Latest news with #SeanElo-Rivera
Newsweek
17 hours ago
- General
- Newsweek
ICE Director Responds to Agents Being Labeled 'Terrorists'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) acting chief has denied heavy-handedness on the part of his agents, who he says have been forced to wear masks after being "doxed" and branded "terrorists." Doxing is an online attack that involves publishing someone's personal information and details online, often with the intent to intimidate or frighten the victim. The agency's Acting Director Todd Lyons comments come in the wake of criticism by San Diego Councilman Sean Elo-Rivera, who branded ICE officers "terrorists" following a raid at an Italian restaurant in the Californian city last week. The operation turned chaotic as customers tried to prevent the sting, which took place during the Friday night dinner rush. Newsweek has reached out by email to ICE and San Diego City Council seeking further comment. Why It Matters The furor comes amid a febrile debate across the U.S. about immigration, which President Donald Trump had made a cornerstone of his presidential election campaign. When he took the keys to the White House for his second term in office, he kicked off with a dramatic series of immigration raids and also revealed his hopes to end the automatic birthright citizenship for the children born to parents who aren't citizens or lawful permanent residents in the U.S. The subject has proved divisive as politicians across the political spectrum battle about the best way to deal with immigration issues, and Democrats have slammed Trump and highlighted various deportation cases they claim are miscarriages of justice. An Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent wearing a mask in Elizabeth, New Jersey, on May 7, 2025. An Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent wearing a mask in Elizabeth, New Jersey, on May 7, 2025. Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images What To Know Lyons spoke at a news conference in Boston to announce nearly 1,500 arrests across Massachusetts in May as part of a "surge operation." During the event, he addressed criticism of his officers, but suggested he was shocked that people were more upset about his agents wearing masks, than the fact they had been forced to hide their faces due to safety fears amid the threat of retaliation for doing their jobs. He appeared visibly emotional as he said two weeks ago in Los Angeles that his agents were "doxed." He added: "People are out there taking photos, of their names, their faces, and posting them online with death threats to their family and themselves." His comments came after a backlash in the state last week, during a raid at the Buona Forchetta restaurant in San Diego. ICE officers swooped on four workers who were allegedly in the U.S. illegally. But the situation reportedly got out of hand when customers and witnesses surrounded their vehicles and tried to impede the operation. ICE agents deployed flash-bangs as smoke filled the air, and masked agents wearing tactical gear faced off against the crowd. "Federal actions like these are billed as a public safety measure, but it had the complete opposite effect. What we saw undermines trust and creates fear in our community," San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria said later. What People Are Saying San Diego Councilman Sean Elo-Rivera shared a photograph of ICE agents on his Instagram page, which had the word "TERRORISTS" scrawled in red across it. He wrote a post alongside the image, saying: "Look at this photo. This isn't a war zone—it's a neighborhood in our city. In San Diego, they've targeted parents dropping off their kids at school, people following the law inside courthouses, and workers just doing their jobs at local restaurants. "These are federal agents carrying out raids on under the false pretense of 'safety.' This isn't safety. It's state-sponsored terrorism. And anyone who cares about freedom—and true safety—should be fighting back." U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Acting Director Todd Lyons said: "I'm sorry if people are offended by them wearing masks, but I'm not going to let my officers and agents go out there and put their lives on the line, their family on the line because people don't like what immigration enforcement is." He went on to add: "Is that the issue here, that we're just upset about the masks? Or is anyone upset about the fact that ICE officers' families were labeled terrorists?" What Happens Next Lyons told Fox & Friends on Sunday that ICE was currently averaging around 1,600 arrests per day across the U.S. However, Stephen Miller, deputy chief of staff for policy and homeland security adviser, says he wants to see that total reaching 3,000 arrests per day. In the meantime, the debate looks set to continue as Trump pushes ahead with his crackdown.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
San Diego official faces backlash after labeling ICE agents 'terrorists'
