Matzav

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu arrived in Washington on Tuesday evening local time for a high-stakes visit that will include a White House meeting with President Donald Trump, as tensions surrounding Iran’s nuclear program once again take center stage.

Shortly after landing, Netanyahu went to Blair House, where he met with Trump’s special envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. The discussion focused on developments in the region, including the latest diplomatic efforts involving Tehran. Witkoff and Kushner briefed the prime minister on the initial round of negotiations they conducted with Iranian officials last Friday.

Netanyahu is scheduled to meet with Trump at the White House on Wednesday at 11:00 a.m. Washington time (6:00 p.m. Israel time). The upcoming session will mark their seventh meeting since Trump began his second term in office, and the sixth time they have convened at the White House. Their most recent encounter took place at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida.

As Netanyahu prepared for his talks, Trump spoke publicly about Iran in an interview with Fox Business Network, expressing confidence that Tehran is inclined to negotiate over its nuclear and ballistic missile programs. He cautioned that failing to do so would be a serious miscalculation.

“We have a massive flotilla right now going over to Iran. I think they want to make a deal. I think they would be foolish if they didn’t. We took out their nuclear power last time and we’ll have to see if we take out more this time,” said the President.

“They want to make a deal. They wouldn’t talk to anybody else, but they’re talking to me,” he continued. “Obama and Biden, what they did in terms of creating a monster with Iran was terrible.”

.@POTUS: We have a massive flotilla right now going over to Iran. I think they want to make a deal. I think they would be foolish if they didn't. We took out their nuclear power last time and we'll have to see if we take out more this time… pic.twitter.com/q1G8qMvmHm

— Department of State (@StateDept) February 10, 2026

In separate remarks to Channel 12 News earlier in the day, Trump made clear that military options remain on the table should negotiations collapse. Referring to actions taken roughly six months ago, he indicated he would not hesitate to respond again if diplomacy fails.

Trump reiterated that his preference is for a negotiated settlement but underscored that the United States is prepared to act if necessary. “The Iranians very much want to reach a deal. Either we make a deal, or we will have to do something very tough – like last time,” he said.

At the same time, Trump revealed that he is weighing the possibility of reinforcing American naval forces in the region. “We have an armada there, and maybe another one on the way,” the President added.

According to Trump, his meeting with Netanyahu will center largely on the Iranian issue. He also stated that the Israeli prime minister is not feeling pressured by the renewed talks but shares an interest in securing a strong agreement. “I don’t think Netanyahu is pressured by the talks with Iran. He also wants a deal. He wants a good deal.”

{Matzav.com}

A federal civil rights lawsuit is challenging a large-scale October raid at a popular horse racing venue in Canyon County, Idaho, alleging that children — including U.S. citizens — were zip-tied and traumatized during a sweeping law enforcement operation, CBS News reports.

The action, carried out at La Catedral Arena, resulted in the detention of 105 undocumented immigrants and has ignited a broader debate over immigration enforcement tactics used under President Donald Trump’s administration.

Canyon County Sheriff Kieran Donahue initially praised the operation, describing it as a successful effort that led to the apprehension of more than 100 undocumented immigrants. He also rejected claims that officers restrained children with zip ties during the raid.

However, after being shown photographs obtained by CBS News, Donahue responded differently. The images appear to show zip ties and bruising on the wrists of 14-year-old SueHey Romero, a U.S. citizen who had been caring for her younger siblings, ages 6 and 8, when officers in tactical gear swept through the event and confined attendees to the racetrack.

“God bless her. I’m sorry she went through that,” Donahue said. The sheriff, who participated in the raid on horseback, defended the broader operation. “But law enforcement is not evil because we contained everybody and detained them until we sorted it out. That’s not evil.”

The use of armored vehicles and flashbang grenades at a family recreation event has raised concerns about aggressive enforcement strategies. On Tuesday, the American Civil Liberties Union filed suit in federal court, accusing authorities of mistreating families — many of them American citizens of Hispanic heritage — who had gathered for a weekend outing.

The events in this farming community about an hour from Boise have received less national attention than similar immigration operations elsewhere, including in Minnesota. There, federal agents’ conduct involving children has drawn intense scrutiny. In one reported case, a family alleged that tear gas canisters were deployed beneath a vehicle carrying six children. Another widely circulated image showed 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos wearing a hat with bunny ears and holding a Spiderman backpack as he was taken into custody.

The ACLU argues that what happened in Idaho reflects a troubling trend in which children are exposed to forceful federal operations. According to the complaint, the physical injuries and emotional trauma inflicted during the raid could have long-term consequences.

“They have done long lasting damage to children,” said Jenn Rolnick Borchetta, the ACLU’s deputy project director on policing. “At this moment, when the United States Congress is confronted with a question of how to reign in ICE…the answer is they need to reign in ICE to protect our children.”

Federal officials have denied that minors were zip-tied during the Idaho operation.

“ICE didn’t zip tie, restrain, or arrest any children,” Homeland Security spokesperson Trisha McLaughlin told CBS News in a statement.”

She added, “ICE does not zip tie or handcuff children. This is the kind of garbage rhetoric contributing to our officers facing a 1,300% increase in assaults against them and an 8,000% increase in death threats.”

Yet several detainees have provided accounts that contradict those denials. In an interview with CBS News, SueHey described officers who, she said, refused to identify their agencies and moved her along with hundreds of others onto the racetrack before binding her hands with plastic restraints.

“I’m just like there crying, like I’m struggling to breathe,” she said. “I can’t even get the words out.”

Her mother, Anabel Romero, said she too was restrained and unable to comfort her daughter.

“I can’t hold her because you guys won’t let me go,” Romero recalled telling the agents. “I’m like, she’s only 14.”

Those attending the races said the scene shifted abruptly when a helicopter flew low overhead, followed by five armored vehicles. Video obtained by CBS News captures the arrival of roughly 200 officers who then fanned out across the property. Some children reported that firearms were pointed in their direction, while others described rubber bullets flying past.

According to the lawsuit, officers shattered vehicle windows where children had sought shelter from the rain. One 8-year-old boy later told a local news outlet that he had to remove small shards of glass from his mouth.

The complaint also details the experience of Juana Rodriguez, who says she was restrained for hours while her 3-year-old son cried beside her. Authorities refused her requests to hold him, instructing the child instead to grasp his mother’s pocket, which had been turned inside out, according to the filing.

“As a parent, nothing is more heartbreaking than hearing your child cry out in fear and being told you cannot hold or comfort them,” Rodriguez said in a statement provided to CBS News by the ACLU. “I am a proud U.S. citizen, and I didn’t do anything wrong.”

The lawsuit contends that several minors were placed in hard plastic restraints and later displayed welts and bruises. Initially, the FBI’s Boise field office characterized reports of children being zip-tied as “completely false.” That statement was later modified to clarify that no “young” children were restrained. The Caldwell Police Department subsequently acknowledged that minors had been zip-tied.

Romero attended the event with her three children, all U.S. citizens. While her two younger children were not restrained, she said she witnessed aggressive tactics firsthand.

