Border Patrol agents released an illegal immigrant in Arizona listed on the FBI’s terrorist watchlist.
Last April, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) released an illegal immigrant on the FBI’s terrorist watch list, according to an investigation by the conservative organization Judicial Watch. Due to investigative errors and reported pressure to release detainees quickly due to overcrowding in holding facilities, the illegal immigrant was freed and wasn’t arrested until over two weeks after initial apprehension.
Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ-09) issued a press release criticizing the state of the border under President Joe Biden’s administration. Gosar speculated that the Yuma terrorist case was likely just one out of many others unaddressed, alluding to the massive number of “gotaways”: those illegal immigrants not directly or indirectly observed crossing the border.
“Joe Biden has put our entire country and the safety of all Americans at risk because of his failed open-border policies,” said Gosar. “Rather than spending more than $200 billion fighting a proxy war in Ukraine, Joe Biden must begin protecting American citizens and safeguarding our borders at home.”
“If CBP’s ineffective practices for resolving inconclusive Terrorist Watchlist matches continue, the component risks releasing individuals into the United States who potentially threaten national security and public safety,” stated the report.
It took Immigrations Customs Enforcement (ICE) over two weeks to track down the terrorist.
Unbelievable footage of illegal alien camp on US soil in Arivaca, Arizona, run by an organization called “No More Deaths,” which is paid for in part by the taxpayers of Pima County. You won’t believe what happened while I was there! Shut this place down and prosecute the people… pic.twitter.com/LXOcXZPzdG
— Ben Bergquam – Real America’s Voice (RAV-TV) News (@BenBergquam) June 4, 2023
Since Biden took office, there have been over 5.8 million illegal immigrant encounters.
In May, the Biden administration claimed their border encounters “remain low” due to their policies. While there were around 40,000 less encounters in May of this year versus the last, this year’s May total was nearly 24,000 more than the encounters in May 2021, over 181,000 more than May 2020, over 60,000 more than May 2019, over 152,000 more than May 2018, and over 188,000 more than May 2017.
June did mark a 55,600 decline from the last fiscal year and a 44,400 decline from 2021, but still much higher compared to pre-Biden years: over 111,500 more than 2020, for example. July also marked a decline but, again, only compared to the last two years: it represents a 142,500 increase from July in the 2020 fiscal year.
So far this fiscal year, ending in September, there have been 146 terrorist illegal immigrants apprehended crossing the border, compared to 98 last year, 15 in 2021, three in 2020, zero in 2019, six in 2018, and two in 2017.
Just last week, federal agents arrested an MS-13 gang member in Alabama.
Corinne Murdock is a reporter for AZ Free News. Follow her latest on Twitter, or email tips to corinne@azfreenews.com.
Arizona Superintendent Tom Horne advised the K-12 community that Title IX doesn’t have any language forcing schools to obey gender ideology concerning policy on restroom, locker room, and shower facility usage.
The superintendent issued the remarks on Thursday in a brief guidance memo from the Arizona Department of Education (ADE). Horne explained that the current Title IX law only prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex, not gender identity. The Biden administration proposed a rule change to Title IX in 2021 that would expand the longstanding 1972 definition to include gender identity and sexual orientation, followed by a formal proposal by the Education Department last year, but that rule change has not yet been put into effect.
“Under the current Title IX, there is no language that compels schools to permit biological boys to use girls’ bathrooms, locker rooms or shower areas,” stated Horne. “The Biden administration has proposed changes to Title IX that might allow for this, but this proposal has no force of law until it is ruled on by the courts, which has not occurred.”
Superintendent Horne encourages all schools to enact policies that don't allow biological boys in girls' restrooms, locker rooms, or showers. pic.twitter.com/BLTTF1wwPV
— Arizona Department of Education (@azedschools) August 17, 2023
The Biden administration announced it would publish the final Title IX rule in October.
ADE advised schools to not implement policy allowing gender identity to dictate restroom, locker room, or shower facility access, mainly referring to the ability for males to access traditionally female spaces. ADE warned that males could still be held accountable for impropriety, regardless of ideology.
