Over two dozen Republican senators are backing an effort from Texas Senator John Cornyn to toughen the punishment for criminals who violently attack enforcement officers, The Daily Wire has learned. 
On Thursday, Cornyn will introduce the “Back the Blue Act” to increase the penalties for murdering or attempting to murder law enforcement while also expanding self-defense rights for police officers. The proposal has significant support from fellow Republicans, with over 31 signing on to co-sponsor.
“Our law enforcement officers bravely risk their lives daily to protect our communities, and anyone who targets them should be met with the full force of the law, including the death penalty,” he told The Daily Wire. “America was built on the principles of law and order, and this legislation sends a clear message that targeted attacks on law enforcement will not be tolerated, dangerous criminals will be held accountable, and our men and women in blue have our full and unwavering support.”
The legislation would create a new federal crime for killing or attempting to kill a federal judge, a federal law enforcement officer, or other federally funded public safety officer. If an officer dies, the murderer would be subject to the death penalty and a mandatory 30 years in prison, according to Cornyn’s office. The proposal would make attempted murder or murder an aggravating factor when considering the death penalty as well. 
Penalties for assaulting federal law enforcement would also increase, as would the punishment for fleeing across state lines to avoid prosecution for attacking law enforcement.  The proposal would also impose time limits on when a federal court can review the state-level conviction of someone who murdered a police officer in the line of duty. 
Law enforcement officers would also be given the ability to carry their firearms into federal facilities and other areas where gun possession is typically restricted, according to Cornyn’s office. 
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The legislation is backed by major law enforcement organizations like the Fraternal Order of Police, National Association of Police Organizations, Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, Major County Sheriffs of America, National Narcotic Officers’ Associations’ Coalition, Association of State Criminal Investigative Agencies, and the Sergeants Benevolent Association of the NYPD.
Cornyn’s proposal of the bill comes as he faces a contentious GOP primary challenge from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt.

Sen. John Cornyn

‘Back The Blue’: Senators Demand Death Penalty For Cop Killers

Crime

Death Penalty

John Cornyn

Law Enforcement

Police

Texas

President Donald Trump is preparing to deploy the National Guard to New Orleans as part of a crime crackdown effort in major cities nationwide.
The president said during a cabinet meeting on Monday that “in a couple of weeks,” the federal surge will make its way to the Louisiana city, like Memphis and Washington, D.C., before it.
“We&#8217;re going to New Orleans pretty soon. The governor called me; he&#8217;d like to have us go there,” Trump said. “Governor Landry &#8212; great guy, great governor. He&#8217;s asked for help in New Orleans and we&#8217;re going to go there in a couple of weeks.&#8221;
Trump referred to changes made in the capital city as a “miracle” as many crimes dropped in the aftermath of the federal law enforcement takeover that took place during the summer.
“We know that when carjackings go down, when use of guns goes down, when homicide or robbery go down, neighborhoods feel safer and are safer,” Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser said in August after initially being a strong critic of the takeover.
A recent WalletHub study ranked New Orleans dead last in safety out of the 182 cities it surveyed. Memphis stood at #181, and Baton Rouge, Louisiana, came in at #180. In September, Republican Gov. Jeff Landry made a “request for federal assistance” to allow for 1,000 Louisiana National Guard members to tackle crime in the state.
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“Since taking office, we have made real progress in driving down crime across Louisiana — but the job is far from finished. Federal partnerships in our toughest cities have worked, and now, with the support of President Trump and Secretary Hegseth, we are taking the next step by bringing in the National Guard,” Landry said in a statement at the time.
“This mission is about saving lives and protecting families. To the criminals terrorizing our communities: your time is up. Law and order are back in Louisiana,” the governor continued.
The Daily Wire reported last month that Border Patrol will be conducting operations in the city, nicknamed “Swamp Sweep,” with approximately 250 agents.
“My first priority is to keep our community safe. The reports of due process violations and potential abuses in other cities are concerning. I want our community to be aware and informed of the protections available under law,” Democratic Mayor-elect Helena Moreno said in a statement regarding the immigration enforcement, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/border-patrol-heads-to-another-blue-city-in-latest-round-of-illegal-immigration-sweeps" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Daily Wire</a> reported at the time. Moreno launched a &#8220;community resources&#8221; <a href="https://helenamorenola.com/communityresources" target="_blank" rel="noopener">webpage</a> detailing the ways in which people should navigate federal immigration enforcement, saying that local police &#8220;will not ask about your immigration status.&#8221;
“We must demand accountability and that people’s rights are not violated. I’m also calling on our legal community to step up and provide whatever assistance they can to help protect and preserve individual rights,” Moreno continued.
A spokesperson for the city of New Orleans government said that the city and &#8220;New Orleans Police Department have a track record of working collaboratively with Federal and State law enforcement partners and the National Guard and that will continue to be the position of the City of New Orleans.&#8221;
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New Orleans terror attack

Trump Reveals Next Deep Blue City He’ll Send National Guard To In Cabinet Meeting

National Guard

New Orleans

Trump Administration

U.S.

