DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Senate dismisses two articles of impeachment against Homeland Security secretary, ends trial
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-17 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas testifies before the House Homeland Security Committee about the Biden Administration's FY2025 budget request in the Cannon House Office Building on Capitol Hill on April 16, 2024 in Washington, DC. Senators voted to dismiss both articles of impeachment and end the trial, with Democrats arguing that the articles were unconstitutional. Still, Republicans similarly moved to dismiss former President Donald Trump's second impeachment trial in 2021, weeks after the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol. Johnson had said he would send them to the Senate last week, but he punted again after Senate Republicans said they wanted more time to prepare. The impeachment trial is the third in five years.

Persons: Alejandro Mayorkas, Joe Biden, impeaching Mayorkas, Mike Johnson, Mayorkas, Schumer, Chuck Schumer, William McFarland, Kevin F, Mark Green, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Michael McCaul, Clay Higgins, Ben Cline, Andy Biggs, Michael Guest, Laurel Lee, Harriet Hageman, Andrew Garbarino, Pfluger, Democratic Sen, Patty Murray, Murray, Missouri Sen, Eric Schmitt, Mitch McConnell, McConnell, Donald Trump's, McConnell —, Trump, Johnson, he's, I'm, Joe Biden's, Donald Trump Organizations: Homeland, House Homeland Security, Biden, Cannon, Republicans, House Republicans, Democrats, —, Republican, of Homeland, Democratic, National Archives, Capitol, Senate, Democrat, Tennessee Rep, Congress Locations: Washington , DC, Mexico, U.S, WASHINGTON, Texas, Washington, Missouri, Ky, New York, New York City, Ukraine, Mayorkas

The group is now waiting in Mexico City to get an appointment so they can legally cross the U.S.-Mexico border. They are biding time in Mexico City until they have enough money for a phone so they can use CBP One. Mexico deported only about 429 Venezuelans during the first two months of 2024, meaning nearly all are waiting in Mexico. Many fear that venturing north of Mexico City will get them fleeced or returned to southern Mexico. She said they were robbed by Mexican officials and gangs and returned several times to southern Mexico.

Persons: it's, ” Daniel Ventura, Biden, —, Joe Biden, Andres Manuel López Obrador, ”, López Obrador, Yessica Gutierrez, “, Jose Alberto Uzcategui, Stephanie Brewer, Maria Victoria Colmenares, Colmenares, Alejandro Mayorkas, Torrealba, ___, Gonzalez, Rebecca Santana Organizations: MEXICO CITY, U.S, United, Migrants, Washington Office, CBP, . Homeland, Associated Press, Washington , D.C Locations: MEXICO, U.S, Colombia, Panama, Mexico, “, Darien, Fort Atkinson , Wisconsin, Guatemala, Venezuela, Ecuadorians, United States, Mexico City, Venezuelan, Trujillo, Panamanian, America, The U.S, Tijuana, San Diego, Matamoros, Brownsville , Texas, Nicaragua, Washington ,

☆ Mayorkas fires at Capitol Hill as Biden privately weighs new border action: ‘Congress needs to get a spine’
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-03 | by ( Rebecca Picciotto | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Officials told NBC News in February that Biden is thinking about implementing harsher asylum standards without Congress. Mayorkas' comments adhere to the White House's current playbook on the border crisis: Publicly condemn Capitol Hill's deadlock on border policy while privately, the president weighs executive border actions. Both Biden and Trump visited southern border towns on Thursday, each attempting to play offense on the issue. That sent border policy reform back to the drawing board after already months-long negotiations. As border legislation remains at a stalemate in Congress, the Biden team is looking for a border victory without Capitol Hill's help.

