Trump is a Best in Class Agent of Change
By Ana Ceballos Herald/Times Tallahassee Bureau
January 27, 2025 9:22 PM
TALLAHASSEE
In a private call with a group of supporters on Monday night, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said he talked to President Donald Trump and his advisors as he tries to get support for his version of a state immigration proposal over a dueling proposal put forward by Republican legislative leaders, according to an audio recording obtained by the Herald/Times.
“I spoke with the president today, and I told him I am working on this and we want to be helpful and he was basically, ‘I want as strong as possible, as strong as possible,’” DeSantis told supporters in the call. “Well, clearly, the governor’s proposals are much stronger than what the Legislature proposed.”
DeSantis said he also talked to Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan. A White House spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request seeking comment.
The governor’s conversations with the White House underscore the lengths to which DeSantis is going to knock down a legislative proposal that would undercut his ability to control the state’s immigration enforcement efforts.
The proposal — pushed by House Speaker Daniel Perez and Senate President Ben Albritton — would transfer much of the governor’s immigration oversight authority to Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson, a Republican statewide elected official.
DeSantis told supporters in the call that Homan told him: “Don’t give it to agriculture.”
Perez and Albritton dubbed their proposal the “Tackling and Reforming Unlawful Migration Policy (TRUMP) Act” and said it is designed to help carry out Trump’s immigration agenda.
The proposal, among other things, includes millions in funding to help local law enforcement officers get the training they need to support federal immigration agents and make it financially viable for local and state law enforcement agencies to share detention beds with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Albritton said some of DeSantis’ immigration proposals, such as criminally charging local police who don’t cooperate, were potentially unconstitutional and had nothing to do with Trump’s agenda.
“Sometimes leadership isn’t about being out in front of an issue,” Albritton told state senators on Monday morning. “It’s about following the leader you trust.
I trust President Trump.”
In the call Monday night, DeSantis told supporters to call their state representatives and state senators, particularly if they are Republican, and “let them know what your preference is on this.”
“You can email them. You can call them. You know there are different ways to do this,” DeSantis said. “We have a chance to really make a difference, but what the Legislature proposed is not going to get us there.”
Read more at: https://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article299277454.html#storylink=cpy
A request from Gladys Fuentes: Hello Friends, As we hear Tallahassee is rocking and rolling. A clash between the Legislature and the Governor. I think it's time to weigh in and speak our minds...We need to reach out to Mr. Daniel Perez the Florida House Speaker and the Senate President Mr Ben Albritton. Yesterday I saw Mr Perez abruptly speak...
Please send to Mr. Perez and Mr Albritton the same letter.
If you prefer to edit it, fine, but let's get our message out.
We want Election Integrity. We have bills that did not reach the floor last time, so if we (1) send our letters, (2) share this email with your friends. The Legislators will have to take notice... but if it's just me, it won't make a hill of beans...
If you've learned anything it's there's power in numbers... so one email vs 500 emails makes a difference. We may not have another opportunity to speak our minds...
“In light of their actions, the Acting Attorney General does not trust these officials to assist in faithfully implementing the President’s agenda.”
“[The firings are] consistent with the mission of ending the weaponization of government,” the spokesperson said.
It was not clear which officials had been terminated.
The DOJ did not respond by publication time to a request by The Epoch Times for more information.
President Donald Trump has accused the department of being weaponized against him and other conservatives. Smith and his team investigated Trump and charged him for allegedly mishandling sensitive documents and obstructing the 2021 electoral certification.
Trump pleaded not guilty.
The charges were dropped after Trump won the 2024 election because the DOJ has a policy of not prosecuting sitting presidents, Smith and his team said in court filings.
Smith resigned on Jan. 10, before Trump was sworn into office. Days later, the DOJ released part of Smith’s final report. Smith, in the report, detailed why he brought charges against Trump. He said, in part, that “substantial evidence demonstrates that Mr. Trump then engaged in an unprecedented criminal effort to overturn the legitimate results of the election in order to retain power.”?
