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Washington Post
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Washington Post
Fact-checking Trump and Miller's claims of a ‘migrant invasion' in California
President Donald Trump deployed the National Guard to California, saying the troops need to 'liberate' Los Angeles from a 'migrant invasion.' White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, a key architect of the president's immigration crackdown, said on social media that the city is proof of how migration 'unravels' a society. But federal and state data tell a far different story about the Golden State than the political fury unfolding in Washington and on the streets of Los Angeles, where the administration has sent 700 Marines and 4,000 National Guard troops as protests continue over recent immigration raids. In California, violent crime is down, and the unemployment rate is close to the national average. The state recently overtook Japan as the world's fourth-largest economy. It has the highest number of immigrants — both legal, most of them citizens, and undocumented. But in recent years, the state has lost hundreds of thousands of undocumented immigrants to their homelands or to more-affordable states. Unauthorized immigrants in California remain well below the peak of nearly 3 million more than a decade ago for reasons that often have little to do with enforcement — or Trump. 'Even the surge that we've seen more recently in undocumented immigration, a lot of that has not come to California,' said Eric McGhee, policy director and senior fellow at the nonpartisan Public Policy Institute of California. 'If I were to hazard a guess, it's because California's expensive.' Trump officials have cast undocumented immigrants as criminals, blamed them for the state's troubles and said residents are overreacting to basic deportation operations that aim to reduce illegal immigration. Officials have shared images of protesters flying Mexican flags and burning cars to build support for Trump's signature tax legislation, which would add billions in funding for his quest to carry out the largest mass-deportation operation in U.S. history. California, a state that has passed laws to shield undocumented immigrants from deportation if they have not committed serious crimes, could be a prime target if that bill passes. The state is home to nearly a quarter of the estimated 11 million unauthorized immigrants in the United States. White House officials did not respond directly to questions about why they think the state is unraveling or being invaded, given the economic and demographic shifts and the decline in the number of undocumented immigrants over time. 'Illegal aliens and violent criminal protestors have spent the last several days attacking law enforcement, waving foreign flags, lighting cars on fire, and unleashing a state of outright anarchy,' White House deputy press secretary Abigail Jackson said in a statement. 'Anyone downplaying this behavior, or asking why it's bad, is either an idiot or a propagandist for the Democrat party.' The Biden administration refrained from deporting most undocumented immigrants unless they had recently crossed the border or committed serious crimes. In states such as California, that policy made it even easier for people without a legal status to fit in. Lawmakers there have passed laws stating that law enforcement will not aid in detentions and deportations unless someone has committed a serious offense. California legislators also have granted undocumented immigrants privileges they cannot get in many states, including driver's licenses, health care, in-state college tuition and some financial aid. Still, the number of undocumented immigrants in California fell. The census doesn't count unauthorized immigrants, a population that tends to fly under the radar to avoid being deported, and estimates vary widely. The Department of Homeland Security estimates that the number of undocumented immigrants in California declined from 2.9 million in 2010 to 2.6 million in 2022, the most recent year available. Jeffrey Passel, a senior demographer at the Pew Research Center, said that it is likely that the number of undocumented or temporary immigrants in California increased under President Joe Biden but that it remains well below its peak. Passel said the stereotype of immigrants as single men or gang members doesn't match the data. 'That's not who these people are. They're young, working families,' he said. One reason California's unauthorized population declined is that the number of undocumented immigrants from Mexico in the state fell from 2 million in 2010 to 1.2 million in 2023, said Robert Warren, a senior visiting fellow at the Center for Migration Studies of New York. 'That's a huge drop,' he said. Mexican citizens returned home as its economy and government institutions improved, analysts said, and because they were getting older, since many arrived starting in the 1990s. 'You're not getting a large inflow of new undocumented immigrants, but there's still a substantial number in the state who are growing older over time,' McGhee said. 