Latest news with #JasonArmond
Vox
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Vox
What ICE's big payday means for America
covers politics Vox. She first joined Vox in 2019, and her work has also appeared in Politico, Washington Monthly, and the New Republic. Several dozen protesters stage a demonstration on the Sixth Street Bridge between downtown Los Angeles and Boyle Heights protesting ICE deportation operations on July 1, 2025. Jason Armond/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images Republicans just gave US Immigration and Customs Enforcement a huge cash infusion, and President Donald Trump knows how he wants the agency to use it. During his first six months in office, the Trump administration was already using immigration enforcement to punish its political enemies and to advance a white-centric image of America. The Republican spending bill that Trump signed last week allocated $75 billion in additional funding to ICE over the next four years, allowing it to implement those tactics on an even grander scale. There is a question of how quickly ICE can build up its infrastructure and personnel using its newfound resources. But just days after the bill passed, the administration made a show of force at Los Angeles's MacArthur Park on Monday, with heavily armed immigration agents in tactical gear and military-style trucks showing up to arrest undocumented immigrants. That may only be the beginning. ICE may not yet be able to deport 1 million undocumented immigrants in a single year — the goal that the Trump administration has privately set. However, the agency is already infringing on civil liberties under this administration in ways that should worry not just immigrants, but every American, said Shayna Kessler, director of the Advancing Universal Representation Initiative at the Vera Institute of Justice, a criminal justice reform advocacy group. 'The tactics of this administration are sweeping and indiscriminate,' Kessler said. 'The administration is continuing to widen the circle of people that they're subjecting to criminalization, to detention, and to deportation. It's happening in a way that is undermining due process and our fundamental values.' What's in the bill and what it means for America The bill allocates $45 billion for immigration detention and $29.9 billion for enforcement and deportation activities. It represents the largest lump sum investment in immigration enforcement on US soil since 2003, when the Department of Homeland Security was created following the 9/11 terrorist attacks. With that money — a 308 percent annual increase over its 2024 budget — ICE will be able to increase its immigration detention capacity from 41,500 to 116,000 detainee beds. So far, those beds have not been reserved only for those with a criminal background, despite Trump's vow that he would focus on deporting the 'worst of the worst.' As of June, about half of people in ICE detention had no criminal record, and only about a third had been convicted of a crime. Under the current administration, there have already been reports of inhumane conditions at various immigration detention centers. In Florida, which has cooperated closely with federal immigration agents, detainees at Krome Detention Center in Miami recently gathered outside the prison to make a human SOS sign after they endured sleeping on the floor, being underfed, and not getting necessary medical attention. The bill aims to incentivize state and local governments to follow Florida's lead and collaborate with federal immigration authorities on detention, offering them $3.5 billion total in federal grants as a reward. Even some states and cities that previously adopted 'sanctuary' policies — refusing to cooperate with ICE to detain immigrants — might not want to leave that money on the table, said Jennie Murray, president and CEO of the National Immigration Forum, an immigrant advocacy group. The Logoff The email you need to stay informed about Trump — without letting the news take over your life. Email (required) Sign Up By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. That's despite research showing that sanctuary policies make immigrants more likely to report crimes and are associated with decreases in crime rates. The bill also grants ICE essentially a blank check for funding enforcement and deportation activities. Where the House version of the bill allocated specific amounts for particular enforcement purposes, such as transportation or removal operations, the version of the bill passed by the Senate and signed by the president does not specify any such guardrails. Trump has so far failed to come close to achieving what he promised would be 'the largest deportation program in American history.' As Trump's deportation numbers have lagged behind the modern record set by former President Barack Obama, he has resorted to deporting some of the easiest targets: people who show up to their obligatory check-ins with ICE officers after being released from immigration detention under a program for individuals deemed not to be a public safety threat. 'Regardless of their background, regardless of whether they're parents, regardless of whether they are working long-term jobs and supporting their community, they're being swept up and facing inhumane detention and the prospect of permanent family separation and permanent separation from their communities and their jobs,' Kessler said. The obstacles Trump still faces Nevertheless, even with these extra funds, it's not clear if Trump's vision for deporting millions of undocumented immigrants will become a reality. For one, it takes time to hire new immigration agents, sign cooperation agreements with local law enforcement agencies that facilitate the detention of immigrants, build new detention facilities, conduct immigration court proceedings, and charter deportation flights. There are countries that refuse to take their citizens back as deportees, although the administration is reportedly in talks with other countries to accept them instead. Resistance from business owners who rely on immigrant workers also appears to have given Trump hesitation. He has repeatedly promised in the weeks since the LA raids to shield farmworkers and hospitality workers from deportation, especially now that his administration has stripped 3 million people of deportation protections such as parole and Temporary Protected Status. 'While this infusion of resources absolutely will help them get much more volume, I do think that we continue to see the administration and Trump himself realizing that it can't be carte blanche, and that they need to make sure that American businesses aren't destabilized,' Murray said. For that reason, she said the increase in funding for deportation worries her less than the provisions in the bill that rapidly ramp up immigration detention, potentially too quickly to ensure humane treatment of those in custody. But she also said it's 'difficult to know 100 percent' what Trump will do.
