Colorado Supreme Court disqualifies Trump from 2024 ballot
The Colorado Supreme Court has disqualified former President Trump from appearing on the state’s ballots in 2024. The disqualification is related to the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021. The Tuesday ruling is stayed until January 4 because of likely appeals. This is a developing story. Check back for more details.
Controversial left-wing activist, 7 others arrested after probe into ‘brutal’ assault at California protest
A notorious Southern California street vendor activist, Edin Alex Enamorado, and seven others were arraigned on several felony charges during a Victorville courtroom hearing on Monday as part of a months-long, multiagency investigation known as “Operation Accountability.” All eight pleaded not guilty to the charges and are being held without bail until their next hearing on Dec. 26. Authorities in the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Office began investigating on Sept. 24 after an assault that took place at a protest in Victorville. The investigation sprawled into other nearby cities in the Inland Empire, resulting in the eight individuals being investigated for other acts of violence in several other cities. 1 OUT OF EVERY 179 AMERICANS WILL EVENTUALLY BE MURDERED IF CRIME RATE CONTINUES, STUDY FINDS “This investigation began in late September when we investigated a brutal assault that occurred at a protest in the city of Victorville,” Sgt. Tony Romero of the Victorville sheriff’s station said. “The investigation quickly became a multiagency investigation when we discovered our group of suspects were responsible for violent acts during other protests in both San Bernardino and Los Angeles counties.” The other activists are David Chavez, 28, of Riverside; Edwin Pena, 26, of Los Angeles; Fernando Lopez, 44, of Los Angeles; Gullit Eder Acevedo, 30, of San Bernardino; Stephanie Amesquita, 33, of San Bernardino; Vanessa Carrasco, 40, of Ontario and Wendy Lujan, 40, of Upland. Last Thursday, several search warrants were issued before the San Bernardino County sheriffs arrested the eight on a range of felony charges, which showed a conspiracy to commit a crime, false imprisonment and assault with a deadly weapon, according to jail records. Enamorado, one of the more notorious activists with thousands of social media followers, is known for posting videos on social media condemning what he deems as attacks on minorities, particularly street vendors. He racked up a total of 16 charges, including assault with a deadly weapon. But according to authorities, most, if not all, of his advocacy is a farce. “This group manipulates videos and photos on social media in an attempt to make them look like they’re protectors of underrepresented people,” San Bernardino County Sheriff Shannon Dicus told reporters last week. “However, they use racism to threaten and intimidate their victims, causing them to get on their knees to beg for forgiveness while still assaulting them.” MASSIVE INCREASE IN BLACK AMERICANS MURDERED WAS RESULT OF DEFUND POLICE MOVEMENT: EXPERTS “What this group does is not protected by the First Amendment. It’s illegal,” he said. “This group is not about substance for the human condition but rather clickbait for cash.” In a news conference outside the courthouse on Monday, Enamorado’s attorney, Christian Contreras, said law enforcement was “criminalizing First Amendment activity” after he previously dubbed the group the “Victorville Eight.” “They are criminalizing the right to protest, they are criminalizing the right to call out elected officials, and they are criminalizing their critics,” Contreras told reporters. “This is a playbook straight out of a third-world country. You do not see this in the United States of America.” CALIFORNIA IS RUN BY POLITICIANS WHO ARE ‘100% PRO-CRIMINAL,’ 30-YEAR LAW ENFORCEMENT VETERAN SAYS As shown in videos on TikTok, supporters of the eight activists called to free the suspects, whom they called the “Justice Eight.” Supporters argued the arrests were part of an effort to “silence” protesters. Fox News Digital reached out to Contreras for comment but did not hear back by time of publication.
