Latest news with #TemporaryProtectiveStatus
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Local charges dropped as feds target Venezuelan accused of posing as teen at Ohio high school
An illegal immigrant from Venezuela who was allegedly caught posing as a high school student in Ohio will no longer face local charges and is now being prosecuted in a federal court. Anthony Labrador-Sierra, 24, was arrested May 21, after he allegedly enrolled in a public high school using fraudulent documents. On Thursday, the Perrysburg Municipal Court confirmed to Fox News Digital all local charges had been dropped against Labrador-Sierra and that his case had been handed over to federal authorities. Labrador-Sierra faced a judge in the case and waived his right to a preliminary hearing, according to WTVG. Venezuelan Man Who Allegedly Posed As Teen Participated In Ohio High School Swimming Events He will now appear before a grand jury that will oversee his case. Read On The Fox News App According to a criminal complaint, Perrysburg Schools reported to the Perrysburg Police Department that they had received information that Labrador-Sierra, a student attending Perrysburg High School, was actually a 24-year-old man who fraudulently enrolled. Venezuelan Man Arrested After Posing As Teen To Enroll In Ohio High School Detectives worked with U.S. Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and discovered Labrador-Sierra is a 24-year-old from Venezuela. Investigators also learned Labrador-Sierra allegedly used fraudulent documents to enroll in Perrysburg schools and was posing as a 16-year-old student. Tom Hosler, superintendent of Perrysburg Schools, emphasized the district took swift action once learning Labrador-Sierra's real identity. "I want to emphasize this: Immediately upon learning that this student may have concealed his identity and misled us, we acted. We met with the student, and he was then not permitted on any school property while we investigated. Very shortly after, we contacted law enforcement," Hosler wrote in a statement on the school district's website. "Nothing is more important than the safety and security of our students. When we learn of a concerning situation, we act." Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, called the discovery and allegations "shocking." The senator shared a letter he sent to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem and FBI Director Kash Patel on X, writing, "Unreal. Thanks to Joe Biden's abuse of TPS, a 24-year-old illegal alien was caught on a fake asylum claim pretending to be a teenager at a high school in Ohio." Moreno called on Noem and Patel to launch investigations immediately, asking them to take any and all lawful measures to enforce federal immigration and criminal laws against Labrador-Sierra. Hosler added that Labrador-Sierra weaved "a complex tapestry of lies." The U.S. Attorney's Office of the Northern District of Ohio also noted that Labrador-Sierra is alleged to have submitted false information to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services about his date of birth in applications for Temporary Protective Status (TPS) and Employment Authorization Documents in 2024 and 2025. DHS told Fox News it has located Labrador-Sierra's information under a different spelling of his name, adding he is a visa overstay who first came to the U.S. in 2019. Ag Bondi Details Arrest Of Alleged Top Ms-13 Leader Who Reportedly Joined The Vicious Gang In Middle School Perrysburg Police Chief Pat Jones told FOX 8 News Wednesday that what investigators have learned about the case so far appears to be "just the tip of the iceberg." The school district released a statement explaining that it shares "the anger and frustration expressed by many in our community." "This individual is accused of misrepresenting his identity, forging documents, and exploiting systems designed to protect vulnerable youth. While emotions are high, it's important that we remain grounded in facts as this complex situation continues to unfold," the district wrote in an updated statement. The complaint further alleges that Labrador-Sierra does not have lawful status to purchase, own or possess a gun in the United States. The agency noted he submitted false information on an Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) form to buy a gun. He is being held in the Lucas County Jail. If convicted, Labrador-Sierra would face up to 15 years in prison for possession of a gun by an alien, 10 years in prison for making a false statement during the purchase of a gun and up to five years in prison for using false documents, the U.S. Attorney's Office said. "We recognize that more information may still come to light, and we remain committed to learning everything we can as this situation continues to unfold. We will share additional information as we are able," the school district wrote. The agency added that the investigation is ongoing and anyone with information about the case is encouraged to call the FBI at 1-800-225-5324. Fox News' Bill Melugin and Greg Wehner contributed to this report. Original article source: Local charges dropped as feds target Venezuelan accused of posing as teen at Ohio high school
