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.

New York Times [2/14/2026 9:10 PM, Pranav Baskar and Hamed Aleaziz, 148038K] reports that in a secret deportation arrangement, the Trump administration flew nine people, nearly all of whom had been granted U.S. court protections from being sent back to their home countries, to the African nation of Cameroon in January. None of them are from Cameroon, according to government documents obtained by The New York Times and lawyers for the deportees, and the United States has not made any public deal with Cameroon to accept deportees who hail from other nations. Several of the men and women deported — whose cases have not been previously reported — told The Times they did not know they were being sent to Cameroon until they were handcuffed and chained on a Department of Homeland Security flight leaving Alexandria, La., on Jan. 14. Cameroon’s Ministry of External Affairs declined to comment when reached by phone, and the State Department said it would not comment on its “diplomatic communications with other governments” when asked about the terms of an agreement. Most of those migrants and their lawyers say they have been detained since then at a state-owned compound in Yaoundé, Cameroon’s capital. They say they’ve been told by local authorities that they cannot leave the facility unless they agree to return to their home countries, from which they fled to escape war or persecution. As far as is known, the deportations are the first such expulsions to Cameroon. They highlight the extraordinary secrecy that surrounds President Trump’s global deportation effort. Through murky deals forged with willing governments — often in exchange for cash — the U.S. has deported hundreds of people to foreign countries that may not respect the removal protections they have been granted in U.S. courts, returning them to the dangers they fled. The Times pieced together an account of the secret deportations to Cameroon through phone interviews with four people on the flight and their lawyers, and verified their deportations and protection statuses through government documents that showed most had removal protections. The migrants spoke on condition of anonymity, for fear of reprisals. A 37-year-old man originally from Zimbabwe compared the deportation to a smuggling operation and said he and the other migrants were “dropped like U.P.S. packages” in Cameroon. The man, who had been living in the United States for 15 years, said officials in Cameroon were pushing them to return to their home countries. He said he had left Zimbabwe after being arrested for refusing to join the military and feared for his life if he returned there. The deportees described feeling traumatized and exhausted by the limbo they have found themselves tossed into. They recounted being forcibly transported by Department of Homeland Security officials from various immigration detention centers across the country — where some had been for over a year — to Alexandria, one of the Trump administration’s busiest deportations hubs, with no information about where they were being taken. Joseph Awah Fru, a Cameroonian lawyer supporting the migrants in negotiations with the local authorities, said two of the nine who arrived in Cameroon on the flight chose to return to their home countries. Eight of the nine people on the flight, Mr. Fru added, had the removal protections afforded people who can convince a court that they are likely to face persecution if they are returned to their home countries. Their lawyers said none of the deportees had any history of violent crime. It was unclear if Cameroon received anything in exchange for accepting the deportees, but by some estimates, the U.S. government has paid upward of $40 million in third-country deportation deals, according to an investigation by the Senate Commitee on Foreign Relations that was released on Friday.

Reported similarly:
Reuters [2/14/2026 9:10 PM, Lisa Baertlein, 38315K]

Breitbart [2/14/2026 12:47 PM, Lowell Cauffiel, 2238K] reports the top federal prosecutor for Los Angeles is vowing to hunt down and prosecute the perpetrators who injured three federal agents, sending one to the hospital, during a student-led anti-ICE protest Friday. "The violent attack this afternoon by high school students on federal officers is unacceptable," U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli told the California Post Friday. "We have video of the suspects, and they will be arrested and charged, regardless of whether they are minors.” He added, "The parents, teachers, unions, and administrators facilitating students ditching school to attack federal personnel bear responsibility and should be ashamed of themselves." Video of the violence against police during the protest has gone viral on social media. The protest grew to a group of as many as 300 people, some of whom began to throw objects, including rocks, at law enforcement officers outside the federal building, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) told news outlets. DHS reported that one Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer was injured after being hit in the head with a rock and two Federal Protective Services officers were also injured. [Editorial note: consult video at source link]

NBC News [2/14/2026 6:00 AM Jon Schuppe and Natasha Korecki, 43603K] reports they batter bodies with rubber bullets and sear eyes with pepper spray. They lob tear gas and explosive flash-bangs at chanting crowds. They smash car windows. They shove people to the ground. They ram vehicles and point their guns. Federal officers carrying out President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown in cities across the country have shot 13 people with guns. But far more often, they have used harsh tactics to scare or repel those they see as getting in their way. The officers, masked and kitted out with military-grade armor and rifles, have faced down peaceful protesters and people who have threatened, obstructed or attacked them, with methods that are less deadly than guns but still inflict grievous injuries. Hundreds have been hurt, and courts in at least four states have found that officers used force inappropriately and indiscriminately. NBC News reviewed dozens of incidents since the spring and found that Department of Homeland Security officers have repeatedly deployed “less lethal” weapons in ways that appear to violate their own policies or general policing guidelines, unless they believed their lives were in danger. The review was based on interviews with lawyers, experts and protesters who were injured as well as witness statements, documents from criminal and civil cases and videos taken at protests. [Editorial note: consult video at source link]

Daily Wire [2/14/2026 11:38 AM, Drew Berkemeyer, 2314K] reports the U.S. military conducted another lethal strike on Friday against a suspected drug‑smuggling vessel in the Caribbean, killing three, the latest in a concerted campaign under Operation Southern Spear to disrupt narcotics trafficking networks that transport deadly drugs toward the United States. According to U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), Gen. Francis L. Donovan directed Joint Task Force Southern Spear to carry out a "lethal kinetic strike on a vessel operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations," adding that no U.S. military personnel were harmed in the operation. Video accompanying the announcement shows the boat steaming along known narco routes just before it is struck and destroyed. This strike marks the fourth publicly disclosed operation in 2026, following an earlier attack this week in the Eastern Pacific that killed two and left one survivor. Since Southern Spear began operations in September 2025, there have been 39 confirmed engagements in both the Pacific and Caribbean. [Editorial note: consult video at source link]

NPR [2/14/2026 8:02 AM, Scott Simon, 28764K] Audio: HERE reports NPR’s Scott Simon asks Michigan Sen. Gary Peters, a democrat, for his views on the conduct of and funding for the Department of Homeland Security.