Bureau of Prisons assisting in migrant transportation at southern border
The Federal Bureau of Prisons is assisting the Border Patrol with the transport of migrants, according to sources. Multiple Border Patrol sources told Fox News that the Federal Bureau of Prisons is assisting in transporting migrants, since Customs and Border Protection/Border Patrol are overwhelmed in several areas. A spokesperson for the Federal Bureau of Prisons told Fox News the agency “is providing limited transportation resources to assist Border Patrol on the southwest border.” It comes as the U.S. southern border saw a new record in the number of migrant encounters in a single day, with 12,600 encounters taking place on Monday. SOUTHERN BORDER HIT BY RECORD NUMBER OF MIGRANT ENCOUNTERS IN A SINGLE DAY AS THOUSANDS FLOOD INTO TEXAS The number doesn’t include thousands of migrants who are waiting for processing in the Del Rio Sector on Monday evening. Sources told Fox News that, as of Tuesday morning, over 4,500 migrants were at the busy crossing point, while more than 5,300 were in custody. Officials with the Department of Homeland Security told lawmakers in December that there were around 670,000 “gotaways,” known as illegal immigrants who slipped past border agents, in FY 23. ARIZONA’S DEMOCRATIC GOV MOBILIZES NATIONAL GUARD TO BORDER, AS WASHINGTON TRIES TO REACH DEAL Arizona’s Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs announced Friday she’s deploying the state’s National Guard to help. “With this Executive Order, I am taking action where the federal government won’t. But we can’t stand alone, Arizona needs resources and manpower to reopen the Lukeville crossing, manage the flow of migrants, and maintain a secure, orderly and humane border,” Hobbs wrote in a statement. Fox News’ Adam Shaw, Bill Melugin and Griff Jenkins contributed to this report.
White House slams Texas Gov. Abbott’s new border legislation, saying it is ‘extreme’ and dehumanizes migrants
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s measures along the border, targeting illegal immigrants who enter the state, are not only “extreme,” but also “dehumanize” immigrants, putting them in “harm’s way.” On Monday, the governor signed a new law giving police the authority to arrest migrants who cross the border illegally, saying the bill was to “stop the tidal wave of illegal entry into Texas.” After being taken into custody, migrants could either agree to a Texas judge’s order to leave the U.S. or face prosecution on misdemeanor charges of illegal entry. Migrants who do not comply could face arrest again under more serious felony charges. TEXAS GOV. ABBOTT SIGNS BILL MAKING ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION A STATE CRIME Abbott has repeatedly slammed the Biden administration for not doing enough to address the border crisis. The governor has directed more than 65,000 migrants to be bussed to cities across America, while also installing razor wire along the banks of the Rio Grande. During a press briefing on Tuesday, Jean-Pierre told reporters Abbott’s “extreme law” will not and does not make communities in Texas safer. Instead, she added, the law is “very much in line” with what Republicans do, which is “demonize” and “dehumanize” immigrants. “This is not who we should be as a country,” Jean-Pierre said. “This is something that Governor Abbott has done over and over again. There are plenty of examples that I’ve listed from here before.” WHERE NO CONGRESS HAS GONE BEFORE: FACING GALACTIC-SCALE FISCAL CLIFF AND BORDER SECURITY THREATS She said Abbott’s measures have included leaving migrants on the side of the road in the middle of winter, installing razor wire near the border, and placing buoys in the Rio Grande, making it harder for border agents to do their jobs. “So, this is certainly extreme as we see it, and it is incredibly unfortunate,” Jean-Pierre said. “But this is what we see from particular Republicans trying to dehumanize a group of people who are coming here or some of them trying to migrate here. And they’re putting them in harm’s way.” Abbott’s law will likely face legal challenges because immigration enforcement falls under federal responsibility. TEXAS GOV ABBOTT SAYS STATE WILL CONTINUE TO SEND MIGRANTS TO SANCTUARY CITIES UNTIL BIDEN ACTS ON BORDER It’s also been called the most dramatic attempt by a state to police immigration since 2010, when an Arizona law, dubbed by critics as the “Show Me Your Papers” bill, was struck down by te U.S. Supreme Court. Jean-Pierre was asked by a reporter on Tuesday if President Biden supported the government taking legal action against Texas, as the ACLU has already filed a lawsuit. “The Department of Justice, they’re going to decide whether they’re going to file a lawsuit here,” Jean-Pierre said. “Certainly, I’m not going to get ahead of that.” She continued, saying the federal court is in charge of determining how and when to remove non-citizens for violating immigration policies. “That is where that sits and that’s where that belongs,” Jean Pierre added. Bradford Betz of Fox News Digital contributed to this report.
