“West Wing” actor Timothy Busfield turned himself in to the Albuquerque Police Department on Tuesday after a warrant for his arrest was issued last Friday. Busfield stands accused of sexually assaulting twin boys beginning when they were 7 years old.
Busfield&#8217;s attorney, Larry Stein, said his client requested that law enforcement drop the warrant and allow him to turn himself in, but his request was denied. 
“He wants to turn himself in because he wants to clear his name and reputation,&#8221; Stein said, per <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/us-marshals-join-search-actor-timothy-busfield-child-sex-abuse-allegat-rcna253819">NBC News</a>. &#8220;He didn’t do anything wrong. These accusations are false as the investigator from the independent law firm found.&#8221;
Busfield is currently being held without bail, the outlet noted.
The actor worked with twin boys, born in 2014, on the set of “The Cleaning Lady,” which aired on Fox from 2022 to 2025. Busfield directed some episodes and was named an executive producer, per Deadline. One of the boys identified in court documents as “SL” told APD Officer Marvin Brown that Busfield touched his “penis and buttocks, masking it as play” more than once. The alleged abuse is said to have started with the boys when they were 7 years old, The Daily Wire previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/west-wing-actor-remains-at-large-after-child-sex-abuse-accusations">reported</a>.
An investigation began in November 2024 when a University of New Mexico Hospital doctor reported his suspicions of sexual abuse and grooming to authorities. 
The actor allegedly had the boys refer to him as “Uncle Tim” and tickled them on their stomachs and legs. Busfield responded to these allegations in November and confirmed it was “highly likely” he engaged in “physical contact” with them.
“I don’t remember those boys,” Busfield said, per the affidavit. “No, I don’t. I don’t actually, I don’t remember it, if it happened. I don’t remember overtly tickling the boys ever, but it wouldn’t be uncommon for me.” The actor also indicated that the twins’ mother was making the claims as a form of revenge for the child stars not being part of the last season of “The Cleaning Lady,” which has since been canceled.
Investigators initially didn’t press charges, but the case was reopened in September 2025 when one of the boys reported the alleged abuse to his doctor.
The actor faced two previous sexual assault allegations in 1994 and 2012, but was never charged.
Before turning himself in, the actor <a href="https://www.tmz.com/2026/01/13/timothy-busfield-surrenders-child-sex-abuse/">filmed a video</a> proclaiming his innocence, which was later obtained by TMZ. 
&#8220;Hi everybody, it&#8217;s Tim,&#8221; Busfield said. &#8220;I&#8217;m sure most of you know, that are watching this, that I was ordered to come to Albuquerque — I&#8217;m here now. I got the call Friday night, I had to get a lawyer. Saturday I got in the car, drove 2,000 miles to Albuquerque. I&#8217;m gonna confront these lies. They&#8217;re horrible.&#8221;
&#8220;They&#8217;re all lies and I did not do anything to those little boys and I&#8217;m gonna fight it,” he went on. “I&#8217;m gonna fight it with a great team, and I&#8217;m gonna be exonerated, I know I am, because this is all so wrong and all lies.&#8221;
&#8220;So hang in there and hopefully I&#8217;m out real soon and back to work,” Busfield continued. “I love everybody for supporting me, thank you.&#8221;

Timothy Busfield

‘West Wing’ Actor Timothy Busfield Turns Himself In To Face Child Sex Abuse Charges

'West Wing' Actor Timothy Busfield Turns Himself In Amid Child Sex Abuse Allegations