FOX News [2/14/2026 1:32 PM, Staff, 37576K] reports lawmakers fail to fund the Department of Homeland Security, leading to a partial shutdown. Fox News’ Madeleine Rivera reports the latest and Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., weighs in on ‘Fox News Live.’ [Editorial note: consult video at source link]

USA Today [2/14/2026 11:41 AM, Zachary Schermele, Aysha Bagchi, 70643K] reports funding for the Department of Homeland Security has expired, potentially jeopardizing critical government services like airport security and disaster relief. Appropriations for the 9/11-era Cabinet agency lapsed after Friday, Feb. 13, as negotiations continued between congressional Democrats and the White House over curbing immigration enforcement. No deal was in sight as lawmakers left for a week-long scheduled recess, with many taking planned trips overseas. Much of DHS’s typical work, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s operations, will continue even while the agency is shut down. Regardless, the heads of some of the department’s most critical divisions warned lawmakers ahead of the latest funding lapse that the consequences of a prolonged shutdown could be dire. DHS hasn’t publicly released an updated contingency plan for this shutdown, but it typically requires the vast majority of TSA’s more than 64,000-person workforce to stay on the job without pay. Acting TSA Administrator Ha Nguyen McNeill told lawmakers Feb. 11 that the roughly 61,000 employees at more than 430 commercial airports who will be impacted by another funding lapse can’t go through it all over again. The Coast Guard, which falls under DHS purview during peacetime, will have to suspend missions that aren’t critical for national security and the protection of life and property. Most employees of the Federal Emergency Management Agency will also work without pay. Gregg Phillips, who leads FEMA, said on Feb. 11 the shutdown would "severely disrupt" the agency’s ability to reimburse states for disaster relief costs.

FOX News [2/14/2026 8:00 AM, Alex Miller, Elizabeth Elkind, 37576K] reports the government entered a partial shutdown at midnight Friday after Congress failed to reach a funding deal — and some lawmakers’ decision to attend an international gathering in Europe this weekend is drawing criticism from colleagues on both sides of the aisle. The deadline to fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) by the end of the week came with a built-in complication: members of both chambers were scheduled to attend the annual Munich Security Conference, with many set to depart by day’s end Thursday. Without a deal in place, Congress left Washington, D.C., on Thursday after the Senate failed to pass both a full-year funding bill for DHS and a temporary, two-week funding extension. At midnight Friday — with several lawmakers already in Germany — DHS shut down. Both Republican leaders warned members to be prepared to return if a deal was reached. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., gave senators 24 hours’ notice to return, while House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., allowed a 48-hour window.

NewsMax [2/14/2026 12:16 PM, Jim Thomas, 3760K] reports Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, R-N.Y., said on Newsmax Saturday that the funding lapse for the Department of Homeland Security is "absolutely shameful" and "very irresponsible," arguing that the standoff risks core security and emergency functions after the department entered a partial shutdown when a short-term funding extension expired. "Saturday Report" host Rita Cosby asked how Congress reached the point of a Homeland Security funding lapse and whether Democrat demands drove the impasse as the department entered a partial shutdown after the DHS continuing resolution expired. Malliotakis, a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, answered on "Saturday Report" that it was "absolutely shameful" and said two New York Democrats, Hakeem Jeffries and Chuck Schumer, "know very well ... what’s at stake if we do not fund Homeland Security." She added, "They want to play politics with ICE," as she framed the dispute as broader than just immigration enforcement. "What they’re actually doing is not funding the TSA," referring to the Transportation Security Administration, and she added that lawmakers also were "not funding the Coast Guard," referring to the United States Coast Guard. She said the lapse also affects "counterterrorism and cybersecurity activities," and that lawmakers were "not funding FEMA," referring to the Federal Emergency Management Agency. In describing what she said were the practical stakes, Malliotakis argued, "They’re being very irresponsible here, and they’re putting American citizens and our law enforcement and our service members at risk right now with this political game."

NewsMax [2/14/2026 11:06 AM, Jim Thomas, 3760K] reports Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, said Saturday on Newsmax that Democrats threatening to withhold funding for the Department of Homeland Security are "taking the wrong hostage," casting the dispute as an attempt to blunt immigration enforcement that would instead needlessly ripple across other DHS agencies. Cornyn argued on "America Right Now" that the funding fight is misdirected. Addressing a question about whether the funding standoff is aimed at Immigration and Customs Enforcement while sweeping in other DHS missions, Cornyn said Democrats have "certainly taken the wrong hostage," adding, "yes, I think this is the party of defund police, abolish ICE, and they don’t want us enforcing immigration laws."

New York Post [2/14/2026 8:30 AM, Geoff Earle and David Spector, 40934K] reports nearly 80 percent of migrants seeking asylum in the US were sent packing in the last quarter, as immigration judges take a tougher line under the Trump administration, which has made it a priority to restore the border. In that same span there’s been an accompanying spike in deportations. In December, there were 38,215 illegal migrants given the boot, 50% above the 19,265 in December 2023 under President Joe Biden and 35% more than the 24,979 in December 2024, according to data compiled by Syracuse University’s Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse. And the enforcement has been sustained, with more than 30,000 deportations every month since Trump took office.

New York Post [2/14/2026 8:14 AM, Geoff Earle, 40934K] reports whether an asylum seeker gets to stay in the US can often come down to the luck of the draw when it comes to which judge will determine their fate. New York has one of the nation’s widest gaps between a strict jurist who denies nearly all who come before them — and another with a veritable open door policy. The state’s most lenient judge, Vivienne Gordon-Uruakpa, appointed in 2002 during the George W. Bush administration, has granted asylum 92.4% of the time since 2020, according to data compiled by Syracuse University’s TRAC program. John Burns, appointed by former Attorney General Bill Barr in 2020 during the first Trump administration, was the toughest immigration judge, the records showed. Nationwide, the grant rate is about 59 percent.

