Israel signals readiness for new temporary truce in Gaza as pressure mounts
Hamas says it will not enter negotations over releasing captives until Israel ends its war on Gaza. Israeli President Isaac Herzog has said his country is willing to agree a new temporary truce with Hamas in Gaza to secure the release of more captives held by the Palestinian group. “Israel is ready for another humanitarian pause and additional humanitarian aid in order to enable the release of hostages,” Herzog told a gathering of ambassadors on Tuesday. The comments come amid growing international pressure on Israel to pause its assault on Gaza and to allow more humanitarian aid into the besieged territory. A previous Israel-Hamas agreement mediated by Qatar and Egypt led to a week-long truce at the end of November during which Hamas released 86 women and children it was holding in exchange for 240 Palestinian women and teenagers held in Israeli jails. Hamas also released 24 foreign nationals during the pause in fighting. Qatar’s Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, who also serves as the Gulf state’s foreign minister, Mossad Director David Barnea and CIA Director Bill Burns held talks in Poland on Monday to discuss a potential new deal to secure the release of hostages in exchange for Palestinians in Israeli prisons and a humanitarian pause in the fighting. “The talks were positive with negotiators exploring and discussing different proposals in an attempt to progress on negotiations,” a source briefed on the diplomatic efforts told the Reuters news agency. “An agreement is not expected imminently, however.” Hamas said in a statement on Tuesday that it rejects any forms of negotiations about prisoner exchanges “under the continuing Israeli genocidal war.” The Palestinian group said it is open to any initiative that contributes to “ending the aggression” and opening border crossings “to bring in aid and provide relief to the Palestinian people.” Al Jazeera’s Bernard Smith said the statements from Herzog and Hamas on Tuesday indicate some progression towards a potential truce. “The question will be whether it is just that, a pause – a humanitarian pause – as the Israelis would call it, or a full ceasefire,” Smith said, reporting from Tel Aviv. The war has flattened large parts of northern Gaza and driven most of the population to the southern part of the besieged territory, where many are in crowded shelters and tent camps. Some 1.9 million Palestinians – about 90 percent of Gaza’s population – have fled their homes. At least 19,667 people, mostly women and children, have been killed in the Israeli assault on Gaza since, according to Palestinian health authorities. Israel launched the assault on Gaza after Hamas fighters from the territory stormed into southern Israel on October 7, killing about 1,200 people and taking about 240 others hostage, according to Israeli officials. Israel is facing growing international pressure to scale back its offensive as the civilian death toll in Gaza continues to soar. France, the United Kingdom and Germany on Sunday added their voices to calls for a ceasefire, while US President Joe Biden last week called the bombing “indiscriminate”. The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is expected to vote later on Tuesday on a resolution calling for a halt to the fighting in Gaza. Earlier, the head of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said the war in Gaza is a “moral failure” of the international community, calling on Israel and Hamas to reach a new truce to halt the fighting. “I have been speaking of moral failure because every day this continues is a day more where the international community hasn’t proven capable of ending such high levels of suffering and this will have an impact on generations not only in Gaza,” ICRC president Mirjana Spoljaric told journalists in Geneva following trips to the Gaza Strip and Israel. Adblock test (Why?)
