China condemns US military buildup off Venezuela coast as foreign interference in regional affairs
China on Thursday condemned an American military buildup off the coast of Venezuela amid the Trump administration’s effort to combat drug cartels, accusing Washington of engaging in foreign interference. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning was speaking with reporters when she was asked about the naval deployment. “China opposes any move that violates the purposes and principles of the U.N. Charter and a country’s sovereignty and security,” Ning said. “We oppose the use or threat of force in international relations and the interference of external forces in Venezuela’s internal affairs under any pretext.” U.S. WARSHIPS TO PATROL INTERNATIONAL WATERS AROUND VENEZUELA AS TRUMP VOWS TO STOP CARTELS “We hope that the United States will do more things conducive to peace and security in Latin America and the Caribbean region,” she added. Fox News Digital has reached out to the White House. At least three Aegis guided-missile destroyers — the USS Gravely and USS Jason Dunham among them — are part of the mission that includes thousands of Marines. “On day one of the Trump Administration, the president published an executive order designating drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations, clearly identifying them as a direct threat to the national security of the United States,” Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said Tuesday. VENEZUELA HUMAN RIGHTS HIT NEW LOW AS US PUTS $50M BOUNTY ON MADURO’S HEAD: STATE DEPARTMENT “These cartels have engaged in historic violence and terror throughout our Hemisphere — and around the globe — that has destabilized economies and internal security of countries but also flooded the United States with deadly drugs, violent criminals and vicious gangs.” In response to “outlandish threats” by the U.S., Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro said he would deploy 4.5 million militia members. The show of military force comes as the Trump administration continues to demand that Maduro be held accountable for drugs being smuggled into the U.S. The administration has labeled Maduro’s regime as a “narco-terror cartel.” Earlier this month, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced a $50 million reward for information leading to the arrest of the South American leader. Meanwhile, the Justice Department said it has seized more than $700 million in assets tied to the embattled dictator, including two private jets and nine luxury vehicles. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Maduro, indicted in New York in 2020 on narco-terrorism and cocaine importation conspiracy charges, has clung to power with military backing and allegedly with support from Russia, China and Cuba. Fox News Digital’s Greg Wehner contributed to this report.
Pentagon unveils new medal for troops deployed in Trump’s southern border crackdown
The Pentagon has created a new medal for service members who’ve deployed to the southern border to assist federal law enforcement with President Donald Trump’s crackdown on illegal immigration. The Pentagon unveiled plans for a Mexican Border Defense Medal for U.S. troops serving with Joint Task Force Southern Border, according to a new memo the Pentagon released Aug.13 that was shared on social media. A U.S. defense official confirmed the authenticity of the memo to Fox News Digital Wednesday. TROOPS AT THE BORDER: HOW THE MILITARY’S ROLE IN IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT HAS EXPLODED UNDER TRUMP Now, service members will receive the Mexican Border Defense Medal (MBDM) instead of the Armed Forces Service Medal (AFSM) like they previously earned for supporting Customs and Border Protection at the border, the memo said. The Armed Forces Service Medal, created in 1996 by former President Bill Clinton, is awarded to troops who have participated in a military operation with “significant activity” but didn’t encounter foreign armed opposition or imminent hostile action, according to a U.S. Army description of the medal. The Pentagon said in July that approximately 8,500 military personnel are assigned to Joint Task Force Southern Border and have been tasked with responding to security threats there. The task force got underway in March and completed approximately 3,500 patrols between then and July, according to the Pentagon. PENTAGON SETS UP NEW 250-MILE MILITARY BUFFER ZONE AT BORDER WITH CROSSINGS AT RECORD LOWS Those eligible for the award must have deployed since Jan. 20 to support Customs and Border Protection and served within 100 nautical miles from the international border shared with Mexico in either Texas, New Mexico, Arizona or California. Those who’ve also served in adjacent waters up to 24 nautical miles away from the border also are eligible. “Service members must have been permanently assigned, attached, or detailed to a unit that deployed to participate in a designated DoD military operation supporting CBP within the (area of eligibility) during the (period of award) for 30 consecutive or nonconsecutive days,” the memo said. Those who already have received the Armed Forces Service Medal for service at the southern border may appeal to receive the new award but are ineligible to receive both, according to the Pentagon. “Service members and Veterans previously awarded the AFSM for DoD support to CBP may apply to their respective Military Service for award of the MBDM in lieu of the AFSM previously awarded to recognize such service; however, no Service member or Veteran may be awarded both the AFSM and the MBDM for the same period of qualifying service,” the memo said. NEW VOLUNTARY DEPLOYMENT LETS DOD CIVILIAN WORKERS BACK HOMELAND SECURITY EFFORTS AMID IMMIGRATION CRACKDOWN The Pentagon, per the direction of the president, has established four national defense areas along the border, bolstering U.S. troops’ capacity to assist Customs and Border Protection under the task force. The national defense areas operate under military jurisdiction, paving the way for U.S. troops to detain trespassers. Without placing these stretches of land under military jurisdiction, U.S. troops were barred from doing so under existing federal law. “Through these enhanced authorities, U.S. Northern Command will ensure those who illegally trespass in the New Mexico National Defense Area are handed over to Customs and Border Protection or our other law enforcement partners,” Air Force Gen. Gregory Guillot, commander of U.S. Northern Command, said in a statement in April. “Joint Task Force Southern Border will conduct enhanced detection and monitoring, which will include vehicle and foot patrols, rotary wing and fixed surveillance site operations.”