“Biological boys who expose themselves to girls could be violating indecent exposure laws and subject to arrest,” said ADE. “Schools can provide separate facilities — even small ones that are open to either gender — that meet the needs of transgender students without compromising the dignity of others.”
Horne explained further that he’s received numerous complaints from parents about schools permitting biological males to use private facilities intended originally and exclusively for females. Upset parents have reportedly told Horne they may leave schools permissive of gender ideologies. Rather than dissuade this type of thinking, Horne encouraged parents to exercise their right of school choice, possible through the universalized Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) Program.
“[T]hey are considering removing their daughter from schools that allow this,” said Horne. “In Arizona, they certainly have multiple school options from which to choose.”
Superintendent Horne encourages all schools to enact policies that don't allow biological boys in girls' restrooms, locker rooms, or showers. pic.twitter.com/BLTTF1wwPV
— Arizona Department of Education (@azedschools) August 17, 2023
State Rep. Nancy Gutierrez (D-LD18), minority whip, said the guidance was “dangerous” and violates federal law.
This is not ok. In fact, it’s very dangerous that our Superintendent of Public Instruction is pushing an agenda that is discriminatory and against the law. Students need to feel safe. Targeting certain students and using inflammatory language is dangerous. @ld18dems@AZHouseDemspic.twitter.com/ML4ZGZ6W1l
— Representative Nancy Gutierrez (@nancygforAZ) August 17, 2023
In June, the Ninth District Circuit Court ruled that discrimination based on perceived sexual orientation qualifies as sex-based discrimination under Title IX.
Title IX affects more than just bathroom, locker room, and shower area usage. It also applies to sports, something which progressive activists are also fighting to reform. Two families sued the state over its law banning biological boys from competing in girls’ sports.
New lawsuit challenging Arizona's ban on transgender athletes in K-12 sports claims that transgenderism is a trait, not a state of mind. pic.twitter.com/E7NgDgh01W
Despite the legal battles over Title IX not yet settled, Arizona’s K-12 public school boards have been taking initiative by adopting policy that would align with the expanded Biden administration version of Title IX. Last September, for example, one of the state’s top charter school chains, Legacy Traditional Schools, permitted gender identity to dictate bathroom usage.
Corinne Murdock is a reporter for AZ Free News. Follow her latest on Twitter, or email tips to corinne@azfreenews.com.
Arizonans are eligible to receive $1.03 billion in student debt relief, according to the latest estimates from the Biden administration.
Arizona’s cut accounts for about 2.6 percent of the $39 billion issued for 804,000 total borrowers (an average of over $48,500 per borrower). In a press release, the Department of Education (ED) clarified that the billion-odd in funds applied to over 20,500 borrowers in Arizona.
$1.03 billion for 20,500 borrowers averages about $50,200 per borrower: about $2,000 short of four years of in-state tuition at Arizona State University, $2,600 short of four years of in-state tuition at the University of Arizona, and $4,500 more than four years’ tuition at Northern Arizona University.
The relief constitutes the 12th-highest award from the Biden administration. The 11 other states above Arizona, in order from highest to lowest award amount, were: Texas, Florida, California, Georgia, New York, Ohio, Illinois, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.
In a statement, President Joe Biden said that the past mistakes of the federal government were to blame for individuals not paying their debts. Biden also said that Republican lawmakers were hypocritical and dismissive for rejecting his sweeping student loan forgiveness.
“I have long said that college should be a ticket to the middle class — not a burden that weighs down on families for decades,” stated Biden.
The federal relief comes from the Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) plans launched by the Biden administration. The IDR plans slash undergraduate loan payments in half and abolish payments for low-income borrowers. The Biden administration determines IDR plans based on discretionary income: the difference between annual income and 150 percent of the poverty guideline based on the borrower’s family size and state of residence.
