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    Federal judge blocks California from enforcing ICE mask ban

    Judge rules that law discriminates against federal government because it does not apply to state authoritiesA federal judge on Monday blocked a California law from going into effect that would ban federal immigration agents from covering their faces, but they will still be required to wear clear identification showing their agency and badge number.California became the first state to ban most law enforcement officers from wearing facial coverings under a bill that was signed by Gavin Newsom, the governor, in September, following last summer’s high-profile raids by ICE officers in Los Angeles. Continue reading… More

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    Los Angeles city council member Nithya Raman enters mayoral race

    Raman, backed by the Democratic Socialists of America, enters a crowded field that includes incumbent Karen BassLos Angeles city council member Nithya Raman formally entered the race for mayor on Saturday, unveiling her campaign during a press conference.Representing areas that stretch from the San Fernando valley to Silver Lake, Raman declared her candidacy just hours before the filing deadline. She now joins a field that includes former reality television personality Spencer Pratt, Housing Now California deputy director Rae Huang, veteran city engineer Asaad Alnajjar and the incumbent mayor, Karen Bass. Continue reading… More

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    California can use a new congressional map in November, supreme court rules

    Approved by voters, the new map gives Democrats as many as five seats, neutralizing five GOP seats added by TexasCalifornia can use a new congressional map that was approved by voters in November, the supreme court has ruled, handing Democrats a major victory in their effort to neutralize Donald Trump’s push to protect Republicans’ fragile House majority in this year’s midterm elections.In December, the court said Texas could use its redrawn congressional map in 2026, designed to carve out as many as five Republican-friendly congressional districts, rejecting a lower-court ruling that found it had been racially gerrymandered. Continue reading… More

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    DHS’s account of two Venezuelans shot by border patrol falls apart in court: ‘A smear campaign’

    Immigration officials said agent shot two ‘vicious gang members’ in Portland, but records obtained by the Guardian reveal US prosecutor contradicted claimsImmediately after a US border patrol agent shot two people in Oregon last month, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said the targets were “vicious” gang members connected to a prior shooting and alleged they had “attempted to run over” officers with their vehicle.In the weeks since, key parts of the federal government’s narrative have fallen apart. Continue reading… More

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    Portland mayor demands ICE leave city after federal agents teargas protesters

    Witnesses say protest outside ICE facility was peaceful until agents deployed teargas and rubber bullets around childrenThe mayor of Portland, Oregon, demanded US Immigration and Customs Enforcement leave his city after federal agents launched teargas at a crowd of demonstrators – including young children – outside an ICE facility during a weekend protest that he and others characterized as peaceful.Witnesses said agents deployed teargas, pepper balls and rubber bullets as thousands of marchers arrived at the South Waterfront facility on Saturday. Erin Hoover Barnett, a former OregonLive reporter who joined the protest, said she was about 100 yards (91 metres) from the building when “what looked like two guys with rocket launchers” started dousing the crowd with gas. Continue reading… More