Prominent transgender activist tied to top Pennsylvania Dems charged with raping two underage boys
A prominent transgender LGBT activist in Philadelphia who campaigned for and endorsed several top Democrats in the commonwealth was arrested this week on several charges, including rape and assault of two young boys. Kendall Stephens, 37, was arrested Monday and charged with rape, involuntary assault, unlawful contact with minors and indecent assault against two victims less than 13 years old, along with charges including corruption of minors and endangering the welfare of children. Stephens, a transgender woman who is biologically male, rose to prominence in 2020 after being the victim of a brutal crime believed by many to be a hate crime in which the attacker, Tymesha Wearing, ended up pleading guilty to aggravated assault and conspiracy, Fox 29 Philadelphia reported. “Nearly three years ago, Kendall Stephens endured a frightening crime that was intended to demean and silence her,” District Attorney Larry Krasner said. TRANS CHILD MOLESTER SENTENCED FOR KILLING FRIEND WITH A ROCK IN FIGHT OVER $100 “Instead, Ms. Stephens continues to speak out loudly on behalf of other queer victims of violent crime — all while pursuing graduate studies. This criminal case is now closed, but Ms. Stephens will never stop fighting for the respect, support and protections that queer people deserve in order to live safely, freely and joyfully.” The arrest of Stephens sparked a firestorm on social media from those pointing out Stephens’ ties to various political campaigns and some saying the penalty for the alleged crimes should be significant. FORMER DEMOCRAT TRANSGENDER STATE REP WITH SHOCKING CRIMINAL PAST ARRESTED ON CHILD PORNOGRAPHY CHARGES In an Instagram post last year, Stephens posted a photo with Sen. Bob Casey thanking him for “giving me a platform to speak,” adding Casey was a “true ally to the community.” “Kendall campaigned for the Governor of PA (D),” LibsofTikTok posted on X, along with photos of Kendall standing alongside prominent Democrats in the commonwealth. “Kendall also supported the Philadelphia DA Larry Krasner (D). He’s also friendly with Sen. Bob Casey (D) and calls him an ‘ally.’” “37 year old transgender Kendall Stephens has been arrested for allegedly r*ping two minors under the age of 13,” Colin Rugg, co-owner of Trending Politics, posted on X.” “This is why the death penalty exists.” Fox News Digital reached out to the offices of Casey and Krasner but did not immediately receive a response. “These allegations are abhorrent,” Manuel Bonder, spokesperson for Gov. Josh Shapiro, told Fox News Digital. “This individual should be prosecuted to the fullest extent and process of the law.” The investigation into Stephens began in September when a grandmother of one of the alleged young victims told police her grandchild was sexually assaulted by Stephens on more than one occasion, starting when he was 8 years old, NBC Philadelphia reported. The second victim was reportedly given “gifts out of nowhere,” and the parents believed it was to “keep him quiet.” Stephens is also said to have warned one of the victims that he would be put in jail if he told anyone about the encounter. Stephens’ bail was set at $500,000.
Federal appeals court blocks Biden admin from removing Texas’ razor wire at southern border
A federal appeals court handed the state of Texas a win on Tuesday when it temporarily blocked the Biden administration from removing razor wire barriers placed at the border by Texas authorities. The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the government is barred during the appeal from “damaging, destroying, or otherwise interfering with Texas’s [concertina wire] fence in the vicinity of Eagle Pass, Texas” unless it is for a medical emergency. The state sued the Biden administration in October over its cutting or damaging of the more than 29 miles of concertina wire along the border in order to allow illegal immigrants to enter deeper into the U.S. TOP HOUSE COMMITTEE RENEWS DEMAND FOR DOCS FROM DHS ON TEXAS BORDER WIRE CUTTING “By cutting Texas’s concertina wire, the federal government has not only illegally destroyed property owned by the State of Texas; it has also disrupted the State’s border security efforts, leaving gaps in Texas’s border barriers and damaging Texas’s ability to effectively deter illegal entry into its territory,” Texas said. The state had installed the wire near key crossing areas where there have been massive surges of illegal immigration in recent years. The federal government has said that once migrants are on U.S. soil, Border Patrol agents must apprehend them, and has claimed the wire “inhibits Border Patrol’s ability to patrol the border.” TEXAS AG PAXTON SUES BIDEN ADMIN OVER CUTTING OF RAZOR WIRE AT SOUTHERN BORDER A DHS spokesperson told Fox in October that it does not comment on pending litigation, but “generally speaking, Border Patrol agents have a responsibility under federal law to take those who have crossed onto U.S. soil without authorization into custody for processing, as well as to act when there are conditions that put our workforce or migrants at risk.” A federal judge had initially blocked agents from cutting razor wire, but later reversed that decision, saying the state hadn’t met the requirements to issue a wider injunction. Texas appealed and on Tuesday the Fifth Circuit Court found in Texas’ favor, meaning that for now the wire cannot be damaged or removed. The ruling comes as the area has seen a fresh surge in migration, with a record 12,600+ encounters on Monday border-wide. As of Tuesday morning, agents in Eagle Passwere processing more than 4,500 and had 5,300 in custody. Texas launched Operation Lone Star in 2021 to surge resources and law enforcement to the border, with other moves including the building of a border wall and the construction of a buoy barrier in the Rio Grande itself. