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‘MyPillow Guy’ Mike Lindell Loses Dominion Defamation Case

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Mike Lindell via Gage Skidmore Flickr

Despite suffering a major loss in court on Monday, MyPillow founder and staunch Trump loyalist Mike Lindell is remaining positive.

A federal jury in Colorado on Monday afternoon found MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell liable for defamation, siding with a former Dominion Voting Systems employee who alleged that the Donald Trump loyalist caused real-world harm with 2020 stolen election conspiracies he aired at his 2021 “cyber symposium,” an event that also proved costly for Lindell in the form of an ill-fated and boomeranging “Prove Mike Wrong Challenge.”

In the end, the jury found Lindell liable for defaming Dr. Eric Coomer, along with his company FrankSpeech for participating in a civil conspiracy to do the same, leaving the MyPillow CEO on the hook for $2.3 million — a far cry from the $60-plus million Coomer’s team asked for but nonetheless a loss for Lindell, according to Kyle Clark of 9NEWS.

It wasn’t a total loss for Lindell, however, as MyPillow escaped liability — reportedly as Coomer’s legal team requested.

In an interview with former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani on LindellTV after the verdict, Lindell offered his reaction, saying: “It was awesome.”

Photo via Gage Skidmore Flickr

“I hope Mike doesn’t feel too down. He never does,” former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani said as he kicked it to Lindell for a statement.

“It was awesome,” Lindell told Giuliani.

He also called the judgment a “huge victory for our country,” adding that, “MyPillow was sued for no reason and they won.”

“All the pillow companies have to be happy because now they can’t be sued for libel.”

Watch:

Lindell had long maintained that he has “done nothing wrong,” that he truly believes his claims about the election, and that both he and his allies have instead been persecuted and subjected to “lawfare” for simply asking questions about the integrity of the 2020 election, in violation of their First Amendment rights.

In a video and post shared Monday on X ahead of the verdict, Lindell remarked upon the gravity of his situation: “Today the jury decides.”

“I really believe, God willing, that this will be the gateway to securing our elections, bringing back free speech and the American dream, and saving our country,” he said, before asking his supporters for prayers and directing them to the website for his legal defense fund.

Trump Greenlights ‘Largest Deportation Operation’As Unrest Spreads

By U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement - https://www.ice.gov/about-ice/ero, Public Domain,

President Trump is doubling down…

Over the weekend, President Trump announced ICE must “expand efforts to detain and deport” illegal immigrants in “America’s largest [c]ities,” including Los Angeles, Chicago and New York.”

The president’s comment came in a Truth Social post on Sunday evening after a week of anti-ICE protests that have taken place in major cities across the country, with most demonstrations remaining peaceful while others turned into violent riots in places like LA and Portland.

“Our Nation’s ICE Officers have shown incredible strength, determination, and courage as they facilitate a very important mission, the largest Mass Deportation Operation of Illegal Aliens in History,” Trump wrote. “Every day, the Brave Men and Women of ICE are subjected to violence, harassment, and even threats from Radical Democrat Politicians, but nothing will stop us from executing our mission, and fulfilling our Mandate to the American People.”

“ICE Officers are herewith ordered, by notice of this TRUTH, to do all in their power to achieve the very important goal of delivering the single largest Mass Deportation Program in History,” the president added.

The immigration protests began in LA on June 7, after local ICE raids resulted in hundreds of arrests.

The president immediately deployed the National Guard to the area when protests started two weeks ago, garnering criticism from Democrats insisting their presence would only escalate tensions.

As the protests and riots expanded nationally, continuing into this weekend, violence also took hold of certain crowds, injuring both federal and local law enforcement officials, as well as demonstrators. 

On Saturday, an innocent bystander was fatally shot during an organized protest in Salt Lake City, Utah, when two event peacekeepers in neon vests opened fire on a suspect, Arturo Gamboa, 24, who ran toward the crowd with a rifle, and ended up shooting the wrong person.

In spite of the protests, Trump doubled down on his efforts to deport illegal immigrants in his Sunday post.

