Category: Security

This article was originally published by Radio Free Asia and is reprinted with permission.

The executive director of an energy policy think tank has been detained and could face charges of “appropriating documents of agencies and organizations,” a Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security spokesman told reporters.

Green energy expert Ngo Thi To Nhien would be the sixth environmental activist to face charges in Vietnam in the last two years. The other five – including climate activist Hoang Thi Minh Hong, who was sentenced to three years in prison last week – were charged with tax evasion.

Nhien was detained on Sept. 15 by the Hanoi police. Her arrest came just days after a visit to Hanoi by U.S. President Joe Biden, who raised human rights and environmental concerns with Vietnam’s top leaders.

The ministry’s spokesman, Lt. Gen. To An Xo, confirmed Nhien’s arrest at a news conference on Saturday, adding that two Electricity of Vietnam, or EVN, officials had also been arrested in the case.

Nhien has worked as a researcher for the World Bank and USAID and is the executive director for the Vietnam Initiative for Energy Transition, an independent think tank that is studying the planned transition of the national energy system away from the use of fossil fuels.

The two officials, Duong Duc Viet and Le Quoc Anh, had access to EVN’s documents related to the development of the new national power grid and were also under contract as part-time consultants with Nhien’s organization, according to To An Xo.

The documents that the two officials provided to Nhien were for internal use only, To An Xo said. Nhien could be charged under Article 342 of Vietnam’s Penal Code and could face up to five years in prison, he said.

The Vietnamese government has been jailing environmental activists even after accepting US$15.5 billion to help it cut carbon emissions through the Just Energy Transition Partnership.

‘Research on energy policy is now off limits’

According to the Associated Press, Nhien has been working with the U.N. Development Program to help implement the partnership, which is being funded by the United States, Canada, Japan, the United Kingdom, the European Union and some European countries.

Nhien “has more than 20 years working experience, and her professional activities focus on energy and environmental economics, energy modeling, energy policy, and assessment of low carbon energy technologies,” according to human rights group The 88 Project.  

“Nhien’s detention is significant as it signals that research on energy policy is now off limits,” Project 88’s co-director Ben Swanton told the AP.

To An Xo told reporters on Saturday that many overseas media outlets and organizations have cited Nhien’s arrest as the latest piece of evidence that Vietnam is cracking down on environmental activists. That conclusion is a distortion and an interference in Vietnam’s domestic affairs, he said.

Hong, 51, was the founder and executive director of CHANGE VN – a non-profit organization which aimed to raise environmental awareness in order to protect nature, combat climate change and promote sustainable development.

She shut down the organization in October 2022 following the arrest of several environmental activists.

“The Vietnamese authorities are using the vaguely worded tax code as a weapon to punish environmental leaders whom the ruling Communist Party deems a threat to their power,” Human Rights Watch Deputy Asia Director Phil Robertson said last week

“The government should stop punishing activists for peacefully advocating action on climate change and for green policies,” he said.

This article was originally published by Radio Free Asia and is reprinted with permission.

Myanmar’s junta is updating the country’s antiquated paper identification system with smart electronic cards and asking China – no stranger to keeping tabs on its citizens – for technical assistance.

Late last month, the official Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper reported that during a recent trip to China, Myint Kyaing, the junta’s minister of immigration and population, called on Beijing to help replace his country’s national registration IDs with smart cards featuring biometric data that can be checked by computer.

In addition to making IDs less susceptible to damage, they will also include information such as a person’s name, date of birth, address, race or ethnicity, hair and eye color, and height as scannable data, the report said, as part of a bid to make the country’s election process smoother.

In June, RFA reported that a widely used Chinese video surveillance company sanctioned by Western governments incorporates an AI technology that automatically alerts authorities if a person is detected unfurling a banner.

Government tracking technologies have proliferated in China over the last several years amid the COVID-19 pandemic. A series of mass technology procurements by police forces across the country have greatly increased authorities’ abilities to clamp down on social freedoms, control citizens and, critics say, abuse groups targeted by the government.

Critics of the junta’s proposed ID update say they fear it will be used to monitor Myanmar’s citizens and keep them in line amid political instability resulting from the military’s February 2021 coup d’etat.

A resident of Yangon who gave his name as Phone Myint told RFA Burmese that the people of Myanmar have no need for the national ID scheme or any other policies put forth by the junta.