'Many of them have children who are citizens and are just very established in California.' Housing costs have driven immigrants and Americans alike to other states. A mid-tier California home costs nearly $800,000, roughly double the national average, according to an April report by the California Legislative Analyst's Office. And in recent years hope for the opportunity to apply for legal residency had faded. The last time Congress allowed millions of unauthorized immigrants to apply for residency was in 1986, when President Ronald Reagan, a former governor of California, signed the Immigration Reform and Control Act. Reagan said the objective was to 'humanely regain control of our borders,' establish an orderly immigration system and 'not to discriminate in any way against particular nations or people.' Illegal immigration soared in the law's aftermath, however. Trump has seized on the issue to rally his supporters, saying Biden officials allowed in millions from Venezuela and other countries who did not follow the usual process to immigrate legally. Biden officials had said people were fleeing authoritarian regimes and joblessness after the coronavirus pandemic, and economists argued that the influx boosted the robust U.S. recovery from it. The immigration arrests in California have rattled one of the nation's oldest and most established undocumented immigrant communities. While city and state leaders say they do not condone any violence, they note that most demonstrations have been peaceful. In contrast, they say, Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers and the Trump administration are targeting longtime residents, parents and children, and making them afraid to go to church, school or work. They say the president should try to find a legislative solution for them instead. 'There is fear. There is anxiety. There is real-life trauma happening as we speak, all being observed and absorbed by children of all ages,' said Alberto Carvalho, superintendent of Los Angeles Unified School District, which has seen enrollment shrink by 130,000 students in the past decade. 'Yes, we do need law and order, but at the same time, we need viable, humane solutions for children and families who are here, are working, are paying taxes, are law-abiding, and many of whom are parents to U.S.-born citizen children.' Carvalho said he came to America from Portugal in the 1980s on a visa he overstayed, working illegally as a busboy and waiter until he bumped into Rep. E. Clay Shaw, a Florida Republican who he said helped him get a student visa and work permit that changed his life. 'Certainly when I came to this country I didn't feel I was invading the shores of America,' Carvalho said. 'I am certain, however, that when Irish and Italian families were landing on Ellis Island, there were some in the city that felt to a certain extent that it was invasion. Well, guess what? This is the history of America.' Sen. Alex Padilla (D) said the Trump administration's rhetoric recalled the state's internal struggles over its shifting demographics, which it confronted decades ago as immigration transformed California from a majority-White state into one where Latinos are now the largest group. In 1994, nearly 59 percent of California voters passed Proposition 187, a ballot initiative designed to deny public benefits to undocumented immigrants and bar their children from public schools. At the time, Gov. Pete Wilson (R) and others were blaming California's economic troubles on immigrants. 'It was offensive. It was insulting,' said Padilla, the first Latino U.S. senator from the state. 'As a result, California's a very different place today.' Courts later blocked the measure. But its passage galvanized immigrants to become naturalized citizens and register to vote. It also motivated young people such as Padilla, a U.S.-born citizen and the son of undocumented immigrants, to get involved in civic life. He graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology but traded a career in engineering for public service. Padilla said the state's improvements in health care, climate change and the economy are 'not despite our immigrant population but because of our immigrant population, that contributes so much as workforce, as consumers, as entrepreneurs.' 'That should be something that other states and the nation should emulate, not attack,' he said. But Corrin Rankin, chair of the California Republican Party, spoke in favor of immigration enforcement in a video posted Monday on X, saying Democratic administrations were wrong to spare many unauthorized immigrants from deportation. 'The American people voted to remove criminal illegal immigrants from our country,' she said in the video. 'The president must be allowed to enforce the law. It is tragic that Democrats gave illegal immigrants false hope that they could stay regardless of their crimes.' Over time, California's attitudes appear to have changed. Since the late 1990s, the Public Policy Institute of California has polled residents on whether they think immigrants benefit or burden the state. In 1998, fewer than half of the survey respondents said immigrants were good for the state. This year, 72 percent said immigrants benefited California. 'The reality is up until this last year, California was growing faster than the U.S.,' said Jerry Nickelsburg, an economics professor at the UCLA Anderson School of Management, referring to the economy. 'If that's unraveling, I don't know.'
CNA
a day ago
- Politics
- CNA
CNA938 Rewind - Los Angeles protests: Trump's motive behind his deployments
CNA938 Rewind U.S President Donald Trump's move to federalize the National Guard and deploy troops to Los Angeles without the approval of California Governor Gavin Newsom has sparked debate over whether the White House could actually be fueling the unrest. Andrea Heng and Hairianto Diman look at whether the move has in fact escalated the situation, rather than de-escalate it. For that, they speak with Rick Mullaney, Shircliff Executive Director, Public Policy Institute, Jacksonville University.
