Afghan withdrawal refugees had ‘free rein’ on US bases in 2021, sources said, leaving in Ubers untracked
The tragic Wednesday shooting of two West Virginia National Guardsmen in Washington, and President Donald Trump’s call to reexamine green card holders from “countries of concern” including Afghanistan, was predated by a warning from Fox News host Laura Ingraham about the Biden administration’s announcement amid the withdrawal that they were vetting evacuees on the “back end.” The identification of a suspect has raised concerns again about the chaotic 2021 Kabul evacuation and previous reports of misconduct by evacuees on U.S. military bases. Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29, originally of Afghanistan and once part of a CIA-linked team fighting the Taliban, was identified as the main suspect in the shooting, which has since claimed the life of West Virginia National Guard Spc. Sarah Beckstrom of Nicholas County, West Virginia. On Friday, “Ingraham Angle” host Laura Ingraham told Fox News Digital she and other conservatives have been sounding the alarm on failures of Biden-era vetting following the withdrawal ever since the Fox News host exclusively broke the story in September 2021 that members of Congress brought concerns over chaos at Army bases holding refugees directly to the State Department. TRUMP ORDER PUTS THOUSANDS OF AFGHAN ALLIES WAITING FOR US RESETTLEMENT IN LIMBO “Soon after the Biden administration’s disastrous withdrawal, it was obvious that their intent was to bring as many Afghans into the U.S. as possible,” Ingraham wrote in an email Friday. “Conservatives, including myself, raised serious concerns about the cost, the difficulty of assimilation and potential threats posed to no avail,” she said. “The Biden team didn’t care. “We kept hearing, ‘But we promised,’ — Americans didn’t promise anything — and they shouldn’t be forced to keep paying for previous presidents’ horrendous mistakes.” In September 2021, Ingraham reported exclusively that a top Republican demanded answers from then-Secretary of State Antony Blinken over the reports out of Fort Pickett in Blackstone, Virginia, depicting chaos and unvetted, unaccounted for evacuees. As Ingraham pointed out, Blinken had said the State Department tried to “get as many people out as fast as we can, while we had the airport functioning. We focused on doing just that, and we’re doing accountings on the back end as people arrive in the United States.” “That’s your Secretary of State admitting that he didn’t care about vetting these folks before we brought them to U.S. Soil,” Ingraham said at the time. “And if you thought they would be securely held on US military bases, well, think again.” Then-Rep. Mark Green of Tennessee exclusively provided Ingraham with a letter he wrote demanding answers from Blinken. “I’ve recently been made aware from someone at Fort Pickett, Virginia, that Afghan evacuees basically have free rein of the complex and have even been allowed to leave, despite not having completed the vetting process,” Green wrote. VETERANS GROUPS URGE TRUMP ADMIN TO CONTINUE AFGHAN ALLY SUPPORT PROGRAM AMID BUDGET CUT CONCERNS “My sources made shocking allegations, including multiple incidents of sexual assault and several evacuees have been picked up by Uber drivers without any permission from authorities or being cleared to leave.” Green called upon his own combat service in Afghanistan as an Army special operations flight surgeon to request confirmation or denial of the allegations made by the source, telling Blinken the reports pose an obvious national security risk. At the time, Ingraham contrasted Green’s letter with Blinken’s public statements. During a news conference at the time, Blinken said that in the administration’s effort to get “as many people out (of Afghanistan) as fast as we can, while we had the (Hamid Karzai) Airport functioning, we focused on doing just that. DEMS’ RESPONSE TO ISIS LEADER ARREST ‘DISTURBING,’ SAYS FATHER OF MARINE KILLED AT ABBEY GATE “We’re doing accountings on the back end as people arrive in the United States,” Blinken told reporters at the time. “If you thought they would be securely held on U.S. military bases, think again,” Ingraham said of Green’s revelation. DOZENS OF HOUSE LAWMAKERS RALLY AROUND FUNDING AFGHAN VISA PROGRAM AS TRUMP VOWS MAJOR SPENDING CUTS Ingraham added Friday in comments to Fox News Digital that Afghan evacuees from Biden’s withdrawal not only come from a culture hostile to Western values, but they are often “all too dependent on the U.S. taxpayers to support them and their families.” “This must end — (it’s) yet another calamitous Biden mistake President Trump is forced to address,” she said. In his discussion with Ingraham after the withdrawal, Green, a member of and later chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee who left public life earlier in 2025, said he was hearing similar reports from bases beyond Fort Pickett, Virginia. NAVAL OFFICER SENTENCED IN AFGHAN SIV BRIBERY SCHEME AMID SCRUTINY OF VISA PROGRAM AFTER TERROR PLOT EXPOSED “DOD is getting its directions on how to handle these situations by the State Department,” Green claimed. “And the State Department is failing to give them adequate information. They’re letting them