Cicero or Sicario: A Day of Crashes

 

Despite one of the most violent days during Operation Midway Blitz, law enforcement arrested multiple illegal aliens

On October 22, U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) faced one of its most violent days since beginning Operation Midway Blitz. Here’s what happened as federal officers were carrying out our nation’s immigration laws:

• At a laundromat on Pulaski Road, USBP was conducting immigration enforcement operations when one female U.S. citizen, Isabel Mata, allegedly threatened a law enforcement officer after stating she would put a hit out on Chief Gregory Bovino. This incident has been referred to the FBI.
• At 26th Street and Kostner Avenue, three U.S. citizens, Jacqueline Lopez, Eliana Bahena, and Jonathan Uribe, are accused of tailing Border Patrol vehicles to draw attention to them. One car then attempted to ram a vehicle, and all three drivers were taken into custody.  
• At 24th Street and Ogden Avenue, USBP was targeted by an aggressive U.S. citizen driver displaying an anti-ICE flag. The driver, Alexis Correa, a Latin Kings gang member, is accused of following agents for several miles on 26th Street and then attempted to ram the vehicle head-on. USBP evaded the driver, but the suspects continued to drive recklessly striking another car civilian car. The driver’s criminal history includes convictions for unlawful possession of a firearm, destroying evidence, and DUI. He was arrested under 18 USC 111.
• At 25th Street and Kildare Avenue, CBP Office of Field Operations (OFO) arrested one U.S. citizen, Alexander Torres, who is accused of recklessly impeding operations and tailing government vehicles. The driver ignored repeated commands from officers to cease actions and he eventually boxed in government vehicles in an alleyway. His criminal history includes convictions for unlawful possession of a firearm by a gang member.
• In Glendale Heights, USBP conducted a targeted immigration enforcement operation that resulted in the arrest of three illegal aliens from Mexico, who were all in violation of our nation’s immigration laws. Agents encountered the three illegal aliens in a parking lot and they refused to comply with verbal commands to exit their vehicle. The driver, Jose Mauricio Rosas-Hernandez, reversed into a government vehicle and scraped another USBP unit. One agent, while chasing on foot, was struck in the knee. These three criminals were taken into ICE custody.

Attributable to Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin:

“While conducting immigration enforcement operations in Cicero and Glendale Heights, agitators stalked law enforcement, rammed vehicles, fled scenes, injured agents, and caused multiple accidents across town—putting law enforcement and the public in danger. Despite the violence, CBP arrested 3 illegal aliens who were breaking our nation’s immigration laws. Six citizens were arrested for impeding and threatening to kill agents. 

“Our officers are facing a surge in assaults against them as they put their lives on the line to arrest murderers, rapists, and gang members. Secretary Noem’s message to the rioters is clear: you will not stop us or slow us down. CBP and our federal law enforcement partners will continue to enforce the law. And if you lay a hand on a law enforcement officer, you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

For weeks, federal officers have had projectiles and rocks thrown at them, vehicles used as weapons, bounties placed on their head, and agitators stalking and doxxing law enforcement. All the while, sanctuary politicians like Governor J.B. Pritzker and Mayor Brandon Johnson idly watch these domestic terrorists run their cities and dehumanize ICE and CBP officers. 

In total, 6 U.S. citizens were arrested on Wednesday for impeding operations and 3 illegal aliens were placed into removal proceedings.

Statement From Governor Kathy Hochul

“President Trump’s decision to walk away from trade talks with Canada is an impulsive and costly mistake that New Yorkers will pay for through higher prices and lost opportunities.

“Canada is our top trading partner. Thousands of New York businesses, farmers, and border communities depend on that relationship. Tourism from Canada powers our economy from Niagara Falls to Montauk Point.

“This administration’s decision to end talks simply because of an ad is petty, shortsighted, and harmful. New Yorkers deserve better than personal grudges that drive up costs and risk our livelihoods.”

 

Justice Department to Monitor Polling Sites in California, New Jersey

 

Today, the Department of Justice announced that it will monitor polling sites in six jurisdictions ahead of the upcoming November 4, 2025, general election to ensure transparency, ballot security, and compliance with federal law.

The Department, through the Civil Rights Division, enforces federal voting rights laws that protect the rights of all eligible citizens to access the ballot. The Department regularly deploys its staff to monitor for compliance with federal civil rights laws in elections in communities across the country.

“Transparency at the polls translates into faith in the electoral process, and this Department of Justice is committed to upholding the highest standards of election integrity,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “We will commit the resources necessary to ensure the American people get the fair, free, and transparent elections they deserve.”

