Skip to main content

US immigration officers instructed to halt arrests of non-criminal immigrants: report

United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers have been instructed to stop arresting immigrants who do not have criminal convictions or pending criminal charges, according to agency sources. Under the reported directive, federal immigration agents may arrest immigrants with criminal convictions or pending criminal charges, while those with final deportation orders but no criminal convictions or charges would not be arrested, The Daily Wire reported. The reported change would also end so-called “collateral arrests,” under which officers may detain others without legal status encountered while pursuing a criminal target, according to sources. Read: US judge blocks Trump limits on how long foreign students, journalists can stay The reported directive comes amid increased scrutiny of the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement policies and ICE operations. Several ICE officers expressed frustration about the reported change, with one...
Post a Comment

Sudiksha Konanki’s last known companion freed as parents seek death ruling

A judge in the Dominican Republic on Tuesday granted a request for release filed by Joshua Steven Riibe, the last person known to have seen missing US college student Sudiksha Konanki before her disappearance nearly two weeks ago. Riibe, a 22-year-old student from Iowa, had been under police watch in a hotel but had not been officially detained or charged. Authorities had also confiscated his passport, preventing him from leaving the country.         View this post on Instagram                       A post shared by Iowa’s News Now (@iowasnewsnow) The court ruling followed Riibe’s habeas corpus petition, in which he argued that he was being held without formal charges, violating his rights as a foreign national. His legal team claimed Dominican authorities had restricted his movement, interrogated him multiple times, and failed to provide official translators or legal counsel during initial questioning. Following the judge’s decision, Riibe’s attorneys expressed gratitude to the Dominican judiciary for “upholding the rule of law” and allowing his release. However, it remains unclear when he will receive his passport or be allowed to return to the United States. Konanki’s parents request official death declaration The ruling came just one day after Konanki’s parents, Subbarayudu and SreeDevi Konanki, submitted a formal request to Dominican authorities asking them to officially declare their daughter dead.         View this post on Instagram                       A post shared by New York Post (@nypost) The letter, obtained by CNN, states that investigators believe she drowned and that no evidence of foul play has been found. “Initiating this process will allow our family to begin the grieving process and address matters related to her absence,” Konanki’s parents wrote. “While no declaration can truly ease our grief, we trust that this step will bring some closure and enable us to honor her memory.” Authorities in the Dominican Republic have not yet responded to the family’s request. Riibe’s court hearing and investigation details Riibe is expected to appear in another court hearing on March 28, though reports suggest he may not be required to attend in person. Dominican Republic Attorney General Yeni Berenice Reynoso questioned Riibe for more than six hours over the weekend. His legal team claims he has been subjected to multiple interrogations since the investigation began on March 6.         View this post on Instagram                       A post shared by CBS News (@cbsnews) At Tuesday’s hearing, Dominican prosecutors maintained that Riibe was never officially accused or detained, but was being interviewed as a witness. His attorneys, however, argued that he was being treated as a suspect in practice, as he was confined to a hotel room under police surveillance without access to his passport or personal belongings. His father, Albert Riibe, testified in court that his son had been unable to leave his hotel room and lacked any means of communication. Konanki’s last known moments Konanki, a 20-year-old University of Pittsburgh student, traveled to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, on March 3 for spring break with a group of five other students.         View this post on Instagram                       A post shared by Slow Cook Microwaved News (@slowcookmicrowavenews) Surveillance footage from the Riu República Hotel captured Konanki drinking with her friends and two men, including Riibe, at a hotel bar in the early hours of March 6. Around 4:15 a.m., security cameras recorded Konanki and the group walking onto the beach. Just before 5 a.m., footage shows five women and one man leaving the beach—but Konanki was not among them. Riibe told investigators that he and Konanki were hit by a strong wave and swept out to sea, making it difficult for them to swim back. He stated that he tried to help her stay afloat, but swallowed too much water and became exhausted. Riibe’s account of the incident During questioning, Riibe told prosecutors that after struggling in the water, he managed to reach the shore with Konanki and last saw her standing in knee-deep water. “The last time I saw her, I asked if she was OK. I didn’t hear her answer because I started vomiting up all the seawater I had swallowed,” he reportedly told investigators. “After vomiting, I looked around and didn’t see anyone. I thought she had grabbed her things and left,” Riibe said. Believing she had returned to her hotel, Riibe stated that he lay down on a beach chair and fell asleep due to exhaustion. When he woke up, he went back to his room. Later that day, Konanki’s friends realized she had not returned and began searching for her. They reported her missing to hotel staff around 4 p.m. Ongoing search and concerns over Punta Cana waters Authorities found Konanki’s sarong-style cover-up on a lounge chair near the beach but reported no signs of violence. Her disappearance comes just two months after four tourists drowned in Punta Cana at the same beach where she was last seen. The Dominican Republic’s Civil Defense Agency had previously warned about strong ocean currents in the area. Uncertain future for Riibe’s legal status Although Riibe has now been granted release, he remains without a passport and does not know when he will be able to leave the Dominican Republic. His lawyers have filed a request for a new passport through the US Embassy, though US authorities have not confirmed when it may be issued. Legal experts suggest that if Riibe leaves the Dominican Republic without formal charges, it would be difficult for the US to extradite him back, should authorities seek further questioning. The investigation into Konanki’s disappearance remains open, with Dominican authorities continuing their review of evidence.

