Latest news with #MehekCooke
Fox News
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Legal expert reveals why centuries-old law is crucial for Trump admin in immigration fight
As the Alien Enemies Act continues to be a focal point of the immigration debate in the early days of President Donald Trump's second term, Republican attorney Mehek Cooke told Fox News Digital about why the White House is making use of the 1798 law. Some federal judges have disagreed with the Trump administration's decision to use the act to send suspected MS-13 and Tren De Aragua gang members outside the United States, including to El Salvador's CECOT prison. Trump designated those two groups as foreign terrorist organizations shortly after taking office. "Under this act, it allows us to detain, apprehend, and deport alien enemies," Cooke said. "This immediately allowed under the Alien Enemies Act for President Trump and his administration to accelerate deportations of individuals from Venezuela and gang members," she later added. Earlier last week, U.S. District Judge James Boasberg asked the Justice Department about public comments Trump and other Cabinet officials made about deportation proceedings under the Alien Enemies Act and floated the idea of moving some migrants to Guantánamo Bay. During the hearing, Boasberg specifically pressed Justice Department lawyers about statements made by Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem about CECOT, the maximum-security prison in El Salvador where the U.S. has deported hundreds of migrants, and the White House's ability to secure someone's release. Cooke noted that the debate over due process has to do with the perspective of who gets those rights in the U.S. "I think today, when we talk about due process, people have to understand there's American citizens that deserve due process under our Constitution," she said. "There's illegal aliens that are in our country that we have given a sliding scale of due process. And then there are terrorists that deserve very little process, as we're expediting their removal. Our immigration judges and our courts don't have enough time to stand there with every single individual that's a Tren de Aragua member and bicker back and forth," Cooke continued. The Republican attorney said that from her perspective, many federal judges are questioning the president's ability to actually decide what is considered an alien enemy. "What's happening today is courts through judicial activism are actually challenging that. So what they're saying is that the president can't designate somebody an alien enemy. They can't designate Tren de Aragua an alien enemy. And more importantly, courts are pushing and saying that these individuals that are illegal terrorists in our country deserve due process," Cooke explained.
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Bill to regulate sale of cats, dogs in Kentucky, overriding local bans, fails
FRANKFORT, Ky. (FOX 56) — An effort to bring a uniform retail pet sale law to the Commonwealth fell short in Frankfort. At least 5 cities and 1 county in Kentucky, including Lexington, have adopted local ordinances banning any over-the-counter sale of dogs and cats in an effort to turn away businesses from 'puppy mills' and encourage buyers to purchase from rescues. Kentucky severe weather deaths rise to 23 Soldier had 90 images, 70 videos containing child sexual abuse while stationed in Fort Campbell Bill to regulate sale of cats, dogs in Kentucky, overriding local bans, fails Executives for the retail chain Petland argued that the ordinances are threatening their stores and that they've tried to offer transparency about their breeders. 'We're just saying don't shut us down overnight, regulate us, pass more bills, give us civil penalties. We will abide by all of your rules and regulations,' Mehek Cooke, a lobbyist for Petland, told lawmakers on the Senate Agriculture Committee Tuesday. 'They do not come from regulated breeders. They come matted, covered in feces and urine. They're scared. They're shaking. They're packed in cages,' Miriam Arena told reporters following the meeting. Arena is a former employee of Petland Lexington who says she was employed there for six months. 'We have a quilt work of regulation, and that's, I think, what this legislation was trying to prevent. Just a uniform opportunity to regulate places where people can buy animals,' Sen. Robin Webb (D-Grayson) told FOX 56 Bondi warns states to comply with Trump order on transgender athletes Bill to regulate sale of cats, dogs in Kentucky, overriding local bans, fails Lawmakers Unite for Funding for 9/11 Victims, State-Sponsored Terrorism Claims Webb was among those in favor of Senate Bill 122 and felt the proposal was pro-business. However, enough lawmakers had concerns that the bill could step on local control or weren't strong enough to effectively penalize puppy mills. 'I still have some concerns about the back end of the bill when it comes to regulating and what those fines look like,' Sen. Matt Deneen said while explaining his 'no' vote. The bill failed in committee on a tie vote of 5 to 5. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