“I think it will work only if there is interest from people,” said the resident, who asked not to reveal his identity citing fear of reprisal. “Either way, we have seen the junta’s staffer starting to visit the city’s various wards to implement their project.”

Armed resistance groups in Magway region, which has been beset by conflict since the coup, vowed to oppose the plan.

Wei Kyi, an official with the anti-junta People’s Defense Force, or PDF, in Magway’s Yesagyo township said that the updated IDs are part of the junta’s efforts to maintain control of the nation.

“We assume the junta formulates policies and procedures only as a way to stay in power and that this plan is just another of its projects to keep citizens in check, as well as to target and suppress those who oppose it,” he said.

Attempts by RFA to contact junta Deputy Information Minister Major Gen. Zaw Min Tun for comment on the proposed ID update went unanswered Wednesday.

Ending bureaucracy or surveilling the people?

Thein Tun Oo, executive director of the Thayninga Institute for Strategic Studies, which is made up of former military officers, touted the “advantages” of switching to smart electronic ID cards in comments he made to RFA.

“People will be able to apply for jobs using only smart ID cards and the employers can receive all their bio data just by using the smart IDs,” he said. “If we can make use of the electronic ID system properly, it will save us time by eliminating the bureaucracy.”

Nonetheless, Thein Tun Oo acknowledged that it “could be difficult to implement the plan under the current circumstances.”

Hla Kyaw Zaw, a researcher of Myanmar affairs, said it is unclear whether China has any interest in providing technical assistance for such a project, noting that the junta has only “casually suggested” the help was forthcoming.

But he said that the junta is likely “asking for help from other countries” as well, as part of its bid to hold an election that would legitimize its control of Myanmar.

“The junta is rushing to hold an election which they seem to have considered to be a favorable solution [to ending the political crisis],” he said.

Junta chief Sr. Gen. Min Aung Hlaing said at a Sept. 1 meeting that elections “will be held after the national census” in 2024, but no further details have been forthcoming.

RFA inquired about Beijing’s willingness to collaborate with the junta for the national ID scheme at the Chinese Embassy in Yangon, as well as Myanmar’s Consulate in Kunming, the capital of southwest China’s Yunnan province, but received no answer.

Political commentator Than Soe Naing suggested that the junta cares little for using the proposed IDs to prepare for the election.

He said that with roughly 4% of the population of 54 million displaced by conflict, according to data from the United Nations, and “millions of others who have left the country” or joined the armed resistance in territories outside of the junta’s control, Myanmar is not in a position to create a nationwide database of verifiable census data.

Instead, he said, the junta has a far simpler and more nefarious purpose in mind: “to further suppress the people.”

On Thursday, Veterans Land Board (VLB) Chairwoman and Texas Land Commissioner Dr. Dawn Buckingham M.D., updated Texans on U.S. Army Veteran and Clyde W. Cosper Texas State Veterans Home resident Ethelyn Szad Bell’s request to receive 100 cards for her 100th birthday on October 4. In a stunning show of support for this incredible Texas Veteran, Mrs. Bell received over 7,200 cards from across our state and nation.

“It is deeply inspiring to see not only the Bonham community but also people from across our state and nation wholeheartedly embrace their duty to honor our Veterans. Thank you to the staff at the Clyde W. Cosper Texas State Veterans Home for helping make Mrs. Bell’s special day possible,” said Commissioner Buckingham in a news release. “As Chairwoman of the Veterans Land Board, I am honored to ensure our military men and women are adequately respected. However, there is always more we can do for these patriots, and I encourage all Texans to learn more about our impactful Veterans programs that aid and assist those who have sacrificed for the freedoms we enjoy today.”

During the party, Mrs. Bell was presented with a Texas Flag that was sent by Congressman Pat Fallon. Bonham City Council Member Wayne Moore offered a Certificate of Recognition from Mayor H.L. Compton. Mrs. Bell was also presented with a signed certificate from Commissioner Buckingham.

Mrs. Bell also celebrated her once-in-a-lifetime achievement with gifts, beautiful flower arrangements, two large sheet cakes, punch, and a specially requested margarita. Surrounded by her friends, caring staff, and thousands of cards from well wishers, Mrs. Bell expressed her appreciation for everyone who helped make this an extraordinary day.

