During Tuesday night’s episode of CNN’s The Source, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) addressed growing concerns over President Donald Trump’s sweeping new tariffs. When asked whether Democrats missed their chance to reassert congressional control over tariff authority while they held the majority under President Biden, Schumer argued that Congress has always possessed that power and should now act to reclaim it.
“Congress has always had the power to deal with tariffs, and we’ve always had these fights in the past on some of the tariff issues as well. But now that Trump is going so overboard, Congress can, has every legal authority to take those powers back, and that’s what we aim to do,” Schumer said.
Host Brianna Keilar pressed the senator, pointing out how long Congress has historically deferred tariff-setting power to the executive branch. “On the tariff issue, you’ve been in the Senate for more than a quarter-century, and, in that time, Congress has been really willing to delegate tariff power to the president. Should Democrats have reclaimed that power when they had last — the majority? You saw what Trump did in his first term with tariffs,” she asked.
Schumer pushed back, suggesting that although Trump took bold actions during his first term, Democrats were able to limit the impact of those moves. He argued that what’s happening now under Trump’s new plan is far more extreme.
“Well, yeah, but we were able to beat back a lot of what Trump did on tariffs. And nothing is as extensive as this is, over 180 countries affected. Hey, this has been so carelessly done that they’re even taxing — they’re putting tariffs on penguins. There are two islands near Australia –.”
Before he could continue, Keilar interrupted with a follow-up: “I hear what you’re saying, the tariffs are extraordinary now compared to what they were in his first term. But what he did in his first term was also pretty extraordinary. Should Democrats have protected against this?”
Schumer reiterated that legislative authority over tariffs has always rested with Congress and insisted that now is the time to reassert it. He also called on Republicans to break their silence and join Democrats in taking action.
“Congress has always had the power to deal with tariffs, and we’ve always had these fights in the past on some of the tariff issues as well. But now that Trump is going so overboard, Congress can, has every legal authority to take those powers back, and that’s what we aim to do. And we hope our colleagues in the Republican Party, knowing how bad this is, instead of just trembling in their boots because they’re afraid of Trump, join with us and side with the American people.”
{Matzav.com}
The Trump administration is floating a new policy that would impose a $998 daily fine on migrants residing in the U.S. illegally who decline to voluntarily leave the country.
Under the proposed rule, migrants who fail to pay the fines could also have their property seized. The initiative mirrors a similar effort from 2018, during President Trump’s first term, and is reportedly grounded in a 1996 immigration statute, according to a Reuters report.
Back in 2018, the enforcement of the law was far more targeted. That year, the Trump administration issued fines to nine undocumented migrants who had taken refuge in churches. In those cases, each individual faced penalties amounting to $60,000.
When Joe Biden entered the White House in 2021, his administration quickly scrapped the policy.
Reuters reports that Trump adviser Stephen Miller has advocated for reviving the measure, suggesting that fines and property seizures could be used as leverage to encourage illegal migrants to leave the country on their own.
However, the memo cited by Reuters from Customs and Border Protection indicates that a mechanism for managing, processing, and collecting the fines doesn’t currently exist. Implementing the plan would likely require the hiring of hundreds of additional paralegals to handle the administrative burden.
So far, there has been no official timeline announced for when the proposal might be put into action, signaling that the plan is still in the development stage.
If enacted, the policy could accelerate a trend that’s already underway: voluntary departures by undocumented migrants. Some are reportedly seeking the assistance of the same smugglers who originally brought them into the country to now guide them out.
Texas-based reporter Alfredo Corchado shared during a recent event at the Council on Foreign Relations that smugglers, or “coyotes,” have started marketing “return trips” for migrants. He said, “They’re offering these packages where you can just go back home. Not all of them are taking it; I mean, many [are].”
This development is happening alongside the broader national enforcement efforts led by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which has already detained and deported more than 100,000 individuals in recent months. In tandem, the president has dismantled Joe Biden’s controversial CHNV program, which allowed nationals from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela to enter the U.S. with minimal screening.
Communities across America are beginning to see signs of shrinking undocumented populations. Charleroi, Pennsylvania — once overwhelmed by a large influx of Haitian migrants — is reportedly seeing a gradual reduction in its illegal immigrant population, WESA radio reported.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration has started notifying migrants who were granted temporary protections under Biden’s CHNV program that their status has expired and they are now expected to return to their home countries.
Those who cannot adjust their status to lawful residency are being informed they face swift deportation. According to a letter obtained by the Louisville Courier Journal, the notice reads, “Any decision to revoke your employment authorization is final and no appeal should lie from the decision to revoke your employment authorization.”
