Latest news with #Title8
Epoch Times
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Epoch Times
US Attorney's New Program Gets Around California's Sanctuary Laws Shielding Illegal Immigrants From ICE
In what could be a game changer for the Trump administration's deportation efforts, the U.S. Attorney's Office for California's Central District and federal partners launched a program to 'neutralize California's sanctuary state policy.' Operation Guardian Angel, announced by federal officials on May 19, will file complaints and arrest warrants to allow federal authorities to take as many defendants as possible into custody from county jails, according to a Department of Justice 'Under the Trump administration, we will not allow sanctuary jurisdictions to stand in the way of keeping the American People safe,' U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli, who launched the test program, One of President Donald Trump's main campaign promises for a second term was the mass deportation of millions who came into the country illegally during the Biden administration. If a person who has been deported reenters the country illegally, that's a felony under Title 8 law, said Ciaran McEvoy, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's Office in Los Angeles. California's state law— Related Stories 2/22/2025 4/24/2025 'Even if they want to turn them over, they can't,' McEvoy told The Epoch Times. Operation Guardian Angel gets around the law through federal arrest warrants, which McEvoy said leave the counties no choice but to hand the targeted illegal immigrants over. Essayli stated in the press release that 'the worst criminal aliens in state custody are frequently released into the community' because California's sanctuary state policies block cooperation with federal law enforcement. 'These laws effectively render federal immigration detainers meaningless. The days of giving criminal illegal aliens a free pass are over,' he stated. 'While California may be presently disregarding detainers, it cannot ignore federal arrest warrants.' The program, which began May 10, has resulted in the arrest of 13 defendants as of May 15 in California. The Operation Guardian Angel task force is made up of ICE, the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The California federal district is home to the counties of Riverside, San Bernardino, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Ventura, and Los Angeles County. An estimated 1.5 million illegal immigrants reside in the district, including gang members, the press release said, adding that California's protection of criminal illegal aliens makes residents less safe. The release noted that in February 2025, José Cristian Saravia-Sánchez, 30, of Mexico, shot and killed an Inglewood man who tried to stop him from stealing a catalytic converter, which garnered national attention. He was an illegal immigrant who had been convicted of vehicle theft, removed from the United States in 2013, and arrested 11 times between June 2022 and August 2024, according to the release. However, local law enforcement was prevented by state law from complying with an immigration detainer request, the release stated. The office of California Gov. Gavin Newsom did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Epoch Times by publication time.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
IRS criminal investigators in Chicago being ‘deputized' as immigration enforcers under Trump administration plan
The Trump administration's refocusing of federal resources on immigration has landed at the Chicago office of the IRS's criminal investigation bureau, where agents accustomed to working complex financial cases are now being prepared for unprecedented special assignments to help track down undocumented immigrants, a memo obtained by the Tribune shows. The communication sent to staff this week by Ramsey Covington, special agent in charge of the IRS-Criminal Investigation's Chicago field office, said he was still 'working to get legal advice/clarification' on the situation, but that as many as a dozen Chicago-based agents were expected to be detailed to the Department of Homeland Security's local immigration efforts for up to six months. The plan to 'deputize' IRS agents, which was first revealed in February in a leaked letter from Department of Homeland Secretary Kristi Noem, is uncharted territory and comes with several snags, including that IRS agents are not trained on federal immigration and border security laws, collectively known as 'Title 8,' and could potentially face civil lawsuits if they overstep their authority. The memo from Covington sought to allay any fears in the ranks, though he acknowledged the situation was 'fluid' and he was still seeking clarification from the Department of Justice on his office's exact role. No agents would be put in the field without proper clearance, Covington assured. 'Our expectation is that employees will be trained on Title 8 prior to participating in any action under that authority,' the memo read. 