Persons: Alejandro Mayorkas, Joe Biden, Joe Biden's, Mayorkas, Biden, Donald Trump, Trump, we're, Sen, J.D, Vance Organizations: Homeland, Sunday, Republican, NBC News, NBC, House Republicans, Publicly, Capitol, Biden, GOP, Republicans, Fox News, White Locations: U.S, Mexico, Brownsville , Texas, Brownsville

☆ ICE draft plan would release thousands of immigrants in order to cover budget shortfall
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-14 | by ( Priscilla Alvarez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Washington CNN —Immigration and Customs Enforcement has drafted contingency plans to cut detention capacity and release thousands of immigrants as a result, according to a source familiar with the plan. The draft plan comes as ICE faces a dire budget shortfall amid stalled congressional action on the White House supplemental request. President Joe Biden has repeatedly implored Congress to give him more resources to deal with the situation at the US-Mexico border, assigning blame on Republicans for not doing more. Over recent years, ICE has assisted Customs and Border Protection in its border mission as that agency is also overwhelmed. Homeland Security officials have attributed the decline to ongoing high-level talks between the US and Mexico, which has doubled down on enforcement, but caution that encounters historically drop in January before ticking up again.

Persons: Joe Biden, Mayorkas, ” Biden, Alejandro Mayorkas, Troy Miller Organizations: Washington CNN — Immigration, Enforcement, ICE, White, Department of Homeland Security, GOP, impeaching, DHS –, The Washington Post, Administration, Homeland Security, CBP, Protection, Coast Guard, Transportation Security Administration, US Border Patrol, DHS Locations: Mexico, Congress, Venezuela

WASHINGTON (AP) — Arrests for illegal crossings on the U.S. border with Mexico fell by half in January from record highs in December to the third lowest month of Joe Biden's presidency, authorities said Tuesday. Border Patrol arrests totaled 124,220 in January, down 50% from 249,735 in December, the highest monthly tally on record. Tucson, Arizona, was again the busiest sector for illegal crossings with 50,565 arrests, down 37% from December, followed by San Diego. Greg Abbott's border enforcement efforts, plummeted 76% from December to 16,712, the lowest since December 2021. The only months of Biden's presidency with fewer border arrests were in June 2023, after pandemic-related asylum restrictions lifted, and February 2021, his first full month in office.

Persons: Joe Biden's, Alejandro Mayorkas, Troy Miller, ” Miller, Greg Abbott's, Mayorkas Organizations: WASHINGTON, White, House Republicans, U.S . Homeland, U.S, U.S . Customs, Protection, Border Patrol, Texas Gov, Associated Press, didn’t Locations: U.S, Mexico, Panama, Darien, United States, Haiti, China, Ecuador, Colombia, Tucson , Arizona, San Diego, Del Rio, Eagle, Texas, Rio Grande Valley

WASHINGTON (AP) — To his supporters, Alejandro Mayorkas is a thoughtful, driven secretary — a “Boy Scout” — who brings a prosecutor's tenacity and his personal understanding of the immigrant experience in America to running his sprawling agency. But it is the department’s role in immigration that has made Mayorkas a target of impeachment. Mayorkas said his immigrant and refugee background mean that he brings an intense patriotism to the job. Citizenship and Immigration Service, Mayorkas put in place a program giving protection from deportation to migrants brought to the border as children. Since taking the job as DHS secretary, Mayorkas has been subject to often hostile rhetoric over the administration's handling of the border and immigration.

Persons: —, Alejandro Mayorkas, Ali, he’ll, Tom Warrick, ” Warrick, Joe Biden, Biden, Mayorkas, Donald Trump, “, ”, didn’t, Cecilia Munoz, Obama, Munoz, Barack Obama, “ He’s, Mark Green of, impeaching, William Belknap, Ulysses Grant, Brandon Judd, Trump, Judd, Ahilan Arulanantham, Arulanantham, Angela Kelley Organizations: WASHINGTON, Department of Homeland Security, Republicans, Atlantic Council, “, DHS, Republican, Associated Press, Mayorkas, White, . Citizenship, Immigration Service, Democratic, Trump, House Homeland Security, National Border Patrol Council, Security, Border Patrol, Biden, Center for Immigration Law, UCLA School of Law, American Immigration Lawyers Association, Congress Locations: America, U.S, Mexico, United States, Washington, Ukraine, California, Cuba, Los Angeles, Miami, Mark Green of Tennessee

