Latest news with #DHS
Miami Herald
44 minutes ago
- Miami Herald
Cop beats Homeland Security agent in ‘parking lot rage' at CA Costco, lawyer says
A man working for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is suing a San Diego police officer accused of beating him in a 'parking lot rage' at a California Costco, leaving him with a concussion and a dislocated shoulder, his attorney said. According to a federal lawsuit brought by Chu Ding, 53, of San Diego, he was knocked unconscious by Officer Jonathan Ferraro during the July 2, 2024, assault, then was wrongfully detained as officers 'denied (him) food, water and medical care' for five hours. A complaint filed July 1 says the assault stems from when Ferraro blocked Ding, who is a DHS agent, in a parking space with his truck at a Costco on Carmel Mountain Road. Footage provided to McClatchy News by attorney Julia Yoo, who represents Ding, shows the truck pull up in front of Ding and block his parked car. Ding is seen walking over to the truck and tapping on it before returning to his car. The video shows the truck slowly driving forward in response, then reversing back into the same spot, in front of Ding. Afterward, Ding tapped on the trunk of the truck 'to let Ferraro know that he was leaving,' resulting in a violent reaction, the complaint says. Ferraro emerged from his vehicle and called Ding a 'Chinese piece of (expletive),' according to the complaint. He then pushed Ding. 'When Mr. Ding refused to back down, Ferraro who is two decades younger, picked Mr. Ding up and slammed him into the ground,' the complaint says. The physical altercation was captured in the video, which ends with Ding seen lying in the parking lot. In an emailed statement to McClatchy News on July 8, Yoo said Ferraro 'directed his frustration toward an innocent victim who was attempting to give him a parking space.' 'Ferraro engaged in conduct that is illegal for anyone as well as being intemperate and racist,' Yoo also said, adding that 'this was egregious conduct.' In addition to Ferraro, Ding's lawsuit names multiple San Diego police officers and the city as defendants. He is suing on 11 causes of action, including excessive force, wrongful detention and false arrest. The city attorney's office said it is unable to comment on the litigation and declined McClatchy News' request for comment on July 8. The San Diego Police Department did not return a request for comment. Yoo told McClatchy News that 'the worst thing in the case was that Ferraro conspired with at least four other officers to falsify an arrest report and deny a seriously injured man water and medical care to try to extort an apology to justify his own misconduct.' The lawsuit says six San Diego officers arrived at Costco and handcuffed Ding after he was slammed to the ground. Ding was detained in a patrol car for a few hours, when one officer learned he worked for DHS, according to the complaint. Then he was taken to a police station. At the station, the complaint says, Ding was pressured into writing Ferraro an apology letter. When Ding finished the letter, he was falsely arrested on a felony charge of obstructing or resisting an officer, according to the complaint. A police commander ultimately ordered one officer to take Ding to a hospital, following a request from Ding's wife. He was seen that evening at Scripps Health San Diego Emergency Room between 7:45 and 8:30, about five hours after he was detained at Costco, according to the complaint. Ding was diagnosed with a fractured rib and a contusion, along with a dislocated shoulder and concussion, the filing says. He was then released around midnight and booked into the San Diego Central Jail, where his bail was set at $20,000, according to the complaint. He remained in jail until about 2 or 3 p.m. on July 3, 2024, when he posted a $1,800 bond, the filing says. Ding's arrest caused him physical and reputational harm, as his DHS 'coworkers discovered immediately that Mr. Ding had been booked into the Central Jail,' the complaint says. DHS initiated an internal investigation into Ding, who was cleared of wrongdoing several months later, according to the lawsuit. The San Diego District Attorney's Office declined to prosecute Ding more than a week after his arrest, the complaint says. The filing includes three photos of Ding's injuries, stemming from his arrest, including two showing bruising and marks on his right shoulder and arm. The lawsuit argues Ding's mistreatment by San Diego police is linked to a larger pattern of the department's officers using 'excessive and unnecessary force.' With the lawsuit, Ding seeks an unspecified amount in compensatory, special and punitive damages and demands a jury trial. Ding and his attorneys are also calling for an investigation. 'We demand a thorough and independent investigation not just of Ferraro but of the individual officers and their supervisors for their role in charging an innocent man with a felony,' Yoo told McClatchy News. 'If they feel emboldened enough to do this to another law enforcement agent, imagine what they must do to assault, frame and extort regular citizens,' Yoo added.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Keep your shoes on. TSA ends 'shoes off' policy at Detroit Metro, other Michigan airports
