Latest news with #MIRC
India.com
3 days ago
- India.com
Agni-V, Agni-VI or BrahMos? Indias Missile Test NOTAM Stretches Up To 4,790 KM In Indian Ocean
India is gearing up for a big missile launch. Possibly for a long-distance one. One that could hit beyond visual range. One that could hit across continents. And if the test goes as planned, it could send a message to not only Pakistan, but also to China and Turkey. Open Source Intelligence analyst Damien Symon has shared that India has extended the range of its NOTAM to 4,790 kms in the Indian Ocean, from the earlier range of 2,530Kms. Notably, the first NOTAM range for this missile test was 1560 kms. The test would be held on August 20. 'India's notification for a likely long-range missile test now stretches further into the Indian Ocean Region, with a danger zone of ~ 4,790 km. Date | 20-21 August 2025,' said Symon. #Breaking: India's notification for a likely long range missile test now stretches further into the Indian Ocean Region with a danger zone of ~ 4,790 km Date | 20-21 August 2025 — Damien Symon (@detresfa_) August 14, 2025 Missile Test Sparks Speculations The proposed missile test has sparked speculations on social media with many claiming that it could be inter intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) with a range as long as 8,000kms. 'Most likely, Agni-VI's actual strike capability could exceed 6,000 km, potentially even touching 8,000 km+ with MIRC, India traditionally under-declaring ranges for strategic ambiguity,' said a user. Another user invited Grok to share a suggestion. 'Based on the 4,790 km danger zone, it likely tests the Agni-V ICBM, which has a 7,000-8,000 km range but was previously trialed at ~4,900 km. Recent MIRV upgrades fit this profile, though hypersonic glide variants are speculated. Official confirmation pending,' said the X's AI tool. 'Either the K5 SLBM or Agni V is possible. Let's see unless the range is again extended before launch. Interesting geopolitical signalling is going on,' said an X user. Agni VI Prototype Agni-VI is currently being developed by DRDO and is expected to be the most powerful missile in India's Agni series so far. Though still in the early stages, it's already being described as a true next-generation weapon. When it comes to range, different sources give slightly different figures. Most estimates say it can reach between 8,000 and 10,000 km. Some experts believe it could go even further—up to 9,000 to 12,000 km if it carries a full 3-tonne payload. And if it carries a lighter load (around 1.5 tonnes), it might even travel as far as 14,000 to 16,000 km. One of the most advanced features of Agni-VI is that it is expected to be equipped with MIRV (Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicles) technology. That means instead of carrying just one warhead, it could carry several warheads at once—each capable of hitting different targets. Some estimates suggest it might be able to carry 10 to 11 individual warheads in a single launch. Next-Gen BrahMos Recently, Chairman and Department of Defence Secretary (R&D) Samir V Kamat said that the research organisation is looking to build a next-generation BrahMos missile, which will be a lighter, smaller version of the current version. BrahMos-NG (Next Generation) will be able to fit into any platform, unlike the current missile, which can only be used with the Sukhoi aircraft, the DRDO chief added. "We are looking at BrahMos-NG, which is a smaller version of BrahMos, which can then be fitted on all our other platforms. Today, BrahMos can only be fitted on the Sukhoi platform, but if we can make it smaller, we can fit it on all our platforms. We are planning to start it soon," he said.
CBS News
12-06-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Michigan legal rights groups prepare as immigration cases climb
As large-scale immigration enforcement and deportations take place nationwide, concerns over how and when this may reach Metro Detroit continue to rise, with legal organizations banding together to offer support. "People need to realize that ICE enforcement is happening in Detroit, and it's happening really anywhere," Ramis Wadood, staff attorney for the ACLU of Michigan, said. Calling it a "coordinated assault on immigrant communities," people across the country are raising concerns over a surging number of raids and arrests by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. "Just like it's happening in LA, in Chicago, in D.C., in New York, it's happening in Detroit as well. It may not be at the scale of what's happening in LA or in Chicago, but it's serious, and it's definitely increased since the first Trump administration," said Wadood. Organizations like the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center and the ACLU of Michigan say they are seeing the number of immigration cases climb at a rate they have never seen before, after the Trump administration called for ICE agents to arrest nearly 3,000 people per day. "We are watching and expecting for an increase in workplace raids in Michigan; there's no reason to believe that Michigan would be exempt from that," said Christine Sauvé, policy, engagement and communications manager for the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center. In Detroit, MIRC says there are more than 30,000 cases pending, at all levels of status, with most facing hearings without representation. "Each detention, each removal, has an effect on a local family. Each immigration enforcement action has a repercussion that ripples throughout the community," said Sauvé. With nearby cities like Chicago bracing for an increase in activity, both organizations say they are prepared to handle what comes. "If there's an accusation that someone's in the country unlawfully, then they should be able to confront that accusation, either challenge it or seek other forms of relief," said Wadood. MIRC and the ACLU of Michigan say they are working together, alongside other community groups, to help as many people as they can, regardless of their status and what they can afford.