Celebrities

Child Sex Abuse

Crime

Entertainment

New Mexico

A Venezuelan illegal immigrant who allegedly took part in a violent strangling death that led to an individual being stuffed into a suitcase and buried in a “remote” part of New Mexico was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations in Colorado Springs, Colorado, on January 8, <a href="https://www.fox21news.com/news/local/tren-de-aragua-member-arrested/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Fox 21 News Colorado</a> reported.
Yorvis Michel Carrascal Campo, an alleged Tren de Aragua gang member, is one of 11 people indicted by the Justice Department in December in the case, as the victim was allegedly kidnapped by the group that later tried to hide the evidence of the crime in June 2024, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
Carrascal Campo is one of seven individuals facing charges for “conspiracy to conduct racketeering activity, murder in aid of racketeering and drug trafficking conspiracy,” according to a DOJ press release prior to the arrest. DHS said he crossed the southern border into the United States illegally in October 2023 during the Biden-era border crisis, and he had a final order to exit the country in June 2024, just days before the murder occurred.
“Carrascal Campo’s crimes shock the conscience and are yet another example of the failed border policies of Joe Biden that RELEASED TdA gang members into American communities,” Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement first shared with The Daily Wire.
&nbsp;
<div id="attachment_1027203" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1027203" class="size-medium wp-image-1027203" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/01/image001-300x300.png" alt=" Yorvis Michel Carrascal Campo" width="300" height="300" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/01/image001-300x300.png 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/01/image001-150x150.png 150w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/01/image001.png 360w" sizes=" (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />Yorvis Michel Carrascal Campo, an illegal immigrant from Venezuela. (Department of Homeland Security)</div>
He is one of five explicitly named in the indictment for “[carrying] out the TdA leader&#8217;s order to kill John Doe I by restraining and strangling John Doe I until John Doe I died” in Albuquerque. The victim was questioned regarding “his loyalty to TdA and his connections to rival gangs.”
The DOJ alleges that Carrascal Campo was one of three people who “cleaned up the scene of the murder to conceal the murder from law enforcement” and helped with burying the body.
In addition, the <a href="https://www.justice.gov/usao-nm/media/1421321/dl?inline" target="_blank" rel="noopener">indictment</a> said that Carrascal Campo “supplied” ketamine between May and June 2024 to those involved with TdA in New Mexico as a way to “manufacture and distribute tusi.” Tusi is better known as pink cocaine.
“Just last week, two vicious Tren de Aragua gang members—also let loose on American streets by Joe Biden—weaponized their vehicle against Border Patrol in Portland. These are the types of monsters our law enforcement is targeting. We are working around the clock to clean up the chaos caused by the Biden administration who let untold millions of illegal aliens including murderers, pedophiles, rapists, terrorists, and gang members pour into our country,” DHS said in a statement.
The arrest comes as ICE continues to apprehend illegals nationwide and faces protests throughout the country.

Crime Scene at Night: Crime Scene Investigation Team Working on a Murder. Female Police Officer Briefing Detective on the Victim’s Body. Forensics and Paramedics Working. Cinematic Shot

Suspected Tren De Aragua Member Arrested In Brutal New Mexico Strangling Case

Illegal Immigration

Immigration

Tren De Aragua

U.S.

Venezuela

The search is on for actor Timothy Busfield, 68, who has been accused of child sex abuse by minors who say the alleged misconduct occurred when they were working with him.
The prolific star is on the run as the Albuquerque Police Department teamed up with US Marshals to bring him into custody, per a <a href="https://deadline.com/2026/01/timothy-busfield-arrest-warrant-child-sexual-abuse-1236681301/">statement</a> APD issued on Monday. 
Busfield was served with an arrest warrant on Friday. The alleged crimes included two counts of criminal sexual contact with a minor and child abuse.
The actor worked with twin boys, born in 2014, on the set of “The Cleaning Lady,” which aired on Fox from 2022 to 2025. Busfield directed some episodes and was named as an executive producer, per Deadline. One of the boys identified in court documents as “SL” told APD Officer Marvin Brown that Busfield touched his “penis and buttocks, masking it as play” more than once. The alleged abuse is said to have started with the boys when they were 7 years old.
An investigation began in November 2024 when a University of New Mexico Hospital doctor reported his suspicions of sexual abuse and grooming to authorities, as <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/01/13/us-news/us-marshals-join-search-to-locate-west-wing-actor-timothy-busfield-following-child-sex-abuse-charges/?utm_sf_post_ref=650479766&amp;utm_campaign=nypost&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_source=twitter&amp;utm_sf_cserv_ref=17469289">reported</a> by The New York Post. 
The actor allegedly had the boys refer to him as “Uncle Tim” and tickled them on their stomachs and legs. Busfield responded to these allegations in November and confirmed it was “highly likely” he engaged in “physical contact” with them.
“I don’t remember those boys,” Busfield said, per the affidavit. “No, I don’t. I don’t actually, I don’t remember it, if it happened. I don’t remember overtly tickling the boys ever, but it wouldn’t be uncommon for me.” The actor also indicated that the twins’ mother was making the claims as a form of revenge for the child stars not being part of the last season of “The Cleaning Lady,” which has since been canceled.
Investigators initially didn’t press charges, but the case was reopened in September 2025 when one of the boys reported the alleged abuse to his doctor.
The actor was accused but never charged in two previous sexual assault allegations in 1994 and 2012, Deadline noted.
&#8220;First allegation occurred in 1994. A seventeen-year-old extra on Little Big League sued in Los Angeles Superior Court, claiming Busfield assaulted her, served her alcohol, groped her, atempted [sic] sex in a trailer,&#8221; Officer Marvin Kirk Brown wrote in the arrest warrant <a href="https://people.com/timothy-busfield-ordered-pay-150k-case-involving-sexual-assault-allegations-report-11883012">obtained by</a> People. No charges were filed, and both parties settled.
The second allegation is from March 2012. &#8220;A twenty-eight-year-old woman accused Busfield of battery in an LA movie theater—alleging he slipped hands under clothes, touched genitals for four minutes,&#8221; the arrest warrant said, noting that there was no lawsuit filed due to “slim evidence.” Busfield described the encounter as “consensual.”
Busfield has a long and successful Hollywood career, with credits in major projects such as “Field of Dreams,” “Revenge of the Nerds,” and “The West Wing.” He won an Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series in 1991 for his role on the ABC series “Thirtysomething.” 
The actor is married to “Little House on the Prairie” actress Melissa Gilbert. They have no children. Busfield has three children from two previous marriages.