She described the gathering as a family-oriented event with raffles, toy vendors, and traditional Mexican food. The mood shifted when a black helicopter descended over the field, and chaos followed.

“All of a sudden I just see people running and screaming,” Romero said, recalling agents in full tactical gear pointing weapons. She hid briefly in a horse stall while her children remained in the family truck. When officers began searching the stalls, she asked them to identify themselves.

“All I’m asking is for clarification, who are you and why am I being detained,” she said. According to Romero, one of the armed men responded: “I’m gonna [expletive] blow your head off”

“They kicked me, they punched me, they stepped on me,”she said.

SueHey said she saw agents in military-style uniforms “running around, opening car doors, and yelling at people to get onto the track.” When officers opened her family’s truck, she feared for her siblings’ safety. She said the officers pulled her from the vehicle by force.

“I was brave and I opened the door because I wanted to protect my sister,” 6-year-old Alfredo told CBS News.

SueHey said she broke free momentarily to avoid being separated from her siblings. Eventually, the children were directed to the racetrack, where large numbers of attendees had been gathered.

Romero, with her hands bound behind her back, was brought to the same location and reunited with her children. She said officers then restrained SueHey despite her protests.

Romero said she pleaded with them to bind her daughter’s hands in front rather than behind her back, believing it would reduce the pain. She said the officers agreed.

Hours later, ICE agents concluded that the family members were U.S. citizens. Romero said she was questioned about her children’s differing last names.

“I didn’t know I needed to carry their birth certificates around,” she said.

Eventually, the restraints were removed and the family was released. Photographs appear to show deep bruising on SueHey’s wrists. Romero said the physical marks would fade, but the emotional impact would linger.

“My parents, they came over here [from Mexico] to give us a better life,” she told CBS News. “That day, I felt like our freedom was taken away from us.”

Authorities have said the objective of the operation was to dismantle what they suspected to be an illegal gambling ring at the racetrack. The FBI secured a federal warrant to arrest five individuals believed to be running the unlicensed enterprise.

However, numerous federal and local agencies — including Immigration and Customs Enforcement — arrived in force. Witnesses said officers began detaining hundreds of predominantly Latino attendees to verify their immigration status.

The ACLU alleges that law enforcement “conspired to abuse a criminal search warrant as cover to go fishing for immigration arrests at an event where they knew they would encounter a large number of Latino individuals.”

According to the complaint, attendees were questioned about their legal status and instructed to provide documentation. By the conclusion of the operation, 105 individuals were identified as undocumented and transported to detention facilities. Roughly 375 others, determined to be U.S. citizens or lawful residents, were released.

Local immigration attorney Nikki Ramirez-Smith, who responded to the scene, said she believes authorities miscalculated the nature of the event and noted that many of those detained had lived in the country for decades without criminal records.

“My opinion is they didn’t know that most of the people there were American citizens,” Ramirez said. “I think law enforcement misjudged it because the event is in Spanish.”

Sheriff Donahue denied that the gambling warrant was used as a pretext for an immigration sweep. He described the raid as a four-year FBI investigation into suspected cartel involvement and said ICE’s role was not the primary focus.

“We knew there was cartel involvement in this operation,” the sheriff said. “We knew that to be true. [It’s] why we went in.”

He maintained that immigration enforcement was “secondary or tertiary.”

Four months after the raid, the only criminal charges filed were against the five individuals accused of operating the unlicensed gambling enterprise.

The lawsuit states that the children affected continue to struggle emotionally. One 3-year-old plaintiff, identified as Y.R., is now fearful of police, according to his mother. A 15-year-old identified as Y.L. reportedly experiences recurring nightmares about being detained at gunpoint.

“The lasting fear and emotional distress is widespread,” the complaint says.

Donahue acknowledged that trust between law enforcement and the local Latino community has been damaged. Romero agreed, saying the operation fractured relationships that had taken years to build.

SueHey said the experience has changed how she views authorities and would make her hesitant to call for help.

“How are they gonna treat me even though I’m a U.S. citizen, even if I’m not doing anything wrong, even if I’m just reporting a crime?” she said. “How are they gonna treat me?”

{Matzav.com}

A message posted Tuesday on Vice President JD Vance’s X account recognizing the Armenian genocide was later removed, prompting clarification from the White House that there has been no shift in U.S. policy following his participation in a wreath-laying ceremony in Armenia.

The now-deleted post said that Vance and his wife, Usha Vance, took part in the ceremony to commemorate the victims of the 1915 Armenian genocide. The wording stood in contrast to current Trump administration policy regarding the terminology used to describe the events.

For decades, Armenians have pressed governments around the world to formally recognize the mass killings carried out between 1915 and 1917 under the Ottoman Empire as genocide, maintaining that approximately 1.5 million Armenians were killed.

Turkey, which succeeded the Ottoman Empire, has consistently denied that the killings, arrests and forced deportations of Armenians during that period constitute genocide.

Successive U.S. administrations have generally refrained from officially labeling the events as “genocide,” citing the potential diplomatic fallout with Turkey, a strategic ally in the region. In 2021, President Joe Biden formally referred to the Ottoman Empire’s actions against Armenians as “genocide,” drawing sharp condemnation from Ankara.

A spokesperson for Vance said the post published Tuesday was the work of staff members who were not traveling as part of the official delegation.

The White House later issued a statement underscoring that there has been no change in longstanding policy, pointing to an earlier Armenian Remembrance Day message. Vance’s X account subsequently shared a revised, more measured post that included an image of the handwritten note he left in the guest book at the ceremony: “In solemn remembrance of the lives lost, we honor the resilience and enduring spirit of the Armenian people.”

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President Donald Trump is weighing the possibility of dispatching an additional U.S. aircraft carrier strike group to the Middle East as renewed negotiations with Iran get underway, underscoring that Washington is maintaining a credible military option alongside diplomacy.

Speaking with Axios in an interview on Tuesday, Trump said the potential move would be part of a wider pressure campaign against Tehran as talks resume following last year’s short but fierce conflict.

“Either we will make a deal or we will have to do something very tough like last time,” Trump told Axios.

Negotiators from the United States and Iran reconvened in Oman last Friday, marking their first direct discussions since the 12-day war in June. The talks are taking place even as the Trump administration continues to reinforce U.S. military assets across the region. Trump said he anticipates another round of discussions next week.

“We have an armada that is heading there and another one might be going,” Trump said, noting that he is “thinking” about ordering a second carrier strike group to the area.

A U.S. official confirmed to Axios that internal conversations have already taken place regarding the possible deployment of another carrier.

At present, the United States has the USS Abraham Lincoln and its accompanying strike group stationed in the region, outfitted with fighter aircraft, Tomahawk cruise missiles, and support vessels. During much of the Gaza war, the U.S. maintained two carrier strike groups operating in the Middle East simultaneously.

Even with the heightened military posture, Trump suggested that negotiations have a real chance of succeeding, saying Iran “wants to make a deal very badly” and is engaging more seriously because of sustained U.S. pressure.

