Daily Archives: May 16, 2021

Will the Spike in Murder and Violence Undermine Criminal Justice Reform? – Reason

Posted: May 16, 2021 at 1:07 pm

In 1960, the U.S. violent crime rate started rising, and for three decades this was one of the most vexing and discussed problems in America.

By the early 1990s, policy makers had mostly lost hope. And then violent crime started falling. And it kept falling.

Meanwhile, the number of incarcerated Americans continued to climb.

It was the crime decline that made possible a bipartisan movement to reckon with the injustice of mass incarceration and the failure of the war on drugs.

But last year, the United States experienced the largest rise in homicides in decades, and violent crime rose particularly sharply in big cities, which could bring the return of tough-on-crime rhetoric and undermine the criminal justice reform movement.

Critics say a recently elected group of district attorneys in elite coastal cities, who are dismissing routine property crimes and failing to jail potentially dangerous individuals, are exacerbating the problem.

This backlash underscores why it's so important to distinguish between worthwhile criminal justice reform and simply failing to enforce the rule of law.

San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin is among this new crop of progressive prosecutors. He was raised by two famous left-wing radicals of the 1960s, Bernardine Dohrn and Bill Ayers, and his biological parents were imprisoned on felony murder charges when he was a baby, stemming from their involvement with the Weather Underground, a radical left militant organization.

Since Boudin took office in January 2020, burglary, arson, and murder have all spiked in San Francisco, though rape and assault rates have fallen, and most of his term has taken place during the COVID-19 pandemica time when life in the Bay Area has been far from normal.

Boudin is facing possible recall for failing to prosecute and jail a man accused of committing several burglaries and then drunkenly running over and killing two women, and a man twice accused of domestic abuse who then murdered an infant.

But can other progressive district attorneys strike a better balance as they reform the system?

"I think that the big lie was, basicallythat overincarceration, more police presence, and more prosecutions actually [were] leading to greater safety. When, in fact, it has probably led to greater insecurity," says George Gascn, who took office this year as Los Angeles County's new district attorney. He's a former Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) officer and once held the same job as Boudin in San Francisco.

Gascn defeated the more conservative incumbent Jackie Lacey with his radical reform agenda, pledging to release up to 20,000 "low-risk" offenders. He immediately ended cash bail for misdemeanors and what he calls "low-level, nonserious crimes."

"We saw people that were being held in pretrial incarceration for weeks or months, simply because they couldn't afford a very low dollar a month to bail," says Gascn. "They were not necessarily dangerous. So the reality is, there is no connection between how much money you have in your bank account and whether you're dangerous or not."

Since taking office, Gascn has made good on his promise not to prosecute victimless crimes like low-level drug possession and sex work. But he's also declining to prosecute actual property crimes like trespassing.

"Data is continuing to flow, and more so recently, that shows that deemphasizing the criminal process when it comes to low-level nonviolent offenses, actually increases the safety in general, not just for those types of crimes, but even for more serious crimes," says Gascn.

But the property crime rate jumped nearly 40 percent during Gascn's almost nine-year tenure as San Francisco's D.A., a fact Gascn attributes to local police retaliating against him for co-authoring California's Prop 47, which reclassified many felonies as misdemeanors.

"A lot of cops said, you know, basically we're not going to enforce any of this stuff anymore. They were against [Prop 47]. They wanted to basically teach me a lesson," says Gascn.

But Gascn's critics in Los Angeles believe he's stripping law enforcement of the ability to keep the city safe.

"Quality of life crimes are not something that you want to prosecute on every instance, but you also don't want to have a blanket policy that prohibits you from ever prosecuting them as well," says Eric Siddall, vice president of the L.A. Association of Deputy District Attorneys, the prosecutors union that sued Gascn for directing the D.A.'s office not to pursue extra harsh sentences for repeat felons or for crimes involving gang members. A judge recently ruled partially in their favor.

Siddall says that the Los Angeles D.A.'s office has been making positive reforms for years and that Gascn is disregarding public safety

"There has to be a middle ground," says Siddall. "And I think that's what our office was trying to do prior to Mr. Gascn. But when you have a blanket policy that completely ignores quality-of-life crimes, then expect the quality of life to decrease in those neighborhoods."

Seven municipalities including the Beverly Hills, Whittier, and Pico Rivera city councils have issued votes of "no confidence" against Gascn. The L.A. sheriff has publicly supported a recall.

Siddall worries that stripping prosecutors of the ability to pursue harsher sentences against gang members will set back the decades-long effort to stem gang violence in a city once plagued by it.

"He basically destroyed most components of our office and our ability to effectively prosecute cases," says Siddall. "He pretty much dismantled [the gang prosecution unit] and redirected resources to other projects.So it's very clear from his policies, his words, and his actions that he is not terribly interested in dealing with violent criminals here in Los Angeles."

But in recent years, problems with L.A.'s gang database have emerged after LAPD officers were charged with fabricating gang affiliations of individuals they pulled over, forcing prosecutors to review hundreds of possibly tainted cases.

Gascnhas also opposed long prison sentences even for the perpetrators of violent crimes.

"Data indicates thatas we get older, there's a less likelihood that we're going to re-offend," says Gascn, who points out that California houses many senior citizen inmates at a great cost to taxpayers.

While it's true that people are less likely to commit crimes as they grow older, the data on the effectiveness of long sentences on deterring and preventing violent crime is mixed. One study of California's "three strikes" law found that the policy "significantly reduces felony arrest rates." Another study from the Public Policy Institute of California that examined the state's resentencing reforms, which saw the early release of thousands of inmates, found "little evidence of a relationship between more severe sanctions and better recidivism," partially bolstering Gascn's argument. The researchers unsurprisingly discovered a significant drop in drug re-offenders as the state deprioritized drug offenses but a slight rise in repeat offenders in more serious categories like crimes against persons.

"This data and science argument that he uses is baloney," says Siddall. "You're not going to have less crime by letting violent criminals out of prison. You're not going to have less crime by not punishing people appropriately. You're not going to have less crime by not penalizing someone from using a gun. You're not going to have less crime by basically saying, 'We're going to give a pass to the gangs.' That's just not going to work."

Despite his stated commitment to following the data, Gascn isn't immune to political pressure. He repealed his own order not to seek long sentences for criminals who victimize children or the elderly or commit hate crimes, claiming that because former President Donald Trump had so poisoned the country with hate, he had no choice.