North Carolina voting rights lawsuit targets GOP’s alleged dilution through redistricting
North Carolina voting-rights advocates sued Tuesday to overturn all of the redistricting plans drawn by Republicans for the 2024 elections, saying legislative leaders unlawfully weakened the electoral influence of Black voters. The North Carolina chapter of the NAACP, Common Cause and eight Black residents filed a lawsuit in federal court. They accused GOP legislative leaders of intentionally moving boundary lines for General Assembly and congressional districts this fall so that preferred candidates of Black voters lose to candidates backed by white voters. For decades, Black residents have overwhelmingly favored Democratic candidates. “The General Assembly targeted predominantly Black voting precincts with surgical precision throughout the state in drawing and enacting the 2023 Plans, at the expense of traditional redistricting criteria, to achieve preferred district lines that diminish Black voters’ ability to elect candidates of their choice at all levels of government,” the lawsuit’s authors wrote. GOP SET TO GAIN 3 US HOUSE SEATS UNDER MAP ADVANCED IN NC SENATE The plaintiffs want the maps thrown out so that no elections can be held under them because, they argue, the new districts violated the U.S. Constitution, the federal Voting Rights Act and another law. But that may be difficult to accomplish. Candidate filing closed Friday for the March 5 primary elections, and the first primary absentee ballots will be disbursed to voters on Jan. 19. At the very least, the lawsuit says, remedial maps need to be enacted for use no later than the 2026 general election. Tuesday’s lawsuit marks the latest and most comprehensive litigation filed by voters since the Republican-dominated General Assembly enacted new maps in October for its own districts and for North Carolina’s congressional delegation that are designed to boost GOP clout for years to come. The plaintiffs focus largely on four of the state’s 14 congressional districts, nine of the 50 state Senate districts and roughly 20 of the 120 state House districtis. Many of them are located in northeastern counties where a disproportionate percentage of Black residents live compared to the entire state, which is more than 22% African American. NC FACES FEDERAL LAWSUIT OVER ALLEGED RACIAL BIAS IN NEWLY DRAWN CONGRESSIONAL MAPS Earlier this month close to 20 Black and Latino voters sued to strike down the new congressional districts, four of which they argue are illegal racial gerrymanders. And a lawsuit filed by two Black voters said two eastern North Carolina state Senate districts violate the Voting Rights Act through new boundaries that failed to create a majority-Black district in a region where white voters usually defeat candidates preferred by African American residents. The plaintiffs in the state Senate litigation have asked a federal judge to rule by year’s end whether to block the use of the districts in the primary elections while the case goes to court. But the other lawsuits, including the one filed Tuesday, lack similar formal requests for speedy action. The maps enacted in October put Republicans in good shape to win at least 10 of the state’s 14 congressional seats next November and to retain majorities in the state Senate and House, according to redistricting experts and statewide election data. The maps, if upheld, are supposed to be used through the 2030 elections. Under the congressional map that had been drawn by state judges for the 2022 elections, Democrats and Republicans each won seven seats. But the new congressional boundaries could help Republicans on Capitol Hill retain control of the U.S. House entering 2025. In recent weeks, three incumbent Democrats — Reps. Jeff Jackson, Kathy Manning and Wiley Nickel — decided not to seek reelection, saying the districts were so gerrymandered toward the GOP that it was futile to run in 2024. NORTH CAROLINA REDISTRICTING RULING COULD BE BIG WIN FOR REPUBLICANS IN CONGRESS While opponents of Republican maps argue publicly that the GOP’s lines are designed to squeeze out more electoral seats at the expense of Democrats, recent state and federal court rulings have neutered legal claims of illegal partisan gerrymandering. That has appeared to narrow legal challenges to North Carolina redistricting maps largely to racial bias claims, as are used by the three lawsuits filed against the latest boundaries. A panel of three judges composed of U.S. Circuit Judge Allison Rushing and District Judges Thomas Schroeder and Richard Myers will hear the congressional redistricting case. All three judges were nominated to their courts by Republican presidents.