“Last time they didn’t believe I would do it,” Trump said, referencing U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities in June. “They overplayed their hand.”

“This time the talks are very different,” he added.

Iranian officials have publicly stated that the discussions should be limited to the nuclear file and have insisted that Tehran will not relinquish its ability to enrich uranium. That position has raised doubts among U.S. and Israeli critics who question whether a far-reaching agreement can be achieved.

Trump said it should be obvious that any deal must confront Iran’s nuclear program, adding that he sees room for talks to also address Tehran’s ballistic missile capabilities.

“We can make a great deal with Iran,” he said.

The renewed negotiations are unfolding as Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu prepares for a visit to Washington on Wednesday. Trump told Axios that Netanyahu “also wants a deal.”

“He wants a good deal,” Trump said.

Ahead of his trip, Netanyahu said he intends to convey Israel’s perspective on what he described as the “essential principles” guiding the negotiations.

At the same time, senior Iranian figure Ali Larijani has been holding meetings with regional intermediaries in Oman and Qatar. U.S. officials believe those discussions are designed to influence the shape and direction of the next phase of talks, according to Axios.

The Biala Rebbe of the United States, who is currently in Eretz Yisroel to mark the yahrtzeit of his grandfather, the Chelkas Yehoshua of Biala zt”l, paid a special visit to the home of the Yenuka in Rishon LeZion.

During the visit, the Biala Rebbe presented the Yenuka with the sefer Noam Elimelech, which includes the awe-inspiring tefillah of the Rebbe Rav Elimelech of Lizhensk.

The Rebbe outlined the lineage of righteous figures in his dynasty, tracing it back to the Yehudi HaKadosh of Peshischa and earlier tzaddikim. In the course of the meeting, the Yenuka recounted the extraordinary episode involving the Yehudi HaKadosh, who was saved when a Russian soldier fired at him and, in a miraculous moment, he caught the lead bullet and stopped it.

The Biala Rebbe added that a similar miracle occurred with his illustrious grandfather, the Chelkas Yehoshua of Biala. After being taken to Siberia during the war and immersing himself in icy waters, a Russian soldier fired at him as well. In a strikingly similar event, he caught the bullet with his hand and was miraculously spared.

It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Shlomo Ephraim HaKohen Fischer zt”l, one of the distinguished figures of Yerushalayim Shel Maalah and a familiar presence on Bar Giora Street, in Yerushalayim at the age of 86.

Rav Fischer was born in Yerushalayim on 18 Kislev 5700 to his father, Rav Menachem Fischer, a member of Yerushalayim Old Yishuv and a talmid of Maharitz Dushinsky, and to his mother, Mrs. Chana, daughter of Rav Avraham Frenkel.

In his youth, he studied at Yeshivas Dushinsky and was among the early talmidim of Maharam Dushinsky. As a child of ten, he merited seeing Maharitz Dushinsky frequently, accompanying his father on visits to him.

Upon reaching marriageable age, he married Mrs. Yocheved Fischer, daughter of Rav Baruch Pinchas Goldberg, author of the sefarim Bikur Cholim Kehilchasah and Pnei Baruch-Aveilus Kehilchasa. She was a devoted volunteer who dedicated more than 30 years to assisting patients at Hadassah Hospital. She passed away in Adar 5782.

Rav Shlomo Ephraim served as a gabbai tzedakah and as a melamed of tinokos shel beis rabban. He frequently went to spend time in the Dushinsky court, participating in gatherings and hillulos. As recently as Erev Sukkos, he addressed the crowd at the hillula of the Maharitz in the courtyard of the Dushinsky Chassidus.

He is survived by children and grandchildren. One of his sons is Rav Chaim Fischer, a maggid shiur in the Ungvarer kehillah in Modiin Illit. His brother, Rav Avraham HaKohen Fischer, a respected figure in Bnei Brak and among the founders of the first chareidi orchestra, passed away in 5778.

The levayah took place today at the Shamgar Funeral Home in Yerushalayim, with kevurah on Har HaMenuchos.

Yehi zichro boruch.

{Matzav.com}

Investigators probing the disappearance of Moishi Kleinerman have taken an unusual step, turning to civilian technology based on artificial intelligence to explore new investigative avenues. Analysis of the data has led to the identification of an additional terrain route that, according to assessments, may be the last location where Kleinerman was present.

Moishi Kleinerman has been missing since March 2022, after he was last seen in the Mount Meron area, which he reached without a mobile phone. A new development has now emerged in the case, involving an unconventional move aimed at examining further possibilities.

Police in the Judea and Samaria District decided to utilize civilian AI-based technology capable of analyzing data patterns not detectable to the human eye. The data analysis pointed to a specific terrain route in the Mount Meron area that may be the final place Kleinerman was located, according to a report by i24NEWS.

Police stress that it is still not possible to determine with certainty that this was indeed the teenager’s last location, but preparations are underway to conduct searches in the area. At the same time, new testimonies have been collected. Next week, investigators are expected to deploy an investigative tool known as the “Crystal Ball,” typically used to solve murder cases, which will be employed for the first time in the search for a missing person. The commander of the Judea and Samaria District has updated the family on the latest developments.

{Matzav.com}

Democratic leaders said a White House proposal responding to their demands on immigration enforcement falls far short, calling it “incomplete and insufficient” as they push for tighter limits on President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown and warn that funding for the Department of Homeland Security could lapse.

In a statement issued late Monday, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York said a counterproposal sent by the White House after the weekend “included neither details nor legislative text” and failed to address “the concerns Americans have about ICE’s lawless conduct.”

The White House has not made its proposal public.

The standoff comes with the clock ticking toward a possible partial government shutdown set to begin Shabbos. Democrats are seeking a range of changes, including a requirement for judicial warrants, clearer identification for DHS officers, revised use-of-force standards, and an end to racial profiling. They argue the measures are needed following the fatal shootings of two protesters by federal agents in Minneapolis last month.

Earlier Monday, Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota voiced optimism about the unusual talks between Democrats and the White House, saying there had been “forward progress.”

Thune said the exchange of proposals between the two sides was encouraging and that “hopefully they can find some common ground here.”

Reaching a deal on immigration enforcement remains difficult, however, as skepticism runs deep among rank-and-file lawmakers in both parties about the prospects for compromise.

Republicans have pushed back on many of the Democratic demands and some have offered counterconditions, including legislation requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote and penalties for cities they argue are not doing enough to combat illegal immigration.

At the same time, many Democrats angered by Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s aggressive tactics have said they will not support additional DHS funding unless enforcement efforts are significantly curtailed.

“Dramatic changes are needed at the Department of Homeland Security before a DHS funding bill moves forward,” Jeffries said earlier Monday. “Period. Full stop.”

Congress is now attempting to renegotiate DHS funding after Trump agreed to a Democratic request to pull it out of a broader spending package that became law last week. That legislation temporarily extended Homeland Security funding at current levels only through Feb. 13, creating a narrow window for negotiations over new limits on ICE and other federal agencies.

