Meta executive admits to over-moderating COVID-19, election content
Is Meta moderating its content too much? A top executive at the company shared regrets over removing posts about the pandemic.
Meta’s President of Global Affairs Nick Clegg admitted the company has wrongfully taken down posts across its apps, pointing to the height of COVID-19.
He told reporters Monday, Dec. 2, “No one during the pandemic knew how the pandemic was going to unfold, so this really is wisdom in hindsight. But with that hindsight, we feel that we overdid it a bit.”
Meta and other social media companies face increasing pressure to improve the safety of their platforms amid hateful or misleading information, while also making sure users have free speech online.
The moderation impacted political posts as well. Meta recently apologized after its systems suppressed photos of President-elect Donald Trump after his attempted assassination.
Clegg also commented on Meta’s election content in a blog post Tuesday, Dec. 3, “Too often harmless content gets taken down or restricted and too many people get penalized unfairly.“
He added the company has worked throughout the past year to update content policies fairly. He noted that no platform will ever strike this balance “100% of the time.”
Sen. Wyden introduces bill to expand Supreme Court, overhaul judicial system
A top Senate Democrat has introduced a sweeping bill to not only expand the Supreme Court but change its ability to make rulings on acts of Congress. The legislation was brought forward by Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., the chairman of the Finance Committee, who said it will help the court as it faces what he called a “legitimacy crisis.”
If passed, the bill would expand the Supreme Court to 15 seats over 12 years. The president would appoint two justices per term over the next three presidential terms. It would expand the number of circuit courts from 12 to 15 which Wyden said will help with workload issues.
The bill would also require a two-thirds supermajority to overturn acts of Congress.
“This legislation preserves the key role of the courts to provide judicial review and the authority to overturn federal law on a constitutional basis when Congress has made a clear error, while restoring the judicial branch’s appropriate deference to the legislative branch of government on matters of federal law construction,” Wyden’s office said.
Many of the proposals directly address issues progressives have had with the court over recent years.
For instance, when President Obama nominated then-Judge Merrick Garland to the high court in March 2016, Republicans refused to hold a hearing and left the seat vacant for the next president. Wyden’s bill creates a new rule that automatically places nominations on the Senate calendar if they’re not reported out of committee within 180 days.
Democrats wanted Justice Clarence Thomas to recuse himself from multiple cases, including Trump v. Anderson, which addressed former President Donald Trump’s eligibility to remain on the presidential ballot. Wyden’s bill would allow a justice to be recused from a case with a vote of two-thirds of the justices.
Democrats also wanted the DOJ to investigate Justice Thomas for possible ethics and tax law violations after it was revealed he did not disclose luxury trips he received as a gift. Wyden’s bill would require the IRS to audit each justice’s income tax return and publicly release both the return and the audit’s findings.
“The Supreme Court is in crisis and bold solutions are necessary to restore the public trust,” Wyden said in a statement. “More transparency, more accountability and more checks on a power hungry Supreme Court are just what the American people are asking for.”
Republicans have opposed Democrats’ efforts to reform the court.
Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., once wrote in a Washington Post op-ed that President Biden’s Supreme Court reform proposal was “merely an extension of this liberal frustration at an independent judiciary that follows the Constitution and applies the laws as written.”
Zuckerberg regrets bowing to Biden administration to censor COVID posts
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg expressed regret for yielding to “pressure” from the Biden administration to censor COVID-19-related content during the pandemic. In a letter to the House Judiciary Committee on Monday, Aug. 26, Zuckerberg revealed that senior officials in the White House had a list of demands for censoring online posts about COVID-19. He noted that the Biden administration became “frustrated” when Facebook did not comply with requests to remove certain posts.
“In 2021, senior officials from the Biden Administration, including the White House, repeatedly pressured our teams for months to censor certain COVID-19 content, including humor and satire, and expressed a lot of frustration with our teams when we didn’t agree,” Zuckerberg wrote.
“I believe the government pressure was wrong, and I regret we were not more outspoken about it,” Zuckerberg added. “I also think we made some choices that, with the benefit of hindsight and new information, we wouldn’t make today.”
Zuckerberg also mentioned that while Facebook made the final decisions on content removal, it felt significant pressure from the Biden administration. He stated that the company would resist such pressure in the future.
