WORST OF THE WORST: ICE Arrests Pedophiles, Sexual Predators, and Other Public Safety Threats

Nearly 70% of ICE arrests are of illegal aliens charged or convicted of a crime in the U.S. 

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested more worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens, convicted for heinous crimes including lewd acts with a child under 14 years old with force, first-degree rape, and aggravated sexual assault.

“Day in and day out, the brave men and women of ICE are removing the worst of the worst from American communities. Just yesterday, ICE arrested pedophiles, sexual predators, and other public safety threats,” said Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis. “Under President Trump and Secretary Mullin, ICE is unleashed to arrest and remove illegal aliens and make America safe again.”

This arrests include:

Efrain Banuelos-Lopez, a criminal illegal alien from Mexico, convicted for lewd acts with a child under 14 years old with force in Norwalk, California.

Sengkham Soumpholphakdy, a criminal illegal alien from Laos, convicted for first-degree rape and THREE counts of first-degree sodomy in Springfield, Oregon.

Juan Arrue-Mancia, a criminal illegal alien from El Salvador, convicted for aggravated sexual assault in Hillsdale, New Jersey.

Omar Cortes-Castillo, a criminal illegal alien from Mexico, convicted for sexual assault in Austin, Texas.

Silverio Garcia-Rodriguez, a criminal illegal alien from Mexico, convicted for possession of a firearm by an alien illegally in the United States in Mobile, Alabama.

Americans can see more public safety threats arrested in their communities on our webpage WOW.DHS.Gov.

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HSTF Investigation Results in 2 Indiana Meth Traffickers Sentenced to Federal Prison

 

Two Evansville men have been sentenced to federal prison for operating a methamphetamine trafficking ring in Vanderburgh County. The Crossroads Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF), including the Drug Enforcement Administration Indianapolis District Office, led the investigation.

Isaac J. Horne, 47, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and two counts of methamphetamine distribution. Christopher M. Youngblood, 42, was sentenced to seven years in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Both men will also serve five years of supervised release following their prison terms.

According to court documents, Horne acted as the primary source of supply for a conspiracy that distributed methamphetamine throughout Vanderburgh County. Horne supplied the drugs to distributors, including Youngblood, who then sold them to lower-level dealers and users. 

Horne took coordinated steps to avoid detection by law enforcement. These efforts included storing narcotics in residences belonging to others, directing associates to deliver drugs on his behalf while he stayed elsewhere, and receiving payments through accounts held in other people’s names.

According to the government’s investigation, over the course of just seven months between May and December 2024, Horne and Youngblood distributed approximately 16 pounds (7.25 kilograms) of methamphetamine in the Evansville area.

Horne is a known drug trafficker with an extensive criminal history, including two prior convictions for dealing cocaine and multiple violent offenses, such as two felony domestic battery convictions. In 2023, he was also convicted of disorderly conduct after threatening to kill a corrections officer, rushing the officer, and striking him repeatedly in the head.

Youngblood also has multiple prior felony convictions, including manufacturing methamphetamine and possession of methamphetamine.

“Sixteen pounds of methamphetamine is an extraordinarily large amount to distribute in just seven months. This represents thousands of individual doses introduced into our community. Every distribution increases the risk that more individuals will become addicted and that additional crimes will be committed to support drug use,” said Tom Wheeler, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “The consequences of large-scale methamphetamine trafficking are felt not only by users, but by their loved ones, the victims of related crimes, healthcare providers, employers, and law enforcement. The Crossroads HSTF will continue to focus federal, state and local resources on criminals who destabilize Hoosier communities.”

U.S. Attorney Wheeler thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew Miller and Todd S. Shellenbarger, who prosecuted this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Richard L. Young. 

This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. Crossroads HSTF comprises agents and officers from FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Drug Enforcement Administration, Internal Revenue Services, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, Indiana National Guard, Indiana State Police, HIDTA, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations, Marion County Sheriff’s Office, and Plainfield Police Department, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana. 