Breitbart [2/14/2026 5:25 PM, Elizabeth Weibel, 2238K] reports an Obama-appointed judge ordered the Trump administration to facilitate the return to the United States of deported illegal aliens suspected of being members of the Tren de Aragua (TdA) gang. In a decision on Thursday, U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia Chief Judge James Boasberg stated that the Trump administration needed to "remedy the wrong that it perpetrated" by deporting hundreds of Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador, according to Politico. While Boasberg instructed the Trump administration to "pay for airfare and provide documents to facilitate travel" for those who were deported, he explained that the migrants would "be taken into custody upon arrival." "It is up to the Government to remedy the wrong that it perpetrated here and to provide a means for doing so," Boasberg said. "Were it otherwise, the Government could simply remove people from the United States without providing any process and then, once they were in a foreign country, deny them any right to return for a hearing or opportunity to present their case from abroad." While the Trump administration "has agreed to return the men to immigration custody if they make it to a U.S. airport or border station," attorneys for the Department of Justice (DOJ) are against "giving the men letters that would help them get on board flights to the U.S.," according to the outlet. In his order, Boasberg also criticized the Trump administration, stating that "this situation would never have arisen had the Government simply afforded Plaintiffs their constitutional rights before initially deporting them.”

The Hill [2/14/2026 9:48 PM, Sophie Brams, 18170K] reports Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem suggested on Friday that her department has a broad role in election security, claiming she has the authority to identify “vulnerabilities” in the election system and implement “mitigation measures” to make sure local and state elections are “run correctly.” Noem argued during a press conference in Arizona, where she was pushing for passage of a national voter ID law, that elections fell within the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) mission of “maintaining critical infrastructure.” “I would say that many people believe that it may be one of the most important things that we need to make sure we trust, is reliable, and that when it gets to Election Day, that we’ve been proactive to make sure that we have the right people voting, electing the right leaders to lead this country through the days that we have, knowing that people can trust it,” she said. A clip of those comments began circulating on social media Saturday morning, drawing swift criticism from Democratic lawmakers and political commentators. “This is Trump’s idea of democracy: leaders get to select their voters instead of the other way around,” Sen. Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) wrote on the social platform X. The House passed the SAVE America Act on Wednesday, a bill that would require Americans to show photo ID when voting in federal elections and proof of U.S. citizenship to register. If enacted, the legislation also mandate that states remove non-citizens from its voter rolls. Its passage tees up debate in the Senate, where similar legislation has stalled in past years over Democratic opposition. At least one Republican, Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), has indicated she does not support the effort. With prospects murky, President Trump on Friday floated the idea of issuing an executive order that would accomplish the same goal.

FOX News [2/14/2026 12:16 PM, Alex Miller, 37576K] reports Senate Republicans gained a key ally in their quest to enshrine voter ID into law, but the lawmaker’s support comes with a condition. A trio of lawmakers, led by Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, have undertaken a campaign to convince their colleagues to support the Safeguarding American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) America Act, working social media and closed-door meetings to secure the votes. The campaign has proven successful, with the cohort gaining a crucial vote from Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, who announced that she would back the SAVE America Act, which recently passed the House. With Collins, Senate Republicans have at least a slim majority backing the act. "I support the version of the SAVE America Act that recently passed the House," Collins said in a statement first reported by the Maine Wire. "The law is clear that in this country only American citizens are eligible to vote in federal elections." "In addition, having people provide an ID at the polls, just as they have to do before boarding an airplane, checking into a hotel, or buying an alcoholic beverage, is a simple reform that will improve the security of our federal elections and will help give people more confidence in the results," she continued. Collins noted that she did not support the previous version of the bill, known simply as the SAVE Act, because it "would have required people to prove their citizenship every single time they cast a ballot."

FOX News [2/14/2026 1:27 PM, Alex Miller, 37576K] Video: HERE reports Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., is continuing his streak of breaking with his party — this time on voter ID legislation gaining momentum in the Senate. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Senate Democrats have near-unanimously rejected the Safeguarding American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, election integrity legislation that made its way through the House earlier this week. Schumer has dubbed the legislation "Jim Crow 2.0," arguing it would suppress voters rather than encourage more secure elections. But Fetterman, who has repeatedly rejected his party’s messaging and positions, pushed back on Schumer’s framing of the bill. "I would never refer to the SAVE Act as like Jim Crow 2.0 or some kind of mass conspiracy," Fetterman told Fox News’ Kayleigh McEnany on "Saturday in America.” "But that’s part of the debate that we were having here in the Senate right now," he continued. "And I don’t call people names or imply that it’s something gross about the terrible history of Jim Crow.” The bill would require voters to present photo identification before casting ballots, require proof of citizenship in person when registering to vote and mandate states remove non-citizens from voter rolls. [Editorial note: consult video at source link]

NewsMax [2/14/2026 6:44 PM, Solange Reyner, 3760K] reports Rep. Claudia Tenney, R-N.Y., on Tuesday called Democratic opposition to the SAVE Act "misogynist," pushing back on claims that the election integrity bill would disenfranchise women and arguing instead that the legislation is necessary to protect against voter fraud. Speaking in response to criticism of the bill, Tenney during an appearance on Newsmax TV’s "The Count," accused Democrats of relying on "staff prepared talking points" rather than addressing what she described as practical realities surrounding voter identification requirements. Tenney pointed to her own experience as a divorced woman to counter concerns that documentation requirements would disproportionately burden women who have changed their names. "I am a divorced woman," Tenney said. "I got married and I got a different name, and then I got divorced and I went back to my maiden name." Although her divorce occurred more than two decades ago, she said she is still sometimes required to produce documentation, such as her divorce decree, to verify her identity for legal or financial matters. "But still today, when I need to do a life insurance policy or anything else I may do, I need to dig out my old divorce decree so I can prove that I am indeed Claudia Tenney and not my married name. "So these are things that guarantee that we do not allow identity theft, and to make sure that we know who the person is they say they are and we have one citizen, one vote," she added. Democrats have argued that provisions in the SAVE Act requiring proof of citizenship could create hurdles for married or divorced women whose legal names may not match their birth certificates, potentially complicating voter registration. Tenney dismissed those concerns, contending that opposition to the bill amounts to support for weakening election safeguards.

