Latest news with #Suriel
Watani
a day ago
- Politics
- Watani
Australia federal ministers join Global Coptic Day in Sydney
To mark the feast of the Entry of the Holy Family into Egypt and the Global Coptic Day, both celebrated on 1 June, the St Wanas Coptic Orthodox congregation in Sydney together with their priest Father Suriel Hanna, held a celebration at their church in the neighbourhood of Plymore, west of Sydney. Fr Suriel and the congregation were elated to welcome leaders from all levels of the Australian government, including Tony Burke, Federal Minister for Home Affairs, Immigration, Multiculturalism, Cybersecurity and the Arts; Sophie Cotsis, Minister for Industrial Relations, Occupational Health and Safety in the New South Wales State Government; and Rachel Harika, Member for the Council of Canterbury/Bankstown. Fr Suriel extended his best wishes to the church's congregation, and welcomed the attending Australian ministers. He was keen to mention that the Orthodox Church prays a litany for the leaders of our countries, asking God to grant them wisdom and zeal to carry out their publicity duties. Mr Burke gave a speech which he started with the greeting 'Christos Anesti', literal for Christ is Risen. He extended his heartfelt wishes to the Copts on the occasion of the Global Coptic Day, and the entry of the Holy Family into Egypt. Father Suriel presented souvenir paintings of the Holy Family to the attending politicians, and thanked them for making the time to visit St Wanas church and partake in the celebrations and activities. The attendants then took commemorative photos. Watani International 2 June 2025 Comments comments Tags: Ashraf HelmyGlobal Coptic Day in Sydney 2025
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Yahoo
Mass. gang member gets time in federal prison after pleading guilty to kidnapping, drug charges
A Massachusetts gang member of the 'Gangster Disciples' will spend more than a decade in federal prison after pleading guilty to kidnapping, drug and gun charges, the U.S. Attorney said. Justin Suriel, 28, of Lawrence, was sentenced to 12 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Leah Foley said in a statement Wednesday. U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani handed down his sentence. Suriel pleaded guilty in August to being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition; conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and 500 grams or more of cocaine and Suboxone;, possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl; distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine; and conspiracy to commit kidnapping. Suriel was charged in November 2021 along with 12 others in connection with a large drug ring centering around the Gangster Disciples gang in Lawrence, Haverhill and Methuen, Foley said. An investigation launched in August 2020 intercepted communications between Gangster Disciples' leaders, members and drug suppliers about their alleged distribution of fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine and Suboxone in Massachusetts, Maine and southern New Hampshire as well as into the Essex County Jail, Foley said. Calls were intercepted between Suriel and other gang members, who conspired to kidnap and assault a marijuana supplier from Maine, prosecutors said. Intercepted phone calls also uncovered Suriel's cocaine and fentanyl distribution ring, wherein he used gang members to sell drugs throughout the Merrimack Valley area of Massachusetts. The calls also revealed that Suriel offered protection to his cocaine supplier, remarking that he would 'shoot bullets' for anyone bothering his drug supplier, Foley said. Investigators later recovered a loaded firearm during a search of Suriel's home. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Immigration attorney on deportations: 'Understand that this is a process'
The Brief As illegal immigrant deportations continue across the nation, a lawyer and advocate are going over important things to remember. Since President Donald Trump took office for a second time on Jan. 20, thousands of people have been arrested by federal agents. PHOENIX - As the crackdown on illegal immigration continues, a local immigration attorney wants to make sure Arizonans know what's going on. What they're saying The White House says the focus is not just on violent criminals, but all criminals, and that includes those who are here illegally. The administration's actions are creating a lot of fear in the community, so we sat down with a local immigration attorney and advocate to get some answers. "If it was easy to catch the bad, bad apples, the convicted felons, it was easy to do that, then this problem would be solved. But, it isn't," immigration attorney Nic Suriel said. Since President Donald Trump took office, more than 7,000 criminal migrants have been arrested, according to the Department of Homeland Security. On Monday, Jan. 27, the DEA Phoenix Division apprehended a man wanted for homicide in Mexico. Dig deeper "If you have a final order of removal, and there are 1.4 million people like that right now, it's time to go. OK, if you're done, if the judge has ordered you deported, and you've lost your appeal, then that's a reality you have to deal with," Suriel said. Suriel has been an immigration attorney since 1992, and says it's important to know the next steps if you're arrested. "Preparation. You have a plan. Identify somebody who can pay a bond for you. Have to be a U.S. resident or a U.S. citizen. If you have adult children, that's usually the best, you know, over 18, that's usually the best person to post a bond for you. Understand that this is a process. I mean, if the numbers go as high as I think they're going to go, you could be in detention for two, three months. Maybe longer," he said. Mitzi Castro is the membership organizer for Puente Human Rights Movement, a migrant worker justice foundation. "(You have) many rights, although they may make it seem as if we don't. That is not the case. You have the right to remain silent. Depending on the situation, the right to not have them enter your home, place of business or worship," Castro said. The organization is hosting Migra Watch Training, and it says it will teach about reporting and responding to ICE activity in the community. By the numbers U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has been updating its social media accounts daily, and on Jan. 27, it said nearly 1,000 arrests were made nationwide. What you can do You can click here to learn more about the rights of immigrants. You can click here to learn more about President Trump's deportation efforts.
