The parents of a U.S. Marine in California were detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement last month while en route to visit their pregnant daughter. The father was deported Friday, NBC News reported.
Steve Rios, a U.S. Marine and resident of Oceanside, was traveling with his parents to Camp Pendleton to visit his sister who, along with her husband who’s also a U.S. Marine, is expecting her first child. The trio was stopped at the base’s entrance, however, when ICE agents detained Rios’ parents, who have no criminal history and have pending green card applications.
“I just kept on looking at my parents,” Rios told NBC News. “I didn’t know if it would be the last time I’d see them.”
Rios immediately texted his sister, Ashley Rios, about the incident as it was taking place, the news of which saw her break down in tears.
“My brother texted me that they got stopped,” Ashley Rios said, speaking with NBC News. “And as soon as I heard that, I just started, like, bawling.”
Rios’ parents – Esteban Rios and Luisa Rodriguez, who immigrated to the United States from Mexico more than 30 years ago – were briefly released from ICE custody following their detention, though with ankle monitors and an order to check back in with ICE officials.
Wearing a shirt and hat that bore the phrase “Proud dad of a U.S. Marine,” Rios’ father, alongside Rios’ mother, made good on their pledge to check back in with ICE officials, only for the father to be deported on Friday and the mother detained indefinitely, according to the report.
“It’s just hard because you just want to hear, like, your parents’ voice, that everything will be OK,” Ashley Rios said, telling NBC News that she was worried about her parents missing the birth of her first child. “I’d always want, like, my mom in that delivery room and everything, so it’s just hard to not think about your parents there.”
An ICE spokesperson released a statement regarding Rios’ parents’ arrests and deportation, in which they made a soft acknowledgment that undocumented immigrants with no criminal history, outside of immigrating to the country illegally, were also the target of President Donald Trump’s mass deportation policy.
“As part of its routine operations, ICE arrests aliens who commit crimes and other individuals who have violated our nation’s immigration laws,” the statement from ICE to NBC News reads. “All aliens in violation of U.S. immigration law may be subject to arrest, detention and, if found removable by final order, removal from the United States, regardless of nationality.”
A federal appeals court on Saturday rejected the Trump administration’s request to immediately allow the deployment of National Guard troops to Illinois, leaving in place a lower court’s order that blocked the mobilization temporarily.
In a brief order, the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said the federal government remains barred from deploying troops but that any out-of-state Guard members in Illinois do not need to return to their home states for now. The mobilization had included hundreds of soldiers called up from the Texas National Guard.
U.S. District Judge April Perry had issued an order blocking the National Guard deployment on Thursday after expressing skepticism about the administration’s assertions that the soldiers were needed to protect federal agents from violent protesters.
A separate federal judge in Oregon has also blocked President Donald Trump’s effort to send troops to Portland, though another appellate court appeared poised to overrule that decision during arguments earlier this week.
In both cases, the Democratic governors of the states sued Trump, arguing that the administration deliberately miscast mostly peaceful demonstrations as violent to justify further deployments.
Perry’s order is set to remain in effect until at least October 23, though she could extend it.
Trump has threatened to expand his campaign to other Democratic-led cities, after sending Guard troops this year to Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., despite objections from their mayors.
A trial court in Los Angeles ruled the deployment of Guard troops there during the summer was illegal, though an appeals court later granted a stay of that ruling while the administration’s appeal is pending.
While the National Guard is part of the U.S. military, during domestic deployments it is usually controlled by governors in response to events such as natural disasters.
This is an all-out rebellion…
“We believe the Hatch Act clearly prohibits use of public assets for political purposes and messaging,” Molly Prescott, spokeswoman for the Port of Portland, which operates Portland International Airport, told The Washington Post.
“This is the first time to our knowledge that the Port has declined to play a video,” she added.
The Hatch Act of 1939 prohibits federal employees from engaging in partisan political behavior while on the job and is designed to prevent the party in power from abusing the apparatus of government.
“I’m Kristi Noem, the United States Secretary of Homeland Security. It is TSA’s top priority to make sure that you have the most pleasant and efficient airport experience as possible while we keep you safe,” Noem says in the video. “However, Democrats in Congress refuse to fund the federal government and because of this, many of our operations are impacted and most of our TSA employees are working without pay. We will continue to do all that we can to avoid delays that will impact your travel and our hope is that Democrats will soon recognize the importance of opening the government.”
