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Yahoo
4 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump administration ending protected status for Nepalese migrants
By Ryan Patrick Jones (Reuters) -The Trump administration has moved to end deportation protections the United States granted to thousands of Nepalese people after a 2015 earthquake devastated the country, according to a government notice posted on Thursday. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said in the notice that the administration is terminating temporary protected status for Nepal after a review found the country has largely recovered from the disaster. "There are notable improvements in environmental disaster preparedness and response capacity, as well as substantial reconstruction from the earthquake's destruction such that there is no longer a disruption of living conditions and Nepal is able to handle adequately the return of its nationals," the notice said. The department estimates there are around 12,700 Nepalese with the status, which provides deportation relief and work permits to people already in the U.S. if their home countries experience a natural disaster, armed conflict or other extraordinary event. Of those, approximately 5,500 have lawful permanent residence in the U.S. The notice said the revocation will take effect 60 days from Friday, giving the approximately 7,000 Nepalese migrants with temporary protected status who aren't permanent residents until August 5, 2025, to leave the country or change their immigration status. After that date, they could face deportation. The Department of Homeland Security and the Nepalese embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Donald Trump, who returned to the presidency in January, has pledged to deport record numbers of migrants in the United States illegally and has moved to strip certain migrants of temporary legal protections, expanding the pool of possible deportees. During his first term from 2017 to 2021, Trump's administration tried to end most enrollment in the temporary protected status program, but was stymied by federal courts. Last month, the U.S. Supreme Court let the Trump administration end temporary protected status that was granted to hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans in the U.S. by his predecessor Joe Biden. Trump has also sought to end the status for Haitians, Afghans and others.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
US Treasury unveils plan to end production of penny coin
By Ryan Patrick Jones (Reuters) -The federal government is winding down production of the penny coin following a bipartisan effort to nix the lowest-denomination of U.S. currency over cost concerns, according to a plan outlined by the Treasury Department on Thursday. The department placed its final order for blank pennies in May, it said in a statement. It expects to stop putting new pennies into circulation by early 2026. President Donald Trump in February directed Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to cease production of the coin. Trump has described spending on penny minting as "wasteful." In recent weeks, Republican and Democratic lawmakers introduced separate bills in the House of Representatives and the Senate calling for an end to penny production. The change means that businesses will have to start rounding the prices of cash transactions up or down to the nearest five-cent nickel as the number of pennies in circulation dwindles. The Treasury's penny phase-out plan was first reported by the Wall Street Journal, the details of which were confirmed to Reuters by a department spokesperson. The cost of producing the penny has risen from 1.3 cents per coin to 3.69 cents over the past 10 years, according to the Treasury. It said stopping production will lead to immediate annual savings of $56 million. The penny was first issued by the government in 1793. Since 1909, the profile of President Abraham Lincoln has adorned the obverse side of the coin that is made of zinc and copper. Americans have debated for years whether the penny should be dropped from the line-up of American currency. Supporters of the penny argue it helps keep consumer prices down and is a source of income to charities. For its critics, the coin is a nuisance that ends up being discarded in drawers, ash trays and piggy banks. There are around 114 billion pennies currently in circulation in the U.S., according to the Treasury.
