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Turning the tide on the hidden toll of cross-border trafficking

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Beyond the headlines, behind the statistics, real lives are being devastated by cross-border trafficking, with impacts that ripple through families and communities for generations.

Every day at U.S. borders, trafficking networks exploit our most vulnerable – children, women, migrant families and communities already at risk – using increasingly sophisticated tactics to smuggle people, drugs, money, weapons and contraband. For many of these victims, the trauma doesn’t stop at the border – they’re often trafficked for forced labor in the nation’s interior.

The human cost of the fentanyl epidemic, its enterprise propagated illicitly across borders, is likewise unspeakable. Entire communities have been hollowed out as hundreds of lives are lost to fentanyl overdoses every single day in the U.S.

Cross-border traffickers put a literal price on human lives and are quick to discard them if they become an inconvenience. In open desert, treacherous mountains and brutal heat, migrants, including unaccompanied minors, are abandoned in the harshest environments to fend for themselves.

U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) personnel, acting as first responders, give these people hope for another day. Operating in remote terrain in border regions hundreds to thousands of miles between points of entry (BPOE) – at significant risk to themselves – the USBP, with support from the Border Patrol Search, Trauma, and Rescue Unit (BORSTAR) as well as Air and Marine Operations (AMO), provide crucial rescue operations and humanitarian aid.

The trauma and loss suffered by the victims of these criminal trafficking schemes is unfathomable. For those brave enough to help – the personnel of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and adjacent agencies – tending to this daily tragedy takes a tremendous personal toll.

More than anything, these personnel simply want to return home safely to their loved ones at the end of their shift.

Securing a vast border

CBP recorded approximately 444,000 migrant encounters in 2025 (fiscal year). Of these, roughly 238,000 were migrants crossing BPOE, underscoring the operational challenges shouldered by the USBP and AMO resources along remote border terrain.

In parallel, federal funding has seen a major uptick in budget targeted for border security, with a focus on physical infrastructure like border walls complemented by intelligence technology improvements that extend border protection capabilities far beyond where walls can reach.

The USBP continues to monitor this wide-open border terrain using a suite of technology and infrastructure assets like heat sensors and patrol operations. False alarms are commonplace, triggered by trivial events – heat signatures of roving animals, for example. Traditional camera and radar sensors remain encumbered by line-of-sight obstructions, and lighting and weather sensitivity.

The time, effort and effectiveness lost to these conventional measures is significant.

There’s a major opportunity to upgrade detection and search capabilities such that USBP can close the gaps – the geographical distance gaps and efficiency gaps – to achieve vastly improved investigative precision.

Precise tactical intelligence

Cross-border traffickers move quickly to avoid detection. Transnational criminal organizations adapt their routes overnight. Border security teams need to respond in real-time.

The USBP can gain significant operational and investigative benefits by improving their capabilities in tactical intelligence gathering focused on network communication used in BPOE trafficking.

Location-aware operations enable Ground, Air and Marine teams to intercept smugglers before they reach interior distribution hubs. These teams are likewise better equipped to recover missing or distressed migrants before they succumb to exposure, and they can deploy support and rescue assets more efficiently.

These advanced capabilities are at the forefront of the fight against cross-border trafficking because they yield precise and actionable insights.

These capabilities provide lifesaving intelligence and ultimately will help to relieve the hard and hidden tolls of cross-border trafficking.

In addition, these capabilities reduce operational risks to USBP personnel, to help ensure they get home safely.

These are worthy goals and the technology to achieve them is well within our grasp. For more information about advanced tactical and decision intelligence capabilities for combating cross-border trafficking, visit www.cognyte.com.

The post Turning the tide on the hidden toll of cross-border trafficking first appeared on Federal News Network.

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‘Pamphlets About Sharia Law and Other Islamic Things’ in Texas High School

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Image: Wikimedia Commons (Deceased Chief Commander of Hizbul Mujahideen and Others)

High school students in Wylie, Texas, were recently provided with Muslim religious materials by representatives of an Islamic organization called Why Islam.

On February 2, in a video shared on X by Sara Gonzales, the president of the High School Republicans at Wiley East High School disclosed that members of Why Islam were providing hijabs to certain female students, along with Qurans and pamphlets about Sharia law to the student body—over their lunch hour “on public school taxpayer-funded time.”

