Immigration
Border Patrol agent killed overnight while tracking group of illegal immigrants
A Border Patrol agent was killed overnight while in the line of duty patrolling the border. “The agent was patrolling the international boundary at approximately 1 a.m. on an all-terrain vehicle and tracking a group of individuals which illegally crossed the border when he was involved in an accident near Mission, Texas,” acting CBP Commissioner Troy Miller announced.
In an email, Miller wrote “Acting Deputy Commissioner [Benjamine] Huffman, Chief [Raul] Ortiz and I regret to inform you of the passing of a Border Patrol agent assigned the McAllen Station this morning.”
“He was found unresponsive by fellow agents who immediately initiated life-saving efforts and requested emergency medical services. The agent was taken to an area hospital by ambulance where he later passed away. Additional information will be shared when available,” the email continued.
“The death of an agent while performing their duties and securing our borders is a loss that is felt throughout our agency and our nation,” Miller concluded.
Just The News writes:
The nation has witnessed an unprecedented surge in illegal migration the past few years, with roughly 2.4 million crossing the border in fiscal year 2022 and nearly 4 million doing so since President Joe Biden took office. With that has come record drug trafficking operations, including increasingly large shipments of the highly potent narcotic fentanyl.
Border authorities are unable to keep up with the rise in traffic, prompting the Biden administration to turn to other federal agencies for extra manpower. The Department of Homeland Security has attempted to redeploy air marshals to the southern border to assist with the crisis, but has faced resistance from the agency, with many vowing to refuse the order at the risk of termination.
Elections
Voters in Multiple States Approve Measures Prohibiting Noncitizen Voting
Many lessons were learned on election night, at least for those who are willing to listen. Among the most pivotal addresses voter integrity. Voters across the United States turned out in force to weigh in on voting rights and election integrity in state ballot measures, with particular focus on the contentious issue of noncitizen voting.
In every state where voters were asked to decide on prohibiting noncitizens from voting, the measures passed with significant majorities. The results reveal a strong consensus across the states, with approval rates all exceeding 62%. The Center Square gives the details:
– South Carolina led with the highest support, with 86% voting in favor of the ban.
– Oklahoma (81%), North Carolina (77.6%), Iowa (76%), and Missouri (68%) also saw overwhelming majorities in support.
– Wisconsin (70%), Idaho (65%), and Kentucky (62%) similarly passed measures to restrict voting to U.S. citizens only.
These ballot measures reflect a growing trend among states to explicitly prohibit noncitizen voting, a policy that has gained traction since Congress passed a 1996 law banning noncitizen voting in federal elections for the U.S. Senate, House of Representatives, and presidency. However, federal law does not extend to state and local elections, leaving the decision to individual states.
While all state constitutions require U.S. citizenship for voting, laws regarding noncitizen voting vary at the state level. Some states explicitly prohibit noncitizen voting in state and local elections, including Arizona, North Dakota, Georgia, Florida, and Ohio. However, a few jurisdictions, such as parts of California, Maryland, and Vermont, have allowed noncitizen voting in certain local elections, prompting states to seek clearer, uniform policies.
The push to restrict noncitizen voting has intensified in recent years, with Alabama, Colorado, Florida, Louisiana, North Dakota, and Ohio all enacting bans from 2018 to 2022. This year’s decisive votes in eight additional states signal that the trend is likely to continue.
In Iowa, voters also approved a measure permitting 17-year-olds to participate in primary elections if they will be 18 by the time of the general election, aligning with similar policies in other states that aim to engage younger voters.
Missouri voters passed a measure prohibiting ranked-choice voting, while Nevada enacted a requirement for voter identification with 74% support, underscoring voter concerns over ballot security.
Meanwhile, Connecticut passed a measure by 57% authorizing laws for no-excuse absentee voting, aiming to expand voter access while balancing concerns over election security.
The conversation around these ballot initiatives reflects ongoing tensions around election policy and state sovereignty in election law. The U.S. Supreme Court recently granted an emergency stay in Virginia to keep noncitizens off voter rolls, a decision expected to influence similar cases nationally as states prepare for the 2024 presidential election.
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