"Enhancements and your larger periods of incarceration do not work, even for hate crimes," says Gascn. "HoweverI had a lot of people that came to me and say, 'You know, hate crimes are on the increase. And we are wary that given the posture of the national administration at the timethe message you're sending might be that hate crimes are OK.'"

While Boudin's time in San Francisco may test the limits of criminal justice reform, it's Gascn's tenure in one of the world's largest cities that could test the very concept of the progressive prosecutor: that social services can fix most or all urban dysfunction and that withholding police and prosecutorial resources can force the adoption of those alternatives.

While he faces resistance from law enforcement, city governments, his own team of prosecutors, and the legal system itself, Gascnremains committed to the idea that broad, systemic change is needed for safety and justice.

"We are a country that has increasingly become a country of have and have-nots," says Gascn. "The successful democracies in the world are the ones where you shrink thatdifference between those that have incredible wealth and those that do not.And in those societies, you see not only greater levels of security and public safety, but you see a greater level of satisfaction across the board, both for those that are affluent and those that are not."

Produced by Zach Weissmueller; opening graphics by Isaac Reese

Photo credits: Ringo Chiu/ZUMA Press/Newscom; Olivier Douliery/ABACAUSA.COM/Newscom; Alex Milan Tracy/Sipa USA/Newscom; Candice C. Cusic/MCT/Newscom; Jan Knapik/ Splash News/Newscom; Ringo Chiu/ZUMA Press/Newscom; J. Emilio Flores/La Opinion / La Opinion Photos/Newscom; Image of Sport/Newscom; Hans Gutknecht/ZUMAPRESS/Newscom; JIM RUYMEN/UPI/Newscom; shealah_craighead/ZUMA Press/Newscom; Illustration: Lex Villena; Steve Rhodes, ID 24084034 Brandon Bourdages Dreamstime.com

See original here:

Will the Spike in Murder and Violence Undermine Criminal Justice Reform? - Reason

Posted in Victimless Crimes | Comments Off on Will the Spike in Murder and Violence Undermine Criminal Justice Reform? – Reason

Ron DeSantis Will Pardon COVID Violators. Why Stop There? – Reason

Posted: at 1:07 pm

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Thursday evening that he would move to pardon anyone in the state who flouted mask or social distancing mandatessomething that should be welcome news to anyone who supports criminal justice reform.

It likely won't be, at least not among his more energetic detractors. Known by some as "DeathSantis," the governor carved out a reputation during the COVID-19 pandemic for being skeptical of virus-related restrictions. Though the per capita death rate in Florida is not much higher than California'swhere even outdoor dining was shuttered for a chunk of the fall and winterhis approach earned him much scorn across the country, with some media outlets contorting themselves in knots to castigate his approach.

But whether or not you're behind the basic tenets of criminal justice reform shouldn't turn on the political persuasion of who is doing the reforming. Catalyzing DeSantis' announcement were the arrests of Mike and Jillian Carnevale, gym owners in Broward County, Florida, who faced up to 120 days in jail for permitting people to exercise sans masks.

"It's a total overreach," said DeSantis on Laura Ingraham's Fox News program, adding that he will issue pardons when he meets with the state's clemency board in the coming months. "These things with health should be advisory, they should not be punitive."

That the government would lock anyone in a cage for allowing other people to make their own choices on face coverings is patently bonkers. Yet the Carnevales are far from the only ones who have fallen victim to an excessively punitive approach. Perhaps DeSantis could apply his newfound attitude on overcriminalization to the many other offenses that have people languishing away behind bars for stupid reasons.

Let's start with the obvious: weed. In Florida, those arrested for marijuana possession under 20 grams face a $1,000 fine and up to a year in prison. Those caught with more than 25 grams face up to 15 years behind bars, with a mandatory sentence of three years.

It's likely that DeSantis, a law-and-order Republican, views the Carnevales' crimes as victimless. Are they? Several COVID-19 outbreaks have been traced back to gyms where people forewent masks, including at a gym in Hawaii where 21 people contracted the virus over a three-day period and a gym in Chicago where 55 people contracted it during a week in August. Those gyms implemented social distancing measures, but allowed exercisers to ditch the face coverings.

Such gymgoers may have later given the virus to others. Smoking marijuana, however, is actually victimlesswhether or not you agree with the choice morally. Florida has recorded about 36,000 deaths from COVID-19 over the last year; there have been zero recorded deaths from weed in U.S. history.

DeSantis isn't convinced. "Not while I'm governor," he saidin 2019 when asked how he felt about legalizing recreational cannabis. "I mean look, when that is introduced with teenagers and young people I think it has a really detrimental effect to their well-being and their maturity." That isn't supported by the evidence. A study released byJAMA Pediatrics found that legalizing the drug may actually cause teens tolose interest in weed, something supported by preliminary data in Washington, Colorado, and Oregon.

But even if DeSantis' claim were truethat recreational cannabis would have some sort of dire influence on teenage maturitythere's a pretty hefty tradeoff involved: people wasting away in prisons and/or buckling under crippling fines for making a personal choice he does not agree with. Arguably more consequential is opting not to wear a mask when exercising, which, in theory, may have spurred someone's untimely death.

If you were wondering where DeSantis stood in the criminal justice discussions happening nationwide since last May, he recently set the tone by signing some new legislation: an "anti-riot" bill. On the surface, it's not all badvery few serious people are in favor of burning and looting cities. But there are a few troubling components, like the part that prevents anyone arrested of "unlawful assembly" from being released before they go to court. Unlawful assembly is notoriously vague, and essentially allows police officers to arrest anyone protesting, whether or not they actually present a threat. This from the governor who claims to support free speech.

"I think they've been treated poorly," DeSantis said last night, "but fortunately they've got a governor that cares." There are many other people in Florida who have been treated poorly. Does he care about them?

Excerpt from:

Ron DeSantis Will Pardon COVID Violators. Why Stop There? - Reason

Posted in Victimless Crimes | Comments Off on Ron DeSantis Will Pardon COVID Violators. Why Stop There? – Reason

Every sex offender jailed in London in April and the sick crimes they committed – My London

Posted: at 1:07 pm

A number of men were locked up for sexual offences over April.

Their disgusting crimes range from paedophilia to instances of rape and sexual assault.

Below are the names, faces and stories of every criminals jailed for sexual offences across London in April.

Two disgusting predators who raped and robbed two women in their home in Hackney were put behind bars this month.

Edmilson Caimanque and David Fonseca broke into the home on June 12, 2019 armed with knives and an axe.