Democrats escalated their demands for changes to ICE and other federal law enforcement after ICE-watch activist Alex Pretti was fatally shot during a confrontation with U.S. Border Patrol officers in Minneapolis on Jan. 24. Some Republicans also suggested at the time that new restrictions might be warranted. Renee Good was shot by an ICE agent on Jan. 7.

Although Trump agreed to separate the DHS funding, he has not publicly addressed the Democrats’ specific requests.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said late last week that the Trump administration is open to discussing some of the items on the Democratic list, but said “others don’t seem like they are grounded in any common sense, and they are nonstarters for this administration.”

Schumer and Jeffries have called for immigration officers to remove masks, display identification, and better coordinate with local authorities. They are also pressing for tougher use-of-force rules, stronger legal protections at detention centers, and a ban on using body-worn cameras to track protesters.

Among their additional demands, Democrats want Congress to halt indiscriminate arrests, “improve warrant procedures and standards,” make clear that officers cannot enter private property without a judicial warrant, and require verification that a detainee is not a U.S. citizen before detention.

Republicans have said they support requiring DHS officers to wear body cameras — language that appeared in the original DHS funding bill — but have resisted many of the other proposals.

“Taking the masks off ICE officers and agents, the reason we can’t do that is that it would subject them to great harm, their families at great risk because people are doxing them and targeting them,” House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana said Monday. “We’ve got to talk about things that are reasonable and achievable.”

Sen. Bill Hagerty of Tennessee said Sunday that Democrats are “trying to motivate a radical left base.”

“The left has gone completely overboard, and they’re threatening the safety and security of our agents so they cannot do their job,” Hagerty said.

Beyond ICE and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Homeland Security funding bill also covers agencies such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Transportation Security Administration. Thune warned last week that if DHS shuts down, “there’s a very good chance we could see more travel problems” similar to those during last year’s 43-day government shutdown.

Lawmakers in both parties have floated the idea of separating funding for ICE and Border Patrol and passing the remainder by Friday. Thune has shown little enthusiasm for that approach, instead favoring another short-term extension for all of DHS while talks continue.

“If there’s additional time that’s needed, then hopefully Democrats would be amenable to another extension,” Thune said.

Many Democrats are unlikely to support another temporary extension, though Republicans could still muster enough Democratic votes if lawmakers believe negotiations are making progress.

“The ball is in the Republicans’ court,” Jeffries said Monday.

{Matzav.com}

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said Tuesday that he believes the federal immigration enforcement surge in the state is nearing its conclusion and could wrap up within “days, not weeks and months,” citing recent discussions with senior officials in the Trump administration.

Speaking at a news conference, the Democratic governor said he held conversations with border czar Tom Homan on Monday and with White House chief of staff Susie Wiles early Tuesday. Homan assumed control of the federal operation in Minnesota in late January, following a second deadly shooting involving federal officers and growing political criticism over how the effort was being carried out.

“We’re very much in a trust but verify mode,” Walz said. He added that he expects additional clarification from the administration “in the next day or so” about the future of what he described as an “occupation” and a “retribution campaign” directed at Minnesota.

Walz said that while he is cautiously optimistic because “every indication I have is that this thing is winding up,” he acknowledged the situation remains fluid and could still change.

“It would be my hope that Mr. Homan goes out before Friday and announces that this thing is done, and they’re bringing her down and they’re bringing her down in days,” Walz said. “That would be my expectation.”

The Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding the governor’s statements.

Walz said he has no reason to doubt Homan’s assertion last week that 700 federal officers would immediately withdraw from Minnesota, but noted that such a move would still leave roughly 2,300 federal personnel operating in the state.

At the time, Homan pointed to what he called an “increase in unprecedented collaboration” that reduced the need for a larger federal presence, including cooperation from jails holding inmates eligible for deportation.

The governor also said he expects the state to receive “cooperation on joint investigations” into the fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by federal officers, though he did not elaborate. State officials have said those cases have been a source of tension, arguing they have been excluded from the investigations and denied access to evidence.

Walz convened the news conference largely to highlight what he said has been the economic fallout from the enforcement surge. He spoke at The Market at Malcolm Yards, a local food hall where owner Patty Wall said the broader restaurant industry has become “collateral damage” as a result of the crackdown.

Matt Varilek, the state’s commissioner of employment and economic development, said Malcolm Yards would typically be packed but is now struggling because workers and customers are staying away out of fear tied to the enforcement activity.

“So it is great news, of course, that the posture seems to have changed at the federal level toward their activities here in Minnesota,” Varilek said.

“But, as the governor said, it’s a trust-but-verify situation. And frankly, the fear that has been sown, I haven’t really noticed any reduction in that.”

{Matzav.com}

Federal investigators secured a search warrant to confiscate hundreds of boxes of ballots from Fulton County, Georgia election facilities, launching a criminal probe into possible “deficiencies or defects” in how votes were tallied during the 2020 presidential election won by President Donald Trump’s opponent, according to a court filing made public Tuesday.

The newly unsealed affidavit offers the first official explanation for an FBI operation carried out last month in a jurisdiction that President Trump and his allies have long pointed to as a focal point of their claims that the 2020 vote was mishandled.

According to the affidavit, the inquiry draws heavily on assertions that have circulated for years among individuals who, including the president, maintain that fraud occurred in the 2020 election.

Those assertions have been repeatedly disputed by audits, election officials, the courts, and even President Trump’s former attorney general, prolonging a national dispute that continued through President Biden’s administration and into President Trump’s return to the White House.

Investigators are examining Fulton County’s acknowledgment that it lacks scanned images for all ballots counted in both the initial tally and the subsequent recount, the affidavit states. County officials also confirmed that some ballots were scanned more than once during the recount process.

“If these deficiencies were the result of intentional action, it would be a violation of federal law regardless of whether the failure to retain records or the deprivation of a fair tabulation of a vote was outcome determinative for any particular election or race,” the document says.

The affidavit further explains that the seizure of election materials was required to assess whether records had been destroyed or whether vote totals included “materially false votes.”

Investigators cite potential violations of federal statutes governing the preservation and retention of election records, which carry misdemeanor penalties, as well as a separate law that makes it a felony to “knowingly and willfully” deprive voters of a “fair and impartially conducted election process.”

{Matzav.com}

[COMMUNICATED]

by Rabbi Eliezer Sandler

The concept of the Yissachar-Zevulun Torah Learning Pact goes back well over 3,500 years, to the time of Yaakov Avinu and his sons. It is named for the Torah pact between two of his sons – Yissachar the scholar and Zevulun the merchant. Not only was it an equal pact but, Chazal explained, the deed of Zevulun/the Sponsor is considered even greater than that of Yissachar, because without the support of Zevulun, Yissachar would not have had the wherewithal to study Torah undisturbed.”

It is well-known that when it comes to learning Torah, people who sponsor the learning, often do so, not just as a donation. By financially supporting specific Torah scholars, they enter into a binding, written, signed and sealed learning partnership pact whereby the Sponsor (the Zevulun) is deemed by Halacha as if he personally studied the Torah completed by the Scholar (the Yissachar). (See below.) 