The annual ritual is a point of local pride even as Eagle Pass draws wide attention for a showdown between Texas Gov. A few hours later, about 200 advocates were in a festive mood in the nearby town of Quemado ahead of a “Take Back Our Border” rally on Saturday. U.S. Border Patrol agents are denied entry. Eagle Pass, with about 30,000 people, has become a major corridor for illegal crossings in recent years, making it a target for Abbott's enforcement. The Biden administration told the Supreme Court that “Texas has effectively prevented Border Patrol from monitoring the border” at Shelby Park.

Persons: Rolando Salinas, Greg Abbott, Biden, ” Salinas, Connie Hinton, Valeria Wheeler, Alejandro Mayorkas, Mayorkas, Del, Jorge Barrera, ” Barrera, Ken Paxton, “, Donald Trump, MAGA, ” Julio Vasquez, Iglesia Luterana, ” Alicia Garcia, Shelby, ”, Garcia, Elliot Spagat, Paul Weber Organizations: PASS, ” Cowboys, San Antonio Stock, Texas Gov, La Cabalgata Internacional, Border, Republican, Democratic White House, Border Patrol, . Homeland, Associated Press, Visitors, of Commerce, ”, Texas National Guard, Supreme, Patrol, Eagle Locations: Texas, Eagle, Piedras Negras, Mexico, United States, La Cabalgata Internacional La Grande, Quemado, Austin , Texas, Virginia, Rio Grande, U.S, Del Rio , Texas, Del Rio, Tucson , Arizona, San Diego, California, Shelby Park, “ Texas, Shelby, Iglesia Luterana San Lucas

What Biden is asking forBiden's emergency request to Congress included aid for Ukraine, Israel and other U.S. allies, along with $14 billion to bolster the immigration system and border security. “It is unanimous that our broken immigration system is in dire need of reform,” Mayorkas said. Republicans have made clear that will not be addressed in this package, which they want to be more narrowly focused on border security measures. Republicans argue that Ukraine aid could be a tough sell to some of their voters, and the border policy is the compromise. It’s border security for Ukraine aid.”So far, leaders in both parties have encouraged the talks.

Persons: Joe Biden, Arizona Sen, Kyrsten, ”, Pramila, Biden, Donald Trump, Alejandro Mayorkas, ” Mayorkas, Illinois Sen, Dick Durbin, What's, Barack Obama, Democratic Sen, Chris Murphy of, ” Murphy, Arkansas Sen, Tom Cotton Organizations: WASHINGTON, —, Republicans, House Democrats, Republican, Democratic, Congressional Progressive Caucus, Infrastructure, Homeland, U.S, Democrats, Trump, House Locations: Ukraine, U.S, Mexico, United States, Arizona, Washington, Venezuela, Israel, Russia, Illinois, Chris Murphy of Connecticut, Arkansas

☆ Vehicle explodes at Niagara Falls, forcing US-Canada border closings
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/5] Police officers view the scene after an incident at the Rainbow Bridge U.S. border crossing with Canada, in Niagara Falls, New York, U.S. November 22, 2023 in a still image from video. Two people in the vehicle were killed in the blast and one border patrol official was injured, the Fox News Channel reported, citing unnamed sources. The three U.S.-Canada crossings along the Niagara River separating southern Ontario and New York state are among the busiest in the world. "The FBI is coordinating with our local, state and federal law enforcement partners in this investigation," the FBI statement said. Representatives for the U.S. State Department also did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the reported border closures.

