Author: Phil Helsel
A federal judge in California recently awarded over $1.1 million to two children who were wrongfully held by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in 2019, despite being U.S. citizens. The siblings, aged 9 and 14 at the time, were detained for hours at the San Ysidro border crossing between Mexico and California. Judge Gonzalo Curiel ruled that CBP’s actions violated the Fourth Amendment, awarding $1.1 million to the younger sister, $175,000 to the brother, and $250,000 to their mother, Thelma Medina. The family filed a lawsuit in 2022, claiming emotional distress and false imprisonment. The incident occurred when officers suspected…
A wildfire near the New Mexico village of Ruidoso prompted immediate mandatory evacuations on Monday as the blaze quickly spread to over 5,000 acres by the end of the day. Residents were urged to leave the area without attempting to pack valuables or defend their property. The fast-growing South Fork Fire was detected on the Mescalero Reservation west of Ruidoso, leading to multiple evacuation orders and road closures. Hot ash falling in nearby communities added to the urgency of the situation. Emergency evacuation centers were set up in Roswell and Alamogordo, offering support to those displaced by the fire. The…