Allowing judges to impede Trump on immigration poses national security threat: expert
Federal judges who have attempted to put up roadblocks to President Donald Trump’s deportation efforts could endanger national security, according to one expert. “It’s incredible that basically a rogue judge is putting our national security at risk when they block this enforcement action without any legal basis,” Alfonso Aguilar, a former chief of the U.S. Office of Citizenship and the director of Hispanic engagement at the American Principles Project, told Fox News Digital. “Swift enforcement of the law is essential to dissuade foreign actors from trying to engage in criminal behavior in our country.” The comments come after Judge James Boasberg, who was appointed by former President Barack Obama, issued an order Saturday halting one of Trump’s rapid deportation flights of alleged Venezuelan gang members. However, the order was not followed by the administration, who argued that the flight was already in the air before it got word of the judge’s order, prompting Boasberg to hold a hearing Monday that set a one-day deadline for the administration to provide more information on the flight, such as how many people it was carrying and how many of those were removed “solely on the basis” of Trump’s interpretation of the 1798 wartime-era Alien Enemies Act. WHO IS JAMES BOASBERG, THE US JUDGE AT THE CENTER OF TRUMP’S DEPORTATION EFFORTS? The act, which was last invoked during World War II, provides the president broad powers to imprison or deport foreign nationals during a time of war. A proclamation signed by Trump on Saturday claimed that gang members belonging to the Venezuelan-based gang Tren de Aragua (TdA) were “conducting irregular warfare and undertaking hostile actions against the United States,” a follow-up to Trump’s move last month to designate several drug cartels, including TdA, as “Foreign Terrorist Organizations.” That move prompted a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union, eventually resulting in Boasberg’s decision to issue a 14-day restraining order halting deportations under the act. However, Aguilar believes the lawsuits are part of a broader strategy by opponents of the president to bog down his administration, arguing that left-wing groups have engaged in “forum shopping” for judges who they believe will be politically sympathetic to resisting Trump. “We’ve seen it since the beginning of the administration, on every single executive order, certainly on immigration enforcement actions, is to go forum shopping, they look for a federal district judge that they know is going to be sympathetic to try to block an order or action from the administration,” Aguilar said. William Jacobson, a Cornell University law professor and founder of the Equal Protection Project, told Fox News Digital that the trend of judges blocking Trump’s orders does raise serious legal questions. TRUMP POLICY ON BORDER JUMPERS EMPOWERS USE OF ‘MAXIMUM CONSEQUENCES,’ BORDER AGENT TELLS FOX “This has been an issue since the start of the Trump second administration,” Jacobson said. “There was a very highly organized effort to drown the administration in lawfare and tie it up and essentially freeze the executive branch.” Jacobson argued that there have already been a “number of rulings” that potentially “overstepped the boundaries of separation of powers,” something he noted has already caught the attention of four justices on the Supreme Court. “The courts are not supposed to rule on political issues,” Jacobson said. “The courts are supposed to rule on legal rights. And I think the administration’s argument is, and they make this argument in the DC Circuit, in the emergency state that’s being briefed right now, that if a judge can interfere in something like this, can a judge order the government not to issue drone strikes on terrorists abroad? Where is the limit in that the federal courts have no ability to interfere in the conduct of foreign policy, in the conduct of military action?” Jacobson believes that the only way to rectify the situation for the administration will be for the Supreme Court to step in, issuing clear guidance to lower court judges on what they can and cannot rule on. Aguilar also believes the Supreme Court will need to intervene, though he stressed that delays in the meantime could continue to spell trouble for national security. “If you send a clear message to these individuals that if you’re coming here to commit crime or engage in terrorism, we will detain you. We will remove you immediately,” he said. “That serves as a powerful form to dissuade this type of behavior. So it does have an impact on the administration’s efforts to protect the security of our country.” Fox News Digital’s Alec Schemmel contributed to this report.