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
This Memorial Day, Remember the Afghans Who Saved American Lives
ON MAY 14, HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY Kristi Noem, citing 'improved security' and a 'stabilizing economy,' rescinded President Joe Biden's Temporary Protective Status order providing legal residence for more than 10,000 Afghans who came to the United States after the Taliban took over their country. This decision, which will terminate their legal status in less than a month, is a betrayal not only of American values and the Afghans themselves, but also of a generation of American combat veterans. On Memorial Day, it's important to remember not just the people who died in service of the country, but why they died. As Lincoln said on the battlefield at Gettysburg, 'It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion.' In less than a month, Afghans, many of whom fought and risked their lives to protect Americans over the course of twenty years, may be deported back to the very government that remains allied with al Qaeda. We asked for their help to hunt down the people who attacked us on September 11th, and at infinite personal risk, they gave it. Then we offered our help, giving them a safe place to live—and now we're going back on our word. President Donald Trump, who excited some with empty talk of returning to Bagram Airfield, has reverted to form: He understands nothing of honor, sacrifice, or courage. He speaks often of honoring America's heroes. But he doesn't understand duty, the commitment to a mission, a devotion to something larger than the self. I often wish President Trump would dare to spend a day with some of our Afghan allies. Perhaps then, he would comprehend the gravity of the situation facing these people who bet everything on America. Had he spent a day with me on the National Mall with my good friend, Lt. Gen. Haibatullah Alizai, he could have seen that our Afghan allies are our friends and family. And he might have understood why it's impossible to honor those who gave their lives for this country if you abuse and betray those who fought alongside them. Share I'VE TAKEN A FEW AFGHANS to Arlington National Cemetery before, but nobody truly grasped the weight of America's betrayal like Gen. Alizai. He not only lost a war but lost his army and his country. Despite America's abandonment, he, like nearly all Afghans, is grateful for his place here in America. 'I'm the lucky one,' he often reminds me. We first met in 2014 when I was a young major advising the Afghan National Police's Directorate of Intelligence, which Alizai's father ran. Haibatullah was then a rising colonel working behind the scenes with his father's advisers to hunt al Qaeda in the shadows. We met again in 2020 during America's fateful final year of the war. We became friends as everything fell apart. As senior leaders fled the country, Haibatullah became the final commanding general of the Afghan National Army. First we tried to keep the Afghans in the fight. Then we tried to slow the collapse. Then we tried to save whoever we could—and we still are. He lives near me now—but his heart is in Afghanistan. On a beautiful, sunny spring day in D.C., Gen. Alizai and I walked around the National Mall. 'Who would've thought a few years ago we would be here today,' he chuckled. I wanted to bring him to the Vietnam War Memorial. Gen. Alizai is a student of American and military history, so it wasn't mysterious to him why we would visit that black gash in the ground rather than the more triumphant memorials scattered around the Mall. As we approached the Vietnam War Memorial, we discussed the parallels between the Vietnam War and the war in Afghanistan. Many historians now view the Vietnam War as just part of a longer post-colonial conflict that involved not just the United States but France, China, the Soviet Union, and others—but which had at its heart a civil war among the Vietnamese. I fear Americans don't realize that our war in Afghanistan was also part of a civil war among Afghans—it started after the Soviets left, it never really ended, and there are still brave Afghans fighting against the Taliban now. Gen. Alizai saw other similarities. 'The South Vietnamese perished in re-education camps,' he said. 'The same thing is happening in Afghanistan.' We, veterans of America's latest lost war, walked gingerly through America's memorial to its previous lost war. 'Aren't you guys getting a memorial?' he asked me. 'I think so.' 'That's great, bro. I wish we could give my brothers something, anything,' He said, referring to the 70,000 Afghan National Security Force personnel who were killed during twenty years of war. 'Inshallah,' I said. 'Yes, inshallah.' Share AS WE LEFT THE MEMORIAL, an elderly, black, wheelchair-using Vietnam veteran introduced himself to us. He was a volunteer, helping tourists find their way around. He immediately spotted my veteran attire and came over to talk to us. I introduced him to Gen. Alizai. The two quickly connected, as combat veterans tend to do, over war stories. 