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Search results for tag #law

[?]Nonilex » 🌐
@Nonilex@masto.ai

The commander overseeing the Pentagon’s escalating attacks against boats in the Sea that the admin says are smuggling drugs is stepping down, 2 officials said Thursday.

The officer, Adm. Alvin Holsey, is leaving his job as head of the , which oversees all operations in Central & South America, even as the has rapidly built up some 10,000 forces in the region in what it says is a major counterdrug & counterterrorism mission.

    [?]Nonilex » 🌐
    @Nonilex@masto.ai

    Nothing wrong here

    Head of the Southern Command Is Stepping Down, Officials Say

    Adm. Alvin Holsey is leaving less than a year into his tenure, & as the escalates attacks against boats in the Sea.


    nytimes.com/2025/10/16/us/poli

      [?]Nonilex » 🌐
      @Nonilex@masto.ai

      Ultimately, the judge asked Skedzielewski to work out a modified order with the plaintiffs’ lawyers. And, she said, “if everybody kind of follows what’s outlined in this [temporary restraining order], conforms their decisions & behavior to what the demands, then, you know, all copacetic.”

        [?]Nonilex » 🌐
        @Nonilex@masto.ai

        But Skedzielewski said have not been rolled out for officers in the area, & he complained about the logistics of sorting through those videos every time an alleged incident occurs.

        Ellis told him, “there’s, you know, a simple way to not have to do that though, right?”

        After a long pause, Skedzielewski insisted that, “I think we’re going to enforce federal law.” [Which sounds a lot like a threat]

          [?]Nonilex » 🌐
          @Nonilex@masto.ai

          The judge went on to explain that the use of by agents would help sort out any confusion about what happened. Unlike cell phone cameras that are often whipped out after something occurs, body cameras “pick up events before the triggering event happens,” she said.

            [?]Nonilex » 🌐
            @Nonilex@masto.ai

            But Ellis then asked about the incident on the Southeast Side, in which local security cameras captured agents intentionally crashing into a car in a risky maneuver restricted by some departments nationwide.

            Ellis told Skedzielewski, “We’re not on the . We are in an , densely populated area.” And, she said, “There’s a reason the Police Department has policies.”

              [?]Nonilex » 🌐
              @Nonilex@masto.ai

              Still, they told the judge that the admin doesn’t believe her has been violated “at all.” And during Thursday’s hearing, lawyer Sean Skedzielewski insisted that reporting on the incident “is just inaccurate.”

              Witnesses said they heard no warning before the use of in Albany Park, & no warnings can be heard on of the incident showing the scene leading up to the gas being thrown in the middle of a residential street.

                [?]Nonilex » 🌐
                @Nonilex@masto.ai

                The plaintiffs’ lawyers wrote in a court filing late Wednesday that “officers appear to be using , , & other against & journalists. Young & even appear to have been subjected to the indiscriminate use of tear gas” by federal officers.

                  [?]Nonilex » 🌐
                  @Nonilex@masto.ai

                  In both instances, a crowd of onlookers gathered to the agents.

                  Plaintiffs in the case include orgs such as the Headline Club, Block Club Chicago, & the Chicago Newspaper Guild, which represents who work at the Chicago Sun-Times.

                  Case page:
                  courtlistener.com/docket/71559

                    [?]Nonilex » 🌐
                    @Nonilex@masto.ai

                    Ellis also said she would be modifying the she entered last week to require on agents carrying out ’s so-called “Operation Midway Blitz.” Details of that modification still needed to be ironed out.

                    Though the judge called the early morning hearing herself, the case has been closely watched following the use of Sunday in & in a residential neighborhood on the SE side of Tuesday following a chase where feds rammed an SUV.

                      [?]Nonilex » 🌐
                      @Nonilex@masto.ai

                      Then Judge Ellis insisted that Russell Hott, director of ICE’s field office, appear in her courtroom Monday to clarify what’s going on.

