With the Senate set to consider a bipartisan war powers resolution next week, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer sharply criticized the Trump administration’s military actions in Venezuela, accusing the White House of acting without authorization and misleading both lawmakers and the public.
Schumer argued that the administration’s moves contradict repeated assurances he says were delivered in private briefings over recent months. “The administration has assured me three separate times that it was not pursuing regime change or taking military action in Venezuela. Clearly, they are not being straight with Americans,” he said.
The New York Democrat also took aim at President Trump’s comments earlier in the day suggesting the United States would “run” Venezuela until a “safe” transition could be arranged. Reacting to that idea, Schumer warned, “The idea that Trump plans to now run Venezuela should strike fear in the hearts of all Americans. The American people have seen this before and paid the devastating price.”
In an initial statement responding to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, Schumer acknowledged Maduro’s lack of legitimacy but condemned the manner in which the operation was carried out. “Let me be clear: Nicolás Maduro is an illegitimate dictator,” he said. “But launching military action without congressional authorization and without a credible plan for what comes next is reckless.”
The criticism comes as the Senate prepares to vote on a privileged war powers resolution that would seek to halt U.S. military activity in Venezuela, including the overnight bombing of Caracas. Because of its procedural status, the measure cannot be blocked from reaching the floor and would require only a simple majority to pass.
The resolution is sponsored by Sens. Tim Kaine, Rand Paul, and Adam Schiff. Kaine framed the effort as a necessary constitutional check on executive power. “It is long past time for Congress to reassert its critical constitutional role in matters of war, peace, diplomacy and trade,” he said in a statement. “My bipartisan resolution stipulating that we should not be at war with Venezuela absent a clear congressional authorization will come up for a vote next week.”
Kaine added a broader warning about democratic norms, saying, “We’ve entered the 250th year of American democracy and cannot allow it to devolve into the tyranny that our founders fought to escape.”
Beyond questions of war powers, Schumer portrayed the administration’s actions as a political diversion from domestic problems. “To distract from skyrocketing costs Americans face and the historic cover up of the Epstein files, Donald Trump is attempting to the throw Americans into more international chaos and uncertainty,” he said.
Taken together, the remarks underscore growing resistance on Capitol Hill to the administration’s Venezuela strategy, setting the stage for a high-stakes Senate vote that could redefine Congress’s role in the unfolding crisis.
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{Matzav.com}
Reaction to the dramatic U.S.-led operation that resulted in the capture of Venezuelan strongman Nicolás Maduro has reverberated far beyond Latin America, reaching Kyiv and Moscow alike and injecting new tension into already fraught global diplomacy.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky responded approvingly to the downfall of the Venezuelan leader, who had ruled since 2013, suggesting that similar decisive action could be applied elsewhere. Speaking after a meeting of European national security advisers, Zelensky commented on the U.S. operation, saying, per Ukrinform: “Well, what can I say? If dictators can be dealt with like this, then the United States of America knows what it should do next.”
The remarks were widely interpreted as a reference to Russian President Vladimir Putin, as Russia’s war against Ukraine approaches its fourth year. Zelensky’s comments came as the Trump administration continues efforts to broker a long-term peace agreement between Moscow and Kyiv, adding an additional layer of sensitivity to an already volatile diplomatic environment.
Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were seized in a series of early-morning strikes carried out by a U.S. Special Forces–led operation. Both are now facing criminal charges in the Southern District of New York connected to alleged narco-terrorism activities.
In Moscow, the response was swift and sharply critical. Russian officials denounced the U.S. action, urging Washington to “reconsider their position and release the legitimately elected president of a sovereign country and his spouse.” The Kremlin further insisted that “any existing issues between the United States and Venezuela” should be resolved “through dialogue,” despite Russia’s own reliance on military force in Ukraine.
The situation has also fueled speculation about possible escalations elsewhere. Former Greek finance minister Yanis Varoufakis suggested that the Maduro operation might embolden similar thinking in Moscow, remarking that Putin could be asking himself: “Maybe I should arrest Zelensky too and hand him over to Russian justice?”
Tensions between Russia and Ukraine have already been heightened following claims by the Kremlin that Ukraine carried out a drone strike targeting Putin’s presidential residence in Russia’s Novgorod region. While Moscow has asserted it possesses proof, U.S. intelligence assessments reportedly concluded that the strikes were not intended to hit the Russian leader’s residence.
Before his capture, Maduro had been a vocal ally of Putin and an outspoken critic of Zelensky. During an episode of his weekly television show, With Maduro, in March of last year, the Venezuelan leader derided the Ukrainian president as a “clown.”
