Latest news with #Elo-Rivera
Hamilton Spectator
a day ago
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
Immigration official defends tactics against criticism of a heavy hand as arrests rise nationwide
BOSTON (AP) — The head of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Monday defended his tactics against criticism that authorities are being too heavy-handed as they ramp up arrests toward President Donald Trump's promises of mass deportations. San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria said he was 'deeply upset' by an ICE operation at a popular Italian restaurant just before the dinner rush on Friday. A chaotic showdown unfolded outside as customers and witnesses shouted, smoke bombs filled the air, and agents wore heavy tactical gear to face an angry crowd. Todd Lyons, ICE's acting director, turned emotional when asked to explain why officials wear masks. He said some have received death threats and been harassed online. 'I'm sorry if people are offended by them wearing masks, but I'm not going to let my officers and agents go out there and put their lives on the line, their family on the line because people don't like what immigration enforcement is,' he said at a news conference in Boston to announce nearly 1,500 arrests in the region as part of a month-long 'surge operation.' Lyons was leaving the room when a reporter asked him about the masks. He returned to the podium. 'Is that the issue here that we're just upset about the masks?' he asked. 'Or is anyone upset about the fact that ICE officers' families were labeled terrorists?' Lyons may have been referring to comments by San Diego Councilman Sean Elo-Rivera, who called ICE officers 'terrorists' after Friday's restaurant raid. 'This isn't safety. It's state-sponsored terrorism,' Elo-Rivera wrote on Instagram. The Department of Homeland Security reposted Elo-Rivera's message, saying that likening ICE to terrorists was 'sickening.' The councilman stuck by his comments on Monday. Other elected officials, such as Gloria and U.S. Rep. Scott Peters of San Diego, both Democrats, were more muted but also sharply critical of ICE and the Republican White House. 'Federal actions like these are billed as a public safety measure, but it had the complete opposite effect. What we saw undermines trust and creates fear in our community,' Gloria said. ICE did not respond to questions about the operation at Buona Forchetta, an anchor of San Diego's trendy South Park neighborhood. The owners said they were closing their restaurants in Southern California for two days. 'We wish we could find stronger words, but the truth is we are heartbroken,' the owners said in a statement. 'The traumatic incident involving a federal enforcement operation at our original and beloved South Park location has left a mark on all of us. A wound that is still raw, still echoing in our kitchens, our dining rooms, and our hearts.' Lyons said in an interview on Fox & Friends Sunday that ICE was averaging about 1,600 arrests a day, a sharp increase from previous data that showed 78,155 arrests between Jan. 20 and May 19 — a daily average of 656. He said ICE can and will do more. Stephen Miller, the key architect of Trump's immigration policy, last week set a goal of 3,000 arrests a day and said the number could go higher. That pace would be a huge challenge with current funding. ICE housed an average of more than 46,000 detainees during the first half of May, already above its budgeted capacity. Lyons said operations like the surge in Massachusetts wouldn't be necessary if 'sanctuary cities would change their policy.' There's no legal definition for sanctuary city policies , but they generally limit cooperation by local law enforcement with federal immigration officers. Homeland Security published a list of more than 500 sanctuary jurisdictions but removed it from its website after criticism that it contained inaccuracies, even from its allies. Lyons stood near a poster board with mug shots of unnamed immigrants. A full list of those arrested was not available, nor was information about the crimes specific individuals are accused of committing. Lyons called them 'dangerous criminals' who are 'terrorizing family, friends and our neighbors.' State, local and federal authorities participated in a raid Saturday at a South Carolina nightclub that officials said was popular with drug dealers, resulting in the arrests of 66 people who were in the country illegally. Cardell Morant, special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations in South Carolina and North Carolina, said the 3 a.m. operations came during a 'cartel after-party.' Officials did not release additional details about the charges being faced by those who were arrested during the raid in Charleston County. ___ Rebecca Santana in Washington, Elliot Spagat in San Diego and Jeffrey Collins in Columbia, South Carolina, contributed. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Immigration official defends tactics against criticism of a heavy hand as arrests rise nationwide
