Latest news with #studentloanforgiveness
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Kristi Noem is offering teenagers student loan forgiveness if they sign up to be an ICE agent
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is offering young people student loan forgiveness as a means to entice them into considering careers as ICE agents. Noem is seeking to bolster the ranks of the controversial law enforcement agency to help with President Donald Trump 's mass roundup of illegal immigrants and last week invited applications for U.S. citizens to join. 'Your country is calling you to serve at ICE,' she said in a statement. 'Your country needs dedicated men and women of ICE to get the worst of the worst criminals out of our country. 'This is a defining moment in our nation's history. Your skills, your experience, and your courage have never been more essential. Together, we must defend the homeland.' The recruitment drive has been made possible by Trump's 'One Big, Beautiful Bill,' which passed Congress in early July and was signed into law by the president on Independence Day. It set aside more than $170 billion in taxpayers' cash for immigration enforcement over the next decade. Republicans in Congress earmarked $30 billion of that total for the hiring spree and $45 billion for new detention centers. Noem appeared on Fox News's flagship breakfast show Fox and Friends on Wednesday and announced that ICE had already received 80,000 new applications for the 10,000 positions she is seeking to fill and revealed that she had done away with age restrictions to make the opportunity open to younger people. Previously, applicants had to be aged between 21 and 37 or 40 to be considered, depending on the nature of the role they were hoping to secure. 'We no longer have a cap on how old you can be or you can continue at age 18, sign up for ICE and join us and be a part of it,' Noem told the show. 'We'll get you trained and ready to be equipped to go out on the streets and help protect families.' As part of the ICE expansion, the agency is seeking to target 'Gen Z and early-career professionals,' as well as ex-law enforcement and military personnel, with an advertising blitz that it hopes will reach 42 million people across platforms like YouTube, X, HBO Max, Amazon Prime and Hulu. Among the other benefits being offered to encourage Americans to sign up, in addition to student loan forgiveness, is a $50,000 golden handshake, enhanced retirement benefits, and extensive overtime opportunities. One person who has already snapped up the opportunity is former Superman TV actor Dean Cain, who announced his decision on social media earlier this week and encouraged others to follow his example, stressing that anyone doing so would enjoy the 'great benefits' on offer and would not need an undergraduate degree to be considered. 'Since President Trump took office, ICE has arrested hundreds of thousands of criminals including terrorists, rapists, murderers, pedophiles, MS-13 gang members, drug traffickers, you name it – very dangerous people who are no longer on the streets,' Cain told his followers. 'If you want to help save America, ICE is arresting the worst of the worst and removing them from America's streets. I like that. I voted for that. 'They need your help, we need your help, to protect our homeland for families. Join today if it's something that tickles your fancy because we can use you.' ICE has faced heavy criticism and some ridicule for its handling of its task in the first 200 days of Trump's presidency. The agency's actions inspired tense protests in Los Angeles in June. Still, this week the president's border czar Tom Homan claimed that 300,000 non-citizens had been deported in that time, and another million had left the United States voluntarily. Concerns about due process being observed and the conditions in which detainees are being held persist, however. The pace of ICE's daily arrest rate also fell by nearly 20 percent in July amid reports of plummeting morale among officers, some of whom have complained they spend more time 'arresting gardeners' than pursuing criminals.