Dozens of fans of accused assassin Luigi Mangione flocked to a courthouse in Manhattan on Monday to catch a glimpse of their so-called hero.
Some of Mangione’s groupies arrived at court dressed in costumes of “Luigi” from the Super Mario video games. The suspect&#8217;s fans said that they support Mangione, who is accused of murdering the late CEO of UnitedHealthcare, for his stand against the U.S. health care system, according to the <a href="https://nypost.com/2025/12/01/us-news/luigi-mangione-arrives-in-nyc-court-for-pivotal-hearing-donning-cuffs-and-a-dapper-suit/">New York Post</a>.
Mangione has become somewhat iconic among leftists as a symbol of resistance against corporate health care, regardless of the murderous action he allegedly took. The accused assassin has even <a href="https://nypost.com/2025/01/15/entertainment/bill-burr-praises-luigi-mangione-in-la-fire-rant/">received</a> sympathetic treatment from figures as well-known as comedian Bill Burr. The cult of celebrity around the accused murderer has earned rebukes from those disgusted by the seeming attempts to excuse murder.
Mangione, 27, arrived at court in a gray suit and a red-and-white checkered shirt. Monday was the start of a multiday hearing over the evidence that will be allowed in Mangione’s trial.
Mangione is accused of fatally shooting UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in December 2024. Police arrested the 27-year-old days later at a McDonald’s in Pennsylvania.
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In court on Monday, one of Mangione’s defense attorneys, Karen Friedman Agnifilo, argued to have a manifesto found in Mangione’s backpack, as well as the gun used to kill Thompson, barred from evidence. Both items were found during a search of Mangione’s backpack at the Pennsylvania McDonald’s.
Agnifilo <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-12-01/luigi-mangione-tries-to-toss-gun-manifesto-from-murder-case">argued</a> in a court filing that the police officers who arrested Mangione violated his rights by searching his backpack without a warrant and before reading him his Miranda rights.
“Realizing she had made a potentially devastating mistake by thoroughly searching the backpack of a murder suspect in a significant New York press case without a warrant, Wasser suddenly stated that she was searching through the backpack at McDonald’s to make sure there ‘wasn’t a bomb or anything in here,'&#8221; Agnifilo wrote.
The most serious charge Mangione is facing is second-degree murder. If convicted, Mangione could be sentenced to 25 years to life in prison.

Supporters of Luigi Mangione

Luigi Mangione Groupies Flock To Courthouse In Support Of Alleged Assassin

Courts

Luigi Mangione

New York City

Americans can be thankful to Immigration and Customs Enforcement for continuing to arrest illegal aliens with serious criminal records over the Thanksgiving weekend, the Trump administration said Monday.
Arrests on Saturday and Sunday included illegals who have murder, sex crimes against children, burglary, and assault convictions, the Department of Homeland Security told The Daily Wire. The arrests come as legacy media outlets have <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ice-detainee-data-fastest-growing-without-criminal-records-trump/">asserted</a> that the number of “non-criminal” ICE detainees has “surged” under Trump and <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/sep/26/immigrants-criminal-record-ice-detention">that</a> “immigrants with no criminal record” are the most common currently in federal custody.
“While Americans enjoyed a long holiday weekend with their families and friends, ICE law enforcement was hard at work arresting rapists, child sex abusers, and murderers,” a DHS spokesman told The Daily Wire. “Every American should be grateful to our law enforcement officers for putting their lives on the line each and every day to remove the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens.”
The spokesman added that over 70% of illegals arrested by ICE have either been charged or convicted of a crime.
“Despite what the media and sanctuary politicians claim, 70% of ICE arrests are of criminal illegal aliens convicted or charged with a crime in the U.S.,” the spokesman said.
According to DHS, those arrested over the weekend included:
<ul>
<li>Mario Ynfante-Querol, an illegal alien from Cuba convicted in Wyoming, Michigan, of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct on a victim between 13 and 15</li>
<li>Wilson Gonzalez-Bravo, an illegal alien from Mexico convicted of indecent liberties with a child in Chatham County, North Carolina</li>
<li>Balbir Singh, an illegal alien from India convicted of murder in Los Angeles, California</li>
<li>Jose Antonio Reyes-Morales, an illegal alien from Mexico convicted of reckless death by auto or vessel (vehicular homicide) in Union County, New Jersey</li>
<li>Phomma Phommachak, an illegal alien from Laos convicted of aggravated rape in Nashville, Tennessee</li>
<li>Serafin Abelino-Medel, an illegal alien from Mexico convicted of inflicting corporal punishment on spouse, assault with a deadly weapon, and threatening crime with intent to terrorize in Santa Ana, California</li>
<li>Edwin Rafael Marcano-Marquez, an illegal alien from Venezuela convicted of fourth-degree assault in Washington County, Oregon</li>
<li>Genaro Diaz-Ruiz, an illegal alien from Mexico convicted of aggravated assault-family-strongarm in Wilson County, Tennessee</li>
<li>Franklin Urquiola-Serrano, an illegal alien from Venezuela convicted of assault causing bodily injury to a family member in Georgetown, Texas</li>
<li>Manuel Leonel Palma-Hernandez, an illegal alien from Guatemala convicted of aggravated arson — purposely destroyed structure in Trenton, New Jersey</li>
<li>Cuello Garcia-Alliant, an illegal alien from Cuba convicted of assault and cocaine possession in Miami-Dade County, Florida</li>
<li>Graviel Lopez-Castillo, an illegal alien from Mexico convicted of possession with intent to deliver cocaine in New Castle County, Delaware</li>
<li>Svetlana Tillett, an illegal alien from Russia convicted of felony embezzlement in Dare County, North Carolina</li>
<li>Elmer Amilcar Lopez-Jimenez, an illegal alien from Guatemala convicted of first-degree burglary in Carson, California</li>
<li>Gregory Ricordo Davidson, an illegal alien from Jamaica, convicted of burglary in New York, New York</li>
</ul>
Last week, President Donald Trump announced that he would crack down on migration into the United States, saying that he would put a pause on asylum claims from countries like Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen, Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela.

