All articles tagged with #border states
During the first five months of Trump's second term, over 109,000 ICE arrests occurred mainly in border and southern states, with Texas accounting for nearly a quarter of these arrests. The arrests, predominantly of Latin American and Caribbean nationals, reflect geographic and policy factors influencing enforcement, with increased activity compared to the Biden administration.
The Biden administration and Texas are at odds over a new immigration law that allows law enforcement to arrest illegal immigrants. The White House criticized the law as "extreme" and argued it would make communities in Texas less safe. Texas Governor Greg Abbott defended the law, stating it would better protect Texans from Biden's open border policies. The tension between Texas and the administration extends to legal battles over the deployment of buoys in the Rio Grande and the removal of razor wire at the southern border. The Biden administration has also faced criticism from Arizona's Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs for a lack of action in securing the border. The tension comes amid a surge in migration at the border, with record-high migrant encounters reported. The administration is seeking additional funding and reform from Congress to address the situation.
Maryland has become the latest state to legalize recreational marijuana, allowing adults 21 and older to purchase it from licensed stores. Any adult with a valid ID can buy recreational marijuana in Maryland, including Pennsylvanians. However, it is illegal to transport the drug across state lines into Pennsylvania. Maryland's legalization is expected to attract customers from neighboring states, including Pennsylvania, where only medical marijuana is legal. Business owners hope that the success of Maryland's market will encourage a change in federal policy. The state estimates that recreational marijuana sales could generate up to $600 million in the first year.