“The Department of Justice will do everything necessary to protect the votes of eligible American citizens, ensuring our elections are safe and secure,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Civil Rights Division. “Transparent election processes and election monitoring are critical tools for safeguarding our elections and ensuring public trust in the integrity of our elections.”

“Our democracy depends on free and fair elections,” said Acting United States Attorney Bill Essayli of the Central District of California. “We will work tirelessly to uphold and protect the integrity of the election process.”

“Election protection means making sure every eligible voter can participate freely and every lawful vote is counted,” said Acting U.S. Attorney and Special Attorney Alina Habba of the District of New Jersey. “Our office is committed to working alongside our federal, state, and local partners to ensure transparency, security, and public confidence in the election process.”

At this time, the Department will monitor the following jurisdictions:

• Passaic County, New Jersey
• Kern County, California
• Riverside County, California
• Fresno County, California
• Orange County, California
• Los Angeles County, California

At Attorney General Pamela Bondi’s direction, this effort will be overseen by the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division under the leadership of Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon. The Division will deploy Civil Rights personnel who will coordinate with U.S. Attorney’s Offices.

The Civil Rights Division’s Voting Section enforces various federal statutes that protect the right to vote, including the Voting Rights Act, National Voter Registration Act, Help America Vote Act, Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, and the Civil Rights Acts.

This initiative is aimed at promoting transparency and an open flow of communication between poll observers and election monitors to ensure that elections proceed with a high degree of security.

From now and up to Election Day, Civil Rights Division personnel will be available to receive questions and complaints from the public related to possible violations of federal voting rights laws.

If you would like to request election monitoring in a particular jurisdiction, please contact the Voting Section at VEM@usdoj.gov, and the Civil Rights Division will determine whether monitoring is warranted.

Permits Filed for 2060 Walton Avenue in Fordham, The Bronx

 

Permits have been filed for a nine-story mixed-use building at 2060 Walton Avenue in Fordham, The Bronx. Located between East Burnside Avenue and East 181st Street, the lot is near the Tremont Avenue subway station, served by the B and D trains. Joel Braver of Express Builders JB Inc. is listed as the owner behind the applications.

The proposed 90-foot-tall development will yield 164,935 square feet, with 153,762 square feet designated for residential space, 10,283 square feet for commercial space, and 889 square feet for community facility space. The building will have 94 residences, most likely rentals based on the average unit scope of 602 square feet. The concrete-based structure will also have a cellar and a 20-foot-long rear yard.

Nikolai Katz Architect is listed as the architect of record.

Demolition permits have not been filed yet. An estimated completion date has not been announced.

Attorney General James Announces Election Protection Hotline Ahead of November General Election

 

Voters Experiencing Problems Can Consult Frequently Asked Questions, Call (866) 390-2992, or Request Assistance Online

New York Attorney General Letitia James announced that the Office of the New York State Attorney General (OAG) will make its Election Protection Hotline available for the November 4, 2025 general election and during New York’s early voting period, which runs from Saturday, October 25 through Sunday, November 2. The hotline will be available to troubleshoot and resolve a range of issues encountered by voters, including issues voting by absentee ballot, early mail ballot, or in-person at their polling place. A guide addressing frequently asked questions is also currently available to assist voters with, among other things, the absentee and early mail ballot process and voter registration issues.

“Our right to vote is the foundation of our democracy, and every voter should be able to freely exercise that right,” said Attorney General James. “My office will be available through Election Day to help anyone who faces challenges voting and will continue working to protect free and fair elections throughout New York state. I am proud to support New Yorkers as they make their voices heard at the ballot box.”

Attorney General James urges voters experiencing election-related problems while voting to call the OAG hotline at (866) 390-2992, or submit a complaint online to request assistance. The telephone hotline will be open between 9:00 AM and 6:00 PM during early voting (Saturday, October 25 through Sunday, November 2), and between 6:00 AM and 9:00 PM on Election Day, Tuesday, November 4. The hotline will also be available on the day before and after Election Day, Monday, November 3 and Wednesday, November 5, between 9:00 AM and 6:00 PM. Written requests for assistance may be submitted at any time through the online complaint form. Hotline calls and written requests for assistance are processed by OAG attorneys and staff.

The OAG has operated its Election Protection Hotline since November 2012. During previous elections, OAG fielded hundreds — and sometimes thousands — of complaints from voters across the state and worked with local election officials and others to address issues. The OAG has also taken legal action to protect against voter registration purges and to ensure that voters have adequate and equitable access to vote early as required by law.