Persons: Kathy Hochul, Dominic LeBlanc, LeBlanc, Hochul, Doug Ford, Ismail Shakil, Katharine Jackson, Daphne Psaledakis, Susan Heavey, Caitlin Webber Organizations: Police, Rainbow Bridge, REUTERS, Reuters, Rights, FBI, Terrorism, Force, New, Fox News Channel, CNN, Niagara Gazette, Whirlpool, Niagara - Frontier Transit Authority, Public, Ontario, ., Canadian, U.S . State Department, Thomson Locations: Canada, Niagara Falls , New York, U.S, United States, Niagara Falls, New York, Lewiston, Queenston, York, Ontario, Ottawa, Buffalo , New York

☆ Fact-Checking Haley and DeSantis in Their Race to Rival Trump
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( Angelo Fichera | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +7 min

DeSantis even voted to fast-track Obama’s Chinese trade deals.”— A pro-Haley super PAC, SFA Fund Inc., in an adFalse. There is no evidence Mr. DeSantis directly gave “millions” to Chinese companies; the ad was referring to technology purchases by state agencies. Florida used those companies before Mr. DeSantis’s tenure, too, and SFA Fund provided no evidence that Mr. DeSantis himself directly approved the purchases. Mr. DeSantis previously served as the board chairman of a public-private economic development organization known as Enterprise Florida. As governor, Ms. Haley rebuffed calls to increase South Carolina’s gas tax as a stand-alone measure.

Persons: “ DeSantis, DeSantis, ”, Obama, Haley’s, DeSantis’s, DeSantis “, Mark Wu, ” Mr, Wu, Ron, ” — Ms, Haley, Ms, JinkoSolar, Nikki Haley, I’ve Organizations: Haley, PAC, SFA, Inc, Washington Times, Lenovo, SFA Fund, Department of Homeland Security, Enterprise Florida, state’s Commerce, Cirrus Aircraft, —, Orlando Executive Airport, Kissimmee Gateway Airport, Homeland Security Department, New York Times, Council, DeSantis, State, state’s Department of Transportation Locations: China, Chinese, Florida, South Carolina, T.P.A, Asia, Europe, Kissimmee, Orlando, Jacksonville, Fla, California, Xinjiang, Jacksonville’s, Haley’s State

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas arrives to testify before the Senate Appropriations committee as lawmakers in the U.S. Congress struggle to reach a deal to head off a looming partial government shutdown less than two weeks away on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., November 8, 2023. REUTERS/Julia Nikhinson/File... Acquire Licensing Rights Read moreWASHINGTON, Nov 13 (Reuters) - The U.S. House will vote on Monday whether to advance or block a Republican charge to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas for allegedly failing in his duty to secure the U.S.-Mexico border. In response to the initial impeachment motion, a U.S. Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said lawmakers should stop "their reckless impeachment charades and attacks on law enforcement" and instead "deliver desperately needed reforms for our broken immigration system." House Republicans have also launched an impeachment inquiry into Biden himself. The probe is focused on the president's son, Hunter Biden, and the White House has denied any wrongdoing.

Persons: Alejandro Mayorkas, Julia Nikhinson, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Joe Biden, Biden's, Donald Trump, Mayorkas, Biden, Trump, Hunter Biden, Moira Warburton, Ted Hesson, Scott Malone, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Homeland, U.S, Congress, REUTERS, Democratic, Republican, U.S . Department of Homeland Security, Biden, Trump, Republicans, White, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, WASHINGTON, Mexico, U.S, Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, Venezuela

Eight Republicans joined with 201 Democrats to vote in favor of referring the articles back to the House Homeland Security Committee, which is carrying out its own investigation into Mayorkas' alleged dereliction of duty. Mia Ehrenberg, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, accused Republicans of "wasting time" on the impeachment. "Secretary Mayorkas continues to be laser-focused on the safety and security of our nation," Ehrenberg said in a statement. The impeachment allegations stem from a Republican assertion that the Biden administration could better manage border security, rather than any criminal offense. House Republicans have also launched an impeachment inquiry into Biden.