The pandemic was not the only time Facebook faced controversy over censorship. In his letter, Zuckerberg also addressed the Hunter Biden laptop issue from weeks before the 2020 presidential election. He explained that the FBI had warned Facebook about “possible Russian disinformation related to the Biden family,” leading the company to reduce the visibility of a New York Post story about the laptop while waiting for fact-checkers.
Zuckerberg noted that Facebook’s policies have since changed and it no longer demotes content while awaiting fact-checking.
“Mark Zuckerberg just admitted three things: The Biden-Harris administration pressured Facebook to censor Americans, Facebook censored Americans, and Facebook throttled the Hunter Biden laptop story,” The House Judiciary Committee posted on Facebook. “Big win for free speech.”
The White House has not yet commented on Zuckerberg’s letter.
99 migrants on terror list released into US, some granted bond, asylum: Report
According to a report from the House Judiciary Committee, over the past three years, more than 250 migrants on the terrorist watch list entered the U.S. illegally at the southern border. At least 99 of those individuals were later allowed to stay in the country. The report states that many of these migrants came from countries known for having active terrorist groups, including Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria.
Nationals on the terrorist watch list who crossed the border came from 36 countries, the report said.
In June, eight individuals from Tajikistan were arrested for possible ties to ISIS. Three of them had entered the U.S. using the CBP One app, which is used to schedule border appointments.
Another individual from Uzbekistan, who was on the watch list, was vetted and released by officials. He lived in the U.S. for two years before being arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in April.
An individual from Afghanistan was released into the U.S. by border officials in March 2023. They spent nearly a year living in the country before being arrested by ICE in February. A judge had previously determined that the individual was “not a threat.”
The Judiciary Committee described the entries as an unsettling trend, highlighting issues with both border and court officials missing migrants on the watch list and releasing them. The report cites 27 cases where individuals on the list were granted bond by immigration judges. Four of them were granted asylum.
The report criticizes Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, who has claimed that illegal aliens are adequately screened and that those posing a threat to national security or public safety are detained. The committee argued that these claims do not reflect the reality of serious flaws in the current border policies.
The committee pointed out issues such as migrants using fake documents to bypass border checks and the “catch and release” system, where people who cross the border seeking asylum are allowed to wait in the U.S.
The report comes as the presidential election approaches in three months, with immigration being a key issue for both campaigns. Republicans are criticizing Vice President Kamala Harris’ record on border policies. However, Democrats are defending her, citing recent executive actions from the Biden administration that have reduced border crossings.
The committee’s report ends by suggesting “the worst could still be yet to come” and drawing a parallel to immigration patterns seen in the years leading up to 9/11.
Straight Arrow News reached out to the Department of Homeland Security for comment.
Supreme Court to deliver rulings on presidential power, abortion, social media
The Supreme Court is set to issue rulings on several high-profile cases. And the closed-door trial for a Wall Street Journal reporter begins in Russia. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Wednesday, June 26, 2024.
SCOTUS to deliver rulings on presidential power, abortion, social media
It’s decision time at the Supreme Court. Over the next three days, the high court is set to deliver rulings on 14 argued cases — including high-profile ones on subjects like presidential power, abortion care and social media.
As President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump prepare for the first presidential debate on Thursday, June 27, the court is poised to deliver a ruling on Trump’s claims of “absolute immunity” from criminal prosecution. With Trump facing federal charges accusing of him of attempts to overturn the 2020 election, the court will decide if a former president can be prosecuted for “official acts” taken while in the White House.
During oral arguments in April, the justices seemed open to the idea of some immunity for presidents when conducting official acts, while questioning what exactly falls under that category.
The Supreme Court will also tackle the legality of a felony obstruction charge used by the Justice Department against 300 people who stormed the capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. A former Pennsylvania police officer has challenged that charge — stemming from a law to prevent the destruction of evidence during financial crimes — which originated during the Enron accounting scandal.
The obstruction charge is one of four former President Trump faces in his federal election subversion case.
Then, for the first time since Roe v. Wade was overturned, the court will issue a ruling on state-level abortion restrictions. The question before the justices is whether doctors can perform abortions in medical emergencies despite a state’s strict near-total abortion ban.
The topic of social media is also on the docket. First, the Supreme Court will determine whether state laws restricting how social media platforms moderate content violate the First Amendment. In another case, the justices will decide whether the Biden administration violated the Constitution in its communication with social media companies to remove misinformation on COVID-19 and the 2020 election.