After raping the two women who were inside the address, they heartlessly stole 1,250 and a mobile phone before leaving.

DNA evidence from the examination linked Caimanque to both rapes and a review of phone data showed him to be within the vicinity of the scene at the time of the incident.

CCTV evidence identified two other people of interest to the police. After reviewing mobile phone activity, Fonseca and another man Adilson Mendes-Namdja-Uare, were identified as suspects.

DNA evidence also linked Fonseca to one of the rapes.

Following a trial at Wood Green Crown Court on April 7, the three men were jailed for a combined total of 43 years.

Caimanque, 24, of St Olaves Road, Newham, was found guilty of two counts of robbery and two counts of rape. He faces two concurrent sentences - 18 years imprisonment for rape and nine years imprisonment for the robbery.

MyLondons brilliant new newsletter The 12 is packed with news, views, features and opinion from across the city.

Every day well send you a free email at around 12pm with 12 stories to keep you entertained, informed and uplifted. Its the perfect lunchtime read.

The MyLondon team tells London stories for Londoners. Our 45 journalists cover all the news you need - from City Hall to your local streets.

Never miss a moment by signing up to The 12 newsletter here.

Fonseca, 27, of Romford Road, Stratford, was found guilty of one count of rape and two counts of robbery. He was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment for rape and nine years imprisonment for robbery. The sentences will be served concurrently.

Mendes-Namdja-Uare, 23, of Lincoln Road, Newham, was found guilty of two counts of robbery and sentenced to 10 years imprisonment.

A professional rugby player expelled from Princeton University for committing a sex attack was jailed for 18 years after raping two women in London.

Paulo Kretteis, aged 22, earned a scholarship to the Ivy League university in New Jersey but was thrown out in May 2019 after a proven allegation of non-consensual sexual intercourse following an internal investigation, Isleworth Crown Court heard.

The dual Brazilian national, who had been selected for Brazil's under-21s rugby team, was found guilty of raping two women and making a threat to kill following a trial in January.

Kretteis, of Northolt, in Ealing, who played rugby professionally for the Ealing Trailfinders, previously pleaded guilty to two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

A man who sexually assaulted a woman after she fell asleep on a bus in Hackney was jailed for seven years.

David OBrien, 51, of no fixed address was sentenced at Wood Green Crown Court on Friday April 16 for the offence, which took place last spring.

In a victimless prosecution, O'Brien was found guilty of sexual assault by penetration, after the jury were shown CCTV footage of the incident, which happened on board a route 243 bus in Stoke Newington Road on May 31 2020.

The woman, aged in her 20s, had fallen asleep on the bus when she awoke to find O'Brien sexually assaulting her.

A paedophile streamed, watched and shared thousands of 'horrific' videos of young children being sexually abused.

Marnix Angenent, 45, was part of an online network of more than 60 like-minded individuals who 'shared their fantasies' of engaging in sexual activity with 'very young children'.

Angenent was found to be in possession of more than 7,000 category A indecent images of children, the most serious category, which included 1,663 videos.

He also had in his possession an additional 7,442 category B and 10,186 category C indecent images.

A paedophile was jailed for three years and three months after arranging to meet who he believed was a 12-year-old girl to have sex.

Bhusan Chettri, 36, formerly of Merchant Street in Mile End, Tower Hamlets, posed as a 16-year-old boy on social media to speak to who he thought was a young girl.

A serving Metropolitan Police officer was caught sending naked pictures and grooming a '13-year-old girl' in an undercover sting by colleagues.

Former Detective Constable Mark Collins, part of the Met's South Area Command Unit in South London, was on duty when some of the offences took place.

Between November 4 and November 27, 2019, he exchanged "highly sexualised" messages and pictures with a girl he believed to be just 13 on an online messaging app.

However, the account he was messaging was actually that of an undercover police officer using a decoy name.

Collins was sentenced to two years and four months in prison.

Read the original post:

Every sex offender jailed in London in April and the sick crimes they committed - My London

Posted in Victimless Crimes | Comments Off on Every sex offender jailed in London in April and the sick crimes they committed – My London

Mythic Quest Recap: Calm Before the Divorce – Vulture

Posted: at 1:06 pm

Mythic Quest

#YumYum

Season 2 Episode 3

Editors Rating 3 stars ***

Photo: Apple TV+

In the first scene of #YumYum, co-creative directors Ian and Poppy are getting along well. But by the end of the episode, battle lines have been drawn, potentially to last the whole season. It seems, based on this episode, that season two could become more serialized than season one.

The StageGate meeting with Montreal is next week, and Ian and Poppy have little to present for the new expansion. After disagreeing on what direction to go in, theyve elected to each independently develop their own ideas. Since theyve separated, they havent been fighting at all but thats a temporary solution to a problem that isnt going away. David, triggered by the reminder of the end of his parents marriage as well as his own deems this stage the calm before the divorce.

Brad has a simple solution to their creative stasis: capitalize on the battle-royale fad popularized by games like Fortnite and Call of Duty: Warzone. But neither Ian nor Poppy like the idea, so they decide to work out of separate offices to buckle down with their respective teams. This doesnt go well for either of them, of course, because as we know, Ian and Poppy are better together than apart.

In this case, Ian needs someone to push back more on his ideas, a request that meek Phil from the art team cant grant. (It has to happen organically, like it does with Poppy, Ian insists.) He brings in Rachel as a substitute, hoping shell be her normal, indignant, annoying self and spark his creativity.

Poppy, on the other hand, needs the opposite. Ian had this way of stroking my ego and bolstering my confidence to the point where I felt like I could overcome anything, she admits early in the episode, unhappy with her new programming teams brutal honesty. Thats when Dana wanders in, hoping Poppy will help her learn to code. She calls her maybe the most talented programmer of our generation, inspiring Poppy to bring her in to stroke her ego, just as Ian brought in Rachel to crush his. Neither strategy works, and with nothing to show for all her sleepless hours at the office, Poppy is forced to resort to Brads earlier battle-royale suggestion. Ian finds this out right as hes approaching Poppy to reconcile, and the episode ends with the two erupting into an argument, their carefully calibrated ceasefire reaching its inevitable end.

The parallels to divorce in the temporary dissolution of Ian and Poppys partnership can be funny, but theyre also predictable, and basically a repeat of the joke just two episodes ago with David and Jo in the premiere. Its hard to know how seriously to take the final scene when the tone of Ian and Poppys fight feels more comedic than dramatic; this feels more like the ending to an episode-long joke than a true shit just got real moment. I couldve done without some of the more forced divorce parallels in this scene, like Poppy pointing out that we were on a break.