leave. They can catch an Uber and actually leave the base. They don’t know exactly how many are even there. “So, they can’t account for someone if they don’t return.” Green said officials warned evacuees that if they leave the base their visa processing would stop but that such a warning appeared to have little effect on those who may have left. JD VANCE CLASHES WITH CBS ANCHOR OVER UNVETTED REFUGEES: ‘I DON’T WANT THAT PERSON IN MY COUNTRY’ “Then you get the shocking allegations of harassment and sexual assault, and it’s just horrific,” he said. At the time, Ingraham reported many of the evacuees on the planes out of Kabul came with no personal documentation at all, and she questioned how any “vetting” could be done of people who couldn’t begin to prove their own identity. When contacted by Fox News at the time, the Biden State Department said, as a general rule, it did not comment on communications with Congress. HEGSETH ORDERS PENTAGON TO LAUNCH COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW INTO ‘CATASTROPHIC’ 2021 AFGHANISTAN WITHDRAWAL Alejandro Mayorkas, Homeland Security Secretary at the time, told CBS News that
Trump rips former VP candidate on immigration: ‘Tim Walz does nothing, through fear, incompetence, or both’
President Donald Trump on Thursday slammed Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, calling him “seriously r——d” and accusing the governor of failing to address crime and immigration concerns in the blue state. In a lengthy Truth Social post, Trump argued that immigration is fueling crime nationwide and straining public services. He pointed to Minnesota as a prime example, claiming that “Somalian gangs are roving the streets” of what he described as a “once great state.” “A very Happy Thanksgiving salutation to all of our Great American Citizens and Patriots who have been so nice in allowing our Country to be divided, disrupted, carved up, murdered, beaten, mugged, and laughed at, along with certain other foolish countries throughout the World, for being ‘Politically Correct,’ and just plain STUPID, when it comes to Immigration,” Trump said. WHITE HOUSE RIPS ‘IMBECILIC BUFFOON’ TIM WALZ AFTER TRUMP TARIFF CRITICISM Trump said the nation’s 53 million foreign-born residents are largely “on welfare, from failed nations, or from prisons, mental institutions, gangs, or drug cartels” and argued that American taxpayers are being forced to shoulder the cost. He further claimed that a migrant earning $30,000 with a green card receives “roughly $50,000 in yearly benefits for their family.” “This refugee burden is the leading cause of social dysfunction in America,” Trump said, blaming it for issues including crime, urban decline, overcrowded hospitals, housing shortages and growing deficits. Trump pointed to Minnesota, alleging that “hundreds of thousands of refugees from Somalia are completely taking over” the state and claiming that Governor Walz “does nothing” in response. “Somalian gangs are roving the streets looking for ‘prey’ as our wonderful people stay locked in their apartments and houses hoping against hope that they will be left alone,” Trump said. “The seriously r——d Governor of Minnesota, Tim Walz, does nothing, either through fear, incompetence, or both.” 5 TIMES DEMOCRATS BLASTED ICE WITH HARSH RHETORIC Walz responded on X to a screenshot of the Truth Social post, writing: “Release the MRI results.” Indiana state Senator Michael Bohacek, who has a daughter with Down syndrome, condemned Trump’s language as “insulting and derogatory,” saying the president’s “words have consequences.” “I have been an unapologetic advocate for people with intellectual disabilities since the birth of my second daughter,” Bohacek said. “… This is not the first time our president has used these insulting and derogatory references and his choices of words have consequences. I will be voting NO on redistricting, perhaps he can use the next 10 months to convince voters that his policies and behavior deserve a congressional majority.” In the post, Trump also targeted Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn, calling her the “worst congressman/woman in our Country.” “Ilhan Omar, always wrapped in her swaddling hijab, and who probably came into the U.S.A. illegally in that you are not allowed to marry your brother, does nothing but hatefully complain about our Country, its Constitution, and how ‘badly’ she is treated, when her place of origin is a decadent, backward, and crime ridden nation, which is essentially not even a country for lack of Government, Military, Police, schools, etc,” Trump said. WALZ REPEATS DEBUNKED CLAIM THAT TRUMP CONSIDERS WHITE HOUSE BALLROOM ‘TOP PRIORITY’ The comments follow shortly after the Thanksgiving Eve shooting in Washington, D.C., that left one West Virginia National Guard member dead and another clinging to his life. The suspect, Rahmahullah Lakanwal, is an Afghan national who reportedly worked with a CIA-operated unit that fought the Taliban on America’s behalf, Fox News Digital confirmed, which helped evacuate people during the fall of Kabul under then-President Joe Biden. The White House, Governor Walz and Rep. Omar did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment. Fox News Digital’s Charles Creitz contributed to this report.