The Independent
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Kristi Noem is offering teenagers student loan forgiveness if they sign up to be an ICE agent
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is offering young people student loan forgiveness as a means to entice them into considering careers as ICE agents. Noem is seeking to bolster the ranks of the controversial law enforcement agency to help with President Donald Trump 's mass roundup of illegal immigrants and last week invited applications for U.S. citizens to join. 'Your country is calling you to serve at ICE,' she said in a statement. 'Your country needs dedicated men and women of ICE to get the worst of the worst criminals out of our country. 'This is a defining moment in our nation's history. Your skills, your experience, and your courage have never been more essential. Together, we must defend the homeland.' The recruitment drive has been made possible by Trump's 'One Big, Beautiful Bill,' which passed Congress in early July and was signed into law by the president on Independence Day. It set aside more than $170 billion in taxpayers' cash for immigration enforcement over the next decade. Republicans in Congress earmarked $30 billion of that total for the hiring spree and $45 billion for new detention centers. Noem appeared on Fox News's flagship breakfast show Fox and Friends on Wednesday and announced that ICE had already received 80,000 new applications for the 10,000 positions she is seeking to fill and revealed that she had done away with age restrictions to make the opportunity open to younger people. Previously, applicants had to be aged between 21 and 37 or 40 to be considered, depending on the nature of the role they were hoping to secure. 'We no longer have a cap on how old you can be or you can continue at age 18, sign up for ICE and join us and be a part of it,' Noem told the show. 'We'll get you trained and ready to be equipped to go out on the streets and help protect families.' As part of the ICE expansion, the agency is seeking to target 'Gen Z and early-career professionals,' as well as ex-law enforcement and military personnel, with an advertising blitz that it hopes will reach 42 million people across platforms like YouTube, X, HBO Max, Amazon Prime and Hulu. Among the other benefits being offered to encourage Americans to sign up, in addition to student loan forgiveness, is a $50,000 golden handshake, enhanced retirement benefits, and extensive overtime opportunities. One person who has already snapped up the opportunity is former Superman TV actor Dean Cain, who announced his decision on social media earlier this week and encouraged others to follow his example, stressing that anyone doing so would enjoy the 'great benefits' on offer and would not need an undergraduate degree to be considered. 'Since President Trump took office, ICE has arrested hundreds of thousands of criminals including terrorists, rapists, murderers, pedophiles, MS-13 gang members, drug traffickers, you name it – very dangerous people who are no longer on the streets,' Cain told his followers. 'If you want to help save America, ICE is arresting the worst of the worst and removing them from America's streets. I like that. I voted for that. 'They need your help, we need your help, to protect our homeland for families. Join today if it's something that tickles your fancy because we can use you.' ICE has faced heavy criticism and some ridicule for its handling of its task in the first 200 days of Trump's presidency. The agency's actions inspired tense protests in Los Angeles in June. Still, this week the president's border czar Tom Homan claimed that 300,000 non-citizens had been deported in that time, and another million had left the United States voluntarily. Concerns about due process being observed and the persist, however. The pace of ICE's daily arrest rate also fell by nearly 20 percent in July amid reports of plummeting morale among officers, some of whom have complained they spend more time 'arresting gardeners' than pursuing criminals.
Fox News
28-07-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Investigation finds RI Public School District offered student loan forgiveness to only non-White teachers
FIRST ON FOX: An investigation conducted by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission found there was reasonable cause to believe that the Providence Public School District was unlawfully discriminating against White teachers by only offering student loan forgiveness to non-White educators. "The evidence obtained during the investigation establishes reasonable cause to believe that Respondent engaged in unlawful discrimination against a class of White applicants and employees who applied and were hired by Respondent in a teaching position for five academic years starting with the 2021-2022 school year based on their race, color and national origin," the EEOC's final determination letter stated on Thursday. In 2022, the Legal Insurrection Foundation, a Rhode Island-based nonprofit investigative and research group, filed a civil rights complaint with the U.S. Department of Education against the Providence Public School District. The group alleged that the Providence Public School District offered a program giving student loan forgiveness to new teachers available only to non-White educators. The complaint maintained that the Providence Public School District "engaged in a continuing violation and an ongoing pattern or practice of discrimination" with a student loan forgiveness program for newly and recently hired educators that is only accessible to non-White applicants, which was called the "Educator of Color Loan Forgiveness Program." The Providence Public School District reportedly said that recipients can have up to $25,000 of college loans forgiven once the teacher completes three consecutive years of teaching in the district. Eligibility requirements indicate recipients must "identify as Asian, Black, Indigenous, Latino, biracial, or multi-racial." The EEOC final determination letter states that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which bars employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin, mandates that if violations are found, the Providence Public School District must work to bring a resolution. It directs the Providence Public School District to contact the EEOC "within ten days upon your receipt of this letter to indicate your willingness to participate in EEOC's conciliation program to address the violation noted in this letter of determination." In a statement to Fox News Digital, William Jacobson, Cornell law professor and founder of the Equal Protection Project, said, "After almost three years of effort, EPP is seeing the legal pieces fall into place to stop this racist program and to hold those responsible accountable." "The U.S. Department of Justice has opened a formal investigation and now the EEOC has issued a finding of 'reasonable cause' to believe the civil rights laws were violated," Jacobson said. "We are gratified by the findings of the EEOC, and look forward to the EEOC taking further legal action to vindicate the rights of hundreds, if not thousands, of White teachers who were subject to unlawful discriminatory treatment." Fox News Digital reached out to the Providence Public School District for comment, but did not immediately receive a response.