‘West Wing’ Actor Remains At Large After Child Sex Abuse Accusations

'West Wing' Actor Timothy Busfield, Who Was Accused Of Child Sex Abuse, Remains At Large

Hollywood

The Trump administration on Tuesday took action against six blue states that it says have failed to comply with requests to produce their voter rolls. 
The Justice Department <a href="https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-sues-six-additional-states-failure-provide-voter-registration-rolls">announced</a> suits against Delaware, Maryland, New Mexico, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington for not producing statewide registration lists. Without these lists, the Justice Department said that they cannot certify that the states are maintaining an accurate count of eligible voters. 
&#8220;Accurate voter rolls are the cornerstone of fair and free elections, and too many states have fallen into a pattern of noncompliance with basic voter roll maintenance,&#8221; said Attorney General Pam Bondi. &#8220;The Department of Justice will continue filing proactive election integrity litigation until states comply with basic election safeguards.&#8221;
The suits come amid a push from Republicans nationwide to crack down on non-citizen voting and maintain clean voter registration lists.
The lawsuits say that the states are not acting in accordance with the National Voter Registration Act and the Help America Vote Act, which compel states to maintain accurate voter lists. The attorney general is empowered to enforce those laws and has a right to access the lists under the Civil Rights Act of 1960, the suits say.
&#8220;States that continue to defy federal voting laws interfere with our mission of ensuring that Americans have accurate voter lists as they go to the polls, that every vote counts equally, and that all voters have confidence in election results. At this Department of Justice, we will not stand for this open defiance of federal civil rights laws,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon.
The <a href="https://www.justice.gov/crt/media/1419811/dl?utm_medium=email&amp;utm_source=govdelivery">lawsuit</a> against Rhode Island says that on September 16 Rhode Island sent a letter to the Justice Department refusing a September 8 request for voter roll information. The letter said that the states “objects to providing” the requested information, according to the suit. This requested information includes driver license information and the last four digits of Social Security numbers used to register for voting. 
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Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha claimed the suit was an example of Trump weaponizing the Justice Department. 
“We stand with and will defend the secretary, and win, because lawsuits concerning lawful conduct are largely unsuccessful,” he said. “But I’m not surprised that this administration is confused about what it means to behave lawfully.”
In September, the Justice Department <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/justice-dept-sues-six-states-for-refusing-to-hand-over-key-voter-data">announced</a> suits against Michigan, California, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, Minnesota, and New York over the same issue.

Justice Department Announces Federal Enforcement Action Against International Criminal Organization

Justice Department Moves To Safeguard Elections In Blue States

Delaware

Department of Justice

Election Fraud

Harmeet Dhillon

Maryland

Pam Bondi

Rhode Island

Trump Administration

Vermont

Voting

Washington

A survey distributed by the government of New Mexico asked high school students whether they identify as “two-spirit” or transgender, drawing concerns from parents. 
The 2025 New Mexico Youth Risk and Resiliency Survey <a href="https://youthrisk.org/data-collection/questionnaires/">asked</a> middle and high school students deeply personal questions about their sexual preferences, drug use, and whether they had ever had suicidal thoughts. The survey is the result of a partnership between the state’s Public Education Department and the Department of Health, with the stated goal of assessing “risk behaviors” among students. 
Some of the questions on both the middle and high school surveys this year raised eyebrows. The survey was <a href="https://defendinged.org/incidents/new-mexico-state-survey-asks-students-about-sexual-orientation-transgender-status/">flagged</a> by Defending Education, an organization that works to get politics out of the classroom. Parents are allowed to opt their kids out of the survey, but advocates say the questions expose children to mature themes that would be better introduced at home. 
On the high school survey, students were asked if they described themselves as “heterosexual (straight),” “gay or lesbian,” “bisexual,” “I describe my sexual identity some other way,” “I am not sure about my sexual identity (questioning),” and “I do not know what this question is asking.” 
Another question said, “Some people describe themselves as transgender, two-spirit, or non-binary when their sex at birth does not match the way they think or feel about their gender. Do you consider yourself transgender, two-spirit, or non-binary?”
&#8220;Two-spirit&#8221; is a supposed term used by LGBT activists to describe American Indians who identify as both male and female. Though the term seems to imply ancient origins, it was <a href="https://humanrights.ca/story/what-two-spirit-part-one-origins#:~:text=Against%20this%20backdrop%2C%20Myra%20Laramee,or%20%E2%80%9CTwo%E2%80%90Spirit.%E2%80%9D">coined</a> by Myra Laramee, an LGBT activist, in 1990.
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Other questions on the topic of sexuality ask the students how old they were when first having sex (with the option starting at age 11 and younger), how many people they have had sex with, if condoms were used during sex, what kind of birth control they used when last having sex with an &#8220;opposite sex partner,” and if they have had sex with males or females or both. 
Middle schoolers were also asked if they had had sex before and what their sexual orientation was. They were given options of straight, gay, bisexual, or other. 
Other questions that raised concerns from parents focused on suicide. Questions on this included if they had ever considered committing suicide and if they had ever made a plan to commit suicide.
Erika Sanzi, Defending Education&#8217;s senior director of communications, said the questions were very troubling. 
“All 11-year-olds should not have to answer questions about their gender identity, sexuality, or suicidal ideation,” Sanzi told The Daily Wire. “As of now, parents can opt out. Perhaps it&#8217;s time to make these surveys opt-in instead. There really is no justification for asking asymptomatic children if they&#8217;ve ever made a suicide plan — that&#8217;s a scary question and it has no place in a school classroom.&#8221;
The New Mexico Youth Risk and Resilience Survey is linked to the CDC’s Youth Risk Surveillance System. The Trump administration made changes to that system, but a judge blocked those changes. As a result, the administration has a <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/yrbs/index.html">disclaimer</a> posted on the website. 
“Per a court order, HHS is required to restore this website to its version as of 12:00 AM on January 29, 2025. Information on this page may be modified and/or removed in the future subject to the terms of the court’s order and implemented consistent with applicable law,” the web notice says. “Any information on this page promoting gender ideology is extremely inaccurate and disconnected from truth.” 
“The Trump Administration rejects gender ideology due to the harms and divisiveness it causes. This page does not reflect reality and therefore the Administration and this Department reject it,” the notice adds. 
New Mexico&#8217;s survey is administered every other year, and parents are given an opportunity to opt their kids out. Answers to the questions are supposed to be anonymous, administrators say.
If you are having thoughts of suicide, call or text 988 to reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline or go to <a href="http://speakingofsuicide.com/resources" target="_blank" rel="noopener">SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources</a> for a list of additional resources.