Perhaps jumping back into the dating game to distract him from his divorce anxiety at work, David gets on the dating apps this episode, to little success. After suggesting David present himself like a loot box from a game a package with a tempting exterior that hides the garbage inside Brad comes up with an idea to improve his online dating skills. He pulls up a Japanese dating simulation called Divorcee Dance Party to soft-launch David, tweaking everything about his conversational style that doesnt work. That means no food pictures or drink orders hashtagged #YumYum, and no wedding photos on his dating profiles. After ten exchanges with a sim woman without her rejecting him, theyll know Davids ready to date.

David does get there, eventually only to realize he was interacting with real people the whole time when Brad drops a curtain to reveal Sue, Carol, and Paul. (Were still a little light on the ladies at MQ, so Brad explains.) Sue offers an explanation for rejecting him: David, I just cannot imagine being the vessel to your seed. Does that make sense? Carol, who thought she was testing a new HR tool for sexual harassment training when she propositioned David, is even more cutting: David, I dont want to hurt your feelings, but I could not dislike you more or be less physically attracted to you.

Needless to say, David is dispirited. But in a sweet scene, Brad assures him that he was wrong to call him a loot box. They should be thinking of him more like a burlap sack: not flashy or fun at all, but the people who buy it really need it. Brad even went to the trouble of changing Davids profiles, and set him up on a date. Its a nice ending to a subplot that thrives by showing Brad at his best: helping people in the honest, unsparing way that only he can. Maybe hes capable of being the hero after all.

In the episodes final subplot, Jo secures C.W. an extension on the long-delayed final book in his trilogy by threatening his publisher with involving C.W. in the promotion of the film adaptation something the publisher definitely doesnt want, given his propensity for politically incorrect stories. Its a slight subplot, and not exactly the meaty material I was hoping F. Murray Abraham would get; this season, hes still more of a dirty old man stereotype than a real character. But its a smart touch for Jo to take Brads wisdom (In a negotiation, what you think is your greatest strength can actually be your greatest weakness) and flip it (C.W., youre my greatest strength!).

Im also a little skeptical of Jos examples of authors whose personal views hurt their movie adaptations. The Enders Game movie was a box-office bomb, but its unclear if that was related to the boycott; after all, Orson Scott Cards opposition to same-sex marriage has been well-known since the 90s. And is it really accurate to say that J.K. Rowling got canceled with a couple keystrokes?

David lures Jo into giving him attention by using a fishing metaphor for online dating. Jo involuntarily explodes, Oh my God, David, youre not dating, youre trawling for a death partner.

When Rachel apologizes again for screwing up Grouchy Goat, Dana insists this is just a temporary roadblock. I mean, we dont want to be sitting on this couch forever, right? she exclaims. We both got big dreams. Totally, Rachel replies, but based on her expression, shes not so sure. Will the gulf in Rachel and Danas respective ambitions pose trouble for the new couple?

When David makes the mistake of making a message way too long, the sim shows the woman approaching a hunk instead. Why would they animate that? David asks.

Its Always Sunny Parallel of the Week: Brad likens the team to seagulls who should be gorging themselves on the whale carcass that is battle-royale mode. When Poppy denies being a seagull, Brad replies, Not yet youre not. Not yet Im not? Poppy says. What is that supposed to mean? What, Im just going to turn into a bird? Later, Poppy caves and goes ahead with battle royale, becoming the bird. This all calls to mind, of course, the Gang constantly referring to Dee Reynolds as a bird.

Keep up with all the drama of your favorite shows!

Read the original:
Mythic Quest Recap: Calm Before the Divorce - Vulture

Posted in Politically Incorrect | Comments Off on Mythic Quest Recap: Calm Before the Divorce – Vulture

Of COVID-19 and Climate Change, One Is the Tip and the Other Is the Iceberg – The Wire Science

Posted: at 1:06 pm

A view of an iceberg near South George island, November 18, 2020. Photo: UK Ministry of Defence/Handout via Reuters

As we grapple with Indias COVID-19 epidemic, we cant afford to lose sight of the larger crisis that lies in wait: climate change. Several voices worldwide, ranging from celebrities to academics, claim that the global collaboration observed to address the COVID crisis could help us prepare better to face the impending climate crisis. Although the collaboration achieved so far is undoubtedly a ray of hope to cope with a climate-affected future, we were reminded of a question by one of our students, can climate change be fundamentally addressed as long as the top 5% of the worlds population (or even a smaller fraction) can bail themselves out from the worst impacts of the climate crisis?

Drawing a direct parallel, when India is reporting the worlds highest daily cases of infection, and people here are fighting their battle to breathe, many wealthy Indians fled from the country in private jets paying ten times the regular fare, just in time before several foreign countries imposed a ban on arrivals from India.

This raises the obvious question of whether 5% of the worlds population could always be saved, be it from COVID or climate change? And more importantly, are we evaluating the situation correctly if we expect the same level of cooperation and concerted effort, as observed towards managing COVID, to combat climate change? The fact of the matter is that the uncharted pathways of COVID are much more fearsome to the top 5% of the worlds population than the threat of climate crisis. And howsoever politically incorrect this may sound, this sections active involvement in this capitalist neoliberal world does play a critical role in inducing cooperation on a global scale.

So comparing COVID and climate crisis is like comparing apples and oranges. Both share a first-order similarity: both are fruits, or both these crises are rather unprecedented global ones; there is hardly any further major similarity. The reason we are falsely equating the two is that both are bound to adversely hit every human irrespective of their human strata, at least in principle. However, there are some crucial differences.

Biological parameters of COVID-19 demand a massive global collaboration to end the crisis. COVID-19 is caused by a highly contagious RNA virus (SARS-CoV-2), which owing to its genetic makeup, can mutate quite easily. This ability to mutate is what makes it difficult to find a potent vaccine that can offer long-term protection against the virus. Thus, the key to fighting such a virus is to vaccinate as many people as concurrently as possible so that the virus does not get the scope to mutate and eventually get eradicated in the best manner possible. Although vaccines developed so far are found to be efficacious against all the new mutants (Brazil and the UK) discovered, it may not be true for all the mutants of the virus that are expected to emerge out of India.

