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Congressman Joaquin Castro met with five-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos and his father at the Dilley detention center in Texas today.<\/p>\n
In a post on social media, Castro shared a photograph of Liam resting in his father\u2019s arms. Castro added that he told Liam \u201chow much his family, his school, and our country loves him and is praying for him\u201d.<\/p>\n
An image posted Castro\u2019s X account on 28 January 2026 shows him visiting five-year-old Liam Ramos and his father at a detention center in Dilley, Texas. Photograph: @JoaquinCastrotx via X<\/p>\n
Liam became a symbol of the wide reach of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement operation in Minneapolis<\/a> last week when he was detained on his way home from preschool. A photograph captured Liam in ICE custody while wearing a blue bunny hat and Spider-Man backpack.<\/p>\n Zena Stenvik, the superintendent of Liam\u2019s school, said Liam and his father had been apprehended on their way home from school. An agent had taken Liam out of the car, led the boy to his front door and directed him to knock on the door asking to be let in, \u201cin order to see if anyone else was home \u2013 essentially using a five-year-old as bait\u201d, she said in a statement.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a017.22 EST<\/p>\n Senator Jon Ossoff has denounced a search warrant that FBI agents executed at a Fulton County elections office near Atlanta today, saying the Trump administration is still seeking to prove that Donald Trump<\/a> falsely won the state of Georgia in the 2020 election.<\/p>\n \u201cAfter losing Georgia in 2020, Donald Trump demanded state officials \u2018find\u2019 votes to change the outcome, tried to use DOJ to overturn it, and spread conspiracy theories that led to the Jan. 6 sacking of the U.S. Capitol. I suspect today\u2019s raid is a continuation of this sore loser\u2019s crusade, despite repeated audits and independent reviews confirming that Donald Trump was indeed defeated,\u201d Ossoff said. \u201cFrom Minnesota<\/a> to Georgia, on display to the whole world is a President spiraling out of control, wielding federal law enforcement as an unaccountable instrument of personal power and revenge.\u201d<\/p>\n My colleagues Sam Levine<\/a> and George Chidi<\/a> reported earlier today on the FBI search warrant:<\/p>\n Donald Trump lost Georgia in the 2020 election, and his false claims about voter fraud in Fulton county, home to Atlanta, were central to his efforts to try to overturn the election. Trump and allies repeated false claims that election workers pulled ballots out of suitcases after counting had ended. Those claims were debunked<\/a> and Rudy Giuliani, one of Trump\u2019s lawyers, was ordered to pay two election workers $148.1m<\/a> in damages as part of a defamation suit.<\/p>\n Trump allies have nonetheless continued claiming something was amiss in Fulton county. The justice department\u2019s civil rights division filed a lawsuit<\/a> against the county in December seeking to force officials to turn over ballots from the 2020 election.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Deployment of federal troops to US cities cost taxpayers $496m in six months<\/p>\n A new letter<\/a> from the Congressional Budget Office estimates that the Trump administration\u2019s deployment of federal troops to six cities cost taxpayers $496m between June and December 2025.<\/p>\n Senator Jeff Merkley of Oregon, ranking member of the Senate budget committee, requested the estimate of costs to activate, deploy, and compensate national guard troops and marines sent to Los Angeles, Washington DC, Memphis, Portland, Chicago and New Orleans. Continuing those deployments would cost roughly $93m per month.<\/p>\n In a press release, Merkely\u2019s office said: \u201cFollowing Trump\u2019s directive that national guard troops will stay in Washington DC for the remainder of 2026<\/a>, CBO estimates this deployment alone will cost taxpayers upwards of $660m. If the administration continues the guard deployment to Memphis and the 200 Texas national guard troops remain active<\/a> for all of 2026, as expected, and keeps personnel deployed to New Orleans for two additional months<\/a>, that figure balloons to $1.1bn.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a016.56 EST<\/p>\n An image of Donald Trump<\/a> holding hands with musician Nicki Minaj earlier today shows the president using concealer to cover something on his hand.<\/p>\n Minaj made a short appearance alongside the president ealier, after the president announced \u201cTrump Accounts\u201d<\/a>, individual investment accounts for US children that will take effect in July as part of Trump\u2019s so-called One Big Beautiful Bill Act.<\/p>\n As my colleague Carter Sherman reported<\/a>, Minaj\u2019s \u201ccomments mostly focused on how people are \u2018bullying\u2019 Trump, with whom Minaj briefly held hands\u201d.<\/p>\n A closeup photograph of the two, shows concealer on Trump\u2019s hand. In recent months, frequent discoloration on the president\u2019s hands has prompted concerns about Trump\u2019s health. The White House has claimed that the bruises are from shaking too many hands.