In the follow-up reports regarding this incident, media outlets failed to mention Why Islam’s ties to groups that have long been scrutinized for their anti-Semitic views, sympathies toward terrorism, and other concerning affiliations.

Image: Screenshot by J.M. Phelps: Ties to ICNA visible on Why Islam’s website

Interestingly, the Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA) serves as the “chief representative body” in the U.S. for Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI), a South Asian Islamist movement. JeI’s militant wing, Hizbul Mujahideen, has been classified as a terrorist organization by the U.S. since 2017.

The Investigative Project on Terrorism also reported that ICNA’s websites once featured links to groups such as Hamas, Hezbollah, and militant factions active in Afghanistan and Kashmir. Furthermore, ICNA has supported the Islamic Society in Gaza, a group that has been known to radicalize children to support Hamas.

Why should this be a concern for the Texas school district, or any school district for that matter? Because, as stated by Focus on Western Islamism, “ICNA runs…a number of da’wah [proselytization] campaigns—the most active of which is called Why Islam.”

The Gateway Pundit interviewed Melanie Kurdys, a board member of United States Parents Involved in Education (USPIE). When the author of this article pointed out the connections between Why Islam and ICNA, as well as ICNA’s links to JeI, she was appalled.

She likened the discovery to that of the infiltration of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in America’s school systems through initiatives like Confucius Classrooms in K-12 schools and Confucius Institutes at universities.

“I think people have opened their eyes to this,” Kurdys said. “We went through a period of not caring, and now we realize that this was the way the communists managed to infiltrate our country and attempt to seize control. Why would you think this is any different?”

She extended the benefit of the doubt to those handing out the Muslim materials to students at the high school, suggesting they might be unaware of Why Islam’s connections to antisemitic, terror sympathizing groups. However, she also cautioned, “you always have the canary in the coal mine.”

With regard to Why Islam advocating for their Islamic beliefs in the public school, she said other groups in the community should have been afforded the same opportunity, having “a seat at the table.” To the contrary, the student featured in the video claimed that no other faith groups had ever been invited, asserting, “we’ve never had a faith group to my understanding.”

Given that Sharia law is often viewed as incompatible with the U.S. Constitution, American laws, and ” the American way of life,” Kurdys asked why the distribution of pamphlets on this subject was permitted. “Would Americans be granted the same interfaith respect and mutual survival [in a Muslim-majority nation]?”

While she encourages interfaith dialogue for students to gain knowledge, she also fears what could happen if it’s left unbridled and unchecked. After all, there’s already this example in Texas public schools with ties to a few controversial, perhaps dangerous, players.

Whether it’s related to the infiltration of Islamist groups or the CCP, or pornography in libraries, Kurdys said, “You can protect your kids by keeping them out of the government schools and opting for homeschooling or private education.”

The post ‘Pamphlets About Sharia Law and Other Islamic Things’ in Texas High School appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

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Trump Admin to Repeal Obama-Era Climate Rule in ‘Largest Act of Deregulation in the History of the US’

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Barack Obama speaking at The Connecticut Forum, discussing key issues while holding a microphone and gesturing with his hand.

The Trump administration is planning to wipe away the foundation that supported Obama-era regulations on greenhouse gasses, according to a new report.

According to The Wall Street Journal, the so-called “endangerment finding” of 2009 that labeled six greenhouse gasses as a threat to public health and welfare will be overturned.

The finding gave the Environmental Protection Agency legal authority to limit emissions from power plants and vehicles.

“This amounts to the largest act of deregulation in the history of the United States,” EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said.

The final rule is expected to be made public this week, the Journal wrote.

The Journal said the rule “removes the regulatory requirements to measure, report, certify and comply with federal greenhouse-gas emission standards for motor vehicles, and repeals associated compliance programs, credit provisions and reporting obligations for industries,” citing administration officials it did not name as the source of the report.

The new rule will not directly overturn regulations on power plant emissions but could be a first step in that direction, The Journal report said.

Trump began the process on the day he became president by directing the EPA to determine if the finding should remain in place. In July, the EPA first proposed rescinding the finding.