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Migrant arrests at US-Mexico border in March lowest ever recorded
By Ryan Patrick Jones (Reuters) -The number of migrants caught illegally crossing the U.S.-Mexico border in March fell to the lowest level ever recorded, according to initial figures released by the U.S. government on Tuesday. U.S. Customs and Border Protection said in a news release that its data currently shows around 7,180 migrants were arrested at the border in March, which would be the lowest monthly total on record. The number of migrant arrests in March is down from a monthly average of 155,000 over the past four years, the border patrol agency said. Final numbers for March will be released in the coming days, CBP said. "Border Patrol agents are empowered like never before to shut down unlawful entry and protect American lives,' Acting CBP Commissioner Pete Flores said in the release. President Donald Trump, a Republican, took an array of actions to deter illegal crossings at the U.S.-Mexico border after returning to the White House on January 20, saying a crackdown was needed after high levels of migration under his Democratic predecessor former President Joe Biden. Trump's moves included surging military troops and implementing a sweeping ban on asylum at the border. His measures built on some initiatives already under way by the end of Biden's tenure, including a similar asylum ban and a push to increase Mexican enforcement. The measures appear to have reduced crossings. U.S. Border Patrol's monthly enforcement statistics go back to 2000. The lowest monthly total of 8,347 was recorded last month. Prior to that, the lowest monthly total on record was April 2017, when the agency arrested 11,127 at the start of Trump's first term. While the number of border arrests similarly dipped at the start of Trump's 2017-2021 presidency - what some called "the Trump effect" - they rebounded in some months and years that followed. Migrant arrests are often used as a proxy to estimate illegal crossings although some migrants also enter undetected.
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
U.S. sanctions three Iranian officials allegedly involved in death of FBI agent Robert Levinson
By Ryan Patrick Jones (Reuters) - The United States has imposed sanctions on three Iranian intelligence officers for their alleged involvement in the disappearance of former FBI Special Agent Robert Levinson, the U.S. Treasury and State departments said in press releases on Tuesday. The sanctions on Reza Amiri Moghadam, Gholamhossein Mohammadnia, and Taqi Daneshvar of Iran's Ministry of Intelligence and Security are the latest linked to the disappearance of the former FBI agent, who Washington believes was abducted in Iran and died in captivity. As a result of the sanctions, any property of the men under U.S. jurisdiction must be blocked and Americans are generally barred from dealing with them. Foreign persons also risk blacklisting for dealing with them. 'Iran's treatment of Mr. Levinson remains a blight on Iran's already grim record of human rights abuse,' Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a statement. 'The Department of the Treasury will continue to work with U.S. government partners to identify those responsible and shine a light on their abhorrent behavior.' Levinson, who was working as a private investigator, disappeared in March 2007 after traveling to an island controlled by Iran for a meeting seeking information on alleged corruption involving former Iranian President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani. The three sanctioned individuals all played a role in Levinson's abduction, detention and probable death, as well as efforts to cover up Iran's responsibility, the Treasury Department said. The sanctions are being imposed under an executive order signed by former President Joe Biden, which seeks to hold to account terrorist organizations, criminal groups and other "malicious actors" who take hostages for financial or political gain. The U.S. previously sanctioned two other Iranian officials in December 2020 who it accused of involvement in Levinson's disappearance.
Yahoo
23-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Chuck Schumer holds firm, rejecting calls to quit as top Senate Democrat
By Ryan Patrick Jones (Reuters) -U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer on Sunday dismissed calls from some Democratic lawmakers for him to step down as leader in the Senate over his approach to a recently passed government funding bill. Schumer sparked anger among Democrats last week when he decided not to block a Republican-drafted spending bill that many in the party said gave President Donald Trump, a Republican, too much power. "Look, I'm not stepping down," Schumer told NBC's "Meet the Press." Schumer said while the spending bill was "certainly bad" and that he had anticipated his support for it would stir controversy, the other option had been to let the government shut down, which would have been "15 or 20 times worse." Schumer said during a shutdown the executive branch had sole power to determine what government functions and employees were essential. In such a scenario, Schumer argued, Trump, his cost-cutting adviser Elon Musk and budget chief Russ Vought could "eviscerate the federal government." Schumer's decision to side with Republicans outraged Democrats in Congress and progressive groups, and highlighted the party's struggles as it is shut out of power in Washington. Several Democrats in the House of Representatives, including Representatives Glenn Ivey and Delia Ramirez, suggested he step aside, according to Politico. NPR reported on Thursday that while Democratic Senator Michael Bennet of Colorado stopped short of calling for Schumer to quit, he told a town hall that "it's important for people to know when it's time to go." Schumer dismissed criticism on "Meet the Press" from former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi that he gave away Democratic leverage for nothing, arguing what they achieved was avoiding the "horror" of a government shutdown.