MixCollage-01-Dec-2025-01-41-PM-8421

Thanksgiving Arrests: Here Are Some Illegals Americans Can Be Thankful Are Off The Streets

Department of Homeland Security

Illegal Immigration

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

Thanksgiving

The Afghan national suspected of killing one National Guardsman and wounding another in Washington, D.C., last week was &#8220;radicalized&#8221; after coming into the United States, according to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
Noem told NBC&#8217;s &#8220;Meet the Press&#8221; on Sunday that the federal government believes 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal maintained &#8220;connections&#8221; to people in Afghanistan who may have helped radicalize him. Lakanwal was allowed to enter the United States under the Biden administration&#8217;s Operation Allies Welcome following the former president&#8217;s disastrous withdrawal of U.S. troops from the country.
&#8220;I will say we believe he was radicalized since he&#8217;s been here in this country,&#8221; Noem said. &#8220;We do believe it was through connections in his home community and state, and we&#8217;re going to continue to talk to those who interacted with him, who were his family members, who talk to them.&#8221;
Lakanwal is accused of shooting National Guardsmen Sarah Beckstrom and Andrew Wolfe on the day before Thanksgiving, killing Beckstrom and seriously wounding Wolfe. The suspected shooter was injured by return fire, but he is expected to survive and stand trial. Lakanwal was charged with first-degree murder, with more charges expected to be handed down as the investigation continues. President Donald Trump called the shooting a &#8220;terrorist attack,&#8221; saying that the suspect &#8220;went nuts.&#8221;
&#8220;It happens too often with these people,&#8221; Trump added.
The suspected shooter was granted asylum in the United States after serving alongside U.S. troops in a special Afghan Army unit that was backed by the CIA, the Associated Press <a href="https://spectrumlocalnews.com/mo/st-louis/ap-top-news/2025/11/30/suspect-in-national-guard-attack-struggled-with-periods-of-dark-isolation-community-member-says">reported</a>. Noem blamed the Biden administration for failing to properly vet Afghan refugees who were granted asylum in the United States. Lakanwal&#8217;s asylum claim was approved in April under the Trump administration, but Noem <a href="https://x.com/Acyn/status/1995145198192771113">said</a> &#8220;the vetting process all happened under Joe Biden&#8217;s administration.&#8221;
&#8220;Vetting is happening when they come into the country, and that was completely abandoned under Joe Biden&#8217;s administration,&#8221; Noem added.
Lakanwal reportedly exhibited troubling behavior long before he attacked National Guard troops in D.C., according to the Associated Press. Lakanwal settled with his wife and children in Bellingham, Washington, where he reportedly struggled to hold a job and failed to assimilate into U.S. culture, according to emails from a community advocate who works with Afghan refugees.
In one email from January 2024, the community advocate wrote that Lakanwal &#8220;has not been functional as a person, father and provider since March of last year, 03/2023. He quit his job that month, and his behavior has changed greatly.&#8221; The community advocate added that Lakanwal would spend weeks in a “darkened room, not speaking to anyone, not even his wife or older kids.” After receiving the emails from the community advocate, the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants checked up on Lakanwal, but it appears that Lakanwal was not contacted or refused assistance.
Lakanwal drove across the United States from Bellingham to Washington, D.C., where he allegedly carried out the attack, according to U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro.

