Mayorkas calls policy to let 30k migrants fly in each month a ‘key element’ of border plan after legal win
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas defended a controversial policy to allow up to 30,000 migrants to be flown into the U.S. each month as a “key element” of the Biden administration’s border strategy, after it survived a lawsuit. Twenty GOP-led states sued over the program for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans (CHNV) last year, claiming it was unlawful. But U.S. District Judge Drew Tipton, a Trump appointee who has struck down other Biden-era policies, ruled in favor of the administration. The policy was first announced for Venezuelans in October of 2022, which allowed a limited number to fly directly into the U.S. as long as they had not entered illegally, had a sponsor in the U.S. already and passed certain checks. BLOODTHIRSTY GANG TREN DE ARAGUA SETS UP SHOP IN US AS BORDER AUTHORITIES SOUND ALARM In January 2023, the administration announced that the program was expanding to include Haitians, Nicaraguans and Cubans and that the program would allow up to 30,000 people per month into the U.S. It allows for migrants to receive work permits and a two-year authorization to live in the U.S. and was announced alongside an expansion of Title 42 expulsions to include those nationalities. The states argued that the program is illegal given the “exceptionally limited” parole power available to the federal government by Congress that says the authority is to be used on a “case-by-case basis for urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit.” “The parole program established by the Department fails each of the law’s three limiting factors. It is not case-by-case, is not for urgent humanitarian reasons, and advances no significant public benefit. Instead, it amounts to the creation of a new visa program that allows hundreds of thousands of aliens to enter the United States who otherwise have no basis for doing so. This flouts, rather than follows, the clear limits imposed by Congress,” the lawsuit reads. HOUSE REPUBLICANS ZERO IN ON BORDER CHAOS WITH VIDEO SERIES ON ‘FACES OF BIDEN’S STATE OF THE UNION IN CRISIS’ Mayorkas in a statement after the Tipton ruling, defended the program, which has formed a centerpiece of the administration’s strategy to expand “lawful pathways” to migration to prevent illegal crossings at the border. “We are pleased that today’s court ruling means that the parole processes for individuals from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela will continue,” he said. “These processes — a safe and orderly way to reach the United States — have resulted in a significant reduction in the number of these individuals encountered at our southern border.” “It is a key element of our efforts to address the unprecedented level of migration throughout our hemisphere, and other countries around the world see it as a model to tackle the challenge of increased irregular migration that they too are experiencing,” he said. CONSERVATIVES HOPE KEY LEGAL CASE CAN BRING BIDEN MIGRANT PAROLE POLICIES ‘TUMBLING DOWN’ However, since expanding the program, there have been record encounters at the border. There were more than 2.4 million migrant encounters in FY23, a record. And in December, there were more than 302,000 encounters, the first-ever time there were more than 300,000 encounters. Republicans have blamed the historic border crisis on the policies of the administration, accusing it of embracing an open border by increasing releases into the interior, reducing interior enforcement and ending most border wall construction. The administration says it is dealing with a Hemisphere-wide crisis and needs more funding and immigration reform from Congress. It has called for the passage of the recent Senate bill, which includes funding, staffing and some limits on releases, but conservatives have rejected it as insufficient. Mayorkas rejected claims that the border is open and encouraged wannabe-entries to use legal pathways rather than entering illegally. “Do not believe the lies of smugglers. Those who do not have a legal basis to remain in the United States will be subject to prompt removal, a minimum five-year bar on admission, and potential criminal prosecution for unlawful reentry,” he claimed. “Migrants should continue to use safe and orderly lawful pathways and processes that have been expanded under the Biden-Harris administration.”