A California city councilmember was blasted on social media over the weekend after sharing a photo of ICE agents on Instagram with the word "Terrorists" written in red on top of the agents. In the photo, which San Diego City Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera posted to Instagram with the Rage Against The Machine song "Bulls On Parade," immigration agents appear to be in a parking lot wearing helmets and vests and carrying guns. "Look at this photo. This isn't a war zone—it's a neighborhood in our city," Elo-Rivera wrote in the post. "In San Diego, they've targeted parents dropping off their kids at school, people following the law inside courthouses, and workers just doing their jobs at local restaurants. "These are federal agents carrying out raids on under the false pretense of 'safety,'" he added. "This isn't safety. It's state-sponsored terrorism. And anyone who cares about freedom—and true safety—should be fighting back." Dhs Says Massachusetts City Council Member 'Incited Chaos' As Ice Arrested 'Violent Criminal Alien' Prior to the post Friday night, Elo-Rivera, who represents the 9th City Council District, shared a series of Instagram stories criticizing ICE action in the city. Read On The Fox News App "They've targeted parents outside schools in my district," he wrote in one story. "They've targeted people following the law at courthouses. Tonight, they targeted hard working folks in South Park and tomorrow it could be anyone in any neighborhood in San Diego. The only way we put a stop to it is by not looking away and demanding that it end." In subsequent Instagram stories, he called ICE agents "jackbooted thugs," "cowards" and "criminals" and said the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) action was "state-sponsored terrorism." California Home Of Suspect Accused Of Doxxing Ice Agents Raided And Searched After the public rant was shared by LA-based Fox News correspondent Bill Melugin on Saturday afternoon, Elo-Rivera jumped back on social media again to double down on his phrasing. "A Fox 'News' correspondent has called attention to my choice of words… I said what I meant and meant what I said," Elo-Rivera wrote. He then posted a screenshot from Cornell Law School's website, which notes there is no universal definition for terrorism, and checked off a bullet-pointed list of "common elements that characterize it" before calling Instagram users "fascists." Sanctuary City Lawyers Plot To Help Illegal Migrants Evade Ice In Exposed Group Email Stephen Miller, White House deputy chief of staff for policy and a homeland security advisor, took to X to respond to Elo-Rivera's posts, writing, "We are living in the age of leftwing domestic terrorism. They are openly encouraging violence against law enforcement to aid and abet the invasion of America." Elo-Rivera responded by calling Miller "one of the most dishonest and worst people in America," noting "nothing makes me more confident in my position than knowing he hates it." The Instagram posts came just hours after Patricia Hyde, the head of ICE Boston, told Fox News sanctuary jurisdictions are beginning to escalate against ICE. Reported incidents include a group of activists trying to free a suspected illegal immigrant who was handcuffed by ICE and a crowd blowing ICE's cover outside an alleged illegal immigrant murderer's home. "I think the lack of cooperation is getting worse and worse, and it's putting law enforcement lives in danger," Hyde said. "Elected officials comparing ICE law enforcement agents to terrorists is SICKENING," an ICE spokesperson told Fox News Digital. "Attacks and demonization of ICE and our partners is wrong. "ICE officers are now facing a 413% increase in assaults. ICE is working day and night to remove murders, pedophiles, and gang members from American communities." Cornell University, Cornell Law School and San Diego City Council President Joe LaCava did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's requests for comment. Fox News Digital's Michael Dorgan contributed to this article source: San Diego official faces backlash after labeling ICE agents 'terrorists'
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
‘It's a rigged system': San Diego becomes the 5th US city to ban using AI software to set rent prices
The San Diego City Council recently voted 8-1 to prohibit landlords from using rent price-fixing software that relies on non-public data. The measure was introduced by Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera, who claimed the programs are harming tenants by giving landlords an unfair advantage. I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 5 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 — and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how Nervous about the stock market in 2025? Find out how you can access this $1B private real estate fund (with as little as $10) "It's a rigged system," Councilmember Elo-Rivera told CBS 8. "We know that these companies are able to coordinate with one another via the software to keep prices artificially high, and sometimes even receive coaching from the software, the platform that says, don't negotiate, leave units vacant if necessary, to keep these prices high." Minneapolis, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Berkeley have all banned the use of such software. The Justice