National Guard shooting

Suspected National Guard Shooter Was ‘Radicalized’ Through ‘Connections’ In Afghanistan, Noem Says

Afghanistan

Biden Administration

Kristi Noem

World

The Afghan national suspected of shooting two National Guard troops, seriously wounding one and killing another, will be charged with first-degree murder, U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro said Friday.
Pirro said during an <a href="https://x.com/FoxNews/status/1994400786063741313">interview</a> on “Fox and Friends” that 29-year-old <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/afghan-national-in-custody-for-national-guard-attack-was-in-country-illegally?author=Cameron+Arcand&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=0&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Afghan+National+In+Custody+For+National+Guard+Attack+Was+In+Country+Illegally">Rahmanullah Lakanwal</a> will face the upgraded charge after National Guard Specialist Sarah Beckstrom of the West Virginia National Guard died after she was shot on Wednesday. Lakanwal is accused of shooting both Beckstrom and U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe with a handgun while they patrolled the streets of Washington, D.C. 
“There are certainly many more charges to come, but we are upgrading the initial charges of assault to murder in the first degree,” Pirro said. “It is a premeditated murder. There was an ambush with a gun toward people who didn&#8217;t know what was coming.”
Pirro added that the investigation into how the deadly shooting was still ongoing. 
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“And we are hoping that the more information we can get and the more investigation that is going on, 24/7… the more we will find out about what actually happened in terms of this individual, even being in this country and being in a position to ambush and shoot down an innocent young woman who was doing her duty to the people of this country.”
President Donald Trump announced Thursday that Beckstrom had died of her injuries.
“She’s no longer with us, she’s looking down on us right now,” Trump said. “Her parents are with her. This just happened. She was savagely attacked, she’s dead, not with us. Incredible person. Outstanding in every single way, in every department. Just horrible.”
Pirro said Friday that there was “hope” about Wolfe’s condition but that he was “still in critical condition.”
“We are doing everything we can to assist his family and to make sure that they have everything they need during this difficult time for them,” Pirro told “Fox and Friends.” “We are all praying for Andrew Wolfe.”
Lakanwal entered the United States in 2021 as part of President Joe Biden’s “Operation Allies Welcome,” which — as The Daily Wire previously reported — allowed roughly 77,000 Afghan nationals into the country. Trump said on Thursday that he would “permanently pause migration from all Third World Countries to allow the U.S. system to fully recover” and “terminate all of the millions of Biden illegal admissions.”

President Trump Orders Hundreds More National Guard Troops to D.C. After Shooting Of Guardsmen

Charges Upgraded Against Afghan Shooting Suspect After National Guard Soldier Dies

Donald Trump

Jeanine Pirro

Washington D.C.

In the wake of the shooting of two members of the National Guard in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, United States Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro made it clear that if either one of the two — who are currently in critical condition — do not survive, the federal government will seek charges of murder in the first degree against the suspect, making him eligible for the death penalty.
Speaking at a press conference Thursday morning, Pirro stated, “We’re working very closely with our partners, especially DHS and the FBI, to review his immigration history and the vetting process itself. What we know about him is that he drove his vehicle across the country from the state of Washington with the intended target of coming to our nation’s capital.”
“As we stand here today, the charges that are appropriate right now are three counts of assault with intent to kill while armed, a violation of DC code 22–401 and DC code 22–4502,” she continued. “He will also be charged with possession of a firearm during a crime of violence. He faces 15 years under assault with the intent to kill. We intend to continue monitoring what the charges will be, depending upon the well-being of the guardsmen. We are praying that they survive and that the highest charge will not have to be murder in the first degree.”
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“But make no mistake,” she declared. “If they do not, that will certainly be the charge: murder in the first degree. The Department of Justice under Attorney General Pam Bondi is committed to a thorough and impartial investigation where we will hold this perpetrator accountable under the full weight of the law.”
“Our nation’s capital should not and must not be a place where evil comes to commit violence, whatever their cause or motive may be,” she asserted. “We should not have to live in fear in the nation’s capital, especially by one who came here from a foreign country through a process that was so absurd that he came through and released into this country as many were, knowing virtually nothing about his vetting. This is what happens in this country when people are allowed in who are not properly vetted.”
She offered a tribute to law enforcement: “These guardsmen and all who were here to protect the district are the line that separates a civilized society from a barbaric one. They are the ones who stand for law and order. This was not just an attack. It was a direct challenge to law and order in our nation’s capital and the individual will be made fully accountable.”
“Though it seems that we have been here before, under President Trump make no mistake and the attorney general: We will not allow this to be normalized. It will be confronted, condemned and prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Now my message to the individual who committed these acts is you picked the wrong target, the wrong city and the wrong country and you will be sorry for the violence and the evil that you perpetrated in our nation’s capital,” she concluded.