Thus, those who support the Talmidei Chachomim at Shas Yiden via a Yissachar-Zevulun Pact merit a portion in every daf of the entire Talmud Bavli and associated texts that they study, and complete the entire cycle in the space of ONE year. Some of the Sponsors opt to continue sponsoring repeat cycles of Shas which accrue to them.

Sar Hatorah, Maran Hagaon Harav Chaim Kanievsky, zt”l, Nasi Shas Yiden, emphasized: The most mehudar Yissachar-Zevulun pact to support in our times is that offered by Shas Yiden – it comprises the entire Shas, Rashi and Tosfos – all in just one year!

Rav Chaim explained why this pact with Shas Yiden is the most mehudar. Chazal say that the highest level of learning is when one understands what he is learning b’iyun u’ve’amkus. However, even higher than that is when one remembers b’al peh all what he has learned. I have farhered the Shas Yiden avreichim geonim many times and can attest ZEI KENNEN SHAS (they know Shas)!

YES! YOU CAN MAKE

The Yissachar-Zevulun Pact in Halacha

The Shulchan Aruch in Yoreh De’ah Chapter 246 regarding the efficacy of the Yissachar-Zevulun Sponsorship Pact for the Zevulun (the Sponsor) states clearly:  It is deemed as if he (the one sponsoring the learning) himself learned all the Torah studied under the pact. 

All the learning under the Shas Yiden Yissachar-Zevulun Pact is yours בעוה”ז ובעוה”ב (in both This World and the World to Come)! Concerning this, the Netziv of Volozhin comments that in Olam Habah, the Zevulun sponsor will sit together with the Gedolei Torah of the past and merit to participate in their discussions and pilpulim on all the Torah learned.

Achieve Almost 7 million Mitzvos in One Year

The Vilna Gaon in Shnos Eliyahu Pe’ah 41 states that one should hold precious every word of Torah that he learns because each word is considered a mitzvah of its own. 

Thus, since in Talmud Bavli, Rashi and Tosfos there are 6,608,891 words, that translates into almost 7 million mitzvos accruing through Yissachar-Zevulun at Shas Yiden. 

Official Shtar from Shas Yiden

Each Yissachar-Zevulun pact is confirmed by an official contract (shtar) from Shas Yiden specifying the learning of the entire Shas, and is witnessed by talmidei chachomim.

All who wish to enter into a Yissachar-Zevulun Pact for the entire Shas during ONE year should contact Shas Yiden to make arrangements: 718-702-1528.

The opportunity to complete the entire Shas has been a cherished way to honor family members and others as a prized achievement. It has also proven to be a source of comfort for mourners to obtain such a zechus for their dear ones during the year of mourning – a siyum of the entire Shas can be completed on the yahrzeit!

Yissachar-Zevulun Pact –

The legendary visionary and “Father of Yeshivos”, Reb Chaim of Volozhin, was the founder of the famous yeshiva in the town of Volozhin and the beloved talmid of the Vilna Gaon. 

Reb Chaim had an ongoing Yissachar-Zevulun pact with a local shoemaker – a man who was not learned but who dearly valued Torah learning. They had a ‘deal’ whereby the shoemaker would pay the monthly financial support needed for Reb Chaim and his family. For this financial support, the shoemaker would have an equal share in all Reb Chaim’s daily Torah study – both in the mitzvah of Torah study בעוה”ז and that the knowledge of the Torah learned would continue to be his בעוה”ב (in the World to Come).

One day the shoemaker passed away suddenly. During the shiva period, Reb Chaim was facing a perplexing halachic question and researched high and low for a solution. That night the shoemaker appeared to him in a dream and gave him the full solution that he sought. Reb Chaim was amazed and commented, “Azoi gich, Azoi Gich – So quickly, so quickly has he acquired the zchus and knowledge of the Torah that I have studied!”

In the words of Gedolei Torah:

Maran Hagaon Harav Chaim Kanievsky, zt”l, Nasi Shas Yiden:

“In just ONE year, through Yissachar-Zevulun at Shas Yiden, you can be zoche to the entire Shas forever – בעוה”ז ובעוה”ב (in olam hazeh and olam habah).

“Moreover, whoever supports Shas Yiden is zocheh to fulfill both Yissachar-Zevulun and support of aniyei (the poor of) Eretz Yisroel in the fullest sense of the word.

“Those who support Shas Yiden will be saved from chevlei (the travails of) Moshiach – spiritually and materially, and will be zoche to have ehrlicher bonim u’vanos yir’eishomayim ”

Maran Hagaon Harav Dov Lando, shlit”a, Rosh Yeshiva, Slabodka:

“Who compares to the Shas Yiden? Incredible talmidei chachomim geonim who raised the bar in limud Hashas b’iyun u’v’amkus. Blessed are those who enter a Yissachar-Zevulun pact with them.”

Hamashpia Hagadol Reb Meilech Biederman, shlit”a:

 “Yissachar-Zevulun at Shas Yiden – best possible deal, and in just 1 year! 100% partnership! 100% Shas x 5 times! 100% Shisha Sidrei Mishna – בעוה”ז ובעוה”ב”

Sanzer Rebbe, shlit”a:

“A first in 2000 years of Jewish history! Until Shas Yiden, never a Torah institution where ALL the avreichim metzuyonim v’geonim know the entire Shas by heart”

Harav Yaakov Hillel, shlit”a:

“Therefore, the great mitzvah to support the efforts [of the Talmidei Chachomim] with generous donations in order that they should continue diligently with their studies to enhance the greatness of the Torah and its glory. 

ShasYiden.com

Russia is exploiting negotiations to end the war in Ukraine as a “tool for manipulation” as it aims to restore relations with the US, but has no intention of ending the invasion, according to an assessment by Estonian foreign intelligence.

“Russia is setting long-term operational objectives in its war against Ukraine. This confirms that the recent uptick in peace-talk rhetoric is merely a tactic to buy time,” according to the annual report of the Estonian Foreign Intelligence Service published on Tuesday.

The assessment casts a shadow over US President Donald Trump’s effort to end the four-year war, as his envoys seek to bring together Russian and Ukrainian negotiators. While Kyiv has secured commitments for guarantees designed to prevent a further Russian attack, talks have stalled over other issues including territory.

The Kremlin has instructed Russia’s state institutions to “project openness” to cooperate with the US, the Estonian report said. The main objective is to restore full relations with Washington, a path that would open the possibility of direct flights and visas for the business elite – as well as easing the path for espionage, influence operations and sanctioned goods, it said.

Sanctions relief is essential for sustaining President Vladimir Putin’s power system as a deteriorating economy stemming from falling oil production sows division among the ruling elite.

“The Kremlin merely feigns interest in peace talks, hoping to restore its bilateral relations with the United States to their previous level and formalize Ukraine’s defeat,” the spy agency said.

Russia is also seeking to collaborate with the US on nuclear arms safety – a process that helps the country retain its great power status. “Presenting itself as a responsible nuclear power” is part of a strategy to open broader security talks, aimed at potentially imposing restrictions on NATO activity, the report said.

