America in Brief

Immigration Authorities Make Mass Arrests in Minnesota

Immigration authorities have arrested more than 400 illegal immigrants in Minnesota as part of an operation called Operation Metro Surge, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced on Dec. 12.

Among those arrested were “pedophiles, rapists, and violent thugs” who were “allowed to roam Minnesota’s streets thanks to sanctuary policies,” DHS said in its statement.

Sanctuary polices refer to policies that protect illegal immigrants in certain jurisdictions, limiting their cooperation with immigration enforcement authorities.

Minnesota Gov. Mike Waltz testified before Congress in June, saying that “Minnesota is not a sanctuary state.”

DHS argues that some of its policies, such as expanding driving license access, have made the state accessible to illegal immigrants.

The removal of illegal immigrants has been a significant part of President Donald Trump’s agenda after the country was flooded with illegal immigrants under the prior administration.

DHS announced on Dec. 11 that it had arrested more than 10,000 illegal immigrants in the Los Angeles area.

US Limits States’ Regulation of AI

Trump signed an order on Dec. 11 limiting states’ power to regulate the production of artificial intelligence (AI).

“United States AI companies must be free to innovate without cumbersome regulation,” Trump said in his executive order titled “Ensuring a National Policy Framework for Artificial Intelligence.”

Trump also laid out in his order the establishment of an AI Litigation Task Force to target any state laws that hinder the ability of the United States to dominate in the development of AI.

The framework “should also ensure that children are protected, censorship is prevented, copyrights are respected, and communities are safeguarded,” the order states.

Indiana Rejects Proposed Redistricting Bill

Indiana rejected a proposal on Dec. 11 that would redraw election boundaries in the state to favor Republicans, in the latest redistricting battle to gain control of the House in the 2026 mid-term elections.

The Republican-majority Senate voted 31–19 against the bill.

Gerrymandering is a common practice used by Republicans and Democrats alike to redraw election boundaries in favor of their party.

On Aug. 3, more than 50 Democrats left Texas in protest over a Republican effort to redraw election boundaries at the time.

In response, California introduced Proposition 50, a bid to redraw its election boundaries.

US Seizes Oil Tanker Near Venezuela

The United States seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela on Dec. 10, which officials state was connected to terrorist organizations.

According to the FBI, it was being used to transport sanctioned oil from Venezuela and Iran, and had been used in recent years as part of an “illicit shipping network supporting foreign terrorist organizations.”

The Venezuelan government described it as “blatant theft,” while Iran’s embassy in Venezuela’s capital, Caracas, described it as “a grave violation of international laws and norms.”