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Monday signed legislation to allow Texas law enforcement officers to arrest someone they suspect has entered illegally. The law was immediately condemned by the White House and civil rights groups. Fox News’ Bill Melugin, Griff Jenkins and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Union Pacific warns border crossing closing due to migrant crisis hurts cross-border trade as Christmas nears
Union Pacific is calling for the re-opening of two key border crossings in Texas that have been shut due to the ongoing migrant crisis, warning that the continued closures will severely impact cross-border trade just as Christmas and New Years are just days away. The railroad company is demanding that the crossings in El Paso and Eagle Pass, where Border Patrol agents have been overwhelmed by a surge in migrants coming into the U.S., be “re-opened immediately.” “These locations represent 45% of cross-border Union Pacific business and include goods critical to the U.S. economy,” the company said in a statement. “There isn’t enough capacity at our other four gateways to reroute them.” SOUTHERN BORDER HIT BY RECORD NUMBER OF MIGRANT ENCOUNTERS IN A SINGLE DAY AS THOUSANDS FLOOD INTO TEXAS “With Christmas and the New Year’s holidays just days away, Union Pacific is in close communication with multiple government agencies and our customers, urging that the crossings closed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection be reopened,” the statement said. CBP has taken a number of actions to handle migrant traffic, including diverting agents away from other stations to help with the processing of migrants in places like Eagle Pass — where agents were processing more than 4,500 on Tuesday morning after a massive surge, and already 5,300 in custody. Across the border, Monday saw a record number of daily encounters, with over 12,600 overall, including 11,000 illegal immigrant apprehensions, sources told Fox News. It’s the latest in a number of records set during the nearly three-year migrant crisis. Union Pacific said it “[understands] this is a complex humanitarian crisis” but said that “most migrants are not crossing the border on trains.” It also highlighted its own security measures that it uses, including technology including X-ray to detect people and contraband. “Every day that the border is closed, Union Pacific is forced to embargo customers’ goods on more than 60 trains, or nearly 4,500 rail cars, with an equivalent of goods being held in Mexico,” the company said. “Union Pacific is doing everything possible to stage trains and work with customers to prevent congestion at the border. The longer this closure is in effect, the more difficult it will be for cross-border trade to resume.” It stressed the impacted goods included agricultural products including grain, food and beverages, automotive parts and consumer goods. 5,000 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS RELEASED EVERY DAY INTO US, ADMIN OFFICIALS PRIVATELY TELL LAWMAKERS Meanwhile, talks are ongoing in Washington about policy changes to asylum limits in order to secure agreement on a supplemental funding request from the White House — including $14 billion for border funding. Lawmakers say there has been progress, but there is unlikely to be a deal before the New Year. Fox News’ Bill Melugin and Griff Jenkins contributed to this report.
Conservatives lash out at Trump after he attacks Chip Roy, calls for him to face primary challenge: ‘Idiotic’
Former President Donald Trump took flak from a number of conservatives on Tuesday after he attacked Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, as a “RINO,” or Republican in name only, and called for him to face a primary challenge. “Has any smart and energetic Republican in the Great State of Texas decided to run in the Primary against RINO Congressman Chip Roy. For the right person, he is very beatable. If interested, let me know!!!” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social late Monday after Roy appeared in Iowa in support of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ presidential campaign. Conservative politicians and commentators quickly jumped to Roy’s defense on social media, blasting Trump’s comments as “laughably insane” and “idiotic.” NIKKI HALEY TAKES AIM AT GOP RIVAL FOR CAMPAIGNING WITH ‘ANTI-ISRAEL’ MEMBER OF CONGRESS “While [Chip Roy] is fighting to do what Donald Trump promised to do — secure our southern border — the former president is on social media demanding a primary challenge to one of the most conservative members of Congress,” DeSantis wrote before noting that the filing deadline for candidates in Texas had already passed. “I stand with Chip and am honored to have his support. The time for talking is over. We must stop the invasion, and I will get it done,” he added. Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., a supporter of DeSantis’ campaign for president, also said he stood with Roy before calling Trump’s comments a “shortsighted effort to intimidate” him. NEW POLL REVEALS AMERICA’S LEAST FAVORITE LEADER IN CONGRESS WITH SHOCKING SINGLE-DIGIT APPROVAL “I support you for President, [Donald Trump]. But I’m 100% on board with [Chip Roy]. Chip is no RINO. He’s an American hero. He’s a constitutionalist. He’s a patriot. And most of all, he’s a good man who selflessly serves in Congress,” American Blockchain PAC CEO Jim Pfaff wrote. Stephen Miller, a contributing editor at The Spectator, wrote, “Trump, who caved on bump stocks and Fauci is calling Chip Roy of Texas a RINO and to be primaried it’s just laughable at this point. It’s laughably insane. Run it back, guys.” Conservative commentator John Cardillo called Trump’s attack on Roy an “idiotic lie,” and said anyone who didn’t call out the former president’s “stupidity” was a “cultist.” FORMER TRUMP ADVISER KELLYANNE CONWAY LEADS CHARGE TO OVERHAUL GOP ABORTION STRATEGY, END DEMS’ 2024 ADVANTAGE “This is so nuts as to be comical. If you think Chip Roy — Chip Roy — is a RINO, then words have no meaning,” Mark Krikorian, the executive director of the Center for Immigration Studies wrote. Roy also posted his own response to Trump’s attack, simply posting a photo of the former president with Dr. Anthony Fauci, a figure often scorned by conservatives. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Roy is currently running unopposed in the Republican primary for Texas’ 21st Congressional District, which he has represented since 2019. When reached for comment, Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung told Fox News Digital, “Chip Roy made a blunder endorsing a moron like Ron DeSanctus, who is violently falling out of the sky like a wounded bird.” Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub.
An El Paso woman is suing her doctor for negligence over an unwanted pregnancy
Grissel Velasco paid her doctor to perform a tubal ligation about a decade ago, but still became pregnant.
Texas slapped with lawsuit over new law allowing police to arrest migrants who cross the border illegally
Civil rights groups, including the ACLU, filed a lawsuit against the State of Texas on Tuesday over a new law that gives police the authority to arrest migrants who cross the border illegally and allows judges to order them to leave the U.S. The American Civil Liberties Union, its Texas branch, and the Texas Civil Rights Project claim on behalf of El Paso County and two immigrant aid groups that the new law, Senate Bill 4, is unconstitutional and preempted by federal law. The ACLU of Texas called the law the nation’s “most extreme anti-immigration law.” “SB4 lets police arrest people over ‘suspicions’ about immigration status and judges deport people without due process,” the group said in an X post. “This is unconstitutional and will harm Black and Brown Texans the most.” ACLU of Texas argued that the law would lead to “racial profiling” and “harassment” with police stopping people because of their skin color or the language they speak. MANY SENATORS HAVE ALREADY LEFT TOWN AMID BORDER NEGOTIATIONS AS ILLEGAL CROSSINGS HIT RECORD Republican Gov. Greg Abbott signed SB4 during a ceremony on the U.S. border in Brownsville on Tuesday. Immigration enforcement is a federal responsibility. But the law that Abbott signed allows any Texas law enforcement officer to arrest people who are suspected of entering the country illegally. Once in custody, they could either agree to a Texas judge’s order to leave the U.S. or be prosecuted on misdemeanor charges of illegal entry. Migrants who don’t leave could face arrest again under more serious felony charges. Opponents have called the measure a dramatic attempt by a state to police immigration since a 2010 Arizona law — denounced by critics as the “Show Me Your Papers” bill — that was largely struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court. A White House spokesperson said Tuesday that SB4 “will make communities in Texas less safe.” SOUTHERN BORDER HIT BY RECORD NUMBER OF MIGRANT ENCOUNTERS IN A SINGLE DAY AS THOUSANDS FLOOD INTO TEXAS Fox News Digital has reached out to Abbott’s office for a response to the new lawsuit. SB4 takes effect in March. Texas Republicans, meanwhile, say the Biden administration isn’t doing nearly enough to control the nearly 2,000-mile southern border. Texas has bused more than 65,000 migrants to cities across America since August 2022 and recently installed razor wire along the banks of the Rio Grande. Fiscal Year 2023 has broken new records, with more than 2.4 million migrant encounters at the border. September saw a record for encounters at the southern border, while the following month saw a record for encounters in October — with more than 240,000 encounters border-wide. Funding for more resources at the border has stalled in recent weeks, as Republicans demand it be coupled with restrictions on asylum and the use of parole — a demand which some Democrats have balked at.