letterswithoutborders

 Legislation has been proposed in both Missouri and Mississippi to offer rewards for turning in undocumented migrants and immigrants to the authorities. Advocates warn that such bills will racially profile immigrant communities. If passed, these types of legislation could be suggested by other states. Migrant vs Undocumented Immigrant It's important to understand there are different types of immigration into the U.S. and that migrants and undocumented immigrants are not the same thing. Migrant is a term most used for people who leave their home country temporarily in search of employment or education in a different country. Most migrants in the state work in the fields of agriculture such as planting, harvesting and processing crops. Another industry that hires migrants to work is food processing plants like meat and poultry. An undocumented immigrant is defined in the United States as someone born in another country who doesn't have a valid visa or other immigration documen...

  Antony Blinken, former Secretary of State under the Biden administration, leaves behind a legacy marked by controversy. His tenure faced criticism from both Democrats and Republicans, with accusations of misleading the public on the Afghanistan withdrawal, involvement in suppressing the Hunter Biden laptop story, complicity in the Gaza conflict and in a final act of defiance, ordering the forced removal of journalists from a State Department briefing—an unprecedented end to his time in office. Hunter Biden and Media Suppression Blinken has been accused of playing a key role in suppressing the Hunter Biden laptop story, which revealed emails alleging corruption involving then-presidential candidate Joe Biden. According to an Interim Report by the House Intelligence Committee. Blinken was allegedly involved in framing the laptop story as "Russian disinformation." Blinken and other officials defended their response, claiming that it was based on intelligence assessments that...

 Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s last press briefing as part of the Biden administration was on Thursday. He used the time to defend his handling of the 15-month-long genocide in Gaza. A genocide according to United Nations Genocide Convention of 1948. He was then interrupted by two seasoned journalists looking for answers they have been trying to ask for months. Husseini Independent reporter, Sam Husseini, posted on his X account that he had “tried to ask a series of questions" before being asked to leave by a State Department aide. Persisting, Husseini said "Blinken has made plenty of speeches, it is now time to let him answer some questions. I'm a journalist, not a potted plant." Inferring that he wasn't there for decoration or to be part of the background but to engage and ask the uncomfortable questions that Blinken has evaded since last year. “I am asking questions after being told by [spokesman] Matt Miller that he will not answer my questions. I am ...

New Era  Lebanon's parliament elected the country's 14th president, Army Chief  Joseph Aoun  on Thursday, filling the vacant seat for the first time in two years. The presidency, reserved for a Maronite Christian in Lebanon's sectarian power-sharing system, hasn't been filled since Michel Aoun's term ended in October 2022. The former president was supported by Hezbollah and has no relation to Joseph Aoun. Negotiations over his successor were unsuccessful, leading to tensions between the country’s pro-Western and pro-Iranian camps. In 12 previous rounds of voting, parliament was unable to agree on a successor, leaving the Lebanese state crippled. After two rounds of voting on Thursday, Aoun gathered the two-thirds majority needed to secure the presidency by winning 99 of the possible 128 parliament votes. In doing so, he secured support from a coalition of Lebanon's diverse sectarian groups. Aoun himself is Maronite Christian, which is a prerequisite in Lebanon ...

  The Israeli military said on Saturday it had arrested Dr. Abu Safiya because he was “suspected of being a Hamas terrorist operative,” and claimed that the Kamal Adwan hospital was being used by Hamas as a “command and control center.” The military did not provide any evidence to support the claims. Arrest On December 29, 2024, the Israeli army arrested Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, Pediatrician and director of Kamal Adwan Hospital. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) stormed the facility following three months of blockade and airstrikes targeting its departments. Putting the last major hospital in North Gaza out of service by setting several parts on fire. The attack caused several departments to catch fire, killing and wounding Palestinian medical workers and patients, according to Munir al-Bursh, Director General of the Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza. He went on to say that all remaining medical staff, patients and their relatives were taken out of the hospital at ...