US-POLITICS-SOCIETY-HOLIDAY-LGBTQ+-DEMONSTRATION

New Mexico Government Survey Asks Middle And High School Students If They Are ‘Two-Spirit’

New Mexico Government Asks Students If They Are ‘Two-Spirit’

Education

LGBTQ

Transgender

A pro-life organization is fighting back after a leftist group ripped off its logo to promote so-called “abortion rights.”
40 Days for Life President Shawn Carney told The Daily Wire that the New Mexico group Pro Choice Las Cruces was illegally using his organization’s logo to push abortion. Carney said that he was prepared to sue the pro-abortion group if it did not stop using its proprietary material immediately.
In a pair of letters obtained by The Daily Wire, the 40 Days for Life legal team demanded that Pro Choice Las Cruces immediately cease using its logo. Those letters came after Pro Choice Las Cruces started mimicking the logo of 40 Days for Life on its <a href="https://www.facebook.com/people/Womens-March-Las-Cruces/61569465891530/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Facebook page</a> in September, an action that Carney called a “clear violation” of copyright law.
The pro-abortion group took the logo, added an illustration of a woman’s reproductive system, and changed the words from “40 Days for Life” to “40 Days for Choice.” The group also changed the motto from “The Beginning of the End of Abortion” to “The Beginning of the End of Oppresion [sic].”
<div class="image"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-987789" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/MixCollage-17-Oct-2025-02-11-PM-8619.jpg" alt="" width="2560" height="1441" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/MixCollage-17-Oct-2025-02-11-PM-8619.jpg 2560w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/MixCollage-17-Oct-2025-02-11-PM-8619-300x169.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/MixCollage-17-Oct-2025-02-11-PM-8619-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/MixCollage-17-Oct-2025-02-11-PM-8619-768x432.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/MixCollage-17-Oct-2025-02-11-PM-8619-1536x865.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/MixCollage-17-Oct-2025-02-11-PM-8619-2048x1153.jpg 2048w" sizes=" (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" /></div>
Las Cruces is located at a key spot near the Texas border and is a popular destination for abortion tourism, Carney said. Neighboring states like Texas have enacted pro-life laws, pushing many to travel out of state to end the lives of their unborn children. New Mexico has no protections for the unborn in place.
40 Days for Life sent its first cease-and-desist letter on October 10, and another letter on Friday, warning the organization that it may be violating copyright law.
The letters were sent to Hailey Walker, a leftist activist linked to the Women’s March in Las Cruces. That organization shares a Facebook page with Pro Choice Las Cruces. According to Carney, the group responded to the first letter by refusing to stop using the logo.
“Given your response to our notice to cease and desist, it is clear your actions are willful and intentional. Pro Choice Las Cruces/Women&#8217;s March Las Cruces stole 40 Days for Life font, logo, name, colors and tagline in an intentional way to confuse the public,” a letter sent Friday by 40 Days for Life said.
Carney said that other leftist groups have co-opted their messages in the past and that his organization is prepared for further legal action. He said they would be ready to sue Walker “if need be.”
He also noted that instead of oppressing women, as Pro Choice Las Cruces suggests, pro-life activists support women by offering alternatives to abortion. 40 Days for Life often helps women considering abortions find free medical care alternatives.
“They feel unbelievable gratitude that we were out there and that we were willing to help them on what was a very hard day for them, and a day they never wanted to be in that position to be driving in for an abortion, but they were, and we didn’t judge them. We didn’t oppress them. We helped them and helped them with tangible alternatives,” Carney said.
In contrast, he said that the “left offers nothing with abortion” and feels threatened by the alternatives offered by groups like his.
Pro Choice Las Cruces has until October 20 to take down the logo or face further action from 40 Days for Life.

