Another tragic death has underscored the consequences of lax immigration enforcement in Harris County, Texas. On December 1, 7-year-old Ivory Smith was killed by a drunk driver in northeast Houston. Her mother sustained serious injuries in the crash. The alleged driver, 41-year-old Venezuelan national Joel Enrique Gonzalez Chacin, was in the country illegally and had a prior criminal record. He now faces charges of intoxicated manslaughter.
Former California Gov. Jerry Brown (D) expressed concern on Thursday that the state has exceeded the original intent of the sanctuary law he signed during his tenure. In an interview with Sacramento’s ABC10, Brown remarked that cities like San Francisco have taken sanctuary policies to an extreme, creating a near-complete separation between state and federal immigration enforcement.
Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) has called for immediate federal action to address a surge in unexplained drone activity in the Philadelphia suburbs. In a letter sent to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Fitzpatrick urged transparency and swift measures to ensure the safety and security of residents.
Dutch populist leader Geert Wilders was awarded the Jabotinsky Prize for Liberty during his visit to Israel, where he affirmed his unwavering support for the Jewish state. Speaker of the Knesset Amir Ohana presented the award, commending Wilders for his decades-long advocacy against radical Islam and support for Israel’s sovereignty. Wilders met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Isaac Herzog, and other senior officials during his diplomatic visit.
Hamas has agreed to meet two major Israeli demands in ongoing ceasefire talks, including allowing the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to remain in Gaza during a pause in fighting, according to The Wall Street Journal. The terrorist group also provided a list of hostages, including American citizens, marking a significant development toward a potential ceasefire agreement.
President Joe Biden has commuted the sentence of a Chinese national convicted of possessing child exploitation material as part of a recent prisoner swap between the United States and China. The commutation comes amid the White House’s announcement of the “largest single-day grant of clemency” in American history, drawing sharp criticism.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) faced a stinging defeat following the 2024 election as Republicans solidified their hold on Congress and President Trump reclaimed the White House. This latest blow came when Schumer’s effort to secure a Democratic majority on the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) failed, marking a dramatic shift in the political landscape.
The acquittal of Marine veteran Daniel Penny for the death of Jordan Neely on a Manhattan subway has ignited a fierce national debate, with some arguing it underscores systemic racial injustice in America.
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Michael Whitaker announced that he will resign on January 20. The resignation comes as he has accused SpaceX of violating FAA regulations.