University doctor boasts about finding loopholes to skirt anti-DEI laws: ‘That’s what we do’
FIRST ON FOX: A university doctor recently touted how he has been avoiding anti-diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) laws in Florida while attacking state and federal officials, including top White House official Stephen Miller. Dr. Haywood Brown, associate vice president of Academic Affairs at the University of South Florida, explained how he continues to implement DEI policies and how he has avoided state and federal discrimination laws, as well as a recent Supreme Court ruling that colleges cannot consider race in admissions decisions, during a recent presentation last month at Virginia Commonwealth University. “I really want to discuss the threat of the anti-woke movement to medical education and training and health equity,” he said in a video obtained and reviewed by Fox News Digital. FLORIDA EDUCATORS FILE FEDERAL LAWSUIT CHALLENGING STATE LAW UPENDING DEI POLICIES Haywood explained how his job title changed but revealed that his actual activities did not. “Even though I eliminated my title, I didn’t eliminate my job,” Haywood, who was previously vice president for Institutional Equity at USF, said. “That didn’t change anything that I was doing already.” He explained how at USF a DEI office was rebranded to focus on “cultural enrichment.” “As long as it works? That’s what we do,” he said. “So we changed our name to healthcare access,” Brown said in a presentation. “Who could argue against that? How do you get healthcare excellence? You only get healthcare equity. If you have a workforce that can meet those needs. So my office changed its name, and we’re able to do that to culture and enrichment. And we had it codified by our Faculty Council and a task force. And so the fact that it comes to codify this. And as a result, this is now how we address our issues. And who can argue against culture and environment. You know. But we no longer have a person who’s dedicated to it. We have a council that’s dedicated to it.” Brown added, “Isn’t that slippery? As long as it works. That’s what we do.” Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill into law in 2023 that barred colleges and universities from using government funds to promote, support or maintain DEI programs or campus activities. DEI is defined as “any program, campus activity, or policy that classifies individuals on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, gender identity, or sexual orientation and promotes differential or preferential treatment of individuals on the basis of such classification,” according to the State University System of Florida. Brown said in the presentation that people in the health community know best, and sometimes have to ignore the directives from “the big house,” while also explaining that he has “learned how slippery you need to be when you’re talking to legislators.” In his address, Brown also attacked White House official Stephen Miller, who has been critical of DEI initiatives. “Well, Stephen Miller has already tried to attack the University of South Florida,” he said of Miller. “He’s a Dookie [Duke University alum]. We don’t claim him. He’s also, and he also claims to be Jewish, but we’ll see.” He also said that the Supreme Court decision would not affect Florida as “race conscious” admissions have been banned in Florida since 1999. REV. AL SHARPTON THREATENS BOYCOTTS FOR COMPANIES ENDING DEI: ‘YOU TOOK EVERYTHING’ He also described his experiences on Capitol Hill and how “I’ve learned how slippery you need to be when you’re talking to legislators.” In a statement to Fox News Digital, the university said that it is reviewing the matter. “The University of South Florida is disappointed and troubled by the statements of Dr. Haywood Brown, who is set to retire from USF on July 1,” a University of South Florida spokesperson told Fox News Digital. “The university follows all state and federal guidance, policies and laws, and any suggestion otherwise by Dr. Brown is untrue. USF is reviewing this matter.” The revelations brought criticism from groups opposed to DEI in healthcare. “Woke DEI ideology is invasive at our university medical schools. The speech by former USF vice president for Institutional Equity Dr. Haywood Brown at Virginia Commonwealth University Health should raise alarm bells for state legislators, governors, attorneys general and anyone concerned about the state of medicine. Do No Harm will continue to work to expose administrators harming our healthcare system and we will not stop until this woke DEI ideology is fully eradicated.” Kristina Rasmussen, executive director of Do No Harm, told Fox News Digital. “This is just another example of how health systems across the country are intentionally prioritizing a woke agenda over patient care,” Will Hild, executive director of Consumers’ Research, told Fox News Digital. “The Trump Administration has made it crystal clear that woke ideology such as DEI is illegal and must be removed from our institutions. Organizations like VCU think they can pull the wool over Americans’ eyes by inviting speakers like Dr. Haywood Brown, who has been caught openly strategizing on how to break the law and continue DEI practices covertly. Dr. Haywood may be proud of his plan to rename DEI positions and offices, but someone should tell institutions like VCU who continue to allow illegal DEI practices that they are effectively begging the Trump Administration to investigate their discriminatory practices.” Fox News Digital reached out to Brown for comment but did not receive a response.