Department has filed an antitrust lawsuit against Texas-based RealPage, which controls 80% of the market for rent-setting software, and six of the country's biggest landlords for 'participating in algorithmic pricing schemes that harmed renters.' Attorneys General of several states have joined the fight. If the suit is successful and if bans continue, tenants may soon find some relief from high prices, which could give them much-needed wiggle room in their budgets. San Diego's ban targets software programs made by companies like RealPage. These companies collect private rental market data from landlords and put the data into a program that uses AI algorithms to recommend rental rates, propose rental price increases, and set occupancy rates. Because the programs use sensitive private data there are concerns that they help landlords violate antitrust laws prohibiting competitors from colluding to keep prices higher than they should be. In some cases, the programs even urge landlords to keep units empty or to raise rents. This has consequences. In San Diego, for example, the programs were allegedly causing rental prices to be 2% to 7% higher than they would have been without the programs. Read more: This hedge fund legend warns US stock market will crash a stunning 80% — claims 'Armageddon' is coming. Don't believe him? He earned 4,144% during COVID. Here's 3 ways to protect yourself "What I pay is $4,200 for rent, it's almost more than a mortgage for a house," local renter George Medrano told CBS 8. Medrano said his rent has gone from $2,600 in 2020 to the $4,200 he is paying today, and while he acknowledges market forces were a contributing factor, he also thinks collusion on the part of landlords helped push the price of his unit higher. Not everyone supports the ban, though. Councilmember Raul Campillo voted against it, expressing concern that it could prevent landlords from doing routine and necessary assessments of their company's strength against competitors. A group representing local landlords also expressed concern that the rules were too vague Another local renter, Rowan Liao, also pointed out that when algorithms set rates, at least they are based on math instead of emotions. "I think when prices are written by people, there's unavoidable bias introduced, kind of like emotion-based pricing," Liao said to CBS 8. Still, with the ban in effect, landlords will need to stop using the software, or they could be sued by tenants for a violation of the new rule. Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan 'works every single time' to kill debt, get rich in America — and that 'anyone' can do it Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market — here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead Here are 5 'must have' items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you? This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
San Diego City Council approves law banning technology used in rental price fixing
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — The San Diego City Council is targeting price fixing with a new law that bans landlords from using AI software to determine rent prices or occupancy levels. The city initiated action on the measure last October, and on Tuesday, the ordinance, spearheaded by Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera, was approved in an 8 to 1 vote. The law doesn't touch affordable housing programs or tools using public data. 'Some of the biggest corporate landlords in the country are teaming up with big tech to use powerful, secretive software to coordinate rent hikes. Software that weaponizes private data from what should be competing landlords to figure out just how high they can push prices,' Elo-Rivera said. The law takes aim at companies like RealPage, which is also the subject of a federal investigation. 'If you use Realpage's own advertising that it can help a landlord outperform the market by up to 7%, that would equate to up to an extra $185 every month for a renter in a rental managed with this price fixing software,' said Maya Rosas, the deputy chief of staff to Elo-Rivera. Heather Ferbert, the San Diego city attorney, said, 'The United States Department of Justice, California Attorney General Rob Bonta, and the attorneys general of eight other states agree this conduct violates both federal antitrust laws and California's unfair competition law, and they filed lawsuits to that effect, but we can't just sit and wait while San Diegans' rents keep rising.' Supporters argue the ordinance is a protective measure against homelessness. {sot: mohamed omar –partnership for the advancement of new americans} 'Like so many San Diegans, I felt the pressure of rising rents and fear of being priced out of my own city. It's unacceptable,' said Mohamed Omar from the Partnership for the Advancement of New Americans. Opponents believe the law will hurt housing development. Michael Semko, an attorney for RealPage, said, 'Banning software like this that every other industry in the United States that has any scale to it at all to help sellers price widgets will not attract more housing to California.' Similar fears are echoed by Councilmember Raul Campillo – the only 'no' vote. 'That's just something that I think is going to have too much of a negative effect and that will have a larger impact on rent as a whole throughout our region,' Campillo said. Following the ordinance's enactment, renters can initiate legal proceedings against landlords for violations, and landlords may face fines of up to $1,000 per offense. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