According to the Baltic nation’s spy agency, one option for Moscow is to establish a postwar reconstruction fund financed by Russian assets frozen in the West, enabling Moscow to effectively impose its will on Ukraine and pay for propaganda campaigns.

The report from Estonia, a European Union and NATO member state that borders Russia, said that Moscow’s military-industrial complex will continue to be a danger to its neighbors even after a peace deal might be agreed. Moscow still hopes to restrict NATO activity along its border – and “Russia is highly likely preparing for future conflict even as its war against Ukraine continues,” it said.

Military production is expected to stagnate this year as an increasingly dire economic outlook sows division among the ruling elite, the report said, citing higher borrowing costs and low investment as factors driving the economy into recession.

Oil production, a major source of Russian government funding, has steadily declined and is unlikely to rebound in coming years, the report said. Higher taxes and spending cuts to cover the cost of war – combined with Ukrainian drones strikes reaching deeper into Russia – have dampened consumer sentiment. But total economic collapse is unlikely, according to the spy agency.

“Divisions within the ruling elite over economic policy have also sharpened, resulting in disagreements spilling into the public domain over the state of the economy and the central bank’s monetary policy,” the report said.

(c) 2026, Bloomberg 

Staten Island stands apart from the rest of New York City in more ways than one. But its status as a Republican redoubt in a Democratic stronghold is under threat.

In January, a state court judge ruled that New York’s 11th Congressional District, which encompasses Staten Island and a wedge of southwestern Brooklyn, violates the voting rights of minorities who live within it, and must be redrawn.

The judge had given a state panel, the Independent Redistricting Commission, until Feb. 6 to come up with a new map. But the process was paused after Representative Nicole Malliotakis, a Republican who’s held the seat since 2021, launched an effort to overturn the judge’s order. A new deadline of Feb. 23 has been set for the judge to finalize the lines.

“If the people of this district don’t want me to represent them, they can vote me out in the election,” Malliotakis said in an interview with Bloomberg News. She blamed the effort to revise her district’s borders on political operatives in Washington.

“In no way will we allow a Washington law firm to come along and dictate how this community is going to be represented,” she said.

The battle on Staten Island is playing out amid a nationwide campaign to redraw political borders and gain a leg up in the 2026 midterm elections. So far, the parties have largely dueled to a draw. With Congress narrowly divided, control of the House could turn on a small number of skirmishes over district lines.

Some Staten Islanders say the fight reflects deeper anxiety about how the borough is changing. Over the past 25 years, an influx of Latino and Asian residents have moved to the northern section of the island, drawn by the prospect of cheaper housing and a more suburban lifestyle. Meanwhile, its South Shore, with its more spacious homes and strong schools, has remained a Republican bastion.

Paul Alexander Shali-Ogli, an activist and campaign consultant who resides on the island, said the shifting demographics have unsettled parts of its electorate. “There are a lot of people who are hopeful for the future,” said Shali-Ogli. “But then there seem to be a minority who can’t accept that the island has changed since the ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s.”

Yet Joseph Pidoriano, a local entrepreneur, said reshaping the district would betray Staten Island’s conservative character.

“They’re going to redraw the lines and make this district a destination where our values aren’t represented,” said Pidoriano. “Our values are faith, family, freedom, leadership, and the ability to be successful.”

Malliotakis’s district has been New York City’s most durable Republican perch since the early 1980s, when the Staten Island-anchored seat, then numbered differently and once extending into Lower Manhattan, was redrawn to include a conservative-leaning sliver of Brooklyn. Only two Democrats – Michael McMahon in 2008 and Max Rose in 2018 – have won there since. Neither served more than one term.

Malliotakis, whose mother left Cuba following the rise of Fidel Castro, said that hers is “the only competitive seat” in New York City, and serves as a counterweight to Democratic dominance of local politics. Many Staten Island Republicans reject the idea that the district’s Black and Latino voters have been disenfranchised.

“It’s absurd that a district that elects a Latina would somehow empower minorities by removing the more diverse portion of NY-11 in Brooklyn and replacing it with a lily white district in Lower Manhattan,” said Joe Borelli, a former Republican city and state lawmaker for Staten Island who testified in the January court hearing.

– – –

Conservative Culture

On the Staten Island Ferry, during the free, nearly 30-minute ride across New York Harbor, the Manhattan skyline recedes gradually. At the St. George Ferry Terminal, passengers step off the boat into a borough where most trips continue by car rather than subway, and where the pace and scale feel far removed from the rest of New York City.

Staten Island’s landscape looks less like Midtown than New Jersey, to which it is linked by three bridges. The island’s quiet streets are lined by single-family homes in car-dependent, hilly neighborhoods, where a plethora of American flags snapped in gusting wind on a frigid February morning.

Much of the borough’s commercial activity runs along Hylan Boulevard, a stretch of set-back strip malls and residential areas running from Tottenville at the island’s southern tip toward Fort Wadsworth, just across the water from Brooklyn on the island’s northeast.

For many commuters, getting to the city’s major employment hubs means a drive on the Staten Island Expressway and over the towering Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, through traffic that island residents routinely rank among the worst in the city. Others rely on express buses that charge $7.25 each way.

Staten Island’s physical isolation from the rest of New York City and its status as a haven for blue-collar workers and city employees including police officers and firefighters has long defined its proudly conservative political culture.

Democrats argue that their party would better represent the island’s changing makeup. Assemblymember Charles Fall, chair of Staten Island Democrats, sees it as a question of how effectively the district’s interests are represented in Congress.

“If we had a Democrat in this seat, I think we would see a representative that was much more reflective of what hardworking people need in this area,” Fall said.

With half a million residents, Staten Island is the least populous New York City borough. Its median annual household income of nearly $100,000 is around $20,000 higher than the citywide average. It is majority White, according to the US Census, but its Asian American and Hispanic populations have surged in the past 25 years.

Many of those new residents have clustered on the island’s North Shore, where denser housing, lower incomes and higher shares of Black, Latino and immigrant residents contrast with the predominantly white South Shore. The island is bisected by the Staten Island Expressway, a six-lane artery that residents and planners have long described as a social and economic boundary.

Staten Island Republicans fear that if Democrats prevail in their redistricting push, they would be losing representation, and that has renewed talk of seceding from the city to get out from under Democratic domination.

“It’s a serious conversation, and I feel it’s percolating again,” Staten Island Borough President Vito Fossella said.

Secession efforts have surfaced before at times when borough leaders felt Staten Island’s needs weren’t being addressed. In 1993, nearly two-thirds of voters approved a referendum to secede from the city, but the movement stalled in the New York State Assembly.

– – –

National Redistricting Push

The legal dispute over the district’s shape will likely turn on the question of whether it is being redrawn to benefit one party or another.

New York passed an amendment to its state constitution in 2014 that prohibits the redrawing of congressional districts to favor candidates or parties.

“Political gerrymandering sets up a system where it’s more like an incumbent protection program,” Malliotakis said. “You eliminate competitive seats like mine, and you make them lopsided where only one party can win, and therefore the voters can’t hold that individual accountable.”