Where the Trump admin’s court fight over National Guard in DC stands in wake of shooting
The Trump administration is fighting with Washington, D.C., over whether it is legally allowed to deploy hundreds of National Guard members in the nation’s capital as part of a monthslong battle, certain to come under heightened scrutiny in the aftermath of Wednesday’s attack on two soldiers. The dispute has risen to the appeals court level, where the Department of Justice (DOJ) asked the court recently to intervene and put a hold on U.S. District Judge Jia Cobb’s order blocking the administration from using the National Guard. Cobb’s order, issued Nov. 20, was not set to go into effect until mid-December to give the DOJ a chance to challenge it. The DOJ appealed the order Tuesday, one day prior to the attack. A DOJ spokesperson confirmed to Fox News Digital Friday that the department is pressing forward with the appeal — the latest sign that the administration is not backing down from its decision to use the National Guard forces as part of its nationwide crackdown on illegal immigration and crime. OFFICIALS ID WOUNDED NATIONAL GUARD MEMBERS ON JOB LESS THAN 24 HOURS BEFORE DC AMBUSH AS PROBE INTENSIFIES The court fight comes as two members of the West Virginia National Guard were shot Wednesday afternoon near the White House. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro said the suspect, an Afghan national named Rahmanullah Lakanwal who once assisted the CIA overseas, will face at least one charge of first-degree murder. Lakanwal allegedly ambushed Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and Andrew Wolfe, 24, in a targeted attack that President Donald Trump described as an “act of terror.” Beckstrom died of her injuries, while Wolfe remained in critical condition Friday, authorities said. In response to the incident, Trump said he ordered another 500 National Guard members to be deployed to Washington. “We will not be deterred from the mission the service members were so nobly fulfilling,” Trump said of his decision to mobilize the additional troops, adding, “We will make America totally safe again.” The administration has indicated that it plans to maintain a National Guard presence in the District of Columbia through at least February. A three-judge panel is handling the Trump administration’s appeal of Cobb’s order. The panel, which comprises two Trump appointees and one Obama appointee, has ordered parties in the case to submit arguments to the court by Wednesday. The panel could decide whether to block Cobb’s order and continue allowing use of the National Guard in Washington anytime thereafter. DEM STRATEGIST SAYS ADDING 500 NATIONAL GUARD TROOPS IN DC WOULD CREATE ‘MORE TARGETS’ Lawyers have argued on behalf of Washington that the Trump administration encroached on the District’s sovereignty by creating a “federal military police force” out of what amounted to more than 2,000 D.C. and out-of-state National Guard members. The lawyers said that Washington leaders opposed the presence of the troops and that it “inflamed tensions” and diverted resources from the local police department. They said the out-of-state National Guard forces particularly were problematic because states cannot interfere with the District, which is governed by a unique set of federal statutes. DOJ attorneys countered that the deployment was “plainly lawful” and said the troops were not engaging in arrests or searches, but rather in deterrence by simply patrolling areas undermanned by police and making temporary detentions as needed. “The results speak for themselves,” the attorneys wrote. “The deployment has been a part of a broader federal-local effort between federal agencies and the D.C. Mayor’s office to safeguard the public from violent crime. The success of that coordination is undeniable.” The Trump administration also has attempted to deploy National Guard members in Illinois and Portland but state and local leaders resisted, leading to lawsuits, including one that is now pending before the Supreme Court.