<\/p>\n A detailed view as musician Nicki Minaj Donald Trump hold hands on stage on 28 January 2026 in Washington DC. Photograph: Win McNamee\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a016.44 EST<\/p>\n Schumer calls for Noem and Miller to go and urges Trump to pull ICE out of Minnesota<\/p>\n Chuck Schumer also ramped up the pressure for DHS secretary Kristi Noem and top Trump aide Stephen Miller to go, as he repeated calls for the president to pull ICE agents out of Minnesota<\/a>.<\/p>\n He wrote on X:<\/p>\n It\u2019s outrageous that Kristi Noem still has a job in the administration after federal officers murdered two American citizens in just two weeks. Noem is incompetent and she must go. And her boss Stephen Miller must be removed as well.<\/p>\n In another post, the Senate minority leader urged Trump to follow through on his pledge to \u201cde-escalate\u201d in Minnesota. Schumer said:<\/p>\n President Trump said he wants to de-escalate things in Minneapolis, but he has taken zero meaningful action to make that happen. Yesterday, Border Patrol leadership told their agents that the operations are \u2018expected to continue as planned.\u2019 If Trump was serious, he would remove all of ICE from Minnesota now.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Schumer lays out Democrats’ demands to ‘rein in’ ICE as condition to avoid shutdown<\/p>\n The Senate minority leader, Chuck Schumer, has laid out Democratic demands for policy changes for ICE, as he pushed for DHS funding to be separated from the other funding bills ahead of a looming shutdown at the end of this week.<\/p>\n Let me be clear: Democrats stand ready today to pass the five bipartisan bills in the Senate, but the DHS bill needs serious work. It\u2019s now on Leader [John] Thune to separate out the DHS bill, just as Speaker [Mike] Johnson did in the House, and start working with Democrats to rein in ice, imposing oversight, accountability and empowering local law enforcement in our communities.<\/p>\n Schumer said this afternoon that federal immigration agents must lose their masks, wear body cameras, observe the same use of force rules as local police, and be subject to tighter rules requiring search warrants and an end to roving patrols, as he outlined conditions that his party is seeking to extend government funding beyond Saturday\u2019s deadline.<\/p>\n Schumer also said in a post on X:<\/p>\n The Senate is scheduled to take the first procedural vote on a funding package including DHS funding tomorrow.<\/p>\n Let me be clear: Until ICE is properly reined in and overhauled, the DHS funding bill won\u2019t have the votes to pass the Senate.<\/p>\n Chuck Schumer at the Capitol on Tuesday. Photograph: J Scott Applewhite\/AP<\/p>\n He told CNN:<\/p>\n Our number one goal is \u2014 these are three policy areas we think must be done. What we want to do is negotiate with the Republicans and come up with a proposal that, again, reins in ice and ends the violence.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a016.01 EST<\/p>\n Threat of US-Iran war escalates as Trump warns time running out for deal<\/p>\n Patrick Wintour<\/a> and Andrew Roth<\/a><\/p>\n The threat of war between the US and Iran appeared to loom closer after Donald Trump<\/a> told Tehran that time was running out and a huge US armada was moving quickly towards the country \u201cwith great power, enthusiasm and purpose\u201d.<\/p>\n Writing on social media, the US president said<\/a> today that the fleet headed by the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln was larger than the one sent to Venezuela before the removal of Nicol\u00e1s Maduro earlier this month and was \u201cprepared to rapidly fulfill its missions with speed and violence if necessary\u201d.<\/p>\n Trump said:<\/p>\n Hopefully Iran<\/a> will quickly \u2018Come to the Table\u2019 and negotiate a fair and equitable deal \u2013 NO NUCLEAR WEAPONS \u2013 one that is good for all parties. Time is running out, it is truly of the essence!<\/p>\n As I told Iran once before, MAKE A DEAL! They didn\u2019t, and there was \u2018Operation Midnight Hammer,\u2019 a major destruction of Iran. The next attack will be far worse! Don\u2019t make that happen again.<\/p>\n It was the starkest indication yet from Trump that he intends to mount some kind of military strike<\/a> imminently if Iran refuses to negotiate a deal on the future of its nuclear programme. The post also reflects a remarkable shift in the White House\u2019s stated rationale for sending a carrier strike group to the region, moving away from outrage over the death of protesters to the fate of Tehran\u2019s nuclear programme.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s the full report:<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a015.25 EST<\/p>\n Ilhan Omar\u2019s office believes that she was sprayed with apple cider vinegar at her town hall last night in Minneapolis<\/a>, her spokesperson has told NBC News citing a preliminary report.<\/p>\n CNN earlier reported that forensic examiners had determined with high probability that the substance was apple cider vinegar, citing a law enforcement source familiar with the investigation.