FIRST ON FOX: A group of House Republicans is calling for an "immediate" probe into an app that allows people to track federal immigration actions in real time.House Small Business Committee Chairman Roger Williams, R-Texas, and Rep. Pat Fallon, R-Texas, said the ICEBlock app "paints targets" on the backs of Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents throughout the U.S., and asked Attorney General Pam Bondi to investigate whether the programs creators are violating federal law."We are disturbed to learn that the developers of this app may be encouraging people to interfere with and evade lawful ICE operations designed to remove criminals from our streets.While the creators of this app claim to promote awareness, their actions actively undermine the integrity of our justice system," their letter to Bondi said."The development and use of this app is not simply neighborhood awareness; it is a blatant interference with agency operations that has the potential to put government agents in danger and even cost them their lives."NEW REPORT REVEALS ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION POPULATION HIT NEW HIGH DURING BIDEN-ERA CRISISThe memo was signed by five other House lawmakers: Reps. Randy Weber, R-Texas; Michael Rulli, R-Ohio; Tom Tiffany, R-Wis.; Mark Alford, R-Mo., and Brad Finstad, R-Minn.It comes as the Trump administrations severe crackdown on illegal immigration continues to be a political flashpoint between the right and left.Both sides have accused the other of acting outside the scope of federal law. Democrats have claimed the Trump administration is using dubious legal justifications to carry out President Donald Trumps deportation goals, while Republicans argue that left-wing officials opposition to ICE amounts to impeding federal authorities.The ICEBlock app appears to be another bid to block federal immigration authorities. Its description on the Apple App Store reads, "Stay informed about reported ICE sightings, within a 5 miles radius of your current location, in real-time while maintaining your privacy. ICEBlock is a community-driven app that allows you to share and discover location-based reports without revealing any personal data."ICE AGENTS TARGETED IN 2 AMBUSH ATTACKS IN RECENT DAYSBondi herself warned developer Joshua Aaron to "watch out" in an appearance on "Hannity."Aaron told Los Angeles Magazine he created the app to "fight back" against what he saw as a rise in authoritarian tactics."Imagine youre walking down the street, and a notification comes up that says, 'ICE spotted four blocks aheadInstead of continuing down that path, you can turn left or turn around and avoid the situation altogether," he told the outlet.The lawmakers letter said, "ICE operations are designed to remove dangerous criminals from our streets. This app, labeled as an early warning system, deliberately alerts the public to the whereabouts of ICE agents, which gives individuals who are here illegally or have a criminal record time to hide or evade apprehension.""This app not only hinders criminal apprehension efforts but also makes the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Securitys mission of protecting public safety more difficult," they wrote.BORDER AGENT AMBUSH SHOWS DEMS NEED TO 'TONE DOWN RHETORIC,' WHITE HOUSE SAYS, PUSHING AOC TO MEET WITH ICECLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPThey argued that public knowledge of ICE raids led to the chaos in Los Angeles, when protesters clashed with law enforcement for several days."Given the severity of this issue, we respectfully request that the Department of Justice begin an immediate investigation into ICEBlock and its developers to determine whether it violates federal laws pertaining to obstruction of justice and aiding and abetting fugitives," they wrote.Fox News Digital reached out to the Department of Justice (DOJ) for comment. Fox News Digital also reached out to the developer of ICEBlock via the apps website.

