second administration, through either direct firings or the withdrawal of senior political nominations, across six different federal agencies. "I don't keep count anymore," Loomer told ABC News when asked how many officials she had helped force out. "There's too many to keep track of." Just last week, the Trump administration pushed out FDA vaccine chief Dr. Vinay Prasad, removed NSA General Counsel April Falcon Doss, and rescinded Jen Easterly's appointment as chair of West Point's social sciences department -- each move coming shortly after public attacks and pressure from Loomer. "So many scalps this week! Stacking them up!" Loomer wrote on X this week following a string of ousters thanks at least in part to her efforts. Easterly, who previously worked for President George Bush's national security adviser Condoleezza Rice and led the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency under President Biden, posed Thursday on LinkedIn, "As a lifelong independent, I've served our nation in peacetime and combat under Republican and Democratic administrations" and that "Unfortunately, the opportunity to serve again at my alma mater was rescinded -- a casualty of casually manufactured outrage that drowned out the quiet labor of truth and the steady pulse of integrity." Loomer's campaigns have helped lead to the departures of officials from agencies including the National Security Agency, the National Security Council, the Department of Justice, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Food and Drug Administration, and the Department of Defense. Most of the officials had held or were nominated for senior roles in the administration, including NSA Director Gen. Timothy Haugh, federal prosecutor Maurene Comey, and Trump's original pick for surgeon general, Dr. Janette Nesheiwat. Loomer told ABC News she finds her targets through a mix of research and tips she receives from her tip line or from followers on social media. Some tips even come from other Trump administration officials, she said. "I do a lot of the research myself ... I get tips every day," she said. Once she identifies a new target, Loomer says she often privately flags her findings to the relevant cabinet official or agency, urging them to take action. But if she feels her research is being ignored, Loomer says she will take the fight public and use her large social media following to ramp up the pressure for the administration to take action. "Sometimes I go private, and then sometimes I post," Loomer said. "But if too much time passes between the time that I go private and the time that action is taken, I have to go public." "People think they can just sit on their laurels and wait and twiddle their thumbs, and that's not how it works," she said. A major part of Loomer's leverage seems to show itself when she goes public with her attacks. Loomer's posts targeting officials often go viral on X and throughout MAGA circles, quickly grabbing millions of impressions and tens of thousands of likes and reposts, putting more pressure on the administration to act. 'I have communication with the president' But that wasn't always the case. For years, Loomer was banned from posting on Twitter for violating hate-speech policies with anti-Muslim posts targeting Rep. Ilhan Omar. She was reinstated when tech billionaire and Trump supporter Elon Musk purchased Twitter and renamed it X -- but even then, Loomer complained to Musk that her account was being throttled and shadowbanned, two ways in which the platform is said to limit access to content. Those claims stopped at the end of January, and Loomer's X account impressions surged -- as did her efforts to target administration officials. Through her work, Loomer says she's in direct contact with senior officials across the federal government and the White House -- as well as Trump himself. "I have communication with the president. I'm a big supporter, and I'll remain a supporter," Loomer said. When asked how many cabinet officials she's in touch with regularly, Loomer said, "I mean, I know a lot of people." "I've been in this line of work for a very long time," she said, describing her outreach as requesting comment as part of her journalism. But unlike most journalists, Loomer is usually calling for those officials to be fired, and often celebrates the results. In some federal agencies, her social posts have helped fuel anxiety, with some staffers sharing them in internal group chats whenever a new official is targeted, sources told ABC News. Amid the barrage of attacks, few of those targeted by Loomer have publicly responded to her claims. One person close to someone Loomer