Latest news with #StateSecretsAct
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Yahoo
Six illegal migrants charged in South Carolina mother's murder defy 'decency' in 'civilized society': sheriff
Authorities in Lancaster, South Carolina, have charged six illegal immigrants between the ages of 13 and 21 in connection with the "random" May 2 murder of a mother who was driving to meet friends in Rock Hill. Lancaster County Sheriff's Office deputies located Larisha Sharrell Thompson, 40, deceased with a gunshot wound behind the wheel of her vehicle on Riverside Road in Lancaster, which is located about an hour south of Charlotte, North Carolina. On May 12, authorities announced the arrests of three adults, including Asael Aminadas Torres-Chirinos, 21; Jarby Ardon Ramos-Odari, 18; Jeyson Sobied Pineda-Salgado, 17; and three juveniles, ages 13, 14 and 15, in connection with Thompson's death and a separate burglary that occurred on April 30. "This shooting defies any sense of decency in a civilized society," Lancaster Sheriff Barry Faile said in a Monday statement. "Ms. Thompson was going about her business on a Friday night, not bothering anyone. All of a sudden, these six men and boys — out to get something for nothing from someone they did not know and had no business bothering — pulled alongside her car, and Torres-Chirinos opened fire, killing Ms. Thompson. There's no place in our society for acts like this or the people who commit them, and my hope is these six are never again among us." Justice Department Tells Federal Judge It Might Invoke State Secrets Act On High-profile Deportation Case The Department of Homeland Security has placed detainers on all six individuals charged, Faile said during a press conference, adding that the community is a "much safer place today because these six individuals are off the streets." Read On The Fox News App Faile alleged that the suspects pulled up alongside Thompson, fatally shot her in what authorities described as a "random robbery attempt." Authorities believe all six suspects were in the same vehicle with Torres-Chirinos, who was driving and allegedly fired the fatal shot at Thompson. They are accused of attempting to enter her vehicle and then fleeing the scene upon realizing that it was locked. Ice Arrests 422 Illegal Immigrants In Houston Sweep, Including Suspects Wanted For Murder, Arson On April 30, deputies were dispatched to the Van Wyck Mart at 644 Rock Hill Highway before 8 a.m. to investigate a burglary. The store owner told deputies that surveillance video footage showed several young men trying to get into the store around 10:30 p.m. on April 29. When they couldn't get inside, they allegedly broke open a door on the northwest corner of the building, which opened up to a bathroom that had access to the inside of the store. The suspects are also accused of firing a handgun at a security camera and the bathroom door. Detectives collected ballistics evidence at the scene. The location of the store the suspects allegedly broke into and the location of Thompson's murder are a seven-minute drive apart. Detectives determined that ballistic evidence recovered from the scene of the murder came from the same 9 mm handgun as those at the scene of the burglary days before. Southern Border Apprehensions Plunge More Than 90% From A Year Ago In April, Cbp Says Through digital surveillance, investigators also identified Torres-Chirinos, the 21-year-old suspect, at the scene of both crimes. They questioned him at the sheriff's office on May 8, and by the end of that day, they had identified, located and detained the five additional suspects. The three adult suspects are charged with murder, attempted armed robbery and second-degree burglary. Authorities believe Torres-Chirinos fired the handgun in both incidents, and he is charged with two counts of firearms possession during the commission of a crime and one count of firearms possession by an unlawful alien. A judge denied bond for all three men. The three juvenile suspects are also charged with murder, attempted armed robbery and second-degree burglary. All six suspects are subject to removal from the United States under federal immigration law based on their immigration status, the sheriff's office said. "The Department of Homeland Security has placed detainers on these six," Faile said. "That doesn't mean the federal government will scoop them up and send them out of the country before their cases are heard in court. It simply means if for any reason, any one or more of them becomes eligible for release before their charges are resolved in court, Homeland Security will take custody of them, and they will not be back out on the street. Our intention is that all six remain detained until they face the full weight of our judicial system." Thompson's family is "grieving and trying to get their heads around how something like this could happen," Faile article source: Six illegal migrants charged in South Carolina mother's murder defy 'decency' in 'civilized society': sheriff