Nikki Haley takes aim at GOP rival for campaigning with ‘anti-Israel’ member of Congress
GOP presidential candidate and former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley let loose on her opponent, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, this week for hitting the campaign trail in Iowa with a member of Congress who she called the “most anti-Israel Republican there is.” DeSantis was joined at a Johnston, Iowa, town hall on Saturday by Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., who made headlines for a string of recent votes in the House of Representatives that saw him side with a number of Democrats, including the far-left “Squad,” against bills in support of Israel. “Ron DeSantis – who says Ukraine’s a territorial dispute, and that this is Israel’s war, not America’s war – turns around and brings in a Republican into Iowa that is the most anti-Israel Republican there is,” Haley told a crowd of supporters at a campaign event near Des Moines, Iowa, on Sunday. ANTI-ISRAEL PROTESTERS SHOW UP TO DEM CONGRESSMAN’S HOME IN MIDDLE OF NIGHT, BLARING CAR HORNS AND SCREAMING “[Massie] voted with the ‘Squad’ against calling out antisemitism on college campuses, voted with the ‘Squad’ against hitting the presidents that were allowing it to happen, and voted with the ‘Squad,’ the only Republican, to turn around and ban the fact that we shouldn’t give $6 billion to Iran for five hostages. That’s who he brought to Iowa. So let him answer for that,” she said. Massie, a self-described Libertarian, has opposed much of the legislation in support of Israel introduced following the horrific Oct. 7 attacks by Hamas terrorists that resulted in the deaths of more than 1,200 people, including babies. However, he has maintained that he is a supporter of Israel. Last month, he voted against a resolution reaffirming the nation of Israel’s right to exist, joining Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., and Rep. Cori Bush, D-Mo., two members of the “Squad,” in opposing the legislation. In a post on X following the vote, he cited the language within the resolution for his decision. NEW POLL REVEALS AMERICA’S LEAST FAVORITE LEADER IN CONGRESS WITH SHOCKING SINGLE-DIGIT APPROVAL “I agree with the title ‘Reaffirming the State of Israel’s Right to Exist’ and much of the language, but I’m voting ‘No’ on the resolution because it equates anti-Zionism with antisemitism. Antisemitism is deplorable, but expanding it to include criticism of Israel is not helpful,” he wrote. Massie also voted alongside 22 Democrats last month against a resolution condemning antisemitism on college campuses. He cited concerns over free speech as the reason for his vote. “Free speech means protecting speech you don’t like, not just speech you do like. Also, who defines antisemitism?” he wrote in a post on X. FORMER TRUMP ADVISER KELLYANNE CONWAY LEADS CHARGE TO OVERHAUL GOP ABORTION STRATEGY, END DEMS’ 2024 ADVANTAGE Additionally, Massie voted against the No Funds for Iranian Terrorism Act, a bill to freeze funds associated with the Iran hostage deal and impose maximum sanctions on the nation. “I’m voting against HR 5961 because there’s no legal or moral authority for us to freeze or steal assets of other countries we are not at war with. It’s also shortsighted for us to use our super-power status to force foreign banks to freeze assets of sovereign countries,” he wrote on X about his vote. DeSantis responded to criticism of his appearance with Massie during a Monday campaign event by stating that he did not see eye-to-eye with the congressman on foreign relations issues and referred to him as “basically an isolationist.” “He votes against anything having to do with foreign relations. I disagree with that,” DeSantis said. “But you know, my 80% friend is not my 20% enemy, and we’ve got to stop thinking that way, as Republicans.” When reached for comment, DeSantis campaign press secretary Bryan Griffin told Fox News Digital, “Nikki Haley is just trying to distract from her record of inviting Gaza refugees to the U.S. and supporting U.S. tax dollars going to the Gaza Strip.” CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP “Ron DeSantis has been the clearest, most consistent pro-Israel candidate in this race. He has unequivocally supported Israel in exterminating Hamas, passed the strongest anti-Iran legislation of any state in a special session in November, and jumped into action to bring Americans home from Israel who were stranded by Joe Biden,” he added. Fox News Digital has reached out to Massie’s office for comment. Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub.
Weather update: IMD predicts dense fog, coldwave for several states; check latest forecast here
Furthermore, according to the weather agency, there is a high probability of localised pockets of cold wave conditions throughout Punjab tonight and tomorrow (December 19 and 20, 2023).