Illegal immigrant charged for allegedly ramming truck into federal officers in California
A 19-year-old illegal immigrant from Mexico is facing federal charges after prosecutors say he rammed his truck into an agent and government vehicles during an immigration operation in San Diego. The case comes the same week another illegal immigrant, Harjinder Singh, was accused in a Florida crash that killed three people, underscoring renewed scrutiny of Biden-era immigration enforcement. According to an ICE statement, the illegal, Rolando Nava Pacheco, is facing up to 20 years in prison and $250,000 in fines for striking a federal agent and government vehicles in an attempt to flee. FLORIDA OFFICIAL SLAMS CALIFORNIA GOV. GAVIN NEWSOM AFTER DEADLY CRASH INVOLVING ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT DRIVER Homeland Security agents stopped Pacheco during an immigration operation in San Diego for suspected immigration violations on Aug. 11. According to a DOJ statement, after the federal agents identified themselves as law enforcement, Pacheco attempted to flee by accelerating his white truck and striking an agent and a government vehicle. The DOJ statement says the agents “verbally announced themselves as federal agents and requested identification from (the) vehicle’s driver.” “As the white truck recklessly tried to flee the area, a federal agent driving a government vehicle attempted to block the path of the white truck,” the DOJ statement said. As a result, “the driver of the white truck proceeded to strike the federal agent’s vehicle head on.” Pacheco is now facing charges of assault on a federal officer resulting in bodily injury and destruction of federal property. Fox News Digital reached out to Pacheco’s attorney for comment. Patrick Divver, San Diego field office director of ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations, commented that the operation “demonstrates the commitment of ERO officers to enforcing federal immigration laws and protecting public safety. “Despite the challenges encountered, our officers remain dedicated to carrying out their duties with professionalism,” he said. TRUMP EXPANDS DEPORTATION DEALS AS MORE COUNTRIES AGREE TO TAKE MIGRANTS “The arrest of this individual for assaulting our officers or agents underscores our unwavering commitment to safeguarding the safety of law enforcement personnel and holding offenders accountable,” said Homeland Security Investigations San Diego Special Agent in Charge Shawn Gibson. “We will not tolerate violence against law enforcement, and we are resolute in our pursuit of justice,” added Gibson. This comes as another illegal Indian national, Harjinder Singh, is accused of causing a crash in Fort Pierce, Florida, that killed three people. Singh, who crossed into the United States illegally in 2018 via the southern border, obtained a commercial driver’s license in California. He attempted to obtain work authorization, but it was rejected by the first Trump administration on Sept. 14, 2020, according to Tricia McLaughlin, Homeland Security assistant secretary for public affairs. TRUMP DEPORTATION POLICIES SPOOK PENNSYLVANIA CITY INTO SCRAPPING IMMIGRANT PROTECTION VOTE The Department of Transportation said in a statement that Singh failed his English proficiency and road signs tests, “providing correct responses to just 2 of 12 verbal questions and only accurately identifying 1 of 4 highway traffic signs.” According to the DOT, Singh was issued a regular full-term commercial driver’s license in the state of Washington in July 2023, but illegal immigrants are not allowed to obtain this type of license. A year later, Singh was issued a limited-term/non-domiciled commercial driver’s license in California. The DOT is investigating further whether the issuance of that license followed federal regulations. According to a new study by Pew Research, the illegal immigrant population in the United States reached a record 14 million in 2023 under the Biden administration.