A new book on the end of Joe Bidens presidential campaign and the birth of Kamala Harris' sheds light on the process behind the vice president choosing Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate, a decision widely panned by pundits in retrospect."2024: How Trump Retook the White House and the Democrats Lost America," released Tuesday by journalists Josh Dawsey of The Wall Street Journal, Tyler Pager of The New York Times and Isaac Arnsdor of The Washington Post, described a vetting process that came down to three finalists: Walz, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly.All three candidates did a final interview with Harris at her residence, the book explains, adding that when asked what they wanted to drink, Shapiro and Kelly chose water while Walz chose Diet Mountain Dew.Appeal with rural voters was a top priority for the Harris ticket and the book states that Harriss advisors felt that Walz was the best candidate to do that.TIKTOKER KNOCKS HARRIS' 'WEIRD' TAKE ON NEVER RELEASED INTERVIEW: 'NOT GOOD'"Pelosi privately pushed for him too, because shed worked with him in Congress," the book said about the former House speaker. "The pitch for Walz was straightforward: He could appeal to white voters across the Blue Wall states (Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania) and hopefully help Harris with male voters. Hed never lost election."While most political experts felt Shapiro, governor of a key swing state, was the most logical choice, the book states that the interview with Harris and Shapiro "revealed the two were not a perfect match.""He came across as overly ambitious, pushing Harris to define what his role would be. He also conceded it would not be natural for him to serve as someones number two, leaving Harris with a bad impression," the book states.Conversely, the authors explain that Walz was "deferential" while "showing no interest in himself" and "flatly denied any interest in running for president."NANCY MACE BLASTS TIM WALZ AFTER HE FAILS TO DEFINE WHAT A WOMAN IS"He went so far as to proactively volunteer reasons why she might not want to pick him," the book says. "In his interview that Friday, he said he had never used a teleprompter before. On Sunday, he told Harris, I would understand if you went with someone else because Im really nervous about the debate, and I dont think Ill do well. Still, the vetting team did not fully appreciate his tendency to misspeak, his folksiness sometimes tipping into factual imprecision."Walz would ultimately draw intense scrutiny on the campaign trail for his "folksiness" with a series of blunders, including his characterization of his military service and a claim he was present at the Tiananmen Square massacre.The book says Harris "struggled" deciding between Shapiro and Walz, believing that she had a better "rapport" with Walz but understood the importance of Pennsylvania. Harris team, according to the book, told her that polling did not offer a clear answer as to which of the two candidates would help the ticket more."There was no empirical evidence that Shapiro would deliver Pennsylvania and with it the White House," the book said.As Shapiro was being considered, many pundits speculated that his staunch support of Israel could be an issue given the progressive wing of the Democratic Party being vocally pro-Palestinian, resulting in protests, sometimes violent, across the country after Oct. 7.The book said the Harris campaign was aware of that issue."Much of the progressive wing of the Democratic Party declared war on Shapiro, largely because of his support of Israel," the book said. "Some Shapiro allies saw the criticism as deeply unfair and borderline antisemitic, since the governor was an observant Jew, but his positions on the Palestinian conflict broadly aligned with the Biden administration and the other vice presidential contenders. The lawyers vetting Shapiro did flag some comments they viewed as more incendiary, particularly as it related to pro- Palestinian protests on college campuses after the October 7 attacks.""One that caught their attention was his commentary on CNN from April: We have to query whether or not we would tolerate this, if this were people dressed up in KKK outfits or KKK regalia, making comments about people who are African American in our communities."Ultimately, the book says Harris "went with her gut" and chose Walz believing he was the "better fit" in a decision her staff was "unanimously behind."Fox News Digital reached out to the offices of Walz and Shapiro for comment.After losing every battleground state and ultimately the presidency to Donald Trump, critics were quick to judge the Walz pick as a misstep by Harris."The choice of Walz was only one of many disastrous mistakes but symptomatic of one larger problem the Democratic Party leadership is too scared to say no to the hard-left progressive wing of the party," Julian Epstein, longtime Democratic operative and former chief counsel to the House Judiciary Committee, told Fox News Digital shortly after the election.Rob Bluey, president and executive editor of The Daily Signal, told Fox News Digital in November that Harris picking Walz "proved to be a disastrous decision that doomed Kamala Harris from the moment she made it.""Not only was Walz ill-prepared for the national spotlight and media scrutiny, but Harris passed over several better options," Bluey said. "Given how little Americans knew about Harris or her policy positions, they were right to question her judgment on this big decision."