“In order to achieve this, we must expand efforts to detain and deport Illegal Aliens in America’s largest Cities, such as Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York, where Millions upon Millions of Illegal Aliens reside,” he said. “These, and other such Cities, are the core of the Democrat Power Center, where they use Illegal Aliens to expand their Voter Base, cheat in Elections, and grow the Welfare State, robbing good paying Jobs and Benefits from Hardworking American Citizens.”

He added that he wants ICE officers “to know that REAL Americans are cheering [them] on every day.”

“The American People want our Cities, Schools, and Communities to be SAFE and FREE from Illegal Alien Crime, Conflict, and Chaos,” he wrote. “That’s why I have directed my entire Administration to put every resource possible behind this effort, and reverse the tide of Mass Destruction Migration that has turned once Idyllic Towns into scenes of Third World Dystopia. Our Federal Government will continue to be focused on the REMIGRATION of Aliens to the places from where they came, and preventing the admission of ANYONE who undermines the domestic tranquility of the United States.”

The Trump administration called for a halt on deportation raids on agricultural sites, hotels and restaurants, and not to arrest “noncriminal collaterals” the New York Times reported. The move came out of fears that the sweeping raids were hurting key industries in the U.S.

Disgraced Lawyer Michael Avenatti Lands Reduced Prison Term

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    Gavel via Wikimedia Commons Image

    Michael Avenatti, a former high-profile attorney who rose to fame representing porn actor Stormy Daniels against President Donald Trump, was originally sentenced after pleading guilty to bilking his California clients and hiding millions more from the IRS. 

    He had the sentence vacated in October by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, which determined that it was based on calculations of a greater loss to his victims than was actually suffered — and thus was too lengthy. 

    U.S. District Court Judge James Selna on Thursday sentenced Avenatti to 135 months, minus 40 to account for a separate Stormy Daniels fraud sentence.

    The court previously ruled that the Stormy Daniels theft was similar in nature, happened in the same time period, and therefore could be considered when deciding the new sentence.

    The 14-year sentence was nullified, but not dismissed entirely, and his convictions still stand, with Avenatti guilty of wire fraud and tax obstruction.

    Authorities said Avenatti negotiated and collected settlement payments on behalf of his clients, then funneled the money to accounts he controlled and spent it on his own lavish lifestyle.

    The case is separate from Avenatti’s other convictions for attempting to extort Nike and stealing money from Daniels. Avenatti’s attempts to get those convictions and sentences overturned on appeal all failed.

    Avenatti’s initial release date was set for July 31, 2035, but he asked Selna for a sentence that would have him released in just a few years. Avenatti, who was suspended from practicing law in California, has been representing himself.

    Prosecutors had asked for a sentence of only a few months less than the 14 years originally handed down.

    Ahead of his resentencing, Avenatti appealed for a more lenient sentence by providing details of his alleged personal transformation while behind bars in a 41-page memorandum filed last month.

    The memorandum detailed his life at the Terminal Island prison in Los Angeles, describing how he is trusted by prison officials to help other inmates – including serving as “suicide watch companion.” 

    Rand Paul Blames White House After Being ‘Uninvited’ From Picnic

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      Gage Skidmore from Surprise, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

      Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) had harsh words for the White House on Wednesday after he said he was “uninvited” from its annual picnic, a snub that came amid the Kentucky Republican’s vocal opposition to President Trump’s tax cut and spending package.

      On Wednesday, CNN’s Manu Raju caught up with Paul outside the Capitol, where the senator addressed the revoked invitation for seven minutes.

      “I think I’m the first senator in the history of the United States to be uninvited to the White House picnic,” he said. “I just find this incredibly petty. I mean — I have been, I think, nothing but polite to the President.”

      Paul added, “The level of immaturity is beyond words.”

      The senator went so far as to say he has lost respect for the president.

      “I’m arguing from a true belief and worry that our country is mired in debt and getting worse,” he said. “And they choose to react by uninviting my grandson to the picnic. I don’t know. I just think it really makes me lose a lot of respect I once had for Donald Trump.”

      Paul accused White House aides of “running sort of a paid influencer campaign against me for two weeks on Twitter.” He even said that “someone has told us that the White House called them from the White House, and offered them money to attack me online.”