The other part of the report has not yet been made available to the public. A federal judge recently blocked its release as proceedings against two of Trump’s co-defendants advance. (More)
More Politics
The Washington Post does not allow for readers unless we subscribe, click below to read thanks to CBS: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-freeze-federal-loans-grants-white-house-memo/
A memo from the White House budget office is calling for a spending freeze on federal assistance by 5 p.m. Tuesday, which could affect everything from aid to nonprofits, universities, small business loans and state and local government grants.
The freeze could have wide-ranging implications, with the White House noting that $3 trillion was spent in 2024 on federal assistance programs.?
"This memorandum requires Federal agencies to identify and review all Federal financial assistance programs and supporting activities consistent with the President's policies and requirements," the memo says.?
The White House has not yet commented on the memo, which was leaked Monday night. CBS News has confirmed its authenticity.?
The Monday night memo from the Office of Management and Budget is directing federal agencies to assess compliance with President Trump's executive orders — specifically targeting "DEI, woke gender ideology and the Green New Deal." It does not give specifics on what these policies refer to, especially since the Green New Deal was never signed into law.?
"The use of Federal resources to advance Marxist equity, transgenderism, and green new deal social engineering policies is a waste of taxpayer dollars that does not improve the day-to-day lives of those we serve," the memo says.?
The White House memo said it will not affect Medicare or Social Security benefits.
Democrats were already on the offensive on Tuesday morning. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer strongly condemned the move at a news conference, saying "in an instant, Donald Trump has shut off billions, perhaps trillions, of dollars that directly support states, cities, towns, schools, hospitals, small businesses, and most of all, families."
"This is a dagger at the heart of the average American family," Schumer said, adding that he and his Democratic colleagues are receiving a "deluge" of calls to their offices from people panicked over what the memo means for them.?
"This decision is lawless, dangerous, destructive, cruel. It's illegal, it's unconstitutional," Schumer said. "Plain and simple, this is Project 2025."
Diane Yentel, the president and CEO of the National Council of Nonprofits, issued a statement on social media calling the order a "potential 5-alarm fire for nonprofits."
"From pausing research on cures for childhood cancer to closing homeless shelters, halting food assistance, reducing safety from domestic violence, and shutting down suicide hotlines, the impact of even a short pause in funding could be devastating and cost lives," Yentel said.
"This order could decimate thousands of organizations and leave neighbors without the services they need."
Legal challenges could come quickly
The memo is likely to prompt legal challenges from entities who were set to receive the now-frozen funds, and they could come quickly. Orders from lower courts directing agencies to turn the spigot back on while legal proceedings continue could eventually lead the Justice Department to seek emergency relief from the Supreme Court.
Critics of the most recent action from the Trump administration have argued that the budget office's move to temporarily withhold federal funds violates the Impoundment Control Act, a 1974 law that lays out the framework for the president's ability to freeze certain funds appropriated by Congress.
But Russ Vought, Mr. Trump's pick to lead the Office of Management and Budget, told the Senate panel holding his confirmation hearing last week that the president believes the Impoundment Control Act is unconstitutional, and said he agrees with that assessment.
Sen. Patty Murray of Washington, the top Democratic appropriator, said she's urging Sen. Lindsey Graham, a Republican appropriator, to hold Vought's nomination for OMB director, while calling the memo a "brazen and illegal move" with an "unprecedented" scope.
"Republicans should not advance that nomination out of committee until the Trump administration follows the law," Murray said.?
Graham hasn't spoken with Vought but told reporters he plans to talk with OMB about the freeze.
"I don't mind reviewing things," he said. "I just want to find out what happened and what's the end game. And what do you tell people when they ask?"
Graham said, "People are asking, like, what does this mean? How long does it last? Reasonable questions."
"Some agencies, like centers to help abused children — they rely on their grant money to meet their budget," Graham said. "I want to try to find out, you know, what's happening here and give people back home some idea of what to expect."
The judge ordered a brief administrative stay on portions of the freeze.