Attorney General James and Governor Hochul Release Final SAFE for Kids Act Rules to Protect Children Online

 

Nation-Leading SAFE for Kids Act Protects Children’s Mental Health by Limiting Addictive Social Media Features Known to Cause Depression and Anxiety 

Final Rules Outline How Social Media Companies Should Confirm Users’ Age to Stop Addictive Feeds and Nighttime Notifications for Children 

New York Attorney General Letitia James today released final rules on how social media companies must restrict addictive features on their platforms to comply with the Stop Addictive Feeds Exploitation (SAFE) for Kids Act and protect children’s mental health. The SAFE for Kids Act, championed by Attorney General James, sponsored by Senator Andrew Gounardes and Assemblymember Nily Rozic, and signed into law by Governor Kathy Hochul, requires social media companies to restrict algorithmically personalized feeds and nighttime notifications for users under the age of 18 unless they obtain parental consent. Algorithmic feeds and nighttime notifications are tied to depression, anxiety, eating and sleep disorders, and other mental health issues among children and teenagers. The rules released today establish criteria to determine which companies must comply with the law and outline standards to determine users’ age and obtain parental consent.

“The SAFE for Kids Act leads the nation in keeping our children safe online and protecting youth from the devastating effects of unchecked social media,” said Attorney General James. “These rules set standards for age verification and parental control to ensure tech companies are doing their part to keep kids safe on their platforms. Young people are particularly vulnerable to addictive social media features, and my office is committed to protecting all New Yorkers from potentially harmful technologies and companies that try to take advantage of them.”

“When I came into office, our children were in the throes of a full-blown mental health crisis, and as New York’s first mom Governor, I felt a moral imperative to act,” said Governor Hochul. “Today, we’re sending a clear message: our kids’ mental health isn’t for sale. We promised action and the SAFE For Kids Act is delivering by ensuring that any platform that targets our children with addictive feeds will face legal consequences. Instead of clicking and scrolling, our kids will be learning and growing.”

Algorithmically personalized feeds, or addictive feeds, recommend or personalize content for users in an endless stream based on data that the platform gathers about the user. They are designed to encourage a user to continue to use and return to a platform. Content displayed in addictive feeds is often from accounts that a user does not follow and is often displayed out of chronological order.

Addictive feeds are known to drive unhealthy levels of social media use in minors that can affect their mental health. Research shows that children as young as 10 to 14 years old experience addictive use of social media, and the more time children spend on social media, the more likely they are to experience negative mental health outcomes such as depression, anxiety, and eating and sleep disorders.

The SAFE for Kids Act addresses these mental health concerns for children by requiring social media companies to restrict addictive feeds for users under 18. Instead of the default algorithmically personalized feeds designed to keep young people on the platform, users under 18 will only be shown content from other accounts they follow or otherwise select in a set sequence, such as chronological order, unless they get parental consent for an addictive feed. Users cannot be cut off from the platform simply because they either do not want or do not have parental consent for an addictive feed. Instead, all users will still be able to access all the same content they can access now. The law also prohibits social media platforms from sending notifications to users under 18 from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. without parental consent.

Signed into law by Governor Hochul in June 2024, the SAFE for Kids Act authorized the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) to promulgate rules on how companies should comply with the law before the statute goes into effect, including rules that set industry standards for determining a user’s age and securing parental consent. The OAG issued an advanced notice of proposed rulemaking on August 1, 2024, and provided the public with a 60-day period to submit comments. The proposed rules were made public for review on September 15, 2025. The OAG incorporated public input, industry research, and its significant experience to inform the proposed and final rules.