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
4 ways Trump's 'Big Beautiful Bill' could impact your wallet
The "Big Beautiful Bill" is headed to President Donald Trump's desk. It includes a repeal of student loan forgiveness and an increased child tax credit. It also includes new "Trump accounts" and changes to Medicaid and SNAP. From taxes to student loan forgiveness, provisions in President Donald Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill" will soon be impacting Americans' wallets. On Thursday, the House passed the final version of the bill, which would extend the president's 2017 tax cuts and make key changes to the tax system, along with implementing significant changes to Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Beyond the effects on Americans' wallets, the legislation provides roughly $150 billion to ramp up immigration enforcement. The bill first passed the House in May before undergoing changes in the Senate, where it narrowly passed on Tuesday. Trump could sign the bill into law as soon as Friday, July 4. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said the bill would add at least $3.3 trillion to the US deficit. In May, Moody's Analytics downgraded the US's credit rating last week, citing rising federal debt. It said an extension of Trump's 2017 taxes could add $4 trillion to the deficit over the next decade. This could lead to higher interest rates on mortgages, auto loans, and more down the road. Here are four other key ways the tax bill could affect Americans' finances. Many of Trump's campaign promises are included in the tax bill. The legislation would eliminate taxes on tips and overtime wages. About two-thirds of tipped workers earn enough to owe federal income tax. After a final bill is signed, the Trump administration will release a list of qualifying occupations. The Senate bill includes a $6,000 tax deduction for older people making less than $75,000 a year ($150,000 for couples). Seniors making above that threshold would see a decreasing deduction until hitting a cap of $175,000 ($250,000 for couples.) Lower-income seniors likely won't benefit from the deduction. The provision is how lawmakers are trying to fulfill Trump's promise to end taxes on Social Security payments. The deduction would run through 2028. Another provision would permanently raise the child tax credit to $2,200. Additionally, it would eliminate electric vehicle tax credits after September. It also proposes ending tax credits for homeowners to install solar panels or energy-efficient heat pumps and incentives for new energy-efficient homes and home weatherization projects by the end of this year. The bill would also make Trump's 2017 tax cuts permanent and increase the state and local tax deduction, known as SALT, from $10,000 to $40,000 in 2025, $40,400 in 2026, and increase an additional 1% every year through 2029 before reverting to $10,000 in 2030. Lifting the SALT cap allows wealthy taxpayers in states and cities with high taxes to claim a bigger federal deduction, and the cap is something some Republican lawmakers have sought to raise or eliminate. Under the Senate bill, millions of student loan borrowers would see their repayment options change. The legislation proposes eliminating existing income-driven repayment plans and replacing them with two options: the Repayment Assistance Plan and a standard repayment plan. The Repayment Assistance Plan would allow for loan forgiveness after 360 qualifying payments based on the borrowers' income, while the standard repayment plan would require a fixed monthly payment over a period set by the servicer. The bill also would repeal former President Joe Biden's SAVE plan, an income-driven repayment plan that promised cheaper monthly payments and a shorter timeline for debt relief. The plan is blocked in court pending a final legal decision. If the bill passes, parents could get extra money for their kids down the line. The tax bill includes a "Trump account," previously called a "money account for growth and advancement," or MAGA account. The government would put $1,000 into accounts for babies born after December 31, 2024, and before January 1, 2029. The baby would be required to have been born in the US and have a Social Security number to receive the cash. The money would need to be invested in a qualified index fund and can't be touched until the child turns 18. Parents and others could contribute up to $5,000 a year to each account. The accounts would have tax incentives; earnings would be tax-deferred, meaning taxes on the accounts would not need to be paid right away. Withdrawals from the accounts would also be taxed at the long-term capital-gains rate, which is dependent on income and typically lower than the regular income tax rate. Lower-income Americans could face bigger healthcare costs or lose federal assistance benefits. The tax bill would mean significant changes for the millions who rely on Medicaid and SNAP. The legislation would mandate that states implement an 80-hour-a-month work requirement by the end of 2026 for childless adults on Medicaid without a disability. The Congressional Budget Office previously estimated that work requirements on Medicaid could strip coverage from over 8 million Americans over the next decade. Additionally, the bill would extend the age range of adults subject to work requirements to receive SNAP to include adults ages 55 to 64. Currently, adults ages 18 to 54 without children can receive SNAP benefits only if they work at least 20 hours a week. Read the original article on Business Insider Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
