Prepared for the Office of Public Affairs (OPA)
U.S. Department of Homeland Security

Editorial Note: The DHS Daily Briefing is a collection of news articles related to Department’s mission. The inclusion of particular stories is not intended to reflect their importance, nor is it intended to endorse the political viewpoints or affiliations included in news coverage.

Reuters [9/7/2025 11:29 AM, Michael Holden, 45746K] reports Homeland ministers from Britain, the United States and the other "Five Eyes" alliance will announce new measures this week to increase border security and target people smugglers, British interior minister Shabana Mahmood said on Sunday. The ministers from the Five Eyes intelligence sharing network - the U.S., Britain, Canada, Australia and New Zealand - will meet in London on Monday and Tuesday, Britain’s Home Office said, with measures to "smash criminal smuggling gangs" the focus of the talks. "We will agree new measures to protect our borders with our Five Eyes partners, hitting people smugglers hard," Mahmood, who was only appointed to her job on Friday after Prime Minister Keir Starmer reshuffled his ministers. Countries across the world are wrestling with how to deal with the issue of migration, with the U.S. President Donald Trump making a crackdown on legal and illegal immigration a central plank of his second White House term. In Britain, it has become the dominant political topic, with the government under great pressure from rivals over how to deal with a record number of asylum claims and arrivals by migrants in small boats across the Channel. Joining Mahmood for the talks will be U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Canada’s Gary Anandasangaree, Tony Burke, Australia’s Home Affairs Minister, and Judith Collins from New Zealand. Bloomberg [9/7/2025 11:35 AM, Akshat Rathi, 19085K] reports that the rise of right-wing political parties across the countries that make up “Five Eyes” — an intelligence sharing partnership — has prompted their respective governments to refocus on border issues. Apart from human trafficking and spread of deadly opioid drugs, the ministers will also discuss at the in-person meetings ways to address the rise of child sexual abuse online. “Rebuilding our reputation on the world stage is how we tackle serious organized crime and secure our borders,” Mahmood said in a statement from the Home Office. “We will agree new measures to protect our borders with our five eyes partners, hitting people smugglers hard.”

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Bloomberg [9/7/2025 6:06 PM, Ainsley Thomson, 19085K]

FOX News [9/7/2025 10:43 PM, Staff, 40019K] reports DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin weighs in on the Trump administration’s efforts against the cartels and Venezuela’s accusing the U.S. of seeking ‘regime change’ on ‘Sunday Night in America.’[Editorial note: consult video at source link]

AP [9/8/2025 1:56 AM, Hyung-Jin Kim, 27036K] reports more than 300 South Korean workers detained following a massive immigration raid at a Hyundai plant in Georgia will be released and brought home, the South Korean government announced Sunday. Kang Hoon-sik, chief of staff for President Lee Jae Myung, said South Korea and the U.S. had finalized negotiations on the workers’ release. He said South Korea plans to send a charter plane to bring the workers home as soon as remaining administrative steps are completed. South Korea’s Foreign Ministry said that Seoul and Washington are discussing details on allowing all the detained workers to return on a voluntary basis. It said Foreign Minister Cho Hyun is to leave for the U.S. on Monday afternoon for talks related to the workers’ releases. U.S. immigration authorities said Friday they detained 475 people, most of them South Korean nationals, when hundreds of federal agents raided Hyundai’s sprawling manufacturing site in Georgia where the Korean automaker makes electric vehicles. Agents focused on a plant that is still under construction at which Hyundai has partnered with LG Energy Solution to produce batteries that power EVs. Cho said that more than 300 South Koreans were among the detained. The operation was the latest in a long line of workplace raids conducted as part of the Trump administration’s mass deportation agenda. But the one Thursday is especially distinct because of its large size and because the targeted site has been touted as Georgia’s largest economic development project. The raid stunned many in South Korea because the country is a key U.S. ally. It agreed in July to purchase $100 billion in U.S. energy and make a $350 billion investment in the U.S. in return for the U.S lowering tariff rates. About two weeks ago, U.S. President Donald Trump and Lee held their first meeting in Washington. Trump said perhaps the U.S. could work out an arrangement with South Korean workers who would train U.S. citizens to do work such as battery and computer manufacturing. "If you don’t have people in this country right now that know about batteries, maybe we should help them along and let some people come in and train our people," Trump said Sunday night at Andrews Air Force Base. He added that "the way you train people is bring people in that know what they’re doing, let them stay for a little while and help.” Lee said the rights of South Korean nationals and economic activities of South Korean companies must not be unfairly infringed upon during U.S. law enforcement procedures. South Korea’s Foreign Ministry separately issued a statement to express "concern and regret" over the case and sent diplomats to the site. CNN [9/8/2025 3:30 AM, Amanda Musa, 662K] reports that a majority of those arrested — over 300 — were South Korean, according to the country’s foreign affairs minister, and will return to South Korea on a chartered flight in what immigration attorneys are calling a unique agreement. "I do not know of another instance where a government has responded with chartering a flight," Sarah Owings, an immigration attorney representing several of the South Koreans detained on Thursday, told CNN. The South Korean government has been actively working to secure the workers’ release, along with its representatives at the Korean Embassy in Washington, DC, and the Consulate General in Atlanta. Foreign Affairs Minister Cho Hyun will depart Seoul at 7:40 p.m. local time (6:40 a.m. ET) on Monday for Washington, DC, as Seoul works to bring back the nationals as soon as possible "by voluntary departure," the ministry spokesperson’s office said. A chartered plane schedule has not yet been set. "The government will ensure that all necessary measures are effectively implemented to achieve both the swift release of our detained citizens and the stable implementation of the investment projects," South Korean Presidential Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik said Sunday. The 2,900-acre Hyundai Metaplant has two parts: a Hyundai electric vehicle manufacturing site, and an EV battery plant which is a joint venture between Hyundai and LG. The plant was projected to employ up to 8,500 people when complete. Here’s what we know about the workers detained, their anticipated return home and the sprawling Hyundai–LG battery plant where they worked. The Korean government’s actions are "not the normal course of business," according to Jorge Gavilanes, an Atlanta-based immigration attorney who works for a law firm contacted by a few detainees. "From what we’ve seen with immigration over the years and different administrations, (the charter) seems to make sense based on what their immigration status might be," Gavilanes told CNN. Georgia immigration attorney Charles Kuck told CNN two of his clients were detained at the raid after having arrived from South Korea under a visa waiver. One client arrived in the US in August, and the other arrived several weeks ago, he said. Reuters [9/7/2025 9:06 PM, Cynthia Kim and Jeff Mason, 45746K] reports that later on Sunday, U.S. President Donald Trump sounded more conciliatory while still driving home a vow to enforce tough immigration policy, calling on foreign companies investing in the U.S. to "respect our Nation’s immigration laws." "Your Investments are welcome, and we encourage you to LEGALLY bring your very smart people, with great technical talent, to build World Class products, and we will make it quickly and legally possible for you to do so," he said on his social media platform. Trump made the post shortly after telling reporters he would look at what happened but that the incident had not harmed his relationship with South Korea.

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FOX News [9/7/2025 9:19 PM, Greg Wehner, 40019K] reports President Donald Trump said Sunday that while U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was right to arrest South Korean immigrants working illegally at a Hyundai battery plant in Georgia, the U.S. should consider letting foreign experts temporarily stay to train Americans in advanced industries. Homeland Security Investigations said 475 people — mostly South Koreans — were arrested at the under-construction battery plant. Hyundai said it owns the site but insisted none of the workers were directly employed by the company. When asked about the ICE operation on Sunday, Trump told reporters the U.S. needs experts who know how to build batteries to help train Americans with no such experience. "If you don’t have people in this country right now that know about batteries, maybe we should help them along…," Trump said, adding that industries like shipbuilding and computer manufacturing also need skilled trainers. "So, we’re going to look at that whole situation. We have a lot of industries that we don’t have any more, and we’re going to have to train people.” He continued to explain that the best way to train people is to bring people in who know what they are doing, while also letting them stay in the U.S. for a little while to help. Still, Trump said ICE was right to arrest those in the country illegally. "We do have to work something out where we bring in experts so that our people can be trained so that they can do it themselves," he said. Later on Truth Social, Trump urged foreign companies investing in the U.S. to respect immigration laws while pledging to make it "quickly and legally possible" for them to bring in skilled workers. "Your Investments are welcome, and we encourage you to LEGALLY bring your very smart people, with great technical talent, to build World Class products, and we will make it quickly and legally possible for you to do so," he wrote. "What we ask in return is that you hire and train American Workers. Together, we will all work hard to make our Nation not only productive, but closer in unity than ever before. Thank you for your attention to this matter!". On Sunday, the South Korean government reached a deal with the U.S. to secure the release of hundreds of migrant workers detained at the factory. President Lee Jae Myung’s office said South Korea will send a charter plane to bring the workers back to South Korea in the coming days. Still, South Korea’s government expressed "concern and regret" over the raid. Homeland Security Investigations chief Steven Schrank said some workers had crossed the border illegally, while others overstayed visas or entered under waivers that barred them from working. Many were employed by subcontractors at the site. The Georgia raid marked one of the largest workplace enforcement actions of Trump’s presidency, part of a broader crackdown on illegal immigration.

FOX News [9/7/2025 12:09 PM, David Spector, 40019K] reports Trump administration border czar Tom Homan vowed more workplace immigration enforcement operations on Sunday, similar to the Georgia Hyundai plant raid that detained hundreds last week. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arrested nearly 500 people during a raid Thursday at an electric battery plant in Georgia run by Hyundai and LG Energy Solution. Most of those arrested were reportedly South Korean nationals living and working in the country illegally, whether by illicitly entering, overstaying visas, or violating visa waivers by working. When asked by CNN’s Jake Tapper if the Trump administration would pursue similar raids in the future, Homan said they would continue. "The short answer is yes," Homan said. "We’re going to do more worksite enforcement operations because number one, it’s a crime to enter this country illegally. Number two, it’s a crime to knowingly hire an illegal alien, and these companies that hire illegal aliens, they undercut the competition that’s paying U.S. citizen salaries.” "Look, no one hires illegal aliens on the goodness of their heart. They hire them because they work them harder, pay them less, and undercut the competition," Homan added. Hyundai owns the plant, but the company said none of the detained workers were directly employed by the company. The South Korean government has since reached a deal with the U.S. to secure the release of hundreds of migrant workers detained at the Hyundai factory. President Lee Jae Myung’s office says the country will send a charter plane to bring the workers back to South Korea in the coming days. The Trump administration has made immigration enforcement a national priority, vowing to close the border and deport millions of illegal immigrants. The administration has already deported more than 300,000 illegal immigrants, according to federal data, and deportations have surged to more than 1,500 per day—a rate not seen since President Barack Obama’s term, according to The New York Times.