Apart from this biological factor, it is always going to be difficult for anyone to remain unscathed from COVID-19. Being a respiratory virus, it is highly contagious, and the pathways through which it impacts are difficult to track and contain. In spite of this, the wealthy and the influential sections of the world are looking for a COVID haven. However, to think or plan for a COVID haven or a bio-bubble is a next-to-impossible task. Even when the BCCI tried its best to implement bio bubbles for the smooth operation of one of the worlds most lucrative sporting leagues, it failed.

On the other hand, a climate haven in principle can be planned as there are places that are least likely to be impacted by the climate crisis. This will surely include colonies on other planets or in space. Although experts opine otherwise and argue against the idea of a climate haven, the rich and the influential (the top 5%) of the world are already considering climate vulnerabilities while making real-estate investments. Moreover, the temporal spread of the impacts of climate change (generally over 50-100 year timescale) will always allow sufficient time to find a climate haven which is not possible during an imminent pandemic. The possibility of a climate haven deters the super-rich from contributing to a common goal, i.e., combating climate change. The impossibility of a COVID haven exposes this population to shared risks and makes them part of the battle the masses, and even middle classes are fighting.

A recent New York Times article says that despite the best-coordinated efforts and necessary support from the privileged layer of the global society, we witnessed a great deal of ineffectiveness concerning COVID vaccine distribution; the distribution also disproportionately impacted the poorer countries. It is a no-brainer that socio-economically marginalized populations are usually the most vulnerable section in any major crisis, be it a pandemic or climate change. People in power do acknowledge the need to safeguard everyone from COVID, find it hard to act ethically and rationally during such a humanitarian crisis. Letting go of private security or comforts for the public good has never been an easy task. Clearly, it is not the social collaboration but this dismal response to COVID that would be a precursor to how the world is going to respond to the impending climate crisis.

It shows that, if anything, the response to the climate crisis is going to be even less coordinated, and the resulting circumstances are going to be far worse as the richer sections and countries can always have the option to bail out. As they say, any pandemic or global crisis can only expose the fault lines present in the society and is going to magnify the existing vulnerabilities to a different order. The grim reality we are witnessing in terms of addressing the climate crisis can only be considered to be the tip of the iceberg, and the iceberg will fully emerge only when we are faced with the climate crisis.

Soumyajit Bhar is a PhD scholar at ATREE, Bengaluru. Kalpita Bhar is an assistant professor of philosophy at Krea University, Andhra Pradesh.

More here:
Of COVID-19 and Climate Change, One Is the Tip and the Other Is the Iceberg - The Wire Science

Posted in Politically Incorrect | Comments Off on Of COVID-19 and Climate Change, One Is the Tip and the Other Is the Iceberg – The Wire Science

English Blues: Here are a few grammar rules that we can now violate, find out how – EdexLive

Posted: at 1:06 pm

Pic: Edex Live

Husband: I have a question. Why did the chicken cross the road?Wife: Because the chicken behind it didnt know how to socially distance properly.Is it okay to say how to socially distance properly? Yes, it is perfectly correct. The phrase to socially distance is an example of a cleft infinitive or split infinitive. A cleft infinitive is a grammatical construction in which a word or phrase is placed between the particle to and the infinitive that comprises a to-infinitive. In the example above, the modifier socially is placed between the particle to and the verb distance. Old-fashioned grammarians say that it is wrong to split infinitives but modern grammar experts agree that cleft infinitives are acceptable. Henry Alford in his 1864 book The Queens English states that split infinitives should be avoided. Modern style guides do not speak out against cleft infinitives but advise writers to avoid awkward construction that might confuse the reader. Split infinitives are very common in spoken and informal English. Here are examples:I think everyone is free today. This evening is the best time to finally go to the beach.Jane called me a few minutes ago. She only wants to quickly talk to you.It is common to use cleft infinitive phrases in informal conversational English. Examples:to warmly welcometo suddenly noticeLets move on to another aspect of grammar called singular they. In Modern English, the plural pronoun their can be used as a gender-neutral singular pronoun instead of he/she and they can be used to represent a singular antecedent that is gender-neutral and indefinite (for example, someone, no one, anyone or a person). Gender-neutral pronouns do not specify whether the subject of the sentence is male or female. Here is a list of such pronouns: they, them, themself, their, theirs.Look at these examples:Any candidate who wants to meet the Director should submit their (instead of his/her)applicationI think someone is waiting outside. They want to meet me. Ill talk to them for a few minutes.Lets move on to gender-neutral occupation words. Actor or actress? Look at the sentences below:Bollywood actor Kangana Ranaut has tested positive for COVID-19. The actor shared her health update on social media along with a long note.Thalaivi actress Kangana Ranaut tests positive for COVID-19The term actress is outdated. Feminists and those who believe in equality say that it is not politically correct to use the word actress. If there is a distinction to be made, the terms male actor and female actor can be used. Ask any female actor whether she likes to be described as an actress. No will be her reply as she thinks it is an offensive term. Here are other politically incorrect terms: authoress, comedienne, manageress. Avoid using such terms and be politically correct.

Read this article:
English Blues: Here are a few grammar rules that we can now violate, find out how - EdexLive

Posted in Politically Incorrect | Comments Off on English Blues: Here are a few grammar rules that we can now violate, find out how – EdexLive

Border Patrol Agents May Retire Early Due to Frustration with Border Crisis – National Review

Posted: at 1:06 pm

A U.S. Border Patrol agent looks out over Tijuana, Mexico from the U.S.-Mexico border wall in San Diego, Calif., February 2, 2021.(Mike Blake/Reuters)

A number of Border Patrol agents are reportedly considering early retirement due to frustration with President Joe Bidens handling of the massive immigration influx at the southern border.

The administration has implemented new policy directives, including a prohibition on terminology such asillegal alien, alien, and assimilation when referring to migrants, aggravating many on-site officers, Reuters reported.

Reuters conducted interviews with a dozen current and former agents indicating growing dissatisfaction among border personnel with the Biden administrations relaxation of the immigrant restrictions President Donald Trump had enacted.

Since February after Biden assumed office, border crossings have skyrocketed, overwhelming migrant facilities already strapped for resources and space.

We have so many people coming across, and then, were out there killing ourselves to catch them, rescue them, or whatever it is, and then, theyre being released, said Rosemarie Pepperdine, an agent who voiced her intention to retire. Why even bother?

Brandon Judd, president of the National Border Patrol Council, a union representingthree-quarters of the roughly 20,000 border patrol agents, criticized Bidens leadership on the migrant situation.

I can confidently say that President Biden owns this crisis, Judd commented. It is his fault.