Daily Mail
23-05-2025
- Science
- Daily Mail
Scientists warn America's wealthiest cities are SINKING... and could disappear in 25 years
California 's wealthiest cities could soon sink under the waves of rising sea levels, according to a report predicting alarming changes throughout the US by 2050. Researchers at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) revealed that Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, and Alameda are all among the coastal cities which have seen their local sea levels rise since 2018. Rising sea levels and continued land erosion threaten to exacerbate flooding and subsidence (sinking of the ground) in these areas. The new data showed that San Diego is experiencing the highest amount of sea level rise along the entire West Coast, rising 2.6 millimeters a year. By 2050, all four of these cities are predicted to see their local sea levels rise several inches above the projected average for that year. That may lead to dramatic changes along the entire California coast due to higher tides flooding out more communities, less tourism due to fewer beaches, and millions evacuated from sinking properties. However, the new report by VIMS discovered an even more alarming forecast in several other parts of the US. The report also found that major metropolitan areas like New York and Boston are facing even higher rates of sea level rise that threaten to reshape those cities. In California, the sea level 'report card' adds to mounting concerns that the state is facing a climate-related emergency that threatens to cause billions in damage. The Public Policy Institute of California noted that these changes in sea levels along the coast could lead to $18 billion worth of buildings being inundated with flood waters. More than 26 million of California's 40 million residents live along the coast. In San Francisco alone, the group claims that it will cost $110 billion to properly protect the Bay Area from higher sea levels by 2050. A study by NASA in February projected that sea levels will rise more than twice as much as previously expected in parts of San Francisco and Los Angeles by 2050. While sea levels are actually rising at a relatively stable rate along the West Coast, researchers found that the problem is speeding up at an alarming pace in several other regions. Molly Mitchell, an assistant professor at the Batten School of Coastal & Marine Sciences and VIMS, revealed that Georgia and South Carolina have seen a surprising rise in local sea levels in recent years. 'We continue to see the fastest rates of sea level rise in Gulf states like Texas and Louisiana, but many of the East Coast stations are accelerating quite quickly,' Mitchell said in a statement. In February, scientists from NASA mapped land sinking (shown in blue) in coastal California cities and in parts of the Central Valley. NASA also tracked where the grounds was rising, a condition called uplift (shown in red) The researcher added that these trends along the East Coast were likely the result of glaciers melting in the nearby Greenland ice sheet. Overall, the new report looked at the sea level trends and projections in 36 coastal communities around the US. Most of the team's projections are based on 55 years worth of data on average global sea level rise. They collected measurements from tide gauges, which are tools placed at specific coastal spots that track the ocean's height over time. These gauges record the average sea level each month, as well as high and low water levels during events like storms. Next, the researchers looked at how fast the sea level has been rising and whether that rise is speeding up, which they call 'acceleration.' They also considered long-term patterns, like changes caused by climate events such as El Niño, which can affect sea levels for years. Using all this data, they calculated trends for each location and predicted what the sea level might be in 2050. However, since sea levels do not rise uniformly throughout the world, they also factored in rising or sinking land and local ocean currents in these cities to make their predictions. Their forecast specifically sounds the alarm of a future sinking crisis along the East Coast in Boston, New York, Baltimore, Charleston, and Savannah. Each of these East Coast cities is projected to see their local sea levels rise by more than a foot by 2050. The predictions are even worse for the cities along the Gulf of America (formerly the Gulf of Mexico). Researchers from VIMS warn that cities in Florida, Texas, and Louisiana could all see the height of the ocean's surface rise by more than 18 inches. In Rockport, Texas, the report card projects that sea levels will rise by 2.49 feet by 2050. Over 500,000 US citizens across 32 major cities are expected to be displaced by the flooding, due to home property damages that could cost up to $109 billion by 2050. In 2024, scientists warned that nearly one foot of rising sea-levels is likely to compound the risk of 'destructive flooding' Between the destruction of local infrastructure due to flooding and the loss of tourism due to disappearing beaches in many coastal areas, the damage in these areas could cost sinking communities tens of billions of dollars. New Orleans, which has already been ravaged by flooding in recent decades, remains one of the most threatened areas along the Gulf. A 2024 study published in the Hydrogeology Journal discovered that a large portion of the city and the surrounding areas are now sinking by up to two inches per year. Areas like New Orleans sit on soft, squishy soils (peat and clay) that sink when drained or built on. Virginia Tech researchers found two dozen cities to be at higher risk of sinking over the next three decades. They identified over 24 locations that are battling a combination of sinking land and rising sea levels, putting one out of every 50 residents at risk of needing to relocate. 'Many people who live near the coast want to know what they can reasonably expect over the next few decades, giving them time to make actionable plans and decisions,' Mitchell said.