Maduro also predicted a grim end for Zelensky, claiming he would ultimately be abandoned by Washington. He said it was Zelensky’s “fate” for having sold his “soul to the devil” of America.
{Matzav.com}
In a sweeping briefing, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Dan “Raizin” Caine laid out new details of the U.S. military operation that culminated in the arrest of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia. The mission, carried out without a single American casualty, was described as one of the most complex and tightly coordinated actions undertaken by the U.S. armed forces in recent memory.
President Trump later confirmed that the operation concluded with no loss of U.S. personnel or equipment, despite reports of explosions across Caracas in the hours leading up to the raid, including activity near Fuerte Tiuna, a major military installation believed to include Maduro’s bunker.
Caine emphasized that the effort relied on exhaustive intelligence preparation and interagency cooperation. “We leveraged our unmatched intelligence capabilities and our years of experience in hunting terrorists. We watched, we waited, we prepared.” He noted that analysts from the Central Intelligence Agency, National Security Agency, and National Geospatial Intelligence Agency compiled an unusually detailed profile of Maduro, down to his daily habits, wardrobe, meals, and even the whereabouts of his pets.
According to Caine, the military had been on alert for weeks as conditions aligned. “In early December, our force was set pending a series of aligned events… through Christmas and New Year’s, the men and women of the United States military sat ready, patiently waiting for the right triggers to be met and the president to order us into action.” Timing was selected carefully to limit risk to civilians and detainees alike. As Caine explained, “choosing the right day to minimize the potential for civilian harm and maximize the element of surprise and minimize the harm to the indicted personnel, so, as the President said, they could be brought to justice.”
When the order finally came, it was decisive. “At 10:46 pm Eastern time… the President ordered the United States military to move forward with this mission. He said to us, and we appreciate it, Mr. President, ‘Good luck and Godspeed.’”
The scope of the deployment spanned much of the hemisphere. More than 150 aircraft took off from over 20 bases, involving an array of platforms and personnel. “Bombers, fighters, intelligence, reconnaissance, surveillance, rotary wing were in the air. Our youngest crew member was 20, and our oldest was 49.”
As helicopters carrying the apprehension teams advanced toward Caracas at low altitude, they were shielded by an extensive aerial escort that included F-22s, F-35s, F-18s, B-1 bombers, EA-18s, and remotely piloted drones. The air campaign neutralized Venezuelan air defense systems ahead of the ground insertion to protect the force.
The helicopters reached Maduro’s compound at 2:01 a.m. local time. Upon arrival, the team came under fire and responded. “One of our aircraft was hit, but remained flyable,” Caine confirmed.
Describing the overall effort, Caine said it reflected years of accumulated experience. “This mission was meticulously planned, drawing lessons from decades of missions over the last many years.” He added, “Those in the air over Caracas last night were willing to give their lives for those on the ground and in the helicopters.”
Earlier in his remarks, Caine characterized the operation itself in stark terms. Addressing Operation Absolute Resolve, he said it was “an audacious operation that only the United States could do.” He formally outlined its legal basis at the outset of the briefing: “Last night, on the order of the President of the United States and in support of a request from the Department of Justice… the United States military conducted an apprehension mission in Caracas, Venezuela, to bring to justice [to] two indicted persons, Nicholas and Cilia Maduro.”
The operation was tied directly to federal indictments filed in the Southern District of New York. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced charges against Maduro and his wife that include narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, and possession of machineguns and destructive devices.
Caine said the action demonstrated the full integration of U.S. military capabilities across domains. “This particular mission required every component of our joint force with soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and guardians, working in unison with our intelligence agency partners and law enforcement teammates.”
Summing up the broader significance, Caine underscored the message sent by the operation. “This was a powerful demonstration of America’s Joint Force. Our jobs are to integrate combat power so when the order comes, we can deliver overwhelming force… against any foe anywhere in the world.”
He concluded with praise for those who carried out the mission and their families. “I am immensely proud today of our joint force and filled with gratitude to represent them here today. There is simply no mission too difficult for these incredible professionals and the families that stand by them. Their courage and tireless commitment to our nation are what makes us strong.”
{Matzav.com}
Immigration attorneys across the country say federal officials are no longer treating marriages to U.S. citizens as a reliable path to legal status, warning that applications tied to spousal relationships are now being examined with far greater suspicion.
Lawyers say the shift accelerated after President Donald Trump directed his administration to confront what it views as widespread abuse of marriage-based visas, particularly arrangements in which migrants allegedly pay Americans to enter short-term or sham marriages.
