The 19th News: Thousands of LGBTQ+ veterans were supposed to get pardons. A year later, only four have succeeded.

President Biden pledged to use his clemency powers to right ‘an historic wrong.’ Why did it fall so short of its promise?

The email came while James Harter was on vacation with his husband in Quebec City, Canada. He was checking his computer in their RV when he read the no-nonsense subject line: Certificate of Pardon.

He had no idea just how uncommon that email was ….

Fast forward one year:

Diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives have been erased under the new administration’s zeal to refocus the military on lethality. Thousands of transgender service members are being discharged and banned from serving. And the Pentagon is considering renaming ships, including the USNS Harvey Milk, named for the slain gay rights activist and veteran who was discharged over his sexuality, among other ships that don’t fit a “warrior” ethos. 

While The War Horse had previously reported on the low number of pardon applications for LGBTQ+ veterans, records disclosed last month by the Office of the U.S. Pardon Attorney are the first to reveal just how few have been granted: two from the Navy, one from the Air Force, and one from the Army.

What a difference a year makes, when bigots like Hegseth & Trump are now running the show.

https://19thnews.org/author/leah-rosenbaum-the-war-horse

Washington Post: Long Island police sued after partnering with ICE to enforce immigration

The 287(g) program allows local police to work with ICE as a “force multiplier” during immigration enforcement operations.

Immigrant rights groups sued a Long Island county Tuesday over an agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement that allows local police to carry out immigration enforcement.

Nassau County in February became the first county in New York to make a deal with ICE since President Donald Trump was inaugurated. The program — known as a 287(g) agreement after the federal law that authorizes such partnerships — allows law enforcement agencies to partner with ICE as a “force multiplier” to make immigration arrests.

Advocates and community groups, including the Episcopal Diocese of Long Island, the Central American Refugee Center and the Haitian-American Family of Long Island, said in their lawsuit that the partnership exceeds Nassau police’s authority under state law and allows a police agency already dogged by accusations of racial profiling to discriminate against the immigrant community. The lawsuit, filed in New York Supreme Court, names the county and its police department as defendants.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2025/06/26/nassau-county-ice-lawsuit

Raw Story: ‘Warning lights are starting to flash’ as Trump economy takes hold: MSNBC report

Due to a combination of factors, the economy under Donald Trump is heading in the wrong direction which should raise alarms.

That is the opinion of investment analyst and MSNBC contributor Steve Ratner who appeared on “Morning Joe” on Thursday morning with host Jonathan Lemire.

With his wall of charts, Ratner explained, “So the Federal Reserve put out some numbers last week on its expectations for the economy that I think, relative to everything I just talked about are worth noting. It took down GDP growth for this year from 1.7 to 1.4. This happens to match a World Bank number that came out a couple of weeks ago –– two very impartial forecasters.”

“I would note that in 2024, the economy grew 2.8 percent. So in year one of Trump, we are going to grow, at least on track to grow exactly half of what we grew in the last year of Biden,” he observed before pointing out unemployment is likely to hit 4.5 percent “by the end of the year.”

Adding, “The Fed is now more a little more concerned about the economy than they were three months ago,” coupled with a refusal to drop interest rates, he went on to state, “I don’t want to necessarily pronounce stagflation, but when you’re moving towards slower growth, more unemployment and somewhat higher interest rates, that is not the direction you want to be moving in.”

https://www.rawstory.com/trump-economy-warning-ratner-msnbc

Fox News: Trump DHS sues entire bench of federal judges in Maryland district court over automatic injunctions

DHS lawsuit targets Maryland federal court’s automatic pause policy that delays deportations

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is suing all 15 judges on the Maryland federal bench, arguing the court’s policy of automatically pausing certain immigration cases that come before it is unlawful.

Attorneys for the Trump administration argued to the very court they are suing that the policy, imposed through an order the court issued in May, is an “egregious example of judicial overreach.”

Stupid fools — how is the court supposed to consider a case if the deportation isn’t stopped at least long enough the court to hear the case and reach a decision.

Where does Trump find these shit-for-brains attorneys?

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-dhs-sues-entire-bench-federal-judges-maryland-district-court-over-automatic-injunctions

Independent: Pete Hegseth holding Pentagon press conference to celebrate ‘very upset’ B-2 pilots involved in Iran raid

President Donald Trump says defense secretary will speak up ‘for the dignity of our great American pilots’ after feud with media over extent of bomb damage continues

“Secretary of Defense (War!) Pete Hegseth, together with Military Representatives, will be holding a Major News Conference tomorrow morning at 8 A.M. EST at The Pentagon, in order to fight for the Dignity of our Great American Pilots,” the president wrote on Truth Social on Wednesday evening.

“These Patriots were very upset! After 36 hours of dangerously flying through Enemy Territory, they landed, they knew the Success was LEGENDARY, and then, two days later, they started reading Fake News by CNN and The Failing New York Times. They felt terribly!

“Fortunately for them and, as usual, solely for the purpose of demeaning PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP, the Fake News (Times and CNN) lied and totally misrepresented the Facts, none of which they had (because it was too soon, there were no Facts out there yet!). The News Conference will prove both interesting and irrefutable. Enjoy!”

That was the hype from Hegseth & his cronies. The mission really was a dud, one big ugly wasted effort, as multiple leaks have now confirmed.

Condolences to the pilots, perhaps next time you’ll have some competent leadership, or perhaps not …

https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/us-politics/pete-hegseth-press-conference-trump-iran-b2777289.html

Latin Times: Dozens of US Citizens Were Deported by ICE Before Trump Started His Second Term: Report

Multiple administrations have reportedly been deporting U.S. citizens since at least 2015

… a newly released government watchdog report revealed that at least 70 documented U.S. citizens were deported between 2015 and 2020.