                      “The field director is going to explain to me why I am seeing images of being deployed & reading reports that there were no warnings given before it was deployed,” Ellis said.

                        [?]Nonilex » 🌐
                        @Nonilex@masto.ai

                        That same judge took the bench early Thursday at the Dirksen Federal Courthouse, where she told one of Trump’s lawyers, bluntly, “I’m not blind.”

                        US District Judge Sara Ellis cited reports in the Sun-Times & other media that have given her “serious concerns” about whether the admin has followed her in recent days.

                          [?]Nonilex » 🌐
                          @Nonilex@masto.ai

                          Judge hauling official into court as aggressive tactics continue despite her : 'I'm not blind'

                          A week ago, a federal judge forbade agents from using & other “riot control” weapons without warning in as they carried out ’s blitz.


                          chicago.suntimes.com/immigrati

                            [?]Nonilex » 🌐
                            @Nonilex@masto.ai

                            “I’m getting images and seeing images on the news, in the paper, reading reports where I’m having concerns about my order being followed,” the judge said.

                            Sean Skedzielewski, an attorney representing the government, [lying] laid blame with “one-sided & selectively edited media reports.”

                              [?]Nonilex » 🌐
                              @Nonilex@masto.ai

                              US District Judge Sara Ellis said she was a “little startled” after seeing TV images of clashes between agents & the public during ’s crackdown.

                              “I live in if folks haven’t noticed,” she said. “And I’m not blind, right?”

                              Ellis last week said agents in the area must wear badges, & she banned them from using certain riot control techniques against peaceful & .

                                Paul Chambers🚧 boosted

                                [?]Nonilex » 🌐
                                @Nonilex@masto.ai

                                Judge orders agents in area to wear body cameras after violent clashes

                                Federal officers in the Chicago area will be required to wear , a judge ordered Thursday after seeing & other aggressive steps used against .


                                apnews.com/article/chicago-imm

                                  [?]Nonilex » 🌐
                                  @Nonilex@masto.ai

                                  A measure to block the admin’s lethal strikes on alleged drug traffickers fell short in the last week, a of lawmakers to assert their constitutional role in deciding if & how the enters a .
                                  
 ofcls in multiple classified briefings have not definitively identified the victims or explained why the military is using deadly force rather than the long-standing protocol of interdicting vessels at sea, Democratic lawmakers have said.

                                    [?]Nonilex » 🌐
                                    @Nonilex@masto.ai

                                    The inclusion of Little Birds — small attack aircraft designed to insert operators onto the ground & provide close air support — suggests preparations for potential missions that could see , Cancian said.
                                    
The Black Hawks could be used in support, he added, carrying additional troops, combat search-&-rescue or other capabilities.

                                      [?]Nonilex » 🌐
                                      @Nonilex@masto.ai

                                      The aircraft are likely operated by the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, said Mark Cancian, a senior adviser with . The unit flies missions for commandos like Navy SEALs, Green Berets & Delta Force, & has gained renown for undertaking complex & dangerous operations such as the raid to kill Osama bin Laden in Pakistan.

                                        [?]Nonilex » 🌐
                                        @Nonilex@masto.ai

                                        Visuals that circulated on social media in early October appeared to show MH-6 Little Bird attack helicopters & MH-60 Black Hawks over open water near oil & gas platforms. A visual analysis of the platforms & visible terrain indicates the helicopters were flying off ’s northeast coast, bringing them within 90 miles of several points along ’s coastline.

                                          [?]Nonilex » 🌐
                                          @Nonilex@masto.ai

                                          The has struck at least 5 boats allegedly carrying illegal narcotics in , killing at least 27 people, acc/to US ofcls, the last one occurring Tues. said Wednesday he had authorized the to conduct missions inside .

                                          The admin declared it is in “armed conflict” with drug traffickers, though lawmakers & legal experts have said the strikes are unlawful killings of people who are suspected criminals & not battlefield combatants.

