Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has indicated that banks will likely be required to collect citizenship data on customers, stating that “if Treasury and the banking regulators say it’s their job, it’s their job.” This move, part of a broader immigration policy initiative, aims to address concerns about non-citizens opening bank accounts, with Bessent questioning how banks can truly “know your customer” without this information. While current “know your customer” rules focus on identity verification for anti-money laundering purposes, this proposed executive order seeks stricter mandates, aligning with practices in many other countries. Despite potential economic and administrative concerns raised by banks and policy experts regarding the exclusion of non-citizens and increased costs, Bessent maintains that “illegal immigrants don’t have a right to be in the banking system.”
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Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has stated that U.S. banks must be prepared to collect citizenship data on customers, indicating an executive order to this effect is in process. This initiative aligns with President Trump’s broader immigration policy, which aims to link information collection with immigration enforcement. While current “Know Your Customer” rules focus on identity verification for anti-money laundering purposes, Bessent argues that knowing a customer’s citizenship status is crucial for knowing the customer. This proposed mandate, which would require banks to verify if individuals opening accounts are U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or present on valid visas, faces potential resistance from banks concerned about increased administrative costs and economic impacts.
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Having met Billy, an American soldier, in Saint-Nazaire during the 1960s, Marie-Thérèse’s mother relocated to the United States after their marriage. This reunion marked the beginning of a new chapter for her, a secretary who had crossed paths with her long-lost love. The move to America, driven by this rekindled romance, brought Marie-Thérèse’s mother to a new life alongside Billy.
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Annie Ramos, a Honduran immigrant and wife of a US soldier, has been released from federal custody after her detention last week at a Louisiana military base. Ramos, who arrived in the US as a toddler and has faced a removal order since missing a hearing in 2005, was detained shortly after marrying US Army Staff Sergeant Matthew Blank. Despite the Department of Homeland Security citing a final removal order, Ramos’s release allows her to focus on obtaining legal status and continuing her education and community service.
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Following the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti by federal agents, for which Stephen Miller was initially quick to label the victim a “would-be assassin,” it was later admitted that the agents “may not have been following” protocol. This incident, along with Miller’s hard-line immigration policies, led to reduced public appearances for Miller and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. Facing backlash for his promotion of violent tactics, Miller has reportedly shifted to more subtle methods, including seeking information on immigrants’ credit card usage as a potential means to restrict their financial activities.
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After four months of detention, Stephanie Kenny-Velasquez was released from an ICE facility in Houston after a federal judge ruled her due process rights were violated. Kenny-Velasquez, a Venezuelan national who had previously applied for asylum, was detained just two days after marrying U.S. Army Reserve pilot Chris Busby. Her release comes after her legal team successfully argued her detention was unconstitutional, though her pending asylum case continues. The couple now awaits further legal proceedings for her permanent residency.
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The recent detention of a newlywed spouse of a soldier by ICE agents while he is actively training for deployment has ignited a firestorm of public reaction, exposing deep-seated frustrations with immigration policies and the perceived erosion of American values. The situation itself is rife with a profound irony, highlighting what many see as a perverse application of the “rule of law” that seems to punish those who are deeply integrated into American society while serving the nation. The soldier, a Staff Sergeant at the remarkably young age of 23, has clearly demonstrated dedication and excelled in his military career, making the treatment of his wife all the more bewildering and, to many, outright cruel.… Continue reading
The review process has already commenced, with the building’s acquisition finalized. This proactive step ensures that subsequent decisions, regardless of their nature, will inevitably yield significant repercussions. The anticipation surrounding the outcome of this review is palpable, as its effects are now a certainty.
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The US State Department has revoked the permanent residency of Hamideh Soleimani Afshar, niece of the late Quds Force leader Qassem Soleimani, and her daughter. The department cited Soleimani Afshar’s outspoken support for the Iranian regime and celebratory remarks regarding attacks on Americans as reasons for the action. This decision aligns with the Trump administration’s stance against foreign nationals who support what it terms “anti-American terrorist regimes.” These expulsions follow public pressure and online petitions seeking the removal of relatives of Iranian officials from the United States, with similar actions also taken against Fatemeh Ardeshir-Larijani, daughter of a former Iranian official.
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During a congressional hearing, Mildred Danis-Taylor publicly highlighted the alleged inhumane conditions her husband, Rodney Taylor, is experiencing at an ICE detention center. Representative Lucy McBath brought Taylor’s case to the attention of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, detailing allegations of neglect and unsanitary living spaces. Taylor, a green-card applicant and amputee, has faced deteriorating health since his detention, prompting his wife’s transformation into an activist advocating for his release and for others facing similar circumstances.
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John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood
Farming Town Fights ICE Detention Center Plan
The review process has already commenced, with the building’s acquisition finalized. This proactive step ensures that subsequent decisions, regardless of their nature, will inevitably yield significant repercussions. The anticipation surrounding the outcome of this review is palpable, as its effects are now a certainty.
Read More