NewsMax [2/14/2026 12:59 PM, Solange Reyner, 3760K] reports Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich on Saturday praised Sen. Lindsey Graham’s proposed legislation to abolish sanctuary cities, calling the effort "long overdue" and urging swift passage of the bill. Blagojevich, a Democrat, said he applauded the South Carolina Republican for introducing the measure and expressed hope it would compel governors, including Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, to change their policies. "Hopefully he passes it," Blagojevich told Newsmax TV’s "Saturday Report," adding that some governors are "playing politics" with immigration policy and should instead "follow the laws.”

FOX News [2/14/2026 2:46 PM, Michael Dorgan, 37576K] reports Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is planning to boost migrant detention capacity to 92,600 beds as part of a nationwide deportation push, according to an internal agency memo. The memo, dated Feb. 13, 2026, lays out a sweeping overhaul designed to support what ICE describes as the ability to "effectuate mass deportations," including eight mega-centers capable of housing up to 10,000 detainees each and slated to be fully operational by Nov. 30, 2026. The memo states that the initiative will be funded through congressional allocations under the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act.” Beyond the mega-centers, the plan calls for 16 regional processing sites built to hold between 1,000 and 1,500 detainees for short stays of three to seven days and the acquisition of 10 existing "turnkey" centers where ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations already operates. The new model aims to consolidate existing contracts while centralizing detention operations nationwide. The newly released document comes as ICE has quietly purchased at least seven warehouses, some exceeding 1 million square feet, in recent weeks across Arizona, Georgia, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Texas, according to The Associated Press. Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons said this week there are about 1.6 million illegal aliens in the U.S. with final deportation orders, roughly half of whom have criminal convictions.

Reported similarly:
Univision [2/14/2026 7:28 PM, Staff, 4937K]

New York Post [2/15/2026 6:01 AM, Gabrielle Fahmy, 40934K] reports war erupted at Columbia University when lefty faculty and students mobilized to torpedo an ICE recruitment event the school dared to post. The meltdown was triggered by an ad this week on the website of Columbia’s School of Professional Studies for a Feb. 18 US Customs and Border Protection virtual career expo. “Help defend the homeland,” reads the description of the event seeking to recruit for thousands of “mission critical positions,” and promising various Department of Homeland Security agencies in attendance. “This is a unique opportunity to learn more about our mission and how you could contribute to it, making a positive impact on yourself, your community and your country.” The backlash was immediate and furious. “Capitulation,” raged journalism professor Helen Benedict on social media. “Columbia is recruiting for ICE. Alumni write in now. Cancel donations.” “The depravity is bottomless,” fumed journalism professor Nina Berman. Students and faculty quickly flooded the school with demands to pull the event. “This event undermines campus trust, makes parts of our community feel targeted or unsafe, and further damages Columbia’s public standing by reinforcing the view that we are complicit in the turn towards authoritarianism,” wrote a faculty coalition. “Silence will be read as consent.”

FOX News [2/15/2026 6:00 AM, Charles Creitz, 37576K] Video: HERE reports Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman fired back at Gov. Andy Beshear’s comments on "The View" about pulling ICE out of "every city," setting up what could become a high-stakes intergovernmental battle over cooperation with federal immigration authorities. "Every ICE agent should be withdrawn from every city and every community that they’re in. This organization has to be reformed from the top-down. Secretary Noem needs to be fired, and every agent needs to retrained," Beshear told the ABC talk show, before adding the "body-count of American citizens" should lead to a "pause [to] pull everybody back." Coleman, who spoke to Fox News Digital from the sheriff’s office in Daviess County — home of NASCAR legend Darrell Waltrip and one of several Kentucky jurisdictions that work with ICE — said his take is "not a political one" and that ICE also has the backing of those lawmen he was meeting with after the interview. "My view as the chief law enforcement officer of this commonwealth, someone that’s carried a badge and a gun, someone that has been a federal prosecutor, [is] that statement that the governor made was absurd," Coleman said. Coleman said the dispute centers on Beshear’s "commentary" versus the reality of which agencies he controls. The Kentucky State Police fall under Beshear’s authority, but they currently work with ICE. Meanwhile, Coleman’s office works with the state’s 120 county sheriffs’ offices, many of which cooperate with the Department of Homeland Security. "I don’t want to set up a straw-dog argument because the reality is the collaboration is never going to stop here because those of us who have taken an oath to protect families are going to work with our federal partners," he said, pointing to recent successes across the Tug Fork River where such collaboration led to the arrests of 650 illegal immigrants in West Virginia. As for the legal ramifications of a potential clash between a DHS-aligned attorney general and a governor with opposing objectives, one legal expert said the situation presents an interesting case. [Editorial note: consult video at source link]

Univision [2/14/2026 9:25 AM, Staff, 4937K] reports a raid conducted this Friday at a business in Hialeah for illegal alcohol sales, illegal gambling, and drug sales resulted in 14 arrests and the closure of the establishment. The city police were assisted by investigators from the Department of Homeland Security and ICE. The arrested individuals are accused of operating a criminal organization dealing in drugs, illegal alcohol, and illegal gambling from the bar ‘La Lunita’, located west of 22nd Street and 8th Court in Hialeah. Those arrested include the manager and assistant manager of the establishment, a security guard identified by undercover agents as a suspected active drug dealer, and two waitresses who operated as "B Girls," allegedly used to attract customers and encourage drug use. Multiple arrests were also made for drug offenses and outstanding warrants. In addition, officers identified individuals with active arrest warrants and others in possession of controlled substances. ICE agents transferred three individuals to federal custody.