America's largest teachers union has severed ties with the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) over its decades-long ties to Israel, prompting the civil rights group's CEO Jonathan Greenblatt to fire back at the union he says has been "overtaken" by activists."These individuals are there to teach our children in the classroom the basics of reading and writing and arithmetic, not radicalism, but that's exactly what's happened," Greenblatt said of the National Education Association (NEA) on "Fox & Friends" Wednesday.The organization, whose leadership holds a history of supporting left-wing causes, voted to suspend its ties to the ADL over the war in Gaza, according to reporting from Axios.ADL URGES AMERICANS TO FIGHT HATE AFTER DEADLY SHOOTING IN DCThe union will no longer use ADL-provided material regarding the Holocaust or antisemitism and will forego using or promoting any other ADL-affiliated material or programs."Allowing the ADL to determine what constitutes antisemitism would be like allowing the fossil fuel industry to determine what constitutes climate change," NEA delegate Stephen Siegel said from the assembly floor.TEACHERS UNION BOSSES SPLIT OVER SUPREME COURT RULING ON PARENTAL RIGHTS TO SHIELD KIDS FROM LGBTQ CONTENTThe decision earned support from CAIR (Council on American-Islamic Relations), who applauded the decision for sparing students from "biased materials" rife with "anti-Palestinian rhetoric.""We've seen an explosion of antisemitism in this country Anti-Jewish acts of harassment, vandalism and violence have skyrocketed," Greenblatt told "Fox & Friends" guest host Charlie Hurt."Last year was the worst year we've ever tracked at ADL and yet, somehow, these teachers think the answer is to isolate Jewish students, to intimidate other Jewish educators and to target the oldest organization in the country fighting antisemitism. It's bewildering, but it's bigotry."He suspected that the "real motivation" behind the move is "insidious" anti-Israel activists working to "capture the culture" by indoctrinating children."Could you imagine telling the NAACP they're not credible on racism, or the National Constitution Center, they can't teach the Constitution? ADL's materials are the gold standard. They're peer-reviewed. We've been doing it for decades, and we're teaching about the Holocaust."

Lighting a campfire and watching as the flames grow and flicker can feel therapeutic for good reason.Between the light, heat and crackling sound, sitting around a campfire can be a relaxing experience and experts agree that it can even benefit your mental health.Research published in the journal Evolutionary Psychology has noted "significant reductions" in blood pressure associated with exposure to a crackling fire.BEACH DAYS BENEFIT MENTAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING AS VISITS PROVIDE 'SEA THERAPY'Campfires or firepits can also improve social interactions, researchers noted.M. David Rudd, Ph.D., professor of psychology and director of the Rudd Institute for Veteran and Military Suicide Prevention at the University of Memphis, agreed that the natural setting of campfires is "likely effective" for soothing the mind and engaging with others.People sitting around a fire are "digitally disconnected" and isolated from technology distractions and the demands of daily life, the expert noted."The context is disarming and socially engaged by its very nature, generating implicit expectations of engagement and interaction," Rudd told Fox News Digital in an interview.EXTREME HEAT AFFECTS THE BRAIN HERE'S HOW TO PROTECT YOUR COGNITIVE HEALTH"We all have memories of being around a campfire and hearing stories or at least we've heard stories about what it means to be around a campfire."These expectations foster a "supportive, non-threatening environment where people don't feel judged or pressured to engage," Rudd said.Campfires may encourage those who are "hesitant, anxious or unwilling to engage elsewhere" to connect with others and share personal experiences, he added.Jessica Cail, Ph.D., assistant professor of psychology at Pepperdine University in California, pointed out the association of fire with relaxation, comparing fires to a "social hub where people come together for warmth, light, food and protection."CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTERMany holiday celebrations tend to involve fire, and some homes have fireplaces geared toward gathering and connecting, Cail noted in a separate interview with Fox News Digital."Given these positive associations, it should not be a surprise that these feelings of relaxation and safety can help facilitate social communication and counteract negative feelings, whether theyre explicitly shared or not," she added.Fire is also associated with ritual and transition, such as the use of advent candles or the therapeutic practice of writing regretful or traumatic thoughts down on paper, throwing them into a fire and watching them burn, Cail noted.Nature is restorative, helping to counteract modern life's numerous demands and the need to stay hyper-focused on specific tasks, the expert added."This is fatiguing for our brains," Cail said.For more Health articles, visitwww.foxnews.com/health"Being in nature involves more of a soft focus (the sight of trees, the smell of grass, the sound of birds), giving our brains a chance to rest and restore.""This break from ruminating on stress may be why so many researchers have found doses of nature to be effective in reducing both depression and anxiety."Campfires are often associated with leisure in nature, which is an important component of mental health, especially for those with mental illnesses, according to Cail.The expert emphasized that changing your environment can also "change your mind.""Unless your trauma took place in nature or around a fire, a change in environment like camping can break you out of that associative headspace, giving you a fresh outlook," she added.