A federal judge temporarily blocked part of President Donald Trump’s directive to pause federal loans, grants, and other financial assistance on Jan. 28, hours after advocacy groups and several Democratic state attorneys general filed lawsuits against the administration.
During a Tuesday afternoon hearing in Washington federal court, U.S. District Judge Loren AliKhan granted a “brief administrative stay,” ordering the Trump administration to refrain from blocking “open awards,” or funds that had been slated for disbursement, until at least Feb. 3.
AliKhan made her temporary ruling after hastily scheduling a video conference one hour before the freeze was to take effect at 5 p.m. ET.
The judge said the ruling will “maintain the status quo” and does not prevent the Trump administration from suspending funds for new programs, nor does it require resuming expired funding.
Another hearing is scheduled for Feb. 3 at 11 a.m. ET, where AliKhan will determine the next steps for the case.
The White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued a memorandum on Monday, directing all federal agencies to pause grants, loans, and other financial assistance while the administration reviews the programs.
The lawsuit was filed by the National Council of Nonprofits, the American Public Health Association, Main Street Alliance, and SAGE, a New York LGBT nonprofit, with the advocacy groups arguing Trump’s plan would “have a devastating impact on hundreds of thousands of grant recipients.”
Before AliKhan granted a temporary restraining order on portions of the freeze, which the plaintiffs were seeking, a group of Democratic state attorneys general led by New York Attorney General Letitia James announced they were also suing the Trump administration on Tuesday.
This story will be updated.The lawsuit was filed by the National Council of Nonprofits, the American Public Health Association, Main Street Alliance, and SAGE, a New York LGBT nonprofit, with the advocacy groups arguing Trump’s plan would “have a devastating impact on hundreds of thousands of grant recipients.”
Before AliKhan granted a temporary restraining order on portions of the freeze, which the plaintiffs were seeking, a group of Democratic state attorneys general led by New York Attorney General Letitia James announced they were also suing the Trump administration on Tuesday.
This story will be updated.
Read the Lawsuit online:
Just yesterday evening, reports surfaced that the Acting Director of the Office of Management and Budget issued a memorandum entitled “Temporary Pause of Agency Grant, Loan, and Other Financial Assistance Programs.” Memo M-25-13 (hereinafter “the Memo”).1 The Memo purports to require every federal agency to temporarily pause “all activities related to obligation or disbursement of all Federal financial assistance, and other relevant agency activities that may be implicated by [President Trump’s] executive orders, including, but not limited to, financial assistance for foreign aid, nongovernmental organizations, DEI, woke gender ideology, and the green new deal”—effective today at 5:00 p.m. Memo M-25-13 at 2. In practice, the Memo purports to eradicate essentially all federal grant programs. Acting Director Vaeth’s only stated basis for doing so is his belief that “[f]inancial assistance should be dedicated to advancing Administration priorities,” and that “[t]he use of Federal resources to advance Marxist equity, transgenderism, and green new deal social engineering policies is a waste of taxpayer dollars that does not improve the day-to-day lives of those we serve.” Id. at 1.
This Memo—made public only through journalists’ reporting, with barely twenty- four hours’ notice, devoid of any legal basis or the barest rationale—will have a devastating impact on hundreds of thousands of grant recipients who depend on the inflow of grant money (money already obligated and already awarded) to fulfill their missions, pay their employees, pay their rent—and, indeed, improve the day-to-day lives of the many people they work so hard to serve.
Although the Trump Administration is at liberty to “advanc[e] [its] priorities,” it must do so within the confines of the law. It has not. The Memo fails to explain the source of OMB’s purported legal authority to gut every grant program in the federal government; it fails to consider the reliance interest of the many grant recipients, including those to whom money had already been promised; and it announces a policy of targeting grant recipients based in part on those recipients’ First Amendment rights and with no bearing on the recipients’ eligibility to receive federal funds.
Given the few hours that remain before federal grantees are thrown into disarray, Plaintiffs file this Complaint and seek a temporary restraining order to maintain the status quo until the Court has an opportunity to more fully consider the illegality of OMB’s actions.