{Matzav.com}
In an interview broadcast by Sky News Arabia, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar placed full responsibility for the ongoing conflict in Gaza on Hamas, emphasizing that the group’s actions have directly led to the continuation of hostilities.
“It’s Hamas’s fault that the war is going on. Who opened the war? Hamas. Who attacked on October 7? Hamas. Who is pushing now for war? Hamas,” said Sa’ar.
The Foreign Minister went on to say that Hamas’s refusal to release hostages and give up its weapons is what’s fueling the conflict.
“Hamas is pushing the war because it refused to release 59 of our hostages. Hamas is pushing for war because it’s not ready to disarm.”
Sa’ar also pointed to sentiment from within Palestinian communities as evidence that people in the region are turning against Hamas.
“And this is not what I say. It’s the people in Gaza, in Jabalia, and in Deir al Balah, and in Bais Lechem, who say ‘Hamas out, stop the war’. They totally understand the connection between Hamas and the war,” the Foreign Minister stated.
{Matzav.com Israel}
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed firm opposition on Tuesday to a newly introduced Israeli plan for overseeing humanitarian aid to Gaza, warning that it could drastically reduce the flow of life-saving supplies to civilians.
“This proposal risks further controlling and callously limiting aid down to the last calorie and grain of flour,” Guterres said during a press conference, according to Reuters. “Let me be clear: We will not participate in any arrangement that does not fully respect the humanitarian principles: humanity, impartiality, independence and neutrality.”
Humanitarian assistance into Gaza has been halted since March 2. Israel has made it clear that full aid access will not resume until Hamas releases the remaining hostages captured during its October 7, 2023, attack.
The IDF’s unit responsible for coordinating activities in the territories, known as COGAT, stated that it had shared a new aid oversight plan with international partners, including the United Nations. According to COGAT, the proposal is meant to improve transparency and ensure aid reaches the intended recipients.
“The mechanism is designed to support aid organizations, enhance oversight and accountability, and ensure that assistance reaches the civilian population in need, rather than being diverted and stolen by Hamas,” COGAT posted on X.
Despite this assertion, Jonathan Whittall, a senior United Nations humanitarian official in the region, publicly said there is no verifiable proof that humanitarian supplies have been misused or diverted to militant groups.
The Israeli military resumed its offensive against Hamas in Gaza last month after a temporary ceasefire collapsed when Hamas refused to release additional captives.
Guterres painted a bleak picture of the crisis, stating, “Gaza is a killing field – and civilians are in an endless death loop.”
He reiterated his demands for the “immediate and unconditional release of all hostages,” a sustainable truce, and open access for humanitarian operations.
Speaking forcefully against Israeli policy, Guterres denounced the continued sealing of Gaza’s border crossings and the blockade on humanitarian goods. “With crossing points into Gaza shut and aid blockaded, security is in shambles and our capacity to deliver has been strangled,” he said.
The Secretary-General also emphasized what he called Israel’s obligations under international law.
“As the occupying power, Israel has unequivocal obligations under international law – including international humanitarian law and international human rights law,” he said, asserting that Israel must ensure the population’s access to essential services like food and healthcare. “None of that is happening today,” he asserted.
Since the Hamas-led massacre on October 7, Guterres has been repeatedly critical of Israel’s military actions and policy decisions.
In the weeks following the attack, he stirred controversy by stating that Hamas’ brutal assault “did not happen in a vacuum,” which many perceived as shifting blame toward Israel.
After facing sharp backlash, Guterres insisted his comments had been misunderstood and reaffirmed his condemnation of Hamas’s actions.
Later, he mentioned Hamas’s use of sexual violence during the October 7 massacre in the same statement as reports of abuse against Palestinian detainees — a comparison that sparked additional outrage.
He would go on to imply an equivalency between the October 7 terror attack and the humanitarian situation unfolding in Gaza.
More recently, Guterres condemned Israel’s renewed military campaign in the Strip, saying he was “outraged” by the continuation of airstrikes.
That remark triggered a harsh response from Israeli officials. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Oren Marmorstein fired back, writing, “We are outraged that you, Antonio Guterres, are the Secretary-General of the UN.”
“Not a word about the fact that Hamas rejected two American proposals to extend the ceasefire and release more hostages—two proposals that Israel accepted,” Marmorstein continued.
He also slammed the Secretary-General for failing to address how Hamas has used aid shipments to rebuild its military infrastructure.
“Not a word about the fact that Hamas exploits the transfer of goods to Gaza to rebuild its war machine in order to further attack Israel.”
Marmorstein concluded with a scathing indictment of the UN’s own agencies, saying, “Not a word about UNRWA, which, under your leadership, employs Hamas terrorists, and its facilities were used by Hamas to hold hostages. Indeed, we are outraged by your moral bankruptcy.”
{Matzav.com}