Mrs. Bell began her service with the U.S. Army in March of 1945 at the age of 21. After completing the Basic Training Course for Army Nurses, Mrs. Bell served with the Army Nurse Corps in the Philippines and Nagoya, Japan, during World War II. During her time in the service, she rose to the rank of Second Lieutenant and was honorably discharged in June of 1946.

The VLB’s 100 for 100 program spotlights Texas Veterans who are turning 100 years old and are residents at one of the nine, soon to be 10, Texas State Veterans Homes. Through the program, a resident can request to receive 100 birthday cards for their special day and the VLB, along with the Texas General Land Office, will share the Veteran’s request on social media and with state and local news.

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(c) 2023 the Odessa American

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

This article was originally published by Radio Free Asia and is reprinted with permission.

South Korea’s spy agency announced late Wednesday that it has identified numerous instances where North Korean hacking groups targeted key shipbuilding firms in the South. This is seen as an attempt by the North to bolster its naval capabilities, potentially deepening the existing tensions between the two Koreas. 

 “We believe that North Korean hacking organizations’ intensive attacks on our shipbuilders are due to Kim Jong Un’s order to build medium and large warships,” said the National Intelligence Service, adding the hackers targeted IT maintenance PCs of shipbuilders and sent phishing emails to internal staff. 

The NIS said that hacking attempts occurred in August and September. It did not say whether the hacking attempts were successful.

The agency warned that North Korea is most likely to persist in its hacking attempts on prominent shipbuilders, urging relevant industries to comply with security measures such as prohibiting the opening of any suspicious emails.

The warning came as North Korea’s leader paid a visit to a ship engine production site at North Pyongan Province last month, where he prioritized advancing the nation’s naval capabilities and shipbuilding sector.

Kim is recently focusing on advancing North Korea’s naval capability, unveiling what he called his first operational “tactical nuclear attack submarine” on the eve of North Korea’s 75th founding anniversary last month — a display of its escalating nuclear capability. 

Submarine-launched ballistic missiles present a challenge to the U.S. and its allies’ defense systems due to their inherent stealth and unpredictability. Operating underwater complicates the existing radar detection system and makes it difficult to track North Korea’s military movements, disabling a preemptive strike.

Every North Korean attached to diplomatic missions abroad has been ordered to “donate” US$100 to a new fund that will go toward the construction of “cutting-edge” submarines and other warships, sources in China told Radio Free Asia.

North Korea turned to hacking as a means of advancing its technology capabilities, seeking to bridge the gap with advanced nations. It had attempted to steal information on COVID vaccines via hacking Pfizer, the NIS told South Korean lawmakers in 2021. 

In terms of orders, South Korea is home to some of the world’s leading shipbuilders. According to the London-based Clarkson Research Service, the South received 44% of the total number of new orders in July.

In an innovative move to address rising mental health concerns, the U.S. Navy is returning to a familiar bond with a long-standing companion of service members – the dog.

Once a regular fixture alongside sailors, therapy dogs are now returning to naval bases and ships as part of a broadened approach to mental well-being, according to Stars and Stripes.

In a significant move, Sage, a yellow Labrador retriever, became a part of the USS Gerald R. Ford’s crew in April, marking the first deployment of a support dog on a Navy ship.

“Deploying support dogs such as Sage on ships is another measure the Navy is testing out in its efforts to provide a holistic and well-rounded selection of mental health resources for sailors,” a Navy spokesperson stated.

In July, the Navy publicized the addition of Oliver, a golden retriever, and Morgan, a mixed breed, to its overseas USO centers. Both made their inaugural appearance earlier this summer at Naval Air Station Sigonella in Sicily. Furthermore, six American Red Cross-certified therapy dogs have recently joined the USO center at Naval Support Activity Naples. Expansion plans include Naval Station Rota in Spain, according to USO officials.

Historical data reveals a concerning uptick in sailor suicides since 2006, with 74 active duty sailors killed by suicide in 2019. According to Stars and Stripes, preliminary data for 2022 indicates that 70 active-duty sailors took their own lives. The sobering statistic underlines the urgency of the Navy’s efforts in addressing mental health for its service members.

READ MORE: Pics: Two hero dogs recognized for supporting US troops

The Navy is not the only military branch struggling with rising suicide rates. A Defense Department report unveiled a 25% rise in suicides among active-duty service members in the first quarter of this year compared to the same period in 2022.

Many sailors find solace in the company of dogs. “(Dogs) make you feel like you’re not alone,” Petty Officer 3rd Class Julia Walden, said. “They give you something to look forward to.”