Age Assurance 

• For users above the age of 17, social media companies must determine that the user is an adult before allowing them to access algorithmic feeds and/or nighttime notifications. Companies may confirm a user’s age using any existing method, as long as the methods are shown to meet accuracy benchmarks and protect users’ data. Companies can use options such as:
  • Requesting an uploaded image or video; or
  • Verifying a user’s email address or phone number to cross-check other information that reflects a user’s age.
• Social media companies must offer at least one alternative method for age assurance besides providing a government-issued ID.
• Any information used to determine age or obtain parental consent must not be used for any other purpose and must be deleted or de-identified immediately after its intended use. Social media companies must use only the minimum amount of data necessary to confirm a user’s age.  
• Minor users must have an option to update their age status on the platform when they turn 18.
• Social media companies must choose an age assurance method with a high accuracy rate, conduct annual testing, and retain the results of the testing for a minimum of 10 years.

Parental Consent 

• Minors must affirmatively seek access to prohibited features and must consent to their parent being notified. Any parent who wants to grant consent must go through age assurance.
• The platform may not block a minor user from generally accessing the platform or its content through, for example, searches, simply because they or their parent has refused to consent.
• The platform is not required to show parents the user’s search history or topics of interest to obtain parental consent. 
• Parents and minors must also have the option to withdraw their consent at any time.

The SAFE for Kids Act and rules apply to “Addictive Online Platforms,” defined as platforms that display user-generated content and have users who spend at least 20 percent of their time on the platform’s addictive feeds.

The full final rules can be found on OAG’s website. The final rules will be published in the State Register on July 29, 2026. The SAFE for Kids Act goes into effect 180 days later, on January 25, 2027.

For companies that violate the SAFE for Kids Act, the law authorizes OAG to bring an action to stop violations as well as to seek civil penalties of up to $5,000 per violation, among other remedies.

Governor Hochul Announces Start of Construction on $112 Million Kingston Housing Authority Redevelopment

238 Unit Redevelopment Will Preserve Homes, Create New Senior Apartments, and Expand Supportive Housing Opportunities

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the groundbreaking of Phase II of the Kingston Housing Authority Redevelopment. The 238-unit preservation will modernize existing public housing while expanding housing opportunities for seniors in the city of Kingston. The comprehensive redevelopment will rehabilitate 158 existing apartments at Colonial Gardens and Wiltwyck Gardens. It will also replace the aging Penn Court development, adding 80 apartments for seniors including 30 supportive apartments for seniors struggling with homelessness. Under Governor Hochul's leadership, New York State Homes and Community Renewal has created or preserved more than 1,400 affordable homes in Ulster County. The Kingston Housing Authority Redevelopment continues this progress and complements Governor Hochul's $25 billion five-year Housing Plan, which is on track to create or preserve 100,000 affordable homes statewide.

“The Kingston Housing Authority Redevelopment will preserve a critical source of affordable apartments and ensure residents, especially vulnerable seniors, have a safe, secure, and supportive place to call home,” Governor Hochul said. “State investments like this help make New York more affordable and provide modern, sustainable homes for generations to come.”

Phase II of the redevelopment includes the rehabilitation of 98 family apartments at Colonial Gardens and 60 senior apartments at Wiltwyck Gardens, which were originally constructed in the 1970s. The project will also demolish the obsolete 32-unit Penn Court development and replace it with a newly constructed 80-unit building for seniors. All apartments will be affordable to households earning at or below 100 percent of the Area Median Income.

Thirty apartments in the new Penn Court building will be reserved as supportive housing for formerly homeless seniors through the Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative. Supportive services will be provided through a partnership with the New York State Department of Health and local service providers to help residents maintain stable housing and live independently. The supportive service provider will be Gateway Hudson Valley.

Phase II of the redevelopment involves adapting 13 apartments for households with mobility impairments and six for households with audio/visual impairments.

Each building in the redevelopment is all-electric and designed to meet Enterprise Green Communities Plus criteria. The project incorporates sustainable features including rooftop solar arrays, electric vehicle charging stations, and energy-efficient mechanical systems.