Black America Web
23-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Black America Web
Lecrae: Bridging Faith, Culture, and Hip-Hop
Source: Jason Armond / Getty Lecrae Moore, known mononymously as Lecrae, is a GRAMMY-winning rapper, producer, and entrepreneur whose career has reshaped the landscape of Christian hip-hop and beyond. Born in Houston and raised in a variety of cities, Lecrae's music carries the weight of his personal journey—one rooted in faith, redemption, and community uplift. Lecrae's 2013 GRAMMY win for Best Gospel Album with Gravity marked a historic moment—not just for himself, but for the Christian hip-hop genre as a whole. That project, a blend of introspective lyricism, trap-influenced beats, and socially conscious storytelling, showcased Lecrae's ability to tackle real-world issues while staying grounded in spiritual themes. His work has made space for messages of faith in mainstream hip-hop and proved that rap with purpose can still top charts. Lecrae's artistry is deeply informed by hip-hop legends like Tupac Shakur and Nas, whose vivid storytelling and social commentary laid the groundwork for his narrative style. He also credits Outkast and Lauryn Hill for teaching him that music can be both thought-provoking and sonically rich. However, it wasn't just rap that shaped him—gospel artists like Kirk Franklin and soul legends like Curtis Mayfield helped guide Lecrae's blend of spiritual depth and cultural resonance. These influences gave rise to a unique sound: vulnerable yet powerful, rooted in Scripture yet attuned to the streets. Through his label, Reach Records, Lecrae has created space for artists who share his vision—offering a platform for voices often excluded from both the church and the mainstream industry. Lecrae's influence reaches far beyond album sales and award wins. Artists such as Andy Mineo, NF, and even Chance the Rapper have acknowledged Lecrae's impact—whether directly or indirectly—through their own work that fuses spirituality and hip-hop. In fact, Lecrae has paved the way for mainstream artists to explore faith openly in their lyrics without sacrificing artistic integrity or popularity. His unapologetic stance on racial justice, mental health, and inner-city struggles has also inspired non-musical community work and social reform. Lecrae doesn't just make music—he makes movements. His influence continues to ripple through both Christian and secular music spaces, proving that rhythm rooted in purpose can truly change the culture. SEE ALSO Black America Web Featured Video CLOSE
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
"We Voted For This Sh*t?!" — This Teacher's Teary Message After A School Graduation Was Disrupted By Nearby ICE Raids Is Going Viral
ICE raids have intensified across Los Angeles since Friday, June 6, with multiple businesses targeted and workers detained at various locations throughout the city. Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images In response to the heightened federal activity, anti-ICE protests have erupted across LA. Tensions have only grown since then, as Trump ordered 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines to the city — escalating fear among residents, especially within the undocumented community, who is estimated to make up roughly 10% of the population in the nation's second-largest city. Advertisement For Mr. Howie, a youth educator, paraprofessional, and behavior interventionist in Los Angeles, ICE's nearby presence impacted his school day, forcing his school into lockdown and allegedly disrupting a nearby elementary school's graduation. In a tearful, emotionally raw video that's since been viewed over 16 million times — more than the entire population of LA County — Mr. Howie documented his reaction to the unfolding events. @justsayuhatebasketball / Via "I can't handle this, y'all," he began, wiping tears from his eyes. "This is crazy, I didn't think this was about to affect me like this." Mr. Howie recounted how an elementary school nearby was in the middle of its graduation ceremony when word spread that ICE was in the area. "They were having their graduation and there's helicopters in the sky," he said, holding back tears. "Most of these schools are predominantly Hispanic." Soon after, he said, his own school went into lockdown. He said, "Our school goes on lockdown. Our principal, you know, tells us it's a drill, but we know it's not a drill... We got like a soft lockdown." Panic quickly spread, he said, as he heard from a coworker that some parents ran from the ceremony out of fear of being detained. "You know, parents had to run out because they don't have papers, and they had to