Trump now speaking with Russia’s Putin about ending Ukraine war
President Donald Trump is now speaking with Russian President Vladimir Putin about ending the war in Ukraine, the White House said. The call, which began at 10 a.m. ET, is “going well, and still in progress,” White House spokesman Dan Scavino said at 10:54 a.m. ET. It comes after Trump said last night that “Many elements of a Final Agreement have been agreed to, but much remains.” “Thousands of young soldiers, and others, are being killed. Each week brings 2,500 soldier deaths, from both sides, and it must end NOW. I look very much forward to the call with President Putin,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social account. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Tuesday that the two leaders would speak about the war in Ukraine but that there are a “large number of questions” regarding normalizing U.S.-Russia relations, according to The Associated Press. WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THE TRUMP-PUTIN CALL ON UKRAINE WAR State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said Monday that “the ball is now in Russia’s court” to accept a U.S.-proposed ceasefire deal that Ukraine agreed to last week. The U.S.-backed proposal, which includes an immediate 30-day ceasefire and guaranteed resumption of U.S. military aid and intelligence to Ukraine, was finalized during diplomatic talks in Saudi Arabia last week. “Ukraine expressed readiness to accept the U.S. proposal to enact an immediate interim 30-day ceasefire to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The ball is now in Russia’s court,” Bruce said during a State Department briefing. UKRAINE’S ZELENSKYY REPLACES TOP MILITARY OFFICIAL AHEAD OF TRUMP-PUTIN CALL The last time Trump and Putin spoke was in mid-February. “I just had a lengthy and highly productive phone call with President Vladimir Putin of Russia. We discussed Ukraine, the Middle East, Energy, Artificial Intelligence, the power of the Dollar, and various other subjects,” Trump said at the time. “We both reflected on the Great History of our Nations, and the fact that we fought so successfully together in World War II, remembering, that Russia lost tens of millions of people, and we, likewise, lost so many!” Trump continued. “We each talked about the strengths of our respective Nations, and the great benefit that we will someday have in working together. But first, as we both agreed, we want to stop the millions of deaths taking place in the War with Russia/Ukraine,” he also said. This is a developing story. Please check back for updates. Fox News’ Alec Schemmel contributed to this report.
Trump’s DOJ to tackle ‘barbaric Hamas terrorists’ with new Oct 7 task force
The Justice Department is cracking down on Palestinian militant group Hamas with a new task force aimed at providing justice to the victims of Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023 attack on Israel. Attorney General Pam Bondi said the group, known as Joint Task Force October 7, would focus on identifying, charging and prosecuting those who conducted the 2023 attacks, which took the lives of roughly 1,200 people — including 47 U.S. citizens. Hamas also took more than 250 people hostage, including eight U.S. citizens. Specifically, the task force will investigate acts of terrorism and civil rights violations by those who have provided support to and financially backed Hamas, other related Iranian proxies, and antisemitism from these groups. “The barbaric Hamas terrorists will not win — and there will be consequences,” Bondi said in a Monday statement. WHO IS MAHMOUD KHALIL, THE ANTI-ISRAEL COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY ACTIVIST ICE ARRESTED? A senior counterterrorism prosecutor from the Justice Department’s National Security Division will lead the task force, along with a senior FBI special agent serving as the task force commander, and an FBI intelligence analyst as deputy task force commander, according to the Department of Justice. FBI agents, analysts, forensic accountants, data scientists and linguists will all serve on the task force and will work on investigating and prosecuting domestic and extraterritorial terrorism cases. Likewise, the FBI will start to embed agents within Israel’s National Bureau of Counter Terror Financing and will coordinate with foreign counterparts with the FBI’s Legal Attaché office in Israel under the task force. The task force’s efforts will expand upon the Justice Department’s ongoing investigations into those involved in the Oct. 7 attack and advance the agency’s efforts to hold “Hamas supporters accountable,” the Justice Department said in a news release. The Justice Department’s announcement of the new task force coincides with the arrest of anti-Israel activist Mahmoud Khalil, who played a major role in the protests against Israel at Columbia University. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents took Khalil, a Palestinian raised in Syria and a permanent U.S. resident, into custody on March 9. FEDERAL AGENCIES TO REVIEW COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY’S CONTRACTS, GRANTS AFTER ‘FAILURE’ TO PROTECT JEWISH STUDENTS The Department of Homeland Security said that Khalil “led activities aligned to Hamas, a designated terrorist organization,” and Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the administration would revoke the green cards of any Hamas supporters in the U.S. and deport them. White House officials told Fox News Digital following Khalil’s arrest that the Justice Department, the Department of Homeland Security and State Department are investigating Khalil as a possible national security threat. The investigation has detected “antisemitic and hateful” posts on Khalil’s social media, and determined he organized multiple antisemitic protests on Columbia’s campus, the officials said. Meanwhile, Khalil’s attorneys have challenged the Trump administration’s actions and filed motions asserting that ICE violated Khalil’s constitutional rights.
Trump calls for judge in deportation legal battle to be impeached
President Donald Trump called for the impeachment of a judge in a Truth Social post on Tuesday, apparently referring to U.S. District Judge James E. Boasberg who recently sought to block deportation flights to El Salvador. “This Radical Left Lunatic of a Judge, a troublemaker and agitator who was sadly appointed by Barack Hussein Obama, was not elected President – He didn’t WIN the popular VOTE (by a lot!), he didn’t WIN ALL SEVEN SWING STATES, he didn’t WIN 2,750 to 525 Counties, HE DIDN’T WIN ANYTHING! I WON FOR MANY REASONS, IN AN OVERWHELMING MANDATE, BUT FIGHTING ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION MAY HAVE BEEN THE NUMBER ONE REASON FOR THIS HISTORIC VICTORY,” Trump declared in the post. “I’m just doing what the VOTERS wanted me to do. This judge, like many of the Crooked Judges’ I am forced to appear before, should be IMPEACHED!!! WE DON’T WANT VICIOUS, VIOLENT, AND DEMENTED CRIMINALS, MANY OF THEM DERANGED MURDERERS, IN OUR COUNTRY. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!” the president added. This is a breaking news story. Check back for updates.
Vice President JD Vance to play key role with RNC to ‘fully enact MAGA mandate,’ grow GOP majority in 2026
EXCLUSIVE: Vice President JD Vance will serve as the Republican National Committee’s finance chair, telling Fox News Digital that he will work with the party to “fully enact the MAGA mandate” and grow the Republican majority in Congress in 2026. The RNC Executive Committee voted unanimously to confirm Vance in the role, an RNC official told Fox News Digital. This is the first time in the history of the GOP that a sitting vice president will serve in the role. RNC BRINGS ON NEW SENIOR LEADERSHIP TO ‘WORK AROUND THE CLOCK’ TO SUPPORT TRUMP AGENDA, ELECT REPUBLICANS An RNC official told Fox News Digital that Vance serving as finance chair is “unprecedented” and shows “just how much the White House and the RNC are in lockstep this cycle.” “Everyone is laser-focused on growing our majorities in 2026, and we are going to aggressively fundraise to be ready for next year.” Vance, in a statement to Fox News Digital, reflected on Trump’s “historic election victory, taking back the White House and helping Republicans regain control of the Senate and retain control of the House.” “But to fully enact the MAGA mandate and President Trump’s vision that voters demanded, we must keep and grow our Republican majorities in 2026,” Vance said. “I am excited to work with Chairman Whatley and the RNC leadership to build the war chest we need to deliver those victories next November,” Vance added. “JD will do a fantastic job as RNC Finance Chair,” President Trump said in a statement to Fox News Digital. “He knows how to fight and win tough races.” RNC CHAIR WHATLEY VOWS TO BE ‘TIP OF THE SPEAR’ TO PROTECT TRUMP AFTER COASTING TO RE-ELECTION VICTORY The president added, “I’m glad he’ll be working with Michael Whatley to help us secure our elections, get out the vote, and win big next year!” RNC Chair Mike Whatley told Fox News Digital that Vance is “the definition of an American success story, rising from a childhood where his family faced great struggles to become one of the youngest vice presidents in our nation’s history.” “Vice