All registered voters have the right to accessible elections. On Election Day, polls are required to be open from 6:00 AM to 9:00 PM, and if voters are in line before closing, they must be allowed to vote. In addition, all registered voters have the right to vote free from coercion or intimidation, whether by election officials or any other person.

The OAG will receive and respond to election complaints relating to any of the statutes that OAG enforces, including the New York Voting Rights Act.

Governor Hochul Calls on Secretary of Agriculture Rollins to Ensure New Yorkers Receive November SNAP Benefits

“I urge USDA to use every authority at your disposal and take immediate action to release statutorily-authorized contingency funds so that states can begin the process of issuing November benefits as soon as possible.”

“Without direction from USDA, millions of Americans risk food insecurity during the holiday season.”

“Holding SNAP benefits hostage will harm an already fragile economy, especially for many of our small businesses and rural producers who will experience reduced revenue.”

Governor Hochul penned a letter to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins calling on the USDA to take immediate action to ensure SNAP recipients receive their November benefits. As the shutdown continues, come November 1, millions of New Yorkers will lose access to the nutrition assistance they need to feed themselves and their households — and our economy will be hurt as businesses throughout the food supply chain, including farmers and small businesses, feel the residual effects. Governor Hochul is calling on Secretary Rollins to use her power to fund SNAP and prevent a public health crisis.

“As the GOP government shutdown continues, thousands of New Yorkers are at risk of losing their SNAP benefits come November 1,” Governor Hochul said. “I am calling on the Trump administration to guarantee these essential funds so that New Yorkers can continue to put food on the table, and I urge Washington Republicans — including the seven from New York — to actually stand up for their constituents, come to the negotiating table and end this uncertainty and chaos.”

The Governor’s letter comes as SNAP access has already been attacked by the Big Ugly bill, which is anticipated to strip over 300,000 New York households of their SNAP benefits.

Read the full text of the letter below:

Dear Secretary Rollins,

SNAP is the largest and most effective anti-hunger program in the nation. Nearly 3 million New Yorkers rely on SNAP each month, most of whom are older adults, disabled or children.

Following USDA’s disturbing and unprecedented directive that states not issue federally-funded SNAP benefits in November, USDA has still not taken any steps to ensure that millions of SNAP beneficiaries will be able to access the assistance they need to feed themselves. No state has received information from USDA since issuance of this directive on October 10.

Federal statute authorizes the use of contingency funds to issue SNAP benefits in emergencies. However, USDA has so far refused to provide information about these funds or how states can access federal contingency funds. I urge USDA to use every authority at your disposal and take immediate action to release statutorily-authorized contingency funds, so that states can begin the process of issuing November benefits as soon as possible. New Yorkers should not go hungry when a legal and funded remedy is available, particularly when you have directed USDA to ensure other functions, such as Farm Service Agencies, remain open.

If millions of New Yorkers and millions more Americans are unable to access the food assistance they need come November, states must convey to SNAP beneficiaries immediately that benefits may be delayed or diminished. Without direction from USDA, millions of Americans risk food insecurity during the holiday season.

In addition, SNAP also serves as a critical driver of our economy, particularly in our rural communities. USDA’s own research has shown that every dollar in issued SNAP benefits generates over $1.50 in economic activities, as recipients spend their benefits in local communities, including grocery stores, farmers markets, and small businesses. Beyond causing hunger for millions of people, holding SNAP benefits hostage will harm an already fragile economy, especially for many of our small businesses and rural producers who will experience reduced revenue.

Moreover, states must take many steps to ensure SNAP clients receive their benefits in a timely manner. States continue to accept SNAP applications, verify eligibility, help new clients enroll, and work with external vendors to load federal SNAP benefits to clients’ cards. However, the longer USDA takes to release funds, the more we risk SNAP clients facing empty cupboards come November 1. Both practically and fiscally, states are not able to fill this gap, as SNAP benefits have always been federally funded. We do not have the resources nor the mechanism to backfill the largest federal anti-hunger program in the nation. Since President Trump took office and began defunding federal programs like SNAP and healthcare, governors have been sounding the alarm that no state has the financial means to step in where the federal government is failing.

Madam Secretary, as a long-standing leader on agriculture and food access, you know full well that SNAP is not merely a benefit to be paid to those in need. It is a lynchpin in our economy, it is the moral backbone of our country and New Yorkers deserve your quick and decisive action to ensure benefits are not arbitrarily and unnecessarily upheld.

