Gov. Greg Abbott has deployed hundreds of National Guard troops to the border in anticipation of immigration policy Title 42 expiring on Thursday. And the Biden administration has unveiled new climate rules for power plants that are said to be some of the strictest ever for the industry. These stories and more highlight the rundown for Thursday, May 11, 2023.
New immigration rules coming as Title 42 expires
The pandemic-era policy known as Title 42 is set to expire Thursday, bringing the implementation of new regulations by the Biden administration aimed at addressing the surge in migration already evident at the country’s southern border. In response to the situation, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has deployed hundreds of National Guard troops to the border, where volunteers are also stationed to provide humanitarian aid to those who have undertaken the journey to the U.S. in anticipation of the policy’s expiration.
“No matter how much we are prepared, I don’t think we are going to be prepared enough,” John Martin, deputy director of the Opportunity Center for the Homeless in El Paso, Texas, said.
In anticipation of the lifting of Title 42, the Biden administration announced that migrants entering the country must now provide proof that they have applied for asylum online or through another country before seeking entry. Additionally, the administration unveiled plans to establish 100 processing centers in Central and South America, with the hope of preventing an overwhelming influx of asylum seekers at the border entry points.
“To the federal administration that has created the policies that have led to this situation, this is not working,” Sheriff David Rhodes, president of the Arizona Sheriffs Association, said. “All the sheriffs unanimously agree we have to secure the border now, this experiment, whatever it was, has failed us. And it’s crystal clear.”
Ahead of Thursday’s significant change in the way officials can handle the expulsion of migrants, Border Patrol agents reported apprehending more than 10,000 migrants on both Monday and Tuesday, marking the highest single-day totals ever recorded. This surge in apprehensions highlights the challenges faced by border authorities in managing the increased number of individuals seeking to enter the U.S.
Trump makes CNN appearance for town hall event
Former President Donald Trump made his primetime return to CNN on Wednesday, May 10, marking his first appearance on the network since 2016. The town hall event, hosted by CNN’s Kaitlan Collins in New Hampshire, featured heated exchanges and interruptions between Trump and the host.
Throughout the evening, a range of topics was discussed, including the recently concluded sexual abuse case against Trump, allegations of election fraud, the events of the Jan. 6 riots, abortion, the war in Ukraine, and classified documents. The discussion was characterized by intense back-and-forth exchanges between Trump and Collins, with both frequently talking over each other.
According to the Associated Press, the town hall audience consisted primarily of Republicans and independents who generally held a favorable view of Trump. Some Democrats criticized CNN for providing a platform to the former president, questioning the decision to host the town hall.
“CNN should be ashamed of themselves,” Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez tweeted. “They have lost total control of this ‘town hall’ to again be manipulated into platforming election disinformation, defenses of Jan 6th, and a public attack on a sexual abuse victim. The audience is cheering him on and laughing at the host.”
George Santos pleads not guilty to litany of federal charges
Rep. George Santos has pleaded not guilty to a series of federal charges, including allegations of fraud related to COVID-19 unemployment benefits, misusing campaign funds, and lying about personal finances on House disclosure reports. Santos appeared in a federal court and was released on a $500,000 bond following his arraignment. Despite the charges against him, Santos reiterated that he would not resign his position.
“I’m going to keep fighting, I’m going to keep fighting for what I believe in,” Santos said. “I’m going to keep fighting to represent my district. I’m going to keep fighting to deliver results and now I have to keep fighting to deliver, you know, to defend my innocence. And I’m going to do that.”
In a separate development, another criminal case involving Santos is set to be heard in a Brazilian courtroom Thursday, May 11. Brazilian law enforcement authorities will conduct a hearing on an allegation of “check fraud” against the Congressman. According to court records reviewed by the New York Times, Santos is accused of using a fake name and a stolen checkbook in 2008 to make purchases totaling nearly $700 at a small clothing store. Santos admitted the fraud to the shop owner in 2009.
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., has stated that he will not support Santos for re-election. McCarthy further emphasized that if the House Ethics Committee determines that Santos has indeed broken the law, he would call for Santos to resign.
Peru to temporarily extradite prime suspect in Natalee Holloway case
Peru has announced its decision to allow Joran van der Sloot, the prime suspect in the unsolved disappearance of American student Natalee Holloway, to be temporarily extradited to the United States. Holloway, a high school student from Alabama, vanished during a trip to Aruba in 2005. Van der Sloot is currently serving time in a Peruvian prison for an unrelated murder conviction.
The temporary extradition of van der Sloot is related to charges of alleged extortion and wire fraud, which stem from an accusation that he attempted to extort money from the Holloway family following their daughter’s disappearance. Holloway was last seen leaving a bar with van der Sloot, but her body was never found, and no charges were ever filed against him in connection with her disappearance.
The decision to allow the temporary extradition of van der Sloot to the United States represents a significant development in the long-standing investigation into Holloway’s disappearance. The Peruvian authorities have reportedly taken into consideration the seriousness of the charges against van der Sloot and the potential need for him to face trial in the U.S.
Over-the-counter birth control receives FDA panel recommendation
An FDA advisory panel has recently recommended that a birth control medication called “The O-Pill” should be made available for over-the-counter sales without the need for a prescription. The move is considered a step toward making oral contraceptives accessible to women without requiring a visit to the doctor.
“In the balance between benefit and risk, we’d have a hard time justifying not taking this action,” Maria Coyle, an Ohio State University pharmacist who chaired the panel, said. “The drug is incredibly effective, and I think it will be effective in the over-the-counter realm just as it is in the prescription realm.”
Pharmaceutical company Perrigo has requested permission to sell its once-a-day birth control pill on store shelves alongside eye drops and allergy medications. In a favorable outcome for the company, federal health advisers have sided with Perrigo in their bid to make this contraceptive available without a prescription.
A final decision from the FDA is expected later this summer, and if approved, “The O-Pill” could potentially be stocked on store shelves by the end of this year.
Biden administration unveils new climate rules for power plants
The Biden administration has unveiled new regulations aimed at power plants, which, if enacted, would impose the strictest-ever climate rules on the industry. Power plants would be required to cut or capture 90% of their greenhouse gas pollution between 2035 and 2040 or shut down. These proposed regulations are part of the administration’s efforts to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, power plants currently account for a quarter of the nation’s greenhouse gas emissions, ranking second only to the transportation industry. The agency hopes that these new climate standards could have a profound impact on reducing carbon dioxide emissions.
The EPA estimates that these proposed standards would eliminate approximately 617 million metric tons of carbon dioxide over the next two decades. To put this into perspective, it would be equivalent to removing half of all cars currently on U.S. roads.
In order to achieve these emission reductions, power plants would be required to make fundamental changes in their operations. They would have two options: either invest in and install carbon capture and storage technology, which extracts carbon dioxide from the air and stores it underground, or transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources.