U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, MPD Chief Pamela Smith, And DC Mayor Bowser Discuss Arrests In Murder Of Congressional Intern

Suspect In National Guard Shootings Could Receive Death Penalty: U.S. Attorney Pirro

Politics

Shooting

The Biden administration justified bringing the suspect in the shooting of two National Guard members, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, over to the United States because he had worked with U.S. government entities, including the CIA, in Afghanistan, according to CIA Director John Ratcliffe.
Lakanwal, 29, who entered the U.S. as part of the Biden administration&#8217;s Operation Allies Welcome, allegedly shot the National Guard members only blocks from the White House, leaving them in critical condition.
“In the wake of the disastrous Biden withdrawal from Afghanistan, the Biden administration justified bringing the alleged shooter to the United States in September 2021 due to his prior work with the U.S. government, including CIA, as a member of a partner force in Kandahar, which ended shortly following the chaotic evacuation,” Ratcliffe told <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/us/who-dc-national-guardsmen-shooting-suspect-what-know-about-afghan-national-rahmanullah-lakanwal">Fox News Digital</a>.
On September 3, 2021, then-Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas <a href="applewebdata://081DAEB6-AD7B-4068-B92F-3A46194A02BF/v">introduced</a> Operation Allies Welcome, saying it was “the ongoing effort to bring Americans home, and to bring vulnerable Afghans to the United States and support their resettlement.  The President of the United States has the authority to designate a federal agency to lead a federal response.  Last Friday, he designated the Department of Homeland Security as the lead federal agency to coordinate Operation Allies Welcome to help ensure unity of effort, clear roles and responsibilities, synchronized priorities, and effective coordination across the federal government.”
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“The federal government has been focused on the screening and vetting of individuals evacuated from Afghanistan,” he continued. “The Department of Homeland Security remains ever vigilant against attempts by foreign adversaries to exploit vulnerable populations as a means of gaining access to the U.S. for nefarious purposes.  Consequently, as part of a collaborative, interagency effort that includes DHS, the Departments of Defense and State, the FBI, the National Counterterrorism Center, and other agencies, the Federal Government has established a robust screening and vetting architecture with the dual goals of protecting the homeland and providing protections for vulnerable Afghans.”
“We have a moral imperative to protect them, to support those who have supported this Nation,” he stated. “We have an obligation to do so in a way that protects our national security and preserves public safety.”

John Ratcliffe faces Senate Intelligence Committee confirmation hearing

National Guardsmen Shooting Suspect Worked With The CIA, Agency Head Says

Joe Biden

The gunman accused of shooting two National Guardmen just blocks away from the White House on Wednesday is an Afghan national who entered the country during the Biden administration, a law enforcement source confirmed to The Daily Wire.
The suspect, 29-year-old Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal, was let into the country during the Biden administration in 2021 as part of Operation Allies Welcome, which was the Afghan refugee program following the botched American troop withdrawal from the country, the law enforcement source told The Daily Wire. He has since overstayed his visa and was illegally in the country, sources have told Fox news.
After publication of this article, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem confirmed that the suspect entered the United States through the refugee program.
&#8220;The suspect who shot our brave National Guardsmen is an Afghan national who was one of the many unvetted, mass paroled into the United States under Operation Allies Welcome on September 8, 2021, under the Biden Administration,&#8221; Noem said.
In a Wednesday night address, President Donald Trump said the United States must &#8220;reexamine every single alien who has entered our country from Afghanistan under Biden.&#8221;
“This attack underscores the single greatest national security threat facing our nation,” the president said.
READ MORE: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/two-national-guard-troops-shot-near-white-house-suspect-down?topStoryPosition=undefined&amp;author=Zach+Jewell&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=0&amp;row=1&amp;rowHeadline=Top+Stories&amp;rowType=Top+Stories&amp;title=Two+National+Guard+Troops+Shot+Near+White+House%2C+Afghan+National+In+Custody">Two National Guard Troops Shot Near White House, Afghan National In Custody</a>
The suspect relocated to Bellingham, Washington, after entering the United States from the war-torn nation.
The 29-year-old shot two West Virginia National Guard troops in the head near the White House on Wednesday afternoon with a handgun. The attack is being described as a targeted &#8220;ambush&#8221; of the troops. The FBI says the incident is being investigated as a possible act of terrorism, asking people to contact them if they have tips related to the case.
West Virginia&#8217;s governor Patrick Morrisey says the condition of the victims is unknown.
“We are now receiving conflicting reports about the condition of our two Guard members and will provide additional updates once we receive more complete information,” Morrisey said following the shooting, walking back an earlier post saying the victims had both been killed.
“Our prayers are with these brave service members, their families, and the entire Guard community,” he continued.
Trump, who ordered the National Guard to deploy to Washington, D.C. to quell crime over the summer, condemned the shooting within hours of reports.
“The animal that shot the two National Guardsmen, with both being critically wounded, and now in two separate hospitals, is also severely wounded, but regardless, will pay a very steep price. God bless our Great National Guard, and all of our Military and Law Enforcement. These are truly Great People. I, as President of the United States, and everyone associated with the Office of the Presidency, am with you!” Trump wrote on social media.
Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser posted to X that the shooting “was horrific and unconscionable” and said the act was “targeted.”
Deportation efforts of those in the country illegally have been underway since Trump took office in January in the Biden-era border crisis aftermath, with the Department of Homeland Security largely highlighting arrests of those who have committed other crimes.
The Department of Homeland Security&#8217;s inspector general <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/ig-report-blasts-bidens-homeland-security-for-improperly-vetting-afghan-refugees">slammed</a> the Biden administration in 2022 for failing to vet thousands of Afghan refugees that were let into the United States. Critics have warned for years that the refugee program that brought Lakanwal into the country created a massive national security risk.
Editor&#8217;s note: This piece was updated with information from the Department of Homeland Security.
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Afghanistan Withdrawal