      He added, “So, it’s silly in a way, but it’s also just really sad that this is what it’s come to,” he continued. “But petty vindictiveness like this, I don’t know. It makes you wonder about the quality of people you’re dealing with.”

      In a Thursday Truth Social post, Trump claimed that Paul and his family are in fact invited to the White House event.

      “Of course Senator Rand Paul and his beautiful wife and family are invited to the BIG White House Party tonight. He’s the toughest vote in the history of the U.S. Senate, but why wouldn’t he be? Besides, it gives me more time to get his Vote on the Great, Big, Beautiful Bill, one of the greatest and most important pieces of legislation ever put before our Senators & Congressmen/women,” the president wrote.

      Paul responded to the invitation with two posts, one in which he called the president’s words “promising” and another in which he slapped a Make America Great Again hat on his grandson.

      “This is a promising sign of things to come—and if there’s one thing [President Trump] and I agree on, it’s that my wife is beautiful,” the senator wrote on X.

      “Turns out my grandson is actually invited to the Congressional Picnic! He is ready!” Paul wrote in another post holding his grandson in a MAGA hat.

      Fellow budget hawk Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) also said he was not invited to this year’s White House event.

      What To Know For The Army’s 250th Anniversary Parade

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      President Donald J. Trump is presented with a 10th Combat Aviation Brigade challenge coin following an air assault and gun rain demonstration at Fort Drum, New York, on August 13. The demonstration was part of President Trump's visit to the 10th Mountain Division (LI) to sign the National Defense Authorization Act of 2019, which increases the Army's authorized active-duty end strength by 4,000 enabling us to field critical capabilities in support of the National Defense Strategy. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Thomas Scaggs) 180813-A-TZ475-010

      The streets of central D.C. are soon to be filled with thousands of soldiers, massive tanks and artillery, and the cacophonic rumble of Vintage warplanes and sleek Blackhawks flying overhead.

      The U.S. Army is marking its 250th anniversary with a pomp-filled procession through the streets of the nation’s capital Saturday, June 14, showcasing military might in a display with few, if any, precedents.

      The date also coincides with President Donald Trump’s 79th birthday.

      The parade, which will feature Army equipment, flyovers, musical performances and thousands of soldiers in uniforms from the past and the present, caps off a week of programming designed to celebrate the country’s military might. Trump posted a short video address about the parade to Truth Social on Friday, June 6, inviting Americans to what he called an “unforgettable” celebration, “one like you’ve never seen before.”

      “For two and a half centuries, the men and women of America’s Army have dominated our enemies and protected our freedom at home,” he said in the video. “This parade salutes our soldiers’ remarkable strength and unbeatable spirit. You won’t want to miss it. Just don’t miss this one. It’s going to be good.”

      Here’s what to know about the parade and day-long celebration in Washington, D.C.

      When and where is the June 14 DC military parade?

      The military parade is slated for Saturday, June 14, in the heart of Washington, D.C., spanning six blocks and bisecting the National Mall. Organizers say the procession begins at 6:30 p.m. ET.

      What are the events and performances at the June 14 celebration?

      Celebrations and associated events are set to take place throughout the day at the Army Birthday Festival starting at 11 a.m. ET. Members of the public can visit, where there will be military demonstrations, equipment displays and live music throughout the day, Army event organizers say

      Visitors can expect kid zones, more than 50 vendors and experience booths and meet-and-greets with “Army soldiers, NFL players, influencers and celebrities,” according to the U.S. Army event page.

      Those feeling adventurous can show up early and take part in the Army’s fitness competition, from 9:30 a.m. to noon.

      Where is the Army Birthday Festival?

      The festival is between 14th Street SW and the 12th Street Expressway on the lawn between Madison Drive NW and Jefferson Drive SW, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET.

      It is next to the Smithsonian Metro Station NW entrance, which will be closed, organizers say, though the Smithsonian Metro Station SW entrance will be open.

      Information is also available on the Army’s event website, www.army.mil/1775/.

      How to get tickets to attend in person

      Tickets for the parade are limited, but those interested in attending the parade on June 14 can RSVP here. Prospective attendees will be asked to provide their full name, phone number, email, state and zip code.

