Latest news with #UnitedStatesDepartmentofHomelandSecurity
Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
US arrests Mexican immigrant for threatening to shoot Donald Trump
Ramon Morales Reyes The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has arrested an undocumented Mexican male immigrant for allegedly threatening to shoot US President Donald Trump. Ramon Morales Reyes was arrested by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), a federal agency under the DHS. According to DHS, the man, Reyes, entered America illegally at least nine times between 1998 and 2005. Reyes has criminal records including arrests for felony hit and run, criminal damage to property and disorderly conduct with a domestic abuse modifier, it added. In a letter being attributed to him, Reyes wrote, "We are tired of this president (Trump) messing with us Mexicans - we have done more for this country than you white people. You have been deporting my family and it is time Donald J Trump get what he has coming to him." "I will self-deport myself to Mexico but not before I shoot you precious president in his head. I will see him at one of his big ralleys (sic)," he added. In July 2024, Trump was the target of an assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania. More recently, a now-deleted Instagram post by ex-Federal Bureau of Investigation head James Comey led to allegations by team Trump that he was calling for the Republican leader's assassination.
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Business Standard
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Standard
What Harvard University ban means for Indian, other 7,000 students: FAQs
The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has revoked Harvard University's ability to enrol new international students under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), affecting thousands of foreign students—including nearly 788 Indians. The move, announced on May 22, 2025, follows the university's refusal to comply with federal demands for student records and administrative changes. Here's what Indian students need to know. What exactly has happened? The US government has stripped Harvard of its SEVP certification. This means the university can no longer enrol new international students or support current ones on study visas. 'Current international students will need to transfer out of Harvard or risk losing their ability to remain in the United States lawfully,' wrote student journalists Samuel A Church, Cam N. Srivastava, and Grace E. Yoon in The Harvard Crimson. How will this impact Indian students already studying at Harvard? Students who have already completed their degree requirements this semester can still graduate. 'If students have completed all of their graduation requirements, they should still be able to graduate, so that shouldn't be an issue,' said Nicole Hallett, immigration rights professor at the University of Chicago Law School. For others, transferring to another institution will be necessary if they want to maintain their visa status. What about new Indian students joining Harvard this autumn? They won't be allowed to join, unless the US government reverses its decision or a court intervenes. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Harvard had 72 hours to meet a list of federal demands, which included disciplinary records for foreign students and video footage of protest activity. What happens if students transfer during Optional Practical Training (OPT)? Transferring while on OPT could immediately void work rights. 'If you're in a period of Optional Practical Training after your graduation and you transfer to a school, that serves to automatically terminate your work authorisation,' said Jeff Joseph, former vice president of the American Immigration Lawyers Association. How much time do students have to act? There is no official deadline, but immigration lawyers suggest acting fast. 'They did not say 15 days or 60 days or two days — nothing,' said Bhuvanyaa Vijay, an immigration attorney and Harvard Law School graduate. 'When we get such clients, we tell them to 'Hurry up,' and within 15 days at best, try to transfer.' Why has the US government taken this step? US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem accused Harvard of failing to provide requested records and said the university 'perpetuates an unsafe campus environment that is hostile to Jewish students, promotes pro-Hamas sympathies and employs racist 'diversity, equity and inclusion' policies.' Harvard rejected the claims, calling the action unlawful and a threat to its academic mission. How did the conflict between Harvard and the Trump administration begin? It started in April 2025 when Harvard became the first elite university to refuse the administration's request to clamp down on pro-Palestinian protests and end diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programmes. That decision triggered a chain reaction. Federal agencies such as the DHS and the National Institutes of Health have suspended research grants to Harvard, affecting faculty-led projects. The university has filed a legal case to lift the grant freeze. What does this mean for Indian students considering studying in the US? The US remains a preferred destination, but students may now weigh institutional stability more heavily. 'The United States remains a top choice for Indian students, thanks to its world-class universities, research opportunities, and professional pathways,' Saurabh Arora, founder and CEO of University Living, a student housing platform. 'However, developments like this may prompt students and families to more carefully weigh their options, especially those prioritising policy consistency and transparency,' he told Business Standard. According to the Indian Student Mobility Report 2024 by University Living, Indian students are projected to spend $17.4 billion annually, with $10.1 billion going toward academic costs. 'International students contribute more than just tuition, they bring global perspectives that enrich classrooms and research,' said Arora.
India Today
22-05-2025
- India Today
Indian charged with possessing, transporting child pornography in US
An Indian has been charged with possession and transportation of child pornography in New Orleans in the US. Ashish Kapoor alias Romy Kapoor held digital videos and computer images which contained pictures of children with sexually explicit conduct, according to the statement issued by the US Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Louisiana, on May 21. All the children were below the age of 28-year-old was named in a new indictment filed on May 8. According to the superseding indictment, in February 2024, Kapoor transported a cellular phone containing digital videos and images depicting explicit convicted of possessing child pornography, Kapoor could face up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000 (approximately Rs 2.08 crore), supervised release for the rest of his life, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee. Acting US Attorney Michael M Simpson reiterated that the superseding indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable case was investigated by the United States Department of Homeland Security, the United States Customs and Border Protection, and the New Orleans Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Maria Carboni of the Financial Crimes case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, the statement by United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.
