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Gov. Youngkin says Biden turned US into a ‘sanctuary country’

Gov. Youngkin says Biden turned US into a ‘sanctuary country’

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, a Republican, joined Fox News’ “Hannity” to discuss President Donald Trump’s handling of illegal immigration as compared with his predecessor.  Youngkin’s appearance comes after Henrry Josue Villatoro Santos, a top MS-13 gang member who’d been in the U.S. for over a decade, was arrested in Virginia.  Santos was taken into custody on an outstanding warrant and was charged with illegal gun possession upon a search of his home.  Youngkin was instrumental in assisting an interagency task force with the operation, including the FBI and the Department of Justice.  AG BONDI DETAILS ARREST OF ALLEGED TOP MS-13 LEADER WHO REPORTEDLY JOINED THE VISCIOUS GANG IN MIDDLE SCHOOL In just a few weeks, the task force has arrested 28 MS-13 gang members, 19 Tren de Aragua gang members, and dozens of other members in trans-organized crime.  Speaking to “Hannity,” Youngkin chastised Biden for having “turned America into a sanctuary state.” He then praised President Donald Trump’s leadership for having taken a tougher stance on illegal immigration.  “Today, this collaboration between state police, our Department of Corrections, Homeland Security, the FBI, ICE, and lots of folks from the U.S. Attorney’s Office – we went to work and they brought down one of the top MS-13 operatives in America,” Youngkin said. “And let me tell you, Virginia is safer.”  Youngkin said he did not have this level of cooperation between the state and federal government during the Biden administration.  “I didn’t have it for three years. And as soon as President Trump showed up, we went to work,” Youngkin said. “And we’re making America and Virginia safer.” 

Trump’s newest executive order moves to end collective bargaining at agencies safeguarding national security

Trump’s newest executive order moves to end collective bargaining at agencies safeguarding national security

President Donald Trump late Thursday signed an executive order to end collective bargaining with federal labor unions in agencies with national security missions. The order cites his authority granted under the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978 and will affect most of the federal government.  Agencies such as the Departments of State, Defense, Veterans Affairs, Energy, Health and Human Services, Treasury, Justice and Commerce and the part of Homeland Security responsible for border security are just a few listed in the executive order. TRUMP TO TAKE MORE THAN 200 EXECUTIVE ACTIONS ON DAY ONE The need to end collective bargaining with federal unions in these agencies is because of their role in safeguarding national security, according to the order.  “President Trump is taking action to ensure that agencies vital to national security can execute their missions without delay and protect the American people. The President needs a responsive and accountable civil service to protect our national security,” according to a White House fact sheet regarding the order. TRUMP’S FIRST 100 DAYS | FOX NEWS It also claims that “Certain Federal unions have declared war on President Trump’s agenda,” and that the “largest Federal union describes itself as ‘fighting back’ against Trump. It is widely filing grievances to block Trump policies.” According to the administration, VA’s unions have filed 70 national and local grievances over President Trump’s policies, averaging over one a day since the inauguration. “President Trump supports constructive partnerships with unions who work with him; he will not tolerate mass obstruction that jeopardizes his ability to manage agencies with vital national security missions,” the White House said. Police and firefighters will continue to collectively bargain.

Federal court warns Pentagon not to act against transgender service members during appeal

Federal court warns Pentagon not to act against transgender service members during appeal

The Trump administration was warned by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit on Thursday to not act against transgender military members while a federal judge’s order to block a ban on them was being appealed. The Department of Defense (DOD) led by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, filed a notice to appeal Washington, D.C.-based U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes’ denial of their motion to dissolve her order that prevents the military from denying transgender people the ability to enlist in the military on Wednesday. The Biden-appointed judge presided over a hearing on March 21, when she requested the DOD delay its original deadline to enact the policy on March 26. On March 21, the defendants in the suit, who include President Donald Trump and Hegseth, filed a motion to dissolve the injunction blocking the Pentagon’s ban. The filing argued that the policy is not an overarching ban but instead “turns on gender dysphoria – a medical condition – and does not discriminate against trans-identifying persons as a class.” FEDERAL JUDGE DENIES TRUMP ADMIN’S EFFORT TO BAN TRANSGENDER PEOPLE FROM MILITARY The Trump administration further requested that, if the motion to dissolve is denied, the court should stay the preliminary injunction pending appeal. Reyes denied the motion to dissolve, and the Trump administration filed an appeal. On Thursday, the D.C. Circuit said the purpose of the administrative stay is to give the court enough opportunity to consider the emergency motion for stay while under appeal. HEGSETH SUGGESTS JUDGE REPORT TO MILITARY BASES AFTER RULING THAT PENTAGON MUST ALLOW TRANSGENDER TROOPS The court added that the stay should not be construed as a ruling on the merits of the motion. “If any action occurs that negatively impacts service members under the Hegseth Policy and [Military Department Identification (MDI) Guidance] before the court lifts the administrative stay, the plaintiffs may file a motion to lift the administrative stay, and the court will consider it expeditiously,” the court wrote. It added that appellees have until noon on April 1 to file a response. The government cited new guidance issued March 21 that it expected to enact the policy if not for the ongoing litigation. The guidance clarified that “the phrase ‘exhibit symptoms consistent with gender dysphoria’” solely applies to “individuals who exhibit such symptoms as would be sufficient to constitute a diagnosis.” TRUMP ADMIN ASKS FEDERAL JUDGE TO DISSOLVE INJUNCTION BARRING TRANSGENDER MILITARY BAN Reyes said she wanted to allow more time for the appeals process. She also said she had previously allowed plenty of time to appeal her earlier opinion blocking the ban from going into effect. On Saturday, Hegseth said Reyes should report to military bases since she is “now a top military planner.”  “Since ‘Judge’ Reyes is now a top military planner, she/they can report to Fort Benning at 0600 to instruct our Army Rangers on how to execute High Value Target Raids…after that, Commander Reyes can dispatch to Fort Bragg to train our Green Berets on counterinsurgency warfare,” Hegseth wrote on X.  On Wednesday, Reyes acknowledged that Military Department Identification Guidance (MIDI Guidance) is new, but the argument presented by the defense is not. “Defendants re-emphasize their ‘consistent position that the [Hegseth] Policy is concerned with the military readiness, deployability, and costs associated with a medical condition,’” the judge wrote. “Regulating gender dysphoria is no different than regulating bipolar disorder, eating disorders, or suicidality. The Military Ban regulates a medical condition, they insist, not people. And therein lies the problem. “Gender dysphoria is not like other medical conditions, something Defendants well know,” Reyes continued. “It affects only one group of people: all persons with gender dysphoria are transgender and only transgender persons experience gender dysphoria.” Fox News Digital’s Haley Chi-Sing contributed to this report.