 

NYGOP Response to Jeffries' Endorsement of Mamdani

 

Cox: An Act of Supreme Cowardice and Capitulation

NYGOP Chair Ed Cox released the following statement in response to House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries' endorsement of Zohran Mamdani:

 

"In an act of supreme cowardice and capitulation, Democrats' Minority Leader in Congress just threw his lot in with an openly Communist, anti-Semitic, defund-the-police, globalize-the-intifada extremist. 

 

"Hakeem Jeffries has kept the government closed and essential federal workers unpaid while making common cause with this zealot. 

 

"Are there any moderate Democrats left? Every elected Democrat - in New York and nationally - must answer this question: do you stand with Zohran Mamdani or do you stand with the principles upon which our republic was founded?"

DEC ENCOURAGES NEW YORKERS TO HELP PROTECT BATS DURING 'BAT WEEK'

 

Outdoor Enthusiasts Encouraged to Refrain from Visiting Caves and Mines During the Fall and Winter Months

Celebrate Bat Week from Oct. 24-31; Video Interview with DEC Biologist Available Here 

In observance of Bat Week and to raise awareness about the critical role of bats in the environment, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) encourages outdoor enthusiasts to refrain from visiting caves and mines during the fall and winter months to reduce human disturbance to endangered and threatened bats. Bat Week is observed Oct. 24-31 annually and is organized by representatives from conservation groups and government agencies in the United States and Canada to build support for the conservation of bats – a frequently misunderstood species.   

“During Bat Week, DEC is highlighting the important role bats play in our environment and natural ecosystem and that we all should do what we can to help protect New York's at-risk bat populations while they’re hibernating in caves and mines,” said DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton. “Disturbing bats from their hibernation patterns can cause unnecessary harm to their systems and recovery. When outdoors this time of year, please do not venture into caves and move away quietly to ensure bats can remain in their natural hibernation patterns.”   

These nocturnal flying mammals are more helpful to people than harmful, with most species having absolutely no interest in biting other mammals. There are nine species of bats in New York, all of which are insectivores that help control pest populations across the state. Their voracious appetites for insects help limit the amount of pesticides used for crops and gardens, reduce mosquitoes, and may help limit the spread of invasive insects in New York.

Of the nine bat species found in New York, six are cave bats that hibernate in caves and mines throughout the winter. Three tree bat species migrate to warmer areas. All these bats need to build up fat stores in the fall to make sure they have enough energy to carry them through their long hibernation or migration. They do this by consuming up to their bodyweight in insects each night. During this time, known as the fall swarm, bats are also congregating in large numbers to mate. For cave bats, this means they are using their hibernation sites to find potential mates before hunkering down inside for the upcoming winter, making these sites even more valuable to them.

Bats spend the winter hibernating in caves and mines where relatively constant, warm temperatures protect these mammals from harsh winter temperatures above ground. The health of bats is particularly vulnerable to human visitation to winter "hibernacula," and especially harmful since the arrival of white-nose syndrome (WNS) in 2007, a fungus that has killed more than 90 percent of bats at hibernation sites in the state.   

If bats are disturbed during hibernation, they raise their body temperature, depleting crucial fat reserves. This stored fat is the only source of energy available to the bats until the weather warms in spring and insects become readily available. The more frequently bats are disturbed, the less likely they are to survive the long winter months underground without eating.  

In recent years, scientists have found evidence of recovery of the once-common little brown bat throughout New York State. While this seeming stabilization provides a hopeful outlook after more than a decade of devastating population declines, similar evidence of stabilization has not been seen for other severely affected bat species.  

DEC reminds the public to follow all posted notices restricting access to caves and mines. If bats are discovered hibernating in a cave, DEC urges visitors to leave quickly and quietly to minimize disturbance. Anyone entering a listed bat hibernation site from Oct. 1 through April 30, the typical hibernation period for bats, may be subject to prosecution.  

Other ways to help protect bats in New York include: 

• Limiting tree removal to the winter months (Dec 1. – Feb. 28 in Suffolk County or Nov 1. – Mar 31. elsewhere) to protect bats from harm. During the active season (spring through early fall), bats roost in trees and form maternity colonies to rear their pups, so tree removal during this season can potentially harm bats using trees for these behaviors. Plant a pollinator garden to increase prey availability for bats, who feed on insects; 
• Putting up a bat box on your property to offer bats a summer roost safe from predators and human activity (see options for bat box designs and DIY instructions here); and 
• Contacting a bat-certified Nuisance Wildlife Control Operator (NWCO) when looking to remove bats safely from your home (find a list of NWCOs in your area here).  

For more information on bats, including state and federally listed species like Indiana bat and Northern long-eared bat, visit DEC’s website.