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CNN [9/8/2025 5:17 AM, Brad Lendon, Yoonjung Seo, Mike Valerio, and Marianna Kim, 23245K] reports South Korea is dispatching its top diplomat to the United States as it tries to prevent swirling discontent over an immigration raid at a factory in Georgia from ballooning into a crisis that could do long-term damage to relations with its most important ally. Foreign Affairs Minister Cho Hyun was scheduled to leave Monday evening local time for Washington, DC, officials in Seoul said. Hours earlier, the government announced that some 300 South Koreans who were detained in the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raid last Thursday on the Hyundai-LG joint factory in southern Georgia will return to Korea on a chartered flight following negotiations with the US. A Foreign Ministry spokesperson said the chartered plane schedule has not been set yet, but the government is trying to bring back the nationals as soon as possible. The raid was one of the largest by US immigration enforcement agencies in recent years. Images of workers, many of them Korean, being shackled and led away into detention have circulated widely across South Korea and sparked criticism at a time when the country is pouring multi-billion-dollar investments into the US, much of it at the behest of US President Donald Trump. What the foreign minister’s role in the process would be was unclear, but the government of President Lee Jae Myung was trying to quickly contain simmering discontent in the country about how its nationals were being treated by US law enforcement. Reuters [9/8/2025 1:25 AM, Ju-min Park and Hyunjoo Jin, 45746K] reports that the detention of the workers by the Department of Homeland Security agents sent shockwaves through South Korea, a major U.S. ally which has been trying to finalise a U.S. trade deal agreed in late July. It came just 10 days after South Korea’s new president, Lee Jae Myung, met with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington and the two pledged closer business ties. Cho’s talks will centre on bringing the Korean workers, who were mostly employed by subcontractors, home via a chartered plane in what would be called a "voluntary departure", according to a South Korean foreign ministry official who declined to give further details. Trump, who has ramped up deportations nationwide as his administration cracks down on illegal immigrants, said last week he had not been aware of the raid. He called those detained "illegal aliens". On Sunday, he called on foreign companies investing in the U.S. to "respect our Nation’s immigration laws" but sounded more conciliatory. "Your Investments are welcome, and we encourage you to LEGALLY bring your very smart people, with great technical talent, to build World Class products, and we will make it quickly and legally possible for you to do so," he said on Truth Social. The 300 South Koreans were among 475 arrested on Thursday at the site of a $4.3 billion project by Hyundai and battery maker LGES to build batteries for electric cars. It was the largest single-site enforcement operation in the history of the Department of Homeland Security’s investigative operations. Seoul has expressed its unhappiness about the arrests and the public release of the footage showing the operation which involved armoured vehicles and the shackling of workers. Hyundai Motor is one of the biggest foreign investors in the United States and is among South Korean companies participating in the country’s pledge of a $350 billion fund for the U.S. market. A Hyundai Motor spokesperson said some staff had been asked to suspend non-essential trips to the United States. LGES has also suspended staff business trips to the U.S., other than certain exceptional cases, and will be recalling South Korea-based employees now in the country.

CNN [9/7/2025 9:32 PM, Gustavo Valdés, Abel Alvarado, and Jonny Hallam, 662K] reports that, Suárez, a migrant from Colombia, had warned her husband about the massive immigration enforcement raid that she had heard was going down at the plant. But he had reassured her that he would be OK as he had a valid permit to work in the US. Despite this, he was detained and remains in the custody of US immigration authorities, awaiting a review of his case, like other workers at the plant who said that their status in the US was not taken into consideration by authorities during the raid. More than 500 federal, state and local agents participated in the operation that ended with the arrest of 475 people in Ellabell, approximately 25 miles west of Savannah, Georgia. The small community was shaken by what was the largest raid so far in the Trump administration’s ongoing immigration crackdown on US workplaces. ICE officials said officers spoke with each worker to determine who was in the US legally, and that some were allowed to leave. But family members interviewed by CNN say that people with valid work permits were among those arrested. Suárez, who arrived in the country with her partner and two children almost two years ago said she has an asylum application pending with US immigration authorities. But according to her husband, who didn’t want to give his full name – the agents refused to take his documents into account before detaining him. Santiago, another Colombian migrant also asked not to give his full name when he spoke to CNN, found himself in a similar situation after his wife, Camila, originally from Venezuela, was arrested in the ICE raid. Camila had told her husband that while they were taking a break, the ICE teams "arrived unexpectedly, and detained them.” "They stormed the place, detaining everyone, no matter who they were," Camila had told him. Santiago, who had worked at the plant in the past and knew the hiring procedures well, told CNN, that everyone trying to get a job has to show legal documentation before they can start work. "My wife told me that when they were processing her, they asked each person what documentation they had.” But Santiago says that when Camila showed them her documents, the officer in charge marked her paperwork saying she had "nothing" and sent her to the ICE detention bus. Their accounts concur with that of Mauricio, another migrant who asked not to give his full name and whose wife has been detained since the raid. "They were calm because her and her brother had their documents in order," Mauricio told CNN. But he said when the ICE agents arrived, they quickly ran over to people, and "they didn’t accept any documents.”

Wall Street Journal [9/7/2025 11:26 PM, Rachel Wolfe, 646K] reports when Gov. Brian Kemp signed a $5.5 billion manufacturing deal with Hyundai Motor Group, Georgia celebrated it as the largest economic development project in state history. Georgia gave the carmaker $2 billion in tax breaks, and in return Hyundai’s new electric-vehicle megafactory would give the Savannah region an economic boost. In the suburb of Pooler, that promise seemed to already be coming true. The population shot up 22% between just 2020 and 2024, according to census estimates, to around 31,000. Demographic data lags behind, but community leaders estimate half of that growth has come from Koreans. Suddenly, the single Korean restaurant in town had to compete with around half a dozen others. The newly opened Costco, locals said, started carrying Kimchi, dried seaweed and mandu dumplings. New homes sprung up by the dozens, and Korean families moved into planned neighborhoods with streets named Blue Moon Crossing and Harvest Hill. Many of the newcomers worked at the factory, a massive site that was still expanding with new construction in rural Ellabell, about 20 minutes away. On Thursday, federal agents raided the complex, arresting nearly 500 people for alleged immigration violations, most of them Korean. On Sunday, the Korean government said it had reached a deal with the U.S. to bring its people home. The raid and its fallout shocked the auto industry, and South Korea. Nowhere is that shock more apparent than in a place like Pooler, where a new Korean community had taken root. Some said they felt betrayed by the raid, especially after Korean companies made such a massive investment in the U.S. Others said they believe that improperly documented workers have brought undue scrutiny upon those who are here legally. “You can feel the tension,” said 51-year-old Hoseong Kim, an American citizen and local pastor, also known as Robin. Like many Korean immigrants, Kim took on an American name to “fit in better” with American culture. That effort to assimilate, Kim said, is common among Korean immigrants and part of the way they see themselves: proud of their culture and origins, and proud to be welcomed by Americans as hard workers who bring value to the country. The raids shattered that image, and left many feeling suddenly fearful and angry. Many spent the weekend worrying about their futures in the U.S., and arguing over who to blame. “We’ve worked hard, built businesses, created jobs here,” read one message in a sprawling group chat of Koreans living in the area. “And instead of support, it feels like we’re being pushed out.”

CNN [9/7/2025 1:51 PM, Alison Main, 662K] reports the Trump administration launched a new federal immigration enforcement effort in Massachusetts focused on deporting criminals who entered the country illegally, according to the Department of Homeland Security. "ICE launched ‘Patriot 2.0’ to target the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens living in the state of Massachusetts, following the success of Operation Patriot in May," a DHS spokesperson told CNN on Sunday. The statement blamed Boston Democratic Mayor Michelle Wu for so-called sanctuary city polices that it said "not only attract and harbor criminals but also place these public safety threats above the interests of law-abiding American citizens," vowing that DHS will arrest criminals released by local authorities. "Under President Trump and Secretary Noem, nowhere is a safe haven for criminal illegal aliens. If you come to our country illegally and break our laws, we will hunt you down, arrest you, deport you, and you will never return," the statement continued. Wu told CNN in a statement on Sunday that local resources won’t be used for this operation and the federal government’s actions do "not make our community safer.” "No Boston police or local resources will be co-opted into federal immigration enforcement and their mass deportation agenda," Wu said. "That does not make our community safer. We expect that federal law enforcement will abide by the constitution and laws of this City, Commonwealth, and country, and we are prepared to take legal action at any evidence to the contrary.” The Justice Department sued Wu earlier this month over Boston’s sanctuary policy, which limits local law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration efforts. "What we have seen from ICE and from the administration really isn’t about public safety, it’s about political theater. It’s about a political power grab and an attempt to intimidate," said Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey in a Sunday interview with MSNBC. White House officials told CNN that the Boston operation, timed in conjunction with the administration’s immigration plans in Chicago, is a signal of its efforts to target sanctuary cities more aggressively in the coming months.

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The Hill [9/7/2025 9:16 PM, Tara Suter, 12414K] reports Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey (D) on Sunday called the Trump administration’s "Patriot 2.0" Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) action in her state "political theater" and a "power grab.” "Look, I’ll say this, I’m a former prosecutor. I’m a former attorney general. I’ve said many, many times, including to the Trump administration, that I support, as attorney general and now as governor, everything we can do on public safety," Healey said on MSNBC’s "The Weekend.” "But what we have seen from ICE and from the administration really isn’t about public safety, it’s about political theater. It’s about a political power grab and an attempt to intimidate," she added. In a statement to The Hill, a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spokesperson said that "ICE launched ‘Patriot 2.0’ to target the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens living in the state of Massachusetts, following the success of Operation Patriot in May.” "Sanctuary policies like those pushed by Mayor Wu not only attract and harbor criminals but also place these public safety threats above the interests of law-abiding American citizens," the spokesperson added, referencing Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, who is a Democrat. "ICE is arresting sex offenders, pedophiles, murderers, drug dealers, and gang members released by local authorities," the spokesperson said. In the first few months of President Trump’s second term, the president and his administration have cracked down heavily on immigration. The latest in politics and policy. Direct to your inbox. By signing up, I agree to the Terms of Use, have reviewed the Privacy Policy, and to receive personalized offers and communications via email, on-site notifications, and targeted advertising using my email address from The Hill, Nexstar Media Inc., and its affiliates. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem last month said the U.S. had 1.6 million fewer undocumented immigrants since the beginning of the Trump administration, a claim that came from information from a restrictionist immigration group that said their estimate may be overstated. The Justice Department on Thursday sued Boston and Wu over to the city’s sanctuary law, stating it is illegal and releases dangerous criminals who should be deported.