'General, I'm honored to have met you. Thank you for protecting us for twenty years,' said the Vietnam vet. 'Thank you for your service, too, brother,' Gen. Alizai said. Service to whom? Not to Alizai. Not to Afghanistan. No, service to the country that tried, for a time, to do so much for Alizai and Afghanistan—and for itself—and was now at least giving so many Afghans a safe home. These two men, who had never met and served in different armies during different wars, still understood the gravity of each other's sacrifices: the Vietnam War veteran, who fought for a country that still didn't treat him equally despite his heroic sacrifice, and the Afghan general, who fought with a country that purported to be his ally but abandoned his country. Despite our country's betrayal of both men, they remain proud to have fought for and alongside this country. LATER IN THE DAY, WE VISITED Arlington National Cemetery and immediately headed to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. We quickly found a spot to observe the famous changing of the guards. The Old Guard soldiers were crisp, professional, and immaculate—a testament to the honor of being selected for one of the most prestigious posts in the U.S. armed forces. I asked Alizai what he thought. 'I think all countries should have something similar,' he said. 'Maybe one day Afghanistan can have something similar, my friend?' I asked him. 'Inshallah.' We walked toward the most sacred plot of land for veterans of the Global War on Terrorism: Section 60, where GWOT veterans are buried. We stopped by my friends, Capt. Jesse Melton III and Senior Airman LeeBernard Chavis, and we—a Jew and a Muslim—paid our respects to Melton and Chavis, two Christians. Our different faiths will never negate the blood, sweat, and tears we all shed. After we paid our final respects to my friend, Gen. Alizai searched for his friend, Sgt. First Class Michael Goble. Eventually, after nearly twenty minutes of looking, he found his old friend. 'He was a good guy,' Gen. Alizai said wistfully, standing before Goble's headstone. 'We did operations together in northern Afghanistan, and then a few weeks after our final operation, he was killed.' We both paid our respects to Gen. Alizai's brother-in-arms. We both prayed and knelt before Goble's grave. 'Do we have any other people to pay respects to, brother?' General Alizai asked. 'I don't think so,' I said. But as we turned the corner, I noticed new tombstones. We went to go look. When I saw the names, my heart sank. 'It's the three from the Kabul 13.' Gen. Alizai quickly joined me at the graves of Sgt. Nicole Gee, Staff Sgt. Ryan Cross, and Staff Sgt. Darin Hoover. 'These were the last Americans to be killed in Afghanistan,' I said. 'I don't know what for anymore, General,' I added, choking back tears. 'The Kabul 13 are our heroes, brother,' he said. 'Just like all of your friends who died for us. We will not forget them. Whatever happened in Afghanistan, it wasn't our fault. We all fought with honor.' Share NEARLY FOUR YEARS AGO, THE UNITED STATES abandoned a war that began with an attack on our cities, our government, and our way of life. In response, a generation of Americans faced repeated deployments for nearly twenty years. From Africa to the Pacific, GWOT veterans chased radical Islamic terrorists to the ends of the Earth. We proudly answered our nation's call. On Memorial Day, we honor those who took an oath to the Constitution, promised to give whatever was asked of them to defend it, and gave everything. We don't honor them because they were well trained, though often they were. We don't honor them because they were willing to kill, though they were. We don't honor them only when they won, though often they did. We honor them because of the bravery they showed in service of the country and the cause of freedom to which we're all supposed to be committed. While victory remained elusive, many veterans took pride in our efforts to rescue tens of thousands of our trusted and vetted Afghan allies. It wasn't the American government that rescued thousands of Afghan allies from death. It was hardened combat veterans, ably assisted by civilians, who worked tirelessly to change policy or to work around it. Our efforts and the honor that we rebuilt from the ashes of our retreat will be destroyed should President Trump initiate mass deportation efforts aimed at the very Afghans who protected America for twenty years. Whatever one thinks of America's war in Afghanistan, our allies have earned their place among us. If it weren't for them, more American combat veterans would be buried in Arlington, and more Gold Star families would be enduring the unimaginable today. Share The Bulwark
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Show of support for immigrants and refugees gets loud on Omaha's South 24th Street