Slotkin goes silent when pressed on past Trump guard ‘shooting’ claims after DC attack
Sen. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., remained silent Friday when asked about previous statements she made suggesting that government officials should be prepared to push back on President Donald Trump if he ordered the military to fire on civilians. Slotkin and other Democrats now face a reversal of those worries as the country reels from a shooting Wednesday that left one National Guard member dead and another in critical condition in Washington. Her office did not respond to multiple requests for comment. VIRGINIA DEM SAYS TRUMP ADMIN HAS ‘TAKEN ITS EYE OFF THE BALL’ ON PUBLIC SAFETY AMID NATIONAL GUARD SHOOTING Slotkin’s alarm about the National Guard and other federal troops originally stemmed from comments Trump allegedly made to former Secretary of Defense Mark Esper during Trump’s first term. “The president in the last administration asked then-secretary (Mark) Esper to send in the 82 Airborne into Washington, D.C. to try to quell peaceful protests here in the city. And he said, if necessary, can’t you just ‘shoot at their legs?’” Slotkin said during a January committee hearing. Esper recorded those quotes as part of the administration’s considerations of how to respond to protests over the death of George Floyd. Floyd’s 2020 killing by a Minneapolis police officer sparked nationwide protests and ignited the Black Lives Matter movement. The quotes were included in Esper’s book, “A Sacred Oath,” a highly critical memoir of the first Trump administration. Trump has denied ever making the statement. FORMER ARMY CAPTAIN WARNS DEMS’ ‘UNPATRIOTIC’ VIDEO TELLING TROOPS TO DEFY ORDERS COULD SPARK CHAOS The statements Trump allegedly made to Esper — and other questions about Trump’s use of federal troops — prompted Slotkin and six other Democrat lawmakers to release a video earlier in November, calling for service members to “not give up the ship.” In it, they urged members of the military and intelligence community to disregard illegal orders. “The threats to our Constitution aren’t just coming from abroad but from right here at home,” the lawmakers said in the video. “Our laws are clear: You can refuse illegal orders. You must refuse illegal orders. No one has to carry out orders that violate the law or our Constitution.” When asked what they meant by illegal acts, several lawmakers pointed to Trump’s comments about shooting protesters in the legs, an act that they said would go against the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Besides Slotkin, Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz.; Rep. Jason Crow, D-Colo.; Rep. Chris Deluzio, D-Pa.; Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, D-Pa.; and Rep. Maggie Goodlander, D-N.H., also appeared in the video. DEMOCRATIC SENATOR ‘NOT AWARE’ IF TRUMP GAVE ANY ILLEGAL MILITARY ORDERS AMID VIDEO CONTROVERSY Wednesday’s shooter’s motives remain unclear. The FBI has identified him as 29-year-old Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a former member of a counterterrorism team in Afghanistan. He is in custody and faces first-degree murder charges. The bureau has described his attack as targeted and is investigating it as an act of terrorism.
War Secretary Pete Hegseth spends Thanksgiving with US troops in Latin America: ‘We are grateful for you’
War Secretary Pete Hegseth spent Thanksgiving with Navy sailors stationed in the Latin American region, serving holiday meals and sharing a message of gratitude for their service. In a video posted to X, Pete Hegseth and his wife, Jennifer, said they chose to spend the holiday aboard Navy warships with sailors supporting Southern Spear, a mission targeting narco-terror networks across Latin America. “I was deployed three times — was always thinking about my family and hoped they were gathering with food and football and all those things,” Pete Hegseth said. “These folks won’t be. We’re going to bring them maybe a turkey and a little bit of cheer.” The war secretary also addressed Wednesday’s attack that targeted two Washington, D.C., National Guardsmen, offering prayers for the victims and their families. PETE HEGSETH MAKES HOMELAND SECURITY TOP MISSION IN FIRST INTERVIEW AS SECRETARY OF WAR “Our minds are also in Washington, D.C., with the two great Americans who were ambushed and targeted,” Pete Hegseth said. “And we’re prayerful for them, for all those around them, for their families.” The Hegseths visited both the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford and the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Winston S. Churchill, according to the Department of War. In another video posted to X, the Hegseths were seen serving Thanksgiving plates to sailors. “I give out too much candy at Halloween and too much turkey on Thanksgiving,” Pete Hegseth joked. HEGSETH TELLS TROOPS TO RESIGN IF THEY OPPOSE HIS PLAN TO SCRAP ‘WOKE’ POLICIES AND RESTORE WARRIOR ETHOS Aboard the USS Gerald R. Ford, the war secretary delivered an address to the crew. “Happy Thanksgiving from me, the Secretary of War. Happy Thanksgiving from the President of the United States. Happy Thanksgiving from a grateful nation,” Pete Hegseth said. He again referenced the Guardsmen, calling them a reminder of “the bravery and the selflessness of Americans who put it all on the line.” HEGSETH RIPS MARK KELLY’S POST ABOUT HIS SERVICE: ‘YOU CAN’T EVEN DISPLAY YOUR UNIFORM CORRECTLY’ “Whether it’s in our nation’s capital, walking patrol, or whether it’s in our nation’s hemisphere, out at sea, interdicting cartels, defending the American people — we are grateful for you,” Pete Hegseth said. He added, “So on this Thanksgiving, on behalf of my wife and I, Jennifer, who is here with me as well and will meet many of you, we simply say thank you, our deepest gratitude, and we renew how committed we are to you and your families.” The war secretary closed with George Washington’s 1789 Thanksgiving Proclamation and added a prayer for all deployed forces. “Godspeed, God bless, you are in our prayers, and we are grateful. Thank you. Thank you very much.”