                                            [?]Nonilex » 🌐
                                            @Nonilex@masto.ai

                                            The ’s elite 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment appears to have flown in waters <90 miles off the coast of in recent days, acc/to a WaPo visual analysis. authorized covert action inside the country.
                                            
The helicopters were engaged in *training exercises*, acc/to a US official, that could serve as prep for expanded against alleged drug traffickers, including missions inside Venezuela.


                                            washingtonpost.com/national-se

                                              [?]Nonilex » 🌐
                                              @Nonilex@masto.ai

                                              The authorization is the latest step in the admin’s intensifying pressure campaign against . For weeks, the has been targeting boats off the Venezuelan coast it claims are transporting drugs, killing 27 people. US officials have been clear, privately, that the end goal is to drive from .

                                              The new authority would allow the to carry out operations in & conduct a range of operations in the .

                                                [?]Nonilex » 🌐
                                                @Nonilex@masto.ai

                                                The agency would be able to take covert action against or his government either unilaterally or in conjunction with a larger military operation. It is not known whether the is planning any operations in or if the authorities are meant as a contingency.

                                                But the development comes as the is planning its own possible escalation, drawing up options for to consider, including strikes inside Venezuela.

                                                  [?]Nonilex » 🌐
                                                  @Nonilex@masto.ai

                                                  The scale of the buildup in the region is substantial: There are currently 10,000 troops there, most of them at bases in , but also a contingent of on amphibious assault ships. In all, the has 8 surface & a in the .

                                                  The new authorities, known in jargon as a presidential finding, were described by multiple US ofcls who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the highly document.

                                                    [?]Nonilex » 🌐
                                                    @Nonilex@masto.ai

                                                    ordered an end to talks w/ the govt this month as he grew frustrated w/ ’s leader’s failure to accede to demands to give up & continued insistence that they had no part in .

                                                    The has long had authority to work w/govts in Latin America on & . That has allowed the agency to work w/Mexican ofcls to target drug cartels. But those authorizations do not allow the agency to carry out direct ops.

                                                      [?]Nonilex » 🌐
                                                      @Nonilex@masto.ai

                                                      The admin’s strategy on , developed by Secy of , with help from dir , aims to oust from .

                                                      Ratcliffe has said little about what his agency is doing in Venezuela. But he has promised that the CIA under his leadership would become more aggressive. During his confirmation hearing, Ratcliffe said he would make the CIA less averse to risk & more willing to conduct covert action when ordered by the president….

                                                        [?]Nonilex » 🌐
                                                        @Nonilex@masto.ai

                                                        Bolton's lawyer Abbe Lowell did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Lowell has previously denied that engaged in wrongdoing & said that the records the seized were ordinary documents for a fmr govt official to possess.

                                                        , who campaigned for the presidency on a vow of after facing a slew of legal woes…[for crimes we all witnessed], has dispensed with the norms designed to insulate federal law enforcement from political pressure.

                                                          [?]Nonilex » 🌐
                                                          @Nonilex@masto.ai

                                                          The possible comes 2 months after agents found documents labeled “confidential”in Bolton's Washington, DC office that referenced WMDs, unsealed court records show. It was not immediately clear whether the charges prosecutors would seek were related to those documents.

                                                          If the decides to indict [it will, ham sandwich & all], it would mark the 3rd time in recent weeks that the has secured charges against one of 's critics.

                                                            [?]Nonilex » 🌐
                                                            @Nonilex@masto.ai

                                                            More

                                                            The is expected to ask a grand jury on Thursday to indict 's former national security adviser , a person familiar with the matter said.


                                                            reuters.com/business/finance/j

                                                              [?]Nonilex » 🌐
                                                              @Nonilex@masto.ai

                                                              Admin Authorizes Covert Action in

                                                              The development comes as the is drawing up options for Trump to consider, including possible strikes inside the country.