India blast their way past Bazball to seal Test series win against England
India win the fifth and final Test in three days to take the series against England 3-1 as Bazball is questioned again. India maintained their aura of invincibility at home after completing a 4-1 series triumph against England on Saturday. The ease of their final win may well subject the visitors’ much-hyped “Bazball” approach to renewed scrutiny. Rohit Sharma and his men clinched the series in the fourth Test in Ranchi but did not take their foot off the pedal in Dharamshala, where they routed England inside three days. The win, which consolidates two-time finalists India’s position at the top of the World Test Championship standings, will have a special place in the memory of Ravichandran Ashwin. The India off-spinner claimed five second-innings wickets to hasten England’s collapse in his 100th test match. 𝙒.𝙄.𝙉.𝙉.𝙀.𝙍.𝙎! 🏆 Congratulations #TeamIndia on winning the @IDFCFIRSTBank #INDvENG Test Series 4⃣-1⃣ 👏👏 pic.twitter.com/IK3TjdapYv — BCCI (@BCCI) March 9, 2024 India’s 17th consecutive home Test series win England seamer James Anderson, meanwhile, became the first pace bowler to claim 700 test wickets, partially lifting the gloom that had settled on England’s travelling “Barmy Army” fans. This was India’s 17th consecutive Test series win at home, where they have not lost a series since Alastair Cook’s England bested them in 2012. And they achieved it without batting stalwart Virat Kohli, who missed the series for personal reasons, and front-line seamer Mohammed Shami who was injured. Batter KL Rahul missed the last four Tests with injury, as well, but India’s formidable bench strength meant their absence was not really felt. Of the five Indian players who made their test debut in the series, stumper Dhruv Jurel, seamer Akash Deep and batters Sarfaraz Khan and Devdutt Padikkal impressed immediately. “I just always really believe that there’s an incredible amount of talent in India and a lot of young people, young players coming through,” India head coach Rahul Dravid said. “And it was a great opportunity for them to step up and show how good they are, and we saw that right throughout the series.” Defeat in Dharamshala. Congratulations to @BCCI on their series victory 👏 Match Centre: https://t.co/jRuoOIp988#INDvENG | #EnglandCricket pic.twitter.com/aJWlyhpFoB — England Cricket (@englandcricket) March 9, 2024 Duckett’s dismal dismissal Under Stokes and head coach Brendon “Baz” McCullum, England have espoused a flamboyant, even if risk-fraught, brand of cricket built around fearless batting. The same approach that largely worked back home appeared somewhat one-dimensional and even reckless. Opener Ben Duckett’s dismissal on Saturday illustrated the limitation of that approach. Having conceded a first-innings lead of 259, England were already far behind and would have benefitted from cautious, safety-first batting to avoid an innings defeat. Instead, whether due to a lack of trust in his own defence or an urge to impose himself early, Duckett charged forward against Ashwin only to miss the ball and lose his off-stump. The opener was so far down the track, he would have been stumped if he had not been bowled. By contrast, Joe Root, who struck 84 in England’s meagre second-innings 195, showed how touring batters can temper their aggression to master spin in India. Stokes stood by his side’s overall approach, however, and was of the view that a good offence was the best defence against the wily home spinners. “When India get on top, especially with the ball, they get a lot of men around the bat and with the quality of their [spin] bowlers … you’ve got to find ways of getting rid of those close fielders,” the all-rounder explained. “You’ve just got to be positive enough to take that risk, accept that it may lead to your downfall. But when the intent is there and you have a clear reason as to why you are playing that shot, you can hold your hands up and accept it.” Adblock test (Why?)