Afghan National In Custody For National Guard Attack Was In Country Illegally: Sources

Immigration

Washington DC

Bethany MaGee is still receiving treatment at the hospital for severe burns after a man with more than 70 arrests doused her in gasoline and set her ablaze in an unprovoked attack on a Chicago train, the 26-year-old&#8217;s family shared on Tuesday.
The family has created a <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-bethany-magees-recovery">GoFundMe account</a> to help support MaGee, confirming the young woman&#8217;s identity, but also asking for privacy during MaGee&#8217;s long road to recovery.
&#8220;On November 17, Bethany MaGee was riding a CTA train in Chicago when she was attacked,&#8221; the family wrote. &#8220;She is currently hospitalized with the severe burns she sustained, and she is receiving treatment under the excellent care of her medical team.&#8221;
The family described MaGee as an animal lover, kind, and sensitive.
&#8220;In response to the countless requests for a way to help, our family is setting up this GoFundMe on Bethany’s behalf,&#8221; the MaGees said. &#8220;Many of her immediate medical expenses are covered by insurance and a victims fund, but with such a long road ahead of her, the freedom from financial worries would be a tremendous blessing. No gifts are expected, but any that are given will go directly to Bethany.&#8221;
The GoFundMe has so far garnered more than $30,000 in donations.
Lawrence Reed, 50, has been <a href="https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndil/pr/us-attorneys-office-chicago-charges-man-federal-terrorism-offense-allegedly-setting?">charged</a> with a federal terrorism offense in connection to the attack and is facing life in prison, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/woman-set-on-fire-by-convict-with-72-priors-on-chicago-train?author=Amanda+Prestigiacomo&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=3&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Woman+Set+On+Fire+By+Convict+With+72+Priors+On+Chicago+Train">The Daily Wire</a> reported this week.
Surveillance footage shows the suspect dousing MaGee in gasoline and chasing her on the train car before setting her ablaze. Reed, who’s been arrested 72 times, allegedly shouted “burn alive, b****” and “burn, b****” during the attack.
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Reed’s criminal history includes eight felony and seven misdemeanor convictions, <a href="https://www.click2houston.com/news/national/2025/11/21/federal-judge-orders-man-held-on-federal-terrorism-charge-in-chicago-train-attack/?utm_source=chatgpt.com">according</a> to the Associated Press. Reed’s arrests concern arson, assault and battery, and other offenses.
At the time of his most recent attack, Reed was ordered to wear electronic monitoring due an aggravated battery charge in which he was accused of hitting a social worker. Cook County prosecutors wanted to keep Reed behind bars until his trial, but the judge released him.
MaGee&#8217;s family asked for privacy at this time, writing, &#8220;This will be her story to tell—or not to tell—in the future.&#8221;
&#8220;What we can say is this: Bethany is a beloved daughter, sister, sister-in-law, granddaughter, and aunt,&#8221; the family continued. &#8220;She is a good friend. She is sensitive, caring, intelligent, and imaginative. She loves living in Chicago, and her gentle spirit makes her a favorite with every pet she meets. She enjoys playing tabletop and video games with her community, and she is quick to include others in conversations and make them feel welcome. She is kind.&#8221;
&#8220;In this season of Thanksgiving, we are so grateful for the chance to celebrate at Bethany’s side,&#8221; the MaGees closed. &#8220;Thank you for keeping her and our family in your prayers.&#8221;
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/woman-set-on-fire-by-convict-with-72-priors-on-chicago-train?author=Amanda+Prestigiacomo&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=3&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Woman+Set+On+Fire+By+Convict+With+72+Priors+On+Chicago+Train">Woman Set On Fire By Convict With 72 Priors On Chicago Train</a>