Persons: Alejandro Mayorkas, Julia Nikhinson, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Joe Biden, Mayorkas, Greene, Mia Ehrenberg, Ehrenberg, Donald Trump, Biden, Trump, Hunter Biden, Moira Warburton, Ted Hesson, Scott Malone, Jonathan Oatis, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Homeland, U.S, Congress, REUTERS, U.S . House, Republican, Democratic, Eight Republicans, House Homeland Security Committee, Department of Homeland Security, Republicans, Biden, Trump, White, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, WASHINGTON, Mexico, Ukraine, U.S, Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, Venezuela

☆ How the GOP muzzled the quiet coalition that fought foreign propaganda
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-10 | by ( Kevin Collier | Ken Dilanian | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +14 min

A once-robust alliance of federal agencies, tech companies, election officials and researchers that worked together to thwart foreign propaganda and disinformation has fragmented after years of sustained Republican attacks. The most recent setback came when the FBI put an indefinite hold on most briefings to social media companies about Russian, Iranian and Chinese influence campaigns. "We're having some interaction with social media companies," Wray said. "The symbiotic relationship between the government and the social media companies has definitely been fractured." Tech companies are still sharing their findings with each other, a Meta spokesperson told NBC News.

Persons: Christopher Wray, Wray, Sen, Mitt Romney, they're, Mark Warner, Warner, Hillary Clinton's, Barack, CISA, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Hunter, Mark Zuckerburg, Hunter Biden, didn't, Biden, Nina Jankowicz, Jankowicz, Jen, Jim Jordan, Kara Swisher, we're, Elon Musk, wasn't Organizations: U.S, Capitol, Washington , D.C, GOP, FBI, Force, NBC News, Senate Homeland Security Committee, Justice Department, Committee, Republican, Infrastructure Security Agency, Department of Homeland Security, Microsoft, Senate Intelligence, Kremlin, Internet Research Agency, Facebook, Twitter, National Security Agency, Democrats, New, Digital, Republicans, Homeland Security, Wired, Rep, Tech Locations: Washington ,, Silicon Valley, R, Utah, Russia, Iran, China, U.S, Illinois, CISA, New York, Missouri, Louisiana, Ohio, Israel

"The actions of Hamas and its allies will serve as an inspiration the likes of which we haven't seen since ISIS launched its so-called caliphate several years ago," Wray said. The remarks came during a hearing before the U.S. Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee focused on threats to the United States. The number of attacks on U.S. military bases overseas by Iran-backed militia groups have risen this month, Wray said. Cyber attacks against the U.S. by Iran and non-state actors will likely worsen if the conflict expands, he said. During the hearing, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said that hate directed at Jewish students in the U.S. following the start of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in Gaza has added to an increase in antisemitism.

Persons: Alejandro Mayorkas, Christopher Wray, Christine Abizaid, Wray, General Merrick Garland, Ted Hesson, Doina Chiacu, Andrew Goudsward, Chizu Nomiyama, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Homeland, FBI, National Counterterrorism, Senate Homeland Security, Governmental Affairs, Capitol, ISIS, U.S . Senate Homeland Security, U.S, United Nations, Jewish, White, U.S . Justice Department, Thomson Locations: United States, Washington , U.S, WASHINGTON, Israel, Gaza, U.S, Arab, Iran, Washington

Homeland Security, as well as companies that help identify counterfeit products such as Israel’s BrandShield. Fake weight-loss drugs will be a key focus in the agency’s annual counterfeit medicines report, due next year, the official said. “We have counterfeit products and stolen products,” the official said. "We will look online and if we find something that infringes (obesity drug trademarks) we'll get it taken down,” said Yoav Keren, BrandShield CEO. When a consumer buys those fakes, “what you get are expired drugs, counterfeit drugs, or nothing,” he added.

