Latest news with #Rahmani
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump travel ban 2.0 is built to survive court challenges, experts say
President Donald Trump's sweeping new travel ban may prove more legally durable than its 2017 predecessor as immigration advocates prepare for a likely court battle they're not expected to win. Trump's latest travel ban expands on the policy he imposed during his first term targeting seven Muslim-majority nations, a measure the Supreme Court upheld in a 5-4 ruling. Like its predecessor, the new order relies on the same immigration statutes but may rest on firmer legal ground this time. Attorney Neama Rahmani, a California-based former federal prosecutor who specializes in immigration, told Fox News Digital he anticipated that immigration rights groups would likely sue over Trump's new order. "But they'll lose," he said, because "it's stronger than the last ban." Trump Bans Travel To Us From Several Countries To 'Block Dangerous Foreign Actors' Rahmani pointed to allegations that the last ban violated religious liberties because it singled out Muslims. This new one included "all sorts of countries," Rahmani said. Trump imposed full or partial bans on 19 countries in his new proclamation, including Muslim-majority countries like Afghanistan and Iran but also non-Muslim-majority countries like Haiti, Venezuela, Eritrea and Burundi. Read On The Fox News App "You don't have Trump saying that he's imposing a Muslim ban. Those words during the campaign, and even after he was elected, were used against him," Rahmani said, adding that the Supreme Court is also "slightly different" and a "better audience" for Trump this time around. The 5-4 split in Trump v. Hawaii fell along ideological lines and came before Justices Amy Coney Barrett and Brett Kavanaugh, both Trump appointees, were confirmed to the bench. Although the Supreme Court has historically given presidents wide latitude over foreign policy and national security, in 2017 the dissenting justices argued the ban amounted to unjustified religious animus disguised as national security. "The Court's decision … leaves undisturbed a policy first advertised openly and unequivocally as a 'total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States' because the policy now masquerades behind a façade of national-security concerns," the dissent read. Supreme Court To Debate Trump Restrictions On Birthright Citizenship And Enforcement Of Nationwide Injunctions Democrat lawmakers and immigration rights critics have argued that Trump's new proclamation is rooted in bigotry. Sarah Mehta, deputy director of policy and government affairs for immigration at the American Civil Liberties Union, told Fox News Digital in a statement that she believed it was designed to "further eviscerate lawful immigration pathways under the false guise of national security." "We saw the chaos that ensued from the first Trump administration's Muslim ban, and this executive order will only build on that reign of terror to target people solely based on their nationality or religious beliefs," Mehta said. Trump said in his proclamation that the restrictions were necessary to prevent terrorist attacks and mitigate other public safety risks because the countries had unreliable screening and vetting processes. Additionally, some had a high occurrence of visa overstays or were uncooperative when it came to accepting their citizens back from the United States, Trump said. Ilya Somin, who is one of the attorneys challenging Trump's sweeping tariffs in the U.S. Court of International Trade, wrote in an op-ed that it would be "nearly impossible to challenge this new travel ban on the grounds that it is motivated by ethnic or other bigotry" because of the Supreme Court's prior ruling. Somin floated the possibility of challenging the ban on other grounds, including the nondelegation doctrine, which puts limits on how much power Congress can transfer to the executive branch. He noted as an example that two courts have thus far shunned the president's attempts to bypass Congress and take tariffs into his own hands. However, Somin conceded that the travel ban presents a higher hurdle than the tariffs case. While the Constitution explicitly gives Congress power over tariffs, Somin said, it "does not clearly" say which branch of government has jurisdiction over immigration article source: Trump travel ban 2.0 is built to survive court challenges, experts say
Shafaq News
02-05-2025
- Business
- Shafaq News
Erbil-Tehran axis: Iran pushes for stronger ties with Kurdistan
Shafaq News/ Iran is seeking to deepen economic and logistical ties with Iraq's Kurdistan Region, prioritizing its border province of West Azerbaijan as a trade and transit hub, officials said on Friday during a high-level visit to Erbil. In talks with Erbil Governor Omed Khoshnaw, Rahmani expressed hopes that the visit would mark "a new phase" in bilateral ties, emphasizing West Azerbaijan's strategic location bordering Turkiye, Iraq, and the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. 'This province has become a regional focal point for trade and transit.' At the center of Rahmani's pitch is the Maku Free Trade and Industrial Zone, which exported over $234 million worth of goods and services in the Iranian calendar year 1401 (March 2022–March 2023). The bulk—more than $223 million—was in services, with goods accounting for nearly $11 million, according to Iranian trade data. However, the growth narrative is not without caveats. Rahmani acknowledged persistent logistical bottlenecks at border crossings, where delays in truck movement remain a major obstacle. 