Some agents have reportedly started calling Biden Let Em Go Joe, according to a border patrol agent who anonymously spoke with Reuters.Gil Maza, a former agent who retired in March, sells an redesigned unofficial coin for the U.S. Border Patrol that reads U.S. Welcome Patrol. Maza told Reuters he had sold 78 coins in a matter of days to past and present agents.

It sheds a little humor on the situation, Maza said of his creation. And its something that helps us, I guess, mentally and emotionally cope with the situation because especially right now, the situation is pretty dire out there.

Border Patrol chief Rodney Scott authored a memo April 16 detailing his grievances with the ban on immigration phrasing deemed politically incorrect by the administration.

Over the years many outside forces on both extremes of the political spectrum have intentionally, or unintentionally, politicized our agency and our mission, Scott said in the memo addressed to acting CBP Commissioner Troy Miller.

Send a tip to the news team at NR.

View post:
Border Patrol Agents May Retire Early Due to Frustration with Border Crisis - National Review

Posted in Politically Incorrect | Comments Off on Border Patrol Agents May Retire Early Due to Frustration with Border Crisis – National Review

Utterly alone with abortion, Father Bud Kaicher’s court statement, behind Debby Fleming’s suicide – San Diego Reader

Posted: at 1:06 pm

Instilled in each woman is the belief that she is intransitive, that she cannot affect change or motion in her life, any more than she can resist the social code. To take responsibility for my actions to say I did this thing, rather than It happened to me is to breach cultures dictates.

After three days, I lost all feeling that something had happened to my body. I realized it would be possible to deny that this had ever happened to me, if I chose to do so. I could revise my personal history, and there would be no challenge to my new, painless version. As I lost the physical memory, I sought to lose the emotional memory as well. I had learned already it is better not to dwell on these things.

By Lynn Grygier, Apr. 6, 1989 | Read full article

Father Bud Kaicher (second from left): "The unborn have intrinsic worth." Julie Pinney: "She would never even attempt to understand our reasons for being on the opposite side of the street."

The next time I looked across the street, the anti-abortion people had shouldered their signs and were marching around in a brave little circle. They were hopelessly outnumbered, but the ten of them walked gamely around and around, clutching their signs and staring straight ahead. The fat man led off with a sign that said Children Are a Heritage from the Lord. It seemed to be the sentiment of choice.

By Julie Pinney and Father Bud Kaicher, Nov. 16, 1989 | Read full article

Fleming had to know her child didnt have to die; that the politically incorrect, male-dominated medical system could have saved her child.

Two weeks after the story was published, I received two phone calls that finished it, at least for me. One was from a staunch Catholic with ties to the local prolife movement. Call her Patricia. She met Fleming almost nine years ago when her husband tried to force her to have an abortion. Her husbands family had money and lots of lawyers. Patricia only had Fleming, who went to court with her and fought for Patricias right to have her child.

By Colin Flaherty, Dec. 20, 1990 | Read full article

We absolutely didnt have a clue about what we were doing, but each one of us were self-motivated. It was like if you want it done, you do it yourself. Thats kind of the way we thought, except none of us wanted to plant the bomb. No one wanted to do that. Wed ask, Whos going to do it? and everyone would say, No, I dont want to do it; you do it Ill blow myself up.

Aug. 11, 1988 | Read full article

At first Kelly said that she felt fine. But Linda couldnt help noticing how nervously Kelly would laugh as she told about the day she went in for the abortion, and that her left eye seemed to have developed a tic.

We went to her parents home that afternoon. They were still unaware of the pregnancy. As we sat Kelly felt slight cramps and noticed a bit of blood trickle down her legs.

Unexpectedly, Kellys mother said we should have a baby and then sell it for $10,000. Then she said, No. Im only joking. Actually, she went on, she had been thinking of breeding her miniature terriers and selling the pups for $350 apiece.

By David Steinman, Nov. 18, 1982 | Read full article

After Jack and Johnny woke up, we loaded everybody into the van and made the short drive to the clinic. A Santa Ana wind had blown the air clean, and the hills around San Marcos seemed etched against the December sky. At the foot of the sandstone steps, we kneeled or stood around a framed print of the Virgins image. The breeze kept blowing the picture over. A few other families joined us.

By Anne Albright, Dec. 23, 1999 | Read full article

150 West Washington. County Coroner David Stark says fetuses are discovered in sewage grates at least once a year.

In February of 1982, however, 16,433 dead fetuses were discovered stored in twenty-foot steel boxes inside a metal shipping container repossessed from a Woodland Hills pathologist. Investigators later determined that among the fetuses were 193 that were older than twenty weeks. Antiabortion activists sought permission to bury the late-term remains but were thwarted by an injunction obtained by the American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of the Feminist Womens Health Center.

By Bob McPhail, July 14, 1988 | Read full article

Read more from the original source:
Utterly alone with abortion, Father Bud Kaicher's court statement, behind Debby Fleming's suicide - San Diego Reader

Posted in Politically Incorrect | Comments Off on Utterly alone with abortion, Father Bud Kaicher’s court statement, behind Debby Fleming’s suicide – San Diego Reader