BOSTON — The head of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Monday defended his tactics against criticism that authorities are being too heavy-handed as they ramp up arrests toward President Donald Trump's promises of mass deportations. San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria said he was 'deeply upset' by an ICE operation at a popular Italian restaurant just before the dinner rush on Friday. A chaotic showdown unfolded outside as customers and witnesses shouted, smoke bombs filled the air, and agents wore heavy tactical gear to face an angry crowd. Todd Lyons, ICE's acting director, turned emotional when asked to explain why officials wear masks. He said some have received death threats and been harassed online. 'I'm sorry if people are offended by them wearing masks, but I'm not going to let my officers and agents go out there and put their lives on the line, their family on the line because people don't like what immigration enforcement is,' he said at a news conference in Boston to announce nearly 1,500 arrests in the region as part of a month-long 'surge operation.' Lyons was leaving the room when a reporter asked him about the masks. He returned to the podium. 'Is that the issue here that we're just upset about the masks?' he asked. 'Or is anyone upset about the fact that ICE officers' families were labeled terrorists?' Lyons may have been referring to comments by San Diego Councilman Sean Elo-Rivera, who called ICE officers 'terrorists' after Friday's restaurant raid. 'This isn't safety. It's state-sponsored terrorism," Elo-Rivera wrote on Instagram. The Department of Homeland Security reposted Elo-Rivera's message, saying that likening ICE to terrorists was 'sickening.' The councilman stuck by his comments on Monday. Other elected officials, such as Gloria and U.S. Rep. Scott Peters of San Diego, both Democrats, were more muted but also sharply critical of ICE and the Republican White House. 'Federal actions like these are billed as a public safety measure, but it had the complete opposite effect. What we saw undermines trust and creates fear in our community,' Gloria said. ICE did not respond to questions about the operation at Buona Forchetta, an anchor of San Diego's trendy South Park neighborhood. The owners said they were closing their restaurants in Southern California for two days. 'We wish we could find stronger words, but the truth is we are heartbroken,' the owners said in a statement. 'The traumatic incident involving a federal enforcement operation at our original and beloved South Park location has left a mark on all of us. A wound that is still raw, still echoing in our kitchens, our dining rooms, and our hearts.' Lyons said in an interview on Fox & Friends Sunday that ICE was averaging about 1,600 arrests a day, a sharp increase from previous data that showed 78,155 arrests between Jan. 20 and May 19 — a daily average of 656. He said ICE can and will do more. Stephen Miller, the key architect of Trump's immigration policy, last week set a goal of 3,000 arrests a day and said the number could go higher. That pace would be a huge challenge with current funding. ICE housed an average of more than 46,000 detainees during the first half of May, already above its budgeted capacity. Lyons said operations like the surge in Massachusetts wouldn't be necessary if 'sanctuary cities would change their policy.' There's no legal definition for sanctuary city policies, but they generally limit cooperation by local law enforcement with federal immigration officers. Homeland Security published a list of more than 500 sanctuary jurisdictions but removed it from its website after criticism that it contained inaccuracies, even from its allies. Lyons stood near a poster board with mug shots of unnamed immigrants. A full list of those arrested was not available, nor was information about the crimes specific individuals are accused of committing. Lyons called them 'dangerous criminals' who are 'terrorizing family, friends and our neighbors.' State, local and federal authorities participated in a raid Saturday at a South Carolina nightclub that officials said was popular with drug dealers, resulting in the arrests of 66 people who were in the country illegally. Cardell Morant, special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations in South Carolina and North Carolina, said the 3 a.m. operations came during a 'cartel after-party.' Officials did not release additional details about the charges being faced by those who were arrested during the raid in Charleston County. Rebecca Santana in Washington, Elliot Spagat in San Diego and Jeffrey Collins in Columbia, South Carolina, contributed.