Trump says US will begin stopping Venezuelan drug traffickers by land: ‘Going to start very soon’
President Trump on Thursday said the U.S. will “very soon” begin stopping suspected Venezuelan drug traffickers “by land.” Speaking to U.S. service members on Thanksgiving, Trump praised the U.S. Air Force’s 7th Bomb Wing at Dyess Air Force Base in Abilene, Texas, and their efforts to deter Venezuelan drug networks. “In recent weeks, you’ve been working to deter Venezuelan drug traffickers, of which there are many,” Trump said. “Of course, there aren’t too many coming in by sea anymore. Have you probably noticed that?” The president noted that drug traffickers are killing “hundreds of thousands of people a year” in the U.S. from the “poisons” that they bring in. US TROOPS IN VENEZUELA? TRUMP HINTS MAJOR MOVES POSSIBLE AS TENSIONS SOAR “From sending their poisons into the United States, where they kill hundreds of thousands of people a year — but we’re going to take care of that situation,” Trump said. “We’re already doing a lot… It’s about 85% stopped by sea.” The president added, “You probably noticed that now people aren’t wanting to be delivering by sea, and we’ll be starting to stop them by land also. The land is easier, but that’s going to start very soon.” “We warn them, ‘stop sending poison to our country’,” Trump said. US MILITARY KILLS 2 SUSPECTED NARCO-TERRORISTS IN 16TH EASTERN PACIFIC STRIKE, HEGSETH SAYS Earlier this month, Trump said he was not ruling out sending U.S. ground troops into Venezuela amid his administration’s crackdown on criminal networks tied to the country’s top leadership and drugs that are exported from it. “No, I don’t rule out that, I don’t rule out anything,” Trump said Nov. 17 when asked if he had ruled out sending U.S. troops to Venezuela. US CARRIES OUT MORE ‘LETHAL’ STRIKES ON ALLEGED DRUG BOATS IN INTERNATIONAL WATERS, SECRETARY HEGSETH SAYS Since early September, strikes across the Eastern Pacific and Caribbean have destroyed dozens of vessels, many tied to Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua gang and Colombia’s Ejército de Liberación Nacional. The administration has since carried out at least 21 fatal strikes on the boats. The White House did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment. Fox News Digital’s Greg Wehner and Emma Colton contributed to this report.
DHS moves to cut off South Texas Catholic Charities over migrant grant ‘misconduct,’ documents say
EXCLUSIVE – Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley – the South Texas nonprofit long known for its migrant shelter run by Sister Norma Pimentel – has been suspended from receiving federal funds and now faces a rare six-year debarment after a Department of Homeland Security investigation found major grant violations, according to internal Department of Homeland Security (DHS) documents shared exclusively with Fox News Digital. The action, taken by FEMA on behalf of DHS on Nov. 19-20, follows months of warnings and data reviews that auditors say uncovered sweeping inaccuracies, large gaps in migrant records and significant billing outside federally allowed timeframes. The suspension applies only to this South Texas affiliate, not to Catholic Charities USA or any other Catholic Charities chapters nationwide. In a formal Notice of Suspension and Proposed Debarment, DHS officials accused the organization of submitting migrant data so inconsistent the agency could not verify whether many of the people it reported serving had ever appeared in DHS databases. BORDER CZAR TOM HOMAN SLAMS CATHOLIC CHURCH, SAYS ‘SECURE BORDER SAVES LIVES’ Investigators also alleged at least 248 instances in which the nonprofit billed the government for services outside the 45-day window federal rules allow for migrants released from DHS custody. FEMA concluded the group provided assurances that its spreadsheets were accurate and compliant, statements the agency said were “false” or “not entirely truthful,” according to the documents. The proposed punishment is unusually severe. While federal debarments typically run three years, DHS is seeking a six-year ban due to what it describes as a pattern of “pervasive” problems that spanned multiple programs and multiple years. LAWYERS CHALLENGE DEPORTATION OF HUNDREDS OF MINORS TO GUATEMALA If finalized, the designation would cut the organization off from most federal funding streams and flag it in the government-wide System for Award Management, warning agencies and pass-through partners not to issue new grants. Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley (CCRGV) now has 30 days to respond, submit documentation or request a meeting to argue it remains “presently responsible.” If it does not, the six-year ban would likely go into effect. The DHS findings center heavily on migrant intake data the nonprofit submitted to justify millions of dollars in payments through FEMA’s Emergency Food and Shelter-Humanitarian program (EFSP-H) and its newer Shelter Services Program. FEMA said it asked the group to provide names, A-numbers, countries of origin and evidence of DHS encounters for individuals it claimed to assist. In response, the nonprofit told the agency all migrants had A-numbers recorded and asserted its spreadsheets were accurate within a 4.99% margin of error. TEXAS SUES COUNTY FOR HELPING MIGRANTS ACCESS LEGAL SUPPORT AS THEY FIGHT DEPORTATION: ‘EVIL AND WICKED’ Auditors said the reality was far different. In sample sets reviewed by the agency, A-numbers were frequently missing, truncated to four digits, or replaced with phone numbers and other stray entries. Error rates reached 21%, 26% and 42% across three spreadsheets, the documents show. When FEMA tested 100 names, it could not find 61 of them in DHS systems at all. Investigators also stressed the Rio Grande chapter’s 45-day rule violations. Under federal guidelines, NGOs may only bill for food, shelter or transport for migrants within 45 days of their release from DHS custody. FEMA told the organization it found at least 248 cases where billing dates occurred after that window had closed, raising concerns that federal dollars were used for services outside what the law allows. The agency wrote that such activity could amount to “potential criminal activity,” though DHS has not said whether it plans to refer the case for criminal review. TRUMP’S IMMIGRATION CRACKDOWN SPARKS BIPARTISAN CALL FOR ASYLUM FIXES, PROTECTION FOR LONGTIME MIGRANTS The documents further cite the nonprofit’s own posted FY 2024 audit, which reported “material weaknesses” in internal controls over federal awards, inconsistent intake procedures and missing documentation for roughly 5% of sampled recipients. FEMA said corrective-action plans were copied forward almost verbatim year to year, without meaningful improvements. Catholic leaders have recently pushed back against efforts to cut funding. Pope Leo XIV praised Catholic Charities USA this fall as “agents of hope,” commending its 168 agencies for decades of work with migrants, refugees and the poor. Pimentel, who leads the Rio Grande Valley branch, has for years been a national figure in migrant ministry. Her Humanitarian Respite Center once processed more than 1,500 migrants per day at the height of mass crossings. She has been publicly praised by the Vatican for her humanitarian work and has spoken out against a return to the Remain in Mexico policy, saying families forced to wait in Mexico suffered “tremendously.” But her organization has also been a political focal point. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has pursued cases against several Catholic migrant shelters, accusing them of encouraging illegal immigration and operating illegal “stash houses,” including his suit against Annunciation House in El Paso. A judge earlier this year blocked Paxton from deposing Sister Norma in that separate matter. The suspension now places the Rio Grande Valley operation under simultaneous federal and state scrutiny. It is not yet clear whether other local shelters or municipal partners can absorb the South Texas caseload if the nonprofit ultimately loses federal funds. CCRGV currently serves far fewer migrants than in prior years, but remains one of the region’s key intake points. DHS has not said when a final decision on debarment will be made. The organization continues to operate during the suspension period but cannot receive new federal awards until the matter is resolved. Fox News Digital reached out to Catholic Charities for comment. DHS noted to Fox News Digital that future debarments may occur and that investigations remain ongoing.
Thanksgiving recipes from America’s first families — presidential dishes to try at home
Across generations, America’s first families have celebrated Thanksgiving not just with speeches and ceremonies, but with dishes that tell stories of home. TRUMP KICKS OFF THANKSGIVING WEEK WITH TURKEY PARDON AND CHRISTMAS TREE ARRIVAL From spicy deviled eggs inspired by the Bushes’ Texas roots to the Reagans’ pumpkin pecan pie, these presidential recipes offer a delicious glimpse into the tastes that once graced the nation’s most famous dining room. Herbert and Lou Hoover’s Marshmallow Sweet Potatoes Ingredients6 sweet potatoes2 tablespoons of butter2 cups chopped walnutsNutmegSaltCreamMarshmallows Instructions1. Boil the sweet potatoes until tender. Drain well.2. Mash the potatoes thoroughly with a potato masher, making sure to remove any strings.3. Add butter, then season with nutmeg and salt to taste (start with small amounts and adjust as you like).4. Pour in cream gradually, mixing until the potatoes reach a smooth, soft consistency.5. Fold in the chopped walnuts.6. Transfer the mixture to a baking dish and bake for 10 minutes.7. Top with marshmallows and return to the oven. Bake until the marshmallows are lightly browned and the top is golden. George and Laura Bush’s Deviled Eggs Ingredients12 large eggs, boiled hard and peeled1 tablespoon (plus) soft butter1 tablespoon (plus) mayonnaise1 tablespoon Dijon mustard1/2 teaspoon Yucatán Sunshine Habanero sauce (can be substituted for another hot sauce)Salt to taste Instructions1. Cut the eggs in half lengthwise and carefully remove the yolks. Set the egg white halves aside.2. Place the yolks in a food processor and add the mustard, Habanero sauce, and salt.3. Process for about 20 seconds, or until the mixture is smooth and well blended.4. Taste and adjust seasoning—add a bit more mustard, salt, or hot sauce if desired.5. Transfer the mixture to a piping bag fitted with a star tip, and pipe the filling into the egg white halves.6. Sprinkle with paprika and chopped