If you're flying out of an airport in Michigan this summer, getting through security may be less of a hassle — you no longer need to remove your shoes. The Transportation Security Administration announced the Department of Homeland Security was rolling out the change in a July 8 news release. "Ending the 'Shoes-Off' policy is the latest effort DHS is implementing to modernize and enhance traveler experience across our nation's airports," DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said in the release. "We expect this change will drastically decrease passenger wait times at our TSA checkpoints, leading to a more pleasant and efficient passenger experience. As always, security remains our top priority." "Thanks to our cutting-edge technological advancements and multi-layered security approach, we are confident we can implement this change while maintaining the highest security standards," Noem added. "This initiative is just one of many the Trump administration is pursuing to usher in the President's vision for a new Golden Age of American travel." Here's what to know: TSA now allows passengers to keep shoes on while going through airport security checkpoints. The change ending the no-shoe policy took effect immediately, the July 8 TSA release said. The Transportation Security Agency is a federal agency within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security responsible for managing national security at U.S. airports and other transportation areas. Now that passengers can keep their shoes on, the screening process should flow more smoothly, with shorter wait times expected, the news release said. Previously, travelers would have to step aside to collect their carry-on bags and put their shoes back on after the screening. The Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport coined the name for the area after security checkpoints where people typically stop, collect their belongings, and put on their shoes and other items removed for screening. A former Milwaukee airport director named the spot knowing that "recombobulation" isn't an actual word, but he wanted to bring some fun to a stressful situation. The area has since become a revered fixture and often is used informally at other airports in the U.S. DHS decided TSA doesn't need travelers to take off their shoes to maintain airport safety, Noem said. 'We've gone back and looked at our security processes, looked at the efficacy of everything we do," Noem said, and suggested that, overall, the shoe removal policy was no longer an especially effective tool for screening passengers. She also said that the agency is confident that its technology is ready to handle the change at all airports nationwide. 'We've evaluated the equipment that every airport has and are fully confident with the no shoes policy that we still have the security needs in place at every checkpoint," Noem said. The policy was implemented in response to a December 2001 attempt by an airline passenger to conceal a bomb in his shoe. On Dec. 22, 2001, just months after the 9/11 attacks, Richard Reid boarded American Airlines Flight 63 from Paris to Miami with homemade bombs hidden in his shoes. Reid tried to detonate his shoes, but he struggled to light the fuse. Crew members and passengers noticed and restrained him. The plane diverted to Logan International Airport in Boston, and Massachusetts State Police officers took Reid into custody. Reid told FBI agents that he made the shoes himself. On Oct. 4, 2002, Reid pleaded guilty to eight terrorism-related charges. A judge sentenced him to life in federal prison. No, that was the "underwear bomber." Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab was sentenced to life in prison for his role in the attempted Christmas Day 2009 bombing of Northwest Airlines Flight 253. As Flight 253 was on descent into Detroit Metropolitan Airport, he detonated the bomb, which resulted in a fire, but otherwise did not explode. Passengers and flight attendants tackled the defendant and extinguished the fire. Abdulmutallab, 25, of Kaduna, Nigeria, pleaded guilty on Oct. 12, 2011, to conspiracy to commit an act of terrorism transcending national boundaries; attempted murder within the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States; willfully placing a destructive device on an aircraft, which was likely to have endangered the safety of the aircraft; attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction; willfully attempting to destroy and wreck a civil aircraft, and three counts of possession of a destructive device in furtherance of a crime of violence. TSA began the no-shoes policy for airport passengers in 2006. Most travelers had to take off their shoes for standard security screening. There were a few exceptions: You're 75 or older Children appearing to be 12 years old or younger Enrolled in trusted traveler programs such as TSA PreCheck TSA announced its "Serve with Honor, Travel with Ease" program on July 2, giving uniformed service members and their families certain benefits, per a news release. Benefits include TSA PreCheck enrollment fee waived for Gold Star family members, a $25 discount on TSA PreCheck enrollment for spouses of military and uniformed service members, and expedited access in TSA PreCheck lanes for military members at select airports located near larger military installations, the release said. Florida Today, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and USA TODAY contributed. Contact Jenna Prestininzi: jprestininzi@ This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: TSA ends shoes off policy at security checkpoints. What to know in Michigan
Fox News
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Fox News
President Trump Directs ICE Agents to PROTECT Themselves
President Trump will NOT tolerate the attacks on our brave ICE agents. I'm Tomi Lahren, more next. Attacks and assaults on our brave ICE agents have gone up well over 500% in recent months and it's not hard to see why. The way even ELECTED Democrats speak about and characterize our federal agents is DESPICABLE. President Trump agrees. He put out a stern warning to would be ICE antagonists on truth social and with it, directed DHS Secretary Noem and Border Czar Tom Homan to take care of business. From now on, all federal agents on the receiving end of thrown rocks, bricks or any other form of assault will promptly ARREST the 'slimeballs' as President Trump called them on Truth Social using any means necessary. These agents have total authorization from the president to protect themselves just as they protect the public. This will go a long way in not only deterring the violent attacks on our agents, but will also boost their morale knowing their president has their back 100%. President Trump is for the law and its enforcers, Democrats are for the THUGS! I'm Tomi Lahren and you can watch my show 'Tomi Lahren is Fearless' at Learn more about your ad choices. Visit
