Numbers of Afghans, Chinese coming through key migrant crossing surged since 2021: report
The number of nationals from countries like Afghanistan, China and Iran coming through a key migrant crossing linking Panama and Colombia has increased dramatically in the last four years, according to a new report by a conservative group. The report by the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) – which advocates for lower levels of immigration – looked at the increase in migration through the Darien Gap in the last four years since 2021, compared to 2010-2020. The report was first obtained by Fox News Digital. Citing statistics from Panama, it found that the number of Afghans passing through increased from 98 between 2010-2020, to 8,294 between 2021 and 2024, a 8,363% increase. Meanwhile, Chinese nationals increased from 299 to 39,921. Iranian crossings increased from 14 to 935, and Syrians increased from 28 to 762. US TO PAY FOR FLIGHTS TO HELP PANAMA REMOVE MIGRANTS WHO MAY BE HEADING NORTH Overall, numbers increased in the Darien Gap from 115,758 between 2010 and 2020 to 1.18 million in 2021-2024. There have been widespread concerns about nationals from Afghanistan and China in the US. China is a geopolitical foe of the U.S., and Republicans have expressed concern about the potential for espionage or cyberattacks from CCP members who infiltrate the U.S. “There have been numerous documented instances of Chinese nationals, at the direction of the CCP, engaging in espionage, stealing military and economic secrets,” lawmakers, led by Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kan., said last year. Meanwhile, concerns about Afghan nationals were highlighted when authorities foiled an Election Day terror plot being planned by an Afghan national who was paroled into the U.S. as part of the evacuation after the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021. The report blames the crisis that has hit Panama on “open border policies” in the U.S. that “encourage migrants from all over the world to undertake a long, costly, and dangerous journey to reach the ‘El Dorado’ that is the United States.” “Migrants know that if they can somehow get to the porous borders of the U.S., they will likely be released into the country,” it argues. DARIEN JUNGLE, A TREACHEROUS ROUTE FOR MIGRANTS, BECOMES MORE ACCESSIBLE AS PANAMA SEES UPTICK IN ARRIVALS Overall, it finds that between 2021-2024, at least 760,000 nationals from “special interest” countries were encountered in the Gap – including nationals with links to Hezbollah and other terror groups. The report, citing data from Panama, found that over half of all those who crossed were adult men. The top nationalities in 2024 to cross were Venezuelans, Colombians, Ecuadorians, Chinese and Haitians. Numbers rocketed in the area from just over 6,000 in 2020 to more than 520,000 in 2023, and have since decreased to 286,000 in 2024. Panama elected a new president in May who campaigned on ending illegal migration through the area, and has since signed an accord with the U.S. Under that deal, the U.S. government would cover the costs of repatriations of those who entered through the Darien Gap. CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF THE BORDER SECURITY CRISIS The agreement said the U.S. would support Panama with equipment, transportation and logistics to send migrants caught illegally entering Panama back to their countries. Meanwhile, there has been a sharp drop in migrant encounters at the U.S. border this year, including a more than 55% decrease in encounters after President Biden signed a proclamation in June limiting asylum in the U.S. President-elect Trump, meanwhile, has promised to provide additional border security and to launch a large-scale deportation operation after he is inaugurated. FAIR says in its report that Panama, even with U.S. assistance, won’t be able to fully rectify the situation at the Darien Gap. “A permanent solution to the Darién Gap crisis can only come from where the crisis originated, i.e., when American immigration policy stops inducing illegal aliens to make this dangerous trek,” it says. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Ilhan Omar blasts Harris-Walz campaign for courting Liz Cheney: ‘Huge misstep’
Controversial “squad” member Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., has explained where she thinks the Democratic presidential ticket of Vice President Kamala Harris and Gov. Tim Walz, D-Minn., went wrong. According to Omar, the campaign’s choice to embrace the endorsements of former Republican Rep. Liz Cheney and her father, former Vice President Dick Cheney, was “a huge misstep.” This was especially true in battleground state Michigan, she told the Minnesota Star-Tribune, because it was where the Uncommitted Movement maintained a stronghold. TOM COTTON SLAMS ‘PARTISANS AND OBSTRUCTIONISTS’ IN DOD REPORTEDLY PLOTTING TO BLOCK TRUMP PLANS The Uncommitted Movement specifically withheld support from President Joe Biden — and then Harris — because of its disapproval of their handling of the war in Gaza. Particularly, a large population of Arabs and Muslims in Michigan believed the U.S. was not holding Israel accountable for death and