Daily News Brief for Wednesday, January 10th, 2024

This is Garrison Hardie with your CrossPolitic Daily News Brief for Wednesday, January 10th, 2024. 
 
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https://www.foxnews.com/politics/mayorkas-tells-border-patrol-agents-illegal-immigrants-released-into-us-sources
 
Mayorkas tells Border Patrol agents that ‘above 85%’ of illegal immigrants released into US
 
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on Monday admitted to Border Patrol agents that the current rate of release for illegal immigrants apprehended at the southern border is "above 85%," sources told Fox News.
 
Mayorkas made the remarks when meeting privately with agents in Eagle Pass, Texas, according to three Border Patrol sources who were in the room and heard the remarks themselves.
 
The conversation happened during the muster for agents in the busy border area. Fox is told Mayorkas was asked directly about comments he made on "Special Report" last week when he was asked by anchor Bret Baier about reporting that over 70% of migrants are released into the U.S. each day.
 
"It would not surprise me at all. I know the data," Mayorkas said. "And I will tell you that when individuals are released, they are released into immigration enforcement proceedings. They are on alternatives to detention. And we have returned or removed a record number of individuals. We are enforcing the laws that Congress has passed. "
 
Fox is told that on Monday agents pushed him on those remarks, saying that the number is even higher than 70%, and then Mayorkas acknowledged a release rate of "above 85%."
 
Mayorkas had also said last week on "Special Report" that "well more than a million" migrants are released into the U.S. annually, and argued repeatedly that it is up to Congress to provide more funding and immigration reform to fix what he has called a "broken" system. He said that the agency is limited in detention capacity by funding provided by Congress.
 
"When somebody enters the country, we place them in immigration enforcement proceedings pursuant to immigration law, and if their claim for relief, their claim to remain in the United States succeeds, then by law they are able to stay here," he said.
 
The remarks come just two days before the House Homeland Security Committee holds its first impeachment hearing, featuring multiple state attorneys general who will testify about the impact the crisis has had on their states.
 
The hearing on Wednesday marks the first impeachment hearing after a year of investigations and reports by the House Homeland Security Committee which looked at the handling of the nearly three-year migrant crisis.
 
Republicans have blamed the historic migrant crisis, which saw 302,000 migrant encounters last month alone on Biden-era policies, including the releases of migrants into the interior -- dubbed "catch-and-release." They have pointed to the broad use of parole, as well as narrowed ICE enforcement and the stopping of wall construction.
 
The administration says it is dealing with a hemisphere-wide crisis and needs more funding and comprehensive immigration reform from Congress. It has claimed it is expanding "lawful migration pathways" and increasing consequences for illegal entry, but can only do so much with a "broken" system. Mayorkas and other DHS officials have said that it has removed or returned more than 470,000 people since May, which is more than in the entirety of FY 2019.
 
At a press availability later on Monday, Mayorkas highlighted the removals and returns, saying it is more than in any other five-month period in the last 10 years.
 
"In fact, the majority of all Southwest Border migrant encounters throughout this Administration have been removed, returned, or expelled – the majority of them," he said. "We are doing everything we can, within a broken system, to incentivize noncitizens to use lawful pathways, to impose consequences on those who do not, and to reduce irregular migration."
 
The White House has also requested $14 billion in border funding from Congress as part of its emergency supplemental spending proposal, but that is being held up as Republicans demand significantly more restrictions on the release of migrants into the interior.
 
Mayorkas said last week that it was that broken system, not administration policy, which was the magnet drawing migrants to the border.
Separately, the administration last week announced a lawsuit against the state of Texas after Gov. Greg Abbott signed a law that allows state and local law enforcement to arrest illegal immigrants. The lawsuit claims that the law is unconstitutional and interferes with the federal government's authority on immigration matters.
 
https://thenationalpulse.com/2024/01/09/listen-hot-mic-catches-journos-joking-about-trump-being-assassinated-like-jfk-take-a-convertible/
 
Hot Mic Catches Journos Joking About Trump Being Assassinated
 
Microphones caught journalists waiting for Donald Trump to arrive at the E. Barrett Prettyman Courthouse in Washington D.C. joking about the president being assassinated on Tuesday. Trump is attending the D.C. Court of Appeals to hear the opening oral arguments in his appeal against Jack Smith’s efforts to prosecute him over January 6th, and journalists gathered outside the courthouse in substantial numbers ahead of his arrival.
 