Dozens packed la Plaza de la Raza in South Omaha Thursday for a rally to support immigrants and refugees and to urge Nebraska's congressional delegation to push for immigration reform. (Cindy Gonzalez/Nebraska Examiner) OMAHA — Dozens packed a popular plaza on South Omaha's Latino-dominated commercial corridor Thursday afternoon, carrying immigrant-friendly signs and waving bumper stickers that read: Who would Jesus deport? 'Stand in Solidarity' rallygoers heard from allies at the top of 10 organizations such as the Nebraska AFL-CIO labor union, Nebraska Farmers Union and Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce. All touted a message that immigrants and refugees were good for the state's economy, workforce and growth. And as passing cars honked and gave thumbs up, the speakers proclaimed their words from a stage. It was an intentionally blatant show of support, said Itzel Lopez of the Latino Economic Development Council, which helped Omaha Together One Community (OTOC) organize the event at la Plaza de la Raza on South 24th Street. 'We want to draw attention that, yes, it's safe,' said Lopez. 'That there are people in our community who truly care about the well being of immigrants in our state.' Lopez, speaking to the crowd, admitted that she can't help but worry herself about the fallout of President Donald Trump's hardline immigration policies. Though she has grown up in Omaha, has seen success in business, she is a DACA recipient without permanent legal status who finds herself 'preoccupied with simply feeling safe.' OTOC leader Denise Bowyer said the diverse speaking lineup representing business, labor, agriculture, faith and community groups was intended to push back against negative messages and restrictive policies initiated at the national level. She said the group wants their message to reach Nebraska's congressional delegation and urged people to get louder and more active. James Krenz, senior program director for the International Council for Refugees and Immigrants, said admissions for refugees are effectively suspended. He said the Trump administration views refugees as 'a threat rather than a part of shared humanity.' 'What we see today is not normal,' he said, adding that quiet acceptance 'allows injustices to persist.' The rally was similar in spirit to one on the steps of the State Capitol in September, which drew more than 60 Nebraska organizations to announce a unified resolve to change state and federal policies to be more welcoming to immigrants and refugees. Over the past four months, said Bowyer, people's lives nationally and in Nebraska have been upended by executive orders, non-renewals of Temporary Protective Status and revocations of parole processes for people who entered the country with permission. OTOC is a religious-based network formed three decades ago to advocate for social justice issues. Trump, who campaigned on the promise to crack down on immigration, has said he is enforcing national laws and that mass deportations and strict border security protect Americans and the country's economic and social structures. Anne Wurth, senior attorney at the Center for Immigrant and Refugee Advancement, said challenges representing newcomers have compounded in the last few months. While Nebraska has not seen the large-scale enforcement raids of the past, or high-profile arrests as some other states, Wurth said foreign-born Nebraskans should know their rights and be 'aware.' From what her organization has seen across the state, Wurth said, immigration agents have focused on 'stated enforcement priorities' — targeting people with prior removal orders and past criminal convictions. She said her office has information that federal agents from the Department of Homeland Security ostensibly have been conducting 'wellness checks' on young people who entered the U.S. as unaccompanied minors and were released to Nebraska sponsors. No one to her knowledge has been detained, said Wurth. 'But under this administration, those things can change.' Heath Mello, president of the Greater Omaha Chamber, said his members hear daily from employers who are struggling to fill jobs. He said the business group believes immigration reform must be part of the state's workforce solution. 'Smart, constructive immigration policy is not just the right thing to do — it's good economics,' Mello said. Sue Martin, president of the Nebraska AFL-CIO, said that without immigrants, America's workforce would shrink, meaning decreased tax revenue. John Hansen, president of the Nebraska Farmers Union, said Nebraska's largest single industry, agriculture, struggles with workforce issues. He named pork producers, dairy producers, poultry producers, beef feedlots, seedcorn companies and the meatpacking industry and said all are dependent on immigrant labor. Other speakers included Mustafa Babak, cofounder of the Afghan American Foundation, the Rev. Debra McKnight, founding pastor of Urban Abbey and Dawn Essink of OTOC. Lina Traslaviña Stover, executive director of the statewide Heartland Workers Center, said immigrant communities help Nebraska thrive. 'We are growing the food, building the homes, running big and small businesses, caring for families and keeping Nebraska moving forward.'