American-Based Anti-Abortion Group Holds Vigil Outside Hospital In Glasgow

Pro-Life Group Fights Back Against Leftist Abortion Group That Stole Its Logo

Abortion

Pro-Life Movement

The Department of Homeland Security and Customs and Border Protection approved $4.5 billion for the construction of highly technical sections of the border wall.
CBP announced last week that 10 contracts were cleared in September for 230 miles for “barriers” and roughly 400 miles for “technology,” including a “Smart Wall,” which uses multiple elements to monitor and prevent people from crossing over the border illegally.
Some of the new technology includes “steel barriers, waterborne barriers, lights cameras,” and other tools to detect potential “illegal traffic,” according to CBP.
“For years, Washington talked about border security but failed to deliver. This President changed that,” CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott said in a statement. “The Smart Wall means more miles of barriers, more technology, and more capability for our agents on the ground. This is how you take control of the border.”
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The 10 contracts were the first to be paid for through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which President Donald Trump signed in July. The bill included billions for border and immigration purposes, including hiring more Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and $12 billion to pay back states for costs inflicted by the Biden-era border crisis.
The funding will go to projects along the border, spanning from California to Texas. Since Trump took office in January, several other projects have been cleared through contracts or waivers to continue wall construction, which was primarily halted during the Biden administration.
CBP’s webpage on the Smart Wall explains that the overall goal is to “gain operational control of the border” by combining a mix of measures, including a “secondary” wall and other technologies based on factors such as “geographic characteristics” and “procurement timelines.”
“The Smart Wall serves as a necessary tool to protect areas between ports of entry along the Rio Grande, where crossings already constitute improper entry,” Brandy Perez, a research assistant at the Heritage Foundation’s Border Security and Immigration Center, said.
“The Department of Homeland Security’s $4.5 billion investment in Smart Wall construction amplifies America’s inherent right as a sovereign nation to decide who legally belongs on U.S. soil and who does not,” Perez added.
“The previous Trump administration implemented barriers in regions across the Southwest border and witnessed a decline in illegal crossings by 87% in the<a href="https://www.dhs.gov/archive/news/2020/10/29/border-wall-system-deployed-effective-and-disrupting-criminals-and-smugglers?utm_source=chatgpt.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Yuma </a>sector and a 26% decrease in narcotics seizures in the Rio Grande sector, proving that walls deter foreign nationals who seek to break the laws of the United States and jeopardize public safety,” she continued.
As long-term developments at the border continue, the administration recently touted that fiscal year 2025 was the lowest for apprehensions at the southern border since 1970, and no releases of those crossing illegally in five months as of September, according to a CBP news release.
“Fiscal Year 2025 shows what happens when we enforce the law without compromise,” Scott stated at the time. “For too long, agents and officers were handcuffed by failed policies. Today they are empowered to do their jobs – and the result is the lowest apprehensions in more than five decades, and the most secure border in modern history.”

Kristi Noem

Trump Admin Paves The Way For Miles Of ‘Smart Wall’ Along The Southern Border

Arizona

Border

Border Wall

California

Texas

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy on Tuesday gave California, New Mexico, and Washington 30 days to comply with federal English proficiency rules for truckers or risk losing federal funding.
Duffy criticized the three states for failing to enforce new Trump administration rules requiring English proficiency for truck drivers. He announced the move after the Department of Transportation launched an investigation into a deadly August 12 crash on the Florida Turnpike, in which an illegal immigrant driver allegedly killed three people after making an illegal U-turn.
“We at DOT and Federal Motor Carriers, we are not going to tolerate states that don’t comply with the rules that come from this department,” Duffy said at a press conference. “We are going to give these states 30 days to come into compliance with truck drivers speaking proficiently the English language, or we’re going to look at the federal funding that they receive under the Motor Carriers Safety Assistance Program.”
Harjinder Singh, the accused driver in the Florida crash, was given a commercial driver&#8217;s license by both California and Washington. New Mexico law enforcement also failed to administer an English proficiency test to Singh when he was pulled over in July for speeding, the Transportation Department found.
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California could lose $30 million, Washington $10 million, and New Mexico $7 million if they don’t align with the English proficiency standards. The policy was first announced in May and then implemented at the end of June.
“When we did that, there was a lot of press that complained to us that we were being unfair to people, that we were being mean to people,” Duffy said. “And what we said was, ‘no, this is a safety issue.’ Making sure drivers of very heavy, 80,000-pound rigs can speak the language is truly a critical safety issue.”
Duffy said his department would take additional steps to ensure compliance if the states did not satisfy the requirements.
An investigation from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration found that from June 25 to August 21, California allowed at least 23 drivers with documented violations of English proficiency in other states to remain on the road.
During that same period, Washington allowed four drivers to stay on the road with proficiency violations from other states and two drivers who violated proficiency regulations in Washington.
New Mexico also allowed seven drivers to stay on the road who had documented failures in English proficiency.
The Trump administration has taken other steps to crack down on the number of truck drivers who are unable to understand English. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced last week that he had paused the issuance of work visas for commercial truck drivers.