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
‘My Home Burned Down in the Palisades Fire—Here's What No One Tells You About Insurance'
After the housing market was transformed first by record-low mortgage rates, then by inflation and cooling demand, real estate is going through yet another transformation. This time, it's driven by rising home insurance premiums. In regions at a high risk of natural disaster, rates are skyrocketing and policies are disappearing altogether as insurers drop longtime and new customers alike to reduce their exposure. From 2019 to 2024, more than 100,000 California homeowners lost coverage, according to research from the Public Policy Institute of California. The emotional whiplash of paying into a policy for years, only to be denied coverage when it's needed most, has left many homeowners disillusioned. For Claire O'Connor, a Los Angeles real estate agent and homeowner, the devastation became deeply personal. 'I literally said to my husband when we got dropped [in November 2024],' she recalled in an interview with ''As if our house is going to burn down … so many houses would have to burn to get to our house…' We were so far from the hills.' Then, just two months later, the unthinkable happened. O'Connor lost her home in the Palisades fire, one of more than 4,700 homes partly or entirely destroyed. The experience didn't just reshape her understanding of risk. It changed how she guides her clients, how she talks about homeownership, and how she approaches home insurance. After a disaster, many homeowners assume their insurance will kick in automatically, offering the financial support needed to rebuild and recover. But for O'Connor, and many of her clients, filing a claim turned out to be almost as stressful as losing the home itself. 'The insurance process has been horrible,' she says. 'You get a check, and then you have to co-sign it with your bank if you have a mortgage, and it goes into an escrow account.' Rather than providing immediate relief, many insurance payouts are tangled in red tape. In place of a lump sum, homeowners are handed a process. One that often requires heaps of paperwork and documentation, and even quotes from contractors before releasing funds to start work, she says. For many, that has meant delays in rebuilding, frustration navigating insurer demands, and confusion over what exactly is covered—and what isn't. As both a homeowner affected by wildfire and a real estate agent helping others pick up the pieces, O'Connor has a rare window into all sides of the recovery process. 'Some insurance companies have been better than others,' she says, adding that all of her clients have had different experiences. In an ironic twist, those whose homes survived the fire aren't necessarily better off. 'People with houses that are still standing are basically being told they need to move back. They're not going to have their living expenses covered.' But those homeowners are wary about returning. Lingering toxins and structural damage are real concerns, especially for families with young children. Yet insurance policies often offer little flexibility when a home is technically habitable. 'Especially people with small kids, it's like, 'Of course, I'm not going to move back,'' says O'Connor, who is also a mother. 'So they're kind of on their own to cover their living expenses.' Insurance hurdles remain steep even for those looking to relocate within the region. 'We have a client … he said he pays $3,000 a year in Arizona, and he got a quote [in Los Feliz] for $40,000 to $50,000.' It's a stark illustration of how wildfire risk is reshaping not just recovery, but also the very feasibility of living in certain parts of California. Premiums are soaring across the country—and not just in California. The average annual premium jumped $648 from 2019 to 2024, a 24% increase, which outpaced the 13% inflation rate during that time. And premiums rose in Utah (59%), Illinois (50%), Arizona (48%), and Pennsylvania (44%), according to an April 2025 report by the Consumer Federation of America. 'Insurance is really high everywhere, because it can really get to you anywhere,' says O'Connor. For buyers navigating this terrain, preparation and prevention are critical. That starts with understanding what insurers look for. 'We work with a great broker. … He has helped us understand what insurance companies look for,' O'Connor says. She points to having a metal roof or fire-hardening around the house (like a gravel belt) as steps that can bring your cost down. 'Any proximity to brush, just forget it,' she adds. Still, much of Los Angeles and other vulnerable regions remain in what insurers classify as 'very high fire severity zones.' That means elevated premiums are often a starting point, with risk mitigation efforts offering only modest relief. The takeaway for buyers? The old way of thinking about home insurance, set it and forget it, no longer applies. Prevention is now pricing power, and understanding your property's risk factors before you buy could make or break your long-term budget. Inside Michael Bolton's Connecticut Home Where He Plays 'Trivia' With His Kids as He Opens Up About Brain Cancer Treatment Arizona Homes Selling for $200K Cheaper Than State's Most Expensive Metro Thanks to Florida Developer Martha Stewart Makes 'Insane' Confession About Her Life at Home—Leaving Kelly Clarkson Gobsmacked