Washington Examiner [9/7/2025 10:57 PM, Zach LaChance, 1563K] reports President Donald Trump revealed he will decide whether to pursue a crime crackdown in Chicago in the “next day or two,” pointing to the successes of his efforts to tackle crime in Washington, D.C. Trump gave the new timeline while talking to reporters just outside Washington on Sunday night, saying he could solve the crime problem in Chicago “very quickly.” “Chicago is a very dangerous place, and we have a governor that doesn’t care about crime,” Trump said, referring to Gov. JB Pritzker (D-IL). “We’re going to make a decision as to where we go over the next day or two.” Trump has teased the crime crackdown for weeks now, regularly sparring with Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, both of whom have fired back. Pritzker has insisted there is no crime “emergency” that would warrant a National Guard deployment like the one used in Washington, while Johnson recently signed an executive order designed to limit collaboration between local city police officers and such troops. The two Illinois lawmakers may not only be facing a crackdown on crime, however. Border czar Tom Homan suggested last week that any federal forces deployed to Chicago will primarily be there to tackle illegal immigration. He reiterated that plan on Sunday, saying the public should expect increased immigration enforcement in sanctuary cities, which includes Chicago. “We’ve got to send additional resources to the problem areas, which are sanctuary cities,” Homan said.

The Hill [9/7/2025 12:17 PM, Sarah Fortinsky, 12414K] reports Trump border czar Tom Homan said Chicago and other "sanctuary cities" should expect to see immigration enforcement action in the coming week. "Absolutely," Homan said on CNN’s "State of the Union" on Sunday, when asked directly about enforcement action in Chicago this week. "You can expect action in most sanctuary cities across the country," he continued. "President Trump’s prioritized sanctuary cities because sanctuary cities knowingly release illegal alien public safety threats to the streets every day. That’s where the problem is.” "We don’t have that problem in Florida, where every sheriff and chief works for us, right, or Texas, so we got to send additional resources to the problem areas, which are sanctuary cities," he added. Homan pushed back on Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker’s (D) suggestion that state officials have not been notified by the White House about any upcoming enforcement action. "Governor Pritzker has been notified from day one," Homan said, when asked whether he will be coordinating with state and local officials about "an operation of this size in Chicago.” "I went there and started an operation right after the inauguration," he continued. "ICE agents have been flooding the zone in Chicago for a while now, so he’s aware of what’s going on. I mean, he knows we’ve been there. We were there last week. We were there the week before.” Homan noted more resources will be coming in the near future and said, "National Guard are always on the table.” "Now, you know, again, we’re going to send additional resources to all sanctuary cities. But this isn’t new to him. He knows we’ve been there. He’s failed to work with us. The mayor, Johnson, has failed to work with us," he continued, referring to Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson (D). President Trump has suggested in recent weeks that Chicago would be his next target for a large-scale immigration enforcement operation.

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The Hill [9/7/2025 5:24 PM, Tara Suter, 12414K] reports Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) took a swing at Vice President Vance on Saturday over comments Vance made about a strike on an alleged drug boat. "Killing cartel members who poison our fellow citizens is the highest and best use of our military," Vance said in a Saturday morning post on the social platform X, referencing a U.S. military strike on a boat in the Caribbean Sea that the Trump administration has stated killed 11 Venezuelan drug traffickers. In response to Vance’s post, Paul wrote in a post of his own later Saturday that "JD ‘I don’t give a s—’ Vance says killing people he accuses of a crime is the ‘highest and best use of the military.’". "Did he ever read To Kill a Mockingbird? Did he ever wonder what might happen if the accused were immediately executed without trial or representation??" the Kentucky senator added. "What a despicable and thoughtless sentiment it is to glorify killing someone without a trial," he continued. On Tuesday, President Trump said that a U.S. military "kinetic" strike killed 11 "terrorists" on a "drug vessel" in the Caribbean in the wake of leaving Venezuela. According to the administration, the Tuesday morning strike hit a boat with members of Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan transnational gang that is designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the U.S. government. Axios [9/7/2025 11:23 AM, Avery Lotz, 14595K] reports that top Democrats said they were left in the dark ahead of the operation. Senate national security and leadership staff were set to be briefed about the strike last week, but Trump’s team abruptly canceled the session. Under the second Trump administration, the U.S. has entered an era where narcotraffickers are considered terrorists that the president claims the U.S. has the right to kill. Driving the news: Asked on CNN’s "State of the Union" Sunday about the president’s authority to conduct such strikes, border czar Tom Homan said "that’s a question for the Department of Justice or ... Department of Defense," which President Trump has ordered to be rebranded as the Department of War. But he said Trump "made the right decision ... when he classified these cartels and these gangs as terrorist organizations," later adding he supports the president’s action.

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CNN [9/8/2025 3:00 AM, Danya Gainor, 23245K] reports whispers that federal immigration enforcement was imminent ricocheted across Chicago over the weekend as organizers postponed public events and advocates handed out flyers reminding people about their rights in the face of an immigration agent. By Sunday, White House border czar Tom Homan confirmed those plans for federal immigration agents to head to Chicago and other sanctuary cities this week, calling them "problem areas," following signals from the Trump administration that raids would surge and after a weekend of fears gripped several states. "You can expect action in most sanctuary cities across the country," Homan told CNN’s Jake Tapper on "State of the Union.” The announcement followed a massive immigration raid at a sprawling Hyundai manufacturing plant in southeast Georgia on Thursday, when hundreds were detained, many of them South Korean nationals. While it didn’t take place in a sanctuary city, the raid was the largest sweep yet by the Trump administration and was a preview, Homan told CNN, of the more extensive enforcement actions to come. Chicago officials have been monitoring days of warnings that federal raids are near, and though the city braced for them over the weekend, the escalation landed farther east. The Department of Homeland Security announced a new federal immigration enforcement effort in Massachusetts focused on deporting criminals who entered the country illegally. "ICE launched ‘Patriot 2.0’ to target the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens living in the state of Massachusetts, following the success of Operation Patriot in May," a DHS spokesperson told CNN on Sunday. The statement blamed Boston’s Democratic Mayor Michelle Wu for so-called sanctuary city polices that it said "not only attract and harbor criminals but also place these public safety threats above the interests of law-abiding American citizens," vowing that DHS will arrest criminals released by local authorities. The Boston and planned Chicago operations are being modeled after the immigration arrests in Los Angeles in June that yielded a number of legal battles for the administration. In tandem with the threats of a new wave of immigration raids, some cities are bracing for the potential for the president to deploy National Guard troops in his effort to crack down on crime. On Sunday, President Donald Trump said his administration would decide where to send the troops "over the next day or two.” In Washington, DC, where more than 2,200 National Guard troops armed with weapons have roamed for weeks, officials are suing the Trump administration, accusing the president of violating the Constitution and federal law by sending troops into the city without consent from local leaders. The lawsuit, filed Thursday by DC Attorney General Brian Schwalb, claims the troops – many from out of state – have been deputized by the US Marshals office and are patrolling neighborhoods, conducting searches and making arrests, despite federal laws that generally bar the military from acting as local police.

CNN [9/7/2025 9:38 PM, Maureen Chowdhury, Amir Vera and Isabelle D’Antonio, 23245K]
President Donald Trump said Sunday that a decision on a crackdown on crime in Chicago will come in the "next day or two.” "Chicago is a very dangerous place, and we have a governor that doesn’t care about crime. I guess we could solve Chicago very quickly, but we’re going to make a decision as to where we go over the next day or two," he told reporters after arriving back in Washington. He went on to tout reduced crime in Washington, DC, after the federal law enforcement takeover in the district, saying, "When you look at what happened to DC in a short period of time, honestly, it’s amazing. Over a period of 12 days. In other words, on the 12th day, we had the crime just about solved.” Trump has repeatedly claimed in recent days that there is no crime in DC since his crackdown. As CNN has fact-checked, crime is down since Trump took over the city’s police force and deployed the National Guard last month, but it does continue to exist. Trump has been threatening for weeks to send National Guard troops to Chicago, and he posted a meme on social media Saturday saying that the city "will find out why it’s called the Department of WAR.” In recent days, personnel from Immigration and Border Protection as well as Customs and Border Protection have begun trickling into the city, White House officials told CNN. The Trump administration has also reserved the right to call in the National Guard if there is a reaction to the operation that warrants it, the officials said. NewsMax [9/7/2025 8:07 PM, Brian Freeman, 4779K] reports Responding to Democrat criticism that he is going to war with an American city, President Donald Trump on Sunday denied that is what he is doing, The Hill reported. Asked whether he was "threatening to go to war with Chicago," Trump told reporters that "we’re not going to war. We’re going to clean up our cities. We’re going to clean them up, so they don’t kill five people every weekend. That’s not war. That’s common sense." Trump on Saturday posted an artificially generated image of his likeness as a law enforcement officer, with a background that included a depiction of Chicago burning, several helicopters, and text that read, "Chipocalypse Now." The president also wrote that Chicago is "about to find out why it’s called the Department of WAR." Following that statement, Democrat Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker harshly criticized Trump, writing that "the president of the United States is threatening to go to war with an American city. This is not a joke. This is not normal." The governor added that "Donald Trump isn’t a strongman, he’s a scared man. Illinois won’t be intimidated by a wannabe dictator." Trump border czar Tom Homan said Sunday that Chicago should "absolutely" expect action to enforce immigration laws in the city this week, The Hill reported, emphasizing that such action could include the National Guard.

NBC News [9/7/2025 7:37 PM, Staff, 43603K] Video: HERE reports the war of words between President Trump and Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker (D) escalated over the weekend, with Pritzker accusing the president of wanting to “go to war” with the nation’s third-largest city, an accusation the president has denied. It comes as federal officials launched a new immigration enforcement operation in Boston. NBC News’ Yamiche Alcindor reports.