Trump Threatens To Pull State Funds Over English Language Rule

Three States Could Lose Federal Funding For Defying Trump’s Trucking Mandate

Duffy Gives Three States 30 Days To Enforce English Rules For Truckers Or Lose Federal Funding

Department of Transportation

General

Politics

Sean Duffy

Truckers

Two people were <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/US/2-shot-1-dead-university-mexico-albuquerque-suspect/story?id=124066683">shot</a>, one of whom died, at a student housing complex at the University of New Mexico on its main campus in Albuquerque on Friday morning. The college has roughly 23,000 students on its flagship campus and is the largest university in the state.
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Police are searching for a suspect after a shooting at the University of New Mexico campus left one person dead and another injured <a href="https://t.co/mZ81M6DPoY">https://t.co/mZ81M6DPoY</a>
&mdash; The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) <a href="https://twitter.com/WSJ/status/1948757932381729182?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 25, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Local police believe the suspect could still be on campus, <a href="https://www.koat.com/article/shooting-incident-unm-campus-albuquerque-police-investigation/65508450" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according to KOAT</a>. The university closed its campus and instructed those still on campus to shelter in place.
The university posted on X:
<blockquote>
In the early morning hours of July 25, 2025, UNMPD received a report of gunshots fired at Casas del Rio (Gila), located at 420 Redondo Dr NE in Albuquerque. Responding officers discovered two individuals had been shot. One victim is deceased, and the other sustained non-life-threatening injuries. The suspect remains at large and may still be on campus.
Out of an abundance of caution, UNM has closed its Albuquerque central campus. The Health Sciences Center, including all clinical components remains open. Multiple law enforcement agencies are on scene and actively investigating. Continue to monitor your UNM email, text messages, and LoboGuardian for real-time updates. If you have any information about this incident, please call UNMPD at 505-277-2241.
</blockquote>
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(3/3) components remains open. Multiple law enforcement agencies are on scene and actively investigating. Continue to monitor your UNM email, text messages, and LoboGuardian for real-time updates. If you have any information about this incident, please call UNMPD at 505-277-2241.
&mdash; Univ. of New Mexico (@UNM) <a href="https://twitter.com/UNM/status/1948725413066293725?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 25, 2025</a></blockquote>
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The university sent out an alert on its <a href="https://www.unm.edu/">website</a>, stating, “Central campus remains CLOSED. Police are conducting sweep in search of shooting suspect. If on campus, continue to SHELTER IN PLACE.”
The university comprises twelve colleges and schools, including the state&#8217;s only law school. According to its <a href="https://www.americancampus.com/student-apartments/nm/albuquerque/casas-del-rio#faq">website</a>, Casas del Rio is in the center of the campus and managed by American Campus Communities.

Students At The University Of New Mexico Attend Classes On First Day Of New School Year