President Donald Trump is reiterating his claim that the Democratic Party's nominee for mayor in the nation's most populous city is a "communist.""If a communist gets elected to run New York, it can never be the same," the president argued this week as he spoke to reporters during a Cabinet meeting at the White House.Trump was referring to Zohran Mamdani, the 33-year-old democratic-socialist assemblyman from Queens whose convincing victory two weeks ago over former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and nine other candidates in New York City's Democratic mayoral primary sent political shock waves across the country.For Republicans, the strategy in reacting to Mamdani's victory is clear-cut relentlessly paint Mamdani who took a big step toward becoming New York City's first Muslim mayor as an extremist and anchor him to Democrats across the country ahead of next year's midterm elections.THE PLOT TO STOP MAMDANI: DEMOCRATS SCRAMBLE TO PREVENT FAR-LEFT TAKEOVER IN NYCFor Democrats, it's more complicated.Mamdani surged to a primary victory thanks to an energetic campaign that put a major focus on affordability and New York City's high cost of living.He made smart use of social media platforms, including TikTok, as he engaged low-propensity voters. He proposed eliminating fares to ride New York City's vast bus system, making CUNY (City University of New York) "tuition-free," freezing rents on municipal housing, offering "free childcare" for children up to age 5, and setting up government-run grocery stores.RESURFACED MAMDANI PHOTO SPARKS SOCIAL MEDIA FIRESTORMThanks in part to the efforts of a massive grassroots army of volunteers, Mamdani rode a wave of support from younger and progressive voters to catapult into first place over Cuomo, who had been the primary frontrunner."I think it's clear that voters are prioritizing action over inaction, and not just incremental change but broad sweeping change," veteran Democratic strategist Joe Caiazzo told Fox News Digital, when asked about what Mamdani's victory means for the party.And Caiazzo, a veteran of Sen. Bernie Sanders' 2016 and 2020 presidential campaigns, said one reason for Mamdani's victory was that he tirelessly met "voters where they are."But the Mamdani political earthquake seems to have exacerbated tensions between the party's moderate and progressive wings. It's also fueled the existing debate over whether the Democratic Party's policy, or messaging, was to blame for last November's election setbacks, when Democrats lost control of the White House and Senate, and failed to win back the House majority."Democrats continue to have a fissure in their own party, which has been made worse by Mamdani's candidacy," said Wayne Lesperance, a veteran political scientist and the president of New England College.MAMDANI'S PROFESSOR FATHER CLAIMED HITLER INSPIRED BY ABRAHAM LINCOLNIn New York, top Democratic Party leaders, including Gov. Kathy Hochul, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, have praised Mamdanis campaign. And while they've defended him from Trump's attacks, they have refrained, as of now, from endorsing the mayoral nominee.Democratic strategist Lauren Hitt worked for Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., and served on the Biden-Harris 2024 presidential campaign. This year, she helped a super PAC boost Mamdani, and told Fox News that his primary victory was a "clear rejection of the old guard."Even Matt Bennett, executive vice president for the moderate Democratic-aligned group the Third Way, acknowledged that Mamdani "focused on affordability," which he said is "great."Bennett added that Mamdani is "young, charismatic, a great communicator. All that is great. We want to see that."But Bennett told Fox News "the problem is he has the wrong prescription."Without a singular leader steering Democrats as the party works to escape the political wilderness, the internal debates will continue.But Caiazzo cautioned "not to read too much into" what Mamdani's victory means to the party as a whole, and argued that "Republicans are making too much out of this."