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) found that toward the end of former President Barack Obama’s second term and throughout President Donald Trump’s first, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested 674 possible U.S. citizens, detained 121 and deported at least 70, though the actual numbers may be higher.

“ICE does not know the extent to which its officers are taking enforcement actions against individuals who could be U.S. citizens,” the report revealed.

The problem is systemic, according to Migrant Insider, since “ICE has not implemented a reliable system to track and correct its mistakes.”

https://www.latintimes.com/dozens-us-citizens-were-deported-ice-before-trump-started-his-second-term-report-585608

Axios: Judge blocks Colorado governor from forcing some staff to aid ICE subpoena

A Denver judge on Wednesday granted a preliminary injunction blocking Colorado Gov. Jared Polis from ordering certain state employees to comply with an ICE subpoena for personal information about undocumented children and their sponsors.

The ruling delivers a legal setback to Polis and a win for whistleblower Scott Moss, a top labor official in the governor’s administration, who sued to block the disclosures.

Denver District Judge A. Bruce Jones called the ICE subpoena “overly broad,” noted that it wasn’t issued by a court, and suggested it may serve purposes beyond what’s stated, including to help with deportation efforts.

Expand article logo

https://www.axios.com/local/denver/2025/06/26/colorado-governor-polis-ice-subpoena-judge-ruling

Miami Herald: Two Judges Deliver Double Blow to Trump Deportations

Judge Stephanie Haines has ruled that potential deportees must receive 21 days to contest removal orders, halting President Donald Trump’s push to shorten it to seven days. Judge Orlando Garcia issued a restraining order to stop the immediate deportation of Egyptian national Mohamed Sabry Soliman’s family. The legal challenges are the latest of numerous obstacles in the way of Trump’s immigration agenda.


https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/two-judges-deliver-double-blow-to-trump-deportations/ss-AA1HpL9e

KTLA: Masked Border Patrol agents detain landscaper after repeatedly hitting him

In a video circulating on social media, a group of masked U.S. Border Patrol agents is seen striking and subduing a man in Santa Ana before forcing him into the back of an unmarked car on Saturday.

The incident sparked protests in the following hours, and an online fundraiser was started through GoFundMe, where family members identified the victim as Tustin resident Narciso Barranco, a father to three sons who are all U.S. Marines.

According to one of his sons, 25-year-old Alejandro Barranco, Narciso was picked up by alleged federal immigration officers while he was working as a landscaper at the IHOP on Edinger Avenue and Ritchey Street.

“I think part of it is racial profiling,” Alejandro told KTLA’s Sara Welch. “They probably assumed because he was working the landscaping he had no documentation.”

The video shared by the Instagram account @SantaAnaProblems shows a group of Border Patrol agents wearing face coverings and tactical vests surrounding Narciso, holding him down while one agent repeatedly strikes him on his right arm and near his head.

Congressman Lou Correa, who represents Santa Ana, called the case another example of President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown striking fear in Southern California’s Latino community.

“We cannot have federal agents inciting violence in our streets and attacking innocent parents,” Rep. Correa (D-Orange County) said in a statement to KTLA 5 News. “Clearly, we need immigration reform—­­­especially for people like Mr. Barranca who have lived in this country for 25-30 years and raised his sons to put their lives on the line to defend the United States.”

https://ktla.com/news/local-news/santa-ana-landscaper-detained

KTLA: Santa Ana police urge public to report abandoned property after immigration arrest video sparks outrage

The Santa Ana Police Department is asking residents to alert authorities if they see abandoned vehicles or property they believe may belong to someone detained by federal immigration officers. The department issued the public service announcement on social media following a high-profile immigration arrest in the city that has drawn local and national attention.

“If you believe a community member has been detained by federal officers and their vehicle or property has been left alone or abandoned, please call our Communications Division,” the statement read. Police added they would make a “reasonable effort” to contact family members or others who could retrieve the belongings. The notice was initially posted in Spanish, with a follow-up video in English.

Beating and kidnapping of Narciso Barranco by ICE Gestapo goons:

The message comes amid heightened immigration enforcement activity in Southern California, which has left many families scrambling for answers and assistance. One case in particular has sparked outrage: the arrest of Narciso Barranco in Santa Ana, a 48-year-old husband and father of three U.S. Marines.

Barranco was allegedly detained Saturday by U.S. Border Patrol agents while working as a landscaper outside an IHOP near Edinger Avenue and Ritchey Street. Video of the arrest, shared widely on social media, shows masked federal agents tackling a man to the ground, striking him, then forcing him into an unmarked silver SUV.

The footage was first posted by the Instagram account @SantaAnaProblems. In the video, agents wearing tactical vests and face coverings are seen surrounding the man, pinning him to the pavement. One agent repeatedly strikes him on the arm and near the head before others lift him up and push him into the vehicle using what appears to be a metal rod. The man did not appear to be seriously injured in the footage.

His son, 25-year-old Alejandro Barranco, identified the man as his father, Narciso. He told KTLA’s Sara Welch that his father has lived in the United States for nearly three decades and was targeted, he believes, because of how he looked and where he worked.

“I think part of it is racial profiling,” Alejandro said. “They probably assumed because he was working the landscaping he had no documentation.”

On Sunday evening, hundreds of community members gathered in Santa Ana for a candlelight vigil in support of Narciso. The event drew several hundred attendees, including faith leaders and elected officials, all rallying behind a family whose story has gained national attention.

“We never expected a turnout like this—all the elected officials, the support—it’s crazy. I’ve never seen anything like it, but I’m very glad we’re all here for each other,” Alejandro said.

https://ktla.com/news/local-news/santa-ana-police-urge-public-to-report-abandoned-property-after-immigration-arrest-video-sparks-outrage