DHS Sets the Record Straight on Misleading Video, Leaving Out Key Facts Including that the Woman Arrested Repeatedly Stabbed Her Coworker with Scissors

 

Emergency Medical Personnel on the scene found no legitimate medical episode

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is setting the record straight on a misleading viral video from Massachusetts of a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrest of Juliana Milena Ojeda-Montoya, a criminal illegal alien from Ecuador who in August repeatedly stabbed her coworker with scissors and then threw a trash can at her victim.

On November 6, 2025, ICE conducted a targeted operation to arrest Ojeda-Montoya, a criminal illegal alien who entered the country under the Biden administration. During ICE's targeted vehicle stop of Ojeda-Montoya, her child and husband were in the car. The child was seated in the lap of the mother in the front seat of the car—recklessly endangering the child. The child was not in the safety of a car seat.

Juliana Milena Ojeda-Montoya

Officers informed Ojeda-Montoya they had a warrant for her arrest and requested she give the child to her husband, Carlos Zapata Rivera. She refused until the moment her husband purported to have a medical episode. Her husband, also an illegal alien from Ecuador, refused medical help and displayed absolutely no signs of medical concerns just moments later. ICE called 911 but the illegal alien refused any medical care.

Despite ICE law enforcement officers’ several attempts to deescalate the situation and repeated requests that the father take custody of the child, both parents stated they were willing to put the child into state custody.  Once Zapata Rivera realized he would be arrested for immigration violations if he did not agree to take custody of the child, he suddenly decided to be a good father and left with the child.

During the arrest, Ojeda-Montoya resisted, and a crowd of agitators formed. Some of these agitators began shouting obscenities, death threats, and antisemitic remarks at officers including:

• "You probably support Israel too...you look like a Jew... I bet you are a f***ing Jew.”
• “I'm going to remember those eyes...I'm going to find you... I'm going to come for you... I know you probably have kids... We're going to kill you and your kids... I am going to shoot all of you.” 

“Once again, the media ran with a FALSE narrative about our brave ICE law enforcement officers. As usual, here’s the REAL story: ICE targeted a known criminal who repeatedly stabbed her coworker,” said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. “Medical personnel found there was no legitimate medical emergency. He was even caught on video on his feet and coherent moments later. Our law enforcement officers requested the father take custody of the child, but he refused. He quickly decided to leave with the child once he realized if he didn’t take custody ICE would arrest him for an immigration violation.”

On February 22, 2023, the U.S. Border Patrol arrested Ojeda-Montoya after she illegally entered the United States near Lukeville, Arizona. She was later released into our communities under the Biden administration in March of the same year. Ojeda-Montoya was transported to Cumberland County Jail in Scarborough, Maine and will remain in ICE custody pending removal proceedings.

Zapata Rivera entered the United States illegally on February 22, 2023, and was released by the Biden administration.

The United States Announces Agreement with Cornell University

 

Today, the U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Department of Education, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced an agreement with Cornell University (“Cornell”) that will protect Cornell’s students from violations of federal civil rights laws, including from discrimination based on race, sex, or national origin, and promote America’s hardworking farming and rural communities.

As part of the agreement, Cornell University will invest thirty million dollars through 2028 in research programs on agriculture, farming, and related studies that will support American farmers through lower costs of production and enhanced efficiency. Cornell will additionally pay thirty million dollars to the United States over the next three years. The university agrees to provide the Department of Justice’s “Guidance for Recipients of Federal Funding Regarding Unlawful Discrimination” as a training resource to faculty and staff, and will continued to conduct annual surveys to evaluate the campus climate for Cornell students. The university also agrees to comply with lawful requests from the United States related to foreign funding sources.

Through 2028, Cornell will provide relevant anonymized admissions data for statistical analyses to the United States. The President of Cornell will personally certify, under penalty of perjury, that Cornell is in compliance with the agreement. The United States will close its pending investigations into the university’s admissions policies and other civil rights concerns. The United States shall treat Cornell as eligible for future grants and awards, as well as restore terminated grants to Cornell from the Department of Health & Human Services and other federal agencies.

“Recipients of federal funding must fully adhere to federal civil rights laws and ensure that harmful DEI policies do not discriminate against students,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “Today’s deal is a positive outcome that illustrates the value of universities working with this administration — we are grateful to Cornell for working towards this agreement.”