<\/p>\n Share<\/a> The US Federal Reserve<\/a> left interest rates unchanged after its first rate-setting meeting of the year today, resisting enormous pressure from the White House to lower rates.<\/p>\n A majority of members in the Fed\u2019s federal open market committee (FOMC) voted to pause interest rate cuts after slashing rates three times in the fall. Rates currently sit at a range of 3.5% to 3.75%.<\/p>\n Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell speaks at a news conference after a FOMC meeting. Photograph: Jacquelyn Martin\/AP<\/p>\n The Trump administration<\/a> has put unprecedented pressure on the Fed chair, Jerome Powell<\/a>, to cut rates, with Donald Trump<\/a> launching personal attacks on Powell and the justice department opening a criminal investigation<\/a> into his handling of the refurbishment of the central bank\u2019s offices.<\/p>\n The FOMC has 12 voting members and meets just eight times a year to set interest rates. The stakes of each meeting have been high during Trump\u2019s second term. Though economists say that the Fed\u2019s independence, as the US central bank, is key for economic stability, the president has unabashedly tried to bend the Fed to his economic agenda.<\/p>\n More on this story here:<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Rubio declines to rule out further US military action in Venezuela at Senate hearing<\/p>\n Joseph Gedeon<\/p>\n Marco Rubio has declined to rule out future US military action in Venezuela but insisted the Trump administration<\/a> did not intend to take such steps, as he faced questions from lawmakers over Washington\u2019s unprecedented intervention.<\/p>\n The US secretary of state appeared before the Senate foreign relations committee today to defend the removal of Nicol\u00e1s Maduro<\/a>, which has left Venezuela under the control of interim president Delcy Rodr\u00edguez while the US seizes and sells its oil.<\/p>\n \u201cThe president does reserve the option in self-defense to eliminate that threat,\u201d Rubio said when pressed by Connecticut senator Chris Murphy on whether the administration would use force to compel cooperation on oil sales.<\/p>\n Marco Rubio testifies before a Senate foreign relations Committee hearing to examine US policy towards Venezuela. Photograph: Shawn Thew\/EPA<\/p>\n Rubio cited a hypothetical scenario of an Iranian drone factory threatening US forces in the region, but acknowledged that \u201cmilitary action is not good for recovery and transition\u201d.<\/p>\n Rubio had earlier warned in prepared testimony that the US remains \u201cprepared to use force to ensure maximum cooperation if other methods fail\u201d, though he told senators today: \u201cI can tell you right now with full certainty, we are not postured to, nor do we intend or expect to have to take any military action in Venezuela<\/a> at any time.\u201d<\/p>\n Read Joseph\u2019s full report here:<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a015.08 EST<\/p>\n Here is video filmed from inside Ecuador\u2019s consulate in Minneapolis that shows an ICE agent trying to enter the building but being prevented by consulate staffers, according to the country\u2019s foreign ministry.<\/p>\n Reuters confirmed the location as the Ecuadorian consulate in Minneapolis, from the doors, windows, walls, ceiling fixtures and building across the street that are seen in the video, which matched file imagery of the consulate and the area. The date was verified by Ecuador\u2019s ministry of foreign affairs that said an ICE agent attempted to enter the consulate\u2019s facilities in Minneapolis on Tuesday.<\/p>\n Updated at\u00a015.02 EST<\/p>\n Also in that ABC News interview<\/a> last night, Donald Trump called senators Thom Tillis, of North Carolina, and Lisa Murkowski, of Alaska, \u201closers\u201d after they became the first Republican lawmakers to call for the DHS secretary, Krisi Noem, to lose her job.<\/p>\n They\u2019re terrible senators. One is gone and the other should be gone. What Murkowski says \u2013 she\u2019s always against the Republicans anyway. And Tillis decided to drop out. So you know, he lost his voice once he did that.<\/p>\n Tillis told CNN this morning<\/a> he was \u201cthrilled\u201d that Trump thinks he\u2019s a loser, adding: \u201cThat makes me qualified to be homeland security secretary and senior adviser to the president.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a015.03 EST<\/p>\n Federal agents arrest 16 demonstrators in Minnesota, says US attorney general<\/p>\n US attorney general Pam Bondi has said she is \u201con the ground in Minneapolis\u201d and that federal agents have arrested 16 demonstrators in Minnesota after alleged assaults on federal law enforcement officers.<\/p>\n Those arrested are allegedly, \u201cPeople who have been resisting and impeding our federal law enforcement agents,\u201d she said in a post on X<\/a>. \u201cI\u2019ve said it before and I\u2019ll say it again: NOTHING will stop President Trump and this Department of Justice from enforcing the law.\u201d<\/p>\n She added that she expects there will be more arrests.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a014.33 EST<\/p>\n Two officers involved in Pretti shooting have been on leave since Saturday, CBP confirms<\/p>\n And just like that, I have an update from my colleague Anna Betts. A Customs and Border Protection (CBP) spokesperson confirmed:<\/p>\n The two officers involved are on administrative leave and have been since Saturday. This is standard protocol.