Chicago Tribune [9/7/2025 6:06 PM, Rick Pearson, 5352K] reports insisting a surge of federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement will occur in Chicago and other sanctuary cities, U.S. border czar Tom Homan on Sunday warned anti-ICE activists "you’re going to jail" if they cross the line from peaceful protests and suggested instead they should rally against Congress. President Donald Trump and Homan also sought to downplay controversy over Trump’s social media post on Saturday in which the president declared, "Chicago about to find out why it’s called the Department of WAR." The posting generated angst and accusations that the Republican president was declaring war on a major Democrat-led city. Asked by a reporter at the White House on Sunday as he prepared to depart for the U.S. Open men’s singles tennis championship in New York if he was "ready to go to war with Chicago," Trump responded by berating the reporter for dealing with "fake news" and called her "second-rate.” "We’re not going to war. We’re going to clean up our cities. We’re going to clean them up so they don’t kill five people every weekend. That’s not war. That’s common sense," Trump said. But Democratic U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth said it was "clear the president of the United States essentially just declared war on a major city in his own nation.” "I take what the president of the United States says very seriously, because that is the respect you have to give the office," said the Iraq War veteran. "And if that’s what he’s declaring, then let me make it clear, it would be an illegal order to declare war on a major city, any city, within the United States.” The appearances on social media and on national television came as sweeping federal immigration enforcement actions that were threatened and predicted to start in Chicago and the suburbs over the weekend did not materialize by late afternoon Sunday. Homan, appearing on Fox News’ "Sunday Morning Futures" program, said federal prosecutors across the country are ready to prosecute any acts taken against ICE officers under a "zero tolerance" policy backed by Trump. "You throw a stone, you’re going to jail. You put hands on an ICE officer, you’re going to jail. You make a threat either online or in person, you’re going to jail," Homan said, contending many protesters of immigration enforcement activities were "being paid" and that efforts were underway to find who was paying them. "Look, here’s what people need to understand: ICE is enforcing the laws enacted by Congress. There are appropriated funding to enforce these laws. If you don’t like what ICE does, go protest Congress because we’re not making this stuff up," Homan said.

Politico [9/7/2025 1:24 PM, Cheyanne M. Daniels, 2100K] reports Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) said federal officials disappeared from a Navy base near Chicago on Friday after Democrats announced they would tour the facility ahead of the arrival of immigration officers. In an interview with host Margaret Brennan on CBS’ “Face the Nation,” Duckworth said when she joined fellow Illinois Democrats Sen. Dick Durbin and Rep. Brad Schneider for a tour of the Naval Station Great Lakes, Department of Homeland Security officials had given staff the day off, “locked the doors and left the base.” “Basically, they fled the base,” Duckworth said. Naval Station Great Lakes, which opened in 1911, is the site for boot camp for Naval trainees. Officials last week said that up to 300 ICE agents would be operating out of the Great Lakes Naval Base as President Donald Trump ramps up his efforts against Democratic-controlled sanctuary cities. Trump also said the administration will deploy the National Guard to the city, drawing outrage from Democrats including Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson. Ahead of the lawmakers’ trip to the base, Duckworth said, she and her colleagues asked DHS if they could come tour the facility to have a “better understanding of what your operations are.” DHS officials, she said, replied no. “This is not the action of someone that’s doing something legal or that they’re- that they’re proud of,” said Duckworth. Navy officials that were on the base during the Democrats’ tour told them that the assistance they’ve been requested to provide so far is only office space for ICE, Duckworth added. While it is unclear when ICE officials or the National Guard will be sent to Chicago, Trump on Saturday said his administration will go to “WAR” with the city of Chicago. The Hill [9/7/2025 11:10 PM, Tara Suter, 12414K] reports Trump border czar Tom Homan confirmed late last month that the Trump administration was discussing using Naval Station Great Lakes, which is near Chicago, to back up immigration detention efforts. Duckworth said she, Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Rep. Brad Schneider (D-Ill.) had asked DHS about what they were doing at the Naval Station Great Lakes. Initially, DHS told the lawmakers they could not visit the base, Duckworth said. "Senator Durbin, myself, Senator — Congressman Schneider sent a request into DHS to ask them to explain what exactly are you going to be doing at Great Lakes, and can we come look at your facility so we have a better understanding of what your operations are, and they replied, no, you can’t, and, in fact, gave their staff the day off on the day that we went to go look at the facilities and locked the doors and left the base," Duckworth told CBS’s Margaret Brennan on "Face the Nation," referencing Naval Station Great Lakes. "Basically, they fled the base," she added. Homan on Sunday said that Chicago and other "sanctuary cities" should expect to experience immigration enforcement action in the following week. "Absolutely," Homan in a CNN’s "State of the Union" appearance in response to being directly questioned about enforcement action in Chicago this week. "You can expect action in most sanctuary cities across the country," he continued. "President Trump’s prioritized sanctuary cities because sanctuary cities knowingly release illegal alien public safety threats to the streets every day. That’s where the problem is.” "We don’t have that problem in Florida, where every sheriff and chief works for us, right, or Texas, so we got to send additional resources to the problem areas, which are sanctuary cities," he added. The Hill has reached out to DHS for comment.

Chicago Tribune [9/7/2025 3:16 PM, Adriana Pérez, 5352K] reports the city of Chicago deployed salt trucks to a peaceful protest and the Taste of Chicago festival on Saturday, a routine practice to support public safety efforts at events where large crowds are present, a spokesperson for the city Department of Streets and Sanitation said. Rumors circulating on social media over the weekend suggested the fleet of trucks had been deployed to block off federal immigration activity as the city prepares for a sweeping crackdown. President Donald Trump has signaled that he may authorize the use of military assets, specifically the National Guard, as part of a stepped-up operation by federal agencies under the Department of Homeland Security, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement, anticipated to begin as soon as this weekend. But as of Sunday afternoon, there was no evidence of widespread ICE activity. The spokesperson said the trucks were present at an anti-Trump protest that drew thousands downtown and the three-day food festival in Grant Park.

Univision [9/7/2025 12:13 PM, Staff, 4932K] reports a legal aid group has filed a lawsuit to preemptively block any attempt by the Trump administration to deport a dozen Honduran children, claiming it had "credible" information about the secretive plot being prepared. The Arizona-based Florence Immigrant & Refugee Rights Project (FIRRP) on Friday added the Honduran children to a lawsuit filed last weekend that led a judge to temporarily block the deportation of dozens of migrant children to their native Guatemala. In a statement, FIRRP said it had received reports that the U.S. government “will imminently move forward with a plan to unlawfully expel Honduran children in government custody as soon as this weekend, in direct violation of their right to seek protection in the United States and despite ongoing litigation that has blocked similar attempts at extralegal expulsions of Guatemalan children.” The organization did not provide details to the AP about the information it had received regarding the possible deportation of the Honduran children. The amended complaint is sealed in federal court.

AP [9/7/2025 8:54 AM, Ben Finley, 37974K] reports President Donald Trump has promised to remove millions of people from the United States in the largest deportation program in American history. But his immigration agenda is facing various tests in the U.S. courts. For example, a federal appeals court ruled last week that the Trump administration cannot use an 18th-century wartime law to speed deportations of alleged Venezuelan gang members, setting up a likely return showdown at the Supreme Court. The Trump administration has used the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to remove people it accused of being in the Tren de Aragua gang, arguing it’s an invading force. The administration deported people it designated as members to a notorious prison in El Salvador and argued that American courts could not order them freed. The Alien Enemies Act was only used three times before in U.S. history, all during declared wars — in the War of 1812 and the two world wars. In Tuesday’s ruling by the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, two judges on a three-judge panel agreed with immigrant rights lawyers and lower court judges who argued the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 was not intended to be used against gangs such as Tren de Aragua. President Trump issued an executive order that attempts to redefine birthright citizenship under the 14th Amendment. A federal appeals court in San Francisco ruled in late July that Trump’s order is unconstitutional, affirming a lower-court decision in New Hampshire that blocked the order’s enforcement nationwide. The Trump administration has been sending people to countries where they have no ties, including El Salvador in Central America and the African nation of South Sudan. Trump officials have said these immigrants often come from countries that won’t take them back or were convicted of violent crimes. Advocacy groups sued this year, arguing that people’s due process rights were being violated and that immigrants were being sent to countries with long histories of human rights violations. Earlier this year, U.S. immigration authorities began conducting mass immigration raids in Southern California, rounding up predominantly Latino immigrants from locations like car washes, Home Depots, and bus stops, even sometimes ensnaring U.S. citizens. The practice prompted a lawsuit by immigrant advocacy groups that accused the administration of systematically targeting brown-skinned people in the region. The Justice Department has argued that federal agents are allowed to consider factors like race or ethnicity and occupations in an area it considers a “top enforcement priority.” The Trump administration filed an emergency petition in early August that asks the Supreme Court to halt the lower court’s ruling, with Solicitor General D. John Sauer arguing that it puts a “straitjacket” on federal agents. The Trump administration has sought to end programs that offer legal yet temporary authorization for people to live and work in the U.S. if conditions in their homelands are deemed unsafe. On the East Coast, the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is deciding whether to uphold a Boston judge’s order halting humanitarian parole terminations for roughly 430,000 migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela. The Department of Homeland Security announced in January that it was expanding the use of expedited removal, a fast-track deportation process for migrants who came to the country illegally and have been here less than two years. It allows for their removal without appearing before a judge first.

FOX News [9/7/2025 1:34 PM, Taylor Penley, 40019K] reports Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. detailed new information on migrant children allegedly lost under the Biden administration, accusing officials of putting "speed over safety" in a rush to process minors. "What we’ve discovered is there were 476,000 unaccompanied children who were lost during the Biden administration," Kennedy said during a "Fox & Friends Weekend" interview on Sunday. "They wanted to show, above all things, that they were getting the kids out of the cages, so they were not doing security checks on the people who came to pick them up.” He accused Biden officials of neglecting basic safeguards—failing to conduct DNA testing, fingerprinting, identification checks, and other measures to verify adults claiming to be children’s parents. Under the Trump administration, however, Kennedy said those practices have been overhauled. "We’re doing income verification, we’re doing DNA testing, fingerprinting on everybody who comes in and says that they’re a parent. We are knocking on doors, trying to find the kids who are lost," he shared. So far, Kennedy claimed, federal officials have knocked on about 82,000 doors and recovered roughly 22,000 children. "We’re going to keep doing that for the next three-and-a-half years and try to find every kid that was lost," he added. According to an August 2024 report from the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) transferred more than 448,000 unaccompanied migrant children to HHS between fiscal years 2019 and 2023. The report found that ICE was unable to fully monitor the whereabouts of many of those children after release and noted lapses in tracking and follow-up, including failures to ensure court appearances.

Reuters [9/8/2025 12:23 AM, Deisy Buitrago, 45746K] reports Venezuela pledged on Sunday to sharply boost troops in coastal states to tackle drug trafficking - a move that comes after the U.S. ordered the deployment of an additional 10 fighter jets to Puerto Rico to carry out operations against drug cartels. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has ordered more troops in the Guajira region of Zulia state and the Paraguana peninsula in Falcon, Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino said, adding that the area constituted "a drug trafficking route". The military’s presence on the island of Nueva Esparta and in the states of Sucre and Delta Amacuro will also be expanded. Some 25,000 troops are set to be deployed, up from the 10,000 which have been deployed in the states of Zulia and Tachira that border Colombia, he said. "No one is going to come and do the work for us. No one is going to step on this land and do what we’re supposed to do," Padrino said in a video uploaded to social media. Tensions between Venezuela and the U.S. have escalated in the wake of President Donald Trump’s new approach to fighting the war on illegal narcotics. The deployment of the jets adds to a U.S. military buildup in the Caribbean, and comes after a U.S. military strike last week that killed 11 people and sank a boat from Venezuela which Trump said was transporting drugs. Maduro has accused the U.S. of seeking a regime change. Trump said on Friday that the United States is not talking about a regime change, but compared the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Americans in overdoses to war dead, as he sought to justify the muscular military activity in the Caribbean. The U.S. president is weighing options for further strikes, including potentially attacking suspected drug cartel targets inside Venezuela, CNN reported on Friday, citing multiple sources briefed on the administration’s plans. Such a strike would mark a major escalation.