Two of them could be heard in live feeds joking about having a “good shot” at the America First leader when he arrived, particularly if he showed up driving a convertible like the one the late President John F. Kennedy was riding in when he was shot in the head in 1963:
 
https://twitter.com/i/status/1744738203616399859 - Play Video 
 
If you couldn’t hear what they said:
 
First Journalist: You know what the worst part is? Even if he has his window open and he’s hanging out of it, he will be on the other side of the street. 
Second Journalist: I mean, if he’s driving, we’ve got a good shot! 
First Journalist: Yeah, if he’s driving with the front window open? 
Second Journalist: Yeah, or if it’s a convertible? 
First Journalist: Yeah. I wasn’t thinking about that. 
First Journalist: Like JFK? 
Second Journalist: (laughs)
 
Trump’s hearing is being overseen by a panel of two Joe Biden-appointed judges and one George H. W. Bush-appointed judge. His lawyers argue the Smith prosecution amounts to double jeopardy, as Trump was already tried and acquitted over January 6th by the U.S. Senate, and that Smith is also violating the principle of presidential immunity for official acts.
 
https://www.dailyfetched.com/man-finds-iphone-that-fell-out-alaska-air-1282-perfectly-intact/
 
Man Discovers iPhone That Fell Out of Alaska Air 1282: ‘Perfectly Intact’
 
A Portland man recovered a cell phone, which is believed to be owned by a passenger of Alaska Airlines flight 1282 after it was sucked out of the plane when the door plug blew open.
 
Writing on X, the man, Sean Bates, posted a photo of the phone:
 
“Found an iPhone on the side of the road,” he wrote.
 
“Still in airplane mode with half a battery and open to a baggage claim for #AlaskaAirlines ASA1282.”
 
Bates found the phone when he was out walking before posting it on social media, which also showed what appeared to be an Alaska Airlines baggage flight receipt.
 
The image showed the baggage receipt for the traveler and a piece of a charger still stuck into the phone’s charging port.
 
Bates claimed the phone was “perfectly” intact with “no scratches on it.”
 
In a TikTok video, Bates said he was walking in Portland on Sunday after the National Transportation Safety Bureau asked him to report any debris or plane parts.
 
The door for the plane was also recovered after another Portland resident named Bob found the plug in his yard,
 
“Thank you, Bob,” NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy said at a news conference.
 
Bates found one of the two cell phones that were recovered.
 
Last week, Alaska Airlines flight was forced to make an emergency landing after its passenger window blew open.
 
The Boeing 737 Max was heading to Ontario, California w, when a large window busted open, causing severe depressurization.
 
Alaska Airlines CEO Ben Minicucci said in a statement:
 
“Following tonight’s event on Flight 1282, we have decided to take the precautionary step of temporarily grounding our fleet of 65 Boeing 737-9 aircraft.”
 
“My heart goes out to those who were on this flight – I am so sorry for what you experienced.”
 
Video footage showed the plane in the air with the window open as oxygen masks angled over passengers’ seats.
 
https://www.dailyfetched.com/rebel-news-reporter-arrested-by-trudeaus-police-for-asking-a-question/
 
Rebel News Reporter Arrested by Trudeau’s Police for Asking a Question
 
David Menzies, the reporter for Canada’s conservative Rebel News Network, was arrested on Monday for asking Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland a question.
 
A police officer reportedly accused Menzies of assault despite the reporter not making any physical contact with Freeland.
 
The video of the incident, posted by Rebel News chief Ezra Levant, showed Enzies asking Freeland about Canada’s refusal to label Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IGRC) as a terrorist organization.
 
The video shows Menzies keeping pace with the Deputy Prime Minister as he walks down the street when a Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) stands in his way and begins claiming Menzies “assaulted” him.
 
Menzies does not appear to notice the RCMP officer because his attention is on Freeland.
 
The officer then appears to set a “pick,” basketball-style, as a pretext for accusing Menzies of assaulting him.
 
However, there is no evidence that Menzies intended to do so.
 
“You’re under arrest for assault,” said the officer.
The officer moved Menzies towards a vehicle, identifying himself as police and saying he was under arrest for assault. Menzies said the officer was the person who blocked his way.
 
“I was just scrumming Chrystia Freeland,” he said.
 
The officer acknowledged Menzies was being arrested for assaulting a police officer. In response, he accused him of assaulting him three years ago.
 
Another RCMP officer said Menzies was being arrested because of his actions. This is because he was almost pushing people over.
 
“That was a little bit aggressive for what was happening,” said the officer before the arrest occurred.
 
True North managing editor Andrew Lawton said Menzies was later released.
 
“Have confirmed that Menzies was released without charges,” said Lawton.
 
And before we go, it’s time for my favorite topic, sports!
 
CFP National Championship: Michigan Wolverines vs. Washington Huskies | Full Game Highlights Play 17:11-17:33