Left-wing court hands Kristi Noem big win in ‘unvetted immigration’ case
The reliably liberal Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals on the West Coast handed the Department of Homeland Security a win on Wednesday after a panel of judges ruled to allow DHS to revoke refugee status for illegal immigrants from three key countries. The judges unanimously sided with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who had been sued by a group called the National TPS Alliance over the July revocation of TPS for Honduran, Nicaraguan and Nepalese migrants. Noem’s chief spokeswoman remarked that TPS in its name is supposed to be temporary and made a reference to the “unvetted immigration” aspect of the program. “This is yet another huge legal victory for the Trump administration, the rule of law, safety of the American public. Temporary Protected Status was always meant to be just that: temporary,” Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said. VENEZUELAN MIGRANTS, PROGRESSIVE GROUP SUE TRUMP ADMIN AFTER NOEM NIXES BIDEN-ERA ‘PROTECTED STATUS’ “TPS was never meant to be a de facto asylum system, yet that is how previous administrations have used it for decades while allowing hundreds of thousands of foreigners into the country without proper vetting. This unanimous decision will help restore integrity to our immigration system to keep our homeland and its people safe.” Temporary Protected Status, a formal designation within the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1990, prescribes that people from countries facing armed conflict or environmental disasters may be present in the U.S. for a short time. Such migrants can obtain work and travel authorization and are protected from deportation for as long as the federal government decides. Tens of thousands of migrants collectively depended on that particular granting of TPS. DHS has also worked to revoke a separate designation for Venezuelan migrants. FED COURT OF APPEALS GRANTS TRUMP ADMIN PAUSE ON PROTECTIONS FOR 60K IMMIGRANTS Originally, a lower court in July blunted DHS’ effort to rescind TPS for Nicaraguan, Nepalese and Honduran migrants for a four-month period, so the court could fully investigate the case. The three-judge panel then intervened Wednesday. There are about 60,000 migrants who fall under this particular TPS group, according to CBS News. On Thursday, the American Civil Liberties Union collected several comments from TPS holders from the affected countries, expressing a mix of outrage and worry over the move. “I am heartbroken by the court’s decision. I’ve lived in the U.S. for years, and my kids are U.S. citizens and have never even been to Nepal,” said Sandhya Lama, a Nepalese TPS holder. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP “We are not an ‘emergency.’ We are families, workers and neighbors who have built our lives here. Despite this setback, we will continue to fight for justice. This decision will not silence us. Our voices will be heard.” “I can’t believe that the government wants to rip away my legal status and separate me from my child. I have not been to Honduras since I was a baby,” added Jhony Silva, a Honduran native and plaintiff in the case.
Blue state investigates how illegal immigrant trucker got license before deadly Florida crash
The Washington State Department of Licensing is investigating how an illegal immigrant obtained a commercial driver’s license as questions loom after a deadly crash in Florida that killed three people last Tuesday. The case has reignited debate over state licensing loopholes and immigration enforcement, raising questions about how a noncitizen without legal status could have obtained a commercial driver’s license. “The Department of Licensing is investigating the 2023 issuance of Mr. Singh’s prior commercial driver license. I don’t at this time have a timeline on when the investigation will be completed, nor what we can release,” a spokesperson told Fox News Digital in an email on Thursday. The suspect, Harjinder Singh, entered the United States illegally in 2018 at the southern border, but he was denied authorization to work by the first Trump administration in 2020. Still, he was able to get a commercial driver’s license in California, according to the Department of Homeland Security. EXPERT REVEALS HOW ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT TRUCKER MAY HAVE GOTTEN COMMERCIAL LICENSE BEFORE FATAL FLORIDA CRASH He also got a commercial driver’s license in July 2023 in the state of Washington, which is against the law there, according to the Department of Transportation. The driver allegedly made a U-turn in an area on the Florida Turnpike where such a turn is prohibited, causing his truck to crash with a minivan, killing three people. In addition, he failed an English proficiency assessment and a road sign test done by federal investigators. “During [the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s] interview with the driver, investigators administered an English Language Proficiency (ELP) assessment in accordance with FMCSA guidance,” DOT said in a statement. “The driver failed the assessment, providing correct responses to just 2 of 12 verbal questions and only accurately identifying 1 of 4 highway traffic signs.” The California Department of Motor Vehicles has not responded to requests for comment on the issuance of the license. However, California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom’s press office got into an exchange on X with DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin about the details of how he got a work permit. ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT TRUCKER ACCUSED OF KILLING THREE PEOPLE FAILED ENGLISH, ROAD SIGN TESTS: DOT “Hey, genius: the federal government (TRUMP ADMIN) already confirmed that this guy meets federal and state immigration requirements — YOU issued him a work permit (EAD). As usual, the Trump Administration is either lying or clueless,” Newsom’s press office posted earlier this week. “False. Harjinder Singh is in the United States illegally and his work authorization was rejected under the Trump Administration on September 14, 2020. It was later approved under the Biden Administration June 9, 2021. The state of California issues Commercial Drivers Licenses. There is no national CDL. Sincerely, Genius,” McLaughlin replied. CLICK HERE FOR MORE IMMIGRATION COVERAGE Singh was extradited to Florida from California on Thursday. There’s been concerns in other states about illegal immigrants being issued standard driver’s licenses as well, including allegations from a whistleblower in Kentucky alleging that people would pay under the table to obtain the licenses illegally. ILLEGAL ALIEN ACCUSED OF CAUSING FATAL SEMI TRUCK CRASH THAT KILLED 3 PEOPLE: ‘SHOCKING AND CRIMINAL’ Lora Ries, director of the Border Security and Immigration Center at The Heritage Foundation, told Fox News Digital on Wednesday about how Singh’s case could happen in the first place. “Just as states issue driver’s licenses, they also issue commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs). States are not supposed to issue CDLs to a person unless they are a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident (green card holder). There seems to be a loophole for a state to issue a CDL to someone who is merely authorized to work in the U.S.,” Ries explained in a statement. “Note that the Trump (45) administration denied Harjinder Singh’s application for work authorization, but the Biden administration later granted his request. That could be enough to exploit this CDL loophole in a willing state.”
Florida official confronts Newsom over crash tied to illegal immigrant trucker
Florida Lt. Gov. Jay Collins on Thursday blamed California Gov. Gavin Newsom for the deaths of three Floridians, allegedly caused when an illegal immigrant trucker who obtained a CDL in California made an illegal U-turn on Florida’s Turnpike and struck a van. Collins declared his visit to California “isn’t business as usual” as he prepared to depart for Tallahassee with Indian national Harjinder Singh in tow. Collins claimed Newsom is the culprit for systemic issues, particularly on the illegal immigration front, that he said led to Singh wrecking in St. Lucie County Aug. 12. “I don’t want to be here today. We’re here today because of tragedy. Three Floridians’ lives ended early. “Three lives lost because of Gavin Newsom, because of California’s failed policies. We’re done with that s—.” DESANTIS: STATE LINE WON’T PROTECT CRIMINAL ILLEGALS; SENDS ‘CHUCK NORRIS’ DEPUTY TO NAB FUGITIVE TRUCKER Collins said Singh illegally crossed the border, got a CDL in California and later could only answer three of 16 questions properly due to English illiteracy when he was interrogated by Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) following the deadly crash. “That thug fled back here because he knew these policies would defend him.” Collins spoke of allegations against Singh in the broader context of illegal immigrants putting citizens in danger. “How many more lives have to be lost because of Gavin Newsom’s failed policies? How many more lives have to be lost because of fentanyl, because of gangs, because of rampant disregard for American citizens?” Collins said. “The fact of the matter is Gavin Newsom continues to care more about tweets and what goes out on social media than taking care of the American citizens and the citizens of California.” In recent days, Newsom’s press office’s official X feed has mimicked the “ALL CAPS,” stream-of-consciousness style and at times verbiage — like “your favorite governor” — of President Donald Trump’s Truth Social posts. Newsom returned fire on X, with his press office’s account claiming Florida “let a murder suspect walk.” “California police had to step in and arrest him, and now Florida’s new LG is staging a photo op to pick him up.” In comments to Fox News Digital, Newsom spokeswoman Diana Crofts-Pelayo rejected Collins’ claims. “So, let’s get this straight: Florida let a murder suspect walk, California police had to step in and arrest him and now Florida’s new LG is staging