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Federal judge allows IRS to share illegal alien data with DHS in court win for Trump
A federal judge on Monday denied an injunction request to prevent the Department of Homeland Security and Internal Revenue Service from partnering to permit U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement (ICE) to access taxpayer information to locate illegal immigrants subject to deportation. The order by U.S. District Judge Dabney Friedrich came amid a lawsuit by Centro de Trabajadores Unidos and other immigrant-rights groups against Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. "Plaintiffs Centro de Trabajadores Unidos, Immigrant Solidarity DuPage, Somos Un Pueblo Unido, and Inclusive Action for the City bring this action seeking declaratory and injunctive relief to prevent the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) from sharing personal tax information with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for immigration enforcement purposes. Before the Court is the plaintiffs' Motion for Preliminary Injunction, Dkt. 28. For the reasons that follow, the Court will deny the motion." "At its core, this case presents a narrow legal issue: Does the Memorandum of Understanding between the IRS and DHS violate the Internal Revenue Code? It does not," the order continued. Justice Department Tells Federal Judge It Might Invoke State Secrets Act On High-profile Deportation Case Nonprofits Centro de Trabajadores Unidos and Immigrant Solidarity DuPage, representing immigrant workers in the Chicago area, brought the lawsuit against Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent, the IRS, and Commissioner of Internal Revenue Melanie Krause, seeking to block the disclosure of personal information of taxpayers and other confidential tax records to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for immigration enforcement purposes. Read On The Fox News App In a statement to Fox News Digital, Tricia McLaughlin, the DHS assistant secretary of public affairs, said information shirring across all federal agencies to identify illegal immigrants is essential in order to "determine what public safety and terror threats may exist so we can neutralize them, scrub these individuals from voter rolls, as well as identify what public benefits these aliens are using at taxpayer expense." "Under President Trump's leadership, the government is finally doing what it should have all along—sharing information across the federal government to solve problems," she said. "Biden not only allowed millions of illegal aliens—including gang members, suspected terrorists, and violent criminals—to flood into our country, but he also lost them due to incompetence and improper processing." "Information sharing across agencies is essential to identify who is in our country and determine what public safety and terror threats may exist so we can neutralize them, scrub these individuals from voter rolls, as well as identify what public benefits these aliens are using at taxpayer expense. "Today's ruling is a victory for the American people and for commonsense." An earlier memorandum of understanding between DHS and the IRS outlines a process to ensure that sensitive taxpayer data information is protected while allowing law enforcement to pursue criminal violations, a senior Treasury Department official said at the time the deal was reached in April. The deal allows DHS to ask the IRS to confirm the home addresses of illegal immigrants suspected of violating deportation orders. The IRS can share data to aid criminal investigations but is prohibited from sharing information related to civil matters, such as facilitating deportations. The Treasury Department is committed to protecting the privacy of law-abiding taxpayers, but a criminal exception obligates the agency to assist law enforcement, the official told Fox News Digital at the time. Fox News Digital has reached out to the IRS, DHS and the legal team for the groups involved in the lawsuit. The deal would allow ICE to submit the names and addresses of illegal immigrants to the IRS, who could then cross-check those immigrants' tax records and provide the immigration agency with current address information. "The Court agrees that requesting and receiving information for civil enforcement purposes would constitute a cognizable injury, but none of the organizations have established that such an injury is imminent," Friedrich wrote. "As the plaintiffs acknowledge, the Memorandum only allows sharing information for criminal investigations." As the Memorandum provides, its purpose is to establish procedures enabling "requests for addresses of persons subject to criminal investigation," the order said. The agreement comes as President Donald Trump has continued to ramp up the deportation effort he promised on the campaign article source: Federal judge allows IRS to share illegal alien data with DHS in court win for Trump