Parties 1. Plaintiff National Council of Nonprofits (“NCN”) is the largest network
of nonprofit organizations in North America, with more than 30,000 organizational members. National Council of Nonprofits (“NCN”) supports nonprofits in advancing their missions by identifying emerging trends, sharing proven practices, and promoting solutions that benefit charitable nonprofits and the communities they serve.
2. Plaintiff American Public Health Association (“APHA”) is a nonpartisan, non-profit organization that champions the health of all people and all communities; strengthens the profession of public health; shares the latest research and information; promotes best practices; and advocates for public health issues and policies grounded in scientific research. APHA represents more than 23,000 individual members, who reside in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, and also has 52 state and regional affiliates. APHA is the only organization that combines a 150-year perspective, a broad-based member community, and the ability to influence federal policy to improve the public’s health.
3. Plaintiff Main Street Alliance (“MSA”) is a national network of small businesses, which represents approximately 30,000 small businesses across the United States. MSA helps small business owners realize their full potential as leaders for a just future that prioritizes good jobs, equity, and community through organizing, research, and policy advocacy on behalf of small businesses. MSA also seeks to amplify the voices of its small business membership by sharing their experiences with the aim of creating an economy where all small business owners have an equal opportunity to succeed. MSA’s small business members compete for and receive various forms of what is broadly defined as “federal financial assistance,” including funding in the form of grants, loans, and loan guarantees. Members also benefit directly from other recipients of federal financial assistance being able to purchase goods and services from them as a result of federal programs.
4. Plaintiff SAGE is a New York nonprofit corporation. SAGE is dedicated to improving the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender adults.
5. Defendant OMB is a federal agency with responsibility for overseeing the management of federal financial assistance, including by establishing policies and requirements. See 31 U.S.C. §§ 503(a), 504. It is a component of the Executive Office of the President and maintains a headquarters in Washington, D.C.
6. Defendant Matthew Vaeth is the Acting Director of OMB. He is sued in his official capacity.
7. This Court has subject matter jurisdiction over this action pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1331, because this action arises under federal law, specifically the Administrative Procedure Act, 5 U.S.C. § 701, et seq.
8. Venue is proper in this district pursuant to 5 U.S.C. § 552(a)(4)(B) and 28 U.S.C. § 1391(e), because at least one of Defendants is headquartered in Washington, D.C. and a substantial part of the events or omissions giving rise to Plaintiff’s claims occurred here.
Legal Framework
9. The Office of Management and Budget has the authority to “establish governmentwide financial management policies for executive agencies.” 31 U.S.C. §§ 503(a), 504. That authority, given by Congress to the Deputy Director for Management and the Office of Federal Financial Management, includes the authority to “[p]rovide overall direction and leadership to the executive branch on financial management matters by establishing financial management policies and requirements.” Id. § 503(a)(2).
10. Pursuant to that authority, OMB published in 2013 a notice of proposed rulemaking to revise and streamline guidance related to federal financial assistance.
11. In 2014, it published what is now known as the OMB Guidance for Federal Financial Assistance (“OMB Guidance” or “Guidance”) at title 2 of the Code of Federal Regulations (“CFR”). 79 Fed. Reg. 75867.
12. The Guidance specifically requires federal agencies to “implement” the Guidance “in codified regulations unless different provisions are required by Federal statute or are approved by OMB.” 2 C.F.R. § 200.106.
13. Since 2014, OMB has twice updated its Guidance—both times after providing a notice and comment period. See 85 Fed. Reg. 49506 (2020); 89 Fed. Reg. 30046 (2024).
Factual Allegations
14. On January 27, 2025, Matthew J. Vaeth, Acting Director of the Office of Management and Budget, issued the Memo, titled “Temporary Pause of Agency Grant, Loan, and Other Financial Assistance Programs.”
15. The Memo directs each federal agency to “complete a comprehensive analysis of all of their Federal financial assistance programs to identify programs, projects, and activities that may be implicated by any of the President’s executive orders.”