There are four possible IDR plans: Revised Pay As You Earn Repayment Plan (REPAYE) lasting 20 years for undergraduate loans only or 25 years for any graduate or professional loans, requiring 10 percent of discretionary income; Pay As You Earn Repayment Plan (PAYE) lasting 20 years, requiring 10 percent of discretionary income or a maximum based on the 10-year Standard Repayment Plan amount; Income-Based Repayment Plan (IBR), requiring 10 percent of discretionary income for new borrowers on or after July 1, 2014 and lasting 20 years, or 15 percent of discretionary income for older borrowers on or after July 1, 2014 and lasting 25 years, with both contingencies capped by the 10-year Standard Repayment Plan; and the Income-Contingent Repayment Plan (ICR) lasting 25 years, requiring 20 percent of discretionary income or projected payment on a repayment plan with a 12-year fixed payment adjusted to income.
Even if borrowers don’t fully pay off their loan balance under their IDR plan, the federal government will forgive the remaining loan balance. ED will also count months of nonpayment based on certain criteria toward the total repayment period: economic hardship deferment, repayment under other plans, and required zero amount payment periods. Additionally, ED offers borrowers total forgiveness of any remaining balance after 10 years of payments, rather than 20 or 25 years, should the borrower participate in both an IDR plan and the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program.
ED began notifying eligible borrowers of the relief earlier this month. The Biden administration has issued over $116 billion in student loan relief for three million borrowers: an average of $38,600 per borrower.
That average is roughly several hundred dollars less than the average national total for four years of in-state tuition at a public college, and about equivalent to the average national total for just over one year of out-of-state tuition at a public college.
Corinne Murdock is a reporter for AZ Free News. Follow her latest on Twitter, or email tips to corinne@azfreenews.com.
Arizona’s Republican Legislative leaders are continuing to defend the integrity of women’s sports in federal court.
On Tuesday, Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen and House Speaker Ben Toma filed an emergency motion with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit after a federal district judge blocked the ‘Save Women’s Sports Act’ from going into effect.
In their motion, the legislators wrote, “Under the district court’s preliminary injunction order, ‘the [Save Women’s Sports] Act shall not prevent Plaintiffs from participating in girls’ sports’ and ‘Plaintiffs shall be allowed to play girls’ sports at their respective schools.’ Any success by Plaintiffs in try-outs and meets will displace biological girls from making a team, getting playing time, and succeeding in final results. Biological girls will be irreparably harmed if they are displaced by, forced to compete against, or risk injury from Plaintiffs.”
Petersen released the following statement to accompany the announcement of his latest action in court over this issue: “Not only science, but common sense clearly supports the fact that in general, boys are bigger and stronger than girls at all stages of life. Expecting them to compete against each other in athletic competition is reckless, irresponsible and will subject girls to increased risk for injury. It’s unfortunate young girls in our public schools will face these heightened dangers while participating in sports competition against boys and lose out on athletic opportunities because this law is on hold. What’s even more disheartening is our Attorney General has no desire to protect our female athletes, prompting myself and Speaker Toma to do her job for her. I’m confident our judicial system will agree with the protections we’re fighting for so that all young women and girls in Arizona will have the opportunity to compete on an even playing field.”
Speaker Ben Toma issued a short comment on Twitter, posting, “We filed an emergency motion asking the 9th Circuit to allow Arizona’s Save Women’s Sports Act to remain in effect pending appeal & the Court set an expedited schedule. The district court’s ruling is wrong; it has harmful, real-world consequences for female athletes.”
We filed an emergency motion asking the 9th Circuit to allow Arizona‘s Save Women’s Sports Act to remain in effect pending appeal & the Court set an expedited schedule. The district court’s ruling is wrong; it has harmful, real-world consequences for female athletes. @AZHouseGOPpic.twitter.com/NtT6YFje5K
Last month, Judge Jennifer Zipps granted a preliminary injunction against SB 1165, the Save Women’s Sports Act, which blocked the law from going into effect. Arizona’s Republican Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne, the defendant in the case, promised to appeal the ruling, saying, “This will ultimately be decided by the United States Supreme Court, and they will rule in our favor. The Plaintiffs in this case claimed that this only involves pre-pubescent boys, but we presented peer-reviewed studies that show pre-pubescent boys have an advantage over girls in sports. The only expert presented by the Plaintiffs was a medical doctor who makes his money doing sex transition treatments on children and who has exactly zero peer-reviewed studies to support his opinion.”