targeted told ABC News that many of her targets are afraid to speak out due to fear of retaliation and the potential impact on their future career prospects. "For a number of folks if you don't have the platform she does you're bringing a butter knife to a real knife fight," the person said. Asked about Loomer's influence, White House spokesperson Kush Desai said in a statement to ABC News, "It is not only appropriate, but critical for the Administration to continue to recruit the most qualified and experienced staffers who are totally aligned with President Trump's agenda to Make America Great Again." "The results that this Administration has already delivered for the American people -- from peace deals to trade deals -- prove that President Trump has assembled the best and brightest talent to put Americans and America First," Desai said. Trump, asked over the weekend about Loomer's influence, said that while she is known as being "radical right," he views her as a "patriot." "I think she's a patriot, and she gets excited because of the fact that she's a patriot," Trump told reporters. "And she doesn't like things going on that she thinks are bad for the country. I like her." In March, Loomer launched her own consulting firm, Loomered Strategies, where she says she advises clients on opposition research and vetting. She told The New York Times that she has five clients and that overall her activities earn a gross income of about $300,000. As Loomer's profile has risen, some critics online have accused her of being paid to target specific officials and appointees, which Loomer has pushed back on. "Wow you're telling me I could have been paid $100,000 for simply pointing out the obvious that a Trump hater who loves the radical left shouldn't be in the Trump admin?" Loomer wrote last week on X, responding to a critic accusing her of being paid to target Prasad. 'My own independent agency' With her growing list of "scalps," many in the MAGA base have called for Loomer to be given an official role inside the Trump administration, and have questioned why that hasn't happened yet. It's something she claims the president has offered her multiple times, but has been blocked each time. The relationship between Loomer and White House staff is viewed by some as an ongoing balancing act, as senior officials work to utilize her impact and influence -- and close relationship with the president -- while still trying to keep her at a distance, sources familiar with the matter told ABC News. Some inside the administration have used Loomer's work as a tool to target other officials they are seeking to have removed, sources said. "I had four jobs given to me in this Trump administration that basically have been taken away from me because some of President Trump's staff suffer from the incurable disease of professional jealousy," Loomer said. If she continues to be denied a formal position, Loomer told ABC News that she plans to keep operating as her "own independent agency." "If I'm going to be denied access by jealous staffers, and I'm also going to be denied access to the press room as a credentialed member of the press, even though I'm more deserving than most of the people who have access, then I have to operate as my own independent agency," she said. "So it's basically like my own agency that operates outside of the confines of the White House and the federal government," Loomer said. Loomer says she doesn't know which staffers around Trump are stopping her from joining the administration in an official capacity, but she does not blame the president. "I have no idea" who those staffers are, she said. "That's a question for the media to go find out. I just think it's really bizarre that I could be hired four times and [get blocked]. I don't hold it against President Trump for the way that some of his staff behaves towards me. But it is an elephant in the room." When asked, the White House did not answer questions about whether Loomer had been offered positions in the administration that were later denied, or why. Loomer's efforts to remove officials haven't all been successful, with a few officials having survived her attacks. One in particular has remained in place despite months of criticism dating back almost to the start of Trump's second term: Attorney General Pam Bondi, who Loomer has targeted for her handling of the Epstein files and other issues. "I mean, I'm not a fan. I'm not a fan, but everybody knows that," Loomer said when asked whether her view of Bondi had changed. Asked if she still believed Bondi would be fired, as she's called for since February, Loomer replied, "Probably not."