a photo op to pick him up?” Crofts-Pelayo said. ILLEGAL TRUCKER ‘DEPORTED HIMSELF TO CA,’ LAWMAKER SAYS, WHILE REVEALING SYSTEMIC CRISIS IN TRANSPORTATION “The guy who lost to Mickey Mouse is now proving that California’s so-called ‘sanctuary’ laws actually work. Thanks, Ron,” Crofts-Pelayo said. Newsom’s account went on to call DeSantis “Meatball Ron” and claim he “lost to Mickey Mouse” in an apparent reference to the battle over the “Reedy Creek Improvement District” in which Walt Disney World sits. The district has special authorizations to self-govern in some ways, including maintaining its own highway network. “[DeSantis] is now proving that California’s so-called ‘sanctuary’ laws actually work. Thanks, Governor.” Collins, whom Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis dubbed “The Chuck Norris of Florida Politics” for his eagerness to go into dangerous or tenuous situations like retrieving Singh as well as Jewish Americans trapped in Israel after the 2023 Hamas attack, said he was out of his element in the Golden State but undeterred from the mission at hand. “This isn’t politics as usual. I am not your run-of-the-mill lieutenant governor,” Collins told reporters at Stockton Airport, south of Sacramento. “In the words of what I would say, some left-leaning Californians, I don’t identify as a politician. I identify as a God-fearing, gun-loving, freedom-defending, one-legged, retired Green Beret,” said Collins, a former Tampa state senator who lost his leg in the War on Terror. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Collins claimed Newsom had said he only came to California for the media attention. “What a bunch of hogwash. I don’t think he understands the first thing about leadership. Leadership is getting on the ground and saying the hard things,” Collins said, quipping California is not a Florida Republican’s “home turf.”
Social media erupts after illegal immigrant screams during viral DC arrest: ‘What I voted for’
Social media erupted on Wednesday and Thursday after an illegal immigrant was arrested in Washington, D.C., on child sex crime charges in a video that’s gone viral. Mexican national David Perez-Teofani exited his vehicle when officers approached him, and he was tackled when he tried to make a break for it, according to the video from an NBC Washington reporter. In the video, he’s heard yelling in Spanish while being held on the ground. ICE LODGES DETAINER AGAINST ILLEGAL MIGRANT CHARGED WITH KIDNAPPING, SEXUALLY ASSAULTING NEIGHBOR IN TEXAS Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin explained what happened, saying the individual allegedly entered the country illegally three times, had a final order of removal and was arrested in Fairfax County in January. “Yes this illegal alien from Mexico was previously arrested in January 2024 in Fairfax County for aggravated sexual assault of a child under 13. Glad he is off of Washington DC’s streets thanks to [President] Trump, [Noem] and [ICE],” she posted to X. The video made rounds on the app with a wide range of reactions. “Turns out he IS a criminal…,” actor Dean Cain, who recently announced he’s joining ICE, posted on X. DHS SCOOPS UP TRANS ILLEGAL ALIEN CHARGED WITH HEINOUS CRIME ON CHILD IN SANCTUARY CITY: ‘WORST OF THE WORST’ “Are we supposed to be offended by this? He entered the country illegally three times. When he tried to flee, he was subdued with reasonable force. Seems like textbook law enforcement,” lawyer Matt Martens wrote. CLICK HERE FOR MORE IMMIGRATION COVERAGE “Every time,” lawyer Payton Alexander posted with an image showing the charges. “He’s an illegal alien from Mexico who was previously arrested in January 2024 in Fairfax County for aggravated sexual assault of a child under 13. So yes, this is what I voted for,” White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson wrote. DHS ARRESTS FIVE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS CONVICTED OF SERIOUS CRIMES, INCLUDING MURDER AND CHILD ABUSE On the flip side, others expressed concerns with the clip, perhaps before knowing the additional context. “Also curious on what grounds they approached him in the first place,” one user wrote. “Fascism is here, folks. We have arrived. This is no longer a cautionary tale or a fate we can avoid. We are a fascist state,” “On Democracy” podcast host Fred Wellman wrote. “I do wonder how the images of people screaming and crying out that they just want to work and take care of their families, while being tackled and dragged away by masked men comport with anybody’s vision of a safer city. Unusual times,” another user posted. Many of the arrests in the nation’s capital have been immigration-related since the federal takeover was announced earlier this month. “We’ve now made a total of 630 arrests and seized 86 illegal guns in DC. 53 arrests were made yesterday, plus 24 ICE arrests and 10 guns taken off the streets. Our incredible [U.S. Marshals Service] even helped recover a missing child. Our mission to make DC safe again isn’t slowing down,” Attorney General Pam Bondi tweeted on Thursday.