While the Supreme Court justices usually look to complete their work by the end of June, there is a possibility the opinions may continue to early July.
Wall Street Journal reporter’s espionage trial starts in Russia
The espionage trial of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich is now underway in Russia behind closed doors. Gershkovich appeared in a courtroom the morning of Wednesday, June 26, inside a glass cage before the proceedings began.
Falsely accused WSJ reporter Evan Gershkovich appeared in a Russian court as proceedings started in a secret trial that will offer him few legal protectionshttps://t.co/CnygQ1pxLJhttps://t.co/CnygQ1pxLJ
He is the first western journalist to be arrested on espionage in post-Soviet Russia.
Gershkovich was arrested while reporting for the Wall Street Journal in March 2023, just weeks before Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, accused of spying for the CIA.
The U.S. government, Wall Street Journal and Gershkovich himself all deny the allegations. The State Department has declared him “wrongfully detained.”
His trial is expected to last months. If convicted, Gershkovich faces up to 20 years in prison.
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange free after guilty plea
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange returned to his home country of Australia on Wednesday, June 26, a free man. He was released from U.S. custody after pleading guilty to violating espionage law.
— Free Assange – #FreeAssange (@FreeAssangeNews) June 26, 2024
As part of the deal with the Justice Department, Assange will get no more prison time since he already spent the last five years in a London prison fighting extradition to the U.S.
He had originally been facing 18 criminal charges relating to WikiLeaks’ release of sensitive information into the public domain, but only had to plead guilty to one charge as part of the agreement.
Judge partially lifts Trump gag order from New York criminal trial
The judge in former President Donald Trump’s New York criminal case has partially lifted a gag order put in place during the trial.
For the entire trial, Trump was barred from talking about potential witnesses, jurors, or court staff and their families. Now, the former president is allowed to comment publicly about witnesses and jurors.
The judge also left a separate order in place prohibiting Trump and his lawyers from disclosing the identities of jurors or their addresses.
In May, Trump became the first president to be convicted of a felony when the jury found him guilty of 34 felony counts of falsified business records. He’s set to be sentenced July 11.
House committee to vote on holding Biden’s ghostwriter in contempt
The House Judiciary Committee plans to vote on a measure to hold President Biden’s ghostwriter, Mark Zwonitzer, in contempt of Congress. The vote stems from Zwonitzer refusing to hand over documents and other materials tied to his work on the president’s memoirs.
The vote is set for Thursday morning, just hours before Biden and Trump’s debate.
The resolution to hold Zwonitzer in contempt is expected to advance on party lines.
The White House on Tuesday called the vote an attempt “to harass and intimidate a private citizen.”
Results for New York, Colorado, Utah primary elections
Results are in for several states that held primary elections on Tuesday, June 25. In the most expensive congressional primary in history, incumbent Democratic Congressman Jamaal Bowman lost to George Latimer in New York’s 16th district.
While this race garnered a lot of headlines, tomorrow we turn a new page. We must come together, united to defend our Democratic values from MAGA extremism.
Bowman became the first member of the progressive group in the House known as “the squad” to lose in the primaries this year. During the race, a pro-Israeli lobbying group spent nearly $15 million in efforts to stop Bowman, who had been critical of Israel’s operations in Gaza.
In Colorado, after switching districts, Republican Congresswoman Lauren Boebert won the House primary in the state’s 4th district. Boebert has previously received the endorsement of former President Donald Trump.
And in Utah, Rep. John Curtis, R-Utah, won the GOP primary to fill Mitt Romney’s open Senate seat. Curtis is favored to win in November since Utah has not elected a Democrat to the Senate since 1970.
Toys ‘R’ Us uses OpenAI’s Sora to create brand film
Toys”R”Us is known for the slogan “I don’t want to grow up,” but now the toy brand is growing with the times. It used AI to make its latest promotional video.
The retail toy company used OpenAI’s text to video tool called Sora to create the video.
Toys”R”Us released the video at an advertising event in France, saying it is the first ever brand film created by the technology. While Sora is not yet publicly available, the toy chain partnered with an agency that is an early tester of the AI model.