destruction in Gaza. “You have the one name for my generation and generations younger than me that is synonymous with war,” Omar said of Cheney. CONGRESS HAS JUST WEEKS TO AVOID A PARTIAL GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN AFTER THANKSGIVING “It does say something about where your priorities are, even if those are not your priorities.” As part of the Harris-Walz campaign’s strategy to attract disaffected Republicans, they advertised former Rep. Cheney’s endorsement and even hosted an event with her and Harris in battleground state Wisconsin. SENATE GOP MOTIVATED TO RAPIDLY CONFIRM TRUMP NOMINATIONS AHEAD OF PARTY TRIFECTA IN WASHINGTON She also explained why she thought Harris lost the city of Dearborn, Michigan, which is home to a large Arab community. The congresswoman pointed to the fact that President-elect Donald Trump met with the Democratic mayor, but Harris and Walz were only willing to send staff. “I think that personal touch for that community made the difference,” Omar said. “We could have had that personal touch.” ‘CONVEYOR BELT OF RADICALS’: GOP SLAMMED OVER SENATE ABSENCES THAT HELPED BIDEN SCORE MORE JUDGES IN LAME DUCK Despite her past record of criticism of and opposition to Trump, Omar claimed she’d be open to collaborating with his administration. She maintained that she would still be opposing “hurtful” policies towards her constituents, though. With Trump returning to office, Omar said she is afraid that Israel will get the “green light” to “finish their genocidal war.” The Harris-Walz team did not provide comment in time for publication.
Construction trade group leaders look forward to new leadership under Trump: ‘Relief on the horizon’
Leaders from two of the nation’s top construction trade groups told Fox News Digital they are looking forward to the new Trump administration with hopes their industry will be burdened by fewer regulations and policies enacted under President Biden that they said stymied additional growth in their sector. On Monday, the Biden administration touted the addition of 1.6 million new construction and manufacturing jobs. However, Ben Brubeck, vice president of regulatory affairs for the Associated Builders and Contractors, cautioned that beneath this seemingly big announcement, “the growth can be much better if we’re in the right economic and policy environment.” Brubeck said his association’s members have broadly indicated disappointment at the opportunities available to them under various Biden administration programs, including the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IJA), the CHIPS and Science Act (CHIPS), the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). “We survey our members on a pretty regular basis, and the number of members who reported participation in the IJA- and CHIPS- and IRA- and ARPA-funded projects has been pretty — it’s been low,” Brubeck said. “It’s been less than expected.” WHITE HOUSE INSISTS BIDEN, HARRIS HAVE ‘ONE OF MOST SUCCESSFUL ADMINISTRATIONS IN HISTORY’ DESPITE 2024 LOSS Brubeck pointed to the fact that it has taken a long time for the money from these programs to be disbursed due to burdensome regulations, such as permitting requirements. He also pointed to oppressive labor policies, such as project labor agreements and increased borrowing costs as other elements that have added to less growth than could have been seen otherwise under President Biden. Brian Turmail, the vice president of public affairs and workforce for the Associated General Contractors of America, also noted the failure of Biden’s major construction investments due to regulations and review processes. BIDEN ADMIN AIMS TO PUSH TOWNS, CITIES TO ADOPT GREEN ENERGY BUILDING CODES: ‘VERY SUSPICIOUS’ “Our analysis is [the Biden administration] kind of got in their own way affecting the market, because they couldn’t help themselves but to put in so many kinds of social and environmental rules on top of their funding that they slowed down the progress they so desperately wanted to see,” Turmail said. He also pointed out that the administration “put a lot of new strings” on semiconductor plant construction that has stymied growth. Turmail and Brubeck said they have hopes growth in the construction sector will ramp up under the Trump administration as companies manage their way through federal requirements enacted under Biden and see others potentially rolled back. I HAD A JOB ON THE KEYSTONE XL PIPELINE UNTIL BIDEN FIRED ME TO SATISFY CLIMATE EXTREMISTS “The irony is that, by the time President Trump comes back into office, we do anticipate a big bump up in infrastructure construction,” Turmail said. “Because all those projects where they’ve announced funding over the last two to three years will finally clear their environmental hurdle and begin construction.” “Our federal contractors are completely on the sidelines right now for these large-scale projects, and this all started at the beginning of the year in January,” Brubeck added. “So, they’re really excited for the potential of regulatory relief on the horizon as a result of the Trump administration coming in.” The White House did not provide Fox News Digital with an on-the-record comment in time for publication.