16. The Memo states that, during their assessment, all federal agencies “must temporarily pause all activities related to obligation or disbursement of all Federal financial assistance, and other relevant agency actions that may be implicated by the executive orders, including, but not limited to, financial assistance for foreign aid, nongovernmental organizations, DEI, woke gender ideology, and the green new deal” (emphasis in original).
17. According to the Memo, “Federal financial assistance includes: (i) all forms of assistance listed in paragraphs (1) and (2) of the definition of this term at 2 CFR 200.1; and (ii) assistance received or administered by recipients or subrecipients of any type except for assistance received directly by individuals.”
18. The relevant portions of 2 C.F.R. 200.1 defining “federal financial assistance” broadly encompass all “[a]ssistance that recipients or subrecipients receive or administer in the form of” “grants,” “loans,” “loan guarantees,” and “insurance,” among other things.
NOFOs, such as conducting merit review panels.” NOFO stands for “notice of funding opportunity” and refers to a formally issued announcement of the availability of federal funding.
21. The OMB Memo orders that the “pause” take effect on January 28, 2025 at 5 p.m. The OMB Order does not provide an end date for the pause.
22. Agencies are required to report by February 10, 2025 to OMB “detailed information on any programs, projects or activities subject to this pause. Each agency must pause (i) issuance of new awards; (ii) disbursement of Federal funds under all open awards; and (iii) other relevant agency actions that may be implicated by the executive orders, to the extent permissible by law, until OMB has reviewed and provided guidance to your agency with respect to the information submitted.”
23. Agencies are also directed to “for each Federal financial assistance program: (i) assign responsibility and oversight to a senior political appointee to ensure Federal financial assistance conforms to Administration priorities; (ii) review currently pending Federal financial assistance announcements to ensure Administration priorities are addressed, and, subject to program statutory authority, modify unpublished Federal financial assistance announcements, withdraw any announcements already published, and, to the extent permissible by law, cancel awards already awarded that are in conflict with Administration priorities, and; (iii) ensure adequate oversight of Federal financial assistance programs and initiate investigations when warranted to identify underperforming recipients, and address identified issues up to and including cancellation of awards.”
24. The scope of paused funds includes any “implicated by” six executive orders issued by President Trump since January 20:
Continue to read online: https://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/legaldocs/mopawgkoapa/01282025omb_freeze_groups.pdf
Comment received for 'If a canary dies in a coal mine, signals danger' which headed an article shared by Attorney at Law Jared Silverman 'Canary Mission: From Tehran to Columbia: Inside America's Student Intifada' - Read by clicking below:
Above: 01-27-25 Debt Clock, today it is at: $30,026,766,720
United States Debt Clock... https://www.usdebtclock.org
Police officers typically progress through a series of ranks, from entry-level to supervisory, and eventually to management positions. Promotions are often based on performance and written exams.?
Entry-level?
Supervisory
Management
All law enforcement organizations have a chain of command with levels of authority that resemble military ranks.
The specific titles and duties can vary from one police department to another, but in general, the rankings follow this order, from uniformed officer to highest in command:?
Some police departments have steps between major ranks, such as corporal or master sergeant. At any rank, you may have the opportunity to be assigned to special investigative units, beats, or specialized police department careers.
Training and education requirements for entry-level police officers differ depending on the organization. Some accept candidates with a high school diploma or with military service. However, many departments require applicants to have a minimum of an associate’s degree.
Upper ranks usually require a bachelor’s degree.
Article:
Police Officer
Police officers make up the majority of sworn officers in any police department. They are on the front lines of enforcing local laws and maintaining a safe community. On any day, a police officer will perform duties ranging from writing tickets and completing routine paperwork to responding to threats and emergencies.
Many police departments assign officers to beats. These beats may be geographically-based, such as patrolling an area of a city, or they may be determined by mode of patrol, such as car, bicycle, or motorcycle. Specialized beats can include working on a K-9 unit, bomb squad, or burglary/theft division.
New hires complete a probationary period during which they receive on-the-job training.