'We need to activate existing agreements and remove procedural hurdles,' he emphasized, referencing bilateral MoUs that have yet to be fully implemented. The Kalashin crossing, a key trade corridor connecting West Azerbaijan to Erbil province, remains closed pending administrative approval, and its reactivation is expected to ease pressure on other crossings and facilitate smoother trade flows. No decisions have yet been announced regarding the full reopening of Haji Omaran or Parwezkhan crossings. While Bashmakh resumed operations in late 2023, the pace of normalization remains uneven. Rahmani also praised the Kurdistan Region's role in facilitating the Arbaeen pilgrimage, calling it a 'spiritual cornerstone' requiring high-level coordination. In 2024, around 70,000 Iranian pilgrims used the Haji Omaran route, with over 50,000 returning the same way. Both governors closed the meeting with pledges to deepen cooperation in trade, infrastructure, and tourism. With sanctions isolating parts of Iran's economy, Tehran sees border provinces like West Azerbaijan not just as gateways for trade, but as pressure valves for domestic economic relief and tools of soft diplomacy in a volatile region.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Wisconsin judge accused of obstructing ICE could face years in prison, DOJ has 'upper hand': former prosecutor
A Milwaukee, Wisconsin judge could face years in prison for allegedly helping an illegal immigrant evade Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), a former federal prosecutor said. Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Hannah Dugan, 65, was arrested by the FBI and charged with obstruction of proceedings before a department or agency of the United States on Friday. She allegedly whisked away a previously-deported illegal immigrant and his attorney from her courthouse in order to stop ICE from arresting him. She was also charged with concealing an individual to prevent discovery and arrest. "It's five years if the individual is wanted for a felony, and it's one year if they're wanted for a misdemeanor," attorney Neama Rahmani told Fox News Digital this week. "So it's five years." Wisconsin Judge Threatens Courtroom Boycott Over Hannah Dugan Arrest Rahmani was a federal prosecutor before founding West Coast Trial Lawyers, a personal injury firm with more than two dozen locations in California and Nevada. Read On The Fox News App Dugan's arrest came after Mexican national Eduardo Flores-Ruiz appeared in court on April 18 to face three misdemeanor battery charges for allegedly beating two people. Though he was there on state-level misdemeanors, federal law enforcement was trying to arrest him for the federal felony of illegal reentry into the United States, Rahmani explained. Flores-Ruiz was removed from the United States in 2013. "I do think the Department of Justice has the upper hand here, if indeed, the allegations are true, and they have a lawful warrant, and a judge helps an individual essentially escape out of the side door – a nonpublic door – with the help of their attorney," he said. "I mean, that is a big problem." According to the DOJ, Flores-Ruiz was "subject to arrest based on an administrative warrant issued by ICE for immigration violations following his recent criminal charges in Milwaukee County." "Under the Supremacy Clause, the law is clear," Rahmani said. "A state judge can't ignore federal law, much less a federal warrant, whether it's signed by a judge or even an administrative warrant." He also said that states have no right to slow down federal immigration proceedings. "I'm just speaking as a lawyer, you know, there's no legal basis for that," he said. "You can't just ignore the law, especially if you're a judge, nor can you just slow down immigration enforcement. You just can't do it. It's very clear this is exclusively a federal issue. Ex-new Mexico Judge, Wife Arrested For Allegedly Harboring Illegal Tren De Aragua Member On April 18, Flores-Ruiz was in Dugan's courtroom for a pre-trial hearing facing three state charges of misdemeanor domestic battery for allegedly punching a roommate 30 times and hitting a woman inside his residence. According to the DOJ, Dugan first confronted federal agents and ordered them to leave the courtroom before Flores-Ruiz's hearing began. She told them they needed a judicial warrant, and to get one from the Chief Judge's office. When the agents were no longer in her vicinity, she then canceled Flores-Ruiz's hearing, despite the fact that his alleged victims were present. That is when she allegedly personally escorted Flores-Ruiz through a restricted "jury door" that led to a non-public hallway, through which Flores-Ruiz exited the building. Federal agents took him into custody after a brief foot chase. Ultimately, Rahmani said that Dugan's arrest sends a clear message. "It doesn't matter if you're a cartel member, a coyote, local law enforcement, a judge – you can't do it," he said. "I mean, the law applies to everyone equally. So I think this is absolutely sending the message. And I understand that people are upset at immigration enforcement and all that, but you can't break the law, especially if you are tasked with enforcing the law. That is your job as a judge." Dugan did not speak during her first court hearing in federal court, but her attorney was defiant. Fox News confirmed Tuesday that Dugan is not in her courtroom, and the doors to her courtroom are locked. On Wednesday, she was temporarily suspended from her position. She has retained the law firm Mastantuono Coffee & Thomas. Former U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin Steven Biskupic, a President George W. Bush appointee, has also joined Dugan's defense team. So has another former Bush appointee, ex-U.S. Solicitor General Paul Clement. "Judge Hannah C. Dugan has committed herself to the rule of law and the principles of due process for her entire career as a lawyer and a judge," the law firm said on Dugan's behalf. "She has retained former United States Attorney Steven Biskupic to represent her. Judge Dugan will defend herself vigorously, and looks forward to being exonerated. This will be the extent of any statements or interviews at this time." Biskupic and Clement did not return requests for comment. Dugan is due back in court on May 15. Fox News' Patrick McGovern and Garrett Tenney contributed to this report. Original article source: Wisconsin judge accused of obstructing ICE could face years in prison, DOJ has 'upper hand': former prosecutor
