Border Patrol agents apprehended nearly 100,000 migrants along the U.S.-Mexico border in February, according to information leaked to Reuters by federal officials. This represents the largest number of migrant apprehensions in February since 2006. Reuters published previously unreported numbers showing that Border Patrol agents apprehended nearly 100,000 migrants in February. If the numbers are accurate, they represent an increase of nearly 33 percent from January. Officials expect the official numbers to be released next week. The rapidly increasing number of apprehensions follows the abandonment of Trump-era border security and immigration control policies by President Joe Biden during his first days in office. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) sent a letter to President Biden on Friday requesting a meeting to discuss “great concerns” with the administration’s approach to the border, Reuters reported. “We must acknowledge the border crisis, develop a plan, and, in no uncertain terms, strongly discourage individuals from Mexico and Central America from ever making the dangerous journey to our southern border,” McCarthy wrote. The number of apprehensions of migrants continues to increase in March with officials acknowledging the arrest of more than 4,500 migrants on Wednesday, the article continues. On Thursday, U.S. Representative Henry Cuellar (D-TX) reported the apprehension of approximately 10,000 migrants in the Rio Grande Valley Sector during a seven-day period — 2,500 in the previous two days. “We are weeks, maybe even days, away from a crisis on the southern border. Inaction is simply not an option,” Congressman Cuellar said in a written statement. “Our country is currently unprepared to handle a surge in migrants in the middle of the pandemic.” Of particular concern is the growing number of unaccompanied minors being apprehended at the border. The massively increasing number led to the Biden administration holding minors in ...
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Senate approves sweeping coronavirus measure in partisan vote
The Senate on Saturday approved a sweeping coronavirus relief bill on a strictly party-line vote after a marathon session, giving Democrats their first legislative victory since reclaiming the majority. Democrats cheered the 50-49 vote as it was gaveled closed. Sen. Dan Sullivan Daniel Scott Sullivan Senate GOP gets short-lived win on unemployment fight McConnell makes failed bid to adjourn Senate after hours-long delay Sullivan returns to Alaska for family funeral amid Senate debate MORE (R-Alaska) missed the vote. Sen. Lisa Murkowski Lisa Ann Murkowski Senate rejects Sanders minimum wage hike The Hill's Morning Report - Presented by Facebook - Virus relief bill headed for weekend vote Hillicon Valley: YouTube to restore Trump's account | House-passed election bill takes aim at foreign interference | Senators introduce legislation to create international tech partnerships MORE (R-Alaska), seen as the only potential swing vote in the end, voted against the $1.9 trillion bill. ADVERTISEMENT The package provides another round of stimulus checks, aid for state and local government, and more help for small businesses and schools. The Senate was in session for more than 24 hours, including all night Friday and well into Saturday, ahead of the final vote as Democrats fended off attempts by GOP senators to make changes to the legislation, which now has to go back to the House before it can be sent to President Biden ’s desk. The hours-long debate wasn’t without a significant injection of chaos as Democrats tried to navigate their first big legislative battle with a narrow 50-50 majority that required all Democrats to stick together in order to pass the bill. Democrats started their first amendment vote at 11:03 a.m. and held it open for nearly 12 hours as they tried to negotiate a deal on the unemployment language. Republicans were even able to temporarily get in their amendment to lower the payments ...
Indigenous leadership is a linchpin to solving environmental crises
Too much of the chaos and tragedy that our world is experiencing is a consequence of our broken relationship with nature. A virus has spilled over from wildlife to humans, causing a catastrophic global pandemic. Climate change is fueling weather events that are unprecedented in scale and devastation. From wildfires in the United States, Australia, the Amazon and the Arctic, to dangerous and record-breaking winter storms in Texas. There is no easy cure for what ails the environment. No silver bullet can restore the natural world overnight. What we know is that for our planet to remain livable over the long-term, it is going to take thousands of place-based conservation efforts, led by Indigenous peoples and local communities who oversee the most healthy, biodiverse and intact lands and waters left on Earth. ADVERTISEMENT That is why it is so encouraging to see President Joe Biden Joe Biden Senate holds longest vote in history as Democrats scramble to save relief bill Ex-Trump appointee arrested in Capitol riot complains he won't be able to sleep in jail Biden helps broker Senate deal on unemployment benefits MORE and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Justin Pierre James Trudeau Biden strikes optimistic tone in meeting with Mexican president White House: US will help Mexico after Americans vaccinated The Hill's Morning Report - Presented by Facebook - Trump teases on 2024 run MORE publicly commit to supporting Indigenous-led conservation efforts across North America, working in partnership on environmental restoration and conservation and advancing nature-based climate solutions. The U.S. and Canada have not always lived up to their conservation-friendly image. But the Trudeau and Biden governments are committed to flipping the script, envisioning and implementing an ambitious conservation agenda that meets the scale of the crisis facing nature — and doing so by building respectful partnerships with Indigenous ...