The emotional connection and relief therapy dogs offer to service members can be powerful. Margaret McCullough, USO Sigonella center manager and owner of Morgan, witnessed the deep emotional impact first-hand and emphasized the “undeniable” therapeutic potential of animals.

Historically, sailors have sought companionship in animals for their voyages, a sentiment echoed by Gordon Calhoun, historian at the National Museum of the U.S. Navy. Calhoun told Stars and Stripes that dogs, cats, goats, and various other farm animals were traditionally taken on ships by U.S. Navy members for a considerable portion of the military service’s history.

“Attitudes changed about it and you saw less and less of them coming into today,” Calhoun noted.

This news article was partially created with the assistance of artificial intelligence and edited and fact-checked by a human editor.

Netflix provides users with a host of military and war movies that provide countless hours of entertainment and an in-depth look at history. Some of the top military and war movies currently on Netflix include “Band of Brothers,” “Black Hawk Down,” “Gladiator,” “Hacksaw Ridge,” and “Operation Mincemeat.”

Band of Brothers

“Band of Brothers” is a 10-episode miniseries on World War II, based on the nonfiction book “Band of Brothers” that was written by historian Stephen E. Ambrose. According to Military.com, the miniseries was developed by legendary actor Tom Hanks and award-winning director Steven Spielberg in conjunction with World War II veterans, who ensured that the series was an accurate depiction of World War II.

“Band of Brothers” includes interviews of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division, the Easy Company, and the 2nd Battalion.

The series summary for “Band of Brothers” on Netflix states, “Fresh from training camp, a company of US soldiers plunges into the harsh realities of World War II as they make a treacherous journey across Europe.”

Black Hawk Down

“Black Hawk Down” is a R-rated war film based on the events of the 1993 Battle of Mogadishu. The film, which was first released in 2001, was inspired by Mark Bowden’s book “Black Hawk Down” that was released in 1999.

According to IMDb, “Black Hawk Down” features Ewan McGregor, Josh Hartnett, Tom Hardy, Eric Bana, William Fichtner, and Tom Sizemore. The film was directed by Ridley Scott and provides an emotional and graphic reenactment of the Battle of Mogadishu.

Netflix’s summary for “Black Hawk Down” states, “In 1993, U.S. soldiers helicopter into Somalia on a routine mission — but an unexpected attack forces troops into a battle they aren’t prepared to fight.”

Gladiator

While the movie is not based on events involving the United States military, “Gladiator” is known as one of the most iconic military movies. The film, directed by Ridley Scott, features Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix, and Connie Nielsen.

In “Gladiator,” Crowe plays Maximus Decimus Meridius, the top general of Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius. In the film, Maximus becomes a slave and a gladiator after the emperor’s son, Commodus, kills his father, takes control of the Roman empire, and kills Maximus’s family.

READ MORE: 15 facts about ‘Saving Private Ryan’

“Heroic Roman general Maximus wages a brutal battle for vengeance after his family is murdered and his life destroyed by the emperor’s jealous son,” Netflix’s movie summary reads.

Hacksaw Ridge

“Hacksaw Ridge” was inspired by the true story of Desmond Doss, who received the Medal of Honor in World War II.

According to the U.S. Army, Doss served in World war II as a conscientious objector. Because of his Seventh-Day Adventist beliefs, Doss refused to carry a weapon during the war. Instead of fighting as a soldier, Doss served as a medic in the Pacific Theater of World War II.

During the invasion of Okinawa in 1945, Doss saved the lives of between 50 and 100 troops through his role as an Army medic. According to Military.com, Doss is the only conscientious objector to be awarded the Medal of Honor for his efforts to save lives despite being wounded four times during the invasion.

The summary for “Hacksaw Ridge” on Netflix explains, “During World War II, Army medic and conscientious objector Desmond Doss becomes an unlikely hero on an Okinawa battlefield without bearing arms.”

Operation Mincemeat

“Operation Mincemeat” is a story based on the disinformation effort the British used to deceive the Germans regarding the landing of the Allies in France.

According to the Imperial War Museum’s website, “Operation Mincemeat” was an elaborate plan by the British that required positioning the body of a homeless worker who had died from rat poison in a place where the Nazis would discover it. The plan was to have the Nazis find the body and discover false plans for the secret landing in France.