Persons: George Frey, Eli Lilly, BrandShield, Novo’s Ozempic, ”, Jim Mancuso, Mancuso, Europol, Novo, Lilly, “, Ozempic, Yoav Keren, MHRA, Eli, Mounjaro, Patrick Wingrove, Aurora Ellis Organizations: Novo Nordisk, Pharmacy, REUTERS, Novo Nordisk’s, Pharmaceutical Security Institute, drugmakers Novo Nordisk, Europol, Interpol, U.S . Homeland Security, U.S . Food, Drug Administration, U.S . Department of Homeland, Coordination Center, PSI, Medicines, Healthcare, Agency, Health Organization, Ireland’s, Products Regulatory Authority, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Provo , Utah, U.S, America, Europe, Germany, Egypt, Russia, North America

[1/4] Members of the New York City Police Department (NYPD) Counterterrorism unit patrol in Times Square, as the city takes security precautions ahead of planned demonstrations, in New York City, U.S., October 12, 2023. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid Acquire Licensing RightsOct 13 (Reuters) - U.S. law enforcement agencies have escalated security measures to safeguard Jewish and Muslim communities ahead of global pro-Palestinian protests expected on Friday but urged members of the public to go about their daily routines. Adams said extra police patrols were being deployed in Jewish and Muslim communities alike. TIMES SQUARE PROTEST EXPECTEDNew York City officials said they were bracing for at least one major demonstration planned for Times Square on Friday. He said the FBI, U.S. homeland security officials and other federal authorities had held online security "webinars" with Jewish institutions around the country.

Persons: Brendan McDermid, Kathy Hochul, Eric Adams, Adams, Khaled Meshaal, John Chell, Hochul, Abed Ayoub, Rabbi Yoni Fein, Fein, Dan Whitcomb, Steve Gorman, Kanishka Singh, Lincoln Organizations: New York City Police Department, NYPD, Counterterrorism, REUTERS, Police, New, . New, . New York City, Hamas, Times, New York Police Department, New York National Guard, Los Angeles Police Department, FBI, Palestinian, ICE, Twitter, Maimonides Academy, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, New York, Los Angeles, . New York, Jewish, Gaza, Israel, United States, Fort Lauderdale , Florida, Washington

☆ FBI Says It Sees No Specific Threat From Hamas to the U.S.
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-09 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

The Federal Bureau of Investigation said Monday that it was unaware of threats to the U.S. homeland related to the unfolding crisis in the Middle East but that it was coordinating closely with counterparts in the region. “While the FBI does not have specific and credible intelligence indicating a threat to the United States stemming from the Hamas attacks in Israel, we are closely monitoring unfolding events and will share relevant information with our state, local, federal and international law enforcement, intelligence and homeland security partners to ensure they are prepared for any impacts to public safety,” an FBI spokeswoman said.

Persons: ” Organizations: Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI Locations: U.S, United States, Israel

BAJO CHIQUITO, Panama (AP) — Rain-swollen rivers only briefly slowed the otherwise uninterrupted flow of migrants through this jungle-covered border area separating Colombia and Panama and by midweek another 2,000 bedraggled migrants stumbled out of the Darien jungle. That efficiency combined with the unrelenting economic factors pushing migrants to leave countries like Venezuela, whose citizens account for the majority of them, have resulted in more than 400,000 migrants crossing the Darien this year. They made the crossing from Colombia in 2 ½ days, but Morales described it as “horrible.”“I don’t wish it for anyone. Morales said she saw three dead migrants along the way, including a woman who had apparently drowned in a river. In April, the U.S., Panama and Colombia announced a campaign to slow migration through the Darien jungle, but migrants’ numbers have only grown forcing the Biden administration to seek other options.

Persons: Alejandro Mayorkas, Kimberly Morales, Morales, ”, ” Morales, Biden, Gabriela Quijada, dizzily, “, Carliomar, …, ” Peña, Peña Organizations: U.S, . Homeland, Chiquito, Panama “, Colombian, U.S . Homeland Security Department, Bajo Chiquito Wednesday Locations: CHIQUITO, Panama, Colombia, Darien, Bajo Chiquito, Venezuela, Mexico, States, Costa Rica, Caracas, Panamanian, U.S, Latin America, United States, Bajo, Margarita, Merida

Arizona’s governor was out of the state for a day this week, prompting false claims that she’d abruptly resigned or vanished entirely. The Democrat, who has been the target of misinformation since taking office this year, was out of state for meetings in Washington for a day, so the state treasurer briefly served as acting governor. Political Cartoons View All 1190 Images“She has now stepped down as Arizona governor, and it’s raising questions,” claimed one Facebook user in a widely shared video posted on Thursday. “Republican State Treasurer Kimberly Yee is currently the Acting Governor,” wrote another user on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter on Wednesday. The usually unremarkable handover gained attention when Yee released a statement Wednesday acknowledging she’d be serving as acting governor from that evening through Thursday morning.