The report said the officials it did not name estimated removing the finding would reduce costs of compliance by about $1 trillion.

“More energy drives human flourishing,” Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said. “Energy abundance is the thing that we have to focus on, not regulating certain forms of energy out.”

On Wednesday, Trump is scheduled to announce an executive order directing the War Department to buy electricity from coal-fired power plants.

Trump has made no secret of his support for wiping away regulations that constrict America’s energy supplying.

“My Administration is committed to unleashing American energy, especially through the removal of all illegitimate impediments to the identification, development, siting, production, investment in, or use of domestic energy resources — particularly oil, natural gas, coal, hydropower, geothermal, biofuel, critical mineral, and nuclear energy resources,” Trump wrote in a 2025 fact sheet,

“An affordable and reliable domestic energy supply is essential to the national and economic security of the United States, as well as our foreign policy.  Simply put, Americans are better off when the United States is energy dominant.”

Last month, Trump tweaked the climate change crowd over the extreme cold that hit the U.S.

“Record Cold Wave expected to hit 40 States. Rarely seen anything like it before. Could the Environmental Insurrectionists please explain — WHATEVER HAPPENED TO GLOBAL WARMING???” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

This article appeared originally on The Western Journal.

The post Trump Admin to Repeal Obama-Era Climate Rule in ‘Largest Act of Deregulation in the History of the US’ appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

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WAYNE ROOT: President Trump, Take the Offensive. The Moment to Strike is Now. Prove You’re the Greatest Dealmaker in History- Pass the SAVE Act. As a Bonus, Create “Illegal Alien Hall of Shame.” Tie it all to Epstein.

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Serious expression of a man in a suit during a formal event, highlighting intense focus and engagement.

By Wayne Allyn Root

I can feel it. The momentum has shifted. This is the moment to take action, to be aggressive, to go for broke.

This is the moment to put the radical left losers on their heels.

This is the moment to win the midterms.

This is the moment to stop voter fraud forever. Which means we stop Democrats from winning elections forever. Because without fraud…and rigged elections…they’ve got nothing. They can’t win without fraud.

This is the moment to use the shocking Epstein scandal to educate the American people.

But most of all, this is the moment to prove Mr. President that you’re the greatest dealmaker in history!

Let’s start with the “Art of the Deal.”

The SAVE Act is the whole enchilada. The whole kit and caboodle. The whole kitchen sink.

Pass it by hook or crook, by any and all means necessary…and the GOP wins the midterms…wins the presidency in 2028…and then with the help of a new Census that bans the counting of illegal aliens, the GOP gains enough electoral votes and new seats in Congress to win for decades to come.

We will control the electoral map!

But we have to get to 2030 first. We can’t get there if we lose the midterms, and lose the presidency in 2028. Then it’s all over. All our plans are dead. If we lose because we didn’t pass the SAVE Act, then the mass deportation is stopped. And election integrity is dead on arrival. Then after 2028 the borders will be open again.And then illegal aliens will vote by the millions to elect Democrats forever more.

It all begins and ends with the SAVE Act.

Here’s how to get it done…

Do you remember Obamacare? Does anyone remember how it passed? It passed only with the most disgusting, disgraceful, blatant, out-in-the-open bribery in America’s history.

Obama twisted the arms of Democrat Congressmen and Senators until they broke. He bribed the last remaining holdouts with anything and everything they wanted to change their final votes to a “YES.” He opened the vault and gave away the kitchen sink (with taxpayer money, of course). He made their dreams come true. He offered them so many goodies that no one could say no.

This was legal bribery- obviously. Because no one in the GOP said a word. The Supreme Court never said a word. Obama used taxpayer money and the most obscne giveawa in history to pass Obamacare by one vote in the US Senate (exactly the 60 he needed to defeat the Filibuster)- and therefore change the entire US economy and healthcare system forever. Trillions of dollars changed hands because of that one vote.

Obama changed the course of history by one vote. And he got the final few votes necessary by any means possible, by hook or crook. He gave away the store- with your money!

Obama gave away billions of dollars of taxpayer money in order to benefit his biggest Democrat donors with trillions of dollars of healthcare spending.