from Latest World News, International News | Breaking World News https://ift.tt/jrXEKZG
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

At least 32 miners dead after bridge fails at cobalt site in southeast DR Congo

A bridge collapsed at a cobalt mine in southeast Democratic Republic of Congo killing at least 32 wildcat miners, a regional government official said Sunday. The bridge came down Saturday onto a flooded zone at the mine in Lualaba province, Roy Kaumba Mayonde, the provincial interior minister, told reporters. He said 32 bodies had been recovered and more were being searched for. The DRC produces more than 70 percent of the world supply of cobalt, which is essential for batteries used in electric cars, many laptop computers and mobile phones. More than 200,000 people are estimated to be working in giant illegal cobalt mines in the giant central African country. Local authorities said the bridge collapsed at the Kalando mine, about 42 kilometres (26 miles) southeast of the Lualaba provincial capital, Kolwezi. "Despite a formal ban on access to the site because of the heavy rain and the risk of a landslide, wildcat miners forced their way into the quarry," said Mayonde. He said ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Arab countries, Pakistan likely to observe Eid on same day

The International Astronomy Centre confirmed on Wednesday that the crescent moon of Shawwal will be impossible to sight on Saturday, March 29, across all regions of the Arab and Islamic world. This is due to the moon setting before the sun, with the conjunction occurring after sunset. As a result, observing the crescent moon, whether by the naked eye, telescopes, or other means, will be unfeasible on March 29. For countries requiring an actual sighting to mark the start of Shawwal, Ramadan will likely extend to 30 days, with Eid Al Fitr falling on Monday, March 31. However, in some regions where the conjunction occurs before sunset, allowing the moon to set after sunset, some countries may choose to declare Eid on Sunday, March 30, following traditional moon-sighting practices. Notably, a partial solar eclipse will be visible at noon on Saturday in parts of the western Arab world, including Mauritania, Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia. This event serves as definitive proof that the cresce...
Post a Comment
Read more

Vancouver tribunal says 'every dog is entitled to one bite' in injury case

A woman who sought nearly $5,000 in damages after being bitten by a dog on Christmas Eve has had her claim dismissed, after a British Columbia tribunal ruled the incident amounted to an accident — and that “every dog is entitled to one bite.” Ying Shen was bitten on the hand by a mini Australian Shepherd named Juliet as she stepped out of an elevator in her apartment building in Vancouver on 24 December 2022. The dog, which was leashed and accompanied by neighbour Jeffrey Dale Polo, bit Shen as the two passed each other in the corridor. According to the B.C. Civil Resolution Tribunal’s decision, Polo apologised, saying Juliet was “usually well behaved.” Shen sought medical attention that night at St. Paul’s Hospital, where she was treated for a superficial abrasion and given a tetanus shot. She later filed a report with the City of Vancouver. A bylaw officer determined that Juliet was not considered dangerous under city regulations, though the dog was found to be unlicensed. In his 5 M...
Post a Comment
Read more