Persons: she’d, Katie Hobbs, Hobbs, Joe Biden, ”, Kimberly Yee, “, Christian Slater, Yee, hasn’t, Slater, Alejandro Mayorkas, Sen, John McCain, Adrian Fontes, Kyrsten Sinema, Paul Smith, Leonard, Kris Mayes, Richie Taylor, baselessly, ” Slater Organizations: Arizona, Democrat, “ Republican, Twitter, Democratic, Republican, U.S . Homeland, Tempe Center, Arts, of Regents, U.S, Sen, Infrastructure Security Agency, White House, Drug, Agency, U.S . Department of Agriculture, Kroger Locations: Washington, Arizona, U.S, Flagstaff

☆ US admits Israel into visa waiver program
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Some Palestinians have protested against Israel's entry into the program, saying Israel for decades has discriminated against Arab Americans and harassed them at its borders. They also must treat all U.S. travelers equally, so Israel must allow free passage for Palestinian Americans at Ben Gurion airport. In a pilot period since July 20, Israel has eased access for Palestinian Americans through its borders and the Israeli-occupied West Bank. According to Israel's Interior Ministry, more than 130,000 Americans entered Israel since the pilot began, including 6,070 Palestinian Americans. Between 45,000 and 60,000 Palestinian Americans live in the West Bank, a U.S. official estimated.

Persons: Joe Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Ronen, Chris Van Hollen, Alejandro Mayorkas, Netanyahu, Antony Blinken, David Shepardson, Dan Williams, Ali Sawafta, Henriette Chacar, Clarence Fernandez, William Maclean, David Gregorio Our Organizations: U.S, Israeli, White, Consulate, REUTERS, Rights, Visa, Arab, . Four Democratic U.S, Israel, U.S . Homeland, West Bank, Palestinian, Palestinian Foreign Ministry, Israel's Interior Ministry, Homeland Security Department, Thomson Locations: U.S, Israeli, Tel Aviv, Israel, Washington, United States, Ben Gurion, Croatia, Palestinian Territories, American, Detroit

That's in addition to about 242,700 Venezuelans who already qualified for temporary status before Wednesday's announcement. Venezuelans who arrive in the U.S. after July 31 of this year will not be eligible for the protection. The city is currently paying to house about 60,000 newly arrived migrants. But Adams on Wednesday praised the decision to grant protections to Venezuelans and thanked the administration for listening to the city's concerns. The administration also said Wednesday it was also using Defense Department forces to support Homeland Security staff on the border.

Persons: —, Biden, That's, Alejandro Mayorkas, Joe Biden, Kathy Hochul, Eric Adams, Adams, Tom Schmerber, ___ Spagat, Valerie Gonzalez Organizations: WASHINGTON, Democratic, Homeland Security Department, Homeland, New York Gov, Maverick, Defense Department, Homeland Security, National Guard, Customs Locations: American, U.S, Mexico, Venezuela, Latin America, United States, Panama, New York , Massachusetts, Chicago, New York, Eagle, Rio Grande, Texas, Maverick County, —, San Diego, McAllen , Texas

☆ Biden to push for Ukraine aid, democracy as China and Russia skip UN General Assembly
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( Emma Kinery | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Saul Loeb | AFP | Getty ImagesPresident Joe Biden will address the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday, where he plans to promote democracy and advocate for increased support for Ukraine. Lula has argued the U.S. and other Western nations are prolonging the war with their defense support. This will be the first time Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has attended the U.N. summit in person since the war began. A "substantial section" of Biden's speech to the General Assembly on Tuesday will be devoted to the war in Ukraine, Sullivan said. U.S. support for Ukraine