Univision [2/14/2026 6:46 PM, Staff, 4937K] reports Immigration and Customs Enforcement ( ICE ) arrested Armando Fernández Larios, 76, a former agent of the National Intelligence Directorate (DINA) during the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet (1973-1990) . The arrest took place in Fort Myers, Florida, in October 2025, but was made public on January 27, 2026, as part of a list of 42 Chileans wanted for homicide. Fernández Larios faces five extradition requests from Chile for crimes against humanity , and his capture has generated expectations about a possible deportation to answer to Chilean justice. According to the Department of Homeland Security, Fernández Larios was included on the Arrested: Worst of the Worst platform, which highlights high-profile arrests. His file indicates that he is being prosecuted for homicide and could be deported soon. Chilean Foreign Minister Alberto van Klaveren confirmed that the government is monitoring the case and coordinating with U.S. authorities to facilitate the extradition.

Chicago Tribune [2/14/2026 11:00 AM, Alexandra Kukulka, 5209K] reports the Indiana House approved Thursday an immigration bill allowing local and state police to enforce federal immigration laws and for those officers to cooperate with federal agents amid warnings from those opposed that it would do little to keep communities safer. Senate Bill 76, authored by State Sen. Liz Brown, states that the enforcement of federal immigration laws may be carried out by federal, state or local law enforcement. Under the bill, the Department of Correction will provide training to all sheriffs-elect on how to cooperate with the United States immigration and Customs Enforcement. The bill was amended in the House Judiciary committee last week by State Rep. J.D. Prescott, R-Union City, to more closely align with the bill he proposed last year, which he called the FAIRNESS Act: Fostering and Advancing Immigration Reforms Necessary to Ensure Safety and Security. Brown was criticized by Attorney General Todd Rokita after the 2025 session for not advancing the FAIRNESS Act when it reached a Senate committee she chaired.

ABC News [2/15/2026 6:28 AM, Armando Garcia, 34146K] reports a Chicago teen who fought for her father’s release from immigration detention while she was battling stage 4 cancer, has died, a representative for her family says. Ofelia Torres died Friday at age 16, according to the family representative. The cause of death was metastatic aviolar rhabdomyosarcoma -- a rare and aggressive form of cancer. Torres grabbed the national spotlight last fall after her undocumented father, Ruben Torres-Maldonado, was detained by immigration agents during the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown, dubbed "Operation Midway Blitz." Torres posted a video on social media calling for his release, and was also interviewed on ABC News’ "Nightline." A representative for Torres’ family said that just three days before she died, an immigration judge ruled that her father was conditionally entitled to receive cancellation of removal, which could provide a pathway to a green card. Torres watched the hearing virtually, the family said. In the "Nightline" interview last fall, Torres said she initially tried to keep her cancer diagnosis private, but said she was speaking out to defend her father. "I need the world to know my dad’s story and if that means letting the world know I have cancer, so be it. I don’t care," she said. "I need my dad." In a statement, Kalman Resnick, the attorney representing Torres’ father, said: "Ofelia was heroic and brave in the face of ICE’s detention and threatened deportation of her father. We mourn Ofelia’s passing, and we hope that she will serve as a model for us all for how to be courageous and to fight for what’s right to our last breaths." [Editorial note: consult video at source link]

FOX News [2/14/2026 12:54 PM, Sophia Compton, 37576K] reports two Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers are under criminal investigation after federal prosecutors moved to dismiss felony assault charges against Venezuelan nationals from a January shooting in Minneapolis. ICE Director Todd Lyons said Friday that newly reviewed video evidence suggests the officers may have made "untruthful statements" under oath about the Jan. 14 confrontation, during which a Venezuelan national was shot, The Associated Press reported. The officers have been placed on administrative leave and could face termination and possible criminal prosecution, according to Lyons and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. "A joint review by ICE and the Department of Justice (DOJ) of video evidence has revealed that sworn testimony provided by two separate officers appears to have made untruthful statements," McLaughlin told Fox News Digital in an email. "Both officers have been immediately placed on administrative leave pending the completion of a thorough internal investigation. "Lying under oath is a serious federal offense. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is actively investigating these false statements," McLaughlin added. "Upon conclusion of the investigation, the officers may face termination of employment, as well as potential criminal prosecution. The men and women of ICE are entrusted with upholding the rule of law and are held to the highest standards of professionalism, integrity and ethical conduct. Violations of this sacred sworn oath will not be tolerated."

Reported similarly:
Breitbart [2/14/2026 8:05 PM, Staff, 2238K]
Univision [2/14/2026 10:46 PM, Staff, 4937K]

CNN [2/15/2026 4:00 AM, Emma Tucker, 19874K] reports Alfredo Alejandro Aljorna was on shift in Minneapolis on a Wednesday evening last month, making deliveries as a DoorDash driver, when he realized he was being followed by ICE agents, his attorney said. He drove home and was tackled by an agent but broke free and ran into the house where his cousin Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis was standing, the attorney said. As he shut the door and was trying to lock it, Sosa-Celis said he was shot in the leg by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent. Coming just seven days after a federal agent fatally shot Renee Good, the incident spawned renewed protests and heated clashes with police. An account of the events from the Department of Homeland Security soon after the incident conflicted with the narratives from the two men and their family members. DHS claimed Sosa-Celis was driving the car and he, Aljorna and another man assaulted the agent before the agent fired his weapon. In a stunning reversal, the Justice Department on Thursday filed a motion seeking to drop criminal charges against the two Venezuelan men. In it, the DOJ said federal prosecutors provided incorrect information to the court, while ICE issued a statement admitting its federal agents made "false statements" under oath. The two federal agents involved have been placed on administrative leave while the Justice Department investigates their "untruthful statements," which were revealed by a review of video evidence, ICE Director Todd Lyons said in a statement. The two officers may be fired and potentially face criminal prosecution, Lyons said.

Univision [2/14/2026 1:30 PM, Staff, 4937K] reports U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) reported that today, Saturday, February 14, federal agents were attacked by a mob during an operation in Minnesota , one of the regions where tensions have intensified over President Donald Trump’s immigration policies. According to ICE , the incident occurred when Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents were conducting work related to an alleged fraud that would have cost taxpayers in the northern U.S. state billions of dollars. Through its official account on the social network X (formerly known as Twitter), ICE detailed that the special agents were gathering information when they were surrounded by a group of people it described as “hostile agitators”.