The movie summary on Netflix for “Operation Mincemeat” states, “Two British intelligence officers hatch an outlandish scheme to trick the Nazis and alter the course of World War II. Based on a true story of deception.”

Rotten Tomatoes further describes “Operation Mincemeat” as “The extraordinary and true story of an idea that hoped to alter the course of the war — defying logic, risking countless thousands of lives, and testing the nerves of its creators to breaking point.”

Four people died and two others suffered critical injuries last week when an explosive device, thought to be a grenade, detonated while being handled by a group of off-duty military personnel in Luang Prabang province.

The tragic incident occurred at around 7pm on the grounds of the Military School in Nambak district, during a social gathering at the home of a sports instructor. A group of friends and relatives had gathered at the house of the sports instructor, named only as Sonephet.

He removed the safety lock on the device to show it to his friends but didn’t replace it quickly enough and it exploded. Three people died instantly when the grenade exploded and one died later in hospital, while two others were seriously injured.

The victims were identified as three military personnel, a policeman, and their relatives. Last week, a suspected drug dealer killed himself in Xayaboury province by detonating an explosive device, and also took the lives of two police officers who had apprehended him.

Police said officers apprehended the suspect around 6am on September 12 and, finding himself surrounded, he set off what may have been a grenade, killing himself and the two policemen.

Xayaboury police are conducting enquiries into the tragic event and attempting to track down the suspect’s associates. Two other men believed to be part of the drug ring were detained immediately following the incident.

Last year, a similar incident occurred in Luang Prabang province when a suspected drug dealer killed himself by detonating an explosive device, and also took the lives of three police officers who had apprehended him. The explosion also injured four other policemen at the scene.

The incident took place in Viengkham district, Luang Prabang province. A nurse at the district hospital said two of the victims suffered serious head injuries and lost their hands in the blast.

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(c) 2023 the Asia News Network

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

American pop icon Katy Perry, known for her chart-topping music and role as a judge on ABC’s “American Idol,” is currently in a legal battle alongside her fiancé, actor Orlando Bloom, as the two attempt to force a dying elderly veteran to sell them his home.

According to USA TODAY, Perry and Bloom are involved in a trial over the potential eviction of Carl Westcott, an 84-year-old Army veteran and founder of the popular company 1-800-Flowers, as he battles the debilitating effects of Huntington’s disease.

A veteran of the 101st Airborne Division and successful entrepreneur, Mississippi-native Westcott has owned an impressive array of businesses, from car dealerships to a communications company, which he sold for $422 million in 1996, according to The New York Times.

The current legal battle revolves around a $15 million beachfront property Westcott purchased in Montecito, California, in May of 2020. The $15 million home is located in a neighborhood boasting celebrity residents such as Oprah Winfrey, Ellen DeGeneres and British royals Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

While Westcott was able to purchase his dream home, the diagnosis of Huntington’s disease in 2015 and a complex back surgery shortly after moving into his new home has led to an intense legal dispute. Westcott’s lawyers allege that, while in a post-surgical haze from prescribed opioids, he inadvertently entered a contract to sell the house to Perry and Bloom.

READ MORE: Veteran, 95, forced out of nursing home for migrant housing, lawmakers say

USA Today reports that the contract, facilitated by the couple’s business manager Bernie Gudvi, was rescinded by Westcott days later when he regained clarity of mind. This claim is challenged by Gudvi, who posits that Westcott actively sought to sell his house, even instigating a bidding war.

The unfolding courtroom drama in Los Angeles County Superior Court will determine the ultimate ownership of the Montecito mansion. Additionally, Perry and Bloom are seeking compensation upwards of $5.7 million for associated rental costs incurred during the three-year ordeal.

Westcott’s deteriorating health has rendered him unable to attend the trial, with court documents underscoring his desire to remain in his Montecito home for the rest of his days.

Given Perry’s history of similar legal disputes, the Westcott family is now advocating for legislative measures to safeguard the rights of elderly homeowners, according to Forbes. The proposed “Katy PERRY Act” aims to provide a 72-hour window for rescinding property contracts, without penalty, when one party is age 75 or above.

This news article was partially created with the assistance of artificial intelligence and edited and fact-checked by a human editor.

Comedian and actor Rob Schneider mocked President Joe Biden and his administration, as well as Republicans and Democrats, insisting “there’s just one party” in Washington, D.C.