In addition to being a ludicrous abuse of power, Noem is shamelessly lying. Republicans control every branch of government. They caused this shutdown by refusing to grant the Democrats’ demand for an extension to crucial Affordable Care Act subsidies. MAGA is hellbent on gutting healthcare — even after the “big, beautiful bill” slashed $1 trillion from Medicaid — and Democrats are digging in to stop them on behalf of the American people.
According to the Post’s report, over half a dozen markets are refusing to play the video. Officials at the Buffalo, Charlotte, Cleveland, Portland, Phoenix, and Seattle airport have all stated that it violates internal policies about political messaging or violates state or federal laws.
County Executive Ken Jenkins described the Noem video as “inconsistent with the values we expect from our nation’s top public officials” and “unnecessarily alarmist” while discussing Westchester’s refusal to run it.
Rob Britton, a former American Airlines executive, told the Post that he’s “been around this business a long, long time” and can’t recall any precedent for Noem’s video.
MAGA isn’t even trying to hide what they’re doing anymore. They’re exploiting every lever of power at their disposal to entrench their rule as Trump’s popularity craters. There has never been a more corrupt White House in American history, and every single one of these crooks must be held responsible for their actions.
In the meantime, we can all take a lesson from the airports that are refusing to air Noem’s video. When it comes to fascism, never surrender so much as an inch of ground.
https://www.facebook.com/OccupyDemocrats/posts/1315109490720622
Thousands of U.S.-bound packages shipped via UPS (NYSE:UPS) are stuck in hubs nationwide, with the company stating it has begun “disposing of” some shipments due to a “nightmare” of new customs requirements imposed by the Trump administration.
The issue stems from the end of the long-standing “de minimis” tariff exemption on August 29. Previously, packages valued at $800 or less could enter the United States duty-free. Now, these shipments are subject to numerous tariffs and fees, creating a complex and costly process that has ensnared both private individuals and experienced exporters.
Frustrated customers have reported weeks of delays and confusing, often contradictory, tracking updates, according to NBC. Items in limbo range from commercial goods, such as a tea importer’s five shipments of matcha worth over $127,000, to items of deep sentimental value like journals, diplomas, and engagement rings. Customers have received notifications that their packages were “disposed of” or “destroyed,” only to later receive an update saying the shipment had cleared customs and was on its way. One Boston man told NBC he received multiple conflicting notices within days, with the final update stating his package from Japan was disposed of due to a customs delay.
In a statement, UPS attributed the problem to “missing or incomplete information” required by the new U.S. import regulations. The company said it contacts shippers three times to obtain necessary information. If unsuccessful, the package can either be returned at the shipper’s expense or disposed of in compliance with U.S. customs regulations. UPS did not clarify to NBC News what “disposed of” entails.
The situation presents a potential problem for the company, whose stock price has already fallen over 30% this year due to factors including tariffs and competition. Some shippers, like a glassware company owner in Stockholm, have decided to switch to competitors like FedEx (FDX). With the busy holiday shipping season approaching, customers worry that if the problems are not resolved, it could become an “even bigger issue.”
Donald Trump has an ambitious vision to make America Great Again! Stemming from a background of generational wealth, he built a strong identity for himself through hard work, support, and intelligence, which shows in his lifestyle. The real estate mogul was a big shot name in the industry long before he said yes to politics.
Naturally, his extravagant choices can also be seen during his tenure as he plans another lavish construction project in Washington, D.C. This triumphal arch could rival the Lincoln Memorial in size and grandeur. This week, a correspondent captured images of a large model of the proposed arch, complete with a winged golden figure sitting atop the Resolute Desk, reminiscent of Paris’ Arc de Triomphe. The White House has not confirmed.
As per The Irish Star, the arch would be the latest in a series of projects tied to Trump’s return to office, including federal buildings with significant credit given to his administration. This news comes after Trump has already spent quite a large sum of funds renovating parts of the White House.
The 79-year-old is set to construct a lavish ballroom, described as a $200 million gold-plated vanity project spanning 90,000 square feet. It is under scrutiny over whether its funding has ties to foreign governments. The President has also paved the infamous Rose Garden at the White House and turned it into a something akin to a patio in a resort.
Despite the federal government shutdown, which occurred on October 1, 2025, and remains unresolved as of October 9, construction on the ballroom has not stopped. Trump administration officials insist that the build is being financed through a combination of Trump’s personal finances and his ardent supporters, who are tycoons from companies like Google, Booz Allen Hamilton, and Palantir.