On a national level, the pressure to revise electoral boundaries is likely to persist. The unusual middecade scramble to design new districts – previously, most states only altered their maps after the decennial US census – could become a new norm amid increased polarization and closely divided government. But some onlookers have recoiled at leaving much of the process in the hands of courts.

“You don’t want to see lines drawn by judicial decree,” said Richard Flanagan, a political science professor at the College of Staten Island. “You’d rather have a good state legislative process draw the lines.”

GOP officials have signaled their willingness to take their case to the US Supreme Court, if necessary. In the meantime, Republicans on Staten Island fear that they could lose one their few remaining avenues for exerting national influence.

“One of the few ways in which Republican voters can have a voice, at least on the national stage, is through this seat,” Fossella said. “And to silence it in this way, in this form, just reaffirms people’s cynicism.”

(c) 2026, Bloomberg 

US Attorney General Pam Bondi asked an appeals court to resurrect the scuttled indictments of two of President Donald Trump’s perceived enemies, former FBI director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James.

Bondi, joined by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, said in a 56-page court filing Monday that a lower court erred in November when it disqualified the prosecutor who handled the indictments and tossed them out.

The prosecutor was Lindsey Halligan, one of Trump’s former personal attorneys, who he brought in to serve as interim US Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia after his first pick for the office declined to bring charges against Comey and James, citing a lack of evidence.

Halligan quickly secured indictments against the two, accusing Comey of lying to Congress and James of committing mortgage fraud – charges they each denied.

US District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie threw out the indictments, ruling that Halligan’s appointment was unlawful because she was the second lawyer in a row to hold the office on an interim basis. Federal law allows presidents to appoint US attorneys for 120 days on an interim basis before they are approved by the US Senate.

In her filing, Bondi accused the judge of infringing on the president’s power to appoint US attorneys. The judge’s ruling, “mistakenly aggrandizes the district court’s appointment authority at the expense of the Executive Branch’s, which is where the Constitution assigns authority to prosecute crime,” the attorney general argued.

Bondi said that even if there was a “paperwork mistake” in the appointment of Halligan, it hasn’t “prejudiced” the rights of Comey and James and has since been “cured several times over” by the attorney general signing onto the indictments.

Bondi is asking the Richmond, Virginia-based 4th Circuit Court of Appeals to reverse the lower court orders.

The case is United States v. Comey, 25-4674, 4th Circuit Court of Appeals.

(c) 2026, Bloomberg 

President Donald Trump has threatened to block the opening of a bridge between Michigan and Ontario, claiming Canada is trying to “take advantage of America” and calling for compensation in the latest flash point in the simmering tensions between the United States and its northern neighbor.

The Gordie Howe International Bridge – a six-lane bridge between Detroit and Windsor, Ontario, that has cost about $4.7 billion to build – has been under construction since 2018 and is due to open early this year, according to the organization behind it.

On Monday, Trump said he “will not allow” it to open in a post on Truth Social, saying Canada had treated the U.S. “very unfairly for decades” and that the U.S. would not benefit from the project.

“I will not allow this bridge to open until the United States is fully compensated for everything we have given them, and also, importantly, Canada treats the United States with the Fairness and Respect that we deserve,” he said. It was unclear how Trump would be able to delay or block the project from opening.

“We will start negotiations, IMMEDIATELY. With all that we have given them, we should own, perhaps, at least one half of this asset,” he said, adding that the revenue generated from the project “will be astronomical.”

The bridge, named after Canadian ice hockey legend Gordie Howe, who played for the Detroit Red Wings, has been labeled a “once-in-a-generation undertaking” by the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority, the Canadian government entity responsible for delivering it. It is set to have U.S. and Canadian entry ports and an interchange connecting to Michigan’s road network.

The bridge is financed by the Canadian government but is publicly owned by the governments of Canada and Michigan, with terms outlined in a 2012 Crossing Agreement. The agreement stated all iron and steel used in the project must be produced in the U.S. or Canada.

Canada will recoup the costs of funding the bridge from toll revenue, the Canadian government said in 2022.

Candace Laing, president and CEO of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, said regardless of whether Trump’s threat is real or an attempt at creating uncertainty, “blocking or barricading bridges is a self-defeating move.”

“The path forward isn’t deconstructing established trade corridors, it’s actually building bridges,” she said in an emailed statement.

The complaint is the latest in a string of blows he has leveled at Canada and Prime Minister Mark Carney, rupturing the traditionally close relationship between the two allies.

Last month, Trump threatened to decertify and impose tariffs on Canadian-built aircraft in a move that sparked fears of wide ramifications for U.S. air travel. He also traded barbs with the Carney on the world stage at the World Economic Forum in Davos, and later revoked his invitation for Canada to join the Board of Peace, an entity that Trump has claimed will resolve global conflicts.

The latest comments mark a sharp contrast to Trump’s previous support for the project. In a February 2017 statement with then-Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Trump highlighted the closeness of the two countries and praised the bridge as a “vital economic link.”

The Gordie Howe International Bridge is set to absorb traffic from the nearby Ambassador Bridge between Detroit and Windsor, which is owned by Detroit’s Moroun family and responsible for about a quarter of all trade between the U.S. and Canada. The owners have appealed to Trump to stop construction of the new bridge and sued the Canadian government for approving it, claiming it will infringe on their right to collect revenue.

Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens told the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation that Trump’s post was “insane,” noting that U.S. steel was used in construction on the Michigan side of the bridge.

“I really can’t believe what I’m reading,” Dilkens said. “The faster we can get to the midterms and hopefully see a change, the better for all of us.”

He also mocked Trump’s suggestion – made in the social media post without any supporting evidence – that if Canada makes a trade deal with China, China would “terminate” Canadian ice hockey and eliminate the Stanley Cup.

“Thankfully the bridge was named after Gordie Howe before China terminates hockey and eliminates the Stanley Cup!” Dilkens quipped on X.

U.S. Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-Michigan) said Trump’s threats to tank the bridge project meant he was “punishing Michiganders for a trade war he started.”

“The only reason Canada is on the verge of a trade deal with China is because President Trump has kicked them in the teeth for a year,” she wrote in a post on X.

“The President’s agenda for personal retribution should not come before what’s best for us. Canada is our friend – not our enemy. And I will do everything in my power to get this critical project back on track.”

(c) 2026, The Washington Post 

Acting Immigration and Customs Enforcement director Todd M. Lyons sparred with Democratic lawmakers who accused his agency of functioning like a violent secret police force at a House Homeland Security Committee hearing Tuesday. He vowed to press forward with Trump’s mass deportation campaign.

Legislators pressed Lyons for over three hours on the detentions of U.S. citizens, the fatal shootings of Renée Good and Alex Pretti, and aggressive actions by immigration officers in cities including Minneapolis. Lyons, at times, refused to answer questions, citing ongoing investigations, and complained about comparisons from Democratic lawmakers of ICE to Gestapo – a reference to the police of Nazi Germany, which conducted brutal arrests with no legal oversight.