“The Trump Administration has secured another transformative commitment from an Ivy League institution to end divisive DEl policies,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon. “Thanks to this deal with Cornell and the ongoing work of DOJ, HHS, and the team at ED, U.S. universities are refocusing their attention on merit, rigor, and truth seeking – not ideology. These reforms are a huge win in the fight to restore excellence to American higher education and make our schools the greatest in the world.”

"The Trump Administration is actively dismantling the ability of elite universities to discriminate based on race or religion," said Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. "The DOJ’s agreement with Cornell strengthens protections for students against antisemitism and all other forms of discrimination."

“As a result of securing this groundbreaking settlement between the United States and Cornell, applicants and students will receive fair and equal treatment as required by our civil rights laws, and American farmers will have expanded opportunity for agricultural development and productivity,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Cornell agreement exhibits this administration’s deep commitment to vigilantly enforce our federal civil rights laws on college campuses, and ensure that American universities manage taxpayer dollars responsibly.”

Attorney General James Demands FCC Expand Multilingual Emergency Alerts

AG James Leads Coalition Calling for FCC to Stop Unlawfully Delaying Life-Saving Alert Rule

New York Attorney General Letitia James today led a coalition of 18 other attorneys general and New York City in demanding that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) immediately publish a long-delayed rule that would substantially expand language access for critical government emergency alerts sent to cell phones. The emergency alerts, which are currently only sent in English and Spanish, can be lifesaving during disasters such as the floods in New York City that claimed two lives last week. A new rule, finalized and unanimously adopted by the FCC in January 2025, plans to expand the alerts to 13 additional languages. However, for the last ten months, the FCC has refused to move to implement it. In a letter to the FCC, Attorney General James and the coalition warn that if the rule is not submitted for publication within 30 days, they are prepared to take legal action. The rule is the result of a years-long advocacy effort led by Attorney General James to ensure that everyone can receive and understand potentially life-saving emergency alerts.

“Language should never be a barrier to life-saving information,” said Attorney General James. “Every New Yorker, regardless of language, deserves to know what to do when danger strikes. The FCC’s failure to publish this unanimously adopted rule is unacceptable and puts people at risk. We are demanding immediate action by the FCC to ensure that no community is left in the dark during future hurricanes, wildfires, or floods.”

Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEAs) are short, text message-like alerts sent by government agencies through cell carriers to warn the public of imminent threats such as severe weather, natural disasters, missing persons, or public safety emergencies. These alerts are among the most widely used and effective public warning tools in the United States, but have historically been issued only in English, with Spanish alerts being supported only in recent years.

Following Hurricane Ida in 2021, which claimed 13 lives in New York City – most in neighborhoods with low rates of English proficiency – Attorney General James brought the disparity in emergency alerting to the FCC’s attention and later led a coalition of states urging the FCC to expand multilingual access to emergency alerts. In 2023, the FCC voted to move forward with the expansion, and in January 2025, it formally adopted the Multilingual Alerts Order, which requires the implementation of pre-translated alert templates in the 13 most commonly spoken non-English languages and American Sign Language. The order dictates that once the rule is published in the Federal Register, wireless carriers will have 30 months to update their systems to support multilingual alerts.

Nearly ten months after adopting the order, however, the FCC has yet to officially publish it, an unexplained delay that has prevented the new multilingual system from taking effect. Because the 30-month implementation period begins only upon publication, the FCC’s inaction has stalled nationwide efforts to modernize the emergency alert system and ensure that more non-English-speaking communities receive timely, life-saving information during disasters or other emergencies. Without expanded language accessibility for WEAs, immigrant communities nationwide, including an estimated 1.3 million New Yorkers statewide who have limited English proficiency and do not speak Spanish, lack access to critical information to protect themselves and their families from severe weather and other emergencies.

Attorney General James and the coalition note that the Administrative Procedure Act and the FCC’s own regulations require the agency to publish adopted rules in the Federal Register. By refusing to do so, the coalition argues, the FCC is violating federal law. The demand letter notes that the agency remains obligated to perform this non-discretionary duty even during the ongoing federal government shutdown.