For years, a wedding to a U.S. citizen often gave migrants a major advantage when seeking permanent residency, even though it was never an automatic guarantee of approval. Attorneys now report that those cases are being treated far more cautiously, with officials at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services probing details that previously drew little attention.
Brad Bernstein, an immigration lawyer with Spar & Bernstein, told clients that marriage to an American citizen can no longer be viewed as a near-certain route to a green card, according to reporting by NDTV.
One of the biggest changes, Bernstein says, is a new focus on whether couples actually live together. Under current enforcement priorities, the Trump administration is emphasizing a shared residence between spouses, an issue that had often been secondary in the past.
“Immigration officers do not care why you live apart, and they do not care if it’s for work, school, money, or convenience,” Bernstein said.
“So, if you’re not living in the same house every day, immigration is going to start questioning the marriage. And once they question it, they’re investigating, and once they come knocking on your door, they’re looking to deny you. So, if you want a marriage green card, you live together. Period,” he explained.
Federal officials have also issued broader warnings making clear that marriages must be genuine. USCIS has said it will deny applications where officials conclude the relationship involved “no good faith, intent to live together as spouses and intended to circumvent immigration laws.”
Beyond new applications, the administration has indicated that even existing green card holders could face renewed scrutiny. In November, officials suggested that previously granted statuses may be reopened and reassessed.
That message was made explicit in a Thanksgiving Day announcement by USCIS Director Joseph Edlow, who wrote, “At the direction of @POTUS, I have directed a full scale, rigorous reexamination of every Green Card for every alien from every country of concern.”
“The protection of this country and of the American people remains paramount, and the American people will not bear the cost of the prior administration’s reckless resettlement policies. American safety is non-negotiable,” he continued.
The administration has paired the tougher review of marriage-based cases with other sweeping immigration moves. It ended the diversity visa lottery, which had allowed as many as 55,000 migrants a year to obtain legal entry, following the arrest of Portuguese national Claudio Manuel Neves Valente on charges connected to fatal shootings at Brown University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Valente had received his legal status through the 2017 diversity lottery program.
{Matzav.com}
Federal court records and recent reporting have shed new light on how participants in Minnesota’s sprawling Feeding Our Future fraud case allegedly used stolen pandemic relief funds to bankroll extravagant personal lifestyles instead of feeding low-income children, even as the state faces mounting scrutiny over broader welfare fraud.
According to a report by the New York Post, individuals convicted in the scheme diverted hundreds of millions of dollars from federal COVID-19 nutrition programs into luxury purchases, including high-end real estate, expensive vehicles, and overseas investments.
Court documents cited by the outlet describe purchases ranging from upscale condominiums and exotic rental cars to properties in Kenya. One defendant, 43-year-old Liban Yasin Alishire, pleaded guilty in 2023 to wire fraud and money laundering after prosecutors said he spent approximately $350,000 of the stolen funds on a Kenyan resort where visitors are offered services such as personal chefs.
Prosecutors have said the fraud operation was orchestrated by Aimee Bock, who allegedly used the nonprofit Feeding Our Future as a vehicle to submit false claims for meals that were never served. Authorities also claim Bock financially supported her former boyfriend, Empress Malcolm Watson Jr., through what they described as a sham contract that paid him a $1 million salary.
The New York Post reported that the pair frequently rented Lamborghinis, Rolls-Royces, and other exotic vehicles for roughly $2,000 per day while traveling. Court filings further state that the couple took repeated luxury trips to destinations such as Las Vegas and Graceland, with Watson Jr. posting displays of wealth on social media.
In June 2024, federal prosecutors announced charges against nearly 50 Somali Muslim immigrants in Minnesota, accusing them of stealing approximately $250 million through the Feeding Our Future umbrella of organizations.
More recently, Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Thompson warned that fraud in Minnesota extends far beyond a single case. Speaking publicly, Thompson said an estimated half of $18 billion in welfare spending in the state has been lost to fraudulent activity.
“Minnesota has become a magnet for fraud, so much so that we have developed a fraud tourism industry — people coming to our state purely to exploit and defraud its programs,” Thompson said. “This is a deeply unsettling reality that all Minnesotans should understand.”
Thompson contrasted the alleged conduct with more typical benefit fraud schemes, explaining that “traditional Medicare and Medicaid fraud is that people overbill,” but that the Minnesota cases often involve no services at all. Instead, he said, perpetrators create shell organizations and submit entirely fabricated claims for reimbursement.
The renewed attention to the Feeding Our Future case comes amid additional allegations raised by independent journalists, including Nick Shirley, whose reporting has focused on suspected fraud tied to daycare and healthcare operations linked to Minnesota’s Somali community.
{Matzav.com}
