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Straits Times
14 hours ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
Trump administration ending protected status for Nepalese migrants
FILE PHOTO: U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference, CPAC, in Jasionka, Poland, May 27, 2025. Alex Brandon/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo The Trump administration has moved to end deportation protections the United States granted to thousands of Nepalese people after a 2015 earthquake devastated the country, according to a government notice posted on Thursday. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said in the notice that the administration is terminating temporary protected status for Nepal after a review found the country has largely recovered from the disaster. "There are notable improvements in environmental disaster preparedness and response capacity, as well as substantial reconstruction from the earthquake's destruction such that there is no longer a disruption of living conditions and Nepal is able to handle adequately the return of its nationals," the notice said. The department estimates there are around 12,700 Nepalese with the status, which provides deportation relief and work permits to people already in the U.S. if their home countries experience a natural disaster, armed conflict or other extraordinary event. Of those, approximately 5,500 have lawful permanent residence in the U.S. The notice said the revocation will take effect 60 days from Friday, giving the approximately 7,000 Nepalese migrants with temporary protected status who aren't permanent residents until August 5, 2025, to leave the country or change their immigration status. After that date, they could face deportation. The Department of Homeland Security and the Nepalese embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Donald Trump, who returned to the presidency in January, has pledged to deport record numbers of migrants in the United States illegally and has moved to strip certain migrants of temporary legal protections, expanding the pool of possible deportees. During his first term from 2017 to 2021, Trump's administration tried to end most enrollment in the temporary protected status program, but was stymied by federal courts. Last month, the U.S. Supreme Court let the Trump administration end temporary protected status that was granted to hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans in the U.S. by his predecessor Joe Biden. Trump has also sought to end the status for Haitians, Afghans and others. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Time of India
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Kristi Noem called ‘dangerously dumb' after Senate ‘habeas corpus' blunder; What she said about it
In a Senate Homeland Security Committee hearing on Tuesday, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem sparked controversy after mischaracterising the constitutional principle of habeas corpus . Her comments prompted an immediate correction from Senator Maggie Hassan and ignited a flurry of online criticism. When asked by Senator Hassan, a Democrat from New Hampshire , to define habeas corpus, Noem responded, 'Well, habeas corpus is a constitutional right that the president has to be able to remove people from this country, to suspend their right to...' before being cut off. Senator Hassan firmly replied, 'Habeas corpus is the legal principle that requires that the government provide a public reason for detaining and imprisoning people. If not for that protection, the government could simply arrest people, including American citizens , and hold them indefinitely for no reason. It is the foundational right that separates free societies like America from police states like North Korea.' Noem then rephrased her answer, stating, 'I support habeas corpus.' But she added, 'I also recognise that the president of the United States has the authority under the Constitution to decide if it should be suspended or not.' This exchange came amid rising concerns that the Trump administration may attempt to suspend the centuries-old legal safeguard as part of its aggressive immigration enforcement strategy. Live Events Suspension talk: Trump aide fuels debate The discussion follows earlier remarks by Stephen Miller , White House deputy chief of staff, who on 9 May told reporters the administration was 'actively looking at' suspending habeas corpus. He said, 'The Constitution is clear… the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus could be suspended in time of invasion… So that's an option we're actively looking at.' Miller further suggested that courts might not even have jurisdiction, stating, 'Congress passed a body of law known as the Immigration Nationality Act which stripped Article III courts… of jurisdiction over immigration cases.' The Trump administration has argued that the U.S. is facing an 'invasion' of illegal migrants, invoking language typically associated with war or national emergency. The aim is to expedite deportations without lengthy legal proceedings. However, this framing has been widely challenged in courts and the press. What is 'Habeas corpus'? Habeas corpus—Latin for 'you have the body'—is a legal doctrine that dates back to English common law and was codified in the U.S. Constitution to ensure that the government must justify detaining any person before a neutral judge. The Constitution only allows its suspension 'when, in cases of rebellion or invasion, the public safety may require it.' Historically, suspension has occurred just four times. President Abraham Lincoln first suspended it during the Civil War to detain Confederate sympathisers, a move initially rebuked by the Supreme Court's then-Chief Justice Roger Taney. Congress later granted Lincoln retroactive approval. It was suspended again under President Ulysses S. Grant to combat Ku Klux Klan violence, in the Philippines in 1905, and in Hawaii after the Pearl Harbour attack in 1941. Legal scholars, including now-Justice Amy Coney Barrett, have noted that although the Constitution does not specify which branch may suspend habeas corpus, most agree that only Congress holds that power. Following the gaffe, Kristi Noem has come under intense scrutiny on social media after a video of her misdefining the legal principle of habeas corpus during a Senate hearing went viral. The moment was posted on X (formerly Twitter) by political commentator Brian Krassenstein. 'We are living in the dumbest of times,' Krassenstein wrote, summing up what many users echoed in the comments. — krassenstein (@krassenstein) The backlash was swift and biting. One user responded, 'I was laughing so hard! That's why she plays dress-up, because she can't do anything else.' Another added, 'Dangerously dumb.' Comments ranged from blunt jabs—'She's as dumb as a bag of rocks'—to more pointed speculation: 'She's playing dumb. Has to be.' Another said plainly, 'The head of the department is freaking CLUELESS! My God!' The social media storm erupted after Noem told Senator Maggie Hassan during a Senate Homeland Security Committee hearing that habeas corpus was 'a constitutional right that the president has to be able to remove people from this country.' Hassan, a Democrat and former attorney, immediately corrected her: 'Habeas corpus is the legal principle that requires that the government provide a public reason for detaining and imprisoning people.' Judiciary pushback likely John Blume, professor at Cornell Law School, said Noem's remarks reflect either 'a fundamental misunderstanding' or deliberate misinformation. 