                                                              nytimes.com/2025/10/15/us/poli

                                                                [?]FinchHaven sfba » 🌐
                                                                @FinchHaven@sfba.social

                                                                @Nonilex

                                                                "“The does not tolerate this system of of government-mandated racial balancing,” Aguiñaga said."

                                                                It should be pointed out that conservatives' beloved did not include anyone but white male Anglo-Saxon Christians as citizens in the first place

                                                                A minor detail that conservatives always seem to miss

                                                                  [?]Nonilex » 🌐
                                                                  @Nonilex@masto.ai

                                                                  is hearing arguments Wednesday over a core provision of the that is designed to protect racial minorities.

                                                                  Lawyers for & the admin [the first admin ever to challenge the law] will try to persuade the justices to wipe away the state’s 2nd majority Black congressional district & make it much harder, if not impossible, to take account of in .


                                                                  apnews.com/live/supreme-court-

                                                                    [?]Nonilex » 🌐
                                                                    @Nonilex@masto.ai

                                                                    Roberts & are the ones to watch

                                                                    Along with the three liberal justices, & Brett Kavanaugh were part of a surprising decision two years ago that required to redraw its congressional districts to benefit Black voters and led to the new map in as well.

                                                                    The outcome likely will be different if either justice votes differently this time around.

                                                                      [?]Nonilex » 🌐
                                                                      @Nonilex@masto.ai

                                                                      4 lawyers will present arguments to the court

                                                                      But only one is defending the congressional map with 2 majority districts.

                                                                      That will be lawyer Janai Nelson, representing the Black voters who sued when the state initially produced a map with just one majority Black district.

                                                                        [?]Nonilex » 🌐
                                                                        @Nonilex@masto.ai

                                                                        The other lawyers are the administration’s deputy solicitor general, Hashim Mooppan, Solicitor General Benjamin Aguiñaga & Edward Greim, the lawyer for the voters who sued over the map with 2 majority districts.

                                                                        Louisiana switched sides after the court ordered new arguments.

                                                                          [?]Nonilex » 🌐
                                                                          @Nonilex@masto.ai

                                                                          Arguments underway in case

                                                                          first called on Janai Nelson of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund to present her argument. Nelson is representing Press Robinson & other voters.

                                                                          Nelson argues her opponents “seek stagging reversal of precedent that would throw maps across the country into chaos.”

                                                                            [?]Nonilex » 🌐
                                                                            @Nonilex@masto.ai

                                                                            has been questioning section 2 almost since he joined the court in 1991

                                                                            The questioning begins with Thomas. His long-held view that drawing districts with in mind violates the . Until now, that view has never commanded a majority of the court.

                                                                              [?]Nonilex » 🌐
                                                                              @Nonilex@masto.ai

                                                                              Early debates center on 1986 Gingles ruling

                                                                              Justices questioned Nelson on the “Gingles test,” which dates from a 1986 court ruling resulting in the invalidation of North Carolina legislative districts & yielded more single-member districts in state legislatures.

                                                                              “You look at how different races of voters vote & whether they vote in a way that is polarized,” Nelson said, responding to a question about considering partisan & race in drawing districts.

                                                                                [?]Nonilex » 🌐
                                                                                @Nonilex@masto.ai

                                                                                “We’re talking about racially polarized voting that is above 84%, which is more than what this court found in Thornburg v. Gingles in 1986,” Nelson said.

                                                                                A bit of political/legal jargon repeatedly came up early in Wednesday’s voting rights oral arguments.

                                                                                “Packing & cracking” refers to a practice by the party in power, which tries to pack Black voters into condensed areas, then divide them.

                                                                                  [?]Nonilex » 🌐
                                                                                  @Nonilex@masto.ai

                                                                                  When it comes to redrawing districts in , the argument by plaintiffs is that are seeking to condense the vote then dilute it by dividing them among districts.