Los Angeles Times [9/7/2025 3:12 PM, Augusta Saraiva, 12715K] reports one of the fastest-growing groups of U.S. consumers is hitting the brakes. What started a few months ago with makers of beer brands like Modelo warning of a pullback among Latino customers as anxiety about immigration raids and tariffs set in has now extended to other parts of the economy. Consumption by Latino families barely rose in the year through June, according to research firm Numerator. Spending by white and Black households, meanwhile, continued to grow, albeit at a slower pace than seen in 2024. Latino — who account for almost 20% of the U.S. population — have been a key engine powering consumer spending during the pandemic recovery, but the group is starting to bend after years of price increases and a cooling labor market. From restaurant chains like Jack in the Box Inc. to discount retailer Ross Stores Inc., a growing number of companies that rely on that group for a sizable part of their business have noted the pullback on recent earnings calls. Latinos as a whole earn less than the national average, and lower-income families — regardless of their ethnicity — have been struggling with higher costs of living. "Hispanic households are experiencing disproportionate financial headwinds," said Shawn Paustian, an analyst at Numerator. "These consumers can no longer absorb rising costs — many are compensating by trading down to lower-priced brands or purchasing smaller pack sizes to manage budgets.” President Trump’s crackdown on unauthorized immigrants has also had a chilling effect — even among the majority of Latinos who are either citizens or have legal status. "We are partying less, we’re gathering less, we’re using more delivery services, therefore we’re consuming less," said Ana Valdez, president of the Latino Donor Collaborative, a nonprofit providing data and research on that community. "Latinos are feeling it and it’s impacting our consumption even if we’re completely, legitimately here.” Constellation Brands Inc., the maker of Corona and Modelo, said this week that Latinos, who make up about half of its beer customers, are buying less high-end beer than they used to. "Their shopping behavior has changed," Chief Executive Officer Bill Newlands said at a conference.

Wall Street Journal [9/7/2025 4:33 PM, Staff, 646K] reports the sweeping ICE operation in Georgia Thursday that rounded up some 475 illegal workers at a showcase development project is intended as a warning to employers nationwide. It also illustrates the America First contradiction of demanding foreign investment in the U.S. while shrinking the available workforce. The raid targeted an electric battery manufacturing plant under construction to serve the U.S. market. The plant is a project of Hyundai, which makes electric vehicles at a plant nearby, and LG Energy Solution, a U.S. branch of another South Korean giant. Most of the arrested were Korean nationals, while some were Mexican. A Homeland Security spokesman told the press the migrants either crossed the border illegally, overstayed their visas, or arrived on visas that didn’t allow them to work. That last point is important because it suggests some of the Koreans may have been here temporarily to supervise construction or to train Americans. Quality control is crucial to a successful manufacturing operation, and companies often bring in experienced employers from the home country to ensure it. Both Korean companies said they follow immigration law and are cooperating with ICE. But some of the illegal migrants may have worked for contractors helping to build the battery plant. The construction industry can’t find enough American workers these days, so migrants with fake documentation often fill the gap. The eternity it takes to build anything in the U.S. would be worse without these workers. Americans want the law enforced, but raiding legal workplaces isn’t going after criminal gangs or murderers. The Georgia raid shows the Trump Administration’s priority is deporting every illegal migrant no matter how long they have worked here. This makes every employer a potential target of an ICE raid if the agency suspects foreigners are working there. This is already having a notable impact on the U.S. labor market, as recent monthly jobs reports suggest. It’s hard to know how much the foreign-born workforce is shrinking, and that will be clearer as seasonally adjusted data arrive. But If President Trump wants a smaller U.S. population, he is going to get a weaker labor market and economy for Americans. How about asking Congress to create more legal ways to enter and work in the U.S.?

The Hill [9/7/2025 9:00 AM, Corey Kvasnick, 12414K] reports they are now painting the border wall black. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem recently announced that, at President Trump’s request, the steel fence along our southern border will be coated in dark paint so it heats under the sun and becomes harder to climb. But isn’t that like decorating the house before you’ve built the roof? This structure, once Trump’s rallying cry, has been lost in all the noise of his second term. I had nearly forgotten it myself, until I saw pictures of men with paint rollers freshening up the unfinished monument. Trump promised a "big, beautiful wall" stretching along the 1,954 miles of the southern U.S. border, which he once claimed Mexico would pay for. What he delivered in his first term was about 450 miles of fencing, the majority of it replacing existing structures. The vision of a continuous wall was never realized. This wasn’t for lack of trying, his defenders say. Democrats in Congress refused to hand over tens of billions for construction. In 2019, Trump’s demand for funding sparked the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. When he declared a national emergency to redirect military money, lawsuits followed. Landowners in Texas filed court cases over eminent domain, further bogging the project down. Trump’s allies argue this proves he was sabotaged by the system. But obstacles are not an excuse. Governing means anticipating resistance and navigating it. A leader who makes a promise is responsible for results, not explanations. Even if Democrats did slow him down, Trump’s own camp eroded the project from within. Costs ballooned across the board, with the CATO Institute estimating them at $24.4 million per mile — 41 percent above the Department of Homeland Security’s original projections. The result is a half-finished wall that perfectly symbolizes Trump’s tenure: loud, polarizing, and poorly executed in the end.

NBC’s Meet the Press [9/7/2025 2:12 PM, Staff] reports President Trump’s threat to send in federal troops to more cities. Governor Moore and Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott just announced that they are actually stepping up law enforcement in Baltimore. Baltimore, is still has the nation’s fourth highest murder rate in the country. Why not accept the president’s offer to send in National Guard troops? "We would absolutely accept the offer for federal supports, that you know, the president’s proposed budget actually cuts supports for the FBI and ATF bureaus, which are things we actually could use, that the president, when you’re looking at the Big Beautiful Bill, it actually cut $30 million of funding for violence prevention programs that are happening in the city of Baltimore and across the state of Maryland. And when I first came onboard, I was very clear that public safety was going to be our number one priority. And we have made historic investments in local law enforcement, historic investments in technologies and making sure that if someone commits a violent crime with a hand gun, we want them in handcuffs in 24 hours. So the work is happening. And actually, if you’re looking at the same time period of this D.C. occupation, this federal surge, if you look at assaults with a deadly weapon, they’ve actually increased in D.C. by 8%; in Baltimore, have decreased by 10%. And on every other major indicator, from homicide, to car jacking, you could say that Baltimore has actually had the same type of drop as Washington D.C. has had during this period. And we didn’t mobilize the National Guard for it." Moore stated.

CNN’s State of the Union With Jake Tapper and Dana Bash [9/7/2025 12:50 PM, Staff, 410K] reports President Trump is escalating his threats against the city of Chicago. Yesterday, he posted this meme that says: "I love the smell of deportations in the morning. Chicago is about to find out why it’s called the Department of War," the image based on the film "Apocalypse Now," which -- with Trump as the character from the movie Lieutenant Kilgore. In the movie, he had just napalmed a Vietnamese village. The governor of Illinois responded to President Trump’s post. He wrote "The president of the United States is threatening to go to war with an American city. This is not a joke. This is not normal. Donald Trump isn’t a strongman. He’s a scared man. Illinois won’t be intimidated by a wannabe dictator." Is President Trump planning to go to war in Chicago? Border Czar Tom Homan says President Trumps words are being taken out of context. "If I said we’re going to war, we’re going to war with the criminal cartels. We’re going to war with illegal aliens, public safety threats that rape children, that raped citizens, that committed armed robberies, that distribute narcotics that kill Americans. We’re at war with the criminal cartels. And Governor Pritzker protects criminal illegal aliens, public safety threats every day in that state, along with Mayor Johnson. We proved that. The first week of the administration, I went to Chicago. I started an operation there. The first day, we arrested nine sexual predators, most of them child rapists. We arrested nine members of the TDA. Several of those TDA members had a pistol, an illegal pistol with a switch on it, which makes that pistol fully automatic. We arrested two illegal aliens that had a homicide conviction. That was the first day in Chicago. So, President Trump and this administration, yes, we’re at war with the criminal cartels and those who want to murder and rape American citizens. You’re damn right." Homan states.

ABC’s This Week With George Stephanopoulos [9/7/2025 10:46 AM, Staff, 1824K] reports that two-week deadline for Vladimir Putin from President Trump has now passed with no relief from Russian attacks on Ukraine, including a massive air assault overnight. Chief global affairs anchor Martha Raddatz is on the scene in Ukraine for an exclusive interview with President Zelenskyy. The meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at this hollowed out American owned factory here in Western Ukraine, destroyed by Russian cruise missiles two weeks ago. All 600 employees made it to the nearby bunker, but 23 were injured. By targeting the American-owned building, did Putin targeted this on purpose? "I think nobody knows. Maybe only God. Yes, but Putin knows what he’s doing. Here 1,000 kilometers, the distance to the front, even a little bit more." President Zelenskyy comments. This region in Southwest Ukraine hundreds and hundreds of miles from the front line has rarely been hit over the course of the war. The factory produces everyday items from coffee machines to lamps to printer cartridges and is the largest employer in the region.

