Breaking News Today
Kilmar Abrego Garcia was wrongfully deported by the Trump administration and now his lawyer is fighting to get him back home. Additionally, Texas Republicans are using redistricting plans as an advantage in midterm elections.
Bail funds have become increasingly popular following police brutality protests; however, some states are working to limit them. NPR examines this topic and its complexities.
Table of Contents
Deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia
Kilmar Abrego Garcia of Maryland’s construction crew was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents while reporting for an ICE check-in as part of his release conditions pending trial on federal human smuggling charges in Tennessee on Monday morning, after President Donald Trump signed an executive order ordering them to do so.
Immigration officials revealed in court documents their plan to deport Abrego Garcia to Uganda despite an earlier ruling by a judge that found him eligible for deportation but could not return home, El Salvador.
Abrego Garcia refused a Justice Department offer of deportation to Costa Rica where he would be accepted as legal immigration in exchange for pleading guilty to federal human smuggling charges, according to his lawyers. Instead he reported himself voluntarily for check-in appointments instead. Judge Paula Xinis issued an oral order instructing government to honor her earlier rulings.
Midterm Elections
Midterm elections often receive much less media coverage than presidential races; however, their consequences for US government functioning cannot be underestimated. They affect how power is distributed within Congress (comprised of both House and Senate representatives) as well as whether bills are proposed and passed into law.
Furthermore, election results have the power to directly impact day-to-day policy decisions at both state and local levels. This year is especially poignant due to the Supreme Court’s ruling against Roe v. Wade; which may provide key constituencies within both parties with motivation for voting.
American politics over the last five years has experienced something far worse: widespread distrust among voters that elections cannot be trusted and democracy itself corrupt. If this trend continues, America’s experiment in representative democracy could come under severe threat – Louise Chetcuti of Institut Montaigne and Helmke Johnson from LSE USAPP address this topic in their video discussing midterm elections for 2022 midterms and their significance.
Rainbow Crosswalk in Orlando
State transportation officials painted over a rainbow crosswalk commemorating 49 people killed in Orlando’s Pulse nightclub during 2016 mass shooting, prompting outrage from local residents. Florida’s transportation agency has recently informed cities such as Delray Beach and Key West that any street art carrying social, political or ideological messages risks losing transportation funds; Florida officials painted over it this week.
As elections approach, this move by President Donald Trump signals his administration’s plan to clamp down on protests that they view as disruptive or potentially political sensitive – including LGBTQ issues such as removal of rainbow-colored crossings and ban on Pride flags at US embassies abroad.
Volunteers defy state and federal directives by using colored chalk to restore rainbow crossing. A video shared on social media by Sunday showed people coloring in the crosswalk at S Orange Avenue and W Esther Street.
Trump Sends Troops to Chicago
The Pentagon has been planning for weeks to deploy military troops in Chicago as part of President Trump’s crackdown on crime and homelessness, similar to what they’ve done in Washington DC, reported The Washington Post. This may involve mobilizing National Guard soldiers as early as September as well as active-duty units; both Governor Rauner and Mayor Brandon Johnson say such deployment is illegal.
This weekend, President Donald Trump caused alarm in blue states and cities by falsely accusing them of being crime-ridden and lawless and threatening to use military power against state sovereignty. House minority leader Hakeem Jeffries says there’s no basis or authority for sending troops into cities without consulting local leaders first.
Governors from states where President Trump may deploy troops – such as Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker – have asked him to rethink his plans. Military forces cannot be used for political gain.
