Featured

Texas judge extends suspension of Biden deportation freeze

Published

2 years ago

February 9, 2021

A federal judge in Texas has extended the temporary block on the Biden administration’s freeze on deportations for another two weeks.

In an order dated Monday, U.S. District Court Judge Drew Tipton in the Southern District of Texas lengthened his suspension of the White House’s 100-day deportation moratorium through February 23, writing that the extension was necessary for “the record to be more fully developed” in Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s (R) lawsuit challenging the moratorium, according to The Texas Tribune.

Initially, Tipton on January 26 suspended the moratorium for 14 days. Through halting deportations, President Joe Biden has been trying to dismantle many of former President Donald Trump’s controversial immigration policies. In response, Paxton was quick to file a lawsuit against the moratorium, arguing that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) would be breaching an agreement law it has with the state by ordering the deportation freeze. The agreement, signed during the final days of the Trump administration, required DHS to consult Texas before altering policies.

Having just taken effect on Friday, the moratorium does not impact individuals who came to the United States after November 1. However, those who have taken part in–or are suspected to have taken part in–terrorism and espionage or are deemed national security threats can still be deported.

In his order, the judge also said that the extension will give parties more time to “provide for a more fulsome record” to assist the court in “adjudicating Texas’s motion for a Preliminary Injunction,” per Fox News.

Moreover, Tipton, who was appointed by Trump last year, mentions “the irreparable harm that would accrue to Texas if an extension” was not issued.

The Biden administration, the order states, “argued that the 100-day pause on removals is necessary to allow” them to take account “important immigration, foreign policy, and humanitarian considerations.”

“The Court may ultimately be persuaded by the Defendants’ arguments, but any harm they might incur between now and then does not outweigh the potential for irreparable harm to Texas,” Tipton added.

You can follow Douglas Braff on Twitter @Douglas_P_Braff.

Featured

Trump: Tanks to Ukraine could escalate to use of ‘NUKES’

Published

5 days ago

January 26, 2023

Alexander Carter

Former President Donald Trump stated bluntly on Truth Social, “FIRST COME THE TANKS, THEN COME THE NUKES. Get this crazy war ended, NOW. So easy to do!”

Trump was referring to the escalation of war in Ukraine. He, like many other commentators and lawmakers, are warning that the decision to continue sending weapons – and now tanks – could potentially lead to the use of “nuclear weapons.”

It’s mission creep and it’s dangerous, they say.

Why? Because Russian President Valdimir Putin has indicated in two different speeches that he would use nuclear weapons to defend Russia, if needed. Those warnings are not just bluster but a very real possibility.

And the escalation of war is visible.

Russia launched 55 missiles strikes across Ukraine Thursday, leaving 11 dead. The strikes come one day after the United States and Germany agreed to send tanks to Ukraine in an effort to aide the country. 47 of the 55 missiles were shot down according to Ukraine’s Air Force command.

Eleven lives were lost and another 11 were injured additionally leaving 35 buildings damaged in the wake of the attacks. According to The New York Times, Denys Shmyhal, said in a post on Telegram. “The main goal is energy facilities, providing Ukrainians with light and heat,” he said.

Ukraine is now demanding that they need F-16 fighter jets. In a post on twitter Ukrainian lawmaker, Oleksiy Goncharenko said, “Missiles again over Ukraine. We need F16.”

Morning. Missiles again over Ukraine. We need F16.

— Oleksiy Goncharenko (@GoncharenkoUa) January 26, 2023

The US has abstained from sending advanced jets in the chances that a volatile decision could foster more dangerous attacks like former President Trump’s post on Truth referred to. If the US did authorize the decision to lend Ukraine the F-16 jets Netherlands’ foreign minister, Wopke Hoekstra, would be willing to supply them. According to The New York Times, Hoekstra told Dutch lawmakers, “We are open-minded… There are no taboos.”

F-16 fighter jets are complex to work on, they are not the average aircraft that can be learned in a matter of weeks. It can take months for pilots to learn how to fly these birds. European and US officials have the concern that Ukrainian forces could potentially use the jets to fly into Russian airspace and launch attacks on Russian soil.

Western allies are trying to avoid such a provocation, because that could lead to nuclear warfare in reference to what Putin has said he would do to defend his country.