In one contentious moment, Rep. Dan Goldman (D-New York) told Lyons that if he and his agents do not want to be referred to as a secret police force, then they should reevaluate their actions.

“I have a simple suggestion: If you don’t want to be called a fascist regime or secret police, then stop acting like one,” Goldman said.

Lyons was joined by Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney S. Scott and Customs and Immigration Services Director Joseph B. Edlow at the bipartisan hearing – the first time the heads of ICE and CBP had appeared before the committee in President Donald Trump’s second term. Although CBP and Border Patrol officers have been at the helm of some of the deportation campaign’s most controversial tactics – including use of force against protesters – much of the scrutiny was focused on ICE.

Republican legislators largely rallied to defend the administration’s immigration enforcement efforts and praised the Trump administration for drastically reducing illegal border crossings. But some of the strongest remarks came from House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Andrew R. Garbarino (R-New York), who appeared to take a swipe at Homeland Security Secretary Kristi L. Noem – despite not naming her – by criticizing Department of Homeland Security officials for rushing to conclusions “about law enforcement or their fellow Americans” without the completion of an impartial investigation.

“Officials and elected leaders should not rush to judgment,” Garbarino said. “Public trust and public safety go hand in hand.”

The testimony from Lyons and Scott came as public support for Trump’s hard-line immigration agenda has plummeted in the wake of the fatal shootings in Minneapolis last month. Though the Trump administration has taken some measures to try to tamp down protests in that city, including withdrawing 700 federal officers, tensions have remained between local officials and the federal government about the broad scope of the immigration enforcement operations and the aggressive tactics of officers.

“Some Minnesota officials are finally signaling the willingness to cooperate with ICE,” Lyons said. “Well, let me be clear: Promises are not enough. We need action.”

The hearing also took place as DHS is set to shut down Saturday unless lawmakers strike a last-minute deal to fund the agency.

Democrats have demanded new restrictions on federal immigration agents in exchange for their votes. Their demands include tighter rules around the use of warrants, independent investigations of alleged misconduct, a ban on agents wearing masks, and a mandate for them to wear body cameras. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-New York) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-New York) have dismissed Republicans’ counteroffer as not detailed enough to negotiate over.

“I think it demonstrates that they want to be seen to be working with us, but they’re clearly sandbagging,” Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) said. Republicans have argued that there is not enough time to hash out a deal and pass it before DHS shuts down. They want Democrats to agree to fund the agency to allow more time for negotiations.

The deaths of Pretti and Good have prompted public backlash and bipartisan calls for an independent investigation. Noem has also faced bipartisan criticism for suggesting after Pretti’s death that he had committed an “act of domestic terrorism” and sought to kill law enforcement, despite video from witnesses contradicting that account.

Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (Mississippi), the top Democrat on the panel, directly condemned Noem’s actions in his opening remarks Tuesday, and he demanded that she resign.

“Secretary Noem is a liar with no concern for the lives of Americans killed by the department she runs,” he said. “She must go.”

Democrats also pressed the three officials on the ethics and morals of their actions. Rep. Shri Thanedar (D-Michigan) asked Scott and Lyons if they expect to get a presidential pardon at the end of their terms. Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-New Jersey) was more direct, telling Lyons he has blood on his hands over ICE’s tactics and asking, “Do you think you’re going to hell, Mr. Lyons?” before Garbarino interrupted her questioning.

Lyons said ICE has made 379,000 arrests in the first year of Trump’s administration, a figure that he said included 7,000 suspected gang members and more than 14,000 “known or suspected terrorists” – although he did not define who is given that designation. Federal data has shown that the majority of people who have been arrested do not have criminal convictions.

“The president has tasked us with mass deportation, and we are fulfilling that mandate,” Lyons said.

He said that immigration officers are facing “the deadliest operating environment” in history, including assaults and death threats, and that his family had been targeted. But he said: “Let me send a message to anyone who thinks you can intimidate us: You will fail.”

Noem announced last week that, “effective immediately,” DHS would deploy body cameras “to every officer in the field in Minneapolis” and would expand the body-cam program broadly, “as funding is available.” The Washington Post previously reported that in its initial budget proposal, the department said it planned to cut the staff of ICE’s body-cam program from 22 to three and reduce spending on the initiative from about $20.5 million to $5.5 million.

Lyons told lawmakers Tuesday that about 3,000 of ICE’s 13,000 officers in the field are assigned to wear body cameras, which can record their interactions with the public, and another 6,000 cameras are in the process of being deployed. Scott said that 10,000 of the 20,000 Border Patrol agents in the field have cameras and that the number is going to grow.

Asked about the training regimen of ICE officers, Lyons said the agency has not reduced the “meat of the training” but has sought to shorten amount of time it takes to get officers into the field. He said training used to take place five days a week for eight hours a day but has been changed to six days a week for 12 hours per day.

Scott said Border Patrol agents continue to undergo the standard 117-day training academy, while CBP officers attend for 103 days.

A poll from Quinnipiac University released last week found that 61 percent of voters did not think the Trump administration had provided an honest account of Pretti’s killing and that 58 percent said Noem should be removed. A recent poll from the Economist/YouGov found that 50 percent of U.S. adult citizens said ICE was making Americans less safe.

Under Noem, Border Patrol agents have played a growing role in conducting large-scale immigration enforcement operations in blue cities such as Los Angeles, Chicago and Minneapolis. Those operations were led by senior Border Patrol official Gregory Bovino.

But after Pretti’s death, Bovino, who suggested that Pretti wanted to “massacre law enforcement,” left Minneapolis to return to California, where he was stationed previously. Trump instead dispatched border czar Tom Homan to Minneapolis.

Edlow, Scott and Lyons are also set to appear before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs this week.


(c) 2026, The Washington Post 

{Matzav.com}

New York City is expected to see a noticeable warm-up in the days ahead, following an extended stretch of severe cold weather that has been linked to at least 18 deaths.

For close to three weeks, temperatures across the city have remained well below seasonal norms, with most days failing to rise above the freezing point.

The prolonged cold set in immediately after the major snowstorm on January 25, leaving behind layers of grimy, hardened snow and ice that complicated everyday life, from navigating sidewalks to finding parking and managing trash collection.

According to AccuWeather, a shift in conditions is now underway. High temperatures are forecast to reach 35 degrees on Tuesday, climb to 41 on Wednesday, and hover between 35 and 40 degrees on Thursday and Friday.

After what residents have endured since late January, those readings may feel almost balmy by comparison.

The cold wave began intensifying on January 24, with temperatures staying largely in the teens and 20s through early February. Although daytime highs briefly edged above freezing on several occasions last week, nighttime lows and wind chills continued to plunge.

The most frigid night of the season occurred this past Shabbos, when temperatures dropped to 3 degrees and wind chills sank to nearly minus 20.

The toll of the cold was a major focus Tuesday at a City Council hearing examining City Hall’s handling of the Arctic blast, after at least 18 fatalities were recorded in New York City during the severe weather period.

{Matzav.com}