T-Squared: Emily Iazzetti is our new membership manager; Kassie Kelly is our next grants officer
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Major ‘climate deception’ lawsuit against Big Oil voluntarily dismissed
A major years-long lawsuit alleging that Big Oil companies have waged a disinformation campaign about the impacts of climate change was voluntarily dismissed by plaintiffs in a victory for the U.S. energy industry. The California-based Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations (PCFFA), the largest trade association of commercial fishermen on the West Coast, requested the dismissal in a filing with the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. The request came after Judge Vince Chhabria ruled on Nov. 1 that the case could be heard in federal court despite PCFFA’s argument for it to be tried in state court. “Climate change is a global challenge that requires a coordinated international policy response, not a jumble of baseless local lawsuits,” said Bill Turenne, a spokesperson for U.S. oil company Chevron, one of several companies named as defendants in the case. “As the Second Circuit Court of Appeals put it when affirming dismissal of a similar case, ‘such a sprawling case is simply beyond the limits of state law.’” PCFFA’s lawsuit dates back to November 2018 and was among the first “climate deception” cases filed nationwide. The lawsuit — which names Chevron, ExxonMobil, BP America, Shell and ConocoPhillips, among several other oil companies as defendants — sought to hold the industry accountable for its alleged “decades-long campaigns of deception about the science of climate change and the role their products play in causing it.” DARK MONEY GROUP WIRED MILLIONS TO LAW FIRM SUING BIG OIL WITH DEM STATES PCCFA had argued that it was harmed by fossil fuel-induced global warming because of how the “world’s oceans are changing,” impacting both wildlife and businesses reliant on the maritime economy. The group particularly pointed to multiple prolonged regulatory closures of the Dungeness crab fisheries, the most lucrative fisheries on the West Coast. TOP REPUBLICANS LAUNCH PROBE INTO LEONARDO DICAPRIO-FUNDED BLUE STATE LAWSUITS AGAINST BIG OIL “The world’s oceans are changing, and commercial fishermen and -women, their businesses, their communities, and their families are paying the price,” the 2018 complaint stated. “Climate change is impacting the oceans by increasing average sea temperatures, increasing the frequency and intensity of marine heatwaves, destabilizing and disturbing marine wildlife populations, affecting ocean circulation, and increasing the frequency and severity of harmful algal blooms.” “Defendants, major corporate members of the fossil fuel industry, have known for nearly a half century that unrestricted production and use of their fossil fuel products create greenhouse gas pollution that warms the planet, changes our climate, and disrupts the oceans,” it added. The fishermen association was represented in court by California law firm Sher Edling which was founded in 2016 to specifically take on such novel cases. And since then, the firm has pursued similar litigation on behalf of Delaware, Minnesota, Rhode Island, New Jersey, New York City, Washington, D.C., San Francisco, Baltimore, Honolulu and several local governments across the country. The latest such “climate deception” lawsuit was filed by California in September. Though it is unclear whether Sher Edling is involved in the case, California’s arguments largely mirror those made by the firm in its litigation. Sher Edling’s other cases, in addition to California’s case, may face a similar fate as the PCFFA case as they continue to work their way through court. One other case — filed by King County, Oregon — was dismissed in 2021. Sher Edling didn’t respond to a request for comment.
