Stories
Denver City Council on Monday unanimously approved a new law that will ban federal immigration and other law enforcement officers from wearing masks while working within city limits.
By Brad Brooks March 2 (Reuters) - A Minnesota prosecutor said on Monday that her office is investigating the "potentially unlawful behavior" of federal agents during Operation Metro Surge, a
Senators Elissa Slotkin and Gary Peters, both Michigan Democrats, have written to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem urging her to reverse her decision to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Yemeni nationals in the United States. The senators argue that terminating TPS would force hundreds of Yemeni nationals, including many in Michigan, to return to a country experiencing armed conflict, economic collapse, and food insecurity. Yemen was first designated for TPS in 2015 due to dangers posed by ongoing armed conflict, and has been extended multiple times since. The senators are calling for an immediate extension and redesignation of Yemen's TPS status, citing humanitarian concerns and U.S. immigration policy traditions.
The Nonviolent Peaceforce group in New York City is conducting scenario-based trainings to help communities respond to ICE enforcement actions, teaching participants to remain calm and make informed decisions during immigration encounters in various settings such as public events and community offices. The trainings also address practical concerns, such as helping undocumented individuals identify safer routes and find protective accompaniment. The effort comes as New York State considers legislation to end local law enforcement collaboration with ICE, and amid growing fear in immigrant communities following reported arrests at schools, health centers, and immigration courts. Organizers acknowledge the challenge of providing guidance given the rapidly changing and unpredictable immigration enforcement landscape.
ICE has been designating new detention centers as having "no detrimental effect" on host communities as part of its mass expansion, a determination made without consulting local governments. Many local officials say they learned of planned facilities through media reports rather than federal notification, and several have publicly challenged how ICE reached its conclusions without engaging local stakeholders. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed in a letter that ICE did not consult with local officials prior to site selection, stating the decision was based on assessments of utilities, infrastructure, and internal feasibility studies. One proposed facility in Merrimack, New Hampshire was ultimately scrapped following opposition from state leaders, while plans for a site in Surprise, Arizona continue despite ongoing concerns from local council members.
Demonstrators gathered outside the Keating Federal Building in Rochester, New York, to protest a proposed federal immigration detention center in the downtown area. The U.S. General Services Administration indicated that a court had previously approved the building for use by Customs and Border Patrol, and federal officials described the move as part of a Trump administration directive to consolidate space and reduce costs from an existing lease in Irondequoit. Protesters, including members of local community organizations, argued that detaining immigrants who contribute to the community is unnecessary and costly.
The Spokane City Council is set to vote on an emergency ordinance that would ban private property from being used as immigration detention facilities across all residential, commercial, and industrial zones in the city. Sponsored by Council member Paul Dillon, the proposal aims to close a loophole in existing Washington state law by targeting detention facilities as a land use rather than focusing on specific private operators. Legal experts note the ordinance could face challenges as a potential regulatory "taking," though Dillon argues the city is on solid legal footing since zoning is traditionally under municipal authority. The measure's legality may also be complicated by a 2022 9th Circuit ruling that states cannot block federal immigration detention facilities under the Supremacy Clause, though Dillon contends the zoning-based approach distinguishes Spokane's ordinance from that precedent.
On a recent episode of his podcast, Joe Rogan claimed that anti-ICE protests are "organized and paid for," alleging that participants are provided signs and coordinated through group chats. His guest, RFK Jr. — currently serving as Secretary of Health and Human Services — acknowledged that some ICE raid footage, particularly from Minneapolis, was "very disturbing," but directed blame at the media and Democratic Party rather than the Trump administration. RFK Jr. also claimed that President Obama deported more people than Trump and that deportation-related deaths under the Biden administration received little media coverage. The episode came amid nationwide protests following the deaths of two Minneapolis residents, Alex Pretti and Renee Nicole Good, who were killed by ICE agents in January.
Residents and activist groups in Cary, North Carolina plan to confront town officials at Thursday's State of Cary Address over reports that ICE is expanding its local office presence at 11000 Regency Parkway. The concern follows a WIRED magazine report about ICE expanding office space nationally, including in Cary, where a GSA database shows a 25,000-square-foot lease at the building running through at least 2030. Mayor Harold Weinbrecht acknowledged receiving dozens of emails about the potential move but noted the town lacks authority to stop it, while a town spokesperson confirmed that federal agencies can operate without local rezoning or municipal approval. WRAL News has not independently verified the WIRED reporting, and a GSA spokesperson did not respond to requests for comment.
A guest columnist writing for the Spring Hope Enterprise disputes the MAGA characterization of America entering a "Golden Age," citing a loss of 88,000 manufacturing jobs, an estimated 75,000 deaths in Gaza according to The Lancet, and thousands of lawsuits alleging ICE rights violations, including over 4,400 court findings of illegal detention. The columnist also criticizes the Department of Justice for what he describes as politicization and contempt of Congress, and argues that recent legal interpretations granting presidential immunity represent a departure from democratic norms. The author contends that the concentration of executive power and erosion of constitutional checks are more characteristic of autocracy than democracy. The piece is written by Robert Kimball Shinkoskey, described as an author of works on democracy, religion, and the American presidency.
Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty announced an investigation Monday that could result in criminal charges against federal immigration officers, including Border Patrol official Greg Bovino, for alleged misconduct during Operation Metro Surge in the Minneapolis area. The investigation is examining 17 cases, including incidents where federal officers deployed chemical irritants near a high school and at protests, and the fatal shootings of two women by federal agents in January. Moriarty's office is also investigating the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, and she has threatened to sue the federal government if evidence she has requested is not provided by Tuesday. The Trump administration has defended federal officers, while the DOJ and FBI have faced criticism for limiting state investigators' access to evidence in the cases.
U.S. Rep. Angie Craig publicly stated she regrets her vote in favor of the Laken Riley Act, which expanded requirements for detaining undocumented immigrants arrested for certain nonviolent crimes, in an editorial published by The Minnesota Star Tribune. Craig, who was the only Minnesota Democrat to support the bill, said witnessing immigration enforcement actions in her state led her to question the decision, stating that "supporting any bill that gives ICE new authority in this administration was the wrong decision." The reversal comes as Craig campaigns for Minnesota's open U.S. Senate seat against Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, who has repeatedly criticized Craig's original vote. Flanagan responded to Craig's statement by arguing that regret cannot undo the harm caused by the legislation.