Family Shares Update On Woman Set On Fire By Career Criminal In Chicago

Chicago

Illinois

Mayor-Elect Zohran Mamdani (D-NYC) raised eyebrows with a recent addition to his transition team: sociology professor and author of &#8220;The End of Policing,&#8221; Alex Vitale.
Mamdani had to dial back his own anti-police rhetoric during his mayoral campaign, apologizing to New York City police officers for previous comments when prompted by Fox News anchor Martha MacCallum, but his selection of Vitale appears to be a sign that he&#8217;s reverting back to his original positions.
&#8220;I&#8217;m excited to announce that I have been asked to join the Mamdani Transition Team to work on community safety issues. A New Era for NYC,&#8221; Vitale <a href="https://x.com/avitale/status/1993053108663198202">announced via X</a> on Sunday.
As critics quickly pointed out, Vitale&#8217;s position has always been decidedly anti-cop. His book, &#8220;The End of Policing,&#8221; imagines a word where &#8220;modern policing&#8221; is broadly replaced by a combination of decriminalization and community empowerment. He argues that policing is designed to reinforce inequality, and that giving police officers diversity training is not enough to bridge the gap.
He has called for the decriminalization of offenses such as prostitution and drug use, and advocates for private corporations or government programs that would provide permanent housing for the homeless population. In addition, he has repeatedly attacked Israel, claiming that Israelis are &#8220;occupying&#8221; land belonging to Palestinians — and tied that in to his negative views on policing as well, complaining that American police should not be training with Israelis: &#8220;I’m not happy with these exchanges of policing to Israel. Israel is engaged in an occupation.&#8221;
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Video circulated of Vitale, in an interview, referring to police as &#8220;violence workers&#8221; and adding, &#8220;if you don’t want racism and violence, don’t get the police involved.&#8221;
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
🚨 New Mamdani Transition Team Member Says Cops Are “Violence Workers” and NYPD–Israel Training Trips “Pervert American Politics”
Alex Vitale — author of The End of Policing, sociology professor at Brooklyn College, CUNY Graduate Center, and now officially part of Zohran… <a href="https://t.co/n6REJNfbjH">pic.twitter.com/n6REJNfbjH</a>
— Stu Smith (@thestustustudio) <a href="https://twitter.com/thestustustudio/status/1993101611804049914?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 24, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The overall assessment, as shared by a number of people via X, is that Mamdani had simply reverted to the same anti-police, anti-Israel socialist that his opposition had spent the entire campaign warning people he was.
&#8220;The biggest risk of a Mamdani mayorship? Mass exodus from the NYPD. This occurred in SF under the radical left DA, Chesa Boudin. When police aren&#8217;t supported, they quit, retire early, or never join in the first place,&#8221; one <a href="https://x.com/michelletandler/status/1943321480466424104">posted</a>.
&#8220;Huge step backwards for Mamdani. This guy wants to defund and abolish policing. You can find him wherever prep school lefties congregate, zero working class New Yorkers adhere to these ideas,&#8221; <a href="https://x.com/lhfang/status/1993123594474566090">another added</a>.

Residents Cast Ballots In New York City Mayoral Election

Mamdani Names ‘End Of Policing’ Author Who Called Cops ‘Violence Workers’ To Transition Team

Defund The Police

Democratic Socialism

New York Police Department (NYPD)