San Diego bans grocery stores from offering digital-only coupons
San Diego has banned grocery stores from offering only digital coupons after the San Diego City Council voted unanimously in favor of the Grocery Pricing Transparency Ordinance. It's just one move by states looking to alleviate the financial burden many families are facing at the grocery store. The ordinance, which still has to return to council for a second reading, is the first of its kind in the U.S. and is aimed at keeping seniors and low-income families from unfairly paying higher prices for groceries. Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera led the effort to pass the ordinance after his father, who's in his 70s, complained about having difficulty accessing digital coupons and said they didn't always work. 'Simplest policy we've ever written,' Elo-Rivera told CBS 8. 'If you offer a discount digitally, there must be a way to physically access that discount in the store.' I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 5 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) Nervous about the stock market in 2025? Find out how you can access this $1B private real estate fund (with as little as $10) Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan 'works every single time' to kill debt, get rich in America — and that 'anyone' can do it Elo-Rivera and his colleagues on the council hope the ordinance will help ease some of the inequities that result from the digital divide, where some people don't have access to mobile technology or the internet because of lack of financial means or technological know-how. This divide tends to disproportionately affect seniors and those with low incomes. For instance, in the U.S., 90% of all adults own or use a smartphone, but only 76% of those 65 and over own one. And only 79% of those with an annual income of less than $30,000 do, according to Pew Research Center. Yet another barrier: In San Diego, more than 50,000 San Diego households don't have internet access, according to Elo-Rivera's office. And among those that do, there is still frustration with using grocery apps. 'What I found frustrating is not being able to use it, and then the cashier at the counter couldn't use it, and couldn't show me how to do it,' Fred Davis, a Serving Seniors volunteer, told CBS 8. 'Not only did I not get the discount, but nobody could help me.' Some argue that the difficulty may be by design. Digital discounts are 'a clever ploy by big supermarket chains to get people into the store knowing full well that many of them will wind up paying more than the advertised price,' according to Edgar Dworsky, a consumer advocate and founder of Consumer World. Read more: The US stock market's 'fear gauge' has exploded — but this 1 'shockproof' asset is up 14% and helping American retirees stay calm. Here's how to own it ASAP Unfortunately, the people most affected by this — seniors on fixed incomes and low-income families — are those who could most use them. These groups spend a larger percentage of their income on food and are highly dependent on sales and discounts to get by. As more of these discounts become digital-only, it makes budgeting and reducing food costs almost impossible. Still, digital coupons are popular and their use is expected to continue growing. And there has been some pushback against the proposal. 'The current proposal would actually reduce access to discounts for San Diegans, not expand it,' members of the California Grocers Association said in a statement to CBS 8, in response to the San Diego ordinance. 'The proposal would make special offerings like loyalty programs — which fairly reward a store's best customers — unworkable.' The group implored the San Diego council to consider the ramifications of their proposal. Still, San Diego is not the only jurisdiction looking to create laws that would improve the transparency of grocery pricing. In recent months, lawmakers in New Jersey, Illinois, Rhode Island and Connecticut have been looking at legislation that would require grocery stores offering digital coupons to offer alternatives such as paper coupons. In the end, legislation may not be required. Some retailers now have in-store kiosks that allow all customers to access coupons and promotions. So if you're one of those who's frustrated with digital-only coupons, you may want to vote with your dollars and shop at a store that's tackling coupon inequities. Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 — and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market — here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead Here are 5 'must have' items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you? This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