Phase II of the Kingston Housing Authority Redevelopment is being developed through a partnership between the Kingston Housing Authority and Mountco Construction and Development Corp.

State financing includes approximately $35 million in program funding from New York State Homes and Community Renewal, as well as Federal and State Low-Income Housing Tax Credits expected to generate nearly $58 million in equity. Project funding also includes $2 million from the Clean Energy Initiative (CEI), a partnership between HCR and New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). Ulster County is providing $700,000 through its Housing Action Grant Program.

Phase I, completed in 2025 with financing from HCR, entailed the rehabilitation of 120 apartments at Leonard & Vera Van Dyke Apartments. 

Mayor Mamdani, DYCD, New York City FC and City in the Community Launch New Sports and Technology Challenge for Young New Yorkers

New York City Sports and Technology Innovation Challenge will engage hundreds of young people through the City’s Summer Youth Employment Program   

Students will design projects exploring the future of sports, technology and climate-resilient infrastructure 

As New York City celebrates the success of the 2026 FIFA World Cup™, Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani, the Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD), New York City FC and City in the Community today announced the launch of the New York City Sports and Technology Innovation Challenge, a new citywide initiative that will introduce hundreds of young people to careers at the intersection of sports, innovation and technology.

Offered through the City’s Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) the challenge brings students together in teams to develop ideas that expand access to soccer, improve public infrastructure and imagine the future of sports in New York City.

Over six weeks, participants will collaborate with industry leaders from government, education, technology and sports.

The challenge is part of the Mamdani administration’s broader effort to ensure the World Cup leaves a lasting legacy for New Yorkers. In recent weeks, the administration has announced plans to transform 50 school blocks into World Cup field days, add 4,000 hours of play on City athletic fields, open five soccer pitches overnight throughout the tournament and expand free opportunities for young people to play the game.

“The World Cup is inspiring our young people, not just to perfect their stepover but to imagine the next great sports stadium, design soccer fields that combat climate change, build new platforms to connect their friends to matches, and much more,” said Mayor Mamdani. “This new Summer Youth Employment Program will help create the next generation of architects, engineers, and scientists right here in New York City, kicking off lifelong careers that will change the world long after the final whistle blows.”

“SYEP is about helping young people see what is possible for their future, and especially in their city” said DYCD Commissioner Sandra Escamilla-Davies. “Through this partnership with New York City FC and City in the Community, SYEP participants will gain exposure to emerging industries, build workforce-ready skills, and apply their creativity to challenges that matter in their own neighborhoods. We are excited for them to be involved in such an exciting, once-in-a-lifetime event with the World Cup this summer.”

“New York City FC’s commitment to this city extends far beyond the pitch, and City in the Community is central to how we deliver on that commitment,” said Jennifer O’Sullivan, New York City FC COO. “Investing in young people is also an investment in the future of our industry. This Challenge gives SYEP participants the chance to build skills, think entrepreneurially, and explore real career pathways in sports, technology, live events, and community impact. We are proud to work alongside Mayor Mamdani and DYCD to help ensure this historic moment creates lasting opportunity for young New Yorkers.”

“City in the Community exists to turn the power of soccer into meaningful opportunities for young New Yorkers,” said Bailee Eaglin, Executive Director of City in the Community. “This challenge builds on our experience bringing together youth development, curriculum-based learning, academic and community partners, and workforce pathways. Our goal is to ensure young people across all five boroughs have the tools, access, and support to help shape the legacy of this moment.”

Funded and designed by City in the Community, the nonprofit foundation supported by New York City FC, and delivered in partnership with DYCD, the initiative began on July 6 and will run for six weeks.

Participants are working with New York City FC professionals and faculty from New York University’s (NYU) School of Professional Studies to explore topics including Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology, the globalization of sports, artificial intelligence and careers across the sports industry.

