Latest news with #legalissues
New York Times
18 hours ago
- General
- New York Times
Blow to Biden-era Program Plunges Migrants Into Further Uncertainty
For thousands of migrants from some of the world's most unstable countries, the last several months in United States have felt like a life-or-death legal roller coaster. And after a Supreme Court ruling on Friday in favor of a key piece of the Trump administration's deportation effort, hundreds of thousands of migrants found themselves plunged once again into a well of uncertainty. They face the prospect that after being granted temporary permission to live in the United States, they will now be abruptly expelled and perhaps sent back to their perilous homelands. 'One court said one thing, another court said another, and that just leaves us all very confused and worried,' said Frantzdy Jerome, a Haitian who lives with his partner and their toddler in Ohio. Immigration lawyers reported that they had been fielding calls from families asking whether they should continue to go to work or school. Their clients, they say, were given permission to live and work temporarily in the United States. Now, with that permission revoked while legal challenges work their way through lower courts, many immigrants fear that any encounter with the police or other government agencies could lead to deportation, according to lawyers and community leaders. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Free Malaysia Today
2 days ago
- General
- Free Malaysia Today
American academic in limbo in Thailand over royal insult case
Paul Chambers has lost his work visa and job at Naresuan University. (Thai Lawyers for Human Rights Centre pic) BANGKOK : An American scholar remains in Thailand after prosecutors dropped charges against him of insulting the monarchy, his family said, as his legal jeopardy continues in a case that has raised concern in the US government. Paul Chambers, a lecturer on political science, was arrested last month in a rare case of lese-majeste against a foreigner. He could face up to 15 years in jail, based on a complaint filed by the royalist army. 'He's not allowed to leave the country, we are not sure exactly why,' his brother Kit Chambers told Reuters. His family in the US, including his 85-year-old mother, thought he would be coming home but he remains in legal limbo, his brother said. Although the state prosecutor dropped its charges two weeks ago, police could still pursue the case, which includes a charge of computer crime. Chambers, 58, has lost his work visa and job at Naresuan University, and his passport was seized. He denies the charges, has appealed against the revocation of his visa and confiscation of his passport and is contesting his dismissal. The charges stemmed from a blurb for an online academic seminar at which he was a speaker, said a lawyer for Chambers. The blurb was posted last year on the website of a research institute based outside Thailand. Thailand's constitution enshrines the king in a position of 'revered worship', and royalists regard the palace as sacrosanct. One of the world's strictest lese-majeste laws forbids defaming, insulting or threatening King Maha Vajiralongkorn or his close family. Diplomatic issue Chambers' case could add to Thai-US tensions, as Bangkok seeks relief from President Donald Trump's tariffs on its exports. The case has attracted 'very senior-level attention' from US officials, Kit Chambers said, declining to identify officials he had been in contact with. 'These senior officials assured me that if this issue is not resolved soon, it could not only impact trade talks with Thailand but it could also impact other aspects of the US-Thai relationship,' he said. Secretary of state Marco Rubio recently condemned Thailand's deportation of at least 40 Uyghurs to China, announcing sanctions on some Thai officials. A spokesman for the state department declined to comment on the Chambers case's impact on bilateral relations but said it was awaiting a decision by police to carry out the prosecutor's recommendation and swiftly dismiss this case. The department has said the 'case reinforces our longstanding concerns about the use of lese-majeste laws in Thailand'. The US trade representative's office and the Thai foreign ministry declined to comment. The White House did not respond to a request for comment. Paul Chambers declined to be interviewed due to the ongoing legal process. Naresuan University declined to comment. Pavin Chachavalpongpun, a Thai academic at Japan's Kyoto University and a critic of the Thai monarchy, said Chambers' case showed the lese-majeste law was 'a legal weapon that inflicts punishment by process' and can 'paralyse lives'. 'Even though the charges were dropped, the damage is already done – his career has been disrupted, his legal status left in limbo and his ability to move freely effectively revoked,' Pavin said. A Thai government spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Pavin's assertions. Taboo discussion Police can challenge the prosecutors' decision to drop the case. If so, Thailand's attorney-general would have the final say, said Yaowalak Anuphan, the head of Chambers' legal team. 'The criminal case is not completed yet,' she said. A police officer with knowledge of the matter, who declined to be identified because they were not authorised to speak to the media, said the case was still being considered. Public discussion of the lese-majeste law has for decades been taboo. A court last year dissolved the party that won Thailand's 2023 election over its campaign to amend the law. Since anti-government protests in 2020 that included calls to abolish the law, 281 people have been charged with lese-majeste, according to Thai Lawyers for Human Rights. Among the 92 cases courts have ruled on since then, 53 ended in jail sentences and 14 had suspended sentences, the group said. Charges were dropped in 18 cases. All that Chambers' family wants now is for him to come home as quickly as possible, his brother said. 'Another worry is during this time that he is just in limbo, that more charges – false charges – could be brought against him,' he said. 'That would put him right back at square one.'