Federal judge rules Trump appointee Alina Habba is unlawfully serving as US attorney
A judge on Thursday found that Alina Habba was unlawfully serving in the role of acting U.S. attorney of New Jersey after President Donald Trump sidestepped typical processes to keep her in charge. Judge Matthew Brann said Habba has not been the rightful temporary U.S. attorney for New Jersey since July 1, a ruling that follows two criminal defendants in New Jersey challenging her appointment in court, alleging it was unconstitutional. “Faced with the question of whether Ms. Habba is lawfully performing the functions and duties of the office of the United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey, I conclude that she is not,” Brann wrote in a 77-page order. JUDGE TO DECIDE ALINA HABBA’S FATE AS US ATTORNEY IN NEW JERSEY Habba, Trump’s former personal defense lawyer, had been serving as interim U.S. attorney, but when her term expired last month, Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi used loopholes in federal vacancy laws to install her as “acting” rather than “interim” U.S. attorney. One of the defendants in the district, Julien Giraud, alleged that the moves violated his constitutional rights because of the string of unconventional actions it took to attempt to keep Habba in the role. TRUMP STANDS BY ALINA HABBA AS DOJ CLASHES WITH JUDGES OVER HER REPLACEMENT Brann, an Obama appointee serving in the Middle District of Pennsylvania, agreed and found Habba could not prosecute Giraud or another defendant who challenged Habba’s position. The judges said the criminal cases could proceed in the court district, just not under Habba’s purview. Brann is presiding over the matter after the chief judge of the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, which covers New Jersey and Pennsylvania, decided the case presented too much of a conflict for New Jersey’s federal judges. Last month, the New Jersey judges made the rare decision to decline to extend Habba’s term and instead appointed career attorney Desiree Grace to the job. Trump and Bondi fired Grace, withdrew Habba’s nomination as permanent U.S. attorney and then reinstated Habba as acting U.S. attorney, which they said kept Habba in charge for at least another 210 days under federal statute. TRUMP APPOINTS HABBA AS ‘ACTING’ ATTORNEY AFTER JUDGES OUSTED HER Brann said his ruling effectively disqualified Habba from prosecuting the two defendants’ cases and that her signatures on court filings were invalid, opening the floodgates for other defendants in New Jersey to object to Habba prosecuting them as well. The judge said his ruling would not take effect until the Trump administration had an opportunity to appeal. Spokespeople for Habba and the DOJ did not respond to a request for comment. Brann’s ruling comes against the backdrop of Trump and Bondi using similar maneuvers to keep the president’s preferred appointees as head prosecutors of court districts in blue states, including in California and New York, where the appointees are struggling to find paths to Senate confirmation. Brann said the Trump administration improperly flouted the Federal Vacancies Reform Act by exploiting its loopholes in Habba’s case. “A statutory interpretation that opens a gaping loophole in this tightly crafted scheme meant to provide only limited flexibility and prevent ‘manipulation’ flies in the face of the goal that Congress was trying to accomplish,” Brann wrote. “Although clearer text could require such a result, the Government’s arguments reaching such a conclusion through vague implication must fail.”