Varadkar concedes defeat in Ireland’s referendum on family, women’s roles
The Irish PM had called the referendum a chance to do away with ‘very old-fashioned, very sexist language about women’. A dual referendum in the Republic of Ireland on redefining family and women’s roles in the constitution has been defeated, Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said. The government supported the proposed changes, which would have widened the definition of the family and clarified the duties of women in society. Varadkar had described Friday’s polls, which deliberately fell on International Women’s Day, as a chance to do away with “very old-fashioned, very sexist language about women”.He said the government would accept the results. “I think it’s clear at this stage that the family amendment and the care amendment referendums have been defeated – defeated comprehensively on a respectable turnout,” Varadkar said at a news conference in Dublin on Saturday. “It was our responsibility to convince the majority of people to vote ‘Yes’ and we clearly failed to do so.” Official results are expected later on Saturday. The two proposals would have made changes to the text of article 41 in the Irish constitution, written in 1937. The first asked citizens to expand the definition of family from those founded on marriage to also include “durable relationships” such as cohabiting couples and their children. The second proposed replacing old-fashioned language around a mother’s “duties in the home” with a clause recognising care provided by family members to one another. In effect, the proposal to spread the burden of care for people with disabilities to the entire family from only the mother became a dispute about the extent or willingness of the state to support carers. A woman arrives with children at a polling station in Dublin, Ireland, March 8, 2024 [Clodagh Kilcoyne/Reuters] Polls had indicated a ‘Yes’ vote All the major political parties had supported a “Yes-Yes” vote, and until recently, polls predicted a smooth passage for both. But “No” campaigners argued the concept of a “durable relationship” was undefined and confusing and that women and mothers are being “cancelled” from the constitution. Meanwhile, ultra-conservative voices argued the changes could constitutionally protect polygamous relationships and increase immigration via migrant family reunions – claims all denied by the government. By 12:00 GMT on Saturday, it was clear that counting was showing a trend towards a “No” on the two questions. The votes are the latest attempt to reflect the changing face of European Union member Ireland and the waning influence of the once-dominant Roman Catholic Church. In recent decades, Ireland has transitioned from a conservative, overwhelmingly Catholic country to an increasingly diverse and socially liberal society. This shift has been encapsulated in changes to an outdated constitution where single women, until 1973, had to resign from their jobs upon getting married, and married women could not apply for vacancies. The constitution, the core legal text of the nation, can only be modified through a national referendum. The country of 5.3 million opted to end constitutional limits on same-sex marriage in 2015 and abortion in 2018. Adblock test (Why?)
VP Kamala Harris dodges question whether she’d debate Trump running mate
Vice President Kamala Harris will not commit to debating former President Donald Trump’s eventual running mate. Harris dodged the question of a vice-presidential debate during a Friday interview with NBC News. “We just got through the State of the Union. And I’m just so excited about what we accomplished last night and our president,” Harris told NBC. KAMALA HARRIS DODGES WHEN ASKED WHETHER BIDEN WILL DEBATE TRUMP: ‘WE’LL GET TO THAT AT SOME POINT’ The vice-president’s evasion of the question is far from unique — the question of whether anyone in the White House will go toe-to-toe with the Trump campaign this fall has been a long-unanswered question. The question of President Biden’s health and mental fitness has been a long-standing concern of both Republicans and Democrats. A presidential debate is traditionally seen as an opportunity to assess candidates’ ability to think on their feet and speak under pressure. Harris similarly refused to give a straight answer on Friday when asked whether Biden would debate Trump himself before the 2024 election. BIDEN BORDER VISIT UNDERSCORES KAMALA HARRIS’ SHRINKING ROLE IN HANDLING MIGRANT CRISIS Trump, the 2024 GOP frontrunner and presumptive nominee, posted his offer to debate Biden on Wednesday afternoon — just hours after his final GOP challenger Nikki Haley suspended her campaign. Referencing Trump’s challenge, ABC News correspondent Mary Bruce asked Harris whether Biden would commit to debating his likely rival. Harris instead pivoted to a discussion of Thursday night’s State of the Union address and claimed that Biden had successfully portrayed himself as “passionate” and “principled.” “But given what you argue is at stake here, will you take the chance to show voters more of what they saw last night to take on Trump directly in debates?” Bruce pressed. “We’ll get to that at some point, and we’ll deal with that,” Harris replied. “But the point is, right now, on this day after the State of the Union, I think the president laid down the facts for the American people in terms of what’s at stake. And I thought he did an extraordinary job.” Fox News Digital’s Nikolas Lanum contributed to this report.