Students will tackle projects such as: 

• Smart Stadium of the Future: Design a stadium and transportation system that allows more than 50,000 fans to travel to games efficiently and sustainably. 
• Sports for All: Create a digital platform connecting young people and communities to sports opportunities across New York City. 
• Innovative Community Spaces: Design inclusive, climate-resilient public spaces that expand access to recreation and athletics.  

Students may also propose projects of their own in coordination with their SYEP providers.

The New York City Sports and Technology Innovation Challenge is designed to become an annual SYEP initiative that connects young New Yorkers to internships, paid work experience and long-term careers in sports, technology, live events and community development.

SYEP is the nation’s largest youth employment program, providing paid summer work experiences and career exploration opportunities for young people across New York City. Research has linked participation in SYEP to improved school attendance, stronger workforce outcomes and lower rates of incarceration. A 2021 study found participation reduced the likelihood of arrest by 17% overall and felony arrests by 23%. Participants are also significantly less likely to be incarcerated in New York State more than five years after completing the program. 

Permits Filed for 434 Torry Avenue in Castle Hill, The Bronx

Permits have been filed for a four-story residential building at 434 Torry Avenue in Castle Hill, The Bronx. Located between Norton Avenue and Lacombe Avenue, the lot is closest to the Castle Hill Avenue subway station, served by the 6 train. Yitzi Salamon is listed as the owner behind the applications.

The proposed 42-foot-tall development will yield 11,303 square feet designated for residential space. The building will have 14 residences, most likely rentals based on the average unit scope of 807 square feet. The steel-based structure will also have a 20-foot-long rear yard and seven open parking spaces.

Navkiran Cheema of KMA Designs LLC is listed as the architect of record.

Demolition permits have not been filed yet for the residential structure on the site. An estimated completion date has not been announced.

 

Wave Hill Weekly Events (Aug 6 – Aug 13) | Discover Where Art and Nature Meet

 

The August air sweetens as the season passes, and the surrounding nature ripens. Wander the paths of Wave Hill and discover the ways art and nature combine. Explore the exhibits in the public gallery before the tours conclude. Later, connect with loved ones as you take inspiration from the Aquatic Garden in your own paintings, reminiscent of Monet's water lilies. Bloom in your own way here in the gardens

Nature & Wellness

Summer Birding

Sun, Aug 9, 9:30AM – 11:00AM  

Free with admission to the grounds  

Registration not required

Bronx Birder Haley Scott of the Feminist Bird Club leads this walk through the gardens and woodlands to seek out summer birds. Observe the plants, insects, and habitats at Wave Hill that make it so appealing for such a wide variety of birds.  

Garden Highlights Walk

Sun, Aug 9, 1:00PM – 1:30PM 

Free with admission to the grounds    

Registration not required.   

Join a knowledgeable Wave Hill Garden Guide for a leisurely stroll in the gardens. Topics vary by season and the expertise of the Guide; each walk varies with the Guide leading it.

Art

Public Gallery Tour

Thu, Aug 6, 2:00PM – 3:00PM

Sat, Aug 8, 2:00PM – 3:00PM 

Free with admission to the grounds     

Registration not required.   

Solo and group exhibitions at Glyndor Gallery explore the dynamic relationships between nature, culture, and site. Visitors can expect an in-depth look at artworks on view, showcasing the work of both emerging and established artists in the unique context of a public garden.  

Family

Family Art Project: Monet’s Magnificent Pond

Sat, Aug 8, 10:00AM – 1:00PM  

Sun, Aug 9, 10:00AM – 1:00PM   

Free with admission to the grounds     

Registration not required.

Dive into the world of artist Claude Monet and his water lilies. Make a splash as you create your very own mixed-media paintings inspired by Wave Hill’s Aquatic Garden.

HOURS STARTING MARCH 15: 10AM–4:30PM, Tuesday–Sunday  

Shuttle Service free from Subway and Metro-North, Saturday–Sunday

Information at 718.549.3200. On the web at wavehill.org.