Governor Hochul Directs State Agencies to Prepare as Season’s First Lake Effect Snowfall is Forecast for Early Next Week

Preliminary Forecasts Show Lake Effect Snow in Parts of Western New York, Central New York and the North Country Beginning Sunday Evening and Lasting Into Tuesday

Seven to Twelve Inches of Snow Possible in Heaviest Lake Effect Bands in Chautauqua Ridge and Tug Hill Plateau; Potential for up to Six Inches of Snow in Areas Around Buffalo

‘Feels Like’ Temperatures Expected To Drop to Low-to-Mid Teens in Many Areas of the State

New Yorkers Can Sign Up for Weather and Emergency Alerts by Texting 333111

Governor Kathy Hochul today directed State agencies to prepare as forecasts are calling for the first lake effect snow of the ’25-’26 winter season that is expected to impact Western New York, Central New York and the North Country. Preliminary forecasts from the National Weather Service show the possibility for up to six inches of snowfall in areas around Buffalo, while seven to 12 inches of snow is possible in the heaviest snow bands which could form along the Chautauqua Ridge and Tug Hill Plateau areas. As these forecasts are preliminary, snow totals and exact locations of impacts have the potential to change as the system develops. Additionally, ‘feels like’ temperatures are expected to drop to the low-to-mid teens in many areas of the state.

“As the first snowfall of the season sweeps through Western and Central New York, and the North Country, I’m directing State agencies to mobilize all necessary resources to protect New Yorkers and their families,” Governor Hochul said. “We’re no strangers to lake effect snowfall, but I ask all New Yorkers to stay off the roads and take precautions as we work to keep our communities safe.”

Following a period of widespread rain showers Sunday, a strong cold front with low ‘feels like’ temperatures between 10 and 20 degrees is expected to cause a changeover to snow beginning Sunday night. Lake-enhanced bands of snow will develop southeast of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario and persist through at least Monday night. Periodic lighter snow is also possible outside of the primary lake effect areas. As westerly winds strengthen, it may direct weaker intensity lake snows due east of the lakes on Tuesday.

In addition to preparing for snow, New Yorkers should also prepare to protect against the dangers that can result from colder weather and winter activities. Under state regulation, a Code Blue is automatically in effect whenever the temperature and wind chill is below 32 degrees. Local social services districts are legally required to take necessary steps to ensure those experiencing homelessness have access to shelter and that shelter hours are extended. Cold Weather tips from the Department of Health can be found here; additional tips for preventing frostbite and hypothermia can be found here; information on Carbon Monoxide poisoning can be found here; information on the proper use of generators can be found here; safe winter driving tips can be found here.

The New York State Department of Labor advises workers and employers to engage in extreme cold weather best practices such as:

• Limit outdoor work, provide frequent breaks in warm areas and schedule outdoor work during the warmest times of the day.
• Ensure access to clean drinking water.
• Stay hydrated with warm beverages and avoid drinking caffeine.
• Wear proper PPE, including at least three layers of clothing, gloves or mittens, thick socks, insulated footwear and a hat, hood or hard hat liner.

More Information on best practices for working in cold weather can be found here.

Leading up to and throughout the duration of the event, New Yorkers should closely monitor their local forecasts and look for weather watches and warnings issued by the National Weather Service. For a complete listing of weather alerts, visit the National Weather Service website at alerts.weather.gov.

New Yorkers should also ensure that government emergency alerts are enabled on their mobile phones. They should also sign up for real-time weather and emergency alerts that will be texted to their phones by texting their county or borough name to 333111.

 Hiking Safety

Unpredictable weather and storms in the Adirondacks, Catskills and other backcountry areas can create unexpectedly hazardous conditions. Trails have mixed conditions, and visitors should be prepared with proper clothing and equipment for colder temperatures to ensure a safe outdoor experience.

Hikers in the Adirondacks are encouraged to check the Adirondack Backcountry Information webpages for updates on trail conditions, seasonal road closures, and general recreation information.

Backcountry visitors should Hike Smart and follow proper safety guidelines. Plan trips accordingly. In an emergency, call 9-1-1. To request Forest Ranger assistance, call 1-833-NYS-RANGERS.

Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation

New York State Park Police and park personnel are on alert and closely monitoring weather conditions and impacts. Response equipment is being fueled, tested and prepared for storm response use. Park visitors should visit parks.ny.gov, check the free NY State Parks Explorer mobile app or call their local park office for the latest updates regarding park hours, openings and closings.