President Vance is not only one of our Party’s most talented messengers, he is also a thought leader who has helped remake the GOP into the party of working Americans representing the forgotten men and women of our country,” Whatley wrote. “I am continuously thankful to President Trump for the leadership and direction he provides the Party and am honored to work with Vice President Vance to grow our party and ensure President Trump has the votes in Congress to Make America Great Again.” Vance is succeeding outgoing National Finance Chair Richard “Duke” Buchan III. Trump appointed Buchan to serve as ambassador to Morocco. Whatley thanked Buchan for his “tremendous service” to the RNC and the GOP and for his “support for President Trump.” “His efforts were an essential contribution to our success in 2024,” Whatley said.
‘Bring it on’: Sheriff pushes back after blue state leaders sue to stop immigration enforcement
Klickitat County Sheriff Bob Songer is calling out the “lunacy” of Democratic leadership in deep blue Washington after state Attorney General Nick Brown launched a lawsuit against one of his colleagues for helping enforce immigration law. “They honestly feel that they can just run over everybody,” he said, adding, “Bring it on, I’ll fight them.” Brown, a Democrat, sued the Adams County Sheriff’s Office on Monday, accusing the office of “illegally collaborating” with federal officials and the Trump administration. The lawsuit, which was filed in Spokane County Superior Court, claims that the Adams County Sheriff’s Office’s holding of illegal immigrants in custody based on their immigration status, helping federal agents question people in custody, and “routinely” sharing personal confidential information of Washington residents with federal officials “expressly violates state law.” TOM HOMAN WARNS MAJOR SANCTUARY STATE WILL ‘GET EXACTLY WHAT THEY DON’T WANT’ The suit cites a 2019 law called the Keep Washington Working Act, which prohibits law enforcement in the state from providing aid in immigration enforcement. Brown is asking the court to force the Adams County Sheriff’s Office, led by Sheriff Dale Wagner, to comply with the Keep Washington Working Act. This comes the same week that U.S. Border Patrol Chief Michael Banks posted on X that agents had partnered with the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office to arrest a Mexican national and suspected illegal firearms dealer, including rifles, shotguns and pistols. A representative for the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office declined Fox News Digital’s request for comment. Songer, who has vowed to help ICE, told Fox News Digital that the attorney general’s lawsuit is part of a broader effort by Washington’s leading Democrats, including Gov. Bob Ferguson, to intimidate sheriffs into complying with the state’s sanctuary policies. ‘GET GEARED UP’ BECAUSE ‘ICE IS COMING,’ SAYS LEADING HOUSE GOP MEMBER He shared that two days after Trump’s inauguration his office received a public records request from an individual named Charles Harvey for all of his personal and official phone, text and email communications with federal authorities from 2021 until the present. The request stated that if any communications between Songer and ICE were found they would be reported to the attorney general’s office. CLICK HERE FOR MORE IMMIGRATION COVERAGE “In my opinion, it’s lunacy. They are whack nuts,” he said. “Why would a governor and legislator and Brown, the new attorney general, why would they not want law enforcement to cooperate with ICE to go after bad people that are illegally in our country that have committed felonies and very serious felonies?” He commended Wagner and the Adams County Sheriff’s Office for standing their ground, calling the attorney general’s lawsuit “flat ridiculous.” YOUNG FATHER KILLED BY ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT HIGHLIGHTS ‘BETRAYAL’ OF SANCTUARY CITIES, SAYS REPUBLICAN Songer said he would not be intimidated by the threat of investigations or lawsuits because he believes the Constitution is on his side. “I hope my fellow sheriffs will stand up to the governor and this state and tell them these laws are unconstitutional and we’re not going to cooperate,” he said. “We just need to pay attention and follow the Constitution and I think if we do that, we’re going to have a better country.” “Citizens come first,” he concluded. “And I pray, I absolutely pray for Tom Homan to come to Washington state, the blue state and sanctuary state, because I really believe Ferguson, Brown and their cohorts, elected politicians, are in violation of federal law. And if they are, lock them up.”