parsley for color and flavor.7. Chill for about 1 hour before serving to allow the flavors to blend. Note: The Bush family favored Yucatán Sunshine Habanero sauce so much while living in Texas that their White House chef incorporated it into a variety of dishes. Gerald and Betty Ford’s Celery Stuffing Ingredients1 medium onion, chopped1 celery stalk, chopped⅓ cup of butter2 teaspoons of poultry seasoning2 tablespoons of chopped parsley1 teaspoon of salt5 cups of diced stale bread1 cup of giblet broth2 eggs, beaten Instructions1. Sauté the onions and celery in butter over medium heat until tender but not browned.2. In a large bowl, combine the bread and seasonings.3. Add the sauteed vegetables to the bread mixture and toss gently to mix.4. In a separate bowl, whisk together the giblet broth and eggs.5. Pour the broth mixture over the stuffing, stirring until evenly moistened and well combined. PUMPKIN OR APPLE? AMERICA’S FIERCEST THANKSGIVING DESSERT DEBATE HEATS UP Ike and Mamie Eisenhower’s Deep Dish Apple Pie Ingredients6 tart apples1/2 cup sugar1/2 cup brown sugar1/2 teaspoon nutmegGrated rind of 1 lemonGrated rind of 1 orange3 tablespoons butter or margarine1/2 pastry recipe (below) Pastry ingredients2 cups flour3/4 teaspoon salt2/3 cup shorteningCold water Pastry instructions 1. Sift the flour once to measure accurately.2. Mix and sift the flour and salt together into a large bowl.3. Cut in the shortening using two knives or a pastry blender until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs, with pieces about the size of small peas.4. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of cold water over the mixture and toss lightly with a fork.5. Continue adding water, 1 tablespoon at a time, mixing gently after each addition, until the dough gathers together into a soft ball.6. Divide the dough in half.7. On a lightly floured surface, roll out each half to about ⅛ inch thickness. Handle the rolling pin lightly to avoid overworking the dough.8. Use as desired for two 9-inch pie crusts.Note: For a deep-dish or single-crust pie, make half this recipe. 10 ESSENTIALS YOU NEED TO HOST A STRESS-FREE THANKSGIVING DINNER Instructions 1. Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C).2. Grease a deep baking dish and arrange the apple slices evenly inside.3. In a small bowl, combine the granulated sugar, brown sugar, nutmeg, lemon rind, and orange rind.4. Sprinkle the mixture evenly over the apples.5. Dot with butter or margarine.6. Cover with a thin sheet of pastry, pricking the top with a fork to create a simple design and allow steam to escape.7. Bake in the preheated oven until the pastry is golden brown and the apples are tender, about 25–30 minutes.8. Serve warm. Makes about six servings. Ronald and Nancy Reagan’s Pumpkin Pecan Pie Ingredients4 slightly beaten eggs2 cups canned or mashed cooked pumpkin1 cup sugar1/2 cup dark corn syrup1 teaspoon vanilla1/2 teaspoon cinnamon1/4 teaspoon salt1 unbaked 9-inch pie shell1 cup chopped pecans Instructions 1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).2. Combine all ingredients except the pecans, mixing until smooth.3. Pour the mixture into the unbaked pie shell.4. Arrange the pecans evenly over the top.5. Bake for about 40 minutes, or until the filling is set and the top is lightly browned.6. Cool before serving to allow the filling to firm up.
Faith leader explains why Charlie Kirk’s final Thanksgiving message matters
Nearly three months after his assassination, Charlie Kirk’s legacy is inspiring many to live their lives with gratitude, prayer and truth. In 2024, just weeks after the presidential election, Kirk delivered a Thanksgiving statement on the importance of being thankful. Communio president JP De Gance says it is a message that is still relevant in 2025. “I think Charlie’s message repeats those messages of Thanksgivings long ago when we were at different times, we’ve had setbacks as a country, we have had sufferings as a country, we had losses as a country and the message of Thanksgiving is that in all things we can be grateful,” De Gance told Fox News Digital on Tuesday. “We can look to God above, and thank him both for all of our many blessings and then even, you know, it’s through our sufferings that we so frequently grow to become better men and women.” Kirk said that he loved Thanksgiving, which he called a “uniquely American tradition,” because it was a time when people of all faiths could come together to recognize the importance of gratitude. “I think it speaks very well to our nation that there is a day when we stop and say thank you,” Kirk said in 2024. He believed that “the ungrateful make the world worse” and “the grateful make the world better.” PASTOR RECALLS LAST MOMENTS WITH CHARLIE KIRK: ‘AMERICAN MARTYR’ “Gratitude is the fruit that makes everything else taste sweet. But then you must be thankful to whom? To the Almighty God,” he added. De Gance also spoke about the significance of gratitude in the Christian faith, noting that humility allows Christians to recognize the good things in their lives that emanate from God. He added that while Thanksgiving comes once a year for the nation, it is something that “ought to be part of the daily Christian walk.” In his 2024 Thanksgiving message, Kirk encouraged his listeners to disconnect from technology during