Newsweek
3 days ago
- Politics
- Newsweek
California Democrat Calls ICE Agents 'Terrorists'
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. A California Democrat has branded federal immigration agents "Terrorists," in a social media post. San Diego City Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera, who represents the city's 9th District shared a photo of ICE agents on Instagram with the word "Terrorists" written across the image. In the caption of his social media post, he expressed concern about the presence of heavily armed federal agents operating in residential areas of San Diego. Newsweek has contacted U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Elo-Rivera's office for comment outside of office hours. A deportation officer with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement conducts a brief before an early morning operation, Dec. 17, 2024, in the Bronx borough of New York. A deportation officer with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement conducts a brief before an early morning operation, Dec. 17, 2024, in the Bronx borough of New York. Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP Why It Matters ICE remains a divisive presence in public discourse—celebrated by some as an essential tool for upholding immigration laws and vilified by others as a symbol of draconian policies. President Donald Trump has directed his administration to conduct the largest mass deportation operation in U.S. history, placing ICE at the center of the national debate over immigration policy. The Trump administration has granted ICE additional powers and expanded authority to conduct operations in sensitive locations such as schools and hospitals. The hard-line enforcement policy has sowed fear into vulnerable immigrant communities. What To Know "Look at this photo. This isn't a war zone—it's a neighborhood in our city," Elo-Rivera wrote in an Instagram post. "In San Diego, they've targeted parents dropping off their kids at school, people following the law inside courthouses, and workers just doing their jobs at local restaurants. "These are federal agents carrying out raids under the false pretense of 'safety,'" he added. "This isn't safety. It's state-sponsored terrorism. And anyone who cares about freedom—and true safety—should be fighting back." Stephen Miller, the White House deputy chief of staff for policy, responded to the post and said the United States is living in the "age of left-wing domestic terrorism." The Trump administration has long maintained that the "Golden Age of America" began after President Trump returned to office. Elo-Rivera responded by calling Miller "one of the most dishonest and worst people in America," noting "nothing makes me more confident in my position than knowing he hates it." The Department of Homeland Security has said that ICE agents are facing a 413 percent increase in assaults. Elo-Rivera has been an outspoken critic of ICE's presence in San Diego and has previously called for the end of federal immigration raids in the region. What People Are Saying Stephen Miller said in a post on X: "We are living in the age of left-wing domestic terrorism. They are openly encouraging violence against law enforcement to aid and abet the invasion of America." An ICE spokesperson told Fox News Digital: "Elected officials comparing ICE law enforcement agents to terrorists is SICKENING."
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
San Diego official faces backlash after labeling ICE agents 'terrorists'
A California city councilmember was blasted on social media over the weekend after sharing a photo of ICE agents on Instagram with the word "Terrorists" written in red on top of the agents. In the photo, which San Diego City Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera posted to Instagram with the Rage Against The Machine song "Bulls On Parade," immigration agents appear to be in a parking lot wearing helmets and vests and carrying guns. "Look at this photo. This isn't a war zone—it's a neighborhood in our city," Elo-Rivera wrote in the post. "In San Diego, they've targeted parents dropping off their kids at school, people following the law inside courthouses, and workers just doing their jobs at local restaurants. "These are federal agents carrying out raids on under the false pretense of 'safety,'" he added. "This isn't safety. It's state-sponsored terrorism. And anyone who cares about freedom—and true safety—should be fighting back." Dhs Says Massachusetts City Council Member 'Incited Chaos' As Ice Arrested 'Violent Criminal Alien' Prior to the post Friday night, Elo-Rivera, who represents the 9th City Council District, shared a series of Instagram stories criticizing ICE action in the city. Read On The Fox News App "They've targeted parents outside schools in my district," he wrote in one story. "They've targeted people following the law at courthouses. Tonight, they targeted hard working folks in South Park and tomorrow it could be anyone in any neighborhood in San Diego. The only way we put a stop to it is by not looking away and demanding that it end." In subsequent Instagram stories, he called ICE agents "jackbooted thugs," "cowards" and "criminals" and