White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles recalled the chaos of the Butler assassination attempt against President Donald Trump in a new interview, saying she thought the president was dead at first."We were just crazy the minute he was hit," Wiles said, as she admitted she thought Trump had been killed by the gunfire.Speaking with Miranda Devine Wednesday on "Pod Force One," Wiles suggested divine intervention saved Trump's life, noting the placement of the immigration chart he had up on the big LED screen at his rally caused him to turn his head in a different direction, just as the shots were fired."So to have him ask for that chart, eight minutes in, and to have it come on the side that was opposite, caused him to look in a different direction and lift his head just a little because it was higher, and that just doesnt happen because it happened," she said.JOURNALIST WHO REFUSED TO DUCK DURING TRUMP ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT REFLECTS ON BUTLER RALLY IN NEW BOOKTrump grabbed his ear as it was struck and quickly went down as Secret Service agents rushed the stage. He stood up with blood streaming down the side of his face and yelled, "Fight!" at roaring supporters as he was taken to safety, in one of the most memorable images in American political history."You think the worst. You cannot, its human, you cant think otherwise. And when he stood up, I thought, Oh my gosh," Wiles told Devine.Wiles, who was the successful campaign's co-chair, said it was clear soon after they arrived at the hospital that Trump was going to be okay."But it was a scary time, and it changed everything for us, the security became front and center, which it hadn't been before," she said. "Not to take away from the Secret Service, it's just that they they became on steroids then. And we couldn't do outdoor rallies, which became sort of the hallmark for the campaign. We couldn't go to buildings that had lots of windows."She said Trump's team adapted and believed Trump thinks he was "saved."TRUMP ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT AFTERMATH, REACTIONS FROM INNER CIRCLE REVEALED IN NEW BOOKWiles said during the podcast that the president is a "voracious reader" and reads several newspapers daily, including the Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, the New York Post and occasionally, the Washington Post.The chief of staff also discussed the transition into the White House, offering compliments to former President Joe Biden's staff."They could not have been more kind to me as we were transitioning, really wonderful at telling us what to expect, what resources were at our fingertips. They were terrific, the presidency, not so much," she said. "The individuals that I worked with and I knew were spectacular, and I actually call on them from time to time now."CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTUREWiles also spoke about the cordial meeting between Trump and Biden the week after the 2024 election."It was a great meeting. I kept thinking, these two have been just saying horrific things about each other, and they're like old golfing buddies here now," she said.CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

President Donald Trump confirmed on Tuesday that he will be in attendance for theFIFA Club World Cup final on Sunday, as the tournament hosted by the United States will conclude at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.Speaking to reporters at a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday,the president confirmed his plans to attend the championship."Ill be going to the game," Trump said.CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWSHis appearance this weekend in East Rutherford comes as no surprise, as Trump has been a constant fixture at sporting events throughout his first and second term, including most recently atUFC fights and Super Bowl LIX in February.The president also announced in March that he would be establishing a White House task force in anticipation of the Club World Cup and the2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be predominately hosted by the U.S. Canada and Mexico will also play host to several matches.Trump leads the task force, while Vice President JD Vance serves as the vice chair.FORMER USMNT STAR WARNS OF 'MASSIVE FAILURE' SCENARIO FOR US AS HOST OF WORLD CUPIn May, Trump announced that Andrew Giuliani, the son of former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, was appointed executive director to manage and oversee daily operations. Carlos Cordeiro, a FIFA senior advisor, was also named as a senior advisor on the task force."Hes going to be great. Ive known him for a long time. Hes a highly competitive golfer, really good. Hes also a highly competitive person, and he loves what were doing. I want to congratulate you and your family and your father, your great father who is the greatest mayor in the history of New York," Trump said of Giuliani in May following the task forces first official meeting."Its a big post. You better do well, Andrew."Chelsea FC secured its place in the final following a 2-0 victory over Fluminense in the semifinal on Tuesday. ThePremier League team will face the winner of Wednesdays semifinal match between Paris St-Germain and Real Madrid.Follow Fox News Digitalssports coverage on X, and subscribe tothe Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Amal Clooney is laying down the law.When it comes to entertaining guests at the home she shares with George Clooney, the human rights lawyer has a strict no-phone policy.During a recent interview with Glamour, Amal detailed how she protects her family's privacy while constantly being in the spotlight.GEORGE CLOONEY MAKES DRAMATIC RETURN TO HIS SIGNATURE SILVER FOX STATUS AT 2025 TONY AWARDS"Creating private moments and spaces is becoming increasingly difficult," Amal admitted. "But thats also why we entertain a lot at home. I now have a phone basket that I use to take everyones phones away!"Amal continued to candidly share that shes fiercely guarding one thing her familys privacy."Its important to get that balance where you have time alone with your family and with your friends where people feel like you can have a safe and frank exchange," she explained.While being a mom of two to twins, Amal admitted that its paramount to protect her brood."I would say becoming a parent means youre