Victims of ‘gender industrial complex’ will get justice in court, attorney for detransitioners pledges
Lawsuits against doctors, hospitals and gender clinics will proceed despite President Donald Trump’s executive order halting federal funding for the “surgical mutilation” of minors, an attorney representing several detransitioners said. This comes as the Department of Education invited detransitioners to a meeting on Detrans Awareness Day last week. “These are young women who, as early as 13 years old, were victimized by this gender industrial complex,” Mark Trammell, executive attorney at the Center for American Liberty, told Fox News Digital in an interview. “We have other clients who had double mastectomies at 15, 16, they’re all put on puberty blockers, all put on off-label cross-sex hormones, and all without being afforded informed consent.” Shortly after Trump’s executive order took effect, a federal judge in Baltimore last month issued a temporary restraining order, halting the order’s implementation. TRANS INMATE IN PRISON FOR KILLING BABY MUST GET GENDER SURGERY AT ‘EARLIEST OPPORTUNITY’: JUDGE As such, some hospitals that had previously complied with Trump’s order reversed course, Trammell said, citing the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles as an example that had re-introduced some of its so-called gender-affirming treatments. “But what can stick is lawsuits,” Trammell said. “And at the end of the day, we can achieve justice. We can secure justice for these young women by hopefully recovering financial damages for what they’ve suffered.” Trammell noted that their involvement with gender ideology lawsuits began with cases involving social transitions in schools, such as the case of Jessica Konen, which resulted in a settlement with a school district. He said many parents became aware of the issue when they discovered that schools were socially transitioning children, sometimes as young as fifth grade, without notifying parents. One of Trammell’s clients, Aurora Regino, learned her daughter was being socially transitioned from female to male in school, including using a male name and pronouns, without any communication with her mother. “We’re suing doctors individually, holding them personally liable,” Trammell said. “We’re also suing the hospitals that employ them. And so these are, again, these are cases that are being brought in tort. So the idea is we’re going to sue the individuals who caused the injury.” BLUE STATE’S LGBT ‘CONVERSION THERAPY’ BAN VIOLATES CONSTITUTION, ‘VERY EASY CASE’ FOR SCOTUS, SAYS EXPERT Last week, the Department of Education hosted a meeting with six detransitioners and activists “fighting to protect children from the serious harms caused by radical gender ideology,” the department said in a March 10 news release. The group shared its concerns about gender ideology in schools with new Secretary of Education Linda McMahon. Trammell said the administration’s meeting with the activists was “encouraging” to see them “even recognizing just their existence.” “No teacher should attempt to persuade or coerce a student to undergo a gender transition,” McMahon said in a statement. “No parent should be lied to or prevented from knowing what is going on with their child’s mental or physical health. We stand firmly alongside parents, professionals, advocates, and especially detransitioners, who understand firsthand the damage caused by indoctrinating kids to believe that they can ever be ‘born in the wrong body.’” The federal judge’s restraining order also hasn’t stopped Trump from continuing full steam ahead to stamp out what he calls “radical gender ideology” as the administration reminded hospitals of “the dangerous chemical and surgical mutilation of children, including interventions that cause sterilization,” in a Department of Health and Human Services memo sent out to hospitals and medical providers last week. HOSPITALS WARNED THEY MUST PROTECT CHILDREN FROM CHEMICAL AND SURGICAL MUTILATION: HHS AGENCY MEMO The notice also said, “CMS may begin taking steps in the future to align policy, including CMS-regulated provider requirements and agreements, with the highest-quality medical evidence in the treatment of the nation’s children in order to protect children from harmful, often irreversible mutilation, including sterilization practices.” “In recent years, medical interventions for gender dysphoria in children have proliferated,” the memo reads. “Initiated with an underdeveloped body of evidence and now known to cause long-term and irreparable harm to some children, CMS may begin taking steps in the future to adjust its policies to reflect this reality and the lack of medical evidence in support of these harmful treatments.”