      Vance, DHS Appear To Back Deportation of Popular ‘Menswear Guy’

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      His days are numbered…

      Vice President Vance and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on Monday appeared to back the deportation of the popular X user known as the “Menswear Guy.”

      In a lengthy post on the social platform Sunday, X user @dieworkwear, also known as “Derek Guy” said he had a history of “being an undocumented immigrant.” 

      “Since I came here without legal documentation, I eventually fell into the category of being an undocumented immigrant. Yet, I’ve been in the United States since I was a baby. My identity and roots are very much based in this country, no different from anyone else,” he said in the post.

      Earlier Monday, a user on X said “the menswear guy just openly admitted on here that he’s here illegally,” to which another user responded, “JD Vance I know you’re reading this and you have the opportunity to do the funniest thing ever.”

      Vance responded to the post with a GIF of actor Jack Nicholson nodding.

      The DHS account also responded to the first user’s post about Guy’s immigration status, replying with a GIF featuring a character from the “Spy Kids” movie series who is wearing glasses that have a series of lenses on one side that flip out and become smaller as they extend.

      Guy is known for snarkily noting what he sees as mistakes in how people dress on X and often targets right-wing figures. In response to Vance’s post, he posted two photos of the vice president, one in which Vance is wearing a white button-up shirt and another in which he’s wearing a suit.

      Governor Files Emergency Motion To Stop Trump’s Military Deployment To Los Angeles

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        Casa Rosada (Argentina Presidency of the Nation), CC BY 2.5 AR via Wikimedia Commons

        California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday filed an emergency motion to block President Donald Trump’s deployment of Marines and National Guard troops to Los Angeles in response to riots over his administration’s immigration enforcement.

        “Trump is turning the U.S. military against American citizens. The courts must immediately block these illegal actions,” Newsom wrote on X.

        Newsom and other Democratic officials have accused Trump of inciting violence by deploying troops over the objections of local officials.

        The troops were deployed after protests over the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement operation in Los Angeles turned violent over the weekend. On Monday, California sued the Trump administration after the state’s National Guard was deployed, calling the move an “unprecedented power grab.”

        The lawsuit said Trump “unlawfully bypassed” Newsom by putting National Guard troops under federal control without the governor’s permission

        This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.

        24 Arrested At Trump Tower As ICE Protests Spread Beyond LA

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          The New York City Police Department arrested about two dozen protesters at Manhattan’s Trump Tower who were demonstrating against the White House’s position on immigration policy on Monday.

          The demonstrators chanted “Bring Them Back,” while they occupied the lobby of the building. They also read the names of the illegal immigrants who were deported to the CECOT maximum security prison in El Salvador.

          Video shot by Fox News showed dozens of NYPD officers entering Trump Tower armed with plastic ties hanging from their belts.

          Anti-ICE protests began to spread across the country on Monday in response to an eruption of violent protests across Los Angeles, which has now entered its fourth day.

          In another video, protesters sitting in a circle were warned to leave the building or face arrest. Once the officers approached the protesters, they were told they were subject to arrest.

          Police then used plastic ties to detain two dozen protesters from the lobby of the building. The protesters were restrained and then escorted outside and placed into police vans.

          President Donald Trump warned rioters in Los Angeles that his administration is “not playing around” as U.S. Marines prepare to deploy to the city Tuesday.

          Trump made the statement during an exchange with reporters, adding that he had called California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday and criticized his handling of the riots.

          “A day ago, I called him up to tell him got to do a better job. He’s done a bad job causing a lot of death and a lot of a lot of potential death,” Trump said of Newsom.

          Report: Bondi Accused Of ‘Serious Professional Misconduct’

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          Attorney General Pam Bondi is accused of “serious professional misconduct” in a Florida Bar complaint.

          According to a report from The Miami Herald, in the complaint the group alleges Bondi has breached ethical duties in her current role and that “serious professional misconduct that threatens the rule of law and the administration of justice” has been carried out by the attorney general, the Herald reported.

          Bondi is from Florida and previously served as the Sunshine State’s first female attorney general. A “Pamela Jo Bondi” is listed as a member of the Florida Bar “in Good Standing.”