Fox News
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Wisconsin judge accused of obstructing ICE could face years in prison, DOJ has 'upper hand': former prosecutor
A Milwaukee, Wisconsin judge could face years in prison for allegedly helping an illegal immigrant evade Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), a former federal prosecutor said. Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Hannah Dugan, 65, was arrested by the FBI and charged with obstruction of proceedings before a department or agency of the United States on Friday. She allegedly whisked away a previously-deported illegal immigrant and his attorney from her courthouse in order to stop ICE from arresting him. She was also charged with concealing an individual to prevent discovery and arrest. "It's five years if the individual is wanted for a felony, and it's one year if they're wanted for a misdemeanor," attorney Neama Rahmani told Fox News Digital this week. "So it's five years." Rahmani was a federal prosecutor before founding West Coast Trial Lawyers, a personal injury firm with more than two dozen locations in California and Nevada. Dugan's arrest came after Mexican national Eduardo Flores-Ruiz appeared in court on April 18 to face three misdemeanor battery charges for allegedly beating two people. Though he was there on state-level misdemeanors, federal law enforcement was trying to arrest him for the federal felony of illegal reentry into the United States, Rahmani explained. Flores-Ruiz was removed from the United States in 2013. "I do think the Department of Justice has the upper hand here, if indeed, the allegations are true, and they have a lawful warrant, and a judge helps an individual essentially escape out of the side door – a nonpublic door – with the help of their attorney," he said. "I mean, that is a big problem." According to the DOJ, Flores-Ruiz was "subject to arrest based on an administrative warrant issued by ICE for immigration violations following his recent criminal charges in Milwaukee County." "Under the Supremacy Clause, the law is clear," Rahmani said. "A state judge can't ignore federal law, much less a federal warrant, whether it's signed by a judge or even an administrative warrant." He also said that states have no right to slow down federal immigration proceedings. "I'm just speaking as a lawyer, you know, there's no legal basis for that," he said. "You can't just ignore the law, especially if you're a judge, nor can you just slow down immigration enforcement. You just can't do it. It's very clear this is exclusively a federal issue. On April 18, Flores-Ruiz was in Dugan's courtroom for a pre-trial hearing facing three state charges of misdemeanor domestic battery for allegedly punching a roommate 30 times and hitting a woman inside his residence. According to the DOJ, Dugan first confronted federal agents and ordered them to leave the courtroom before Flores-Ruiz's hearing began. She told them they needed a judicial warrant, and to get one from the Chief Judge's office. When the agents were no longer in her vicinity, she then canceled Flores-Ruiz's hearing, despite the fact that his alleged victims were present. That is when she allegedly personally escorted Flores-Ruiz through a restricted "jury door" that led to a non-public hallway, through which Flores-Ruiz exited the building. Federal agents took him into custody after a brief foot chase. Ultimately, Rahmani said that Dugan's arrest sends a clear message. "It doesn't matter if you're a cartel member, a coyote, local law enforcement, a judge – you can't do it," he said. "I mean, the law applies to everyone equally. So I think this is absolutely sending the message. And I understand that people are upset at immigration enforcement and all that, but you can't break the law, especially if you are tasked with enforcing the law. That is your job as a judge." Dugan did not speak during her first court hearing in federal court, but her attorney was defiant. Fox News confirmed Tuesday that Dugan is not in her courtroom, and the doors to her courtroom are locked. On Wednesday, she was temporarily suspended from her position. She has retained the law firm Mastantuono Coffee & Thomas. Former U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin Steven Biskupic, a President George W. Bush appointee, has also joined Dugan's defense team. So has another former Bush appointee, ex-U.S. Solicitor General Paul Clement. "Judge Hannah C. Dugan has committed herself to the rule of law and the principles of due process for her entire career as a lawyer and a judge," the law firm said on Dugan's behalf. "She has retained former United States Attorney Steven Biskupic to represent her. Judge Dugan will defend herself vigorously, and looks forward to being exonerated. This will be the extent of any statements or interviews at this time." Biskupic and Clement did not return requests for comment. Dugan is due back in court on May 15.
