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DHS Highlights Slew Of September Immigration Arrests In Portland

Zero Hedge -

DHS Highlights Slew Of September Immigration Arrests In Portland

Authored by Naveen Athrappully via The Epoch Times,

The Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested several “worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens” in Portland, Oregon, last month, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said in an Oct. 7 statement.

The announcement comes amid a tussle between the Trump administration and officials in Portland and Oregon over the deployment of National Guard troops to protect federal agents carrying out immigration operations.

“We are not allowing domestic terrorists to slow us down from removing the worst of the worst,” DHS Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin said.

“President Trump has deployed a SURGE of federal resources to Portland. Enhanced CBP, ICE, FBI, DOJ and DEA resources are arresting rioters and Antifa domestic terrorists.”

Among those arrested was a Honduran national convicted of distributing fentanyl; a Canadian national convicted of two counts of sexual abuse in the first degree; a Mexican national who was previously arrested for possessing dangerous weapons; a Peruvian national convicted of luring a minor; and another Mexican national convicted of possessing heroin with the intent to distribute it, the statement said.

On Sept. 28, War Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a memo at the request of President Donald Trump, informing the leader of the Oregon National Guard that 200 members would be called up for federal service. The same day, Oregon filed a lawsuit seeking to block the move, arguing that Trump exceeded his executive authority.

On Oct. 4, Judge Karin J. Immergut, of the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon, ruled that Trump violated the 10th Amendment and that Oregon would “suffer an injury to its sovereignty” once the federalized National Guards are deployed in Portland. She issued a temporary restraining order against such deployment, valid until Oct. 18.

On Saturday, ICE’s offices in Portland saw demonstrations, with some protestors using megaphones to chant “ICE out of Portland!”

During protests the previous day, some protesters also threatened federal agents.

National Guard Deployment

On Tuesday, Oregon Governor Tina Kotek’s office said she directed the Northern Command to take swift action to send the National Guard members back home.

“Judge Karin J. Immergut’s orders are a clear and forceful rebuttal to President Trump’s misuse of states’ National Guard. Thus, I am directing Northern Command to send Oregon’s citizen-soldiers home from Camp Rilea immediately,” Kotek said.

“Let’s remember that these Oregonians are our neighbors and friends, who have been unlawfully uprooted from their family and careers—they deserve better than this.”

In an Oct. 7 statement, Portland Mayor Keith Wilson raised concerns about federal agents in the city.

“I continue to maintain that the tactics used by federal agents at the ICE facility are troubling and likely unconstitutional,” he said.

“I intend to explore options to protect our community and our right to free expression.”

Speaking to reporters at the Oval Office on Monday, Trump suggested he may consider invoking the Insurrection Act if required.

The Insurrection Act is an emergency power allowing the president to authorize the deployment of military forces within the country to suppress acts of domestic violence or rebellion.

“So far, it hasn’t been necessary. But we have an Insurrection Act for a reason,” Trump said.

“If I had to enact it, I‘d do that. If people were being killed, and courts were holding us up, or governors and mayors were holding us up, sure, I’d do that. I mean, I want to make sure that people aren’t killed. We have to make sure that our cities are safe.”

The DHS said on Tuesday that fiscal year 2025 closed out with the lowest Border Patrol apprehensions at the southwest border since 1970. The department said there were 237,565 apprehensions for fiscal year 2025, 87 percent below the average of the last four fiscal years, which was 1.86 million.

“We have had the most secure border in American history and our end of year numbers prove it. We have shattered multiple records this year and once again we have broken a new record with the lowest number of Southwest border apprehensions in 55 years,” Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem said.

“Under President Trump, we have empowered and supported our law enforcement to do their job and they have delivered.”

Tyler Durden Wed, 10/08/2025 - 13:25

White House Will Use Tariffs To Fund Low-Income Food Aid Program During Shutdown

Zero Hedge -

White House Will Use Tariffs To Fund Low-Income Food Aid Program During Shutdown

How's your shutdown going so far? 

Illustration via Politico

So far, no mass firings. The sky is intact. Cats are not sleeping with dogs. And low-income food aid isn't at risk, after the White House found funding to keep the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (also known as WIC) afloat using tariff revenues "for the foreseeable future," a White House official tells Axios. 