Police Officer Responsibilities
Detective
Detectives investigate crimes and criminal activity. Some detectives are assigned to specialized beats such as homicide, burglary, or narcotics investigations.
To become a detective, you will have to work several years as a patrol officer and demonstrate the basic skills needed to be an investigator. If your application for detective is accepted, you will be required to complete additional training at a police academy.
Some detectives will specialize in units that investigate specific crimes, such as homicide, narcotics, fraud, or gangs.
Detective Responsibilities
Sergeant
Police sergeants are experienced officers who often serve in a supervisory or training capacity. They may work alongside police officers or in offices. They are often tasked with ensuring that all procedures and policies are followed. They may also be assigned to a special unit.
Sergeant Responsibilities
Lieutenant
Police lieutenants are usually in charge of the day-to-day activities of units within a police department. Their jobs are largely supervisory or administrative. They usually work in offices but may also direct activities at crime scenes or contribute to criminal investigations.
Lieutenant Responsibilities
Captain
Captains serve as the commanding officer of divisions within a police department. They ensure department policies are carried out and are responsible for all personnel within their division, both sworn officers and civilians. Captains may be assigned to specialized divisions such as organized crime, or juvenile services.
Captain Responsibilities
Commander
Not all police departments have the rank of commander. For those that do, the commander is the next step above captain in the chain-of-command. They may work with special units and divisions or head up geographical regions of large metropolitan police departments.
As administrators, their responsibilities may be similar to a captain’s.
Deputy Chief
A deputy or assistant chief is the second highest position in the chain-of-command. In many police departments, it is the highest rank a sworn officer can achieve through promotion. The responsibilities of a deputy chief are mainly administrative. The deputy chief may assume the duties of the chief of police in cases of his or her absence.
Chief of Police
The chief of police is usually highest-ranking level in the chain-of-command, although some larger metropolitan departments may also have a commissioner or superintendent. The chief of police functions as the chief administrator of the police department and is responsible for all police operations in all divisions and units. Police chiefs are generally highly experienced and high-ranking members of the police force who are appointed to the position by the mayor or other government official.
In some police organizations, the chief of police, sheriff, or other highest-ranking official is an elected position.
Police Chief Responsibilities
Miami-Dade County’s newest chief resilience officer was arrested on domestic violence charges the weekend before he was due to start the new role. Miami-Dade County court records show Curtis Osceola, formerly the chief of staff for the Miccosukee Tribe, was arrested and booked Friday evening, around 6 p.m., and released Saturday morning.
He was charged with battery and resisting an officer without violence.
According to the arrest report, his girlfriend of two years called the police in the middle of an argument about his ongoing divorce.
She told police Osceola slapped her, and the officer noted she had a “fresh scratch” on her neck. Osceola also had a bleeding cut on his right ear, and there were “various signs of a disturbance” inside the Doral apartment they share, including broken glass on the floor, the report said. Osceola’s lawyer, Patrick Wilson, told the Miami Herald his client was “wrongfully detained and arrested.” “It should have never happened.
However, Mr. Osceola and I are confident, especially from us both working in Miami-Dade County justice system, that Mr. Osceola will be completely exonerated,” Wilson said.
Wilson also provided Ring security camera footage that he said contradicts the police report’s claim that Osceola resisted officers’ attempts to yank him out the door of his apartment. The office of Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, who announced the hire last week, said in a statement:
“The situation is currently under review, and for that reason, his starting date will be delayed while the legal process takes course. In the meantime, Miami-Dade County has a strong, well-prepared team at the Office of Resilience that will continue working without interruptions to advance our priorities.”
A day after the dispute between Colombia and the United States over migrant deportations, two Republican congressmen from South Florida said any country that rejects the deportation of its nationals would face sanctions or other punitive measures.