One of the representatives of the plaintiffs, Justin R. Rassi from Debevoise & Plimpton LLP, lauded the judge’s ruling, writing, “The Court’s well-reasoned decision exposes the lack of any legitimate justification for this discriminatory law, which inflicts severe and irreparable harm on transgender girls like Megan and Jane. We are very happy that, as a result of this ruling, Jane and Megan will be immediately able to resume playing sports with their friends.”
The latest Motion from Petersen and Toma follows a series of actions they have taken in this legal matter occurring in federal court. Earlier this year, they filed a Motion to Intervene, highlighting that because “Attorney General Kris Mayes is not defending the constitutionality of the law,” they were taking this step. Petersen said at the time, “We’re looking forward to fighting for the rights of female athletes across Arizona, as well as for the Court making it clear Arizona’s law protecting women and girls should be enforced.”
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
It’s a record – we finished the 2023 Fifty-Sixth Legislature – First Regular Session at 204 days (should have been 100). What an honor to be on the Sine Die Committee that got to announce in the Senate Chambers the House has adjourned. pic.twitter.com/wsS3wthwOW
And the 2023 Legislative session is officially Sine Done! Moments ago we adjourned Sine Die, completing the People’s business. It was an amazing session and it’s an honor to serve y’all. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. pic.twitter.com/vsxV1RuAA9
— AZ State Rep. Justin Wilmeth (@JustinWilmethAZ) August 1, 2023
Maybe there were bills you liked; maybe there were bills you didn't like. Now that we've FINALLY adjourned, they will become law Oct 30th if they were signed by the governor. https://t.co/13zEBxFuLQ
— Rep. Jennifer Pawlik (@Jennifer_Pawlik) August 1, 2023
And, just like that we wrapped up my first legislative session 👯♀️✨🌟with my sister @repahernandez as the first sister duo! Bringing wins for both LD20 & LD21 💪🏼✨#PoliticalSisters#SquadGoalspic.twitter.com/fK5tbbsje8
— Arizona Senate Democrats (@AZSenateDems) August 1, 2023
As my first year in office comes to a close, I'm reflecting on how grateful I am to have shared the experience with my House @AZFreedomCaucus colleagues and what I admire most about each one of them:@CoryMcGarr – you are true north. Whenever the politics of the capitol has me…
— Rep. Alexander Kolodin (@realAlexKolodin) August 1, 2023
Honored to work for @RepBenToma with this talented team of professionals. Congrats to all of the @AZHouseGOP members on your accomplishments in the 2023 legislative session. And see you in less than 6 months to continue the momentum into 2024! pic.twitter.com/uqvC3soge8
It was an eventful session for the Arizona Legislature as the state experienced a divided government for the first time in over a decade. Though it appeared, at times, that the Republican-led Legislature and the Democrat Governor would not accomplish their required business (for example, the new budget or Prop 400), both sides made concessions and reached accords.
Republicans in the Legislature were led by Senate President Warren Petersen and House Speaker Ben Toma. Petersen and Toma, along with their chiefs of staff Josh Kredit and Michael Hunter, ensured that their respective Republican caucuses were mostly united and on the offensive against Hobbs’ desired progressive agenda. One of the most significant victories of the year was the Legislature’s defense of the Empowerment Scholarship Accounts program, which has been under tremendous political assault since it was expanded in 2022.
While Governor Hobbs had a turbulent time in her first seven months in office (just in the staff turnover alone on the Ninth Floor of the Executive Tower), she claims to have managed to maneuver past a severe learning curve to work with Republican legislative leaders on key issues affecting the state.
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
