Federal immigration agents reportedly detained a 15-year-old U.S. citizen during a Chicago Border Patrol (CBP) operation, prompting criticism from civil rights advocates. Attorneys claimed the teenager was held without charges or legal counsel. The law firm representing him launched a civil investigation into the incident, calling it a troubling abuse of authority.
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The 15-year-old was arrested for assault and later released without charges. DHS said the teen was arrested for allegedly throwing an egg that hit a Border Patrol agent during a chase following a vehicle collision. Officials noted that the teen admitted to the act. Attorneys from Romanucci & Blandin said the teen was held for several hours without family contact before release.
Attorneys claimed the detention may have violated constitutional protections against unlawful seizure and due process. Attorney Antonio M. Romanucci stated, “This is how people disappear in autocracies—grabbed off streets, held in unmarked locations, no calls to family, no stated charges, no due process.”
Chicago Teen’s CBP Arrest Sparks Civil Rights Uproar
New York Attorney General Letitia James made her first court appearance yesterday, where she pled not guilty to federal charges of alleged mortgage fraud. The indictment was brought by interim U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan, a former member of Trump’s legal team with no prosecutorial experience, who accused James of misleading a bank to secure favorable mortgage terms. James slammed the indictment as “baseless” and politically motivated.
‘She literally does not know what she is doing’: Trump attorney struggles in major prosecutions
New York Attorney General Letitia James made her first court appearance yesterday, where she pled not guilty to federal charges of alleged mortgage fraud. The indictment was brought by interim U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan, a former member of Trump’s legal team with no prosecutorial experience, who accused James of misleading a bank to secure favorable mortgage terms. James slammed the indictment as “baseless” and politically motivated. MSNBC contributor Sam Stein and Georgetown law professor and MSNBC legal analyst Paul Butler join “The Weekend” to discuss.
The Trump administration suffered a legal blow on Friday afternoon when the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals stayed an order issued on October 20 by a federal appellate court ruling it could deploy 200 National Guard troops to Portland, Oregon, under federal control.\…
On October 20, a three-judge appeals court ruled that Trump could federalize 200 National Guard troops for deployment to Portland, with two Trump-appointed judges in favor, while one Bill Clinton appointee was opposed.
However, on Friday, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals granted a stay preventing this from coming into effect until 5 p.m. on October 28 at the earliest, while the court decides whether to reconsider the case. The matter could now appear before a so-called en banc review, made up of 11 judges.
Donald Trump suffers another blow in National Guard deployment
President Trump’s bid to deploy National Guard troops to Portland, Oregon, faced a setback on Friday.
During a press conference at the White House several weeks ago in August, Donald Trump threatened to fire Gadyaces Serralta, who he just hired to lead the U.S. Marshals Service, if he showed himself to be “soft, weak, and pathetic.”
‘I Will Fire You So Fast’: Trump Gets Caught Up In A Power Trip, Threatens New Hire In Front Of Reporters During Press Conference
During a press conference at the White House several weeks ago in August, Donald Trump threatened to fire Gadyaces Serralta, who he just hired to lead the U.S. Marshals Service, if he showed himself to be “soft, weak, and pathetic.”
The prices of Hyundai and KIA vehicles is set to rise in the United States thanks to South Korea not striking a trade deal with the USA. This is despite the tariffs placed on the U.S. auto industry being deemed illegal by a second federal court, here’s the full story.
Trump’s ‘Illegal’ Auto Tariffs Hit Hyundai and KIA Prices
The prices of Hyundai and KIA vehicles is set to rise in the United States thanks to South Korea not striking a trade deal with the USA. This is despite the tariffs placed on the U.S. auto industry being deemed illegal by a second federal court, here’s the full story.
During an operation in a Chicago neighborhood on October 3, immigration agents deployed tear gas by an elementary school. Community members now live in fear of being targeted by immigration officials. [Video]
Weeks after immigration agents deployed tear gas near a Chicago elementary school, community fears persist
“We wouldn’t have this process if your personal views were not relevant,” Murphy said. “That is pretty stunning that you will not share your views, not only on whether we should have a refugee admissions process that is race-based, but you won’t share your personal views on whether we should reimpose discriminatory treatment against Black Americans. That is absolutely relevant to your qualifications to serve. And your refusal to answer it, I hope, is something that every member of this committee will think about.”
Trump ambassador nominee won’t say if he believes Black Americans should be allowed to vote
One longtime Republican senator is publicly criticizing his colleagues for not having the “guts” to confront President Donald Trump, even when his policies harm their own constituents.