Mike Johnson refuses to answer whether IVF procedures that destroy embryos are murder
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson refused to answer whether the willful termination of embryos during in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedures is murder. John was asked to clarify his position in an interview with “CBS Mornings” on Thursday amid growing dissonance between Republicans’ pro-life stance and stated support for IVF procedures that intentionally terminate fertilized embryos. “In the process, [embryos] are destroyed and disposed of,” interviewer Tony Dokoupil said to the House Speaker. “If you believe life begins at conception, fertilization — and I know you do — do you see that as murder?” SENATE DEMS, REPUBLICANS CLASH OVER FEDERAL IVF PROTECTIONS: ‘THEY’RE COVERING THEIR A—S’ Despite his past vehemently pro-life statements, Johnson wavered on the question, saying that not enough was known about IVF to comment. “It’s something that we’ve got to grapple with,” Johnson replied. “It’s a brave new world. IVF’s only been invented I think in the early ’70s.” He added, “We support the sanctity of life, of course, and we support IVF and full access to it.” ALABAMA GOVERNOR SIGNS BILL PROTECTING IVF INTO LAW: ‘PROUD WE ARE A PRO-LIFE, PRO-FAMILY STATE’ Republicans have been uncomfortable standing by their pro-life rhetoric after the Alabama Supreme Court ruled that the destruction of an embryo is murder due to the personhood of unborn children. IVF procedures almost universally involve the artifical fertilization and freezing of multiple embryos. Those that are deemed undesirable or end up unwanted are then discarded or destroyed. Approximately 2.3% of births in the U.S. are a result of IVF. “Unborn children are ‘children’ … without exception based on developmental stage, physical location, or any other ancillary characteristics,” Justice Jay Mitchell wrote in the ruling. The state’s legislature quickly sprung into action to protect IVF. Several clinics conducting IVF shut down their procedures after the court’s decision, but once the state passed a law releasing them from liability, some of the centers began to reopen. In the aftermath, many GOP leaders have done a 180-degree turn on their own position that life begins at conception, arguing that IVF is fundamentally different from abortion despite the intentional destruction of embryos post-conception. So far, no GOP party leader or lawmaker has attempted to articulate a logical justification for supporting IVF while simultaneously professing a belief that life begins at conception and must be protected. Fox News Digital’s Julia Johnson contributed to this report.
PM Modi holds roadshow in Varanasi, offers prayer at Kashi Vishwanath Temple
After the roadshow, the Prime Minister also visited the Kashi Vishwanath Temple along with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and offered prayers at the holy shrine.
Protester charges at DC Mayor Bowser, calls for cease-fire in Gaza
A pro-Palestinian protester rushed the stage as D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser spoke at an arts festival in the nation’s capital on Friday morning. Bowser was at a podium to announce the start of Aromatic’s weekend community art exhibit on M Street when video shows two demonstrators charging at the stage. One woman managed to get on stage carrying a “DC 4 CEASEFIRE” sign before she was removed by security. “Oh, here we go. Thank you. Whoa, whoa, whoa,” Bowser says as the woman charges right for her. The protester got within feet of Bowser’s microphone when she was stopped by security. She can be heard shouting, “D.C. artists against apartheid” as she was led away, video obtained by FOX 5 DC shows. PRO-PALESTINIAN PROTESTERS ATTEMPT TO DISRUPT SOTU NEAR CAPITOL: ‘BIDEN’S LEGACY IS GENOCIDE Bowser remained at the podium while security took the woman away before making an exit. She returned to the stage several minutes later. She did not address the incident when she returned to speak, according to FOX 5 DC. No injuries were reported. It is unclear how many total protesters attended the event. On the night before, pro-Palestinian protesters gathered outside the halls of Congress in an apparent attempt to disrupt President Biden’s State of the Union address. About 100 protesters showed up at the intersection of Constitution Avenue and 3rd Street in Washington, D.C., on Thursday night, about an hour before Biden was set to deliver his speech. BIDEN UNDER FIRE FOR MIDDLE EAST POLICY; CRITICS CHARGE HE’S PREVENTING ‘ISRAEL FROM WINNING’ Protesters could be seen holding up a sign that said, “Biden’s legacy is genocide.” Photos from the scene showed protesters, many of them wearing face masks, blocking the street. Fox 5 DC reported earlier in the day that another pro-Palestine protest had taken place nearby in Lafayette Square around 6 p.m. ET. Police say one person was arrested and charged with reckless driving. SURVIVOR OF HAMAS TERROR ATTACK ON ISRAEL RECOUNTS PAIN, GRIEF OF LOSING ‘ANGEL’ BOYFRIEND ON OCT 7 The protests in D.C. highlight growing discontent on the left with how Biden has handled the Israel-Hamas war. Activists have demanded that the U.S. stop sending military aid to Israel as civilian casualties mount in Gaza. Recent Fox News polling showed that support for Palestinians among Democrats has increased 17 points since October. That shift among Democrats leads to a starker party divide now (43% siding with Israelis vs. 42% siding with Palestinians) than in October (59% vs. 25%). The pro-Palestinian sentiment on the left comes five months after Hamas terrorists launched a surprise attack on Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking more than 200 captives back to Gaza as hostages. Israel invaded Gaza in retaliation and has led a bombing campaign targeting Hamas infrastructure with the ultimate goal of eradicating the terrorist group. Thousands of Palestinian civilians have been caught in the crossfire. Fox News Digital’s Andrew Mark Miller contributed to this report.