'This may be coordinated at the field office level, and we are still gathering information on this.' Marcus Johnson, a spokesman for the IRS Criminal Investigation, Chicago Field Office, would not confirm any internal communications with staff, but said the office 'will comply with all directives from the Department of Treasury leadership.' Messages left with the Treasury and Homeland Security departments were not immediately returned Wednesday. As an arm of the Treasury Department, the IRS is responsible for the collection of taxes and enforcement of related laws, but agents with the criminal investigation division do important, often-unheralded work uncovering large-scale drug trafficking, money-laundering and fraud schemes. In Chicago, where there are about 60 IRS special agents working downtown and in the suburbs, the IRS has been particularly effective in public corruption cases, including the blockbuster investigations of former Govs. George Ryan and Rod Blagojevich as well as ex-Ald. Edward Burke and former House Speaker Michael Madigan. In his first months in office, President Donald Trump has marshaled resources from across the federal government to help enforce his strict immigration and deportation policies, enlisting agencies like the Treasury Department that typically had no role in immigration enforcement. On Feb. 7, Noem sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to request agents to help dig into human trafficking networks, find businesses hiring workers in the U.S. illegally, and assist with other immigration-related tasks, according to reports from multiple news agencies, including Reuters. 'It is DHS's understanding that the Department of the Treasury has qualified law enforcement personnel available to assist with immigration enforcement especially in light of recent increases to the Internal Revenue Service's work force and budget,' Noem said in the letter, which was reviewed by Reuters. More recently, a 'memorandum of understanding' was struck allowing DHS to ask the IRS to confirm the home addresses of illegal immigrants suspected of violating deportation orders. As part of the deal, the IRS can share data to aid criminal investigations but is prohibited from sharing information related to civil matters, such as facilitating deportations. The issue has raised alarms among Democrats in Congress and led to several lawsuits, including one filed in Washington D.C. by the Illinois-based immigrant-rights groups Centro de Trabajadores Unidos and Immigrant Solidarity DuPage claiming DHS was 'seeking access to taxpayer information to identify, locate and remove illegal immigrants,' in violation of federal law. Earlier this week, a federal judge denied a motion for a preliminary injunction, saying the deal between DHS and IRS on its face says the information could only be used against 'persons subject to criminal investigation.' '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,' U.S. District Judge Dabney Freidrich wrote in her ruling Monday. In his note to local Chicago agents, meanwhile, Covington said the general objectives will be to assist with locating children separated from family members, detention and deportation efforts and 'locating gang targets (investigative/possibly financial in nature).' The memo directed agents to 'NOT share tax information as part of these efforts.' 'The information sharing between IRS and ICE is being handled through a separate (Memorandum of Understanding) and attorneys with ICE and IRS counsel,' the memo stated. The memo said the exact timing of the operation was still in flux but 'we anticipate employees should be prepared to begin assistance in the next couple of weeks.' Employees were instructed to fill out an Immigration Assistance spreadsheet by Tuesday if they would like to volunteer for the assignment. 'This support is in response to the request made by the DHS Secretary to the Treasury Secretary several months ago,' the memo stated. 'This remains fluid and we are being asked to remain patient and flexible.' jmeisner@ rlong@
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Venezuelan toddler who was kept in US after parents were deported is returned to Venezuela
The Venezuelan 2-year-old who was kept in U.S. government custody after her parents were deported has been returned to Venezuela. In a video posted to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's YouTube page, Maduro is seen greeting the toddler upon the toddler's return. The toddler, Maikelys Antonella Espinoza, is seen in the video being carried by Venezuelan first lady Cilia Flores before being handed over to the toddler's mother, Yorley Inciarte, who had been deported two weeks ago from the United States. MORE: Deported Venezuelan mother accuses US government of 'kidnapping' her child Espinoza's return comes after Maduro and other Venezuelan government officials accused the Trump administration of kidnapping the 2-year old. Last month, the Department of Homeland Security labeled Inciarte and her partner Maiker Espinoza Escalona as "Tren de Aragua parents," alleging the two are members of the Venezuelan criminal gang. Escalona was sent to the CECOT mega-prison in El Salvador on March 30 under Title 8 authorities. Inciarte was deported two weeks ago to