Washington Post [2/15/2026 5:00 AM, Karin Brulliard, 24826K] reports first period was about to begin Tuesday when the phone rang at Columbia Academy. The parent of one of the middle school’s students had been detained by immigration authorities, and the family needed help finding a lawyer. It was one more in a steady stream of daily crises that had confronted Leslee Sherk, Columbia Academy’s principal, in this immigrant-heavy Minneapolis suburb every day for more than two months. They arrived in dings on her phone, in scratchy dispatches on her walkie-talkie, in frantic calls to the office, in whispers from children in hallways, in emails on her sticker-covered laptop, tallying the latest number of students with at least one parent detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement: 16, up from 10 the week before. Every day felt like “triage,” Sherk said. Over the weeks, Columbia Academy, like the district’s four other schools, had taken on an entirely new identity. It was still a place of learning, even if 210 of its 700 students were now studying at home. But now it was also a food bank, a counseling hotline, a missing persons task force, an immigration resource center and a refuge.

Univision [2/14/2026 3:23 PM, Staff, 4937K] reports after leaving the ICE detention center in Dilley, a mother and her two young children were left by ICE at the San Antonio airport without money and without official documents. Disoriented and holding her two children’s hands, Crismar Herrera didn’t know what to do, since she had to take a flight to Las Vegas that had been paid for by a friend who was in that city. However, she had no immigration documents, no money, and no way to board a plane, since she had no official identification. When she thought she was alone, she found help from the least expected source. Two San Antonio police officers helped her and her children board the plane without presenting official identification. The officers bought food for his children and even a power charging cable for his phone. “I see now that not all police officers are the same in this country, that there are good police officers, truly. Thank you,” Crismar said, thanking the officers with a hug.

San Francisco Chronicle [2/14/2026 2:45 PM, St. John Barned-Smith, 3833K] reports a 66-year-old nanny who was seized by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers outside of her employer’s San Francisco home Friday morning was released 12 hours after exhaustive efforts by lawyers prompted a federal judge to intervene on her behalf, her attorney said. The woman, who is originally from Russia, was followed by several unmarked vehicles as she was driving to work in Diamond Heights, according to Ghassan Shamieh, her attorney. After parking, five agents, some of them masked, got out of their vehicle and accosted her, Shamieh said. “She was terrified,” he said. “She didn’t know who these people were.” The nanny’s employer tried to intervene and asked the men to identify themselves, as well as whether they had a warrant. They did not respond or identify themselves as federal agents, Shamieh said, and instead handcuffed the woman and detained her. ICE officials were not immediately available for comment Saturday morning. Shamieh declined to identify the woman but said she was a Russian native who came to the U.S. on a visa more than 10 years ago and had a valid work authorization and no criminal record. She had overstayed her visa, Shamieh said, but had a pending immigration hearing related to her status and was hoping to obtain a green card. “It just doesn’t make sense,” he said. “We have not been provided any reason why she was detained in the first place. … She was abiding by processes of our immigration laws.”

Breitbart [2/14/2026 10:15 AM, Ildefonso Ortiz, Brandon Darby, 2238K] reports U.S. Border Patrol agents arrested two cartel scouts on U.S. soil. The two men were relaying information on the presence of law enforcement and directing smuggling traffic for their criminal organization. The most recent incident became public this week, when U.S. Border Patrol Chief Michael Banks shared some information on social media. In his post, Banks revealed that the two men were Mexican nationals illegally present in the country, who had various communication devices they were allegedly using to scout for a Mexican cartel by monitoring the movements of USBP agents. Details of the case were not revealed in the post; however, the use of scouts is a known tactic used by drug cartels along the U.S. border. Depending on the region, cartel scouts set up on high ground near the Rio Grande, or in a mountain area deep inside Arizona, and keep watch for U.S. agents in order to lead human and drug smugglers around law enforcement.

New York Post [2/14/2026 7:17 PM, Geoff Earle, 40934K] reports love is in the air — and Customs and Border Protection is hoping illegal migrants will fall for it. The agency posted a cheeky Valentine’s Day message urging illegal migrants to take advantage of a Trump Administration program to "self deport.” "Don’t wait, self deport today and spend this Valentines Day with the one you love," the agency wrote in a message posted Saturday morning on X. "We will even give you $2,600 to take them out," the agency wrote in an official post retweeted by CBP Chief Michael Banks. An accompanying video showed slow-mo images of the culmination of the deportation process, set to Elvis Presley’s torch song "Can’t Help Falling in Love." The King sings the lyrics: "Shall I stay? Would it be a sin?" while the video shows military transport aircraft, buses hauling migrants, and a handcuffed deportee being escorted by camouflaged agents to his flight home. "Spend Valentine’s Day with a Loved One. Self Deport today," concludes a message at the end, written in a Valentine’s Day font fit for a card meant for a special friend.

AP [2/14/2026 8:00 AM, Mark Scolforo and Holly Ramer] reports the violent deaths linked to the group known as Zizians stopped at six a year ago, after a U.S. border agent was killed and three members were arrested on trespassing and gun charges in the woods of western Maryland. Seven of the group’s members are jailed in three states, all awaiting trial. Police in Maryland quickly connected Jack "Ziz" LaSota, Michelle Zajko and Daniel Blank to homicide investigations in California, Pennsylvania and Vermont after a landowner found them living in box trucks at the end of a snow covered dirt road last February, according to court documents and pre-trial testimony. Jury selection was supposed to start this week in Cumberland, Maryland, where LaSota, Zajko and Blank are charged with possession of LSD and possession with intent to deliver LSD, multiple gun violations, trespassing and hindering a police officer.