<\/p>\n Per my last post, that confirmation is directly at odds with Greg Bovino\u2019s assertion on Sunday.<\/p>\n Trump has since withdrawn Bovino from Minneapolis<\/a>. He told Fox News yesterday: \u201cI don\u2019t think it\u2019s a pullback. It\u2019s a little bit of a change \u2026 You know, Bovino is very good, but he\u2019s a pretty out there kind of a guy. And in some cases that\u2019s good, maybe it wasn\u2019t good here.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a014.36 EST<\/p>\n As we\u2019ve been reporting, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has confirmed that the two officers involved in the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti on Saturday have been placed on administrative leave as \u201cis the standard protocol\u201d.<\/p>\n But it\u2019s currently unclear exactly when they were placed on leave. As others have pointed out, federal law enforcement officers who have been involved in a shooting are typically placed on administrative leave for the course of the investigation.<\/p>\n This would directly contradict what border patrol commander Greg Bovino said in the aftermath of the shooting. On Sunday, he told a press conference<\/a> that \u201call agents that were involved in that scene are working, not in Minneapolis, but in other locations, that\u2019s for their safety.\u201d<\/p>\n I\u2019ve reached out to CBP for clarification and I\u2019ll update you here when I hear back.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a014.36 EST<\/p>\n Senator Rand Paul, a Republican, said on Fox News this morning that \u201cno American believes that\u201d Alex Pretti was \u201cassaulting the officers\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen people watch that video and the government tells them, \u2018Well, he was assaulting the police officers,\u2019 nobody with any objectivity believes that\u2019s what\u2019s happening,\u201d Paul, who represents Kentucky, said<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cNo American believes he was assaulting the officers, in fact, the opposite appears to be true,\u201d he added. \u201cSo we have to get some rules of the game.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a013.43 EST<\/p>\n Saint Paul mayor meets with federal officials, including Tom Homan, ‘to address ongoing ICE surge in Minnesota’<\/p>\n Saint Paul\u2019s mayor, Kaohly Her, said in statement that she met with federal officials, including Tom Homan, on Wednesday \u201cto address the ongoing ICE surge in Minnesota\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cToday I met with Tom Homan and his team to discuss the ongoing ICE surge in Minnesota\u201d Her said<\/a>. \u201cI appreciated the opportunity to share with them the harm this surge is having in our city. I reinforced the importance of immigrants and refugees to the fabric of our community. Changing leadership and opening lines of communication with leaders in Minnesota are promising steps toward building trust, ensuring accountability to federal actions, and finding a meaningful resolution to end this surge.<\/p>\n \u201cWe look forward to seeing concrete next steps as Mr Homan meets with local officials to de-escalate the situation in Saint Paul,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a013.38 EST<\/p>\n Minnesota representative Ilhan Omar and Massachusetts representative Ayanna Pressley will hold a news conference tonight in South Minneapolis<\/a>.<\/p>\n A statement from Pressley\u2019s office says:<\/p>\n At the invitation of Congresswoman Omar, Congresswoman Pressley will be in Minneapolis to meet with organizers and community members impacted by ICE\u2019s violent operation in Minnesota, where they have murdered bystanders, terrorized schools and small businesses, and abducted children and parents.<\/p>\n The announcement adds that Omar and Pressley will take a tour of Karmel Mall on Wednesday, a hub holding over 100 small businesses and community organizations, and will \u201cmeet with these small business owners and hear firsthand how ICE\u2019s actions are affecting tenants\u2019 ability to sustain their businesses.\u201d<\/p>\n The news conference is set to take place after the visit, it adds.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a013.34 EST<\/p>\n Vermont senator Bernie Sanders has reacted to last night\u2019s attack<\/a> on Representative Ilhan Omar, and said that Omar \u201cshowed incredible courage by continuing her town hall after being attacked last night\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is shameful that, instead of condemning the attack, Trump escalated his rhetoric and targeted her once again,\u201d Sanders added. \u201cNo more hatred and racism. This country belongs to ALL of us.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"Lauren](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Lauren_Aratani_Next_Gen.png\")
Lauren Aratani<\/p>\n![\"Footage](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1769638989_16_1920.jpg\")
Footage appears to show ICE agent trying to enter Ecuador’s consulate in Minneapolis \u2013 videoShare<\/a><\/p>\n