more troubled by some of the intrusions. So, we do the best we can to minimize any impact on our children. We dont put our children out there; weve never put their photo out there or anything like that."Meanwhile, the Hollywood couple have appeared to balance being in the spotlight and taking care of their family.GEORGE CLOONEY SAYS TWINS 'DON'T REALLY CARE' HE'S A STAR AT KENNEDY CENTER HONORS WITH WIFE AMAL CLOONEYAs Clooney debuted the Broadway play he wrote and starred in, "Good Night, and Good Luck," in April, his wife Amal was visibly absent.While speaking to reporters, George said Amal missed his big night because "she's with the kids," according to People. The couples twins are named Alexander and Ella.WATCH: GEORGE CLOONEY TALKS FAMILY LIFE AT KENNEDY CENTER HONORSThe Clooney family relocated to New York while he focused on his Broadway debut. In February, George was a guest on "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" and shared how his family was adapting."They love being here. I mean, come on, how do you not love this? Its New York City," George remarked.CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER"Actually, a play is kind of a good schedule because youre working at night. You get to see the kids during the day. So, its OK," he added."Good Night, and Good Luck" is George's Broadway adaption of the 2005 movie he directed. The play, like the movie, portrays the true story of CBS news journalist Edward R. Murrow's expos on Sen. Joseph McCarthy.George proposed to Amal in April 2014, and the couple married five months later in Venice, Italy. Three years later, in 2017, the Clooneys welcomed their twins.The couple have homes all around the world, including Italy, England and a French property roughly 30 minutes away from Chteau Miraval, an operating winery owned by George's friend, Brad Pitt.

The government of El Salvador told the United Nations that more than 100 Venezuelan migrants deported by the Trump administration to its maximum-security prison, CECOT, in March remain under the sole custody of the U.S. government appearing to undercut months of assertions by senior Trump officials, who have repeatedly claimed they have no power to compel the return of these individuals.The U.N. report was included Monday in a court filing submitted by lawyers for the ACLU and other migrant groups representing more than 100 detainees at CECOT who are challenging their removal from the U.S. to the maximum-security Salvadorian prison.The filing included a copy of statements made by the Salvadorian government to a U.N. human rights office in April, as part of an investigation brought on behalf of four families.At the time, El Salvador officials told the U.N. that the "jurisdiction and legal responsibility" for detainees sent by the U.S. to CECOT in March lies "exclusively" with the U.S., citing a $6 million agreement it struck with the U.S. in March to host roughly 300 migrant prisoners.FEDERAL JUDGE ORDERS RETURN OF DEPORTED MIGRANT TO US, REJECTING TRUMP REQUESTThat assertion came roughly one month after the Trump administration in March invoked a 1798 wartime immigration law to more quickly deport Venezuelan nationals, including alleged members of the Tren de Aragua gang.Prior to March, the U.S. invoked the law just three times, including most recently during World War II.Lawyers representing the migrants argued Monday that the statement included in the U.N. report should be grounds for plaintiffs to seek additional discovery in the case, which had been overseen by U.S. District Judge James Boasberg beginning in March.WHO IS JAMES BOASBERG, THE US JUDGE AT THE CENTER OF TRUMP'S DEPORTATION EFFORTS?"Since March, the Trump-Vance administration has sought to operate in the shadows without public transparency as it removes people from the country under false pretenses or without any process at all," Skye Perryman, president of Democracy Forward, which is representing the CECOT detainees alongside the ACLU, said in a statement this week."This is a threat to every single American, and is a threat to our democracy as a whole," Perryman added.It could also breathe new life into a flurry of stalled immigration cases nationwide.As of this writing, the revelation has already had a knock-down effect on at least one case involving a CECOT migrant ordered back to the U.S. by a federal judge.JUSTICE DEPARTMENT TELLS FEDERAL JUDGE IT MIGHT INVOKE STATE SECRETS ACT ON HIGH-PROFILE DEPORTATION CASEU.S. District Judge Stephanie Gallagher, a Trump appointee, ordered the administration on Wednesday to explain its position to the court in light of the new revelations."Defendants have repeatedly skirted this Court's directive to provide information regarding the steps they have taken and will take to facilitate the return of ['Cristian] to the United States," the judge wrote in an order Wednesday evening, referring to a man deported to El Salvador in March.She noted that the defendants "have repeatedly made oblique references to their request of 'assistance' from the U.S. Department of State, which has 'entered into negotiations to facilitate Cristian's return' and 'assumed responsibility on behalf of the U.S. Government for ... diplomatic discussions with El Salvador.'"Gallagher ruled in April that the government violated a 2024 settlement between DHS and a group of young asylum seekers in deporting him before his case was fully heard in court.As of this writing, however, he has not been returned to the country.SUPREME COURT GRANTS TRUMP REQUEST TO LIFT STAY HALTING VENEZUELAN DEPORTATIONSThe revelation could also come to the fore in another major hearing this week.On Thursday, U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis will hear from Trump administration officials and lawyers for Salvadorian migrant Kilmar Abrego Garcia as she weighs a request from Abrego's attorneys to transfer him back to U.S. custody in Maryland.Abrego is currently in the custody of U.S. Marshals in Tennesee but could be released as early as next week. Plaintiffs have cited deep concerns that the Trump administration would immediately seek to take him into ICE custody upon release and deport him to a third country a notion the administration did not dispute.Xinis, for her part, has taken umbrage with the Trump administration's evasiveness and slow-walking of information, which she likened earlier this week to "trying to nail Jell-O to a wall."