That’s the way the game is played in DC, President Trump.

Now it’s your turn President Trump to get the deal done…to change the course of history…to prove the “Art of the Deal”…to twist arms until they break…to play Santa and dole out to the holdouts whatever it takes to get the deciding votes. Obama proved it’s all legal.

I don’t care how you get it done. Bend the rules. Give away the store. Legally bribe the holdouts. Legal Senate maneuvering. Kill the Filibuster. Whatever you have to do- DO IT.

This is your legacy, President Trump.

Prove you’re the greatest dealmaker in history. This is your “Art of the Deal” moment.

The SAVE Act means Democrats can’t rig and steal elections anymore. They’ll have to win with ideas- and they don’t have any ideas that appeal to the majority of American voters.

Install Photo Voter ID to vote in federal elections. Install proof of citizenship to vote. End mail-in ballots. Do all of that and Democrats can’t win elections.

Game, set, match.

But this is the last chance EVER to pass it. Fail to pass it and we lose the midterms. With a Democrat majority the chance for election integrity is gone forever. So is the chance to change the Census to ban the counting of illegals. So is mass deportation.

So is your presidency. The whole MAGA agenda is over and you’re a lame duck president.

We become a one-party state. Then comes the censorship and weaponization all over again. Then they send you to prison after your presidency is over.

Pass the damn SAVE Act- by any means necessary.

Now to part 2. “The Illegal Alien Hall of Shame.” America is shocked, outraged and disgusted by Epstein. Rightfully so. Here’s how to tie that outrage to mass deportation.

It’s time to win the PR offensive. It’s time to show the American people why mass deportation is the only way to protect their children. Tie it all to Epstein.

Illegal immigration is Epstein times millions.

America sees one 9-year-old child abused and sexually assaulted by Epstein- and they freak out (as well they should). They see hundreds of underage girls pimped out by Epstein to the most powerful people in the world- and the nation freaks out (as well they should).

But every hour of every day, thousands of young children are assaulted, abused, raped and murdered. All because of open borders, illegal immigration, transnational gangs and Drug Cartels. That’s their business- the Cartels make billions of dollars per week on sex trafficking, child sex trafficking, pedophilia, and the drug trafficking that is killing our children- by the hundreds of thousands.

It’s time for “Show and Tell.”

Create “The Illegal Alien Hall of Shame.” Pay for hundreds of millions of dollars of TV ads between now and the midterms showing the mug shots of illegal aliens who trafficked, abused, assaulted, raped and murdered little girls and boys. Show the parents of children who were murdered, assaulted or abused telling their tragic stories…and thanking President Trump and ICE for arresting these monsters.

This is Epstein times millions.

Prove it with “Show and Tell.” Show the monsters. Show the parents of rape and murder victims. Call it “The Illegal Alien Hall of Shame.” Put the stories front and center, 24/7 from now until the midterms, in front of the American people.

Make the case that we are deporting millions of Epsteins who want to abuse, assault, rape, murder and destroy your children with drugs.

Be aggressive. Take the offensive. Create the momentum- while you work on exploding the economy and making our jobs, GDP and retirement accounts great again. This is what American voters care about. The economy and the crimes of illegals. Tie it all to Epstein.

And pass that damn SAVE Act this week- by any and all means necessary.

Prove you’re the greatest dealmaker in history.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Wayne Allyn Root is a CEO, businessman, best-selling author, and national conservative TV and radio host, who has interviewed President Trump 16 times. Watch Wayne’s TV show “America’s Top Ten Countdown” on Real America’s Voice TV Saturdays at Noon ET and his video podcast “WAR Zone presented by The Gateway Pundit” daily from 6 PM to 8 PM ET at TheGatewayPundit.com. His website is ROOTforAmerica.com. Read Wayne’s latest fun book, “How Democrats Have Made America Great.” It’s 140 blank pages. The joke is on Democrats!

The post WAYNE ROOT: President Trump, Take the Offensive. The Moment to Strike is Now. Prove You’re the Greatest Dealmaker in History- Pass the SAVE Act. As a Bonus, Create “Illegal Alien Hall of Shame.” Tie it all to Epstein. appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

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