Winter Driving Safety Tips

• Monitor the forecast for your local area and areas you may be travelling to.
• Avoid unnecessary travel.
• If you must travel, make sure your car is stocked with survival gear like blankets, a shovel, flashlight and extra batteries, extra warm clothing, set of tire chains, battery booster cables, quick energy foods and brightly colored cloth to use as a distress flag.
• If you have a cellphone or other communications device such as a two-way radio available for your use, keep the battery charged and keep it with you whenever traveling. If you should become stranded, you will be able to call for help, advising rescuers of your location.
• The leading cause of death and injuries during winter storms is transportation accidents. Before getting behind the wheel, make sure that your vehicle is clear of ice and snow; good vision is key to good driving. Plan your stops and keep more distance between cars. Be extra alert and remember that snowdrifts can hide smaller children. Always match your speed to the road and weather conditions.
• It is important for motorists on all roads to note that snowplows travel at speeds up to 35 mph, which in many cases is lower than the posted speed limit.
• Oftentimes on interstate highways, snowplows will operate side by side, to safely clear several lanes at one time.
• Motorists and pedestrians should also keep in mind that snowplow drivers have limited lines of sight, and the size and weight of snowplows can make it very difficult to maneuver and stop quickly. Snow blowing from behind the plow can severely reduce visibility or cause whiteout conditions.
• Motorists should not attempt to pass snowplows or follow too closely. The safest place for motorists to drive is well behind the snowplows where the roadway is clear and salted. Never attempt to pass a snowplow while it's operating.

Affordable Housing Lottery Launches for 1824 Anthony Avenue in Tremont, The Bronx

 

The affordable housing lottery has launched for 1824 Anthony Avenue, a nine-story residential building in Tremont, The Bronx. Designed by ENV Architects and developed by Bimi Selimaj of Propco LLC, the structure yields 128 residences. Available on NYC Housing Connect are 39 units for residents at 130 percent of the area median income (AMI), ranging in eligible income from $90,720 to $227,500.

Amenities include bike storage lockers, garage, virtual doorman, elevator, recycling center, and a rooftop terrace. Residences are equipped with air conditioning, intercoms, energy-efficient appliances, hardwood floors, high-speed internet, and name-brand kitchen appliances, countertops, and finishes. Tenants are responsible for electricity including electric stove.

At 130 percent of the AMI, there are nine studios with a monthly rent of $2,535 for incomes ranging from $90,720 to $168,480; ten one-bedrooms with a monthly rent of $2,635 for incomes ranging from $94,698 to $189,540; and 20 two-bedrooms with a monthly rent of $2,888 for incomes ranging from $104,846 to $227,500.

Prospective renters must meet income and household size requirements to apply for these apartments. Applications must be postmarked or submitted online no later than January 2, 2026

Permits Filed for 713 Oakland Place in Tremont, The Bronx

 

Permits have been filed for a six-story residential building at 713 Oakland Place in Tremont, The Bronx. Located between Clinton Avenue and Crotona Avenue, the lot is closest to the West Farms Square–East Tremont Avenue subway station, served by the 2 and 5 trains. Alket Zefi of Adi Al Construction Inc. is listed as the owner behind the applications.

The proposed 62-foot-tall development will yield 10,158 square feet for residential space. The building will have 15 residences, most likely rentals based on the average unit scope of 677 square feet. The concrete-based structure will also have a cellar and a 42-foot-long rear yard.

Emirjeta Taipi of Three Studio Architecture is listed as the architect of record.

Demolition permits were also filed for the two-family dwelling on the site. An estimated completion date has not been announced.

Statement from NYGOP Chair Ed Cox on Elise Stefanik's Announcement

NYGOP Chair Ed Cox released the following statement: 

"Elise Stefanik is a unifier and a party builder with the brains, the guts and the resources to win statewide next year. She has fought for our principles every day of her career and never backs down. She is the warrior we need to lead the fight against Democrats' corrupt Albany machine. 
 
"Thanks to Kathy Hochul and Democrats, New York leads the nation in outmigration as the most taxed, least free, least affordable state in America. There will not be a Republican primary and a year from now, Elise will lead our team to victory over Kathy Hochul, end one-party Democrat rule, and make New York affordable again." 

Elise Stefanik Officially Files and Announces Run for New York Governor

Republican candidate for Governor Elise Stefanik released the following statement:

"Kathy Hochul is the Worst Governor in America. Under Kathy Hochul's failed leadership, New York is the most unaffordable state in the nation with the highest taxes, highest energy, utilities, rent, and grocery prices crushing hardworking families. Hochul has created a crime crisis with failed bail reform and her support of Defund the Police candidates. And when New Yorkers were looking for leadership the most, Kathy Hochul bent the knee to the raging Defund the Police Tax Hiking Antisemite Communist who will destroy New York. I am running for Governor to bring a new generation of leadership to Albany to make New York affordable and safe for families all across our great state. Our campaign will unify Republicans, Democrats, and Independents to Fire Kathy Hochul once and for all to Save New York."

Watch Elise for Governor's launch video HERE.