Venezuela without her daughter. "The child's father, Maiker Espinoza-Escalona is a lieutenant of Tren De Aragua who oversees homicides, drug sales, kidnappings, extortion, sex trafficking and operates a torture house," DHS said in a statement. "The child's mother, Yorely Escarleth Bernal Inciarte, oversees recruitment of young women for drug smuggling and prostitution." "Everything is false," Inciarte told ABC News in an interview last week. "Here I am waiting for the evidence they have because if they are accusing me, it's because they have proof of what they are saying -- but here I am waiting." Inciarte was separated from her partner and daughter after they entered the U.S. last year and surrendered to authorities. After being held in a detention center for several months in Texas, Inciarte asked for a deportation order so she could be reunited with their child, who is not a U.S. citizen, one of their attorneys told ABC News. But Inciarte ended up being deported without her daughter, who DHS said remained in the care and custody of the Office of Refugee Resettlement. "When my partner and my daughter arrive here, the only thing I [will] think about is staying here in my country," Inciarte told ABC News last week. "Because the only one who supported me and fought alongside me was my country, no one else." Venezuelan toddler who was kept in US after parents were deported is returned to Venezuela originally appeared on
Chicago Tribune
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
IRS criminal investigators in Chicago being ‘deputized' as immigration enforcers under Trump administration plan
The Trump administration's refocusing of federal resources on immigration has landed at the Chicago office of the IRS's criminal investigation bureau, where agents accustomed to working complex financial cases are now being prepared for unprecedented special assignments to help track down undocumented immigrants, a memo obtained by the Tribune shows. The communication sent to staff this week by Ramsey Covington, special agent in charge of the IRS-Criminal Investigation's Chicago field office, said he was still 'working to get legal advice/clarification' on the situation, but that as many as a dozen Chicago-based agents were expected to be detailed to the Department of Homeland Security's local immigration efforts for up to six months. The plan to 'deputize' IRS agents, which was first revealed in February in a leaked letter from Department of Homeland Secretary Kristi Noem, is uncharted territory and comes with several snags, including that IRS agents are not trained on federal immigration issues, often referred to as 'Title 8,' and could potentially face civil lawsuits if they overstep their authority. The memo from Covington sought to allay any fears in the ranks, though he acknowledged the situation was 'fluid' and he was still seeking clarification from the Department of Justice on his office's exact role. No agents would be put in the field without proper clearance, Covington assured. 'Our expectation is that employees will be trained on Title 8 prior to participating in any action under that authority,' the memo stated. 'This may be coordinated at the field office level, and we are still gathering information on this.' Marcus Johnson, a spokesman for the IRS Criminal Investigation, Chicago Field Office, would not confirm any internal communications with staff, but said the office 'will comply with all directives from the Department of Treasury leadership.' Messages left with the Treasury and Homeland Security departments were not immediately returned Wednesday. As an arm of the Treasury Department, the IRS is responsible for the collection of taxes and enforcement of related laws, but agents with the criminal investigation division do important, often-unheralded work uncovering large-scale drug trafficking, money-laundering and fraud schemes. In Chicago, where there are about 60 IRS special agents working downtown and in the suburbs, the IRS has been particularly effective in public corruption cases, including the blockbuster investigations of former Govs. George Ryan and Rod Blagojevich as well as ex-Ald. Edward Burke and former House Speaker Michael Madigan. In his first months in office, President Donald Trump has marshaled resources from across the federal government to help enforce his strict immigration and deportation policies, enlisting agencies like the Treasury Department that typically had no role in immigration enforcement. On Feb. 7, Noem sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to request agents to help dig into human trafficking networks, find businesses hiring workers in the U.S. illegally, and assist with other immigration-related tasks, according to reports from multiple news agencies, including Reuters. 