Senate rejects Cruz effort to block stimulus checks for undocumented immigrants
The Senate voted along party lines Saturday morning to reject an amendment sponsored by Sen. Ted Cruz Rafael (Ted) Edward Cruz DeSantis, Pence tied in 2024 Republican poll Democrats under pressure to deliver on labor's 'litmus test' bill Crenshaw pours cold water on 2024 White House bid: 'Something will emerge' MORE (R-Texas), a potential 2024 White House candidate, to block $1,400 stimulus checks from going to undocumented immigrants. The amendment failed by a vote of 49 to 50, with a slim majority of the Senate voting against it. Eight Democrats had voted for a similar amendment sponsored by Sens. Todd Young Todd Christopher Young Overnight Defense: White House open to reforming war powers | Army base might house migrant children | Fauci scolds military on vaccine White House open to reforming war powers amid bipartisan push Senators introduce bill creating technology partnerships to compete with China MORE (R-Ind.) and Tom Cotton Tom Bryant Cotton DeSantis, Pence tied in 2024 Republican poll Republicans blast Pentagon policy nominee over tweets, Iran nuclear deal The Hill's Morning Report - Presented by Facebook - Lawmakers face Capitol threat as senators line up votes for relief bill MORE (R-Ark.), another White House hopeful, early last month during a debate on the Senate budget resolution. However, the Democratic caucus stayed unified on Saturday in defeating the Republican amendment. ADVERTISEMENT All Republicans voted for it. “This amendment before us today provides that the stimulus checks should not go to illegal aliens in this country,” Cruz said while introducing the amendment. “The question for the American people to answer is, should your money, should taxpayer money, be sent, $1,400, to every illegal alien in America?” Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin Dick Durbin Democrats break COVID-19 impasse with deal on jobless benefits COVID-19 relief debate stalls ...
Dalai Lama gets COVID-19 vaccine, touts benefits
The Dalai Lama , the highest spiritual leader in Tibet, received his COVID-19 vaccine on Saturday and encouraged others to get it when they have the chance. “In order to prevent some serious problems, this injection is very, very helpful,” the Dalai Lama said, according to The Associated Press . Medical staff watched him for 30 minutes after the Dalai Lama got the Covishield vaccine in a hospital in India. ADVERTISEMENT India just opened its vaccinations to the elderly after they focused on vaccinating health-care workers in January and February. Many high-profile leaders in various countries have received the shot in order to instill public confidence in the vaccine so more people will be willing to get vaccinated. Other leaders who have received the coronavirus vaccine include President Biden Joe Biden Senate holds longest vote in history as Democrats scramble to save relief bill Ex-Trump appointee arrested in Capitol riot complains he won't be able to sleep in jail Biden helps broker Senate deal on unemployment benefits MORE , former President Trump Donald Trump Trump announces new tranche of endorsements DeSantis, Pence tied in 2024 Republican poll Lawmakers demand changes after National Guard troops at Capitol sickened from tainted food MORE , Queen Elizabeth and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Justin Pierre James Trudeau Biden strikes optimistic tone in meeting with Mexican president White House: US will help Mexico after Americans vaccinated The Hill's Morning Report - Presented by Facebook - Trump teases on 2024 run MORE , among others. India has seen more than 11 million reported cases of the coronavirus and over 150,000 related deaths as the world's second-largest country seeks to vaccinate its more than 1 billion people. Countries are trying to get their populations vaccinated as quickly as possible in an effort to quickly reopen their ...
