International
A judge in the United States stops the deportation to El Salvador of a hundred Venezuelans
About 100 Venezuelan immigrants detained in Colorado cannot be deported to El Salvador after a judge ruled on Tuesday that the federal government cannot expel two of them without first reviewing their cases or giving them the opportunity for a hearing before a judge.
Judge Charlotte N. Sweeney ruled in favor of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which represents the two Venezuelans, aged 25 and 32, who were not identified.
The opinion affects the plan of the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to deport to El Salvador about 100 Venezuelan men currently housed in the detention center of the private company GEO in Aurora, east of Denver.
“For the first time in months we can breathe a sigh of relief,” said Laura Lunn, a lawyer for the Rocky Mountain Immigrant Defense Network, after the decision.
“Our community has been disproportionately attacked by the Department of Homeland Security and we have already lost too many neighbors, parents, partners and friends to this anarchy,” the lawyer said.
In a hearing on Monday before Sweeney, federal government lawyers argued that a judicial restriction “would hinder the government’s ability to enforce immigration laws,” including “arresting, detaining and expelling foreigners who are illegally in the country and who may pose a danger to society.”
The judge dismissed that position, stressing that ACLU showed that immigrants “run the risk of being deported, perhaps unfairly” and that “they would suffer irreparable damage” if they were imprisoned in El Salvador.
According to court documents, both Venezuelans crossed the Mexican-American border in Texas “a few years ago,” as did about 40,000 of their compatriots from 2022 to 2024, who also arrived in Colorado.
In her order, Judge Sweeney forbade the federal government to move the two men to El Salvador and ordered them to stay in Colorado.
If transferred, they and other Venezuelans would have the right to request a judicial review and to receive legal information “in a language they understand”, that is, in this case, Spanish.
Sweeney also stated that ACLU showed that its representatives would probably “suffer irreparable damage in the absence of a precautionary measure”, so he decided in favor of the ACLU “for the benefit of the public interest”.
In addition, he questioned the possible use of the Foreign Enemies Law to deport Venezuelans, although government lawyers told the judge on Monday that that law was not being used in this case.
Lawyer Lunn emphasized that the lawsuit in favor of Venezuelans does not ask for them to be released or granted asylum, but that their right to due process before a judge is guaranteed.
International
U.S. Senate Rejects Budget, Bringing Government Closer to Shutdown Amid DHS Dispute
The U.S. Senate voted on Thursday against a budget proposal in a move aimed at pressuring changes at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), following the killing of two civilians during a deployment of immigration agents in Minneapolis.
All Senate Democrats and seven Republican lawmakers voted against the bill, which requires 60 votes to advance, pushing the country closer to a partial government shutdown that would cut funding for several agencies, including the Pentagon and the Department of Health.
The rejection came as Senate leaders and the White House continue negotiations on a separate funding package for DHS that would allow reforms to the agency. Proposed measures include banning Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from wearing face coverings and requiring them to use body-worn cameras during operations.
The vote took place just hours after President Donald Trump said he was “close” to reaching an agreement with Democrats and did not believe the federal government would face another shutdown, following last year’s record stoppage.
“I don’t think the Democrats want a shutdown either, so we’ll work in a bipartisan way to avoid it. Hopefully, there will be no government shutdown. We’re working on that right now,” Trump said during a Cabinet meeting at the White House.
International
Trump Says Putin Agreed to One-Week Halt in Attacks on Ukraine Amid Extreme Cold
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he secured a commitment from Russian President Vladimir Putinto halt attacks against Ukraine for one week, citing extreme weather conditions affecting the region.
“Because of the extreme cold (…) I personally asked Putin not to attack Kyiv or other cities and towns for a week. And he agreed. He was very pleasant,” Trump said during a Cabinet meeting broadcast by the White House.
Trump acknowledged that several advisers had questioned the decision to make the call.
“A lot of people told me not to waste the call because they wouldn’t agree. And he accepted. And we’re very happy they did, because they don’t need missiles hitting their towns and cities,” the president said.
According to Trump, Ukrainian authorities reacted with surprise to the announcement but welcomed the possibility of a temporary ceasefire.
“It’s extraordinarily cold, record cold (…) They say they’ve never experienced cold like this,” he added.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky later commented on the announcement, expressing hope that the agreement would be honored.
International
Storm Kristin Kills Five in Portugal, Leaves Nearly 500,000 Without Power
Storm Kristin, which battered Portugal with heavy rain and strong winds early Wednesday, has left at least five people dead, while nearly half a million residents remained without electricity as of Thursday, according to updated figures from authorities.
The revised death toll was confirmed to AFP by a spokesperson for the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANPEC). On Wednesday, the agency had reported four fatalities.
Meanwhile, E-Redes, the country’s electricity distribution network operator, said that around 450,000 customers were still without power, particularly in central Portugal.
Emergency services responded to approximately 1,500 incidents between midnight and 8:00 a.m. local time on Wednesday, as the storm caused widespread disruptions.
The Portuguese government described Kristin as an “extreme weather event” that inflicted significant damage across several regions of the country. At the height of the storm, as many as 850,000 households and institutions lost electricity during the early hours of Wednesday.
Several municipalities ordered the closure of schools, many of which remained shut on Thursday due to ongoing adverse conditions.
Ricardo Costa, regional deputy commander of the Leiria Fire Brigade, said residents continue to seek assistance as rainfall persists.
“Even though the rain is not extremely intense, it is causing extensive damage to homes,” he noted.
In Figueira da Foz, a coastal city in central Portugal, strong winds toppled a giant Ferris wheel, underscoring the severity of the storm.
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