          A few months ago, Democrats pressed Bondi amid her confirmation hearing over her ability to push back against Trump, who had repeatedly stated he would come for his enemies and that he has the “absolute right” to do what he wants with her department.

          Bondi is also stated in the complaint to have “sought to compel Department of Justice lawyers to violate their ethical obligations under the guise of ‘zealous advocacy,’” according to the Herald.

          In a statement, Justice Department chief of staff Chad Mizelle told the Herald that “the Florida Bar has twice rejected performative attempts by these out-of-state lawyers to weaponize the bar complaint process against AG Bondi.”

          Bondi has faced an onslaught of criticism from Democrat lawmakers and progressive groups since being confirmed as the Trump administration’s Attorney General.

          Last month, the Justice Department pointed out the leftist bias of the American Bar Association (ABA) and ordered that it will bo longer have access to non-public information, including bar records.

          The ABA uses a ratings process in which their Standing Committee rates each nominee “Well Qualified,” “Qualified” or “Not Qualified.” “Unanimous committee ratings appear as a single rating. In other situations, the rating from the majority or substantial majority (2/3 or more of those voting) of the Committee is recorded first, followed by the rating or ratings of a minority of the Committee. The majority rating is the rating of the committee,” the ABA notes on its website.

          The Daily Wire continues:

          “The ABA has a history of taking liberal positions on issues including abortion, the death penalty, same-sex marriage, affirmative action, and the Second Amendment,” National Review stated in 2019. “The organization’s ideological bias has long tainted its ratings of judicial nominees. An entire book on the subject was written as early as 1965, Joel B. Grossman’s Lawyers and Judges: The ABA and the Politics of Judicial Selection.”

          Of the 15 members on the ABA’s Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary in 2019, five donated to Barack Obama’s campaign, three to that of Hillary Clinton, and none to the three Republican nominees between 2008-2016. Incredibly, the ABA gave a minority “Not Qualified” rating to iconic Judge Robert Bork and other conservative legal scholars, including Richard A. Posner, Edith H. Jones, and William H. Pryor, among others.

          “For several decades, the American Bar Association has received special treatment and enjoyed special access to judicial nominees,” Bondi wrote in a letter to ABA President William Bay. “In some administrations, the ABA received notice of nominees before a nomination was announced to the public. Some administrations would even decide whether to nominate an individual based on a rating assigned by the ABA.”

          White House Delivers Ultimatum To ICE: Triple The Arrests Or Face The Consequences

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          Illegal Immigration in the United State via Wikimedia Commons

          According to new reports, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller delivered a blunt ultimatum to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) leadership in mid-May: ramp up arrests to 3,000 per day or face personnel changes.

          During a tense meeting at ICE headquarters in Washington, D.C., Miller reportedly warned that regional offices failing to meet the target would see their leadership replaced. Sources familiar with the meeting said Miller left no room for interpretation — improved numbers weren’t encouraged, they were mandatory. (RELATED: Legal Battle May Reveal Big Payouts Tied To Biden’s Border Policies)

          Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, also in attendance, struck a more measured tone. Still, the message was clear, according to NBC News: immigration enforcement efforts must intensify and take precedence:

          Misdemeanor cases for border crossings are regularly appearing in federal court, a rarity in recent years. Justice Department teams focused on other issues are being disbanded, with members being dispersed to teams focused on immigration and other administration priorities.

          And prosecutors say cases without immigration components have stalled or are moving more slowly, according to documents seen by NBC News and conversations with six current and former prosecutors and a senior FBI official, who described how immigration is now a central part of discussions around whether to pursue cases.

          U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

          “Immigration status is now question No. 1 in terms of charging decisions,” an assistant U.S. attorney said. “Is this person a documented immigrant? Is this person an undocumented immigrant? Is this person a citizen? Are they somehow deportable? What is their immigration status? And the answer to that question is now largely driving our charging decisions.”

          At least one U.S. attorney’s office abandoned a potential federal prosecution of someone who prosecutors felt was dangerous because the case against the person lacked an immigration component, an email obtained by NBC News showed. The office instead left the case to state prosecutors.