Thanksgiving and instead connect with their families. ERIKA KIRK REFLECTS ON LIFE, LOSS AND FAITH IN FIRST TV INTERVIEW SINCE CHARLIE KIRK’S DEATH De Gance agreed with the sentiment, saying that it was important for Americans to take time to focus less on the “noise” of the modern world and more on those around them. “There’s so much noise from our technology and from the world around us, and I think it’s a great reminder, a great message and exhortation to disconnect from the devices and take a step back from the daily noise,” De Gance said. In line with the mission of Communio, De Gance advised that this Thanksgiving people look to find ways to invite those who may not have a community to join them. He touched on the importance of seeking out those who may not have people to enjoy Thanksgiving with and extending an invitation to them. CHARLIE KIRK’S BELIEF IN GOD AND THE WAY HE ‘DEFENDED FAITH’ IMPACTS SCORES OF YOUNG PEOPLE “It can give us a chance and an opportunity to invite others into our homes to invite them in, to experience that gratitude,” De Gance said. “We’ve got an epidemic of loneliness that is ravaging our country. . . . So we can ask ourselves, what are we doing to invite folks in who might not have someone to enjoy Thanksgiving with this season, or someone who might be far away from family and unable to travel, someone who might be a first responder and can’t get back to his family.” For those looking to honor Kirk’s legacy this Thanksgiving, De Gance suggests they look to the late activist’s core messages for inspiration. He also advised young people to go to church on Thanksgiving weekend and for all to invite family and loved ones to join in prayers of gratitude. In his last Thanksgiving message, Kirk said that “the fundamental story of Thanksgiving is to understand that there is a God and that you are not above him.” “We must have the humility to know that God is sovereign,” Kirk said.
Shifting Thanksgiving traditions reflect broader political, economic and cultural divides
Thanksgiving is often cast as a holiday of unity, but it has also become a microcosm of the country’s fractures. What winds up being served for Thanksgiving dinner, who shows up — or doesn’t — and whether politics gets mentioned, can reflect broader shifts in ideology and culture. Simultaneously, Thanksgiving is still intended to bridge divides and emphasize the magnificence of the great American experiment launched centuries ago. One example of this is the food Americans choose to eat on Thanksgiving and how they make it. 6 CLASSIC THANKSGIVING SIDE DISHES THAT HAVE DISAPPEARED FROM AMERICAN TABLES Take-out and dine-in options have become more widely adopted in contemporary Thanksgiving celebrations, with research from restaurant software company Popmenu finding a 42% increase from 2024 in the number of folks who plan to order from, or dine-in at, a restaurant on Thanksgiving. Costs were a primary reason for the shift, along with wanting to spend more time with family and not worry about cooking. The length of time spent at the dinner table can also be quite telling. In 2018, university researchers analyzed smartphone location data pings and determined that “politically diverse” Thanksgiving dinners tended to be significantly shorter than those dinners involving a family of entirely like-minded individuals. The study, conducted in 2018, showed the average dinner was 30 minutes to 50 minutes shorter at tables full of politically diverse folks, while a study measuring the same thing in 2020 found politically diverse dinners to be about 24 minutes shorter on average. Meanwhile, other Thanksgiving survey data from 2025, published by YouGov, found that 19% of Democrats expect to have political arguments at the dinner table, compared to 9% of Republicans. GUY FIERI INSISTS THANKSGIVING IS ‘ONE OF THE MORE AFFORDABLE HOLIDAYS’ FOR FAMILIES TO COOK ON A BUDGET It is hard to say overall whether Thanksgiving diners have gotten longer or shorter, but according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service, people typically spend around 128 minutes on meal preparation and cleanup, 89 minutes on eating and drinking, and about 148 minutes socializing, according to a long-term analysis conducted between 2003 and 2015. According to the National Turkey Federation, 94% of Americans plan to celebrate Thanksgiving. The group added that 87% of those who celebrate say turkey is part of their holiday tradition, with 74% planning to serve an entire bird. However, simultaneously, other findings from turkey producer Jennie-O indicated that there is a growing openness for less traditional Thanksgiving meal options, which the group said shows a “blend of old and new is redefining what Thanksgiving dinner looks like across America.” The turkey product brand noted that 55% of Americans were “open to trying Thanksgiving recipes from different cultures,” particularly via side dishes. Even the changing treatment of the turkeys used for the presidential pardon has shifted slightly over the years. In the early-2000s, turkeys that were presented were sometimes unnamed, or treated more anonymously, but more recently it has become standard to dub the turkeys with names and humanize them a bit. That trend also mirrors a shift toward better care for the pardoned turkeys over the years.