Attorney General Merrick Garland held in contempt of Congress
The head of the Department of Justice, Attorney General Merrick Garland, held in contempt of Congress. And “life-threatening” flooding in south Florida as more torrential rain is expected Thursday. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Thursday, June 13, 2024.
Attorney General Merrick Garland held in contempt of Congress
In an effort led by Republicans, the U.S. House voted to hold Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt of Congress Wednesday, June 12. Lawmakers also voted to refer the top Department of Justice official for criminal charges.
It comes after Garland refused to turn over audio recordings of President Joe Biden’s interviews with former special counsel Robert Hur as part of the probe over his handling of classified documents.
The 216-207 vote fell along party lines, with only one Republican, Rep. David Joyce of Ohio, voting against it.
The vote marks a major escalation in a months-long dispute over the recordings — which started after President Biden asserted executive privilege over the files. The DOJ has stood by the decision not to release the recordings, saying they’ve already provided transcripts.
DOJ officials wrote in an affidavit the transcripts accurately match the audio “except for minor instances” — like leaving out filler words or when words were repeated when spoken.
House Republicans argue the recordings are crucial to their impeachment inquiry into the president, which has stalled.
“He is refusing to comply with a lawful subpoena,” Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson said of AG Garland. “And that’s a problem under Article I. We have to defend the Constitution. We have to defend the authority of Congress. We can’t allow the Department of Justice, an executive branch agency, to hide information from Congress. We have important oversight responsibilities, and that is what is being pursued here.”
Attorney General Garland responded to the decision to hold him in contempt late Wednesday night saying, “It is deeply disappointing that this House of Representatives has turned a serious congressional authority into a partisan weapon. Today’s vote disregards the constitutional separation of powers, the Justice Department’s need to protect its investigations and the substantial amount of information we have provided to the committees.”
U.S. and Ukraine set to sign 10-year security pact at G7 summit
President Joe Biden is in Italy Thursday, June 13, for the G7 summit, where he is expected to sign a 10-year bilateral security pact with Ukraine. This agreement is said to better strengthen the long-term security relationship between the two nations, with commitments to continue training Ukrainian armed forces, enhance weapons production cooperation and increase intelligence sharing.
The G7 leaders are also set to endorse a plan to provide Ukraine with $50 billion in loans, using frozen Russian assets to fund the initiative.
White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan mentioned that while the major aspects of the plan have been agreed upon, some details will still need to be finalized.
Additionally, on Wednesday, June 12, the U.S. expanded its sanctions against Moscow to include Chinese companies that supply semiconductors. This move aims to pressure Beijing over its support for Russia and address issues of industrial overcapacity.
The summit will also address other critical global issues, including the Middle East, migration and artificial intelligence.
ACLU sues Biden administration over new asylum rule
The Biden administration is facing its first lawsuit over President Joe Biden’s recent order temporarily shutting down the U.S.’ southern border. The lawsuit, filed by the American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of a coalition of immigrant advocacy groups, is the first big challenge to the executive order put in place just over a week ago.
The restrictions bar migrants from seeking asylum when border encounters rise above 2,500 per day.
In its first week implemented, the number of migrants crossing has fallen by 25%, according to Department of Homeland Security officials. However, the number of migrants coming over is still more than the number allowed — about 3,000 per day.
The executive action was meant to make illegal border crossers ineligible for asylum, but officials say thousands of migrants a day are still being released into the U.S. because of “limited options.”
The lawsuit did not seek an emergency injunction to block the new rule, so it will stay in place while the challenge plays out in court.
Federal Reserve holds interest rates steady
The Federal Reserve held interest rates steady Wednesday, June 12, potentially delaying any rate cuts until December. Fed Chair Jerome Powell, speaking after a two-day policy meeting, said the U.S. economy’s growth and unemployment rates are performing better than long-term sustainable levels, prompting the decision to maintain the current rate.
During a press conference, Powell said inflation has been decreasing without severely impacting the economy and he anticipates this trend could continue. The Fed plans a gradual return of inflation to its 2% target.
“We know that reducing policy restraint too soon or too much could result in a reversal of the progress that we’ve seen on inflation,” Powell said. “At the same time, reducing policy restraint too late or too little could unduly weaken economic activity and employment. In considering any adjustments to the target range for the federal funds rate, the committee will carefully assess incoming data, the evolving outlook and the balance of risks.”
Powell said while some details of future rate cuts are still being finalized, the timing of these cuts will depend on a range of economic data, including labor market health and growth projections.