A controversy also began in lieu of the funding claims for the ballroom. YouTube, which Google owns, paid $24.5 million to resolve a longstanding lawsuit brought by Donald Trump. Similarly, Trump’s domestic spending bill, signed in July, includes billions for projects and symbolism aimed at reshaping the capital in his image.
His recent military parade, timed with the Army’s 250th anniversary and his 79th birthday, is estimated to have cost taxpayers up to $40 million. He has also spent quite a bit on renovating the Oval Office and covering it with gold accents, despite adverse reactions online.
The news about Trump’s love for investing in gold, making massive renovations, and enjoying a luxurious lifestyle comes when there is an ongoing political fiasco between the Republicans and the Democrats over the shutdown, as TSA workers aren’t getting paid, the agricultural sector is suffering, and the people are concerned about America’s future.
As millions of Americans face cuts to healthcare, food assistance, and disaster relief programs, Trump has redirected hundreds of dollars in federal funds toward aesthetic upgrades, lavish amenities benefiting himself and his circle. Meanwhile, Republicans accused the Democrats of pushing for extreme spending measures, including proposals to offer health care to undocumented immigrants, which led to the shutdown.
Even people like Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene have decided to go against her party’s leadership despite her support for Trump and his ideas. All the funds meant for these workers were reportedly being used for providing healthcare for illegal immigrants and transgender surgeries.
“Our government keeps sending billions overseas while doing nothing for our own people,” Greene said. “It’s shameful, and I’m not staying silent about it anymore,” Greene said.
As Trump’s administration continues to announce grand renovations, many people have questioned the ruling party’s real agendas and accused them of heading towards an authoritarian style of leadership.
A legal analyst has warned that the arrest of a Chicago TV producer by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents on Friday could have been a direct violation of a recent court order in the city.
Debbie Brockman, a producer for Chicago television station WGN-TV, was apprehended by border patrol agents in a residential area of the city on Friday.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed her arrest in a statement to Newsweek stating that she “was placed under arrest for assault on a federal law enforcement officer.” As did WGN though it mentioned Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) instead. WGN added no charges were filed were filed against Brockman.
For the senior writer covering the courts for Slate, Mark Joseph Stern, her arrest “appears to be in direct violation of a temporary restraining order prohibiting DHS officers from arresting journalists.” The officers who arrested, he wrote on Bluesky, “may well be subject to contempt of court.”
Why It Matters
Immigration agents, under the direction of the Donald Trump administration, have been scouring the streets of Chicago for illegal immigrants to deport, sparking protests across the city.
On Thursday, a federal judge in Chicago issued a temporary restraining order banning federal agents from using riot control weapons and other force against protesters and journalists covering demonstrations, who are not posing a threat to law enforcement.
The order from District Judge Sara Ellis also forbids agents from arresting, threatening to arrest, or deploying physical force against journalists unless they have established probable cause that they have committed a crime.
What To Know
Videos circulating on social media show a woman, who later identifies herself as Debbie Brockman, being held to the ground by masked officers before being handcuffed and loaded into a silver van. In some of the videos, onlookers can be heard calling the agents “fascists” and telling them to “get out of our neighborhood, get out of our city”.
According to what witnesses told WGN, another person had been arrested in the Lincoln’s Square neighborhood before the journalist and was already in the federal agents’ van when Brockman was put into it. Residents said that immigration agents seemed to be targeting men working on a nearby property. Brockman, according to her employer, is a U.S. citizen.
Stern shared on Bluesky a screenshot of the temporary restraining order’s text, which reads: “It is hereby ORDERED that Defendants, their officers, agents, assigns and all other persons acting in concert with them (hereafter referred to as ‘Federal Agents’), are temporarily EN/joined in this judicial district from: a. Dispersing, arresting, threatening to arrest, threatening or using physical force against any person who they know or reasonably should know is a journalist, unless defendants have probable cause to believe that the individual has committed a crime.”
At time of writing, Newsweek has found no video evidence, released by the DHS or other sources, showing Brockman assaulting federal agents.
What People Are Saying
Tricia McLaughlin, who oversees the DHS’s public outreach, said of the arrest in a statement provided to Newsweek: “U.S. border patrol was conducting immigration enforcement operations and when several violent agitators used their vehicles to block in agents in an effort to impede and assault federal officers.
“In fear of public safety and of law enforcement, officers used their service vehicle to strike a suspect’s vehicle and create an opening. As agents were driving, Deborah Brockman, a US citizen, threw objects at border patrol’s car, and she was placed under arrest for assault on a federal law enforcement officer.