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump admin seeks emergency relief of Boasberg contempt threat
The Trump administration on Wednesday asked a federal appeals court to review a lower court order that threatened to hold officials in contempt over March 15 deportation flights – the latest flashpoint in a wave of immigration disputes playing out in federal courts nationwide. The emergency request came hours after U.S. District Judge James Boasberg said he found probable cause that administration officials had violated court directives to return those flights. In his ruling, Boasberg threatened criminal contempt charges and directed the administration to submit additional declarations by April 23 explaining why such proceedings should not move forward. Boasberg said that if officials fail to submit the declarations, the court will consider holding further hearings and potentially refer the matter for prosecution. Who Is James Boasberg, The Us Judge At The Center Of Trump's Deportation Efforts? The Trump administration filed its appeal with the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday night. Read On The Fox News App The Trump administration's brief appeal to the D.C. Circuit Court does not include any new details, as the facts of the case have already been heard by the district and appellate court. The appellate court last month ruled 2-1 to uphold Boasberg's temporary restraining order. The Supreme Court, however, ruled 5-4 last month that the Trump administration could resume its deportation flights under the Alien Enemies Act, so long as individuals subject to removal under the law were given due process protections, and the opportunity to pursue habeas relief – or the ability to have their case heard by a U.S. court prior to their removal. Boasberg said Wednesday that the court found that the Trump administration had demonstrated a "willful disregard" for his March 15 emergency order, which temporarily halted all deportation flights to El Salvador under the Alien Enemies Act, a 1798 statute providing for such deportations during "a declared war between the United States and any foreign nation or government, or any invasion or predatory incursion" by a foreign nation. "The Court ultimately determines that the Government's actions on that day demonstrate a willful disregard for its Order, sufficient for the Court to conclude that probable cause exists to find the Government in criminal contempt," Boasberg said Wednesday. Boasberg said he will give government officials the opportunity to propose "other methods" of coming into compliance, which he will evaluate. Justice Department Tells Federal Judge It Might Invoke State Secrets Act On High-profile Deportation Case Boasberg had scolded the Trump administration, including Justice Department lawyer Drew Ensign, for failing to comply with repeated requests for information from the court about the individuals deported on the flights – and who in the administration knew about the restraining order handed down, and when. The lack of information provided had sparked frustration from Boasberg, who described their compliance last month in a blistering order as "woefully insufficient." The Trump administration, for its part, had argued in an earlier emergency appeal that Boasberg's actions amounted to a "massive, unauthorized imposition on the Executive's authority to remove dangerous aliens," whom they alleged "pose threats to the American people." "If you really believed everything you did that day was legal and would survive a court challenge, you would not have operated the way that you did," Boasberg told Ensign earlier this article source: Trump admin seeks emergency relief of Boasberg contempt threat
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
IRS and DHS reach historic deal to aid in pursuit of illegal immigrants subject to deportation
EXCLUSIVE: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) have come to an agreement to permit ICE to access taxpayer information to locate illegal immigrants subject to deportation. The Trump administration filed a memorandum of understanding late Monday with a court to create guardrails and a process for ICE requests to the IRS to further investigations of criminal illegal immigrants who have failed or refuse to leave the United States 90 days after a judge has issued a final order of removal. "The Internal Revenue Service and the Immigration and Customs Enforcement have entered into a memorandum of understanding to establish a clear and secure process to support law enforcement's efforts to combat illegal immigration," a Treasury Department spokesperson told Fox News Digital in a statement. Court Order Halting Deportation Flights 'Unconstitutionally Impedes' Executive Branch, Trump Allies Argue "The bases for this MOU are founded in longstanding authorities granted by Congress, which serve to protect the privacy of law-abiding Americans while streamlining the ability to pursue criminals," the statement