New York Times
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Times
NBA YoungBoy Says He Will ‘Keep Building' After President's Pardon
Among President Tump's pardons on Wednesday was the prolific and popular Louisiana rapper born Kentrell D. Gaulden, better known as YoungBoy Never Broke Again or NBA YoungBoy. 'I want to thank President Trump for granting me a pardon and giving me the opportunity to keep building — as a man, as a father, and as an artist,' Mr. Gaulden said in a statement on Wednesday. 'This moment means a lot. It opens the door to a future I've worked hard for and I am fully prepared to step into this.' Mr. Gaulden, 25, pleaded guilty in December to possessing weapons as a felon, ending more than five years of legal morass, including federal weapons charges across three states, that had hampered his booming career. As part of a plea deal, he was sentenced to 23 months in prison on gun charges related to a 2020 case in Louisiana, along with five years of probation and a $200,000 fine for a gun charge in a separate Utah case from last year, while he was on house arrest there. (Mr. Gaulden had previously been found not guilty of possessing a firearm and ammunition as a felon at trial in California in 2022.) Mr. Gaulden faced a maximum prison sentence of 10 years in the Louisiana case and 15 years in the Utah case. After receiving credit for time served, he was released from federal prison in March and sent to home confinement; last month, he became a free man, recently announcing a 32-date U.S. tour to begin in September. Andrew Lieber, the rapper's touring agent, said, 'He's a fully free man now, with no travel restrictions. The world is at his fingertips.'
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- General
- Daily Mail
Seven bizarre property laws you might have broken without realising
When does annoying behaviour become illegal behaviour? When it comes to our homes and neighbours, working out when the line has been crossed is not always easy. It is why This is Money receives so many emails from frustrated readers about the latest disputes and disagreements on their street. We have been contacted about the house next door becoming a student HMO for six people, and a neighbour stealing someone's garden. We've had one reader emailing in about their neighbour's dog jumping up at their fence relentlessly, and another about the person upstairs removing carpets and causing an unbearable noise. Many off these involve lesser-known rules that can catch homeowners off guard. Darren Gallagher, property expert and founder of property consultants Elite Realty Invest, has shared seven of these strange – but legally grounded – property laws that are still in force. From urinating in your garden to being fined for hanging washing in your front lawn, the UK is home to some weird and wonderful property laws – many of which are still enforceable today. We asked two legal experts to explain the rules - what the consequences would be for those breaking them. Can you legally pee in your own garden? Technically, yes – but only if it's private and not visible to others. 'Whilst not itself illegal, if seen, you run the risk of indecent exposure,' says Mike Hansom, consultant for property litigation at BLB Solicitors. 'Also, if urine finds its way onto neighbouring property, causing damage, you risk your neighbour claiming damages for nuisance.' Declan Storrar, a solicitor at Hodge Jones & Allen adds: 'If your garden lacks privacy or you're doing it to be seen or cause alarm or distress, you could risk committing a public nuisance or indecent exposure offence.' You must offer cut tree branches back to a neighbour Branching out: If you cut a neighbour's tree which hangs over your garden, you must offer the branches back - though not much is likely to happen if you don't If a neighbour's tree hangs over your garden, you have the right to cut branches back to your boundary – but you are legally obliged to offer the cuttings back to the tree's owner. Throwing them back without consent or disposing of them could technically lead to a civil dispute. 'This is correct if the branches are cut from the neighbour's tree,' says Hansom. 'However, it is unlikely the neighbour would have a claim of any significant value if you did not return them.' Looking into a neighbour's window can be harassment If your behaviour causes distress, it can be classed as harassment - even if you do it from within your own home. This is the case if you persistently look into a neighbour's window, or another part of their property. If proven, the affected party may be able to seek legal action, including an injunction. 'It would be unusual for a single incident to amount to harassment,' says Hansom. 'However, it might do if it forms part of a general course of conduct that you know, or ought to know, amounts to harassment. 'Alternatively, it could breach privacy rights, especially if you recorded what you saw.' Declan Storrar adds: 'Repeatedly watching your neighbour through their window without consent can amount to harassment, nuisance, anti-social behaviour, or even voyeurism.' Mowing a verge outside your home could be illegal Many homeowners take pride in tidying the area at the front of their home – but if it is a grass verge, it may belong to the local authority. In this case, cutting, planting or altering it without permission may be considered unlawful interference. 'Such acts are likely to be unlawful, but the council is unlikely to pursue the matter in many cases,' says Mike Hansom. 'Mowing the land belonging to another is a civil trespass, and depending on the circumstances, it could be a public nuisance to interfere with the land if it forms part of the adopted highway. 'It could also be a criminal offence if the activity obstructs the highway.' Hanging washing in your front garden can be banned While it might seem harmless, certain councils restrict where washing can be hung – particularly in conservation areas or near listed buildings. These aesthetic controls can include bans on visible clothes lines, even on your own land. Declan Storrar says: 'Though not illegal, some areas have rules - set by the local authority, developers, or in the property's title deeds - that prohibit hanging washing in front gardens. Breaching these restrictions could result in a civil claim against you, or a fine.' 