INSIDER
Houston prepares to unveil initiative to reduce homelessness, reclaim streets
Read full article: Houston prepares to unveil initiative to reduce homelessness, reclaim streetsMayor John Whitmire says his vision is to get people off of the streets and instead help get them into temporary housing; with the ultimate goal of getting them affordable housing or reuniting with family.
Houston mayor says new initiative will help unhoused find a home
Read full article: Houston mayor says new initiative will help unhoused find a homeMayor John Whitmire says his vision is to get people off of the streets and instead help get them into temporary housing; with the ultimate goal of getting them affordable housing or reuniting with family.
Mayorkas warns FEMA doesn't have enough funding to last through hurricane season
Read full article: Mayorkas warns FEMA doesn't have enough funding to last through hurricane seasonHomeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas says the agency tasked with helping communities recover from Hurricane Helene and other natural disasters does not have enough money to make it through the hurricane season.
Next year's Jan. 6 election certification will get extra security to prevent another riot
Read full article: Next year's Jan. 6 election certification will get extra security to prevent another riotIn an effort to prevent another riot like the one on Jan. 6, 2021, the Homeland Security secretary has designated the congressional count and certification of the presidential election as a national special security event.
NW Harris County father confirms missing 16-year-old daughter found in New York by Homeland Security
Read full article: NW Harris County father confirms missing 16-year-old daughter found in New York by Homeland SecurityAvery Baker, 16, was last seen at her father’s home in Harris County. Her father told KPRC 2 he believes she was in New York to visit a man she met online. Homeland Security officials went to that man's home and found both of them.
House to delay sending Mayorkas impeachment articles to Senate
Read full article: House to delay sending Mayorkas impeachment articles to SenateSpeaker Mike Johnson will not send the House’s articles of impeachment against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to the Senate this week as previously planned.
US Rep. Al Green discusses House’s vote to impeach DHS Secretary, funding for Gaza
Read full article: US Rep. Al Green discusses House’s vote to impeach DHS Secretary, funding for GazaUnited States Rep. Al Green (D-Houston) is having a press conference on Saturday to address the House’s recent vote to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and funding for Gaza.
The GOP-controlled House fails to impeach the homeland security secretary. What could come next?
Read full article: The GOP-controlled House fails to impeach the homeland security secretary. What could come next?The House has failed to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas over the Biden administration’s handling of the U.S.-Mexico border.
Biden's push for Ukraine aid stalls in Senate as negotiations over border restrictions drag on
Read full article: Biden's push for Ukraine aid stalls in Senate as negotiations over border restrictions drag onPresident Joe Biden’s push to have Congress replenish wartime aid for Ukraine as part of a deal on border and immigration policy changes will almost certainly drag into next year.
Senate border security talks grind on as Trump invokes Nazi-era 'blood' rhetoric against immigrants
Read full article: Senate border security talks grind on as Trump invokes Nazi-era 'blood' rhetoric against immigrantsTime slipping, White House and Senate negotiators are struggling to reach a U.S. border security deal that would unlock President Joe Biden’s request for billions of dollars worth in military aid for Ukraine and national security.
Mayorkas warns of dangers to the US if it loses tools to block terrorists from using drones and WMD
Read full article: Mayorkas warns of dangers to the US if it loses tools to block terrorists from using drones and WMDThe U.S. government is at risk of losing key tools for preventing terrorists from using drones, chemicals or weapons of mass destruction if Congress doesn’t take action soon.
311 child victims of sexual exploitation identified in ‘cold cases,’ Homeland Security says
Read full article: 311 child victims of sexual exploitation identified in ‘cold cases,’ Homeland Security saysMore than a dozen international law enforcement organizations worked together under U.S. leadership to identify and locate victims of child sexual exploitation in a just-completed operation that officials say is likely the most successful of its kind.
Biden administration asks for 1,500 troops at US-Mexico border
Read full article: Biden administration asks for 1,500 troops at US-Mexico borderThe Biden administration will send 1,500 troops to the U.S.-Mexico border amid an expected migrant surge following the end of coronavirus pandemic-era restrictions.
Djokovic withdraws after failed bid to play Indian Wells
Read full article: Djokovic withdraws after failed bid to play Indian WellsTop-ranked Novak Djokovic has withdrawn from the upcoming BNP Paribas Open after losing his bid to enter the United States unvaccinated to play in the Southern California event.
Body armor shields Border Patrol agent struck by gunfire
Read full article: Body armor shields Border Patrol agent struck by gunfireFederal authorities say a Border Patrol agent in body armor was struck by gunfire but not seriously hurt while confronting the occupants of a vehicle suspected of smuggling migrants in New Mexico.
Mayorkas tours border to prepare for asylum limits to end
Read full article: Mayorkas tours border to prepare for asylum limits to endHomeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas says authorities are prepared for an expected increase in migrants along the U.S.-Mexico border amid plans to lift a public health order that has been used to turn away migrants nearly 2 million times without a chance to seek asylum.