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Yahoo
Ohio High Schooler Was Actually 24-Year-Old Man Who Overstayed Visa: Police
A 24-year-old Venezuelan man is accused of fraudulently enrolling himself in an Ohio high school as a 16-year-old, which allowed him to stay in the U.S. undetected for over a year until a woman came forward last week, contending that he is the father of her child. Anthony Emmanuel Labrador Sierra was arrested near Toledo on forgery charges Monday and also faces a detainer from Immigration and Customs Enforcement after allegedly overstaying a work visa that expired in 2023, local and federal authorities said. According to police records, Labrador Sierra enrolled himself in Perrysburg High School in late 2023 using a fake birth certificate that listed him as born in Venezuela as Anthony Labrador on Dec. 2, 2007. He allegedly told school officials that he was unhoused and trafficked into the U.S. Under the federal McKinney-Vento Act, passed in 1987, public schools are required to enroll unaccompanied minors without standard enrollment paperwork. He was taken in by a local couple, known for adopting and housing exchange students, who helped him legally obtain an Ohio driver's license and a Social Security card, according to a Perrysburg Police Division incident report obtained by HuffPost. Over the next 16 months, Labrador Sierra attended classes and participated in extracurricular activities, including junior varsity soccer and swimming. He also obtained Temporary Protective Status through U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services using a fraudulent birth certificate, Perrysburg Schools said in a statement. 'Our school district—along with state and federal agencies—were misled by an intentional act of fraud,' the school system said. It wasn't until last week, May 14, that a 22-year-old Toledo woman came forward, identifying Labrador Sierra to his local guardians as a 24-year-old man and the father of her child, police said. The woman allegedly shared a photo of an Ohio driver's license and Social Security card showing Labrador Sierra's full name and a birthday of March 27, 2001. She also shared photos from Facebook showing her with him and a small child. Labrador Sierra's guardians immediately alerted his school about the fraud allegations, and the next day, school officials said they confronted him about it. He denied the allegations but was still directed to stay off school property until a district review, the school system said. Later, police said the school system provided authorities with pictures of several Facebook posts by a woman who identified herself as Labrador Sierra's mother. The woman on March 27 posted a photo of him wearing a Perrysburg soccer uniform and wished him a happy birthday. Further investigation found that a vehicle Labrador Sierra owned was registered to Anthony Emmanuel Labrador Sierra under his old Ohio driver's license. Border Patrol accused that same individual of overstaying his work visa in 2023, the same year that he enrolled in the local high school, police said. He was taken into custody during a traffic stop on Monday. Tricia McLaughlin, an assistant secretary for the Department of Homeland Security, celebrated Labrador Sierra's arrest and detainer in a statement, claiming he is 'no longer able to prey on the students of Perrysburg High School.' A police spokesperson told HuffPost on Thursday that the incident remains under investigation. It was not immediately clear whether Labrador Sierra had an attorney. Kid Rock Distances Himself From Nashville Restaurant After It Reportedly Dodged ICE Raid Democratic Rep. McIver Charged With Assault After Skirmish At ICE Center, New Jersey Prosecutor Says Trump Plans To Yank Officers From Ports And Borders To Help Juice Deportation Numbers Stop Comparing ICE To The Gestapo, Homeland Security Says
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Yahoo
A 24-year-old Venezuelan man posed as a teenage homeless migrant and forged documents to enroll at an Ohio high school, officials say