During a Friday interview with Politico reporter Dasha Burns, Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) lamented that one thing he learned from 15 years in Congress is that it’s nearly impossible to persuade someone to do something “they’re not inclined to do.” He then observed that there are eight to ten “farm states” in the U.S. where agriculture is the main driver of the economy, and that privately, his colleagues from those states are frustrated about the damage Trump’s agenda is causing to their voters.
“There are twenty senators representing farm states who have always believed in free trade,” Paul said.” And they’re all grumbling, saying, ‘China isn’t buying any of our soybeans this year.'”
“The tariff war with China has led to this. And they don’t have the guts to criticize Trump because he’s their president—and frankly, they’re afraid,” he added. “They’re afraid he will do to them what he’s trying to do to me. That’s too bad, because it would be a little easier on me if I weren’t the only target, if there were other people willing to stand up and oppose bad policy.”
‘They’re afraid’: GOP senator says Republicans ‘don’t have the guts’ to stand up to Trump
A Chicago woman has told Newsweek she was “forcibly removed” from her vehicle by immigration agents. Dayanne Figueroa, a U.S. citizen and paralegal, said her car was struck by an unmarked government vehicle at the 1600 block of West Hubbard Street in Chicago on the morning of Friday, October 10, while she was on her way to get coffee before work.
A Chicago woman has told Newsweek she was “forcibly removed” from her vehicle by federal immigration agents.
Dayanne Figueroa, a U.S. citizen and paralegal, said an unmarked government vehicle struck her car at the 1600 block of West Hubbard Street in Chicago on the morning of October 10, while she was on her way to get coffee before going to work.
“I was in shock and terrified,” Figueroa told Newsweek. “Instead of handling the situation as a routine traffic incident, the masked agents, armed in hands, forcibly removed me from my car without questions and without informing me that I was under arrest.”
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) told Newsweek that Border Patrol was making a targeted arrest when Figueroa’s vehicle blocked agents and struck an unmarked government vehicle.
Footage obtained by Newsweek appears to show armed federal agents detaining Figueroa, dragging her by the legs to remove her from her vehicle. Some agents brandish guns, and bystanders can be heard shouting, “You hit her,” as the situation unfolds.
Additional video obtained by Figueroa’s family from another witness provides a different angle of the encounter. The bystander who is filming tells federal agents: “You hit her. We all saw it.”
“You guys are f*****g scumbags, f*****g Nazis. They hit her car. You guys hit her, and you f*****g know it,” the bystander is heard saying.
“As agents were departing, the driver, a U.S. citizen, struck an unmarked government vehicle,” DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin told Newsweek.
“In fear of public safety and of law enforcement, officers attempted to remove her from the vehicle. She violently resisted, kicking two agents and causing injuries. This agitator was arrested for assault on a federal agent,” McLaughlin added.
Figueroa disputes DHS’s account, denying that she crashed into agents and accusing the immigration enforcers of using excessive force.
“The video evidence is clear: Agents crashed into me. I was not involved in any protest or related activity, and I intend to seek justice for how I was treated. I am confident the facts will speak for themselves,” she said.
Chicago has emerged as a focal point in the national conversation over immigration enforcement as federal authorities step up operations under the Trump administration’s Operation Midway Blitz. The initiative has included increased ICE activity across the city, with arrests and targeted actions in neighborhoods with large immigrant populations. Critics say the operations have heightened fear among residents and strained community relations, while federal officials maintain that the measures are necessary to enforce immigration laws and detain individuals with criminal records.
Amid the Trump administration’s hard-line mass deportation push, there have been dozens of reports of U.S. citizens being questioned or detained by immigration authorities, raising concerns over racial profiling, the agencies’ practices and enforcement criteria. Multiple federal agencies—including Border Patrol, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the FBI, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives—are being mobilized to carry out coordinated immigration operations as the administration pursues its goal of removing millions of migrants without legal status.
Figueroa described the experience as physically and emotionally distressing, saying the manner in which she was removed from her vehicle left her traumatized and injured. She said she was treated “like cattle.”
The paralegal said she was transported to multiple undisclosed locations and was not allowed to contact her family or legal counsel. She said she was never charged with a crime or informed of a legal reason for her detention.
“These actions constitute serious violations of federal civil rights law and multiple provisions of the United States Constitution,” Figueroa said.
She said she had recently undergone kidney surgery. “I am presently receiving ongoing medical treatment and attending numerous appointments to rehabilitate from recent kidney surgeries and from multiple new injuries directly caused by this assault,” Figueroa said.
Her family is now raising money on GoFundMe for legal and medical fees following the incident.
US Citizen dragged from car by Border Patrol in Chicago
“I was in shock and terrified,” Dayanne Figueroa told Newsweek.