NY Gov Kathy Hochul signs bill creating reparations commission despite concerns of ‘racial divisions’
New York state has established a commission to explore the best methods of providing reparations to descendants of slaves. Gov. Kathy Hochul signed a bill Tuesday for a “community commission to study the history of slavery in New York state” to examine “various forms of reparations.” “Here in New York, there was a slave market where people bought and sold other human beings with callous disregard,” Hochul said. “It happened right on Wall Street for more than a century. And even though it officially closed when slavery was abolished in New York in 1827, our state still remained a dominant player in the illegal slave trade. The practice continued, and our financial and business institutions prospered.” The commission was given the task of examining the impact of slavery on Black people throughout New York state history and producing suggested remedies to its negative effects on Black communities. SAN FRANCISCO OFFICE OF REPARATIONS BUDGET GETS GUTTED BY DEMOCRATIC MAYOR AS CITY FACES DEFICIT The commission will consist of nine individuals. The governor, state assembly speaker and the majority leader of the New York Senate will each select three members. “I know the word ‘reparations’ brings up a lot of conflicting ideas for people. A lot of people instinctively dig in when they hear it without really thinking about what it means or why we need to talk about it,” said Hochul. REPARATIONS PUSH GAINS STEAM AS COMMUNITIES NATIONWIDE CONSIDER PAYMENT PLANS – AND NOT JUST FOR SLAVERY Hochul said that even Americans whose families arrived in the U.S. after the end of slavery were still responsible for addressing its impact on Black communities. “I think of the immigrants and the children of immigrants who’ve come here since the end of slavery,” said Hochul. “They will say, ‘We had no involvement in slavery […] None of our relatives were slave owners.’ And there’s part of me that worries about leaping into this conversation because of the racial divisions, strife it could sow.’” The governor continued, “These huddles and tired masses came here to seek a better life […] Slaves, people who were enslaved, didn’t come here willingly to pursue a dream, but they came in bondage to live a nightmare. And we have to ask, do those of us whose family came here to pursue a dream not have a role to play in ending a nightmare? Yes, yes we do.” Hochul’s speech was followed by a brief address from Rev. Al Sharpton, who thanked the governor for signing the bill despite warnings from her political allies. “And I know her political advisors told her it is too risky. But she did it because it’s right,” I met with her last Thursday on several issues that we’re dealing with nationally, and she told me she had decided to sign this bill and she said that it’s going to be unpopular to some, but I’m going to do what’s right.” The commission is expected to offer its initial report approximately one year after its creation.
Ad Wars: As Trump super PAC targets Haley in New Hampshire ad, her super PAC fires back
FIRST ON FOX – A super PAC supporting Nikki Haley’s Republican presidential campaign on Tuesday launched a new ad in New Hampshire, which argues that former President Trump “knows Haley’s the only one who can beat him.” The spot by Stand for America (SFA) Fund, which was shared first with Fox News, comes on the same day that the Trump-aligned super PAC Make America Great Again (MAGA) Inc. went up in New Hampshire with a competing commercial that blasts Haley over gas taxes. The dueling ads in the state that holds the first primary and second overall contest in the 2024 GOP presidential nominating calendar come as Haley, a former two-term South Carolina governor who later served as ambassador to the United Nations in the Trump administration, continues to gain momentum with less than four weeks to go until the first votes in the Republican race. However, Trump, who is making his third straight White House run, remains the commanding front-runner in the hunt for the Republican nomination. FIRST ON FOX: HALEY SPOTLIGHTS NEED FOR ‘NEW CONSERVATIVE PRESIDENT’ “Of all the Republicans running for president, why is Donald Trump only attacking Nikki Haley? Because Trump knows Haley’s the only one who can beat him,” the narrator in the SFA spot claims. The narrator emphasizes that “as governor, Nikki Haley cut taxes for small businesses by 40%, and now she’s pledging to eliminate the federal gas tax.” HALEY’S MOMENTUM IN THE GOP PRESIDENTIAL RACE APPEARS TO BE PAYING OFF “Want an 80-year-old name from the past or a new generation of conservative leadership,” the narrator says over pictures of 81-year-old President Biden and 77-year-old Trump. The ad then puts up a picture of the 51-year-old Haley with 49-year-old New Hampshire Republican Gov. Chris Sununu, who endorsed Haley last week. SFA Fund tells Fox News they are spending seven figures to run their ad in New Hampshire. Haley has enjoyed plenty of momentum in the polls in recent months, thanks in part to well-received performances in the first three GOP presidential primary debates. She leapfrogged over Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis for second place in New Hampshire. She also aims to make a fight of it in Iowa, where the polls indicate DeSantis is a distant second behind Trump. Iowa’s Jan. 15 caucuses, which lead off the GOP nominating calendar, are followed eight days later by New Hampshire’s Jan. 23 primary. WHERE TRUMP, DESANTIS, HALEY AND THE REST OF GOP 2024 FIELD STAND IN NEW FOX NEWS POLL Besides Sununu’s support, Haley was endorsed a couple of weeks ago by Americans for Prosperity Action, the political wing of the influential and deep-pocketed fiscally conservative network founded by the billionaire Koch Brothers. AFP Action has pledged to spend tens of millions of dollars and mobilize its formidable grassroots operation to boost Haley and help push the Republican Party past Trump. Haley comes under attack in the MAGA Inc. ad, which repeatedly calls her “high tax Haley” and charges that as governor she “flipped,” breaking her pledge not to raise gas taxes. MAGA Inc. spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt argued that “we won’t let another tax-and-spend politician try to fool the voters.” A statement from Haley’s campaign released on the eve of the MAGA Inc. spot said, “Nikki Haley never supported a stand-alone gas tax increase. In fact, then-Gov. Haley killed the gas tax hike pushed by the South Carolina legislature and industry groups.” “Donald Trump’s false attack ad sends a loud and clear message: Nikki Haley is surging and Trump is scared,” said Haley campaign spokesperson Olivia Perez-Cubas emphasized in a statement. Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub.