A pub crawl that soars above the rest – The Canberra Times

Posted: at 1:06 pm

news, latest-news,

There aren't too many ways to arrive at the pub when it's on a tiny island in the middle of a croc-infested river more than 10 kilometres from the nearest main road. You could come by boat, which is what most people do. But who wants to be like most people? Today, I feel like a rock star, as I arrive in a helicopter! It may seem extravagant ... and OK, it is! But up here in Darwin, a bar crawl can be a bit more difficult than in your typical inner-city suburb. Some of the most interesting pubs in this part of the Northern Territory are out of town, far from each other, and relatively inaccessible - so Airborne Solutions came up with the idea for a helicopter pub tour covering hundreds of kilometres (and quite a few schooners) in a day. Touching down at our first pub at Goat Island, the grass and the trees whip about in the wash of the rotor. The only thing not moving is the crocodile submerged at the edge of the river, its beady eyes just above the water surface, watching us as we walk to the deck. I'm so concerned about the croc that I don't appreciate the real danger in the warning near the entrance: 'You are now entering a politically incorrect area'. The sign was put up by pub owner Kai Hansen, about Kai Hansen, for the amusement of Kai Hansen. Kai bought Goat Island because "there are no traffic lights here". As he tells the story, he was living in a rural town near Darwin when the roundabout was replaced with lights. It was the final straw, so he started a bar, which ended a marriage ("She said, 'you drink too much already!'"). He now lives here with his dog and welcomes visitors pretty much every day - usually locals on boating and fishing trips along the Adelaide River. The pub is officially called Casey's Bar, named for the "friendly" crocodile who used to hang around. But Casey hasn't been seen for a while and the theory is that the new crocodile, Fred, ate her. Kai, on the other hand, is harmless - but his politically incorrect humour is an acquired taste and probably easier to digest if you're not a young woman (who is likely to become the focus of it). You might have more luck with the buffalo burgers he serves. Back in the air, on the way to the next pub, I spot several herds of feral buffalo and wonder if they'll find their way to Goat Island, one way or the other. There's lots to see from up here and I admire the Top End landscapes as we zoom over them. Our pilot, Sukhpal Singh, points out different landmarks and I'm careful not to lean too far out to look at them - after all, I'm in the front seat and there's no door. Sukhpal has already warned me that the wind will be strong, so to hang on tight if I put my hand out while I'm holding a camera or a stubbie of beer. Yes, he warned us about holding beer out the open door of the helicopter. This is how you do pub crawls in the territory! We touch down at the Darwin River Tavern in time for lunch, which is fortunate because this pub is renowned for its food. People often drive here from the centre of Darwin for the generous meals, even though it's about 60 kilometres away. The main bar feels like the Outback, with a red stone floor, hand-crafted wooden tables, and even a pet freshwater crocodile in the atrium. "You're in the Badlands now!" one local patron jokes with me while we're ordering jugs of beer. This is how I imagined rural Darwin pubs to look, even if I expected more thongs and less teeth (sorry - just a joke!). It's why I'm surprised by our next stop at Crab Claw Island Resort, which is a misnomer only in that it's not actually an island. Leaving behind the ochre soil with sparse eucalyptus and tall termite mounds, Sukhpal flies us over the clear blue water and lands on a bright yellow beach dotted with palm trees and bungalow accommodation. Indeed, this is a resort, not a last resort, and I once again feel like a celebrity arriving on the sand by chopper. With drinks and food on the deck overlooking the water as the glowing sun sinks lower in the sky, I have to remind myself that I'm 40 kilometres from Darwin, not in Thailand or a Pacific island. (The biggest clue is the emu wandering around eating bok choy - I really thought this day couldn't get stranger.) But after an hour, we need to head back to base, with a final swoop around the city centre for good measure. When it comes to epic experiences up here in Darwin, a helicopter pub tour soars above the rest, and you can take whatever you want from it. The total flight time of at least two hours means it's an incredible scenic trip; The variety of pubs visited gives you a taste of the quirky characters of the Top End; and a day of (moderate) drinking is a fun way to relax on a tropical holiday. As we all look for unique experiences around Australia, this one's got to be near the top.

/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/8WgcxeQ6swJGymJT6BMGEL/2394f7bc-30fd-4552-aa98-64034d41b13c.jpg/r7_76_1996_1200_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg

The helicopter pub crawl offers stunning views of the landscapes around Darwin. Picture: Michael Turtle

There aren't too many ways to arrive at the pub when it's on a tiny island in the middle of a croc-infested river more than 10 kilometres from the nearest main road. You could come by boat, which is what most people do. But who wants to be like most people? Today, I feel like a rock star, as I arrive in a helicopter!

It may seem extravagant ... and OK, it is! But up here in Darwin, a bar crawl can be a bit more difficult than in your typical inner-city suburb. Some of the most interesting pubs in this part of the Northern Territory are out of town, far from each other, and relatively inaccessible - so Airborne Solutions came up with the idea for a helicopter pub tour covering hundreds of kilometres (and quite a few schooners) in a day.

Touching down at our first pub at Goat Island, the grass and the trees whip about in the wash of the rotor. The only thing not moving is the crocodile submerged at the edge of the river, its beady eyes just above the water surface, watching us as we walk to the deck. I'm so concerned about the croc that I don't appreciate the real danger in the warning near the entrance: 'You are now entering a politically incorrect area'. The sign was put up by pub owner Kai Hansen, about Kai Hansen, for the amusement of Kai Hansen.

The helicopter lands right on the beach at the Crab Claw Island Resort. Picture: Michael Turtle

Kai bought Goat Island because "there are no traffic lights here". As he tells the story, he was living in a rural town near Darwin when the roundabout was replaced with lights. It was the final straw, so he started a bar, which ended a marriage ("She said, 'you drink too much already!'").

He now lives here with his dog and welcomes visitors pretty much every day - usually locals on boating and fishing trips along the Adelaide River.

The pub is officially called Casey's Bar, named for the "friendly" crocodile who used to hang around. But Casey hasn't been seen for a while and the theory is that the new crocodile, Fred, ate her. Kai, on the other hand, is harmless - but his politically incorrect humour is an acquired taste and probably easier to digest if you're not a young woman (who is likely to become the focus of it). You might have more luck with the buffalo burgers he serves.

Kai Hansen brings out buffalo burgers at his bar on Goat Island. Picture: Michael Turtle

Back in the air, on the way to the next pub, I spot several herds of feral buffalo and wonder if they'll find their way to Goat Island, one way or the other. There's lots to see from up here and I admire the Top End landscapes as we zoom over them. Our pilot, Sukhpal Singh, points out different landmarks and I'm careful not to lean too far out to look at them - after all, I'm in the front seat and there's no door.

Sukhpal has already warned me that the wind will be strong, so to hang on tight if I put my hand out while I'm holding a camera or a stubbie of beer. Yes, he warned us about holding beer out the open door of the helicopter. This is how you do pub crawls in the territory!

We touch down at the Darwin River Tavern in time for lunch, which is fortunate because this pub is renowned for its food. People often drive here from the centre of Darwin for the generous meals, even though it's about 60 kilometres away. The main bar feels like the Outback, with a red stone floor, hand-crafted wooden tables, and even a pet freshwater crocodile in the atrium. "You're in the Badlands now!" one local patron jokes with me while we're ordering jugs of beer.