Univision [2/14/2026 8:15 AM, Staff, 4937K] reports with the help of two ‘coyotes’, two undocumented immigrants crossed the Rio Grande and entered the US disguised as construction workers. The events occurred on January 9 at the Paso del Norte port of entry. The migrants wore reflective vests and safety helmets, with which they sought to blend in with the construction crews in the border area. The immigrants, originally from Mexico and Ecuador, were detected moments after they entered the country. One of those arrested faces a charge of illegal re-entry into the United States. Both were taken into CBP custody for their immigration process.

Breitbart [2/14/2026 12:21 PM, Amy Furr, 2238K] reports an immigrant restaurant owner in Catalina, Arizona, is showing warm hospitality to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents as they face an increase in threats. Jorge Rivas, who is originally from El Salvador, is the owner of Sammy’s Mexican Grill, Newsmax reported on Friday. During a recent interview on the network’s Ike Wingate America, Rivas said it has been the custom for the past few years that he and his staff welcome law enforcement officers, whom he said people have been mistreating. The restaurateur said they wanted to make sure the officers who serve the community feel appreciated, despite the fact leftists have tried to get them to stop showing them kindness. "They can get a free meal, not because we think that they cannot afford it. It’s just because we feel the need to say thank you. We’re thankful, we’re grateful for who you are, what you do," he said of law enforcement. Rivas told Fox 11, "I’m doing it because I think it’s the right thing to do." He also said businesses in his area who are pushing back against ICE operations are "un-American.” Although Rivas has faced backlash, he said a "a lot of great patriots" have been visiting his business. The restaurant owner also noted that many people privately support law enforcement. [Editorial note: consult video at source link]

New York Times [2/14/2026 9:10 PM, Eileen Sullivan and Christine Chung, 148038K] reports that when the Department of Homeland Security ran out of funding early Saturday, employees at the Transportation Security Administration assumed an unfortunately familiar role: the face of the latest impasse in Congress. Lawmakers left town this week without a deal to fund the department over a disagreement about reining in the Trump administration’s hard-line immigration enforcement tactics. Most of the hardships faced by employees — who are working without pay — will go unnoticed by the public with a few possible exceptions, including the people who check IDs, scan baggage and complete other security tasks at U.S. airports. Several previous government shutdowns ended when the T.S.A.’s work force began to buckle in a way that started to inconvenience travelers, a pressure point that could come in about two weeks from now when T.S.A. employees will miss their first full paycheck while continuing to incur normal costs of living. It is an especially hard hit for T.S.A. employees this time around, because many are just coming out of the financial strain they suffered during last year’s 43-day shutdown. Some were evicted from their homes, others could not afford gas to commute to and from the airport, and some could not afford medicine or day care for their children. And some are still bitter they did not receive a $10,000 bonus that the homeland security secretary, Kristi Noem, said would be awarded to those with “exemplary service” during the last shutdown. “Everybody’s really nervous,” said Roberto Echeverria, a lead transportation security officer at Salt Lake City International Airport. He said some of his colleagues had been preparing for this scenario for the past month, trying to pick up as much overtime as possible to have somewhat of a cushion for when they missed their first full paycheck. Mr. Echeverria, a member of a local union chapter of the American Federation of Government Employees, said T.S.A. employees in the Salt Lake region made a base pay ranging from $36,480 to $49,920 a year. Pay varies based on location. He said that he and many of his colleagues were asking themselves the same question: “How many more times am I going to be able to do this?” Even though they will eventually be paid back for the hours they worked, it is an extremely stressful situation, he said, adding that Salt Lake lost nearly 100 officers since the beginning of the last shutdown. Officers are frustrated that they have to pay the price for a political fight that has nothing to do with them. It’s even worse this time, because they have to work without pay while immigration officers will continue to be paid through a separate fund. “This totally affects the wrong people that they’re trying to target,” said Rebecca Wolf, a longtime T.S.A. employee and the president of the American Federation of Government Employees T.S.A. Local 1127 union.

ABC News [2/14/2026 11:37 AM, Max Golembo and Nadine El-Bawab, 34146K] reports severe weather is headed to the deep South, from Texas to Mississippi, with damaging winds, possible tornadoes and some large hail forecast. A powerful storm system will move out of the Rockies on Saturday and will bring the severe weather across the deep South. This same storm system with severe weather will also bring heavy rain from Texas all the way to the Carolinas with a chance for flash flooding. The highest threat for flash flooding will be from just east of Dallas, Texas, to Little Rock, Arkansas and into Memphis, Tennessee. Starting Sunday afternoon, a series of storms will pound the West from California to Colorado with very heavy snow in the mountains and heavy rain and flooding for coastal California. The highest threat for flash flooding and debris flow will be from just south of the San Francisco Bay area down to Los Angeles. Sunday through Friday, some areas in California could see 3 to 6 inches of rain, which is expected to cause flash flooding and debris flow. The Sierra Nevada Mountains, in California, some areas could see 3 to 6 feet of snow. The Rockies could also see several feet of snow next week.

New York Post [2/14/2026 11:15 PM, Katie Jerkovich, 40934K] reports Los Angeles officials issued evacuation warnings to those living in the Palisades and Eaton Fire burn scar areas ahead of the upcoming winter storm expected to bring heavy rainfall. A bulletin from the Los Angeles Fire Department on Saturday was sent out that warned of the extreme danger from possible debris flow and mudslides for those who live in several areas that were affected by the recent devastating wildfires in Los Angeles. The intense wildfires burn through vegetation and layers of soil allowing for dangerous mudflows. "Gather loved ones, pets and supplies. Those who need more time evacuating should consider leaving now. More at ALERTLA.ORG," the warning read. It added, "Potential threat to life and/or property. Those who require additional time to evacuate, and those with pets and livestock should leave now." The evacuation warning takes effect at 9 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 15 and runs through 9 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 17, KTLA reported.

FOX News [2/14/2026 2:22 PM, Kurt Knutsson, 37576K] reports if you use an Android phone, this deserves your attention. Cybersecurity researchers warn that hackers are using Hugging Face, a popular platform for sharing artificial intelligence (AI) tools, to spread dangerous Android malware. At first, the threat appears harmless because it is disguised as a fake antivirus app. Then, once you install it, criminals gain direct access to your device. Because of this, the threat stands out as especially troubling. It combines two things people already trust — security apps and AI platforms.