Families separated at Mexico border ask for residency, aid
Read full article: Families separated at Mexico border ask for residency, aidA mother who was separated from her children on the U.S.-Mexico border during former President Donald Trump’s administration says that she and other parents who experienced similar separations asked the Homeland Security Secretary for permanent legal residency in the United States and compensation.
Border mayors, county judges ask feds to pause release of migrants
Read full article: Border mayors, county judges ask feds to pause release of migrantsDemocratic Congressman from Laredo, Henry Cuellar helped lead a meeting between several south Texas community leaders and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.
Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez’s nomination to lead ICE approved by Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee
Read full article: Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez’s nomination to lead ICE approved by Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs CommitteeThe Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee approved on Wednesday the nomination of Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzales to be Assistant Secretary for Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Pipeline CEO defends paying ransom amid cyberattack
Read full article: Pipeline CEO defends paying ransom amid cyberattackA pipeline company CEO is making no apologies for his decisions to abruptly halt fuel distribution for much of the East Coast and pay millions to a criminal gang in Russia as he faced down one of the most disruptive ransomware attacks in U.S. history.
Correction: Domestic Extremism story
Read full article: Correction: Domestic Extremism storyIn a story May 14, 2021, about a national terrorism alert from Friday warning that violent extremists may take advantage of the easing of pandemic restrictions to conduct attacks, The Associated Press erroneously reported that a national terrorism bulletin issued in January would expire Aug. 13.
House panel votes to advance bill on slavery reparations
Read full article: House panel votes to advance bill on slavery reparationsA House panel has advanced a decades-long effort to pay reparations to the descendants of slaves, approving legislation Wednesday night that would create a commission to study the issue.
Texas explains requirements after social media posts suggest vaccine was open to all
Read full article: Texas explains requirements after social media posts suggest vaccine was open to allHOUSTON – Despite some social media posts, the Texas Division of Emergency Management said certain COVID-19 vaccination events in Liberty and Matagorda counties will not be open to almost anyone. The doses initially went to folks who are homebound, as well as those 65 and older, said TDEM spokesman Seth Christensen. People ages 50 to 64 are part of group 1C in Texas, which is open for vaccination. Also on Thursday, a post on the Matagorda County Emergency Operation Center’s Facebook page discussed a vaccination event at the county fairgrounds scheduled for Thursday and Friday. Christensen said nothing has changed in terms of which population groups have been approved to receive the vaccine.
Child border crossings surging, straining US facilities
Read full article: Child border crossings surging, straining US facilitiesFILE - In this Aug. 23, 2019 file photo, immigrants seeking asylum walk at the ICE South Texas Family Residential Center, in Dilley, Texas. The number of children crossing by themselves, mostly from Central America, appears to be surging in particular in the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas. AdThe total of 561 unaccompanied minors from Monday offers a snapshot of how quickly conditions have changed along the border. “They’re all coming across the border, they’re coming fast, and they’re wearing Biden T-shirts,” said the Oklahoma Republican. The Biden administration last week ended a Trump policy that made relatives reluctant to contact HHS to retrieve children for fear of being deported themselves.
US govt seizes over 10M phony N95 masks in COVID-19 probe
Read full article: US govt seizes over 10M phony N95 masks in COVID-19 probeThey have no utility whatsoever,” Homeland Security Secretary Ali Mayorkas said of the fake masks. Homeland Security officials would not say which states the phony masks were sent to, but said criminal charges would be forthcoming. The company delivered some 2 billion N95 masks in 2020 as the pandemic intensified, but in the earlier months, when masks were in short supply, fraudsters took advantage. But phony masks have already made it to front-line workers in other cases. Over the past year there has been more than 1,250 raids by law enforcement resulting in the seizure of millions of fake masks.
Acting Homeland Security chief resigns
Read full article: Acting Homeland Security chief resignsFILE - In this Sept. 23, 2020, file photo, Department of Homeland Security acting Secretary Chad Wolf makes an opening statement at his confirmation hearing before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington. (Greg Nash/Pool Photo via AP, File)WASHINGTON – Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf is stepping down from his post, days after criticizing President Donald Trump over the riot at the U.S. Capitol. He said Pete Gaynor, who ran the Federal Emergency Management Agency, would become the acting homeland security secretary. Last week, Wolf asked Trump and all elected officials to “strongly condemn the violence” that took place at the Capitol. He tweeted “we now see some supporters of the President using violence as a means to achieve political ends” and called that unacceptable.
Human smuggling suspect released on $5,000 bond; Police fear he will flee
Read full article: Human smuggling suspect released on $5,000 bond; Police fear he will fleeHOUSTON – Homeland Security agents and Houston police rescued six naked men from a human trafficking operation Monday at an apartment in southwest Houston. READ: Man accused of smuggling after 6 people found inside southwest Houston apartmentAt his probable cause hearing this morning, the prosecutors asked for a high bond of $25,000. So I’m going to set your bond in the amount of $5,000 and grant you a personal bond on this charge,” Castro said in court. District Attorney Johna Stallings said a high bond was is needed in the case to ensure Chavez doesn’t flee and to ensure the victims are protected. “As a prosecutor of smuggling, trafficking and violent offenses, I don’t think it’s appropriate that a personal bond be granted in this case,” Stallings said.