said. "After four years of Joe Biden flooding the nation with illegal aliens, President Trump's highest priority is to ensure the safety of the American people." A senior Treasury Department official said the illegal immigrants have been given due process but have overstayed 90 days post a judge's removal order. Read On The Fox News App The MOU outlines a process to ensure that sensitive taxpayer data information is protected while allowing law enforcement to pursue criminal violations, the official said. The Treasury Department is committed to protecting the privacy of law-abiding taxpayers, but a criminal exception obligates the agency to assist law enforcement, the senior official said. Justice Department Tells Federal Judge It Might Invoke State Secrets Act On High-profile Deportation Case A draft agreement reported last month by the Washington Post said it would limit ICE to confirm the addresses of illegal immigrants who have final removal orders. The deal would allow ICE to submit the names and addresses of illegal immigrants to the IRS, who could then cross-check those immigrants' tax records and provide the immigration agency with current address information. Some veteran IRS officials have expressed concerns, arguing that the narrow exception was meant only for criminal investigations and not for immigration enforcement. They also worry that the policy will hinder tax collection from illegal immigrants, who are still subject to federal taxes despite being in the country illegally. The agreement comes as President Donald Trump has continued to ramp up the deportation effort he promised on the campaign trail, while attempting to use every available resource in order to aid immigration authorities. Fox News Digital's Michael Lee contributed to this report. Original article source: IRS and DHS reach historic deal to aid in pursuit of illegal immigrants subject to deportation
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Top Five takedowns: Kash Patel's FBI hits the ground running with major early victories
Kash Patel has spent his first month as FBI director cracking down on some of the Trump administration's top law enforcement priorities, including violent crime, gang activity and drug trafficking – all while managing to avoid much of the high-profile controversy that has embroiled some other senior national security officials. His early moves have earned him accolades from Republicans in Congress, who have been quick to praise Patel's first weeks in office, including his effort to move quickly and share certain documents long requested by majorities on the House and Senate Judiciary Committees. "Under the leadership of Attorney General Pam Bondi, the Bureau is working aggressively each and every day to find violent criminals, no matter where they are, and bring them to justice," Patel told Fox News Digital in reflection on his first few weeks heading up the bureau. "Any success thus far is a credit to the brave men and women of the FBI and our state and local law enforcement partners who do amazing work to execute the mission," he added. Just five weeks after his confirmation as FBI director, here are some of Patel's earliest – and most significant – wins. Judge Fighting Trump Over El Salvador Deportations Assigned To Lawsuit Over Signal Chat Leak Read On The Fox News App The FBI this week announced the arrest of the top U.S. MS-13 leader, 24-year-old Salvadoran national Henrry Josue Villatoro Santos. Santos was captured in Woodbridge, Virginia, and was charged with being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm. Officials told Fox News this week that Santos is one of the top three leaders of the MS-13 gangs in the U.S. Bondi, the U.S. attorney general, and Patel both watched the arrest take place from a nearby tactical operation center. In an interview with Fox News, Bondi praised the team for executing a "clean, safe operation" and credited FBI personnel for getting "one of the worst of the worst of the MS-13 off the streets this morning." Patel announced last week that since Jan. 20, the FBI has apprehended three fugitives from the FBI's top 10 Most Wanted list – an achievement that he said on social media is the result of good leadership and hard work from bureau personnel. The individuals captured include Arnoldo Jimenez, accused of murdering his wife in Burbank, Illinois, in 2012; Donald Eugene Fields II, charged with child sex trafficking and child rape charges in federal and state court, respectively; and Francisco Javier Roman-Bardales, another MS-13 leader arrested in Mexico last week and extradited to the U.S., where he was charged with racketeering, conspiracy, conspiracy to provide and conceal material support and resources to terrorists, narco-terrorism conspiracy and alien smuggling conspiracy. Trump Administration Invokes State Secrets Act On High-profile Deportation Case Roman-Bardales had been a fugitive for nearly three years prior to his arrest and is believed to be a founding member