The program — which provides vouchers for healthy food, breastfeeding assistance and nutritional education — was in danger of running out of funding within weeks amid the government shutdown. 

The tariff money infusion was described as a temporary fix by a White House official, who said that the Office of Management and Budget had worked to find a "creative solution" to preserve WIC. 

In 2024, the federal government spent over $7 billion to fund the program, which benefits over 6 million people in the United States. 

"President Trump and the White House have identified a creative solution to transfer resources from Section 232 tariff revenue to this critical program," White House spox Karoline Leavitt told the outlet. "The Trump White House will not allow impoverished mothers and their babies to go hungry because of the Democrats' political games." 

Said creative solution came one day after CNN and other outlets 'sounded the alarm' over 'Millions of moms and young kids' who could 'lose WIC food assistance within two weeks.' 

Tyler Durden Wed, 10/08/2025 - 13:05

Florida Man Charged In Deadly Pacific Palisades Inferno

Zero Hedge -

Florida Man Charged In Deadly Pacific Palisades Inferno

A former Los Angeles resident turned Florida man has been arrested and charged with starting one of the most devastating wildfires in city history - a blaze that ripped through Pacific Palisades in January 2025, killing a dozen residents and reducing multimillion-dollar homes to ash, federal authorities announced Wednesday.

Prosecutors say Jonathan Rinderknecht, 29 - who also went by "Jonathan Rinder" and "Jon Rinder" - maliciously set the fire that became the Palisades Fire, igniting a catastrophe that scorched some of LA’s wealthiest hillside neighborhoods.

The Melbourne, Florida, resident was arrested Tuesday and charged with destruction of property by means of fire, a federal felony that carries a mandatory minimum of five years and up to 20 years behind bars if convicted.

According to journalist Matt Foldi, Rinderknecht donated to the Biden campaign.

“The complaint alleges that a single person’s recklessness caused one of the worst fires Los Angeles has ever seen,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli, vowing justice for victims who “lost everything.”

He had also allegedly used ChatGPT last July to create a "dystopian" image of a forest burning.

According to a federal affidavit, the inferno traces back to an earlier blaze - the Lachman Fire - that broke out just after midnight on New Year’s Day 2025 near Skull Rock Trailhead.

Authorities say Rinderknecht, then driving for Uber on New Year’s Eve, appeared “agitated and angry” to passengers he picked up between 10:15 and 11:15 p.m. After his last drop-off in Pacific Palisades, he allegedly drove toward his old neighborhood, parked near the trail, and walked into the hills.

Investigators say cellphone data and surveillance footage place him at the scene as the initial fire ignited. Rinderknecht reportedly recorded videos on his iPhone, listened to a rap song whose music video showed things being lit on fire - and, minutes later, the Lachman Fire erupted.

The Fire That Wouldn’t Die

Though firefighters knocked it down that morning, the blaze smoldered underground, feeding on roots and dry vegetation. A week later, on January 7, fierce winds reignited it above ground, birthing the Palisades Fire - which tore through hundreds of acres, burned federal land, and destroyed homes worth tens of millions.

Officials say Rinderknecht called 911 multiple times that night but initially couldn’t connect because of poor cell service. When he finally did, he was already leaving the area - and even passed fire engines rushing toward the scene before doubling back to film the chaos.

Caught in His Own Lies

Weeks later, when questioned by investigators, Rinderknecht allegedly lied about his location during the fire’s start. Phone records showed he was standing within 30 feet of the blaze when it began - far closer than he claimed.

ATF Special Agent in Charge Kenny Cooper said his agency led the complex probe “to provide answers to this community” after “the horrific loss of life and property” that followed.

Rinderknecht made his first court appearance Wednesday in the Middle District of Florida. Federal prosecutors said the case underscores how a single act of malice can unleash catastrophic destruction - and vowed to hold the suspect accountable.

As for Pacific Palisades, residents are still rebuilding nearly a year later - haunted by the memory of a fire that started with one man, a spark, and a night gone horribly wrong.

*  *  * LIBIDO // ENERGY // STAMINA *  *  *

Tyler Durden Wed, 10/08/2025 - 12:47

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