Election Commissioner Arun Goel resigns ahead of Lok Sabha polls 2024
Arun Goel assumed charge as Election Commissioner (EC) of India on November 21, 2022.
Biden drops embarrassing gaffes days after liberal media hypes SOTU performance
Just one day after President Biden delivered a State of the Union address many liberals said put to rest questions about his mental fitness, the president raised eyebrows with several gaffes in Pennsylvania. Biden visited Strath Haven Middle School in Delaware County on Friday for his first swing state campaign stop after outlining his agenda to a joint session of Congress. There, he pitched his plans for a second White House term, promising to protect abortion rights, defending his economic record and calling for new gun control laws. He also made some unforced errors in his speech, which were ridiculed by Republicans. “Pennsylvania, I have a message for you: Send me to Congress!” Biden shouted at one point, appearing to mix up the office he’s running for. He was a six-term U.S. senator representing Delaware in Congress before he became vice president in 2008. Later in his remarks, Biden said, “we cut the deficit and we added more to the national debt than any president in his term in all of history, than under Donald Trump.” BIDEN ASSAILS ‘PREDECESSOR’ TRUMP, GOP IN SHARPLY PARTISAN STATE OF THE UNION SPEECH Both comments were picked up by the Republican National Committee’s opposition research account and shared far and wide on X. At another point, Biden mistakenly referred to the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol riots as taking place on “July 6th,” and then corrected himself. The gaffes illustrate how Biden, 81, must continue to fight off criticisms of his age and mental fitness from Republicans as the general election heats up. The president did earn praise from many liberals for his “energetic” State of the Union performance on Thursday. BIDEN’S STATE OF THE UNION SPEECH REINFORCED MENTAL ACUITY AND AGE CONCERNS, REPUBLICANS SAY Former CNN journalist John Harwood, known as one of the most sycophantic Biden White House boosters in the media, mocked the president’s critics for saying they were worried about his vitality. “[T]hose Dems complaining that Biden lacks vigor and fight getting splash of cold water in the face right now,” he wrote, later adding that the “people yapping for so long about Biden not being up to the job look pretty dumb this morning.” “My fellow Americans the issue facing our nation isn’t how old we are it’s how old our ideas are? Hate, anger, revenge, retribution are among the oldest of ideas,” CNN analyst Juliette Kayyem wrote, quoting from Biden’s speech. “It would seem Biden has landed on a perfect framing for the age issue.” Left-wing New York Times columnist Paul Krugman wrote, “A thought: the whole Biden-is-too-old thing was kind of a bubble, in the sense that people were buying it mainly because other people were buying it. Did Biden just burst that bubble?” LIBERAL JOURNALISTS REJOICE OVER BIDEN PERFORMANCE AT SOTU, CLAIM IT PUTS AGE QUESTIONS TO REST Republicans saw the speech differently. They questioned why Biden kept shouting to emphasize his points and noted that he spoke very fast at times and slurred his words. “A lot of the time it was hard to understand what he was saying,” said House Freedom Caucus Chairman Bob Good, R-Va. “He was kind of mumbling and slurring.” “We couldn’t understand him. He was so mad,” agreed Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kan. “The volume was up and down.” Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, remarked the president’s annual address was “reminiscent of an old, angry man standing on his porch screaming ‘get off my front lawn.’” Fox News Digital’s Jeffrey Clark, Julia Johnson, Elizabeth Elkind and Charles Creitz contributed to this report.