During an appearance on Fox News’ “The Ingraham Angle” on Thursday, Schneider taunted the Biden administration over its handling of the president’s dog Commander, which has been involved in at least 12 biting incidents.

“The Biden administration, I think, acted decisively. They didn’t wait until the 13th person got bit. After 12, they said, ‘Enough.’ And they killed two birds with one stone because I just found out that Commander the dog is now at the border biting immigrants trying to sneak over,” Schneider joked.

“You gotta [sic] give the Biden administration credit, though, because it’s the same thing how decisively he worked on the border. He didn’t wait three years to start putting up a new fence. He waited two years and nine months. That’s decisive,” the comedian continued.

“And by the way, for everyone saying it’s racist: relax. This new fence is only going to be two feet high,” Schneider added with a chuckle. “They took down the sign. Today. You know the sign? Biden’s sign: The first 10 million get in free.”

READ MORE: FBI secretly targeting Trump supporters: Report

Host Laura Ingraham then turned the conversation to the 2024 presidential race, prompting Schneider to say he “wants there to be at least two parties.”

“There’s just one party,” Schneider said. “It seems like the Republicans now are just like Democrats who don’t give their kids puberty blockers.”

Earlier this year, Schneider warned that the government is slowly leading Americans down a path of subjugation.

“The best slaves, the most cooperative slaves, are the slaves that don’t even know they are slaves,” he posted on X, formerly Twitter. “But how does a very small group of people enslave hundreds of millions of other people?! It’s done one step at a time.”

“They took Civics out of Public schools. Because they don’t want you to know how your Government works. Because if you did, you might try to change things. The Government wants us Fat, uneducated, sick, poisoned, and reliant on Government for handouts and pretending there’s a difference between the ‘Left and the Right,’” the outspoken comedian continued. “And they want to control all the information that you get. Because they desperately don’t want you to think for yourself.”

The best slaves, the most cooperative slaves are the slaves that don’t even know they are slaves.
But how does a very small group of people enslave hundreds of millions of other people?!
It’s done one step at a time.
They took Civics out of Public schools. Because they don’t…

— Rob Schneider (@RobSchneider) August 1, 2023

“So they work with Google and Facebook and Mainstream media to control and censor the information you receive and to discredit and demonize those that don’t go along and those that ask inconvenient questions,” he added.

“The people controlling government: unelected conglomerates that decide what policies get written and who gets the trillions of dollars stay mostly hidden. The only thing that’s left for the Government to do now is to completely disarm us. When that happens, if they are able to disarm us, then it’s over. We will be slaves and our children will be slaves for a 100 years. Have a nice afternoon!”

Officials in Denver, Colorado – which is widely considered a ‘sanctuary city’ – are asking Texas border towns to hand out flyers urging illegal immigrants not to travel to the Mile High City, according to documents provided to Breitbart by Texas officials.

Matthew Mueller, executive director for the Office of Emergency Management for the City and County of Denver, told officials in Brownsville, El Paso, Houston, and Dallas that Denver “can no longer provide the same level of sheltering resources to newly arriving persons.”

Mueller also noted authorities have reduced the maximum number of days migrants can stay in shelters to just 14 days for single adults.

The Denver official also asked Texas officials to distribute flyers addressing “asylum seekers traveling to Denver.”

“Denver’s resources have been exhausted,” the flyer states. “If you are coming to Denver seeking shelter, it is important for you to have a plan. The city cannot provide shelter long-term.”

READ MORE: $300 weekly checks for illegal immigrants approved by Calif. Senate

Additionally, Denver’s officials warned that housing in the sanctuary city is “very expensive, and there aren’t many affordable housing options available.”

Texas authorities have bused roughly 2,400 migrants to Denver since May, a fraction of the millions who have crossed the U.S.-Mexico border since President Joe Biden took office in January 2021.

Denver Mayor Mike Johnston recently addressed the migrant crisis, blaming Texas Gov. Greg Abbott for the new arrivals to the sanctuary city.

“We have had a significant influx of migrants mostly due to Gov. Abbott in Texas, who has been chartering buses full of buses to arrive in the city and county of Denver,” Johnston said.

“We still continue to see, particularly in what I would call these involuntary arrivals, which are folks that have been put on a bus by Gov. Abbott and sent to us, many of those folks had no plans on coming to Denver,” he said. “For many of these folks, we’re helping either connect them to family or services where they wanted to arrive … and for folks that do want to stay, we’re getting them connected to work options.”