Breitbart [9/7/2025 10:35 AM, Amy Furr, 2608K] Video HERE reports U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents have launched an operation in Massachusetts to nab criminal illegal aliens as President Donald Trump’s administration works to arrest such individuals across the nation. A senior spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said ICE is calling the effort Operation Patriot 2.0, NBC Boston reported on Saturday. The outlet noted that an earlier effort dubbed Operation Patriot yielded 1,500 arrests in May. The report continued: In the new statement, the DHS spokesperson, who didn’t give their name, referred to the initial operation as a success, and derided the so-called sanctuary policy of Boston and its mayor, Michelle Wu, as privileging criminals over U.S. citizens. “Sanctuary policies like those pushed by Mayor Wu not only attract and harbor criminals but also place these public safety threats above the interests of law-abiding American citizens. ICE is arresting sex offenders, pedophiles, murderers, drug dealers, and gang members released by local authorities,” the statement said. Police officers in Boston have reportedly been defying Wu by secretly giving immigration officials information to help them arrest criminal illegals, acting ICE Director Todd Lyons said in August, according to Breitbart News. He added, “We have so many men and women on the Boston Police Department and other jurisdictions that are so pro-ICE, that want to work with us and that are actually helping us behind the scenes.” [Editorial note: consult video at source link]

Daily Caller [9/7/2025 1:21 PM, Mark Tanos, 985K] reports Durham City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to declare the city a "Fourth Amendment Workplace," shielding municipal employees in the North Carolina city from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids without proper warrants. The resolution directs city staff to "uphold the 4th amendment at their workplace and city agencies and report back to Council any barriers to effective training on the 4th Amendment for any departments," The Chronicle reported. Durham becomes the second Triangle-area city to adopt such protections after Carrboro passed a similar measure in May. The vote followed a July incident where four plainclothes ICE agents appeared at the Durham County Courthouse to detain an undocumented individual charged with a felony. Though no arrests occurred, the agents’ presence sparked immediate protests, with residents organizing a march from the courthouse that same day, according to the outlet. A North Carolina city declared itself a "Fourth Amendment Workplace" amid what it described as "unconstitutional" U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids and arrests. "Our residents witnessed ICE agents in our community, instilling widespread fear and uncertainty," Mayor Leo Williams said. "While local leaders cannot legally override the federal government’s use and weaponization of ICE, we can and must stand in strategic solidarity with our neighbors."

NPR [9/7/2025 9:01 AM, Kat Lonsdorf, 34837K] Audio: HERE reports a Mexican Independence Day parade went on as planned, despite fears of increased immigration enforcement from the Trump administration in Chicago this weekend. There were also some protests in Chicago, where the president has threatened federal intervention.

AP [9/7/2025 6:50 PM, Sophia Tareen, 37974K] reports the Rev. Marshall Hatch urged congregants of a prominent Black church on Chicago’s West Side to carry identification, stay connected to family and protest as the city readied for an expected federal intervention. "You need to start telling people about your whereabouts, so you don’t disappear," Hatch said during Sunday services at New Mount Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church. "We’re not going to despair. We’re not going to feel threatened. We’re not going to give up and give in to fascism and authoritarianism.” As Chicago braced for an immigration enforcement crackdown and a possible National Guard deployment, churches across the city turned up their response from the pulpit. Some worked to quell fears about detention and deportation while others addressed the looming possibility of more law enforcement on the streets of the nation’s third-largest city. President Donald Trump has threatened federal intervention in Democratic strongholds, most recently warning apocalyptic force could be used in Chicago to fight crime and step up deportations. He’s repeatedly cited the expected plans over fierce objections from local leaders and many residents who call it unnecessary and unwanted. While fears have been high in immigrant circles since Trump took office the second time, the threat of more federal agencies and troops has also inflamed tensions, particularly in Black and Latino communities where trust in police is fragile. Among the church attendees was Lester Burks, a 74-year-old U.S. Army veteran who said a military presence in Chicago would be threatening. "I don’t want soldiers here," he said. "They are trained to fight.” Details on the expected intervention have been sparse, including its focus and when it’s expected to begin. Trump’s border czar Tom Homan said Sunday on CNN’s "State of the Union" that federal law enforcement action will come to Chicago this week. He also promised more worksite enforcement operations like the massive one at a Hyundai plant in Georgia. "You can expect action in most sanctuary cities across the country," he said.

CBS 4 El Paso [9/7/2025 2:37 PM, Devan Esparza] reports the Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced Sunday that a human smuggling scheme has been dismantled in El Paso, following a series of actions taken by HSI and Border Patrol resulting in 35 arrests. According to a social media post by Noem, the case began after a driver rolled over while trying to evade U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Two Mexican nationals were taken into custody on smuggling charges at the scene. A subsequent operation at a stash house connected to the scheme resulted in 28 additional arrests. In total, authorities detained 35 individuals linked to the operation. Of those arrested, 25 remain in ICE custody pending removal proceedings. Eight others were charged with illegal re-entry and transferred to the U.S. Marshals Service. The two accused smugglers now face federal prosecution. “This is law and order in action,” Noem said in a statement. “Human smugglers take note: do not attempt these reckless schemes. We will find you, we will prosecute you, and you will face the full weight of justice.

The Hill [9/7/2025 12:56 PM, Sarah Fortinsky, 12414K] reports Rep. Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.), whose district includes 180 miles of the southern border, said Democrats are ready to commit to immigration enforcement as part of an agreement to provide a pathway to citizenship. In an interview on NewsNation’s "The Hill Sunday," moderator Chris Stirewalt noted that Democrats ceded the upper hand on the issue because of the surge in immigration after COVID and the way it was handled. "Are Democrats ready to embrace the enforcement side? Do you hear, when you talk to your fellow Democrats, there is a willingness and readiness to accept the enforcement side of the equation?" Stirewalt asked. "Democrats are ready," Vasquez said, acknowledging the "complexities on both sides." "So yes, border security has to be the foundation of our plan moving forward, but you also can’t do that without immigration reform and without consideration for the American economy," he continued. "The truth is, we need all of those things to work together in order for us to give the American people what they want, which is a fair and humane process, a secure border."

CBS News [9/7/2025 2:02 PM, Emily Mae Czachor, 45245K] reports a man from Mexico in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody died last week at a hospital in Arizona, the federal agency said. He had been detained at the Central Arizona Correctional Complex, in the town of Florence, and was pronounced dead by a doctor at the Mountain Vista Medical Center, near Phoenix, on the morning of Aug. 31, according to ICE. The agency said his cause of death was unknown and remained under investigation. Lorenzo Antonio Batrez Vargas, 32, was a citizen of Mexico who had been arrested by Flagstaff police on Aug. 2 and charged with possession and use of drug paraphernalia, which is a felony. Immigration enforcement agents said they took Vargas into custody in Phoenix before transferring him to the detention center in Florence. Vargas had been arrested at least twice before by Flagstaff police, according to ICE. The agency said he was convicted by the Flagstaff Municipal Court of driving under the influence in 2018 and 2024, with the latter conviction resulting in a sentence of 10 days in confinement. ICE said its agents notified the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the Office of Inspector General, and the ICE Office of Professional Responsibility of Vargas’ death, which is required by agency policies. They also notified the Mexican Embassy.

Axios [9/7/2025 8:35 AM, Brittany Gibson, 14595K] reports the Trump administration is planning to make the test to become a U.S. citizen more difficult, possibly with an essay requirement that would help give officials wide discretion on which immigrants are approved. As President Trump pushes for mass deportations of unauthorized immigrants, his team also wants to narrow pathways to legal immigration — a plan that’s already drawing criticism from immigration advocates. The essay plan is emerging days after administration officials said they would apply increased scrutiny on whether citizenship applicants meet a standard for "good moral character." Joseph Edlow, director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), told Axios he believes the Biden administration made standards too lax, leading the government to revoke some citizenship approvals granted previously. Edlow said he’s already referred multiple cases for denaturalization to the Department of Justice. More referrals are coming, he said, but he wouldn’t say how many. Edlow said the current citizenship exam is too easy to pass. "Ultimately, what I’d like to see is moving to a standardized test where an applicant goes beforehand to a testing center, answers the questions, we’ll get a sense of whether they understand what’s going on," he said, as opposed to the current 10-question civics test. Edlow also envisions an essay question on a subject such as, "What does it mean to be an American?" or "Who was your favorite founding father?" — "or something that is going to really show an attachment to the Constitution." The timeline for rolling out the new test isn’t set, Edlow said, but he hopes to make changes "to the extent in the next year that I can." NewsMax [9/7/2025 2:24 PM, Eric Mack, 4779K] reports "We’re looking for actual understanding and ability to read and speak and write the English language; and, frankly, this test is just too easy: Six out of 10 questions right now is what people have to get right," Edlow said earlier this week. "The bottom line is we need a naturalization test that ensures immigrants truly understand and embrace the responsibilities of American citizenship.” The redesign is hoping to come forward soon, barring obstruction from anti-Trump forces seeking to stop progress on American immigration reform. Speaking at a Center for Immigration Studies event in Washington, D.C., Edlow said he was "declaring war on fraud" in the naturalization process.

New York Post [9/7/2025 6:23 PM, Ronny Reyes, 43962K] reports twelve people have been charged with running an $18 million human smuggling ring that brought hundreds of Cuban nationals into the US, the Department of Justice said. US Attorney General Pam Bondi’s office said the group promoted bogus visa services from January 2021 through June 2025, tricking Cubans into thinking that they could enter America legally by posing as European citizens. The group would go on to fabricate documents, charter private planes and launder money through the Zelle payment app as the operation swelled into a multi-million dollar venture to skirt US asylum laws. "We will not rest until those who profit from the suffering of vulnerable people — including many unaccompanied children — face severe, comprehensive justice," Bondi said in a statement Thursday. Officials said the defendants operated the fake business called "ASESORIA Y SERVICIOS MIGRATORIOS LLC," which translates to Immigration Advice and Services LLC. The company promoted itself on social media postings as one dedicated to helping immigrants fill out permits and asylum filings, but in reality, the defendants filed hundreds of fake Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) applications to US Customs and Border Protection. The group charged between $1,500 and $40,000 per victim, using Zelle to conduct about $7 million in transfers throughout the four-year operation, the DOJ said.

Washington Post [9/7/2025 8:31 AM, Annabelle Timsit, 29079K] reports global postal traffic to the United States dropped dramatically immediately after the Trump administration ended an exemption allowing goods worth $800 or less to enter the country duty-free, the United Nations postal organization says. According to preliminary data from 192 member countries, the Universal Postal Union said Saturday that traffic to the United States declined by 81 percent on Aug. 29 compared with the previous Friday, underscoring some of the disruption that accompanied the rule change. The de minimis exemption expired at 12:01 a.m. that day, meaning that low-value parcels are now subject to a 10 to 50 percent levy that coincides with the tariff rate of the country of origin, or a flat rate of $80 to $200, depending on which option the merchant chooses. The new rules place the burden of customs duty collection and remittance on transportation carriers or U.S. Customs and Border Protection-approved third parties, the Switzerland-based UPU said. But the agency said carriers signaled that they weren’t willing or able to collect the levies, and postal operators said they did not yet have links with the approved third parties. The change caused “major operational disruptions,” the U.N. agency said — and 88 postal operators notified the UPU that they suspended some or all postal services to the U.S. until a solution was implemented, it added. They included Germany’s Deutsche Post, France’s La Poste and Mexico’s Correos de Mexico. The global network saw postal traffic to the U.S. “come to a near halt after the implementation of the new rules,” the agency said. The White House and CBP did not immediately respond to requests for comment early Sunday.