Trump’s tariff revenue has skyrocketed in just a few months, soaring past 2024 levels
President Donald Trump has long touted tariffs as a key source of government revenue, and within just a few months of their implementation, billions of dollars have already flowed into federal coffers. The U.S. collected more than $29 billion in tariff revenues in July, the highest monthly total this year. According to the Treasury Department’s latest “Customs and Certain Excise Taxes” data, released on Aug. 19, total tariff revenues have reached $158.3 billion for the fiscal year. BESSENT SAYS TARIFF REVENUE COULD HELP PAY DOWN THE NATION’S $37.2T DEBT The revelation comes on the heels of Trump’s sweeping tariffs on imported goods – duties paid by U.S. businesses to the federal government but often passed on to consumers through higher prices. Tariff revenues rose steadily from approximately $17.4 billion in April to $23.9 billion in May, before climbing to $28 billion in June and peaking to a cool $29.6 billion in July. At the current pace, the U.S. could collect as much tariff revenue in just four to five months as it did over the entire previous year. TRUMP CALLS TARIFF WINDFALL ‘SO BEAUTIFUL TO SEE’ AS CASH SAILS IN On Tuesday, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said he anticipates revising this year’s tariff revenue estimate above the previous $300 billion projection. While he did not offer a new forecast, he emphasized the total would be “substantially” higher. Bessent also said that the White House is considering the possibility of using some of the tariff revenue to address the nation’s surging debt, adding in a CNBC interview that he and Trump are “laser-focused on paying down the debt.” The nation’s debt, which is the amount of money the U.S. owes its creditors, is nearing $37.2 trillion as of Aug. 20, according to the Treasury Department. The staggering figure has intensified the long-standing debate in Washington over government spending, taxation and efforts to rein in the ballooning deficit. “I think that we’re going to bring down the deficit-to-GDP, we will start paying down debt, and then at a point that can be used as an offset for the American people,” he said of the tariff revenues.
Trump deportation policies spook Pennsylvania city into scrapping immigrant protection vote
President Donald Trump’s mass-deportation crackdown spooked leaders in at least one Democratic-majority east coast city, as its mayor and city council suddenly removed a scheduled vote on approving a “Welcoming City” ordinance from this month’s agenda. Mayor Sal Panto Jr., of Easton, Pa., a moderate Democrat, moved to strike the ordinance vote from the agenda, with all but its sponsor, Councilwoman Taiba Sultana, backing the move, according to Lehigh Valley News. One member was absent. The ordinance would have given the city – 80 miles west of New York City and 60 miles north of Philadelphia – a designation shared by Chicago, where leaders use the term “welcoming city” instead of the more politically charged “sanctuary city.” BOSTON’S WU FIRES BACK AT BONDI, CITING REVOLUTION, AS OTHER CITIES SLAM FEDS OVER ‘SANCTUARY’ WARNINGS Sultana told Fox News Digital on Wednesday that values should come first and lamented the decision. “The Council’s decision stemmed from a place of pragmatism rather than principle … But the majority felt that formally adopting the ‘Welcoming City’ bill now would effectively paint a target on our city – a target for an administration that has demonstrated a willingness to weaponize federal funds against political adversaries,” she said. In recent weeks, Attorney General Pam Bondi has threatened civil action and withholding of federal funding from sanctuary cities or municipalities that do not align with federal immigration law – and Easton leaders didn’t want that kind of attention. “This threat, while legally dubious, is very real. It jeopardizes the critical funding that our residents, including our undocumented neighbors who contribute immensely to our economy, depend on for essential services like education and public safety,” Sultana said. POPULAR PA DEMOCRATIC MAYOR WARNS TRUMP IS OUT-MESSAGING HARRIS: ‘I GET MORE FROM COLBERT’ Easton isn’t alone in weighing its options. Other Lehigh Valley cities have faced similar debates. In February, neighboring Bethlehem also decided against passing a similar ordinance, as the Christmas City’s Democratic mayor convinced city council against it. “We acknowledge that while many cities are seeking to respond to the recent threats of deportation by creating a ‘welcoming ordinance’… in fact many of these practices have been in place for years,” Mayor J. William Reynolds said at the time. Allentown – Pennsylvania’s third-largest city – went the other direction, codifying a longstanding policy barring local resources from being used to enforce federal immigration law. One councilman said the vote did not create a “sanctuary” but presented a “guiding light [to] know where we stand and… what we can and cannot do.” Councilman Frank Pintabone told Lehigh Valley News the “Welcoming City” ordinance sought to “fix a problem that doesn’t exist,” pointing to much heavier ICE activity in Allentown versus only two detentions so far in Easton. Panto said Easton remains a “welcoming city” in a proverbial sense and doesn’t need such a moniker: “We welcomed every immigrant. I think our record shows that.” CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP A GOP official in Northampton County — whose parents immigrated legally to Easton from Cuba and Austria — criticized the idea of a “Welcoming City” or sanctuary ordinance, noting that his family already felt welcomed when they arrived. The official told Fox News Digital his father came to Easton in 1959, returned briefly to Cuba to see Fidel Castro overthrow the government and decided, “I’m getting the h–l out of here.”