Washington, March 3 (IANS) A US Senate oversight hearing on the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) turned sharply confrontational on Tuesday, as Democrats accused the agency of excessive force and civil liberties violations, while DHS Secretary Kristi Noem rejected the claims and defended enforcement actions as lawful. Senator Richard Durbin, the committee’s top Democrat, said that under Noem’s leadership the department has been “devoid of any moral compass or respect for the rule of law”.He …
Latest Immigration and Customs Enforcement News & Updates
Washington, Feb 13 (IANS) A sharp political fight erupted in the US Senate over federal immigration enforcement tactics and civil liberties, in a debate closely watched by immigrant communities, including Indian visa holders and green card applicants.The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee examined “Operation Metro Surge,” a large-scale Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) deployment in Minnesota.The operation followed protests and clashes between federal agents …
Washington, Feb 9 (IANS) A sharp political standoff over immigration enforcement and election rules is intensifying in Washington, with House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries warning that aggressive federal actions could undermine civil liberties and democratic norms as the United States heads toward the November elections.Appearing on CNN’s State of the Union, Jeffries said Democrats will not support funding for the Department of Homeland Security unless Republicans agree to sweeping reforms…
Washington, Feb 4 (IANS) US President Donald Trump signed a massive funding package, ending a partial government shutdown that began Saturday.The bill narrowly passed the House of Representatives earlier Tuesday, after gaining Senate approval on Friday, Xinua news agency reported.The latest package will fund multiple US federal agencies for the remainder of the fiscal year, which ends on September 30.The agencies include the Department of Defence, the Department of Education, the Department of H…
Washington, Jan 26 (IANS) US President Donald Trump renewed his call for a sweeping crackdown on illegal immigration, urged Democratic governors and mayors to cooperate with federal authorities, and said his administration was “reviewing everything” related to the fatal shooting of a man by a federal officer in Minneapolis.In a series of posts on Truth Social, Trump blamed the previous administration for what he described as a surge in criminal migration and said his election victory was dri…
Washington, Jan 24 (IANS) Three US federal courts have issued rulings this week questioning how immigration authorities detain noncitizens and handle immigration benefit cases, granting partial relief to Indian nationals or allowing their lawsuits to move forward.In Michigan, a federal judge ordered immigration authorities to give an Indian asylum seeker a bond hearing or release him from custody. The US District Court for the Western District of Michigan ruled that Harjot Singh, held by Immigra…
Washington, Jan 23 (IANS) US lawmakers have expressed concerns that routine domestic air travel could increasingly intersect with immigration enforcement, creating fear among immigrant communities, including lawful visa holders and international students.The issue surfaced this week during a House Homeland Security Committee hearing on airport security and cybersecurity oversight.Transportation Security Administration Acting Administrator Ha Nguyen McNeill confirmed that TSA shares certain infor…
Washington, Jan 23 (IANS) Two senior Democratic lawmakers, including Indian American Pramila Jayapal, have pressed Meta and Google to end their digital advertising partnerships with the US Department of Homeland Security, alleging that Immigration and Customs Enforcement has used the companies’ platforms to run recruitment and “self-deportation” advertisements drawing on white nationalist imagery and rhetoric.US Representatives Becca Balint, the vice ranking member of the House Judiciary C…
Washington, Jan 21 (IANS) President Donald Trump said his administration had sharply tightened US border controls, arguing that tougher enforcement had led to a dramatic fall in illegal entries and the removal of serious criminals from the country.Speaking at a White House media availability marking one year since his return to office, Trump said border security no longer required new legislation. “Biden said you couldn’t do it,” he said. “You need legislation. I had no legislation. I sa…
Washington, Jan 19 (IANS) US federal judges in California have ordered immigration authorities to release two Indian nationals, ruling that their detention without hearings likely violated constitutional due process. The orders were issued this week by the US District Court for the Eastern District of California. In both cases, the court found that Immigration and Customs Enforcement failed to provide notice, hearings or lawful justification before holding the men in custody.In one case, Chief U…