Socialism

Zohran Mamdani

A 26-year-old woman is fighting for her life after a man with more than 70 arrests doused her in gasoline and set her ablaze in an unprovoked attack on a Chicago train.
The victim has been <a href="https://nypost.com/2025/11/23/us-news/bethany-magee-26-identified-as-chicago-woman-set-on-fire-on-cta-train-by-serial-thug-with-72-arrests/">identified</a> as Bethany MaGee, who reportedly remains in critical condition. Lawrence Reed, 50, has been <a href="https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndil/pr/us-attorneys-office-chicago-charges-man-federal-terrorism-offense-allegedly-setting?">charged</a> with a federal terrorism offense in connection to the attack and is facing life in prison.
Video shows the suspect dousing MaGee in gasoline and chasing her on the train car before setting her ablaze on November 17. Reed, who&#8217;s been arrested 72 times, allegedly shouted &#8220;burn alive b****&#8221; and “burn b****” during the attack.
&#8220;According to a criminal complaint filed today in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Reed and the victim were passengers on a CTA train traveling through a subway in downtown Chicago at approximately 9:00 p.m. on Nov. 17, 2025,&#8221; a Department of Justice press release says. &#8220;Reed approached the victim, who was seated with her back towards him, took the cap off a bottle of liquid and poured the liquid all over the victim’s head and body, the complaint states.  The victim ran but Reed caught up with her, at which point he ignited the bottle and it fell out of his hand onto the floor, the complaint states. Reed picked up the bottle that was now on fire, approached the victim and used the bottle to light her on fire, the complaint states.&#8221;
<div id="attachment_1005105" style="width: 876px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1005105" class="wp-image-1005105 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/Screenshot-2025-11-24-at-2.13.33-PM-866x576.png" alt="" width="866" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/Screenshot-2025-11-24-at-2.13.33-PM-866x576.png 866w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/Screenshot-2025-11-24-at-2.13.33-PM-300x200.png 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/Screenshot-2025-11-24-at-2.13.33-PM-768x511.png 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/Screenshot-2025-11-24-at-2.13.33-PM-1536x1022.png 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/Screenshot-2025-11-24-at-2.13.33-PM-1200x800.png 1200w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/Screenshot-2025-11-24-at-2.13.33-PM.png 1680w" sizes=" (max-width: 866px) 100vw, 866px" />Chicago Transit Authority surveillance footage</div>
The disturbing unprovoked attack is reminiscent of the attack on Ukrainian refugee <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-admin-looking-into-brutal-charlotte-murder-by-repeat-offender?author=Amanda+Prestigiacomo&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Trump+Admin+Looking+Into+Brutal%C2%A0Charlotte+Murder+By+Repeat+Offender">Iryna Zarutska</a>, 23, who was targeted by a career criminal while riding a train in Charlotte, North Carolina. Zarutska, like MaGee, was targeted without ever interacting with her attacker. Both suspects have lengthy rap sheets. Zarutska, who tragically died from her injuries, was attacked back in August.
Reed&#8217;s criminal history includes eight felony and seven misdemeanor convictions, <a href="https://www.click2houston.com/news/national/2025/11/21/federal-judge-orders-man-held-on-federal-terrorism-charge-in-chicago-train-attack/?utm_source=chatgpt.com">according</a> to the Associated Press. Reed&#8217;s arrests concern arson, assault and battery, and other offenses.
At the time of his most recent attack, Reed was ordered to wear electronic monitoring due an aggravated battery charge accusing him of hitting a social worker. Cook County prosecutors wanted to keep Reed behind bars until his trial, but the judge released him.
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Notably, Reed <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/blue-line-fire-attack-woman-burned-family-speaks/">pleaded guilty</a> to smashing windows on a Blue Line train at O&#8217;Hare International Airport in 2020, but the Chicago Transit Authority never banned him from the transit system.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy reacted to the crime on Sunday, posting to X, &#8220;It is devastating that a career criminal with 72 PRIOR ARRESTS is now accused of attacking 26-year-old Bethany MaGee on Chicago’s L train, and setting her on fire.&#8221;
&#8220;This would never have happened if this thug had been behind bars,&#8221; Duffy added. &#8220;Yet Chicago lets repeat offenders roam the streets. Chicago’s carelessness is putting the American people at risk. No one should ever have to fear for their life on the subway.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
It is devastating that a career criminal with 72 PRIOR ARRESTS is now accused of attacking 26-year-old Bethany MaGee on Chicago’s L train, and setting her on fire.
This would never have happened if this thug had been behind bars. Yet Chicago lets repeat offenders roam the… <a href="https://t.co/1vaHyCd8sp">https://t.co/1vaHyCd8sp</a>
— Secretary Sean Duffy (@SecDuffy) <a href="https://twitter.com/SecDuffy/status/1992612289694900422?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 23, 2025</a></blockquote>
As highlighted by <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/still-no-response-from-jb-pritzker-after-insane-stretch-of-deadly-violence-in-chicago?author=Brecca+Stoll&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=2&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Still+No+Response+From+JB+Pritzker+After+Insane+Stretch+Of+Deadly+Violence+In+Chicago">The Daily Wire</a>, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, a Democrat, has not commented on the attack.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, also a Democrat, called the attack an &#8220;isolated incident&#8221; and largely blamed it on a supposed lack of funding for &#8220;mental health&#8221; in the city.
&#8220;He was clearly seriously mentally disturbed, and was a danger to himself and to others,&#8221; Johnson said. &#8220;The system that we had failed to intervene, and now we have a woman who is fighting for her life.&#8221;
&#8220;There are a number of people who are suffering severely from trauma and mental illness and it&#8217;s becoming increasingly more dangerous,&#8221; the mayor added, while urging more mental health funding.
MaGee&#8217;s family released a statement earlier this week, thanking the public for their prayers.
&#8220;We would like to thank everyone for their prayers and well-wishes as our daughter receives care for injuries sustained earlier this week,&#8221; the statement <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/blue-line-fire-attack-woman-burned-family-speaks/">said</a>. &#8220;We are also grateful for the excellent care and support of the burn team at Stroger Hospital.&#8221;
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/still-no-response-from-jb-pritzker-after-insane-stretch-of-deadly-violence-in-chicago?author=Brecca+Stoll&amp;category=undefined&amp;elementPosition=8&amp;row=3&amp;rowHeadline=Latest+News&amp;rowType=Vertical+Carousel&amp;title=Still+No+Response+From+JB+Pritzker+After+Insane+Stretch+Of+Deadly+Violence+In+Chicago">Still No Response From JB Pritzker After Insane Stretch Of Deadly Violence In Chicago</a>

Bethany MaGee

Woman Set On Fire By Convict With 72 Priors On Chicago Train

Iryna Zarutska

Prison

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