According to an immigration attorney, an Ecuadorian father and his five-year-old son detained in Columbia Heights were legal asylum-seekers who followed proper procedures. The pair entered the country through the Brownsville, Texas port of entry in 2024 and utilized the CBP One app to declare their intent to seek asylum. The attorney stated the father and son were detained by ICE and sent to the Dilley Immigration Processing Center in San Antonio, Texas. Conflicting accounts exist, with the Department of Homeland Security claiming the father ran away and abandoned his child, while school officials dispute this. The school community expresses concerns about the impact of increased ICE activity on students’ safety and well-being.
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Ryan Wedding, a former Canadian Olympic snowboarder, has been arrested for allegedly leading a transnational drug trafficking organization. He was wanted by the FBI and had been compared to notorious drug lords. Wedding was charged with attempted murder and other counts related to his alleged drug enterprise, including the death of a federal witness. Authorities believed he was hiding in Mexico with protection from the Sinaloa cartel, and last month seized assets of his worth millions of dollars.
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A Brentwood woman lost her life savings of $176,000 after accepting a remote job she believed was with Facebook. Scammers used advanced AI tactics to lure her into the fake opportunity, promising easy money through ad placement. The victim was coached by a “mentor” who communicated primarily through WhatsApp, and the fraudulent app even displayed her actual Facebook messages to appear legitimate. After placing ads and seeing large profits, the scammers demanded more money before she realized it was a scam, eventually losing all her savings.
Read More
BBC Verify has found evidence that the White House has regularly used AI-generated images on its social media accounts, starting with the Trump administration. Poynter reported at least 14 AI posts from the White House X account during Trump’s second term. The images include various scenarios, like Trump depicted in different fictional scenarios. Additionally, there have been at least 11 more AI or edited images posted this year, including a recent post that manipulated a real photo.
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Minneapolis residents are organizing an “ICE Out” day of protest, calling for a day of no work, school, or shopping to protest ICE presence and actions in the city. Businesses like Wrecktangle Pizza and Beckett’s plan to close in solidarity, with owners citing concerns over the impact on immigrant communities and the restaurant industry. Despite freezing temperatures, a massive mobilization is underway, with volunteers providing aid to families, including food distribution from Dios Habla Hoy church. This response aims to honor Renee Nicole Good, recently killed by an ICE officer, and demonstrate support for the city’s immigrant community through both protest and humanitarian efforts.
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In a surprising turn of events, Juan Espinoza Martinez was found not guilty in Chicago on Thursday, after being accused of a murder-for-hire plot targeting a U.S. border patrol leader. The government’s case hinged on Snapchat messages allegedly offering a bounty for the official’s killing, but defense lawyers successfully argued that these messages were innocuous. This acquittal marks another setback for the Department of Justice, particularly highlighting the challenges faced in immigration-related prosecutions, as similar cases have crumbled across the country. The case has brought skepticism about the Department of Homeland Security’s narratives to light.
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For over a decade, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) served as the United States’ primary ally in Syria, fighting alongside them against ISIS. However, this alliance is now fracturing as the U.S. shifts its support to President Ahmad al-Sharaa’s new government, a move that is seen by many as a betrayal of the SDF. Without U.S. backing, the SDF has begun to retreat as the government moves to seize control of the strategically important region and its resources. This shift has been facilitated by U.S. negotiations, but many, including some US officials, feel this transition is a significant misstep, paving the way for al-Sharaa, and Turkey’s goals, while disregarding the sacrifices of the SDF.
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An independent autopsy commissioned by the family of Renee Good revealed she sustained three gunshot wounds, including a fatal shot to the head. The other shots struck her left forearm and right breast, though neither was immediately life-threatening. The incident, captured on video, involved an encounter with ICE officer Jonathan Ross, during which Good was shot while attempting to drive away. Homeland Security officials have stated that Good refused to comply with officer commands and was a “domestic terrorist” but the FBI is investigating the shooting.
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The Bond Between is dedicated to combating pet hunger and assisting families facing hardships. Through their Pet Food Shelf at their Minneapolis location, the organization provides essential resources. This initiative ensures pets in need receive vital sustenance. Ultimately, the program strives to keep families and their beloved animals together.
Read More
Ghislaine Maxwell, currently serving a 20-year sentence for her involvement in Jeffrey Epstein’s sex trafficking ring, has agreed to testify virtually before a congressional committee investigating the government’s handling of the Epstein case. Despite previous claims that she would invoke her Fifth Amendment right, her legal team has stated she will not testify. The committee, led by Chairman James Comer, has issued a summons and previously declined to offer immunity, but Maxwell’s lawyers argue testifying without immunity and from prison poses security risks and undermines the process. The House Oversight Committee has also voted to hold Bill and Hillary Clinton in contempt for refusing to comply with subpoenas related to the investigation.
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Lawyer: Detained Asylum Seekers Highlight Rule of Law Collapse
According to an immigration attorney, an Ecuadorian father and his five-year-old son detained in Columbia Heights were legal asylum-seekers who followed proper procedures. The pair entered the country through the Brownsville, Texas port of entry in 2024 and utilized the CBP One app to declare their intent to seek asylum. The attorney stated the father and son were detained by ICE and sent to the Dilley Immigration Processing Center in San Antonio, Texas. Conflicting accounts exist, with the Department of Homeland Security claiming the father ran away and abandoned his child, while school officials dispute this. The school community expresses concerns about the impact of increased ICE activity on students’ safety and well-being.