Persons: Lloyd Austin, Alejandro Mayorkas, Joe Biden, Saul Loeb, Biden, it's, Jake Sullivan, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Lula, Benjamin Netanyahu, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Sullivan Organizations: Defense, . Homeland, Hurricane, White, Washington , D.C, AFP, Getty, United Nations General Assembly, Ukraine, House, . Security, Global, Israeli, General, United Nations Charter Locations: Maui, Hawaii, Washington ,, France, United Kingdom, China, Russia, United States, Brazil, Ukraine, U.S, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan

WASHINGTON (AP) — The government is worried about the safety of chemical facilities across the country after its power to keep dangerous substances out of the hands of extremists lapsed a month ago. Homeland Security officials say this left gaping holes in the country's national security, and they are calling on Congress to act quickly when it returns this week. The Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency, which falls under DHS, then determines whether the facility is considered high risk and therefore must develop a security plan. Congress gave the department the authority to begin the chemical security program in 2006, and it went into effect the following year. Homeland Security officials say the program's lapse has left them without a vital security tool.

Persons: Alejandro Mayorkas, ”, Kelly Murray, Sen, Rand Paul, Paul, ” Paul, there's, Murray, she's, reauthorized, they're, Matt Fridley, “ They’re, Scott Jensen Organizations: WASHINGTON, Department of Homeland Security, Chemical, Homeland Security, Homeland, Chemical Security, Infrastructure Security Agency, DHS, Congress, Kentucky Republican, & Infrastructure Security Agency, American Chemistry Council Locations: Virginia, Kentucky

☆ Biden pledges $95 million to shore up Hawaii's electric grid after deadly wildfires
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-30 | by ( Emma Kinery | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON — The federal government will provide $95 million to shore up Hawaii's electric grid in the wake of deadly wildfires, President Joe Biden announced Wednesday. The news comes as Hawaii's main electric utility, Hawaiian Electric , is facing a dozen lawsuits alleging that the company's practices were partly responsible for the deadly fires, a claim the utility denies. Fitch, Moody's and S&P all recently downgraded Hawaiian Electric's credit rating to junk status, with Fitch warning that the company could face more than $3.8 billion in potential liability for the Maui wildfires. Biden visited Hawaii with first lady Jill Biden last week to view the damage and meet with survivors. Biden spoke to the governors of Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina, and pledged the federal government's support for recovery efforts, the White House said.

Persons: Lloyd Austin, Alejandro Mayorkas, Joe Biden, WASHINGTON —, Biden, Fitch, Jill Biden, Idalia Organizations: Defense, . Homeland, Hurricane, White, Washington , D.C, WASHINGTON, Moody's, Fitch Locations: Maui, Hawaii, Washington ,, Lahaina, Florida, Georgia, Florida , Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina

☆ RFK Jr. complained about not getting Secret Service protection. The truth is very few candidates do.
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-28 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. lashed out at the Biden administration for not granting him Secret Service protection. "Since the assassination of my father in 1968, candidates for president are provided Secret Service protection. Not all campaigns welcome Secret Service protection either. One is that Secret Service protection is covered by taxpayers. Secondly, the presence of Secret Service agents gives any hopeful the aura of being the leader of the free world.

Persons: Robert F, Kennedy Jr, Biden, Kennedy, Long, Robert Kennedy Jr, New York Sen, Alejandro Mayorkas, Kevin McCarthy, Mitch McConnell, It's, Ben Carson, Donald Trump, BuzzFeed, Sen, John McCain's Organizations: Service, Twitter, NPR, Homeland, DHS, Super Bowl, Agents, United Nations General Assembly, Secret Service Locations: Wall, Silicon, New York

Search resuls for: ". Homeland"

25 mentions found