As the Fed’s latest interest rate announcement was made, Straight Arrow News’ own Simone Del Rosario and former Kansas City Fed President Thomas Hoenig had live analysis of the future of monetary policy. You can watch that here.
‘Life-threatening’ flooding in south Florida
For the third day in a row, heavy rain is threatening more destructive flooding in south Florida Thursday, June 13. It comes after storms turned streets into rivers and water rushed into homes, Wednesday, June 12.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, R, declared an emergency for five counties after dangerous flooding immobilized the operations of critical infrastructure, including major interstates, roadways, schools, and the Miami and Fort Lauderdale airports.
On Tuesday night, June 11, a record-breaking eight inches of rain hit Florida’s west coast in just three hours.
Flood watches are in effect through Friday night, June 14, across south Florida, which is the state’s most populous area, as more rounds of heavy rainfall are expected.
Meteorologists say many parts of the state are likely to see double-digit rainfall totals by the time the storms fully pass.
Russian warships conduct drills 100 miles off coast of Florida
Three Russian warships and a nuclear-powered submarine conducted drills Tuesday, June 11, in the Atlantic Ocean while en route to Cuba. The Russian defense ministry said the drills involved simulated attacks on distant mock targets.
The Russian fleet arrived in Cuba Wednesday, June 12, just 100 miles from Florida’s Key West. It’s set to move to Venezuela on Monday, June 17.
These exercises mark the first joint Russian naval and air maneuvers in the Caribbean since 2019.
Despite the proximity, Cuba has assured these visits are routine among allies and the vessels carry no nuclear weapons, posing no threat to the region.
The White House views these drills as Russia’s response to U.S. support for Ukraine but does not see them as a threat to U.S. national security.
Garland could be held in contempt as Biden asserts executive privilege over Hur recording
House Republicans are moving to hold Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt of Congress for failing to turn over the audio recordings of President Joe Biden’s interview with special counsel Robert Hur. The move came after the president asserted executive privilege over the recordings.
Counselor to the president Edward Siskel informed the House Judiciary and Oversight committees of the president’s decision in a letter Thursday, May 15. That notice came hours before the committees’ meetings to move the contempt resolution to the House floor.
“The President has a duty to safeguard the integrity and independence of Executive Branch law enforcement functions and protect them from undue partisan interference that could weaken those functions in the future,” Siskel wrote.
The Republican chairmen received the transcript of Hur’s interview with President Biden. Additionally, they received Hur’s full report into the president’s handling of classified documents found at his home and personal office. The chairmen still want the audio recordings.
“This last minute invocation does not change the fact that the attorney general has not complied with our subpoena,” Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, said.
“Clearly President Biden and his advisors fear releasing the audio recordings of his interview because it will again reaffirm to the American people that President Biden’s mental state is in decline,” Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., said in a statement. “The House Oversight Committee requires these recordings as part of our investigation of President Biden’s mishandling of classified documents.”
Democrats contend the audio recordings are unnecessary because the Department of Justice (DOJ) cooperated with the committees. According to Democrats, the DOJ handed over 92,000 documents and made dozens of witnesses available for interviews.
“Chairman Jordan claims that he needs these records to understand the pauses, pace, and tone of the conversation,” Rep. Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., said during a hearing on the contempt resolution. “This is absurd and clearly pretextual, and in any event, does not outweigh the substantial concerns expressed by the president and the department.”
After the contempt resolution moves out of the committees, it still needs to be approved by the full House. There is not a vote scheduled yet.
‘A journalistic rape’: Herridge testifies about CBS News document seizure
Veteran investigative journalist Catherine Herridge testified before Congress Thursday, April 11, and discussed her firing from CBS News. She explained that she was let go on a Zoom call and locked out of her emails and office. Herridge said CBS then seized hundreds of her reporting files including confidential source information.
“When the network of Walter Cronkite ceases your reporting files, including confidential source information, that is an attack on investigative journalism,” Herridge said in a House Judiciary Committee hearing.
Herridge said the files were eventually returned with the help of her union SAG-AFTRA.
“When my records were seized, I felt it was a journalistic rape,” Herridge said.
However, while Herridge’s termination and files have made headlines, the hearing was held to build support for a bill that could help all journalists be protected from government overreach, the PRESS Act.