EXCLUSIVE Amid charges that its distribution model forces civilians to travel long distances and pass through military zones, the U.S.-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) announced a new initiative on Wednesday to add another layer of security to deliver food aid directly to Gazans in need, without diversion or interference from Hamas.The new system enables community leaders to contact GHF or one of its non-governmental organization (NGO) partners to coordinate local distribution. A GHF team will vet the leader, determine their needs, and set up the initial distribution of food aid. Boxes will be collected by locals at a predetermined location, and GHF will verify that boxes are distributed to aid recipients listed by the community leader.GHF interim Executive Director John Acree told Fox News Digital, "We simply cant keep doing things how theyve always been done. Big challenges need new thinking, and I commend our team for continuing to think outside the box as we address pressing humanitarian needs on the ground."PEOPLE IN GAZA ARE THANKING TRUMP FOR AID, LEADER OF US-BACKED GROUP SAYSUsing this method, GHF partnered with Gazan NGO Al-Amal to successfully deliver some 2,000 boxes of food aid to residents of central Gaza.Though GHF has delivered 67 million meals since beginning operations in May, it has faced criticism over its distribution model, which required Gazans to reach one of four distribution points to receive aid.Critics, including the U.N., UNRWA and other aid groups, have seized on reports that aid recipients have been shot at and even killed by the Israel Defense Forces while seeking GHF aid. The IDF said those reports "are false."Testimonies from Gaza residents, released by Israels Coordinator for Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), show that "Hamas fires at Gaza residents near the aid distribution sites, spreads false claims about IDF fire, publishes fabricated data about large numbers of casualties, and circulates fake footage," COGAT said.ISRAEL RELEASES CONVERSATIONS OF GAZA RESIDENTS AMID CRITICISMS OF AID DELIVERY SYSTEMGHF leaders have also charged Hamas with hoarding humanitarian aid, and selling or using the aid "for coercive purposes."Acree acknowledged that "The Gaza Strip is a dynamic, dangerous environment that requires innovative solutions to get food to those who need it most. This is the latest example of GHF doing exactly that. I am encouraged by the results of this program and proud to work alongside our local NGO partner as we continue to feed the people of Gaza."NETANYAHU AND TRUMP TO MEET IN DC AS GAZAS FATE WITHOUT HAMAS IS DEBATEDGHF hopes to partner with additional NGOs to expand its delivery service. Its ultimate goal is to distribute over 20,000 boxes of aid 1.2 million meals each day throughout Gaza.Despite negative feedback about the GHF model from the UNRWA and NGOs, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke of the important role the new aid system plays in getting Gazans fed.In an exclusive interview with FOX Business Maria Bartiromo on"Mornings with Maria," on Wednesday, Netanyahu was asked whether he would agree to demands that the U.N. be placed back in charge of humanitarian aid distributions in Gaza."We have our own distribution system that has been established to prevent Hamas from stealing the food that is supposed to go to the population," Netanyahu replied. "They steal it, they take it for themselves and the remainder, they hike the prices and basically, extort the Palestinian population in order to use it to continue recruiting people to their war machine."Obviously, we don't want to give up the thing that we began with, which is distribution that goes directly to the people."The U.S. State Department has already approved funding of $30 million for GHF.