'If you have covenants on your property title, it could be prohibited,' says Hansom. 'If you own a leasehold flat or a house on an estate, you could be bound by covenants restricting activities such as hanging laundry. 'The same goes if you are a rental tenant. In addition, if you live in a conservation area, it might amount to a breach of planning control.' Your neighbour may have a legal 'right to light' If a window has received uninterrupted natural light for over 20 years, the property owner may have acquired a legal right to that light. Any new structure you build that blocks this light could be challenged in court. You may need planning permission for a driveway If you lay impermeable paving over more than five square metres of front garden without proper drainage, planning permission may be required. Without it, councils can issue enforcement notices and require the work to be reversed. 'Planning permission may be required for a driveway, depending on local regulations, the materials used, and the location,' says Storrar. 'Check whether your property is in a conservation area and consult your local authority before starting any work.' Hansom adds: 'Planning permission is often not required for a new driveway, provided you meet certain conditions. 'However, planning policy varies significantly across the country, so it is essential to check the law as it applies in your area. 'You will likely need the highway authority's permission to install a dropped kerb. Without this, it would be lawful for others to park their cars in front of your new driveway.' Best mortgage rates and how to find them Mortgage rates have risen substantially over recent years, meaning that those remortgaging or buying a home face higher costs. That makes it even more important to search out the best possible rate for you and get good mortgage advice, whether you are a first-time buyer, home owner or buy-to-let landlord. Quick mortgage finder links with This is Money's partner L&C > Mortgage rates calculator > Find the right mortgage for you To help our readers find the best mortgage, This is Money has partnered with the UK's leading fee-free broker L&C. This is Money and L&C's mortgage calculator can let you compare deals to see which ones suit your home's value and level of deposit. You can compare fixed rate lengths, from two-year fixes, to five-year fixes and ten-year fixes. If you're ready to find your next mortgage, why not use This is Money and L&C's online Mortgage Finder. It will search 1,000's of deals from more than 90 different lenders to discover the best deal for you.
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
BREAKING NEWS Tommy Robinson leaves prison early after High Court judge reduced his 18-month sentence for contempt of court
Tommy Robinson has been released from prison after his sentence for contempt of court was reduced by a judge. The activist, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, was seen leaving HMP Woodhill in Milton Keynes this morning after serving a sentence for the civil offence of contempt of court. His original 18-month jail term was reduced by four months at London 's High Court earlier this month and he has spent seven months behind bars. It was revealed last week that Robinson has now been charged with harassment causing fear of violence against two men. The 42-year-old is due to appear before Westminster magistrates in central London on Thursday next week. He had been jailed last October after admitting multiple breaches of an injunction made in 2021, which barred him from repeating false allegations concerning a Syrian refugee who successfully sued him for libel. The sentence comprised a 14-month 'punitive' element and a four-month 'coercive' element. Sentencing judge Mr Justice Johnson had told Robinson he could have the latter taken off his sentence if he were to 'purge' his contempt by taking steps to comply with the injunction. Robinson, who was previously due to be released on July 26, applied to purge his contempt. His lawyers told the court he had shown a 'commitment' to comply with the order. Lawyers for the Solicitor General said they agreed that Robinson had taken steps to adhere to the injunction. In a ruling, Mr Justice Johnson last week said that there was an 'absence of contrition or remorse' from Robinson, but that the defendant had shown a 'change in attitude' since he was sentenced. The judge said: 'He (Robinson) has given an assurance that he will comply with the injunction in the future, that he has no intention of breaching it again, and that he is aware of the consequences of what would happen if he breached the injunction again.' He continued: 'I consider it appropriate to grant the application.' He added: 'The practical effect, subject to confirmation by the prison authorities, is that the defendant will be released once he has completed the punitive element, which I understand will be within the next week.' Robinson, who attended the hearing via video-link from HMP Woodhill in Milton Keynes, showed no immediate reaction once the judgment was handed down. He was jailed last year for 10 admitted breaches of the injunction, after the Solicitor General issued two contempt claims against him. The first alleged he 'knowingly' breached the order on four occasions, including by having 'published, caused, authorised or procured' a film called Silenced, which contains the libellous allegations, in May 2023. The film was pinned to the top of Robinson's profile on the social media site X, while he also repeated the claims in three interviews between February and June 2023. The second claim was issued in August last year and concerned six further breaches, including playing the film at a demonstration in Trafalgar Square in central London last summer. Announcing the new charges alleging harassment, a Crown Prosecution Service spokesperson said last Wednesday: 'We have authorised the Metropolitan Police to charge Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, 42, with harassment causing fear of violence against two men. 'The Crown Prosecution Service reminds all concerned that criminal proceedings against the defendant are active and that he has the right to a fair trial.' Robinson is facing a separate trial in October next year over an accusation that he failed to provide the Pin for his mobile phone when stopped by Kent Police in Folkestone in July 2024.