'She was giving an answer she knew was wrong to appease the president,' he told reporters. Blume also cast doubt on the administration's ability to suspend habeas corpus, even under claims of invasion. 'That position would be very unlikely to fly with the U.S. Supreme Court,' he added. This is not the administration's first brush with sweeping legal authority. Trump previously cited the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to justify deporting Venezuelan migrants alleged to be gang members. Federal courts across states including New York, Texas, and Pennsylvania blocked the move, citing insufficient evidence of a true national threat. Unlike previous administrations, even during times of crisis, President Trump's team appears more willing to stretch executive power. After the September 11 attacks, President George W. Bush chose not to suspend habeas corpus but instead detained terrorism suspects at Guantanamo Bay. The Supreme Court later ruled in 2008 that detainees had the right to challenge their detention under habeas corpus. Senator Hassan pressed Noem further on whether she would follow a hypothetical court ruling overturning a presidential suspension of habeas corpus. Noem responded, 'I'm following all court orders… as is the president.' To which Hassan responded bluntly, 'That is obviously not true for anybody who reads the news.' A divided government, a divided opinion Any attempt to suspend habeas corpus now would face steep hurdles. With only narrow Republican majorities in Congress, gaining legislative support would be difficult. Courts, too, remain a bulwark against executive overreach, as seen in repeated rulings that have blocked Trump-era immigration measures. Still, the administration's interest in circumventing traditional legal pathways to speed up deportations signals a concerning shift. At its core, the clash over habeas corpus is more than a political spat—it's a test of the balance between national security and civil liberties. And for many, the answer should never be ambiguous.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Florida lawmaker asks Homeland Security for extension on Real ID requirement
A Florida congresswoman is urging U.S. Homeland Security to hold off on a long-awaited program. Rep. Anna Luna wrote to the department urging it to delay the deadline for Real ID. The lawmaker from Pinellas County is asking officials to extend the deadline to May 2027. Luna says about 20% of Americans don't meet the Real ID requirements for air travel. This deadline has been looming for nearly two decades. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
Newsweek
22-04-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
Kristi Noem's TV Ad Calling to 'Hunt' Down Migrants Faces Ban
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. A TV ad produced by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) featuring Secretary Kristi Noem is facing growing backlash after Mexico's president called for its removal. Why It Matters The video is part of a multimillion-dollar global ad campaign by the federal government designed to deter migrants from attempting to enter the United States. President Donald Trump and his administration are attempting to curb migration figures and remove millions of undocumented immigrants as part of a strategy to conduct mass deportations. U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, left, and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum at the National Palace in Mexico City on March 28, 2025. U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, left, and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum at the National Palace in Mexico City on March 28, 2025. Alex Brandon/AFP via Getty Images What To Know The commercial, which airs on major television networks, warns against undocumented migration to the United States, with Noem delivering a message said to be from Trump. President Claudia Sheinbaum labeled the ad "discriminatory" and promised to propose legislation to Congress that would ban the commercial at her daily news conference on Monday. "President Trump and I have a clear message to those in our country illegally: LEAVE NOW. If you do not self-deport, we will hunt you down, arrest you, and deport you. Download the FREE CBP Home app today to self-deport," Noem said in the ad. The 60-second commercial, which includes footage of migrants running across the border, a bag that seems to contain unidentified drugs, and a series of police headshots featuring Latino, Black, and Asian men, has provoked widespread outrage from Mexico's government. This series of ads will air on broadcast television and online platforms, both across the United States and internationally, in multiple languages, according to DHS. The ads will be highly targeted, using social media, text messages, and digital channels to reach individuals in the U.S. who are evading law enforcement, according to a DHS press release. Additionally, the ad campaign will aim to deter potential migrants from attempting to cross into the United States illegally. Sheinbaum also revealed plans to send a bill to Congress that would ban foreign governments from buying ads that insult Mexico. Last month, Sheinbaum and Noem held a meeting in Mexico City to discuss issues related to migration and drug trafficking. Following the discussions, the Mexican leader described the meeting as "beneficial." Mexico has sent 10,000 troops to the southern border to help the White House's effort to curb migration flows into the U.S. What People Are Saying Secretary Kristi Noem said in the ad: "Child molesters. Rapists. Murderers. These are just a few of the illegal alien scumbags who have been fined, imprisoned, and deported thanks to President Trump," President Claudia Sheinbaum said at a daily press conference: "If a city in a country wants to promote its tourism, its culture, that's a very different thing from a paid advertisement that disseminates discriminatory messages." What Happens Next The ads are expected to be taken off air in Mexico.
CBC
08-04-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Rise in asylum seekers crossing into Quebec as U.S. revokes status of thousands of migrants
Canadian border officials say there has been a steady rise in the number of people seeking asylum at a border crossing south of Montreal. The rise in would-be refugees at the Saint-Bernard-de-Lacolle border crossing comes as the temporary status of hundreds of thousands of migrants in the United States is set to expire over the next weeks and months. Data from Canada Border Services Agency shows the number of asylum claims at the Saint-Bernard-de-Lacolle point of entry has increased since the start of the year, with 1,356 applications in March and 557 claims as of Saturday for April. Frantz André, spokesman for a Montreal-based group that helps undocumented migrants with asylum cases, says there has been a rise in would-be refugees coming to Canada since the election of U.S. President Donald Trump in November. U.S. Homeland Security said last month it was revoking the temporary status of 532,000 people from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela who flew to the country at their own expense with a financial sponsor. It ends April 24. The Trump administration has also announced an end to Temporary Protected Status for 600,000 Venezuelans and about 500,000 Haitians, though a federal judge temporarily put that on hold.