leave their kids because the kids do," Mr. Howie continued, sniffling. Related: "Honestly Speechless At How Evil This Is": 26 Brutal, Brutal, Brutal Political Tweets Of The Week Advertisement "What type of shit is this, yo?" Mr. Howie asked, visibly upset. "And then kids are freaking grabbing teachers and crying on their leg because they don't know if they're about to see their parents when they get home." "What the fuck is this? And we voted for this shit?" he continued. "Fifteen people just got picked up on Wilshire at the Home Depot on Wilshire, man. Oh, my God. This is not right. This is not right, yo." While the school district later clarified that no ICE activity occurred at the elementary school graduation ceremony itself, agents were reportedly nearby — close enough to incite widespread fear. That day, 45 people were arrested in ICE raids in Los Angeles, including the nearly two dozen people at the Home Depot just a three-minute drive from the school. The confusion was enough to spark panic, and Mr. Howie's emotional video that followed. LAUREN PUENTE / Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images Related: AOC's Viral Response About A Potential Presidential Run Has Everyone Watching, And I'm Honestly Living For It Advertisement "This was just my raw, emotional reaction to the information given to me," Mr. Howie told BuzzFeed. "My school went on a 'soft lockdown' drill when they heard the news." He added that this wasn't the first time such fears have disrupted the school day this year. "We hear helicopters, and our guard goes up to make sure we protect our kids while also not startling them too much when we are not imminently in danger," he said. "While it did not happen at my school, I just fear for these kids because it certainly could." RONALDO SCHEMIDT / AFP via Getty Images As a paraprofessional, he explained how ICE's presence only adds more strain to an already high-stress job. "I'm already there to guide, provide, and protect them every day," he said. "Today, for example, I went to school and my kid wasn't there, so I had to leave because I'm a 1-on-1. So if he's not there, I'm not there. I was told his parents were too afraid to bring him because of what's going on." "Teachers are saying things like, 'I have papers and even I was afraid to come,'" he added. "This is all happening to people [whom] I have so much compassion for. This is a human thing." Mario Tama / Getty Images On social media, hundreds of thousands of people sent love to Mr. Howie and the communities impacted by the nearby raids. "Empathy is not something everyone has. Thank you for sharing," one top comment read. "Time to stand together and protect our communities," another wrote. "I can't imagine what these poor children are going through. This breaks my heart," another wrote. On X (formerly Twitter), one post summed it up: "an elementary school having to go on lockdown because the government of the country they lived in is a perceived threat, this is so fucking evil." As the video continues to spread, Mr. Howie said he hopes people understand the heart of the issue. "All I care about is the kids. This isn't political for me. It's personal. I see the faces of these kids every day and want them to know that I'm always going to show up for them," he told BuzzFeed. "This isn't about the 'legalities' for me. I just understand and can empathize with what it's like for an 8-year-old to go to school one morning and then never see their parent(s) again." "I will always show up for them," he said. And finally, he had one last reminder: "We're all human and all got here the exact same way." Advertisement Also in In the News: JD Vance Shared The Most Bizarre Tweet Of Him Serving "Food" As Donald Trump's Housewife Also in In the News: A NSFW Float Depicting Donald Trump's "MAGA" Penis Was Just Paraded Around Germany, And It' Also in In the News: This Senator's Clap Back Fully Gagged An MSNBC Anchor, And The Clip Is Going Viral
Los Angeles Times
08-06-2025
- Politics
- Los Angeles Times
Immigration Protests
Police kick tear gas back toward the crowd during the protest in Paramount. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times) Immigrant detainees are taken away in vans at the Edward R. Roybal Federal Building in Los Angeles on June 7, 2025. (Carlin Stiehl / Los Angeles Times) Los Angeles police check on a man who fell during a protest. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times) Demonstrators, one holding a Palestinian flag, gather outside the Edward R. Roybal Federal Building and the Metropolitan Detention Center in Los Angeles on June 6, 2025. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times)