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Las Vegas ticket price factors include tourist demand, unique tax, Allegiant Stadium capacity
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — When Kendrick Lamar plays Allegiant Stadium on May 31, fans will pay about $42 more than prices for his May 24 show at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. And that might surprise some fans since the ticket is actually $7.50 less if you compare receipts. It's the service fees and taxes that push the Las Vegas price higher. 8 News Now did a side-by-side comparison leading up to the rap superstar's Grand National Tour, using a comparable floor seat rather than just looking at the highest prices. Below are screenshots of Ticketmaster prices, with added taxes and fees listed: Although the base ticket price for the Lamar show was $372 at Allegiant and $379.50 at SoFi, the was $372 and total prices told a different story: $520.25 at Allegiant compared to $478.30 at SoFi. 'Consumers absolutely hate these types of hidden fees,' Neama Rahmani, CEO of West Coast Trial Lawyers, said in a recent interview. 'Most of them think it's a scam because they're being advertised one price and then when they go to check out online through the Ticketmaster app or through their browser, the price is significantly higher.' 'Or when they show up to check in at a Las Vegas hotel and they're on the Strip, they didn't read the fine print and there's a resort fee that sometimes can be very significant,' he said. WrestleMania in Vegas 'most successful' in company history: WWE Rahmani, who is based in Los Angeles, has attended events at Allegiant and at SoFi. His company has offices in Las Vegas. 'It's a bad consumer experience and they frankly think it's scammy, but it results in billions and billions of dollars for these companies. That's why they try to add them on,' he said. Last week, 8 News Now told you about a trend that shows major performers charging more when their tours are in Las Vegas. That data was produced by Applied Analysis and presented at this year's annual Preview event, which looks at economic expectations for the coming year. This year, the event took on a WrestleMania theme. See that story here: WrestleMania 41 latest example of staggering ticket prices in Las Vegas The higher prices for big acts shouldn't be a big surprise, Rahmani said. 'When you have these big headliners, Beyoncés, Billy Joels of the world, and you have a casino sometimes picking up tickets for their whales to give away, so that can drive up the market as well, when you have folks coming from out of town,' he said. It's just one of the things that makes the Las Vegas market unique. Other factors include: TOURISM — Depending on the event, tourists can have a big influence on ticket prices. Observers have noted that fans from other cities often come to Las Vegas for NFL and NHL games. VENUE SPECS — The size and flexibility of each stadium/arena is different. Rahmani notes that Allegiant Stadium is smaller than SoFi Stadium, a big factor in pricing for Super Bowl tickets that were much higher here than in Los Angeles in 2022. SoFi seats 70,000 for football games, but it is expandable to 100,240 for other major events. By comparison, Allegiant sits 65,000 but can accommodate 72,000 for Super Bowls and concerts. T-Mobile Arena seats 17,500 plus standing room for hockey, expandable to 20,000 for concerts. TAXES — Nevada's 'Live Entertainment Tax' is unique. In the Kendrick Lamar comparison, that tax added about $34 to the cost of seeing the show at Allegiant. STATE LAWS — 'All-in' pricing is the law in some states, including California. But Nevada law doesn't require that yet. Senate Bill 338 is still alive at the Nevada Legislature, aimed at the way prices are misrepresented. Federal Trade Commission regulations that go into effect on May 12 is expected to address problems in transparency of ticket prices. SB338 would extend that to resale tickets as well, as well as putting some teeth into laws by giving the Nevada Attorney General's office the authority to prosecute the cases. The current lawsuit by the U.S. Justice Department against Live Nation-Ticketmaster claims that the companies are monopolizing the market, relying on 'unlawful, anticompetitive conduct.' As that works its way through the courts, there's another avenue available for consumers who feel like they have been cheated. 'The other area that's important to know is consumer protection laws and unfair business practices — false advertising,' Rahmani said. 'And really it's a question of can these ticket companies falsely advertise their prices, whether it's not all-in or whether it's a drip pricing campaign. Those are the areas of the law that can potentially protect consumers from price gouging or anti-competitive or deceptive conduct,' Rahmani said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