Walt Disney agrees to pay $43.3m to settle pay discrimination suit
The suit was filed in 2019 after the plaintiff learned that six men with same job title earned substantially more. Walt Disney has agreed to pay $43.3m to settle a lawsuit alleging that its female employees in California earned $150m less than their male counterparts over an eight-year period, the plaintiffs’ lawyers have said. As part of the settlement, Disney has agreed to retain a labour economist for three years to analyse pay equity among full-time, non-union California employees below the vice president level, and address differences, the three law firms representing the plaintiffs said in a statement on Monday. The suit was originally filed by LaRonda Rasmussen in 2019, after she learned that six men with the same job title earned substantially more than her, including one man with several years less experience, who was earning $20,000 a year more than she did. Some 9,000 current and former female employees of the entertainment company eventually joined the suit. Disney attempted to stop the class action, but a judge ruled last December that it could proceed, Andrus Anderson, one of the law firms, said at the time. “I strongly commend Ms Rasmussen and the women who brought this discrimination suit against Disney, one of the largest entertainment companies in the world. They risked their careers to raise pay disparity at Disney,” Lori Andrus, a partner at Andrus Anderson, said in Monday’s statement. “We have always been committed to paying our employees fairly and have demonstrated that commitment throughout this case, and we are pleased to have resolved this matter,” a Disney spokesperson told Reuters. The case was also supported by an analysis of Disney’s human resource data from April 2015 until December 2022 that found female Disney employees were paid roughly 2 percent less than their male counterparts. The analysis was conducted by David Neumark, a University of California Irvine professor and labour economist. The settlement agreement, which was filed in a California state court, still requires approval by a judge, according to the lawyers. Adblock test (Why?)
Netanyahu says he will present Lebanon ceasefire deal to cabinet
NewsFeed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said he will present a ceasefire deal to his cabinet that would stop the fighting in Lebanon but how long it will last depends on Hezbollah. Published On 26 Nov 202426 Nov 2024 Adblock test (Why?)
Syrian Civil Defence creates early warning system for schools in Idlib
[unable to retrieve full-text content] The Syrian Civil Defence team created an early warning system to detect warplanes for schools in Idlib.
New wall construction at Texas border kicks off with family of slain Jocelyn Nungaray watching
Texas officials took another step Tuesday morning toward fulfilling their promise of continuing construction of the southern border wall, after purchasing a 1,400-acre ranch along the Rio Grande in a critical region identified by officials as a hotspot for human trafficking, as well as weapons and drug smuggling. “It is my promise to all Texans that as land commissioner, I will do everything in my power to stop the pain and suffering that has been happening on this property,” Dawn Buckingham said during a press conference with other officials Tuesday. “The previous owner would not allow law enforcement on this ranch.” Officials will construct another mile of the wall in the coming weeks, Buckingham said, as the first panel was installed Tuesday while the family of Jocelyn Nungaray, killed by suspected illegal immigrants, looked on. BATTLEGROUND STATE RANCHER ‘OUTRAGED’ BY BIDEN STOPPING WALL CONSTRUCTION AS MIGRANTS POUR INTO US “Every day, it’s a struggle. Every day it’s hard. Some days are easier than others, but it never takes away the fact that she’s not here anymore due to the pain of people who were let in this country to do what they did to her,” Alexis – mother of Jocelyn – said during the news conference. Gov. Greg Abbott announced in 2021 funding for a state project to continue construction of a wall after the Biden administration abruptly ended the Trump-era project. Abbott has also built a floating buoy barrier in the Rio Grande. His administration has linked the barriers, and a broader effort by the state, to a drop in apprehensions. Buckingham said she has offered President-elect Trump and incoming border czar Tom Homan use of the 1,400-acre property “to construct a facility for the processing, detention and coordination efforts of what will be the largest deportation of violent criminals in our nation’s history.” Homan and Abbott greeted and served meals to Texas National Guard soldiers and Texas Department of Public Safety troopers in Eagle Pass, Texas, also on Tuesday. ‘SHUT IT DOWN’: RED STATE MAKES MASSIVE LAND BUY TO RAMP UP BORDER WALL EFFORTS AMID MIGRANT SURGE Rep. Chip Roy, also in attendance, urged his fellow Republicans to pass stricter immigration policies once Trump takes office in January. “No excuses,” he said. “Americans are dying. That is why President Trump was swept into office. That is why Republicans were given the trifecta in Washington,” Roy added. CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF THE BORDER SECURITY CRISIS Fox News Digital’s Adam Shaw contributed to this report.