          Mobilizing National Resources

          Following the confrontation, ICE launched “Operation At Large,” a coast-to-coast initiative designed to supercharge apprehensions. The scale is unprecedented. Over 21,000 National Guard troops and 250 IRS agents have been folded into the effort, alongside thousands of ICE and federal law enforcement personnel. (RELATED: Police Case That Fueled 2020 Protests Returns To Supreme Court)

          The operation’s reach has required coordination across agencies, pulling FBI and DOJ resources away from their usual focus areas and toward immigration-related priorities.

          The Daily Mail has more on Miller’s dramatic call to action:

          According to the Washington Examiner, Miller allegedly told them: ‘You guys aren’t doing a good job. You’re horrible leaders.’

          He then reportedly gave them an open challenge and asked: ‘Why aren’t you at Home Depot? Why aren’t you at 7-Eleven?’

          Miller further pushed, getting into what an official called a ‘p***ing contest,’ saying: ‘What do you mean you’re going after criminals?’

          Gage Skidmore from Surprise, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

          In a statement to the Examiner, ICE deputy assistant director of media affairs Laszlo Baksay said the descriptions were ‘inaccurate.’

          However, the conservative-leaning outlet cited sources within ICE and DHS who claimed Miller’s remarks further eroded morale among rank-and-file agents, which was already low.

          “He had nothing positive to say about anybody,” one official told the paper, describing the mood following Miller’s visit.

          Another source painted a darker picture of the internal climate confronting ICE agents:

          “They’ve been threatened, told they’re watching their emails and texts and Signals. That’s what is horrible about things right now. It’s a fearful environment. Everybody in leadership is afraid. There’s no morale. Everybody is demoralized.”

          Despite the backlash, Miller defended the administration’s approach during an appearance with Sean Hannity, insisting the 3,000-arrest-per-day quota is only a temporary benchmark — and warning that agents should be prepared for that figure to rise.

          Florida Sweep Sets Records, Nashville Backlash Sparks Tensions

          Localized operations have revealed just how expansive the crackdown has become since Miller and Noem appeared at Potomac Center Plaza in Southwest D.C. Across the nation, agents have ramped up early-morning sweeps and workplace raids, often coordinated with minimal local notification. In Florida, a weeklong action labeled “Operation Tidal Wave” resulted in 1,120 arrests — the largest ICE enforcement action ever recorded in a single state.

          Tennessee saw similar efforts, with 196 arrests in the Nashville area. The local response was sharply critical. Nashville’s mayor denounced the operation as out of step with the city’s values and implemented policies limiting cooperation with ICE. Republicans in Congress are now investigating whether the mayor’s office leaked information about ICE agents — a serious charge with national implications.

          Focus on Career Criminals — But Collateral Arrests Are Rising

          Officially, the crackdown targets individuals with criminal records or prior deportation orders. But internal ICE guidance reportedly encourages officers to make “collateral arrests” — detaining illegal immigrants encountered in the field, even if they weren’t the original target and have no criminal history.

          U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Flickr, https://www.flickr.com/photos/us_icegov/54295293536/in/photostream/, Creative Commons Attribution-Public Domain Mark 1.0 Universal (CC BY-NC-SA 1.0)

          The broader approach has raised legal and logistical concerns, as well as fears of potential overreach, according to immigrant advocacy groups.

          Leadership Purge Signals Internal Pressure

          It also hasn’t come without fallout inside ICE. Two senior officials — Kenneth Genalo and Robert Hammer — have been removed from their posts in recent weeks. Sources say the firings reflect internal friction over how aggressively to pursue the administration’s ambitious targets. They also serve as a warning to others who might be perceived as resistant to the push.

          White House: Fulfilling the Mandate, Critics Question the Cost

          The administration stands by the operation. Officials say it delivers on President Trump’s second-term promise: to secure the border and remove criminal illegal aliens.

          Still, questions remain. Legal scholars are raising red flags over the breadth of federal involvement, and local-federal cooperation is growing more strained. As the operation continues, so does the debate — over strategy, law, and the real-world impact on communities nationwide.