Speaking at the Trump Doral resort, U.S. Rep. Carlos Gimenez of Miami said the Trump administration would not “roll over” on its immigration policy. On Sunday, after Colombian President Gustavo Petro refused to allow two U.S.. military planes carrying deportees to land, Trump said he was imposing an immediate 25% tariff on all Colombian imports, to rise to 50% within a week. Petro ultimately backed down and his government said Colombia will accept deportees. Trumps move marked an unprecedented shift in foreign policy, directly linking sanctions to immigration issues.
“Trump believes in peace through strength,” Gimenez said, addressing Petro. “But if you think you’re going to impose unreasonable conditions on the United States, you should think again. There’s a new sheriff in town, and a new direction for this country.”
U.S. Rep Mario Diaz-Balart of Miami said the deportations will target the 1.3 million migrants in the U.S. who already have orders for removal, calling them “severe criminals, serious criminals.”
“President Trump didn’t just come back with a mandate to fulfill his promises,” Diaz-Balart stated. “Unlike the first time, when bureaucracy got in the way, he’s learned from that experience and is now taking more aggressive steps to eliminate obstacles to his America First agenda, focused on safety and prosperity.”
According to the State Department, Colombia is the U.S.’s third-largest trade partner in Latin America, with U.S.-owned affiliates in Colombia supporting over 90,000 jobs. In 2022, bilateral trade between the two nations reached $39.3 billion, driven by significant investments in mining and manufacturing.
Colombia remains a key U.S. partner in ongoing efforts to help democracy and economic prosperity return to Venezuela.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, who is in South Florida for a Republican congressional retreat, said later that Congress would fully support the White House and take the necessary steps to advance its immigration agenda.
Johnson said that the message to Colombia and anyone else is clear: “You must cooperate.”
“You must take back the illegal immigrants who entered the United States from your country,” he said. “If you refuse, we will take action, we will engage with sanctions or any other measures that are appropriate to the president’s agenda.”
Read more at: https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/americas/colombia/article299227734.html#storylink=cpy
For the second time this month, Coral Gables police stopped a van after receiving a tip and found a large group of mostly Chinese migrants crammed into the back.
Both vans were found off Old Cutler Road, near the waterfront mansions that front Biscayne Bay and fetch millions in the southern tip of the Gables.
Around 8 a.m Tuesday, Gables police got a 911 call of “two vans possibly transporting migrants,” said Sgt. Michelle Christensen.
Police stopped one van at the intersection of Old Cutler Road and Kendall Drive, and another at 11600 Old Cutler Road, said Detective Taha Khaled, closing down parts of Old Cutler during the morning rush hour. She said there were 26 migrants, mostly from China.
Circuitous route that began in China: cops
Investigators believe the smuggling route originated in China and likely went through Taiwan, then onto Ecuador and finally to the Bahamas before the groups were taken to the Southeastern U.S. by boat. Most, if not all, of the Chinese people aboard the vessels had paperwork and cellphones. And they all seem to be healthy.
“It doesn’t seem to be trafficking,” said Coral Gables Police Chief Ed Hudak. Two suspected smugglers — one from Cuba, one from Puerto Rico were detained, Khaled said.
As of Tuesday evening, it was unclear whether they were taken to one of South Florida’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention centers, either Krome in south Miami-Dade or Broward.
Chinese migrants also picked up near Snapper Creek
The incident comes two weeks after three Cuban men were taken into federal custody after they were found smuggling Chinese migrants in a U-haul van near Snapper Creek in Coral Gables, which is in the same area where the migrants were found on Tuesday.
In the U-haul incident, the men were hired to transport more than 20 migrants, most of them Chinese, but were stopped by police after a witness reported seeing a woman being shoved into a car. This report will be updated as more details become available.
Read more at: https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/coral-gables/article299295394.html#storylink=cpy
To the student commended by Bryan Morera for achieving acceptance at Harvard:
Sincerely hope you realize that going to Harvard may expose you to a world that will try to indoctrinate you at every turn...
Be very careful with what they try to teach you, exposing you to a world where your brain, your thoughts is their ultimate goal to control the future contributions of individuals to follow the globalist agendas...