CBS News
06-05-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Metro Detroit's Taylor Police Department signs agreement with ICE
The Taylor Police Department has become the second law enforcement agency in Michigan to sign an agreement with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. In 1996, Congress passed an immigration reform law, which included the 287(g) program. The agreement allows officers to act as immigration agents. Under the agreement, there are three models, and the Taylor Police Department signed the Task Force version. "It does not change our day-to-day activities. There's no modification whatsoever to our department policies or procedures, and nothing changes. (It) doesn't cost us a penny," said Taylor Police Chief John Blair. Blair says if a Taylor police officer comes across someone during a criminal enforcement activity, such as drunk driving, they can be arrested and identified. "We are required by law to identify who they are. It's all common sense in the process of identifying who they are. If we determine that they're in this country illegally, we will contact ICE. That is the extent of our participation in this program," he said. Immigrant Rights advocates say there's more to it. "In addition to stopping someone for suspicion of a crime, they now can stop someone solely on the basis of immigration violations. That is dramatically different," said Christine Sauve, a policy, engagement, and communications manager at the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center (MIRC). Blair says if he hadn't signed the agreement, the police department would have been impacted, such as losing federal funding. MIRC calls it an empty threat from the Trump administration. "First of all, it's not a mandate. So there's no federal policy that requires local jurisdictions to enroll in the program," Suave said. The chief insists that law-abiding citizens have nothing to fear. "We are not kicking in doors. We are not going to people's workplaces. We are not going to schools and questioning people. We're not watching people that are standing on corners and asking their immigration status. That is not what this is. And we have never done that, and we will never do that," Blair said.
CBS News
26-03-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Michigan attorney speaks on federal cuts to legal service funding for migrant children
The Trump administration recently ended a federal contract that offers legal representation to more than 26,000 migrant children who enter the U.S. without a parent or guardian. Nearly 800 of those children are in Michigan. "Eight hundred children will lose their advocates, they will lose counsel, they will lose they will have to essentially proceed on their own in immigration court," said Ruby Robinson, senior managing attorney for the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center (MIRC). Robinson says this funding allows his team to provide comprehensive legal care for the hundreds of children who go through the process daily, including paying for the lawyers who advocate for them. "One of the main reasons for these services is to prevent exploitation and trafficking and to ensure that children have access to the critical supports and services, and by taking away counsel, it undermines those efforts," said Robinson. Robinson says many of the children in the process do not read or speak English or are too young to even communicate at all, leaving them vulnerable to faster deportation. "It is cruel to require a child to participate in an immigration process by themselves, to be held to the same standard as an adult or an adult with counsel," said Robinson. While MIRC does have donor support, Robinson says federal funding accounts for nearly 80 percent of its budget. "We've been successful, in raising money, but it's not at the scale that we need to be able to preserve representation and assistance to the children who are here in Michigan and certainly nationally," said Robinson. Robinson says his team is now focused on helping its fellow community organizations weather these changes and find ways to support those who need them. "We will do our best to advocate as long as we can, with the staffing that we have and the funding that we have for our clients," said Robinson.
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Staffing cuts looming, immigration attorneys worry for children
KALAMAZOO, Mich. (WOOD) — The Michigan Immigrant Rights Center is urging the Trump administration to reverse course after it reportedly ordered agencies to stop providing legal services to unaccompanied immigrant children. The organization, with offices in Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo, provides legal services to 800 immigrant children across Michigan. The group says those children are now at risk of losing legal representation. 'Many of these children are at risk of being sent back to those dangerous and abusive environments in their home countries,' said managing attorney Elizabeth Santana, who is based out of Kalamazoo and works unaccompanied minor cases. Michigan Immigration Rights Center ordered to stop work on program The stop-work order came from the Department of Interior. The organizations like MIRC rely on federal money. MIRC said the order will affect 80% of its staffing. Santana says the kids range from just 10 months old to teenagers. They include those who crossed the border alone, were trafficked or abused. She said the organization also connects the children with 'safe caregivers,' relatives or other individuals that provide them a home. Santana argues that because the children are so young, they can't navigate complex immigration court without an attorney by their side. 'Children are among the most vulnerable,' she said. 'They're without their parents or caregivers — that's what an unaccompanied child is.' The group says 26,000 children nationally are at risk of losing their legal representation. Santana says MIRC will continue to serve its current Michigan clients as long as it can, but the large staffing cut makes things challenging. 'It doesn't mean we can just stop everything we're doing because we have those ethical obligations as attorneys,' she said. Justice Department rescinds stop-work order for programs that provide guidance in immigration courts News 8 reached out to several West Michigan Republicans Wednesday for comment. They either weren't available for an interview or did not respond by the time of publication. The Interior Department has also not provided a statement. The stop-work order comes as the Trump administration continues to cut federal spending. It has also suspended federal funding for groups that help resettle refugees in the U.S. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