Many senators have already left town amid border negotiations as illegal crossings hit record
Lead border negotiators are still trying to reach an agreement on a border security framework that would unlock billions of dollars in aid to Ukraine — a condition that Republicans have placed on passing the White House’s national security supplemental aid package that also earmarks aid to Israel and Taiwan. However, even if a deal is reached, which senators have signaled is not happening this week, the majority of members in the upper chamber have already left town, further pushing negotiations to January and setting the stage for a busy checklist. Lawmakers will have just 10 days when they return to pass FY 2024 appropriation bills. On Monday night, only 61 senators cast their votes to confirm Martin O’Malley, of Maryland, to be commissioner of Social Security for the remainder of the term ending on Jan. 19, 2025. Seventeen Republicans in total were present. Sen. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said Tuesday morning senators “must succeed” on border and Ukraine talks, adding it will take more time for a deal to be reached. LAWMAKERS UNLIKELY TO ADVANCE BORDER SECURITY, UKRAINE FUNDING LEGISLATION BEFORE CHRISTMAS “The details here matter immensely,” he said. Lawmakers involved in the talks have repeatedly said the details of border security are complex but have remained tight-lipped on clarifying what those details are. Sen. Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, a staunch supporter of aid to Ukraine, added they are making “slow and steady progress” to reform “years of failure to enact basic common sense border security policy.” Senate negotiators James Lankford, R-Okla., Krysten Sinema, I-Ariz., and Chris Murphy, D-Conn., have all cited “progress” over the last few days as hours of negotiations have punted back and forth with White House officials and Department of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas. “We finally have everybody at the table and everyone admitting that this is a national security crisis that we do have to address. That’s actually progress. That may seem shocking to a lot of viewers, but that’s taken a long time to be able to get to this point,” Lankford said Tuesday morning on Fox News’ “America’s Newsroom.” “We’re just literally trying to be able to say to Democrats, ‘listen, this has to be solved,’” Lankford said. “You don’t want to solve it. We’re going to actually push to get this solved. It’ll be politically beneficial for Democrats to get this solved, to take this issue off the table.” SCHUMER ANNOUNCES SENATE WILL CANCEL PART OF HOLIDAY RECESS AS BORDER TALKS CONTINUE According to U.S. Customs and Border Proection sources on Tuesday, there were more than 12,600 migrants encountered at the southern border in the last 24 hours, the highest figure recorded in a single day. Talks have been ongoing with senators and Biden administration officials. Republicans have refused to pass some $60 billion in additional aid to Ukraine unless it is tied to strict border security measures, such as immediate screenings for asylum processing, more detention beds and quicker expulsions for illegal entrants. The total amount of supplemental aid the White House first requested in October amounts to roughly $106 billion and includes $14 billion to assist Israel. President Biden has been urging Congress to take action on the package and Ukraine President Volodymr Zelenskyy made a final plea last week to both chambers in private meetings. MIGRANT ENCOUNTERS AGAIN TOP 10K IN A SINGLE DAY AS LAWMAKERS EYE NEW BORDER LIMITS On Sunday, in a letter to Senate Republican Conference Chairman Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., 15 Republican senators requested a conference meeting to discuss the “rushed and secret negotiations with Democrats who want an open border and who caused the current crisis,” pleading for “an open and transparent process” beginning in 2024. The senators also requested the meeting take place no earlier than the week of Jan. 8, when Congress is scheduled to return to the Hill after the holiday break. Also on Sunday, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell reportedly sent a note to his colleagues that Schumer has a motion to reconsider the vote on the package’s “shell” – or the starting point for the supplemental bill – but there is no confirmation yet about that vote. Fox News’ Bill Melugin contributed to this report.