Politico [2/14/2026 4:00 PM, Dana Nickel, 21784K] reports major global cybercrime syndicates are turning their efforts to romance scams, where victims are lured in by the prospect of love before being squeezed for their personal data or finances. The scams, which took off during the Covid-19 pandemic, often capitalize on people’s isolation and are heightened in the lead-up to Valentine’s Day, when scammers are more likely to be on the prowl for lonely hearts looking for connection. And artificial intelligence is only making these scams more prevalent and harder to detect. According to the FBI, Americans lost more than $16 billion to cybercrime, including romance scams, in 2024. One in seven American adults has reported losing money to romance scammers, who often use a fake online identity to build a relationship with their victims. “These scams rely on trust, affection and urgency, which are all amplified around holidays focused on relationships,” said Cliff Steinhauer, director of information security and engagement at the National Cybersecurity Alliance. While the Federal Trade Commission has previously published data warning that romance scammers target all demographics, FBI Supervisory Senior Resident Agent Michael Rod, who leads an Elder Justice Task Force focused on scams, said that older Americans are often most victimized by these schemes. Scammers are using AI tools to create more realistic online identities with deepfake images and videos of real people, as well as voice cloning, where a real person’s voice is manipulated using AI. These deepfakes have gotten so good that in some cases, they are outsmarting previous methods used to detect them. “Four or five years ago … you’d get messages with spelling errors or poor punctuation. That was kind of a hint that, ‘Hey, something’s wrong here,’” said Rod. “That stuff no longer exists as a way to tip you off.” Steinhauer added that scammers are now trained to move conversations off dating platforms and into private messaging apps to better avoid detection.

Politico [2/14/2026 9:04 AM, Maggie Miller, 21784K] reports funding for the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency has temporarily lapsed as the Department of Homeland Security, CISA’s parent agency, entered a shutdown Friday evening. It’s unclear how many CISA employees will be furloughed during the shutdown, which comes after lawmakers failed to agree on DHS’ annual funding. The rest of the federal government is funded through Sept. 30. A spokesperson for DHS said in a statement that its "essential missions and functions will continue as they do during every shutdown. However, during a shutdown, many employees will be forced to work without pay, putting strain on the frontline defenders of our nation.” CISA Acting Director Madhu Gottumukkala testified to House lawmakers earlier this week that “a shutdown would degrade our capacity to provide timely and actionable guidance to help partners defend their networks,” and said over one-third of the agency’s “frontline security experts and threat hunters” would be forced to work without pay. [Editorial note: Consult source link for extended commentary]

Univision [2/14/2026 12:27 PM, Staff, 4937K] reports the current situation in Cuba also divides Republicans and Democrats , and while some are calling for absolute pressure against the dictatorship, others have presented a bill to eliminate the embargo. Federal Representative Jim McGovern of Massachusetts is one of the sponsors of a legislative project that has already been introduced, which seeks to eliminate the embargo on Cuba , a law of the US Congress for more than 60 years. The idea that has never prospered is being floated again amid tensions between the two nations ; just a few days ago, a group of Democrats criticized President Donald Trump for his stance against the Cuban dictatorship and in the hemisphere. “They are blocking fuel to Cuba, leaving the island with only days of energy left. The embargo on Cuba is 60 years of failure,” said Democratic Representative Nydia Velázquez of New York. While these voices are rising up on the Democratic side against Trump and his plan to suffocate the Cuban dictatorship, on the Republican side, Representative Carlos Giménez of South Florida , the only member of Congress born in Cuba, has sent messages calling for more sanctions .

Reuters [2/15/2026 1:06 AM, Humeyra Pamuk, 38315K] reports U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio began a two-day trip to eastern Europe on Sunday to bolster ties with Slovakia and Hungary, whose conservative leaders, often at odds with other European Union countries, have warm ties with President Donald Trump. Rubio will use the trip to discuss energy cooperation and bilateral issues, including NATO commitments, the State Department said in an announcement last week. "These are countries that are very strong with us, very cooperative with the United States, work very closely with us," Rubio told reporters before departing for Europe on Thursday. Rubio, who in his dual role also serves as Trump’s national security adviser, met Slovak President Peter Pellegrini on Sunday at the start of his visit to Bratislava.

FOX News [2/14/2026 8:03 PM, Brie Stimson, 37576K] reports U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy Saturday at the Munich Security Conference, saying that President Donald Trump "wants a solution that ends the bloodshed once and for all.” "Met with Ukrainian President @ZelenskyyUa on Ukraine’s security and deepening defense and economic partnerships," Rubio wrote in an X post in which he shared a photo of him shaking hands with the Ukrainian leader. "President Trump wants a solution that ends the bloodshed once and for all." Earlier Saturday, Zelenskyy revealed he had spoken with Rubio and Trump envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner ahead of talks in Geneva, which he said his government expected to be "truly productive." "I had a conversation with envoys of President Trump @stevewitkoff and @JaredKushner, ahead of the trilateral meetings in Geneva," Zelenskyy wrote on X. "We count on the meetings being truly productive.”

Daily Caller [2/14/2026 3:34 PM, Alexander Pease, 803K] reports the United States Central Command (USCENTCOM) announced that American forces carried out a series of strikes against ISIS assets in Syria Saturday. USCENTCOM shared with the public that it had conducted 10 strikes against more than 30 ISIS targets between Feb. 3 – 12 to "sustain relentless military pressure on remnants from the terrorist network," according to an official U.S. military press release. Among the targets were infrastructure and weapons storage areas that were hit by unmanned aircrafts. The most recent strikes this month are double the amount of the last round. Those strikes took place between Jan. 27 – Feb. 2, targeting an ISIS communication site, a "critical logistics node," as well as additional weapons storage facilities, according to the press release. These latest strikes are an extension of Operation Hawkeye.

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