Time of India
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Who are the 8 men being deported to South Sudan and what is their crime?
The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has published the names of eight men deported from Texas aboard a contentious flight allegedly destined for South Sudan , an action that has sparked legal, diplomatic, and humanitarian controversy. The eight men, all of whom were convicted of various serious violent offenses - murder, armed robbery, rape, and sexual assault - are Cuban, Laotian, Mexican, Myanmar, South Sudanese, and Vietnamese. DHS officials had defended the deportation as "uniquely monstrous and barbaric" and had highlighted the necessity of deporting them in the interest of public safety. "We carried out a deportation flight from Texas with the aim of removing some of the most violent, horrific individuals illegally residing in the United States," read a statement by DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin. She acerbically condemned judicial intervention and termed it "absolutely absurd for a district judge to try to dictate the foreign policy and national security of the United States of America". The deportation flight left Texas on Tuesday, although the government has not revealed where it was headed, citing safety and operational issues. Previously, a Justice Department attorney had told the court that the plane taking the deportees had arrived, but would not reveal the destination, only agreeing to discuss it in private with the judge. The plane has been reported to have landed in Djibouti, although this is not confirmed. Play Video Pause Skip Backward Skip Forward Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration 0:00 Loaded : 0% 0:00 Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 1x Playback Rate Chapters Chapters Descriptions descriptions off , selected Captions captions settings , opens captions settings dialog captions off , selected Audio Track default , selected Picture-in-Picture Fullscreen This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Text Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Caption Area Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop shadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Beyond Text Generation: An AI Tool That Helps You Write Better Grammarly Install Now Undo Judge's Decision and Criticism U.S. District Judge Brian Murphy held that the administration "unquestionably" broke his earlier court order, which mandated that migrants bound for removal to third nations receive a fair chance to contest their deportation—particularly if they face persecution or torture in the receiving nation. Judge Murphy mentioned that the migrants had less than 24 hours' notice, some without translators or with insufficient time to consult with lawyers, rendering it "impossible for these people to have a realistic opportunity to challenge their removal to South Sudan". He directed the men to be held in U.S. custody until they have undergone credible fear screening and did not foreclose the possibility of future action against the government. Live Events Who Are the Deported Individuals? The eight deportees are: Enrique Arias-Hierro (Cuba): Homicide and armed robbery Jose Manuel Rodriguez-Quinones (Cuba): Attempted first-degree murder Thongxay Nilakout (Laos): First-degree murder Jesus Munoz-Gutierrez (Mexico): Second-degree murder Dian Peter Domach (South Sudan): Robbery and firearm possession Kyaw Mya (Myanmar): Lascivious acts with a child Nyo Myint (Myanmar): First-degree sexual assault Tuan Thanh Phan (Vietnam): Conviction details not specified
The Hindu
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
U.S. considering reality TV competition for citizenship
The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is considering taking part in a reality TV show in which immigrants would compete for American citizenship, the department confirmed on Friday (May 16, 2025). Asked about the reported idea, DHS responded with a statement that said the pitch "has not received approval or rejection by staff," and that "each proposal undergoes a thorough vetting process prior to denial or approval." "We need to revive patriotism and civic duty in this country, and we're happy to review out-of-the-box pitches," Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin said in the statement. The Wall Street Journal reported that the proposed show -- which was pitched by a Canadian American named Rob Worsoff -- would see contestants face off to prove they are the most American. "This isn't The Hunger Games for immigrants," the newspaper quoted Worsoff as saying -- a reference to a dystopian novel and subsequent movie about children forced to kill each other in a televised competition for survival. "This is not, 'Hey, if you lose, we are shipping you out on a boat out of the country,'" he said. The Journal reviewed a 36-page slide deck from Worsoff's team about the proposed program, which would see contestants compete in one-hour episodes. This could include a gold rush competition to see who can retrieve the most precious metal from a mine, or one in which contestants would work in teams to assemble the chassis of a Model T car, according to the newspaper. The show would start with an arrival at Ellis Island -- the traditional entrance point for immigrants to the United States -- and would see one contestant eliminated per episode. The news comes as former reality show star President Donald Trump's administration has moved to end temporary protected status (TPS) for various groups of immigrants it had shielded them from deportation. Federal law permits the government to grant TPS to foreign citizens who cannot safely return home because of war, natural disasters or other "extraordinary" conditions. Since taking office, Trump has sought to strip TPS protections from citizens of countries including Afghanistan, Haiti and Venezuela as part of his broader crackdown on immigration. That crackdown -- led by DHS -- has included immigration raids, arrests and deportations.