A 24-year-old man was arrested Monday for allegedly forging documents to enroll in an Ohio high school, where he studied for over a year before the identity fraud was discovered, authorities said. Anthony Emmanuel Labrador Sierra enrolled at Perrysburg High School in January 2024 with a Venezuelan birth certificate showing he was 16 years old, claiming he was a homeless migrant who had been trafficked into the country, according to a Perrysburg Police Division incident report. Labrador Sierra started at the school and was eventually placed with a local family who had previously hosted exchange students, according to the police report. The host family was granted temporary and later permanent guardianship of Labrador Sierra in 2024, and they helped him with obtaining a social security number and driver's license while he was in their custody, according to the police report. He also used forged documents to obtain federal Temporary Protective Status (TPS) from US Citizenship and Immigration Services, Perrysburg Schools said in a statement. Migrants under TPS humanitarian relief are protected from being removed from the country or detained based on their immigration status, and may obtain legal employment, according to the USCIS website. Labrador Sierra's identity first came into question on May 14, when a woman contacted the guardian family and told them he was actually a 24-year-old man and the father of her child, police said. She sent them several photos: a driver's license and social security card with Labrador Sierra's name and a March 27, 2001, birth date; and several from Facebook showing her and Labrador Sierra, along with Labrador Sierra with a child. The guardians contacted the school district that evening, according to Perrysburg Schools. Administrators met with Labrador Sierra the following day and 'he denied the allegation and asserted that the birth certificate submitted during enrollment - which indicates he is currently 17 years old - was accurate,' the school's statement says. CNN has reached out to an attorney for Labrador Sierra for comment. 'Given the seriousness of the claim, Perrysburg Schools immediately directed the guardians to keep Labrador off school property while the matter was investigated further,' the school district said. During the course of the investigation, the district said it 'found social media posts by others, including those claiming to be Labrador Sierra's family.' Police said those posts include several from a Zulay Sierra, whom they believe to be Labrador Sierra's mother based on the birth certificate he provided to the school district. One of the posts she shared shows Labrador Sierra wearing a Perrysburg soccer uniform with the caption 'Happy birthday son,' according to police. It was dated March 27 – matching the birth date on the picture of the driver's license that the woman had sent the guardians, according to the police report. Police reached out to US Customs and Border Patrol and were told Labrador Sierra 'had an expired work visa and that he was considered an overstay in this country,' according to the police report. CBP told police his visa had expired in 2023, the year he reached out to enroll in high school, police said. The Perrysburg Township Police arrested Labrador Monday during a traffic stop on a forgery warrant. He was riding in the passenger seat of the car driven by the woman who had exposed his identity to his guardian family, according to the police report. CNN has reached out to the guardian family and the woman who contacted them for comment. Labrador Sierra was arraigned Tuesday, court records show. He pleaded not guilty to a forgery charge, a fifth-degree felony. His bond was set at $50,000, and his next court date is scheduled for May 29. He may soon be facing federal charges as well, according to US Customs and Border Protection. 'Labrador is an illegal alien who overstayed his visa and has no legal status. US Border Patrol placed an immigration detainer on him with the local police department,' a CBP spokesperson said in a statement to CNN. 'Federal charges are being pursued.' Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin issued a statement confirming Labrador Sierra is from Venezuela and calling his actions 'disturbing.' McLaughlin said US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, also lodged a detainer against him. The school district called the situation 'highly unusual,' but added that it 'is confident proper legal channels were followed to provide support for an individual presenting themselves as an unaccompanied minor…' CNN's Hanna Park contributed to this report.