The main bar at the Darwin River Tavern, which has fantastic pub meals. Picture: Michael Turtle

This is how I imagined rural Darwin pubs to look, even if I expected more thongs and less teeth (sorry - just a joke!). It's why I'm surprised by our next stop at Crab Claw Island Resort, which is a misnomer only in that it's not actually an island. Leaving behind the ochre soil with sparse eucalyptus and tall termite mounds, Sukhpal flies us over the clear blue water and lands on a bright yellow beach dotted with palm trees and bungalow accommodation. Indeed, this is a resort, not a last resort, and I once again feel like a celebrity arriving on the sand by chopper. With drinks and food on the deck overlooking the water as the glowing sun sinks lower in the sky, I have to remind myself that I'm 40 kilometres from Darwin, not in Thailand or a Pacific island. (The biggest clue is the emu wandering around eating bok choy - I really thought this day couldn't get stranger.) But after an hour, we need to head back to base, with a final swoop around the city centre for good measure.

When it comes to epic experiences up here in Darwin, a helicopter pub tour soars above the rest, and you can take whatever you want from it. The total flight time of at least two hours means it's an incredible scenic trip; The variety of pubs visited gives you a taste of the quirky characters of the Top End; and a day of (moderate) drinking is a fun way to relax on a tropical holiday. As we all look for unique experiences around Australia, this one's got to be near the top.

More:
A pub crawl that soars above the rest - The Canberra Times

Posted in Politically Incorrect | Comments Off on A pub crawl that soars above the rest – The Canberra Times

Biden has a ‘short fuse’ and is ‘obsessed with getting every detail’ – MSN UK

Posted: at 1:06 pm

Provided by Daily Mail MailOnline logo

President Joe Biden - who comes across as Mr. Congeniality - reportedly has a 'short fuse' with his advisers and is prone to 'flares of impatience' because of his obsession with getting every detail before making a decision.

'He has a kind of mantra: 'You can never give me too much detail,'' National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan told The New York Times, which talked to two dozen current and former aides for its report published on Friday.

His advisers, aides and speechwriters have to be ready for every conceivable question Biden might ask and answer it beyond 'vague talking points' while cutting through the jargon.

If he doesn't like the answer, he will cut them off and say, in English, according to The Times.

While Biden isn't reportedly prone to fits of rage like former President Donald Trump was, his 'sense of urgency' can be tough on his experts.

Those familiar with Biden's decision-making style said he's quick to cut off conversations, or even occasionally hang up, when he thinks someone is wasting his time.

'You become so hyper prepared,' Dylan Loewe, a former speechwriter for Biden, said. 'I've got to answer every conceivable question he can come up with.'

Those who aren't familiar with his style or are just learning it, like Xavier Becerra, head of the White House's Health and Human Services, will get an earful.

On March 30, Biden was reportedly angered by his administration's response to the plight of migrant children and berated Becerra, according to a report.

Nearly 19,000 unaccompanied minors were stopped at the border in March, according to the Associated Press. In Aprilthe number of minors arriving without parents decreased by nine per cent.

Becerra frustrated his boss by failing to have answers to his questions about the agency's ability to take care of migrant children, according to two people familiar with the exchange, who spoke toThe New York Times. No further details of what the two men said to one another were shared.

Biden was described as a stickler for detail, who was unimpressed by 'blandishing fast-talk'.

Earlier in March, the paper reported, the president was angered when his top immigration advisers were asked by Biden whether they had been to the border in recent days - and all replied they had not.

Four days later, the advisers, including Alejandro Mayorkas, in charge of Homeland Security and Susan Rice, director of Biden's Domestic Policy Council, arrived at the border to assess the situation.

The report comes amid growing anger among Border Patrol agents at the White House.

There are currently more than 20,000 migrants in HHS custody, up from just under 12,000 at the end of March.

The Associated Press reported that migrants are being housed at more than 200 sites in multiple states.

Twenty Republican governors this week wrote to Biden earlier this week, blaming his administration for the crisis, and expressed concern about HHS efforts to house an unknown number of children in their states.

Reuters conducted interviews with a dozen current and former agents, who spoke of their growing dissatisfaction over the relaxation of the immigrant restrictions President Donald Trump had enacted.

Since February after Biden assumed office, border crossings have skyrocketed, overwhelming migrant facilities already strapped for resources and space.

A record 179,000 people crossed the southern border illegally in April, up three per cent on the 172,000 who made the crossing in March.

'We have so many people coming across, and then, we're out there killing ourselves to catch them, rescue them, or whatever it is, and then, they're being released,' said Rosemarie Pepperdine, an agent who said she planned to retire.

'Why even bother?'

Brandon Judd, president of the National Border Patrol Council, a union representing three-quarters of the roughly 20,000 border patrol agents, criticized Biden's leadership on the migrant situation.

'I can confidently say that President Biden owns this crisis,' Judd commented.

'It is his fault.'

Border Patrol chief Rodney Scott wrote a memo April 16 detailing his grievances with the ban on immigration phrasing deemed politically incorrect by the administration.

The administration has implemented new policy directives, including a prohibition on terminology such as 'illegal alien,' 'alien,' and 'assimilation' when referring to migrants, aggravating many on-site officers.

'Over the years many outside forces on both extremes of the political spectrum have intentionally, or unintentionally, politicized our agency and our mission,' Scott said in the memo addressed to acting CBP Commissioner Troy Miller.

Some agents have reportedly started calling Biden 'Let 'Em Go Joe,' according to a border patrol agent who anonymously spoke with Reuters.

Gil Maza, a former agent who retired in March, sells a redesigned unofficial coin for the U.S. Border Patrol that reads 'U.S. Welcome Patrol.'

Maza told Reuters he had sold 78 coins in a matter of days to past and present agents.

'It sheds a little humor on the situation,' Maza said of his creation.

'And it's something that helps us, I guess, mentally and emotionally cope with the situation because especially right now, the situation is pretty dire out there.'

US border agents encountered fewer minor migrants along the United States border with Mexico in April although overall apprehensions reached a 15-year high last month, according to a report released Tuesday by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Data showed that the border patrol agency encountered 178,622 undocumented immigrants seeking to enter the United States in April, surpassing March's total by 5,274.

Interdictions at the 1,954 mile border in April were more than 10 times that of April 2020, when 17,106 individuals were stopped by border patrol agents.

Meanwhile, border agents encountered 17,171 unaccompanied children, down 9 percent from 18,890 in March when a record number of unaccompanied migrant children entered U.S. custody along the southern border.

However, encounters at the border drastically increased during Trump's final nine months in office and continued to worsen under the administration of his successor.

Originally posted here:
Biden has a 'short fuse' and is 'obsessed with getting every detail' - MSN UK

Posted in Politically Incorrect | Comments Off on Biden has a ‘short fuse’ and is ‘obsessed with getting every detail’ – MSN UK