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Trump Administration to Require Bonds of Up to $15,000 for Travelers to Enter the US
The State Department has in the past been reluctant to employ visa bonds because the 'mechanics of posting, processing and discharging a bond are cumbersome,' according to the program announcement. The new program aims to test that notion 'to inform any future decision concerning the possible use of visa bonds.' Countries with some of the highest visa overstay rates in recent years include Afghanistan, Haiti, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Chad, Sudan and Myanmar, according to a Customs and Border Protection report to Congress last year. The requirement wouldn't apply to most European countries as well as South Korea, Japan, New Zealand, Australia, and other countries whose citizens don't require U.S. visas for temporary visits. The notice doesn't outline which countries would be affected but said the department would announce the covered countries 'no fewer than 15 days before the Pilot Program takes effect.' The steep price of the bond could make entering the U.S. prohibitive for some would-be foreign travelers. The program is a 'key pillar of the Trump Administration's foreign policy to protect the United States from the clear national security threat posed by visa overstays and deficient screening and vetting,' the notice said. The bond amount of between $5,000 and $15,000 would be determined by a State Department consular officer reviewing a visa application, unless the requirement is waived, according to the announcement in the Federal Register. Applicants for business and tourist visas from countries with high overstay rates would provide the funds to the U.S. Treasury and get them back if they exited before their visas expired, according to a notice published Monday outlining the yearlong pilot program. The State Department may require travelers entering the U.S. from certain countries to post a bond of up to $15,000, a move aimed at deterring foreigners from overstaying their visas. PREMIUM The steep price of the bond could make entering the U.S. prohibitive for some. The State Department may require travelers entering the U.S. from certain countries to post a bond of up to $15,000, a move aimed at deterring foreigners from overstaying their visas. PREMIUM The steep price of the bond could make entering the U.S. prohibitive for some. Applicants for business and tourist visas from countries with high overstay rates would provide the funds to the U.S. Treasury and get them back if they exited before their visas expired, according to a notice published Monday outlining the yearlong pilot program. The bond amount of between $5,000 and $15,000 would be determined by a State Department consular officer reviewing a visa application, unless the requirement is waived, according to the announcement in the Federal Register. The program is a 'key pillar of the Trump Administration's foreign policy to protect the United States from the clear national security threat posed by visa overstays and deficient screening and vetting,' the notice said. The steep price of the bond could make entering the U.S. prohibitive for some would-be foreign travelers. The notice doesn't outline which countries would be affected but said the department would announce the covered countries 'no fewer than 15 days before the Pilot Program takes effect.' The requirement wouldn't apply to most European countries as well as South Korea, Japan, New Zealand, Australia, and other countries whose citizens don't require U.S. visas for temporary visits. A State Department spokesperson didn't respond to a request for comment on the program. Countries with some of the highest visa overstay rates in recent years include Afghanistan, Haiti, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Chad, Sudan and Myanmar, according to a Customs and Border Protection report to Congress last year. {{^usCountry}} The State Department has in the past been reluctant to employ visa bonds because the 'mechanics of posting, processing and discharging a bond are cumbersome,' according to the program announcement. The new program aims to test that notion 'to inform any future decision concerning the possible use of visa bonds.' {{/usCountry}} {{#usCountry}} The State Department has in the past been reluctant to employ visa bonds because the 'mechanics of posting, processing and discharging a bond are cumbersome,' according to the program announcement. The new program aims to test that notion 'to inform any future decision concerning the possible use of visa bonds.' {{/usCountry}} {{^usCountry}} Write to Robbie Gramer at {{/usCountry}}
Mint
3 days ago
- Business
- Mint
Trump administration to require bonds of up to $15,000 for travellers to enter the US
The steep price of the bond could make entering the U.S. prohibitive for some. The State Department may require travelers entering the U.S. from certain countries to post a bond of up to $15,000, a move aimed at deterring foreigners from overstaying their visas. Applicants for business and tourist visas from countries with high overstay rates would provide the funds to the U.S. Treasury and get them back if they exited before their visas expired, according to a notice published Monday outlining the yearlong pilot program. The bond amount of between $5,000 and $15,000 would be determined by a State Department consular officer reviewing a visa application, unless the requirement is waived, according to the announcement in the Federal Register. The program is a 'key pillar of the Trump Administration's foreign policy to protect the United States from the clear national security threat posed by visa overstays and deficient screening and vetting," the notice said. The steep price of the bond could make entering the U.S. prohibitive for some would-be foreign travelers. The notice doesn't outline which countries would be affected but said the department would announce the covered countries 'no fewer than 15 days before the Pilot Program takes effect." The requirement wouldn't apply to most European countries as well as South Korea, Japan, New Zealand, Australia, and other countries whose citizens don't require U.S. visas for temporary visits. A State Department spokesperson didn't respond to a request for comment on the program. Countries with some of the highest visa overstay rates in recent years include Afghanistan, Haiti, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Chad, Sudan and Myanmar, according to a Customs and Border Protection report to Congress last year. The State Department has in the past been reluctant to employ visa bonds because the 'mechanics of posting, processing and discharging a bond are cumbersome," according to the program announcement. The new program aims to test that notion 'to inform any future decision concerning the possible use of visa bonds." Write to Robbie Gramer at