If passed, the bill would shield journalists from government attempts to obtain the identities of their confidential sources.
“Confidential sources provide crucial information to reporters that helps them to share full and impactful stories with the public,” Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon, D-Pa., said. “Government attempts to undermine the confidentiality of those sources erodes the press’s ability to perform that function.”
The PRESS Act would prohibit the federal government from compelling journalists to disclose protected information including sources, records, communications, documents or anything obtained or created by the journalist in the course of their work. It would provide similar protections for telecommunications services, like phone and internet companies, and social media companies.
There are exceptions for specific circumstances like preventing terrorism or imminent violence.
The bill passed the House without objection but has not been taken up in the Senate.
“It is now the Senate’s turn to take up this legislation to continue Congress’s commitment to protecting our fundamental freedoms,” Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas said. “Our constitutional guarantee of a free press is under attack.”
Both Democratic and Republican administrations have been guilty of surreptitiously seizing source information from journalists.
The Trump administration secretly seized phone records from three Washington Post reporters and tried to obtain their emails in an attempt to identify confidential sources on Russia’s role in the 2016 election.
The Obama administration issued a secret search warrant for Fox reporter James Rosen’s emails after he reported that North Korea would respond to sanctions with more nuclear tests.
Herridge is facing a court ordered fine of $800 per day in a case involving her confidential sources. She said she’s making the right decision to protect their identity.
“I have not lost a night’s sleep about my decision to protect my confidential sources,” Herridge said. “That is the core of who I am as a journalist. I am facing contempt fines because I am upholding the most basic principle of journalism: if you cannot offer a source a promise of confidentiality, as a journalist, your toolbox is empty.”
Georgia lawmaker creates deepfake of colleague to garner support for AI bill
Rep. Brad Thomas, R-Ga., proposed legislation aimed at banning the use of deepfakes in politics. Deepfakes utilize artificial intelligence to manipulate audio and video, raising concerns about their potential to mislead voters.
To garner support from lawmakers, Thomas presented a case to the Judiciary Committee by showcasing a deepfake video featuring the voices of Georgia state Sen. Colton Moore, R, and former Republican congressional candidate Mallory Staples. Both of the deepfaked politicians oppose the legislation, citing free speech and satire.
The video falsely endorsed the proposed bill and Thomas emphasized the urgency of addressing this issue to prevent abuses in future elections. Thomas stressed how easily accessible these AI tools are, warning that their sophistication outpaces current legislation.
Following deliberation, the bill received bipartisan support, passing out of committee with an 8-1 vote.
Violators of the law would face penalties of prison time and fines.
Thomas acknowledged the challenges of enforcing the law but expressed confidence in the collaboration between law enforcement agencies to address election-related fraud.
House Judiciary seeks information on the brothers of Laken Riley’s alleged killer
The House Judiciary Committee is seeking information from the Department of Homeland Security about the brothers of Jose Antonio Ibarra, the man accused of killing Augusta University nursing student Laken Riley. The Judiciary Committee previously requested information about Ibarra’s immigration case and is now requesting information on his two brothers, Diego and Argenis Ibarra.
Jose Antonio Ibarra is charged with murdering Riley while she was going for a run. In addition to malice murder, he’s also charged with aggravated battery, false imprisonment, kidnapping, hindering a 911 call and concealing the death of another.
Ibarra entered the country illegally in 2022 and was released on parole.
In a letter to Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, Chairman Jim Jordan and Immigration Subcommittee Chairman Tom McClintock requested the men’s immigration case history. The information would include whether ICE lodged a detainer against them and whether they were allowed to be released on “alternatives to detention,” which can involve electronic tracking with GPS, release on own recognizance and other measures.
Diego Ibarra was approached by law enforcement during the murder investigation because he matched the description of the suspect. He’s accused of giving officers a fake green card and is now charged with possessing a fraudulent card.
Diego was first released from immigration custody in April 2023 and has since been arrested three times on DUI, shoplifting and failure to appear charges. ICE encountered Argenis Ibarra during the murder investigation but he does not appear to have a history similar to his brothers’.
“Criminal aliens exploit vulnerabilities in our nation’s immigration system to the detriment of those in the United States,” Jordan wrote in the letter to Mayorkas. “The Biden administration’s border and immigration policies only increase the likelihood that criminal aliens will successfully enter and remain in the U.S.”