Read More
Olympic Snowboarder Ryan Wedding Arrested, FBI’s Most Wanted Now in Custody
Ryan Wedding, a former Canadian Olympic snowboarder, has been arrested for allegedly leading a transnational drug trafficking organization. He was wanted by the FBI and had been compared to notorious drug lords. Wedding was charged with attempted murder and other counts related to his alleged drug enterprise, including the death of a federal witness. Authorities believed he was hiding in Mexico with protection from the Sinaloa cartel, and last month seized assets of his worth millions of dollars.
Read More
Bay Area Software Rep Loses $176K to Fake Facebook Job Scam
A Brentwood woman lost her life savings of $176,000 after accepting a remote job she believed was with Facebook. Scammers used advanced AI tactics to lure her into the fake opportunity, promising easy money through ad placement. The victim was coached by a “mentor” who communicated primarily through WhatsApp, and the fraudulent app even displayed her actual Facebook messages to appear legitimate. After placing ads and seeing large profits, the scammers demanded more money before she realized it was a scam, eventually losing all her savings.
Read More
White House Defends AI-Altered Image, Declares “Memes Will Continue”
BBC Verify has found evidence that the White House has regularly used AI-generated images on its social media accounts, starting with the Trump administration. Poynter reported at least 14 AI posts from the White House X account during Trump’s second term. The images include various scenarios, like Trump depicted in different fictional scenarios. Additionally, there have been at least 11 more AI or edited images posted this year, including a recent post that manipulated a real photo.
Read More
Minneapolis Businesses Plan Closures to Protest ICE Despite Extreme Cold
Minneapolis residents are organizing an “ICE Out” day of protest, calling for a day of no work, school, or shopping to protest ICE presence and actions in the city. Businesses like Wrecktangle Pizza and Beckett’s plan to close in solidarity, with owners citing concerns over the impact on immigrant communities and the restaurant industry. Despite freezing temperatures, a massive mobilization is underway, with volunteers providing aid to families, including food distribution from Dios Habla Hoy church. This response aims to honor Renee Nicole Good, recently killed by an ICE officer, and demonstrate support for the city’s immigrant community through both protest and humanitarian efforts.
Read More
Man Acquitted in Plot to Kill US Border Patrol Official, Highlighting Credibility Concerns
In a surprising turn of events, Juan Espinoza Martinez was found not guilty in Chicago on Thursday, after being accused of a murder-for-hire plot targeting a U.S. border patrol leader. The government’s case hinged on Snapchat messages allegedly offering a bounty for the official’s killing, but defense lawyers successfully argued that these messages were innocuous. This acquittal marks another setback for the Department of Justice, particularly highlighting the challenges faced in immigration-related prosecutions, as similar cases have crumbled across the country. The case has brought skepticism about the Department of Homeland Security’s narratives to light.
Read More
US Again Abandons Kurdish Allies as Syria Seizes Control
For over a decade, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) served as the United States’ primary ally in Syria, fighting alongside them against ISIS. However, this alliance is now fracturing as the U.S. shifts its support to President Ahmad al-Sharaa’s new government, a move that is seen by many as a betrayal of the SDF. Without U.S. backing, the SDF has begun to retreat as the government moves to seize control of the strategically important region and its resources. This shift has been facilitated by U.S. negotiations, but many, including some US officials, feel this transition is a significant misstep, paving the way for al-Sharaa, and Turkey’s goals, while disregarding the sacrifices of the SDF.
Read More
Autopsy Finds Renee Good Murdered in Shooting
An independent autopsy commissioned by the family of Renee Good revealed she sustained three gunshot wounds, including a fatal shot to the head. The other shots struck her left forearm and right breast, though neither was immediately life-threatening. The incident, captured on video, involved an encounter with ICE officer Jonathan Ross, during which Good was shot while attempting to drive away. Homeland Security officials have stated that Good refused to comply with officer commands and was a “domestic terrorist” but the FBI is investigating the shooting.
Read More
Pets Left Behind: Supporting Animals Impacted by ICE Detentions
The Bond Between is dedicated to combating pet hunger and assisting families facing hardships. Through their Pet Food Shelf at their Minneapolis location, the organization provides essential resources. This initiative ensures pets in need receive vital sustenance. Ultimately, the program strives to keep families and their beloved animals together.
Read More
Ghislaine Maxwell’s Testimony: Pointless Political Theater, Likely Lies and Fifth Amendment
Ghislaine Maxwell, currently serving a 20-year sentence for her involvement in Jeffrey Epstein’s sex trafficking ring, has agreed to testify virtually before a congressional committee investigating the government’s handling of the Epstein case. Despite previous claims that she would invoke her Fifth Amendment right, her legal team has stated she will not testify. The committee, led by Chairman James Comer, has issued a summons and previously declined to offer immunity, but Maxwell’s lawyers argue testifying without immunity and from prison poses security risks and undermines the process. The House Oversight Committee has also voted to hold Bill and Hillary Clinton in contempt for refusing to comply with subpoenas related to the investigation.
Read More