Deadly Shooting At University Of New Mexico Dorm, Manhunt Underway

Shooting

Just days after flash floods ravaged central Texas — leaving at least 100 people killed and more than 160 still missing — a similar warning went out along New Mexico&#8217;s Ruidoso River as it rose rapidly on Tuesday.
The National Weather Service office in Albuquerque posted a warning as the river began to rise, warning residents to avoid the area and not to make any effort to drive through the floodwaters.
&#8220;A DANGEROUS situation is unfolding in RUIDOSO! A FLASH FLOOD EMERGENCY remains in effect! Seek HIGHER GROUND NOW! Do NOT attempt to drive through the floodwaters. The current will carry away your vehicle!&#8221; the initial post read.
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A DANGEROUS situation is unfolding in RUIDOSO! A FLASH FLOOD EMERGENCY remains in effect! Seek HIGHER GROUND NOW! Do NOT attempt to drive through the floodwaters. The current will carry away your vehicle! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/nmwx?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#nmwx</a>
— NWS Albuquerque (@NWSAlbuquerque) <a href="https://twitter.com/NWSAlbuquerque/status/1942690477632893088?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 8, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Additional warnings came out a short time later, showing just how quickly the river was rising.
&#8220;The flood wave on the Rio Ruidoso has reached the Hollywood gage. Stay away from the river! This is a look at the change in the river depth in just 30 minutes, courtesy of the USGS!,&#8221; the post read. Side by side photos showed the change over 30 minutes.
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Another 30 minutes later and it&#8217;s hard to tell where the riverbed is. The river is now in major flood stage at over 15 feet. Stay away from the river! Seek higher ground NOW! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/nmwx?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#nmwx</a> <a href="https://t.co/gd3ecndelG">pic.twitter.com/gd3ecndelG</a>
— NWS Albuquerque (@NWSAlbuquerque) <a href="https://twitter.com/NWSAlbuquerque/status/1942706313244361145?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 8, 2025</a></blockquote>
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A follow-up post showed a photo taken after another 30 minutes, and the river bed was even higher: &#8220;Another 30 minutes later and it&#8217;s hard to tell where the riverbed is. The river is now in major flood stage at over 15 feet. Stay away from the river! Seek higher ground NOW!&#8221; the NWS warned.
The latest update showed data indicating that the river&#8217;s 20.24 foot provisional crest on Tuesday was a full five feet higher than last year&#8217;s 15.86 foot crest on July 20, 2024.
&#8220;The Rio Ruidoso at Hollywood reached a provisional crest of 20.24 feet this afternoon while significant flash flooding was occurring. If this is confirmed, it would be a record high crest (compared to last year&#8217;s crest of 15.86 feet on July 20th),&#8221; the NWS announced.
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The Rio Ruidoso at Hollywood reached a provisional crest of 20.24 feet this afternoon while significant flash flooding was occurring . If this is confirmed, it would be a record high crest (compared to last year&#8217;s crest of 15.86 feet on July 20th). <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NMwx?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NMwx</a> <a href="https://t.co/QHtTrXLf3H">pic.twitter.com/QHtTrXLf3H</a>
— NWS Albuquerque (@NWSAlbuquerque) <a href="https://twitter.com/NWSAlbuquerque/status/1942733999396286668?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 8, 2025</a></blockquote>
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ANOTHER Catastrophic Flood event unfolding NOW this Tuesday evening in New Mexico. The Ruidoso River in NM rose by 20 feet+ in less than an hour shattering a record. Videos coming in now breaking of homes floating down the Ruidoso River. Several inches of rain has fallen on burn… <a href="https://t.co/7yZufCdejH">pic.twitter.com/7yZufCdejH</a>
— Noah Bergren (@NbergWX) <a href="https://twitter.com/NbergWX/status/1942721251954332091?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 8, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Flooding in Ruidoso

‘Seek HIGHER GROUND NOW’: Dramatic Ruidoso River Rise Sets Off Flash Floods In New Mexico

'Seek HIGHER GROUND NOW': Dramatic Ruidoso River Rise Sets Off Flash Floods In New Mexico

flooding

National Weather Service

Severe Weather

Weather

Federal agents arrested a former New Mexico Democrat judge and his wife on Thursday after they were accused of harboring a suspected member of Tren de Aragua at their home. 
Former Dona Ana County Magistrate Judge Jose “Joel” Cano and his wife, Nancy, were taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement at their home in Las Cruces, KFOX14 <a href="https://kfoxtv.com/news/local/home-of-ex-judge-raided-after-claims-of-hosting-tren-de-aragua-gang-member-in-las-cruces-cristhian-ortega-lopez-dona-ana-county-venezuela-joel-cano-nancy-tda-nm-hsi-homeland-security" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>. Both the 67-year-old former judge and his wife are <a href="https://apps.donaanacounty.org/www/sites/all/modules/dac/dac_inmates/dac_create_pdf.php?&amp;GCode=4&amp;FelonID=2500003171&amp;FelonPIC=387831&amp;CurrentFlag=0">charged</a> with tampering with evidence. 
The couple is currently in custody at the Dona Ana County Jail, awaiting their appearance in federal court. They were arrested as part of a probe by Homeland Security Investigations into their association with 23-year-old Cristhian Ortega-Lopez, who authorities say is linked to Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan gang that has been designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the Trump administration. Ortega-Lopez was arrested at the Canos&#8217; home in February. 
“Under President Trump, we have arrested over 150,000 aliens—including more than 600 members of the vicious Tren de Aragua gang,” Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem <a href="https://x.com/Sec_Noem/status/1915559976229052564">said</a>, commenting on the arrest. “If you are here illegally and break the law, we will hunt you down, arrest you and lock you up. That’s a promise.”
Cano resigned from his judgeship earlier this week and was banned by the New Mexico Supreme Court from holding any judicial office again. The court <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/us/new-mexico-supreme-court-bans-judge-after-alleged-tda-member-arrested-home">ordered</a> that Cano “shall never again hold, become a candidate for, run for, or stand for election to any New Mexico judicial office in the future.”
Ortega-Lopez, originally from Venezuela, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/dem-judge-resigns-after-harboring-alleged-tren-de-aragua-gang-member" target="_blank" rel="noopener">was accused</a> of illegal entry to the United States near Eagle Pass, Texas. He spent three days in Border Patrol custody before he was released because of overcrowded facilities at the Border Patrol’s South Laredo, Texas, processing center, according to court records, the Albuquerque Journal <a href="https://www.abqjournal.com/news/article_47926b51-d481-4aa9-8d76-5de8cc13809b.html?fbclid=IwY2xjawJwuu9leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHn4jO0OhVrwODcJdaJgEwwkzhtKl5MdUs320h3z25_0FkfgnT9xnpoaAox6a_aem_F7zjdLNkrsY9LSG6RfZRmA">reported</a>. He met Nancy in El Paso, where he was working as a construction worker and handyman, and she offered for him to stay in a small house behind their home.
Ortega-Lopez has been charged with being an unlawful alien in possession of a firearm and ammunition, and is seen in court documents holding guns.
Cano has denied any knowledge of the suspected ties between Ortega-Lopez and Tren De Aragua. Investigators have said that they have text messages and voice mail messages that confirm the links to the notorious gang.
“Let me be as crystal clear as possible,” Cano <a href="https://www.koat.com/article/las-cruces-former-judge-allegations-gang-new-mexico/64583129" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told</a> the New Mexico Supreme Court. “The very first time I ever heard that the boys could possibly have any association with Tren de Aragua was when I was informed of that by [the] agents on the day of the raid.”

