International
Brazil Senate approves Bolsonaro-backed pastor for Supreme Court
AFP
The Brazilian Senate on Wednesday approved a Presbyterian pastor for a seat on the Supreme Court in a win for far-right President Jair Bolsonaro, who had promised to appoint a “terribly evangelical” judge to the top court.
By 47 votes to 32, the Senate backed former justice minister Andre Mendonca, 48, who from mid-December will occupy the 11th seat of the Supreme Court in Brasilia, replacing a judge who retired in July.
The appointment of Mendonca was hailed by conservatives, as the court adjudicates on hot-button issues such as the rights of minorities, abortion, drugs and access to weapons.
“My commitment to bring to the Supreme Court a ‘terribly evangelical’ (judge) was delivered today,” Bolsonaro tweeted Wednesday evening.
During his confirmation hearing before the Senate’s Constitution and Justice Committee, Mendonca confirmed his support the secularism in the Brazilian government.
“In life, the Bible; in the Supreme Court, the Constitution,” he said.
“Although I am an evangelical, there is no space for public religious demonstrations during the sessions of the Supreme Federal Court.”
“I will defend the constitutional right of civil marriage for people of the same sex,” he added in response to a question posed by a senator.
Mendonca has been a member of the government since Bolsonaro came to power in January 2019 with firm support among evangelicals, a fast-growing segment in Brazil. according to a January 2020 Datafolha survey, it already represents 31 percent of the population.
Law professor Michael Mohallem told AFP the appointment was “political” and represented a victory for Bolsonaro heading into the 2022 elections.
“It allows him to retain the electoral support of the evangelicals and it will also be seen as a sign that Bolsonaro still controls the majority in the Senate when he needs it,” he said.
International
Trump directs ICE to focus deportation efforts on democratic-led states
On Sunday, U.S. President Donald Trump ordered Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to prioritize raids, deportations, and immigration enforcement in states governed by the Democratic Party, according to the news outlet Univision.
The U.S. president posted on his social media channels directing agents to “do everything possible to achieve the very important goal of delivering the largest mass deportation program in history,” the report said.
Trump further explained that efforts should be expanded to apprehend and deport illegal immigrants in the largest U.S. cities, such as Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York, where millions of undocumented immigrants reside.
Previously, Stephen Miller, the White House Deputy Chief of Staff, informally stated that the agency aims to arrest 3,000 immigrants per day. He also demanded that agents actively seek out and detain undocumented immigrants, according to the American media outlet.
In recent weeks, ICE operations have faced criticism for the use of masked agents who do not identify themselves or present warrants during arrests.
International
Judge to rule next week on injunction against Trump’s student visa restrictions
A Boston (Massachusetts) federal judge postponed on Monday her decision on whether to maintain the injunction blocking President Donald Trump’s ban on foreign students at Harvard University.
District Judge Allison D. Burroughs announced after a hearing that she would decide next week whether to uphold or lift the temporary restraining order she issued in May against the policy.
The order will remain in effect until her ruling next week, according to local media reports.
Last month, the Trump administration barred Harvard from enrolling new foreign students and warned current international students that they must transfer to other universities or risk losing their immigration status.
Harvard, one of the most prestigious U.S. universities, filed a lawsuit arguing that its authorization to accept foreign students is “essential” for them to remain legally in the country.
In its legal challenge, the university stated that revoking this authorization has already “disrupted countless academic programs, research labs, and courses.”
Following Harvard’s lawsuit, Judge Burroughs issued a temporary restraining order against the government’s ban, which affects about a quarter of the university’s student body.
Despite the judge’s order, Harvard reported in court documents that several students who arrived in Boston on June 5 were sent to “secondary inspection” and “were detained for many hours without being able to contact anyone.”
International
Netanyahu: Israel is ‘changing the face of the Middle East’ amid Iran strikes
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared on Monday that Israel is “changing the face of the Middle East” with its unprecedented attack on Iran, now in the fourth day of escalating military tensions between the two countries.
Netanyahu made these remarks during a televised press conference, just hours after an airstrike targeted the Iranian state television building in Tehran, forcing a brief interruption of its broadcast.
At the time of the attack, cameras captured a state TV presenter, who had been criticizing Israel’s offensive, hastily leaving the studio amid thick dust and falling debris from the ceiling, according to videos circulated by Iranian media.
The channel resumed live programming minutes later, while Tehran condemned the strike as a “war crime.” Netanyahu stated that Iranians are now seeing that “the regime is much weaker” than previously thought, highlighting that since Friday, Israel has systematically eliminated Iran’s military leadership. “We take them out one by one,” he said.
Killing the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, “would end the conflict” between Israel and Iran, Netanyahu told ABC News.
Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump reportedly opposed an Israeli plan to assassinate Khamenei, a senior U.S. official revealed on Sunday.
Trump directs ICE to focus deportation efforts on democratic-led states
Guatemala cracks down on prison corruption with over 20 raids in recent weeks
Judge to rule next week on injunction against Trump’s student visa restrictions
Tec de Monterrey honors one of its students for his contribution to nanotechnology in medicine
Defense Minister commends salvadoran soldier for Central American Cross Country victory
Extension of the state of emergency approved in southern Chile
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