Southern border hit by record number of migrant encounters in a single day as thousands flood into Texas
The besieged U.S. southern border saw a record number of migrant encounters in a single day on Monday, as thousands flooded into Eagle Pass, Texas, amid a broader surge in recent weeks that has left authorities overwhelmed. There were over 12,600 migrant encounters on Monday, Customs and Border Protection sources told Fox. That does not include the thousands still waiting for processing in the Del Rio Sector on Monday evening after a surge of migrants into Eagle Pass. The number includes over 11,000 illegal immigrant apprehensions and over 1,600 encountered at ports of entry. As of Tuesday morning, sources told Fox that agents are still processing and transporting more than 4,500 migrants at the busy crossing point, with more than 5,300 already in custody and facilities at 260% over capacity. ARIZONA’S DEMOCRATIC GOV MOBILIZES NATIONAL GUARD TO BORDER, AS WASHINGTON TRIES TO REACH DEAL It means that the tiny border sector is dealing with over 10,000 total migrants, which is roughly a third of the entire of Eagle Pass itself, and agents are outmanned to a ratio of 200:1. Meanwhile, there were over 3,000 encounters on Monday at the Tucson Sector in Arizona, where agents have also been overwhelmed and where Arizona’s Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs deployed the 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 said in a statement on Friday. 5,000 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS RELEASED EVERY DAY INTO US, ADMIN OFFICIALS PRIVATELY TELL LAWMAKERS The border saw a record number of encounters in FY 23, with 2.4 million coming across the border. September was the highest month on record, while October was the highest October on record. November and December, a time when migration is typically slowing down, are looking likely to post record or near-record numbers, as well as agents now routinely see over 10,000 encounters a day. Fox reported last week that Department of Homeland Security officials told lawmakers this month that there were around 670,000 “gotaways,” illegal immigrants who slipped past Border Patrol agents, in FY 23, and that they are releasing an average of 5,000 illegal immigrants a day to non-governmental organizations. That is in addition to the over 1,600 migrants being paroled in at ports of entry each day and the up to 30,000 Haitian, Venezuelan, Nicaraguans and Cubans being flown in each month through the Biden administration’s expanded “lawful pathways.” The administration has said it is pursuing a strategy of expanding those pathways while increasing “consequences” for illegal entry, but that it is also dealing with a hemisphere-wide crisis and needs additional funding and immigration reform legislation from Congress. It has requested an additional $14 billion for border funding from Congress as part of the over $100 billion supplemental funding requests, but Republicans have demanded greater limits on humanitarian parole and higher asylum standards. CONSERVATIVE GROUPS, EX-BORDER OFFICIALS DEMAND LAWMAKERS REJECT ‘UNACCEPTABLE’ BORDER COMPROMISE Talks have been ongoing, with the Biden administration saying it is open to “significant compromises” and reportedly mulling a Title 42-type expulsion authority that would allow for the rapid removal of migrants in certain circumstances. It is also open to greater detention and a nationwide expedited removal program. Some Democrats have accused the administration of “selling out” migrants, while conservative Republicans have said such a deal would not be enough, instead calling for the entirety of the House GOP border security legislation. Lawmakers had hoped to get a deal before Christmas but that now seems unlikely. Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., one of the lawmakers involved in negotiations, said on “America’s Newsroom” Tuesday that “we are making real progress.” “We finally have everybody at the table and everyone admitting that this is a national security crisis that we do have to address. That’s actually progress,” he said.