Reported similarly:
NPR [9/7/2025 1:54 PM, Chandelis Duster, 34837K]
Telemundo52 [9/7/2025 10:24 PM, Staff, 93K]

Politico [9/7/2025 1:30 PM, Ari Hawkins, 14810K] reports Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent acknowledged Sunday that the U.S. may have to refund tens of billions of dollars in tariffs imposed since the start of President Donald Trump’s second term if the Supreme Court rules they are illegal. “We would have to give a refund on about half the tariffs, which would be terrible for the Treasury,” Bessent said in an interview Sunday on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” Asked by anchor Kristen Welker if the administration was prepared to provide those refunds, Bessent replied, “If the court says it, we’d have to do it.” He added that he was confident Trump would win the case. Bessent’s remarks follow two court rulings that found Trump lacked the authority to impose tariffs on nearly every country under a 1970s era emergency law, known as the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. Trump last week asked the Supreme Court to quickly take up the case and hear arguments in early November. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, which decided last month that Trump’s tariffs are illegal, delayed the ruling from going into effect until Oct. 14, keeping those tariffs in place while the administration appeals. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection has collected more than $70 billion in tariff revenue from Trump’s country-specific duties, imposed under emergency authorities — less than half of the more than $180 billion the country has taken in through August of this year. Trade and customs experts have warned that repayments would be a logistical nightmare and would likely trigger a wave of legal challenges from businesses seeking reimbursements. They also said the courts would likely have wide discretion over whether and how to compel refunds.

Telemundo52 [9/7/2025 10:56 PM, Missael Soto, 93K] reports federal agents gathered in Hollywood on Sunday to conduct another immigration raid outside a Home Depot store. According to a witness, the operation took place on Sunday afternoon at the store located on Sunset Boulevard, near Highway 101. Video shared with Telemundo 52 shows masked Border Patrol agents detaining at least two people who were put into an unmarked vehicle. Several passersby approached the unmarked vehicles as federal agents attempted to leave the store parking lot. The images show at least one person being pepper-sprayed by a Border Patrol agent. It is unclear why the operation was carried out at the Home Depot store. Telemundo 52 has contacted DHS and the Border Patrol for details about the operation but has not received a response. In August, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals issued a ruling to uphold a temporary restraining order, granted by a federal judge, on how the federal government conducts immigration enforcement operations in Southern California. The restraining order prohibits the detention of individuals unless the officer or agent "has reasonable suspicion that the person to be detained is in the United States in violation of U.S. immigration law." Officers or agents cannot base that suspicion solely on someone’s apparent race or ethnicity; because they are speaking Spanish or English with an accent; their presence in a particular location such as a bus stop or a place where day laborers are picked up; or their type of work. Several Home Depot stores in Los Angeles County have been the target of immigration raids since June. The Hollywood store, located on Sunset Boulevard, was raided on June 19, resulting in the arrest of several people, including a U.S. citizen. The recent immigration enforcement operations in Los Angeles and other parts of Southern California are part of President Trump’s campaign promise to carry out a mass deportation plan. As of September 7, nearly 61,000 migrants had been detained by ICE since the start of President Trump’s second term, according to NBC News, which used public and internal ICE data, as well as data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection. About 29.9% of those detained had criminal convictions; 25.6% had pending criminal charges; 45% were listed as "other immigration law violators"; and 11.6% were subject to expedited deportation proceedings. [Editorial note: consult video at source link]

New York Post [9/7/2025 10:32 AM, Fabiana Buontempo, 43962K] reports the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has added yet another item to its laundry list of things passengers must be cautious about when packing their luggage. While electric toothbrushes are technically allowed on board, the TSA just released "special instructions" for how people can safely pack them to keep their pearly whites clean while away from home. If your electric toothbrush has a lithium battery installed — it should always be packed in your carry-on luggage, so flight crews can properly recognize and respond to a lithium battery fire, in the event it happens. Any spare or uninstalled lithium batteries must also be placed in a carry-on bag, according to TSA. If you prefer to pack your powered toothbrush in your checked luggage, just make sure it’s "…completely powered off and protected to prevent unintentional activation or damage," the FAA warns, via USA Today. And while you’re checking off your packing to-do list, keep in mind that cordless hair tools, like curling irons and flatirons, powered by gas cartridges or butane, are banned in checked bags. While the TSA will snatch them out of your checked luggage — you don’t have to deal with bad hair days while away from home because you can bring these tools with you as long as they’re safely packed in your carry-on. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has reportedly been pushing for TSA to be a little more lenient on its liquids, aerosols, and gels rule since they eased up on the shoes-off policy. "The day I walked in the door, I started questioning everything TSA does," Noem told NewsNation chief Washington correspondent Blake Burman at the inaugural Hill Nation Summit.

New York Post [9/7/2025 2:51 PM, Ariel Zilber, 43962K] reports Hawaii is bracing for Hurricane Kiko as the state’s acting governor, Sylvia Luke, declared a statewide emergency Friday — with the powerful Pacific storm on a path to batter the state on Monday. "The proclamation activates emergency measures and resources to protect public health, safety and welfare," Luke’s office announced. "Tropical storm-force winds, heavy rainfall and high surf associated with Hurricane Kiko could begin affecting portions of the state as early as Monday, September 8, 2025.” The order activates the Hawaii National Guard, frees up state disaster funds and suspends procurement and regulatory laws to speed storm response. It also authorizes all state agencies to coordinate disaster efforts through at least Sept. 19. Luke vowed Hawaii is ready to respond. "To ensure the safety and preparedness of our communities, the state and counties will stand ready to mobilize resources to clear debris, secure infrastructure, and respond quickly to any possible damage caused by the storm," she said. "We urge residents and visitors to monitor updates, follow official guidance and prepare accordingly.” As of Saturday, Kiko weakened slightly to a Category 3 hurricane roughly 1,000 miles east of Hawaii. Forecasters expect it to lose steam as it pushes northwest into cooler waters and drier air. "The system continues to weaken," James Barros, administrator of the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, told The Post. "On the current track, we don’t anticipate putting the state under a watch or warning. The threat has pretty much declined for us — two days ago there was uncertainty over the entire state, but now the storm has shifted north.” Barros said that state officials were still posturing "in case the forecast is off or the storm shifts south.” "There are still possible impacts, including wind and rain, but we’re not anticipating tropical-storm-force winds," Barros said.

Reuters [9/7/2025 8:24 PM, Amy Tennery, Maria Tsvetkova and Jeff Mason, 45746K] reports the U.S. Open men’s championship match was delayed on Sunday and thousands of seats remained empty when it finally got underway, as security checks related to President Donald Trump’s attendance caused confusion and slowed entry to the iconic New York City event. Fans waited in long lines, some for well over an hour, outside Arthur Ashe Stadium in Queens, the largest tennis venue in the world with a nearly 24,000-person capacity. U.S. Secret Service and other federal security officers checked bags and ushered fans through metal detectors. Some attendees who were still outside booed as the match between rivals Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner kicked off a little before 3 p.m. EDT (1900 GMT). Inside the stadium, Trump was greeted by a mix of cheers and boos when he was shown on the screens. Kevin, a Brooklyn man employed by a private equity firm, said he had waited an hour and 15 minutes and still had not reached the entrance. The man, who declined to give his last name, blamed Trump for the delay. "One hundred percent him. Very selfish. I would expect someone like that to have a little bit more grace to know that an event like this would be held up for him being here, especially in a city that hates him," he said. A Secret Service spokesperson said in a statement, "We recognize that enhanced security for the President’s visit to the U.S. Open may have contributed to delays for attendees. We sincerely thank every fan for their patience and understanding.” The match start time, originally set for 2 p.m. EDT, was pushed back by 30 minutes due to security checks, U.S. Open organizers said shortly before it was set to begin. A spokesperson for the United States Tennis Association, which runs the event, said the tournament had taken steps to try to mitigate any delays, including sending messages to ticket holders over the weekend urging them to arrive early and use mass transit if possible. "We understand the frustration of fans that were delayed in their entrance to Arthur Ashe Stadium," the spokesperson, Brendan McIntyre, said in a statement. "The added security protocols were put in place by the United States Secret Service.” Almost all attendees appeared to have reached their seats about an hour into the match, as Sinner and Alcaraz battled in the second set. Alcaraz ended up clinching victory in the fourth set. Speaking to reporters after flying back to Washington from New York on Sunday, Trump said he "loved" attending the match and praised both players’ "unbelievable talent.”

Reported similarly:
NBC News [9/7/2025 5:56 PM, Marlene Lenthang, 43603K] r

AP [9/7/2025 8:21 PM, Brian Mahoney, 37974K] reports fans enduring a lengthy wait to get into the U.S. Open final booed and chanted "Let us in! Let us in!" when the match between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner began Sunday after a delay. With extra security measures in place because President Donald Trump was watching the match from a suite inside Arthur Ashe Stadium, the U.S. Tennis Association pushed back the start of the match a half-hour from its original 2 p.m. EDT time. But thousands of fans were still far from the entrance to the arena when play eventually began. Some said they were never informed what they would face after they arrived at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Once they went through security to enter the grounds, as usual, there was then another stop to be checked in front of the steps into Ashe, which has nearly 24,000 seats. "We recognize that enhanced security for the President’s visit to the US Open may have contributed to delays for attendees," the Secret Service said in a statement. "We sincerely thank every fan for their patience and understanding. Protecting the President required a comprehensive effort, and we are grateful to the US Tennis community and our New York public safety partners for their essential collaboration and support."

AP [9/7/2025 5:40 PM, Will Weissert, 37974K] reports President Donald Trump was loudly booed at the men’s final of the U.S. Open on Sunday, where extra security caused by his visit led to lines long enough that many people missed the start of play, even after organizers delayed it. Wearing a suit and long, red tie, Trump briefly emerged from his suite about 45 minutes before the match started and heard a mix of boos and cheers from an Arthur Ashe Stadium that was still mostly empty. No announcement proceeded his appearance, and it was brief enough that some in the crowd missed it. Trump appeared again to more boos before the National Anthem. Standing in salute, the president was shown briefly on the arena’s big screens during the anthem, and offered a smirk that briefly made the boos louder. When the anthem was over, the Republican pointed to a small group of supporters seated nearby, then sat on the suite’s balcony to watch the match intently. He mostly didn’t applaud, even following major points that energized the rest of the crowd as Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz bested Jannik Sinner of Italy. Trump was shown on the big screen again after the first set ended, and elicited a roar of louder boos and some piercing whistles. He raised his left fist in salute as the noise continued in the stadium, which with a capacity of 24,000 is one of the largest in tennis. The president later moved back inside the suite, where he was seen seated at a table with family members and appeared to be eating, but he was back in his seat shortly before match point. Cameras briefly flashed on Trump as Alcaraz celebrated, but his reaction to the conclusion was as muted as it had been throughout most of the match. This time, there was little crowd reaction, too. Organizers pushed the start of the match back half an hour to give people more time to pass through enhanced screening checkpoints reminiscent of security at airports. Still, thousands of increasingly frustrated fans remained in line outside as the match got underway. Many seats, especially those in upper rows, stayed empty for nearly an hour. The Secret Service issued a statement saying that protecting Trump “required a comprehensive effort” and noting that it “may have contributed to delays for attendees.” “We sincerely thank every fan for their patience and understanding,” it said. Trump attended the final as a guest of Rolex, despite imposing steep tariffs on the Swiss watchmaker’s home country. The U.S. Tennis Association also tried to limit negative reaction to Trump’s attendance being shown on ABC’s national telecast, saying in a statement before play began: “We regularly ask our broadcasters to refrain from showcasing off-court disruptions.” The reactions to Trump didn’t ultimately constitute big disruptions, though. Going to the U.S. Open was the latest example of Trump having built the bulk of his second term’s domestic travel around attending major sports events rather than hitting the road to make policy announcements or address the kind of large rallies he so relished as a candidate.

