All articles tagged with #homeland security
A 5th Circuit panel ruled that immigrants held by ICE must receive a bond hearing within 90 days of detention, marking another defeat for the Trump administration’s mass-detention policy and potentially affecting tens of thousands of detainees, with impacts likely in Texas as related cases move toward the Supreme Court.
US Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said he “danced a happy dance” after Iran was eliminated from the World Cup, praising the administration’s visa restrictions and security efforts that he says kept IRGC-linked individuals from entering the United States and involved arrangements like a Mexico-based base camp and biometrics processing in Tijuana to minimize risk.
U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said he “danced a happy dance” after Iran were eliminated from the World Cup, a moment set against Iran’s visa and travel restrictions during the tournament. Iran’s campaign ended with a group-stage exit after Algeria and Austria drew, and coach Ghalenoei and captain Mehdi Taremi criticized US treatment and the tense atmosphere surrounding Iran’s participation.
President Trump plans to nominate Lance Schroyer, a former Oklahoma state trooper, to lead ICE, a key agency in his mass deportation campaign. The nomination comes during a pivotal period for ICE, following the resignation of acting director Todd Lyons and the interim leadership of David Venturella, with Trump praising Schroyer’s enforcement background as fitting for the agency’s ongoing deportation efforts.
A Catholic diocese in New Mexico is suing to block the Trump administration’s plan to seize church land for a border wall near Mount Cristo Rey, arguing that the 29-foot Jesus statue would be desecrated and religious liberty would be harmed; DHS contends the land seizure is legal and won’t affect shrine access as the government pushes to accelerate wall construction, with a lawsuit already filed to acquire about $183,000 in the process.
Florida’s Alligator Alcatraz detention center—Kristi Noem’s flagship ICE jail project—has been emptied as hundreds of detainees are transferred amid lawsuits alleging inhumane conditions and environmental harm. The makeshift 3,000-bed facility near the Everglades faced political dreams of a replicable detention model, massive costs (projected to top $1 billion by 2027), and ongoing legal challenges, while officials dispute calls to immediately shutter the site as debates over detention policy continue in Washington and Florida.
House passes a nearly $70 billion immigration-enforcement package to fund ICE and Border Patrol for three years; Trump signs it into law, securing deportation and enforcement funding through the end of his term (about $38B for ICE, $26B for Border Patrol, plus $5B for contingencies).
Congress appears poised to provide about $70 billion to bolster immigration enforcement and deportation efforts tied to the Trump administration, signaling a major funding surge for agencies like DHS as lawmakers push forward on a sweeping immigration package.
The Senate is kicking off a marathon 'vote-a-rama' to finalize funding for immigration enforcement under DHS via budget reconciliation, a move designed to bypass the 60-vote threshold. Republicans aim to fund ICE without Democratic support, while Democrats and some Republicans plan to force votes aimed at restricting the fund. Notable amendments from Thom Tillis and Bill Cassidy are on the docket as lawmakers press to complete FY 2026 funding after a series of funding battles and shutdowns.
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin told a House panel that the U.S. is still catching up on counter-drone measures even as all 11 World Cup venues have been equipped and federal agencies coordinate with local law enforcement. He highlighted ongoing incursions by unauthorized drones at major events (Miami Grand Prix, Masters) to stress the threat’s seriousness and the need for better drone-tracking and mitigation. FEMA has distributed $250 million to host states to aid security planning, while preparations continue ahead of the World Cup start on June 12.
Senate Republicans plan to advance a $72 billion budget reconciliation package to fund DHS immigration agencies through fiscal year 2029, despite controversy over the Justice Department's proposed anti-weaponization fund. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche testified that the fund is not moving forward, but GOP leaders say they have enough support to proceed as soon as Wednesday, though some Republicans remain skeptical and provisions such as a Secret Service upgrade are expected to be dropped.
A Washington Post/University of Maryland poll shows 65% of Americans oppose ICE officers patrolling U.S. World Cup stadiums, with 92% of Democrats and 74% of independents opposed, while 72% of Republicans approve. DHS says ICE will assist with security during the 2026 World Cup across the U.S., Canada and Mexico.
DHS directs ICE to bolster anti-fraud policies under 8 U.S.C. § 1324c(d), expanding its power to pursue penalties for document fraud and even sanction immigration attorneys who file false asylum claims, in line with President Trump’s push to restore integrity to the immigration system.
DHS has revived a long-shot plan to operate its own deportation fleet, buying eight Boeing 737s and two Gulfstream jets under Kristi Noem and, after a leadership change, having Secretary Markwayne Mullin reevaluate the program. Officials say the planes could be used for deportations with contracted operators in the coming weeks, aiming to cut costs tied to charter flights, but critics warn the venture may be financially and logistically fragile, noting questions about pilots, maintenance, and whether the aircraft were overvalued. The fleet has largely sat idle while funding for removal efforts has grown, and deportation flights have surged, with a monthly record of 245 removal flights reported previously. There is also scrutiny over a luxury jet purchase and the overall cost-structure of staffing and operating a private deportation fleet.
The U.S. Border Patrol chief, Michael Banks, says he is resigning effective immediately in a Fox News interview, claiming he has steered the agency from a chaotic border to the 'most secure border this country has ever seen'; DHS and CBP did not comment, and it’s listed as a developing story.