Today, I posted on Harvard Business Review Discussion Group because Deborah Josh Dean and Perry Piscione posted: 'We are excited to share our bold declaration that employment is dead' then they go into the reasons for what they are saying to go against traditional employment models for the modern workforce...
My comment intends to go against the flow, if only because our mother trained us to question everything DIRECTLY to create the friction necessary to prevent indoctrination...
Good luck... and while many applaud your great achievement of an IVY League environment, for starters, the fact that in 2014, members of the Satanic Temple and Harvard students held a "black mass" near Harvard University should send warning signals to you and your parents.
The event was a parody of a Catholic Mass, and was originally scheduled to be held on campus. However, the Harvard Extension Cultural Studies Club pulled its support, and the event was moved to a nearby restaurant.
We pray you return the very wonderful young man we know!
The Alcázar of Segovia’s walls were made with local granite to match the countryside’s aesthetic. The warm colors, sloping and conical roofs, and upper story windows give the castle a luxurious impression, while the fortified walls and towers create a sense of formidable security. Lev Levin/Shutterstock
The castle dates to the Spanish reconquest of Segovia in 1085, when a stone structure likely replaced an old wooden fortress. A century later, it was transformed into the primary residence of monarchs by King Alfonso VIII of Castile, an independent realm at the time.
The aftermath of extensive fire damage in 1258 saw its current appearance begin to take shape—particularly with the adoption of gothic style and the construction of the magnificent Hall of Kings.
The arrival of Catherine of Lancaster,?the English wife of Castile’s King Henry III, brought another significant period of castle expansion beginning 1390. Her regency and the reigns of her son King Juan II and grandson Henry IV transformed the Alcázar into a gothic wonder. The most important addition was the massive tower of Juan II, which he built to guard the entrance.
Henry IV’s death left a disputed succession and halted nonessential construction. His half-sister Isabella I—patroness of Christopher Columbus—took refuge in the Alcázar in 1474 and used it as a military base. Decades later, her grandson, King Philip II, elevated the Alcázar to its full splendor during the Spanish Renaissance.
Philip II renovated parts of the castle—most notably the courtyard—in the severe, unadorned Herrerian classical style. He also introduced the French-inspired conical roofs, giving the Alcázar ?its signature combination of gentle domesticity and defensive strength that has long captured popular imagination.
The King John II tower is Alcázar's?most distinctive feature. Its height is emphasized by being more than twice as tall as it is wide or long. Combined with the hilltop location, it strengthens the Alcázar's appearance of dominance over its surroundings. Alexandre.ROSA/Shutterstock
Distinguished by its intricate gold décor, the Belt Room’s wall decorations mimic the cord belts worn by Franciscan monks. Diego Grandi/Shutterstock
The aftermath of extensive fire damage in 1258 saw its current appearance begin to take shape—particularly with the adoption of Gothic style and the construction of the magnificent Hall of Kings.
A gilded and painted frieze with 52 sculpted portraits of Spanish monarchs—beginning with Pelagius of Asturias and ending with Juana la Loca—encircle the upper walls of the Alcázar's Hall of Kings. An exquisite representation of Spanish history, the great hall is decorated with gothic, Romanesque, and Moorish influences. ??RudiErnst/Shutterstock
Ordinarily, a single throne draws the eye towards a throne room’s center. But a gap between the Alcázar's twin thrones directs the eye upward and outward—creating an intriguing aesthetic dictated by politics. King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella separately ruled Aragon and Castile before their descendants ruled a unified Spain. (Salvador Maniquiz/Shutterstock) ?
Queen Catherine of Lancaster commissioned the Hall of the Galley in 1412. Known as the “second great hall,” it features Catherine’s heraldry. The mural in the background illustrates Isabella I of Castile’s coronation. Besides the Obvious/Shutterstock
Dating from the 12th century, the Hall of the Old Palace maintains the austere beauty and noble simplicity of the Alcázar's early days. Entering the Fireplace Hall, the blue and white azulejo—a form of painted tile inspired by Roman mosaics—covers the lower part of the walls. Diego Grandi/Shutterstock