'It is DHS's understanding that the Department of the Treasury has qualified law enforcement personnel available to assist with immigration enforcement especially in light of recent increases to the Internal Revenue Service's work force and budget,' Noem said in the letter, which was reviewed by Reuters. More recently, a 'memorandum of understanding' was struck allowing DHS to ask the IRS to confirm the home addresses of illegal immigrants suspected of violating deportation orders. As part of the deal, the IRS can share data to aid criminal investigations but is prohibited from sharing information related to civil matters, such as facilitating deportations. The issue has raised alarms among Democrats in Congress and led to several lawsuits, including one filed in Washington D.C. by the Illinois-based immigrant-rights groups Centro de Trabajadores Unidos and Immigrant Solidarity DuPage claiming DHS was 'seeking access to taxpayer information to identify, locate and remove illegal immigrants,' in violation of federal law. Earlier this week, a federal judge denied a motion for a preliminary injunction, saying the deal between DHS and IRS on its face says the information could only be used against 'persons subject to criminal investigation.' '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,' U.S. District Judge Dabney Freidrich wrote in her ruling Monday. In his note to local Chicago agents, meanwhile, Covington said the general objectives will be to assist with locating children separated from family members, detention and deportation efforts and 'locating gang targets (investigative/possibly financial in nature).' The memo directed agents to 'NOT share tax information as part of these efforts.' 'The information sharing between IRS and ICE is being handled through a separate (Memorandum of Understanding) and attorneys with ICE and IRS counsel,' the memo stated. The memo said the exact timing of the operation was still in flux but 'we anticipate employees should be prepared to begin assistance in the next couple of weeks.' Employees were instructed to fill out an Immigration Assistance spreadsheet by Tuesday if they would like to volunteer for the assignment. 'This support is in response to the request made by the DHS Secretary to the Treasury Secretary several months ago,' the memo stated. 'This remains fluid and we are being asked to remain patient and flexible.' jmeisner@ rlong@
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump administration asks SCOTUS for permission to deport nearly 200 Venezuelan migrants
President Donald Trump's administration has requested the Supreme Court's permission to deport nearly 200 Venezuelan migrants detained in Texas, asking the court to lift the injunction it issued last month that temporarily blocked the deportation of the migrants under the Alien Enemies Act. In a filing on Monday, the Trump administration said that the 176 alleged members of Tren de Aragua "have proven to be especially dangerous to maintain in prolonged detention." According to a sworn declaration, an official for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said that a group of 23 migrants "threatened to take hostages and injure facility contract staff and ICE officers." MORE: Judge hears arguments over fate of CECOT detainees "The detainees failed to comply with orders to dismantle the barricades and were barricaded in the housing unit for several hours," said Joshua Johnson, the ICE official. In the declaration, Johnson said the group of migrants were moved from Bluebonnet Detention Facility to Prairieland Detention Center last week. "Relocating the detainees to Prairieland was necessary because the organized and coordinated nature of the detainee misconduct threatened the security, safety, and order of the Bluebonnet facility and posed a risk to other detainees, staff, contractors, and any visitors within the facility," Johnson said. In the filing on Monday, Solicitor General D. John Sauer said that SCOTUS should not block the removal of detainees "who have been endangering others while in detention." "One of the key reasons the government has decided to use the more expeditious procedures of the AEA to remove the putative class members in the first place is because of the dangers posed by TdA members while in detention," Sauer said in the filing. The solicitor general also said that the migrants have received "adequate notice" and the opportunity to pursue habeas petitions. "The three weeks afforded here are more than adequate to pursue habeas," Sauer wrote. "Yet as far as the government is aware, no members of the putative class who have received notice of removal pursuant to the AEA have filed habeas petitions in the Northern District of Texas while the administrative injunction has remained in place." MORE: Chief Justice John Roberts makes rare public appearance, defends judicial independence Sauer said the court should modify its recent temporary block to "clarify" that the order only bars removal of the class members under the AEA. "The vast majority of putative class members," according to Sauer, are eligible for "prompt" removal under Title 8 authorities. "The difficulty of detaining the putative class members discussed above has now made it imperative for the government to pursue removal under authorities other than the AEA while the Court's administrative injunction remains in place," Sauer's court filing said. Trump administration asks SCOTUS for permission to deport nearly 200 Venezuelan migrants originally appeared on