Pentagon deploys Navy warship that fought Houthis to new US southern border mission in line with Trump order
A U.S. Navy destroyer was deployed to the southern border over the weekend to help with the Trump administration’s maritime efforts to halt illegal immigration and drug smuggling. USS Gravely, an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, departed Naval Weapons Station Yorktown in Virginia for a scheduled deployment to the U.S.-Mexico border to carry out President Donald Trump’s southern border executive orders, Navy officials said in a statement on Saturday. “Gravely’s sea-going capacity improves our ability to protect the United States’ territorial integrity, sovereignty, and security,” said Gen. Gregory Guillot of U.S. Northern Command. Air Force Lt. Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, Joint Staff director for operations, told reporters Monday that USS Gravely will go to the Gulf of America to carry out missions to intercept drug smugglers at sea. TRUMP PUTTING TROOPS ON BORDER WAS GAME CHANGER, SAN DIEGO SECTOR CHIEF SAYS: ‘FORCE MULTIPLIER’ Navy officials said the deployment highlights the Pentagon’s dedication to “combating maritime related terrorism, weapons proliferation, transnational crime, piracy, environmental destruction, and illegal seaborne immigration.” USS Gravely, which has previously been deployed to the Red Sea to intercept missiles that the Iranian-backed Houthis fired at commercial vessels, will enhance “maritime efforts” and “fill critical capabilities gaps” in support of the Department of Homeland Security and Customs and Border Protection, officials said. “This is an important step in the whole-of-government efforts to seal the southern border and maintain U.S. sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Guillot said. “It’s not only vital for the United States to have control of our border via land,” the Pentagon’s chief spokesman Sean Parnell told reporters Monday. “It’s equally important to control our territorial waters, and this deployment directly supports U.S. Northern Command’s mission to protect our sovereignty.” A Coast Guard captain told Fox News Digital earlier this month that there were about 200 migrant boat encounters near the San Diego coast over the previous 90 days, attributing the uptick to the Trump administration’s increase in land border security. TRUMP POLICY ON BORDER JUMPERS EMPOWERS USE OF ‘MAXIMUM CONSEQUENCES,’ BORDER AGENT TELLS FOX “They’re locking down the land border pretty good… where they used to get thousands a day. Now, they’re now down in the hundreds a day,” Coast Guard District 11 Capt. Jason Hagen said. “So, the migrants have to go somewhere. The smugglers have to move their operations somewhere. And we’re starting to see an uptick in the maritime environment.” Hagen said those encountered aboard migrant boats include foreign nationals from U.S. adversary countries. “We’re starting to see an uptick in other nationalities, as well, which is a… national security concern because it’s not just your economic Mexicans looking to come to the United States for work,” Hagen said. “It’s also… bad actors coming from other countries. We’ve seen nationalities to include Chinese, Russian, Uzbekistan[i], Pakistan[i]. It’s really all over the place.” Fox News Digital’s Audrey Conklin contributed to this report.
PM Modi pens emotional message for ‘daughter of India’ Sunita Williams: ‘I could not stop…’
As the world awaits the return of NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore who have spent nearly nine months on the ISS, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had written a letter to Williams expressing the pride of billions of Indians in her achievements and sent her wishes for her safe return.