of the MS-13 leadership structure in the U.S., where he helped direct the group's unlawful activities in the U.S., El Salvador, and elsewhere for roughly 20 years. Patel praised the arrests in a post on X, noting that the successes of the FBI are "not an accident." "When you let good cops be good cops, this is what happens," he said. "This administration is giving the new FBI and AG Bondi the resources to get the job done — and we won't stop." The FBI under Patel successfully raided and arrested 22 members of a narcotics trafficking ring in Lubbock, Texas, believed to be tied to violent drug cartels based in Mexico. The operation comes as Patel and Bondi have moved to crack down on narcotics and drug trafficking as part of Trump's agenda for his second White House term. In a post on X, Patel praised the work of the FBI's Dallas Field Office, the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. "These are the operations that mean safer streets for American families," Patel said. "And we are just getting started." More Than Half A Million Law Enforcement Personnel Back Patel As Fbi Director The FBI and U.S. Department of Justice have worked in tandem to crack down on a wave of vandalism targeting Tesla dealerships, charging stations, and individual Tesla cars in the U.S. – actions that Bondi described in a press conference earlier this month as acts of "domestic terrorism" punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Individuals have been arrested in recent weeks for setting fire to, and shooting at, Tesla cars and dealerships across the country, vandalizing charging stations and carving graffiti, including anti-Trump messages, into personal vehicles. The crimes have prompted a federal crackdown pursued by FBI and DOJ leadership. Most recently, authorities on Thursday announced federal charges against a 36-year-old Las Vegas resident accused of setting fire to vehicles at a Tesla collision business in Nevada earlier this month. Video footage obtained by authorities shows an individual using Molotov cocktails to set the Teslas on fire, using an AR-30 rifle to shoot bullets into the vehicles, and spray-painting the word "resist" onto the individual cars. Las Vegas authorities described the crime as a "targeted" attack on the Tesla facility. "As promised, acts of violence and vandalism will not be tolerated, and today law enforcement personnel acted quickly to arrest an individual on charges including arson," Patel said Thursday in a press release announcing the federal charges. "Under Attorney General Bondi's leadership, we will continue to pursue these investigations with the full force of law and will bring to justice anyone responsible for these attacks." This week, the Department of Justice announced the successful disruption of a major cryptocurrency financing scheme believed to be used to launder money to Hamas – a significant victory for the FBI's Counterterrorism Division and Cyber Division and the FBI's Albuquerque Field Office, which ran point on the investigation. The financing ring purportedly controlled by Hamas was used by the terrorist group to launder more than $1.5 million in virtual cryptocurrency from donors since October 2024, according to FBI and Department of Justice personnel. Supporters were encouraged to make donations to Hamas via an encrypted group chat and complex money laundering system, authorities said. Fbi Agents Sue Trump Doj To Block Any Public Identification Of Employees Who Worked On Jan. 6 Investigations In total, the FBI seized $201,000 in cryptocurrency assets from the group, including another $112,000 from three exchange accounts registered in the names of Palestinian individuals living in Turkey and elsewhere. The important success comes as Hamas has increasingly embraced cryptocurrency and encrypted communications to better evade detection. The U.S. Treasury Department believes that Hamas has been using crypto to launder its money since at least 2020, taking advantage of the decentralized and unregulated nature of the digital currency. These early victories are a signal of strength for the bureau as it seeks to shed what it sees as unfair perceptions of weaponization or politicization, and pursue key priorities under the Trump administration. FBI spokesperson Ben Williamson praised Patel's job performance, telling Fox News Digital, "The FBI and our law enforcement partners have delivered on multiple key initiatives just within the first month, but the work is only beginning." "Director Patel and Deputy Director Dan Bongino have built an extremely formidable FBI team committed to delivering on the promises of building public trust, engaging with congressional partners to increase transparency, and pursuing violent criminals in every corner of the earth," Williamson said. "We're just getting started." Fox News's Anders Hagstrom, David Spunt and Jake Gibson contributed to this article source: Top Five takedowns: Kash Patel's FBI hits the ground running with major early victories