Russia Today
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Russia Today
US sets record for child deportation orders
More than 8,300 undocumented immigrant children, aged 11 or under, were issued deportation orders in the US in April, the highest monthly figure on record, The Independent reported on Sunday, citing court data. Many face immigration judges alone, without lawyers or guardians, according to the outlet. US President Donald Trump has made immigration a central policy since returning to office, accusing his predecessor Joe Biden of enabling mass illegal migration. Since Trump's inauguration in January, immigration judges have reportedly ordered the removal of more than 53,000 minors, most of them in elementary school or younger. Deportations of teenagers have also risen but remain below the peak seen during Trump's first term in 2020. Some of the children are reportedly unaccompanied minors without a guardian in the US, with immigration authorities no longer tracking the exact number of such cases. Lawyers told The Independent that children often do not understand the legal process. In one case, a six-year-old was reportedly separated from his father, detained for four months, and deported without legal aid after federal funding was cut. Data from the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC) shows children under 11 now face the highest removal rates of any age group. In May, 75% of cases for this group resulted in deportation – compared to 45% in January. For children under four, that number reportedly rose to 78%. A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson told The Independent that claims Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) targets children are 'false,' saying families are given the option to stay together or designate a caretaker. Trump's immigration policies have sparked nationwide protests. In Los Angeles, National Guard troops were deployed following unrest in June. Earlier this month, Trump signed a bill allocating $100 billion to ICE for detentions, deportations, and completing the border wall with Mexico.
Newsweek
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Newsweek
Alligator Alcatraz Detainees Revealed in Full List
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. New details have emerged on the detainees inside Florida's new immigrant detention center, nicknamed "Alligator Alcatraz." The Miami Herald/Tampa Bay Times obtained a list of more than 700 people who have been detained or appear to be scheduled to be sent to the state-run immigration detention facility. Why It Matters The remote facility is expected to cost Florida about $450 million annually to operate. It comes as President Donald Trump's administration looks to conduct what it describes as the largest mass deportation operation in U.S. history. Workers install a sign reading "Alligator Alcatraz" at the entrance to a new migrant detention facility at Dade-Collier Training and Transition facility on July 3, 2025, in Ochopee, Florida. Workers install a sign reading "Alligator Alcatraz" at the entrance to a new migrant detention facility at Dade-Collier Training and Transition facility on July 3, 2025, in Ochopee, Florida. Rebecca Blackwell/AP What To Know Florida Governor Ron DeSantis' administration has not released the names of immigrants being held in heavy-duty tents at an airstrip in the Everglades. People transferred to the temporary detention site are not listed in the government's online database that typically allows the public to track the location of immigrant detainees. The Miami Herald reported that attorneys report having trouble finding clients who have been sent there, often discovering their whereabouts only when detainees manage to call family members. The outlet said the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Florida Division of Emergency Management did not dispute its accuracy. Democratic lawmakers who toured the site described "cage-like enclosures" under extreme heat, inadequate sanitation and reports of detainees crying out for help, calling the overall environment "vile." The projected cost is about $245 per bed per day, adding up to roughly $450 million in operating expenses for the first year. Florida officials say they plan to seek federal reimbursement from the DHS, which will use FEMA funds. The idea for "Alligator Alcatraz" originated with DeSantis' administration, which used emergency powers to authorize construction of the site. Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier unveiled the move on Fox News. Legal experts told Newsweek that South Florida cannot handle a major increase in detention operations. Raul Gastesi, partner at Gastesi, Lopez, Mestre & Cobiella and a Florida-based attorney said: "South Florida doesn't have the infrastructure to support large-scale detention expansion. Our jails are already overcrowded, we lack sufficient waste management capacity and we face strict zoning limits and serious environmental risks, particularly given that our region's drinking water is tied to the Everglades. "Detaining people in the harsh climate of the Florida Everglades with extreme heat, relentless mosquitoes and inadequate living conditions is not something we should be proud of as Americans." What People Are Saying Raul Gastesi, partner at Gastesi, Lopez, Mestre & Cobiella and a Florida-based attorney, told Newsweek: "I believe the facility's location and name are cruel and demeaning. As a country, I believe in American exceptionalism. I fully support the need to control our borders and believe in a strict immigration policy. But this crisis was created by the previous administration, and now, these individuals are already here."