                                                                                  Justice Jackson brings up a 2023 case from where upheld the .

                                                                                  Nelson’s argument seems to suggest, “We not revisit the determination that we made just 2 years ago,” Jackson said.

                                                                                  “That is absolutely correct,” Nelson responded.

                                                                                    [?]Nonilex » 🌐
                                                                                    @Nonilex@masto.ai

                                                                                    , one of the key justices to watch in this case, questions whether there might be a point where the country no longer needs to take into account in drawing voting districts.

                                                                                    “The issue, as you know, is that this court’s cases, in a variety of contexts, has said that race-based remedies are permissible for a period of time … but that they should not be indefinite & should have an end point,” he said.

                                                                                      [?]Nonilex » 🌐
                                                                                      @Nonilex@masto.ai

                                                                                      In a back-and-forth with Nelson about time limits, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson said that the section in question, “doesn’t need a time limit, because it’s not doing any work other than just pointing us to the direction of where we might need to do something.”

                                                                                      Nelson said it would be “reckless” to determine, “somehow if Section 2 is no longer needed simply because it has been so successful in rooting out racial discrimination in voting.”

                                                                                        [?]Nonilex » 🌐
                                                                                        @Nonilex@masto.ai

                                                                                        Asked by Justice to delineate differences between the current case & a 2023 decision that dealt with affirmative action, Nelson argued that the prior case “involved the diversity rationale involving an admissions process with a university, not a statute.”

                                                                                        In 2023, struck down in college admissions, declaring race cannot be a factor & forcing institutions of higher education to look for new ways to achieve diverse student bodies.

                                                                                          [?]Nonilex » 🌐
                                                                                          @Nonilex@masto.ai

                                                                                          The court’s conservative majority effectively overturned cases reaching back 45 years in invalidating admissions plans at Harvard & the University of North Carolina, the nation’s oldest private & public colleges, respectively.

                                                                                            [?]Nonilex » 🌐
                                                                                            @Nonilex@masto.ai

                                                                                            Now the justices will hear from J. Benjamin Aguiñaga, ’s solicitor general. The state is no longer defending the disputed map.

                                                                                              [?]Nonilex » 🌐
                                                                                              @Nonilex@masto.ai

                                                                                              appeared skeptical of Nelson’s argument, pressing her on how & when race can be used in the drawing of maps. His questions cut to the heart of the questions the justices are considering today.
                                                                                              “You’re saying sometimes acceptable for a federal district court to order a map that intentionally discriminates on the basis of race?” he asked. The maps at issue today weren’t drawn by a judge, but courts can order maps re-drawn under the .

                                                                                                [?]Nonilex » 🌐
                                                                                                @Nonilex@masto.ai

                                                                                                Nelson pushed back. It’s not for states to keep race in mind as they draw voting districts to comply with the & ensure representation for minority votes, she argued.

                                                                                                Under questioning from Justice Elena , Nelson describes as “catastrophic” the impact of Secton 2 of the ceasing to prevent vote dissolution, including in legislative districts beyond .

                                                                                                  [?]Nonilex » 🌐
                                                                                                  @Nonilex@masto.ai

                                                                                                  “We only have the diversity that we see across the South, for example, because of litigation that forced the creation of opportunity districts under the ,” Nelson said.

                                                                                                  “It is an intervention that has been crucial to diversifying leadership & providing an ability of minority voters to have an equal opportunity to participate in the process, she adds.

                                                                                                    [?]Nonilex » 🌐
                                                                                                    @Nonilex@masto.ai

                                                                                                    Then an important caveat: “But it also isn’t a permanent remedy. It corrects itself over time, & it’s only triggered when those extreme conditions exist.”

                                                                                                    Benjamin Aguiñaga is now arguing for the state. He’s the state’s solicitor general and is considered a rising star in conservative legal circles. He’s defending the states position that could bring major changes to the .

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