CNN [9/8/2025 3:00 AM, Holmes Lybrand, 23245K] reports almost a year since he allegedly perched a rifle through the chain-link fence of a golf club in West Palm Beach, Florida, the 59-year-old man accused of creating a “sniper’s nest” one hole away from where Donald Trump was playing golf will now stand trial. Ryan Routh has chosen to represent himself in the trial, which will feature evidence from prosecutors that includes eyewitness testimony of Routh allegedly fleeing the scene, statements from the people who say they sold him the rifle, and a letter allegedly from Routh confessing: “This was an assassination attempt on Donald Trump.” Jury selection will begin Monday in a federal courthouse in Fort Pierce, Florida, and is being handled by Judge Aileen Cannon, the same judge who dismissed the classified documents case against Trump in 2024 — a case she faced heavy criticism for over the slow pace and detailed, in-person hearings she held for nearly each motion filed. Routh faces five charges, including attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate, assaulting a federal officer, being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number. Often when individuals, especially those who commit crimes against high-profile targets, want to represent themselves, the focus becomes more about getting their message out than mounting a serious defense, Brian Donavant, the chair of criminal justice, social work and sociology at Southeast Missouri State University, told CNN. “They want to use that as a platform,” Donavant said of such defendants, “to get that message out.”

New York Times [9/8/2025 3:34 AM, Orlando Mayorquín and Matt Stevens, 330K] reports the Los Angeles Police Department ended its protection services for former Vice President Kamala Harris on Saturday after facing criticism from an elite unit of its officers and the police union, according to two people familiar with the matter. The police force stopped providing the services for Ms. Harris on Saturday morning, according to a law enforcement official and a person with close ties to the department. They spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss closely held security details. The department said this week that it had assigned officers to assist the California Highway Patrol in providing security for Ms. Harris. The agencies stepped in to fill the security gap that was left after President Trump terminated Ms. Harris’s Secret Service security detail beginning Monday. The U.S. Secret Service usually protects vice presidents for six months after they leave office, but President Joseph R. Biden Jr. had signed an executive order to extend that protection for an additional year for Ms. Harris. The decision to dispatch the Los Angeles police to guard the former vice president was met with swift criticism from officers within one of the department’s specialized units, known as the Metropolitan Division, the people familiar with the matter said. Officers had been reassigned from crime suppression work in the San Fernando Valley, one of those people said. The request for the protection service came as the department was already trying to manage with reduced resources, the law enforcement official said. The Los Angeles Police Protective League, the union that represents L.A.P.D. officers, had criticized the use of police officers to protect Ms. Harris, calling the operation “nuts” and a misuse of taxpayer money. On Saturday, it praised the decision to pull the detail. “We are happy to report that the Metro officers assigned to protect the multimillionaire failed presidential candidate are back on the street fighting crime,” the union’s board of directors said in a statement. On Thursday, local news cameras had captured plainclothes police officers parked outside Ms. Harris’s home in the Brentwood neighborhood of west Los Angeles. “The plan was always to provide temporary support, and I thank L.A.P.D. for protecting former V.P. Harris and always prioritizing the safety of all Angelenos,” Mayor Karen Bass of Los Angeles said in a statement on Saturday.

Reported similarly:
Los Angeles Times [9/7/2025 9:30 AM, Andrew J. Campa, 12715K]

NewsMax [9/7/2025 12:57 PM, Eric Mack, 4779K] reports the FBI is investigating a suspected Chinese cyber campaign in which hackers impersonated Rep. John Moolenaar, R-Mich., the chair of the House committee on U.S.-China competition, in emails sent to trade groups, law firms, and government agencies ahead of high-stakes trade talks with Beijing. "We will not be intimidated," Moolenaar wrote in a statement to The Wall Street Journal. The emails, which appeared to come from a nongovernment address, sought input on draft sanctions legislation and contained malware linked to APT41, a hacking group believed to work with China’s Ministry of State Security, sources told the Journal. The FBI told the paper it was "working with our partners to identify and pursue those responsible.” Cybersecurity analysts said the spyware could have given Beijing access to recommendations provided to the Trump administration as it negotiated tariffs with China in Sweden in July. Beijing has denied the allegations, with the Chinese Embassy saying it opposes hacking and "firmly opposes smearing others without solid evidence.” The episode comes amid a surge in alleged Chinese espionage campaigns, including AI-generated impersonations of senior U.S. officials such as Secretary of State Marco Rubio and White House chief of staff Susie Wiles.

NewsMax [9/7/2025 4:45 PM, Staff, 4779K] reports U.S. authorities are investigating a bogus email purportedly from a Republican lawmaker that contained malware apparently aimed at giving China insights into the Trump administration’s trade talks with Beijing, the Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday. The malware in the email that appeared to be sent by Rep. John Moolenaar in July to U.S. trade groups, law firms, and government agencies was traced by cyber analysts to a hacker group - APT41 - believed to be working for Chinese intelligence, the newspaper said. Moolenaar, a harsh critic of Beijing, is the chairman of a congressional committee focused on strategic competition between China and the United States, including threats to U.S. national security. The email was the latest alleged Beijing-linked hacking operation aimed at giving China insight into recommendations to the White House for contentious trade talks with China, said the Journal, quoting people familiar with the matter. The Chinese embassy in Washington said it was not familiar with the details of the reported attack and that all countries face cyberattacks that are difficult to trace. "China firmly opposes and combats all forms of cyber attacks and cyber crime," it said in an emailed statement. "We also firmly oppose smearing others without solid evidence." The Journal said the first malware email was sent just before U.S.-China trade talks in Sweden that led to an extension of a truce on tariffs until early November, when U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping could meet at an Asian economic summit. The newspaper said that the FBI and the U.S. Capitol Police were investigating the email. It quoted an FBI spokeswoman as saying that the bureau was aware of the email and was "working with our partners to identify and pursue those responsible." The Capitol Police declined to comment, it said.

Breitbart [9/7/2025 3:03 PM, Lowell Cauffiel, 2608K] reports a cyber group known as Purgatory is reportedly behind an alarming spate of AI-enhanced swatting calls that have generated active shooter alerts and the resulting fear and chaos on college campuses in recent weeks. Between August 21 and 25, at least ten universities were disrupted with fake active shooter calls that resulted in lockdowns and costly, large-scale law enforcement responses while spreading panic among students. The group uses AI tools to replicate gunfire and screams while on the phone with local authorities, according to recent findings by the Institute for Strategic Dialogue and the Center for Internet Security (CIS), which last month pinned the practice on the Purgatory group. Wired interviewed the self-proclaimed co-leader of Purgatory, known online as "Gores." He told the publication that the group offers a menu of services, including hoax threats against schools, for a payment of just $20, but swatting hospitals, businesses, and airports can cost up to $50. Purgatory operates on the Telegram and Discord platforms. It is reportedly part of a larger group known as "The Com," described in one report as "a loose cybercriminal network that engages in swatting, sextortion and the distribution of child sex abuse material.” The FBI issued a bulletin in July about The Com, short for The Community, calling it a "rising threat to youth online.” John Cohen, an executive at CIS and a former Department of Homeland Security official, told the New York Post: Sometimes (the calls) are for a fee, other times it’s to bring attention to themselves as a group so that they can get new clients or get others to join this affiliation and help them do swatting. Sometimes, quite frankly, it’s because they enjoy the thrill of watching. Cohen also said swatting can be a tool of foreign militaries and terrorist organizations to "sow discord" and undermine U.S. institutions. They typically hire groups like Purgatory to do the dirty work. Purgatory’s Gores claimed to Wired he has made $100,000 since the shooting spree began, though the figure could easily be an exaggeration when doing the math in light of the group’s affordable swatting rates. Fake calls began on August 21 at the University of Tennessee Chattanooga and Villanova University. Fake calls hit the University of South Carolina and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill on August 24, according to the Post’s coverage. Six swatting calls were reportedly placed on August 25, hitting Iowa State, Kansas State, the University of Maine, and the University of Arkansas.

FOX News [9/8/2025 2:58 AM, Bradford Betz, 40019K] reports a haunting new video shows the last moments of a Ukrainian refugee’s life before she was stabbed to death on a Charlotte light rail train last month. The surveillance footage, released by the Carlotte Area Transit System (CATS), shows 23-year-old Iryna Zarutska boarding the Lynx Bline line just after 9:45 p.m. on Friday, August 22. The footage shows Zarutska in her pizzeria uniform while scrolling on her phone. A man in a red hoodie is seen sitting behind her. Around four minutes later, the man pulls out a knife and begins stabbing Zarutska three times, including at least once in the neck. Zarutska, who had fled war-town Ukraine, grabs her neck as blood spills onto the floor. Authorities later pronounced her dead at the scene. The video shows the suspect walk through the rail car, take off his sweatshirt, and wait by the doors as passengers look on. The suspect, identified as 34-year-old Decarlos Brown, was arrested shortly after the stabbing and hospitalized before being arrested on a charge of first-degree murder. Records obtained by The New York Post showed that Brown has a history of arrests going back more than a decade, including charges of felony larceny, robbery with a dangerous weapon, and communicating threats. Police said Brown and Zarutska did not know each other and the attack had been random. Zarutska’s death has renewed calls for action on public safety in Charlotte. Members of the Charlotte City Council expressed concern after Zarutska’s murder about violence on the city’s transit system. Rep. Brenden Jones, a Republican who represents the area, blamed Zarutska’s death on "the result of decades of Democrat Das and Sheriffs putting their woke agendas above public safety.” He wrote on X that, "Violent criminals commit crimes with impunity, while families live in fear.”