“This incident is not isolated and reflects a growing and dangerous trend of illegal aliens violently resisting arrest and agitators and criminals ramming cars into our law enforcement officers. These attacks highlight the dangers our law enforcement officers face daily—all while receiving no pay thanks to the Democrats’ government shutdown.”
In a statement to Newsweek, WGN said: “A WGN-TV creative services employee was detained by ICE. She has since been released, and no charges were filed against her. Out of respect for her privacy, we will have no further statements about this incident.”
Josh Thomas, a resident of the area where Brockman was arrested, the Lincoln’s Square neighborhood, told WGN: “I heard yelling and screaming and honking. I ran downstairs to see what was going on. It looked like Border Patrol agents in a minivan had slammed some lady to the ground. And so, I ran up to her and asked her for her name. She said she was a WGN employee.”
Resident Giordana Mahn told WGN: “I’m scared for my community. I’m scared for anyone who is Black or brown. You’ll see in the video, the [WGN employee] wasn’t Black or brown […] they are terrorizing anyone. Everyone in Chicago.”
What Happens Next
According to WGN, Brockman was released from federal custody at 3 p.m. on Friday, local time, and no charges were filed against her. As of 6 p.m. on Friday, the TV station said, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney in Chicago had confirmed no charges had been filed in Brockman’s case.
President Donald Trump announced he will impose an additional 100% tariff on goods from China, on top of the 30% tariffs already in effect, starting November 1 or sooner. The threat is a massive escalation after months of a trade truce between the two nations.
“The United States of America will impose a Tariff of 100% on China, over and above any Tariff that they are currently paying,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social Friday afternoon. “Also on November 1st, we will impose Export Controls on any and all critical software.”
Trump’s announcement is tied to Beijing ramping up export controls on its critical rare earths, which are needed to produce many electronics. As a result, Trump appeared to call off a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping that was scheduled for later this month in South Korea.
Trump’s initial message Friday, delivered via a Truth Social post, in which he threatened “massive” new tariffs, was ill received by investors on Friday as fears of a spring déjà vu, when tariffs on Chinese goods soared to a stunning 145%, set in. Markets closed sharply lower on Friday after Trump’s initial comments, with the Dow falling by 878 points, or 1.9%. The S&P 500 was down 2.7%, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq tumbled 3.5%.
While Trump doesn’t always act on his threats, investors, consumers and businesses still have reason to worry.
The two largest economies depend on each other
The United States and China are the world’s two largest economies. Although Mexico has recently replaced China as the top source of foreign goods shipped to the United States, America depends on China for hundreds of billions of dollars’ worth of goods. Meanwhile, China is one of the top export markets for America.
In particular, electronics, apparel and furniture are among the top goods the United States receives from China. Trump has pushed CEOs, especially in tech, to move production to the United States, but he’s softened his approach in recent months as business leaders have satisfied the president with announcements of hundreds of billions of dollars in investments in US manufacturing — even if they continue to make the bulk of their products overseas.
Shortly after imposing minimum 145% tariffs on Chinese goods — an effective embargo on trade, Trump issued an exemption for electronics, making them subject to 20% tariffs instead. The move was, in many ways, an acknowledgment that the Trump administration understood the pain he was inflicting on the US economy through his sky-high tariffs.
Then, in May, US and Chinese officials further established the interdependence of trade by agreeing to lower tariffs on one another. China brought levies on American exports down to 10% from 125%, and the United States brought rates down to 30% from 145%.
Both countries’ stock markets rallied as a result.
It was only a matter of time
Trump on Friday claimed trade hostility from China “came out of nowhere.” But in reality, it’s been bubbling up for months.
For the United States, a critical part of trade agreements has been to ensure China will increase its supply of rare earth magnets. Yet despite several apparent breakthroughs, Trump has in recent months repeatedly accused China of violating the terms.
Trump first responded by putting restrictions on sales of American technologies to China, including a key Nvidia AI chip. Many of these restrictions were later lifted.
Then came the Trump administration’s announcement that it would soon impose fees on goods transported on Chinese-owned or -operated ships. China countered with a similar plan on American ships that took effect Friday.
In short: Trump has already demonstrated there’s no limit to how high he’ll go with tariffs on China, and Xi has shown no mercy in how he chooses to retaliate.
But Trump’s ability to continue to impose tariffs on a whim could soon end, pending the verdict in a landmark case kicking off in the Supreme Court next month. Xi, however, faces no such constraints.
https://www.cnn.com/2025/10/10/economy/trump-china-tariff-threats-economy