This Ramadan, give to Gaza
As we approach the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, the brutal war on Gaza has entered its sixth month. The assault on Gaza has killed more than 30,000 Palestinians, including 13,000 children. Aid delivery to the north of Gaza is being restricted, resulting in the starvation of many more. Worse still is the Israeli threat to launch a ground operation in Rafah during Ramadan, where more than 1.5 million people are crammed in, many displaced from other parts of Gaza. What was previously a “safe zone” declared by the Israeli army, is now a densely populated refugee camp. Rafah has a surface area of around 63 square kilometres (24sq miles). The average population density is now more than 22,200 people per square kilometre (57,276 per square mile). That is twice the density of New York City. Attacking Rafah would be a bloodbath. The entire world – even the United States – has warned against the operation, but, according to rhetoric from Israeli government officials, there seems little chance the attack on Rafah will not be carried out. The start of Ramadan, which would usually be a time of celebration, love and dedication to Allah (SWT), has now been turned into a date to fear for the Palestinians of Gaza. For more than five months, they have been deprived of food, water, medicine, and their homes. Now, they will also be deprived of a peaceful celebration of their holy month. If true to the threat made, the invasion begins during Ramadan, it will be the end of Gaza’s humanitarian crisis and the start of its humanitarian disaster. For us on the outside, watching this catastrophe unfold has been extremely painful. Many have felt helpless in the face of Palestinian suffering, but we can and should do something about it. Giving to charity is a key pillar of Islam all year round, but in Ramadan, we Muslims give even more. This emulates Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) who was especially generous during the holy month and we believe the blessings for those who donate are multiplied significantly. This year, this Ramadan, it is essential that every person – Muslim or non-Muslim – gives every penny they can to help the people of Gaza. Families all across the Gaza Strip, especially in the north, are experiencing famine. The UN’s hunger monitoring agency, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, has confirmed, “This is the highest share of people facing high levels of acute food insecurity that the IPC initiative has ever classified for any given area or country.” Muslims are required to fast during Ramadan. However, the conflict means that when the time comes to break fast, many Palestinians in Gaza will have nothing to eat or drink. Since October, parents have routinely been choosing to go without food and water, so their children can eat. Even if the assault on Rafah does not happen – and let us pray that it does not – Ramadan will be a time of great need for the people of Gaza. The death toll is rising by the hundreds every day, the healthcare system is collapsing due to the endless bombardment. The number of children orphaned has exceeded 17,000. Access to clean water is becoming a luxury, creating an environment that is ripe for waterborne diseases. And amid all of this suffering, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), the largest relief agency operating in Gaza, has been smeared and, as a result, defunded by its biggest donors, despite there being not a shred of evidence to support the accusations levelled at it. It is imperative for people of all faiths and none to give to aid organisations working in Gaza today, tomorrow and throughout Ramadan. Your generosity is needed to feed the fasting and the starving. Your charity is needed to give clean water to those who need it to live and to purify themselves before prayer. Your acts of giving will bring hope to those who have had everything taken from them. Despite the many challenges, there are organisations that are doing their utmost to help the people of Gaza. They are actively working to overcome the restrictions imposed on the delivery of aid, pressuring the international community to do whatever it takes to get the lifesaving assistance to the people who need it. Donating to aid organisations won’t address the cause of Palestinian pain and misery, but it can help hold back the tide. It is an act of solidarity. This Ramadan, many are facing difficult economic circumstances and are worried about the cost-of-living crisis. But this is an unprecedented time; the people of Gaza need our help. Amid the greatest suffering being inflicted on a population in most of our lifetimes, we must all give like Muslims. The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeera’s editorial stance. Adblock test (Why?)