Senate border security talks grind on as Trump invokes Nazi-era 'blood' rhetoric against immigrants
Time slipping, White House and Senate negotiators are struggling to reach a U.S. border security deal that would unlock President Joe Bidenโs request for billions of dollars worth in military aid for Ukraine and national security.
Mayorkas tours border to prepare for asylum limits to end
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas says authorities are prepared for an expected increase in migrants along the U.S.-Mexico border amid plans to lift a public health order that has been used to turn away migrants nearly 2 million times without a chance to seek asylum.
Families separated at Mexico border ask for residency, aid
A mother who was separated from her children on the U.S.-Mexico border during former President Donald Trumpโs administration says that she and other parents who experienced similar separations asked the Homeland Security Secretary for permanent legal residency in the United States and compensation.
Pipeline CEO defends paying ransom amid cyberattack
A pipeline company CEO is making no apologies for his decisions to abruptly halt fuel distribution for much of the East Coast and pay millions to a criminal gang in Russia as he faced down one of the most disruptive ransomware attacks in U.S. history.
Correction: Domestic Extremism story
In a story May 14, 2021, about a national terrorism alert from Friday warning that violent extremists may take advantage of the easing of pandemic restrictions to conduct attacks, The Associated Press erroneously reported that a national terrorism bulletin issued in January would expire Aug. 13.
Child border crossings surging, straining US facilities
FILE - In this Aug. 23, 2019 file photo, immigrants seeking asylum walk at the ICE South Texas Family Residential Center, in Dilley, Texas. The number of children crossing by themselves, mostly from Central America, appears to be surging in particular in the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas. AdThe total of 561 unaccompanied minors from Monday offers a snapshot of how quickly conditions have changed along the border. โTheyโre all coming across the border, theyโre coming fast, and theyโre wearing Biden T-shirts,โ said the Oklahoma Republican. The Biden administration last week ended a Trump policy that made relatives reluctant to contact HHS to retrieve children for fear of being deported themselves.
WATCH: Senate hearing on Capitol attack
Former U.S. Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund testifies before a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs & Senate Rules and Administration joint hearing on Capitol Hill, Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2021, to examine the January 6th attack on the Capitol. (Erin Scott/The New York Times via AP, Pool)
US govt seizes over 10M phony N95 masks in COVID-19 probe
They have no utility whatsoever,โ Homeland Security Secretary Ali Mayorkas said of the fake masks. Homeland Security officials would not say which states the phony masks were sent to, but said criminal charges would be forthcoming. The company delivered some 2 billion N95 masks in 2020 as the pandemic intensified, but in the earlier months, when masks were in short supply, fraudsters took advantage. But phony masks have already made it to front-line workers in other cases. Over the past year there has been more than 1,250 raids by law enforcement resulting in the seizure of millions of fake masks.
McAleenan could stay longer at Homeland Security
But with acting Homeland Security Secretary Kevin McAleenan's Thursday departure date rapidly approaching, officials said McAleenan could stay up to a week longer to ensure a smooth transition. The official said the White House has determined Trump has that legal authority under a mechanism first reported by The New York Times. McAleenan, who's served as acting secretary since April, submitted his resignation to the White House earlier this month. In April, the White House's growing frustration with leadership led to the ouster that placed McAleenan at the helm. The White House also considered Chad Wolf to replace the outgoing acting Homeland Security secretary, according to two sources familiar with the process.
Chad Wolf under consideration for Homeland Security top job
(CNN) - The White House is considering Chad Wolf to replace the outgoing acting Homeland Security secretary, according to two sources familiar with the process. Wolf, a senior department official, previously served as chief of staff to former Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen. It's unclear who else is under consideration for the top Homeland Security role. When asked if he had concerns about the policy at the time, Wolf said, "My job wasn't to determine whether it was the right or wrong policy. Wolf worked for the Transportation Security Administration, during its inception shortly after 9/11, and again joined the department after Trump took office.
Deal could allow US to send some asylum seekers back to El Salvador
The deal, which aims to recognize and build El Salvador's asylum system, could allow the US to send some asylum seekers back to El Salvador if they didn't first claim asylum when passing through the country, an administration official said. Hill said in order to increase its asylum capabilities, El Salvador needs support from the US to tackle gangs and violence, as well as "more investment," including for border security, biometric collection and resettlement. Advocates already criticized the announcement, saying that El Salvador is one of the most dangerous countries in the western hemisphere. President Trump must reverse this lethal decision before it goes into effect or the lives lost will be on his hands." In July, the US signed an asylum agreement with Guatemala in the Oval Office that intended to commit Guatemala to extend asylum to migrants who seek it when they're moving through the country.