MixCollage-25-Apr-2025-09-44-AM-6237

Former Judge And Wife Arrested, Accused Of Housing Suspected Venezuelan Gang Member

Courts

Department of Homeland Security

Illegal Immigation

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

A New Mexico Democrat judge harbored an alleged Tren de Aragua gang member in his home, where the illegal immigrant was arrested on February 28.
Magistrate Judge Jose “Joel” Cano announced his resignation on March 3, the same day that Cristhian Ortega-Lopez, 23, who has alleged ties to the Tren de Aragua gang in Venezuela, appeared before a judge on charges of being an unlawful alien in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
Ortega-Lopez was accused of illegal entry to the United States near Eagle Pass, Texas. He spent three days in Border Patrol custody before he was released because of overcrowded facilities at the Border Patrol’s South Laredo, Texas, processing center, according to court records, the Albuquerque Journal <a href="https://www.abqjournal.com/news/article_47926b51-d481-4aa9-8d76-5de8cc13809b.html?fbclid=IwY2xjawJwuu9leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHn4jO0OhVrwODcJdaJgEwwkzhtKl5MdUs320h3z25_0FkfgnT9xnpoaAox6a_aem_F7zjdLNkrsY9LSG6RfZRmA" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>. He met Cano’s wife, Nancy, in El Paso, where he was working as a construction worker and handyman, and she offered for him to stay in a small house behind hers.
According to prosecutors, April Cano, the Canos’<a href="https://www.pressreader.com/usa/albuquerque-journal/20250417/281522231932677?srsltid=AfmBOooT2iGj93oUOckJ2M9c6weVtAg4OcioOSXXxxDm_TU6-C4o24EM" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> daughter</a> who owned a home near her parents, “possessed a large number of firearms” and “allowed him to hold and sometimes shoot various firearms.”
“Cano, a former police officer, allowed Ortega-Lopez to file a request for immigration relief using the judge’s residential address. Court exhibits also posted social media posts of the foreign national posing with the judge,” Breitbart <a href="https://www.breitbart.com/border/2025/04/20/new-mexico-democrat-judge-resigns-after-ice-arrests-alleged-tren-de-aragua-gang-member-in-his-home/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>, adding, “Social media posts obtained by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico showed Ortega-Lopez and other illegal aliens at a shooting range. They appeared to be in possession of multiple firearms and a large quantity of handgun and rifle ammunition. &#8230; The photos and videos showed Ortega-Lopez displaying Tren de Aragua gang tattoos.”
“Other images from Ortega-Lopez’s cell phone obtained by Breitbart showed graphic images of multiple decapitated and mutilated bodies,” Breitbart noted.
Last month, President Donald Trump issued a <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/03/invocation-of-the-alien-enemies-act-regarding-the-invasion-of-the-united-states-by-tren-de-aragua/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">proclamation</a> regarding Tren de Aragua in which he stated:
<blockquote>
Tren de Aragua (TdA) is a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization with thousands of members, many of whom have unlawfully infiltrated the United States and are conducting irregular warfare and undertaking hostile actions against the United States. TdA operates in conjunction with Cártel de los Soles, the Nicolas Maduro regime-sponsored, narco-terrorism enterprise based in Venezuela, and commits brutal crimes, including murders, kidnappings, extortions, and human, drug, and weapons trafficking. TdA has engaged in and continues to engage in mass illegal migration to the United States to further its objectives of harming United States citizens, undermining public safety, and supporting the Maduro regime’s goal of destabilizing democratic nations in the Americas, including the United States.
</blockquote>

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Dem Judge Resigns After Harboring Alleged Tren De Aragua Gang Member

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