said the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) action was "state-sponsored terrorism." California Home Of Suspect Accused Of Doxxing Ice Agents Raided And Searched After the public rant was shared by LA-based Fox News correspondent Bill Melugin on Saturday afternoon, Elo-Rivera jumped back on social media again to double down on his phrasing. "A Fox 'News' correspondent has called attention to my choice of words… I said what I meant and meant what I said," Elo-Rivera wrote. He then posted a screenshot from Cornell Law School's website, which notes there is no universal definition for terrorism, and checked off a bullet-pointed list of "common elements that characterize it" before calling Instagram users "fascists." Sanctuary City Lawyers Plot To Help Illegal Migrants Evade Ice In Exposed Group Email Stephen Miller, White House deputy chief of staff for policy and a homeland security advisor, took to X to respond to Elo-Rivera's posts, writing, "We are living in the age of leftwing domestic terrorism. They are openly encouraging violence against law enforcement to aid and abet the invasion of America." Elo-Rivera responded by calling Miller "one of the most dishonest and worst people in America," noting "nothing makes me more confident in my position than knowing he hates it." The Instagram posts came just hours after Patricia Hyde, the head of ICE Boston, told Fox News sanctuary jurisdictions are beginning to escalate against ICE. Reported incidents include a group of activists trying to free a suspected illegal immigrant who was handcuffed by ICE and a crowd blowing ICE's cover outside an alleged illegal immigrant murderer's home. "I think the lack of cooperation is getting worse and worse, and it's putting law enforcement lives in danger," Hyde said. "Elected officials comparing ICE law enforcement agents to terrorists is SICKENING," an ICE spokesperson told Fox News Digital. "Attacks and demonization of ICE and our partners is wrong. "ICE officers are now facing a 413% increase in assaults. ICE is working day and night to remove murders, pedophiles, and gang members from American communities." Cornell University, Cornell Law School and San Diego City Council President Joe LaCava did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's requests for comment. Fox News Digital's Michael Dorgan contributed to this article source: San Diego official faces backlash after labeling ICE agents 'terrorists'
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
San Diego City Council approves law banning technology used in rental price fixing
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — The San Diego City Council is targeting price fixing with a new law that bans landlords from using AI software to determine rent prices or occupancy levels. The city initiated action on the measure last October, and on Tuesday, the ordinance, spearheaded by Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera, was approved in an 8 to 1 vote. The law doesn't touch affordable housing programs or tools using public data. 'Some of the biggest corporate landlords in the country are teaming up with big tech to use powerful, secretive software to coordinate rent hikes. Software that weaponizes private data from what should be competing landlords to figure out just how high they can push prices,' Elo-Rivera said. The law takes aim at companies like RealPage, which is also the subject of a federal investigation. 'If you use Realpage's own advertising that it can help a landlord outperform the market by up to 7%, that would equate to up to an extra $185 every month for a renter in a rental managed with this price fixing software,' said Maya Rosas, the deputy chief of staff to Elo-Rivera. Heather Ferbert, the San Diego city attorney, said, 'The United States Department of Justice, California Attorney General Rob Bonta, and the attorneys general of eight other states agree this conduct violates both federal antitrust laws and California's unfair competition law, and they filed lawsuits to that effect, but we can't just sit and wait while San Diegans' rents keep rising.' Supporters argue the ordinance is a protective measure against homelessness. {sot: mohamed omar –partnership for the advancement of new americans} 'Like so many San Diegans, I felt the pressure of rising rents and fear of being priced out of my own city. It's unacceptable,' said Mohamed Omar from the Partnership for the Advancement of New Americans. Opponents believe the law will hurt housing development. Michael Semko, an attorney for RealPage, said, 'Banning software like this that every other industry in the United States that has any scale to it at all to help sellers price widgets will not attract more housing to California.' Similar fears are echoed by Councilmember Raul Campillo – the only 'no' vote. 'That's just something that I think is going to have too much of a negative effect and that will have a larger impact on rent as a whole throughout our region,' Campillo said. Following the ordinance's enactment, renters can initiate legal proceedings against landlords for violations, and landlords may face fines of up to $1,000 per offense. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