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
5 Jobs That Pay Over $100K and Allow You To Work Remotely
Remote work has been the rave for a few years now, and is reshaping the labor market with California having the highest number of remote workers, according to Public Policy Institute. While some companies are advocating for back-to-office and hybrid roles, many employees have settled into remote roles while others are actively searching for fully remote opportunities. A remote job that pays over $100,000 is achievable for job seekers as high-paying jobs welcome work-from-home opportunities. This way, employees enjoy flexible work and substantial income. Explore More: For You: Various industries — including tech, finance, healthcare, and consulting — are adopting this work change. So, if you're looking to improve your skills or pivot into a new career, here are some remote jobs for you. Finding a remote job that pays over $100,000 is now easier than ever. Thanks to advancements in technology and recent changes in workplace culture. More companies now offer attractive home-based work opportunities. As such, workers can earn a six-figure salary without having to commute to an office. As of January 2025, over 10% of jobs paying $100,000 or more are remote. This shift creates exciting opportunities for those seeking financial success from the comfort of their home. If you're looking for career flexibility, financial stability, and a better work-life balance, explore these lucrative remote opportunities. Find Out: The tech field is at the forefront of remote jobs, with a high demand for software developers. Software engineering becomes profitable once you showcase your skills in Python, Java or JavaScript. Organizations need experts who develop and manage software platforms to improve their functionality. Data security is now a priority for businesses. As such, firms actively hire experts who can defend their sensitive business information from cyber dangers. As a cybersecurity expert, you watch for and stop online threats, which makes this job one of the best-paid remote positions. Certifications like CISSP or CEH can help boost your chances of landing this role. There is a need to manage investments and plan budgets effectively. This leads to an increase in the search for finances. Working in finance or obtaining your certified financial planner (CFP) designation can create a chance for you to have a remote job paying over $100,000 per year. Businesses need digital marketing to grow their operations, and they invest generously in hiring marketing directors with special skills. Managing digital marketing activities while handling brand development and data analysis creates deserving employment opportunities with remote jobs that pay over $100,000 a year. Tech sales professionals sell software and IT solutions to businesses. This job requires good communication and sales skills, entry levels usually start as business development reps with $60,000 to $70,000 while higher roles like sales development and account executive positions start at $100,000. Many roles offer a base salary plus commissions, making it easy to earn over six figures. Since more companies are going digital, remote tech sales jobs are in high demand. Earning a six-figure salary from home is a reality for most professionals. Many industries now offer high salaries for skilled workers who can work remotely. Between 2019 and 2020, high-paying remote jobs have increased across multiple industries. For example, the finance and insurance sector witnessed a 2,062% growth, but legal and accounting saw a 1,995% increase in distant employment. If you're ready to secure a remote job that pays over $100,000, consider doing the following steps: Starting a remote career? Put your existing skills first. Your ability to communicate and solve problems analytically will help you secure opportunities in different industries. Most remote jobs that pay $100,000 require good interpersonal skills as well as professional background experience. Hiring managers put job skills before college credentials in most cases. Being certified in areas such as Google IT Support and Amazon Web Services Cloud Practice, plus professional financial and digital marketing qualifications, gets you into in-demand remote employment pathways with higher earnings. Most recruiters look for job candidates who display their professional expertise on LinkedIn and personal websites. All you need do is build your online profile and make it stand out with the right job keywords relating to your niche. How often do you make connections? Connecting with successful professionals through groups and learning opportunities can help you find new employment options. Most better-paying remote jobs are gotten through the right connections. Several websites, including FlexJobs and Wellfound exclusively list remote work opportunities. Monitoring specific search results for remote jobs helps you find genuine six-figure employment options. More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on 5 Jobs That Pay Over $100K and Allow You To Work Remotely