Biden administration seeking to finalize $6.6B loan to build EV factory before term ends
The Biden administration is seeking to hand out a multi-billion dollar federal loan to fund a large scale electric vehicle manufacturing plant just months before the president’s term ends. The Department of Energy announced on Monday that they will be giving Rivian Automotive, an EV manufacturer, a $6.57 billion loan to finance construction of a 9 million-square-foot electric vehicle facility in Georgia, called Project Horizon. The DOE said that the initiative “supports the Biden-Harris Administration’s goal that half of all new vehicles sold in 2030 be zero-emissions,” an EV target likely to be tossed out by the incoming administration under President-elect Donald Trump. The conditional commitment comes as President Joe Biden has been dishing out billions of dollars to fund climate-related initiatives around the country to cement his legacy on the issue during the final months of his presidency. TRUMP PLANNING TO LIFT BIDEN’S LNG PAUSE, INCREASE OIL DRILLING DURING 1ST DAYS IN OFFICE: REPORT If the deal is finalized, the DOE anticipates the facility in Stanton Springs North, Georgia could produce up to 400,000 mass-market electric SUVs and crossover vehicles. GAVIN NEWSOM THREATENS INTERVENTION IF TRUMP KILLS BIDEN’S $7.5K EV TAX CREDIT However, before it is finalized, the company must satisfy certain technical, legal, environmental and financial conditions before the financing documents can be signed, according to the DOE. This means the White House only has two months to finalize the deal before the Trump administration steps in and could derail any plans that don’t align with its agenda. The funds will come from the Biden administration’s Loan Programs Office (LPO) and include $5.975 billion of principal and $592 million of capitalized interest, according to a press release announcing the loan. “Today’s announcement reinforces the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to strengthen the nation’s manufacturing competitiveness, helping ensure American businesses remain global leaders in the rapidly expanding EV industry,” the DOE said in a press release announcing the project.
Federal judge sides with SpaceX after environmental group tried to stop rocket launches
A federal judge sided with SpaceX after an environmental group sought to stop its rocket launches just months before the company’s CEO is slated to work closely with the incoming Trump administration. During static fire tests and launches, SpaceX uses a “deluge system” that applies water to the rocket engine exhaust to absorb heat and prevent explosions during takeoff. SpaceX has said the system uses “clean, potable (drinking) water” for the tests, but a Texas-based environmental group claims the process poses a risk to the environment. In an October lawsuit, Save RGV, a nonprofit based in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas, claimed SpaceX was violating the Clean Water Act by releasing wastewater from the launches at Starbase in Boca Chica Beach, roughly 25 miles east of the city of Brownsville. FEDERAL COURT UPENDS DECADES OF ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS The group requested a restraining order be put in place to block SpaceX from using the deluge system, which would put a hold on rocket launches. In a post on X, formerly Twitter, after the suit was filed, the aeronautics company said an environmental review had already been conducted that cleared the system from any environmental hazards. TRUMP PLANNING TO LIFT BIDEN’S LNG PAUSE, INCREASE OIL DRILLLING DURING 1ST DAYS IN OFFICE: REPORT “The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) conducted a technical review of Starship’s water-cooled flame deflector, which uses potable (drinking) water and determined that its use does not pose risk to the environment,” SpaceX said in an Oct. 10 post. “Save RGV acknowledged that they are aware of these straightforward facts and still filed an unwarranted and frivolous lawsuit.” In a new ruling, U.S. District Judge Rolando Olvera denied the restraining order request, saying that halting the rocket launches could have various negative implications, including for NASA. “Being unable to launch would create various consequences for not only Defendant, but also the public at large. It would significantly delay and possibly destroy Defendant’s contracts with NASA to further the Artemis Program and Human Landing System Program — worth billions of dollars,” Olvera wrote. The judge also ruled that SpaceX has not been harming the environment, citing environmental reviews that have already been conducted on the launch system. “At the beginning of the Starship-Super Heavy Launch System’s development, it became evident that a deluge water system was necessary to protect the launch site and surrounding areas during launches,” the judge wrote. “A deluge water system sprays large quantities of potable water at the base of the spacecrafts during launch to prevent fires and reduce dispersal of dust and debris.” The decision comes just two months before Musk is expected to work closely with President-elect Trump’s administration. Musk is planning to work with Trump and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy on the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency to cut government spending.
Tamil Nadu Rains: IMD predicts heavy rainfall for 3 more days; check details
Chennai and nearby districts received rainfall on Tuesday, which was mild to moderate in many areas and heavy in a few places.