(1) DEMS PUSH DHS TO PERMANENTLY EXTEND ILLEGALS’ WORK PERMITS: Democratic lawmakers led by Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) urged President Biden and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to permanently lengthen the automatic extension period for Employment Authorization Documents (EAD) for illegal immigrants.
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) backlog for EAD renewals grew from 66,000 in December 2021 to 279,000 in September 2023.
Why It Matters: Federal work permits have exploded since 2021, explaining the significant increase in the USCIS renewal backlog. Illegal immigrants who claim asylum at the border or are flown into the U.S. on parole flights qualify for federal work permits, and media reports going back to 2022 point to the automatic issue of work permits on the border. – R.C.
(2) DHS ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT MONEY FOR CITIES RUNNING OUT: Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spokesperson Erin Heeter said demand for Shelter and Services Program money exceeds funding authorized by Congress, and DHS cannot fulfill all grant applications from city governments and nonprofits.
Sens. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ) said Arizona has been “short-changed” on federal assistance during the immigration crisis and urged DHS to prioritize border communities.
Why It Matters: City governments in states impacted by the immigration crisis, including Denver and New York City, have already announced cuts to assistance and services for residents due to increased costs from taking in illegal immigrants. Past disbursements by DHS heavily favored northern states. This development will very likely impose more burdens on local and state governments, which are more likely to hit cities and states closer to the southern border. – R.C.
(3) INDIANA, IOWA, ARKANSAS NATIONAL GUARD DEPLOYS TO TEXAS: Troops from the Indiana, Iowa, and Arkansas National Guards are deploying to Texas to take part in Operation Lone Star.
The deployment will end in early May, although five support personnel will stay through September.
Why It Matters: A press release from Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds states that the deployment will be covered through federal funding from the Biden administration’s American Rescue Plan – a novel way to pay for National Guard deployments. According to the Government Accountability Office (GAO), about half of the $350 billion from the American Rescue Plan is left over at the state and local levels. Other red state governors are likely to look at Iowa as a precedent for spending leftover funds on their own National Guard deployments to the Texas border. – M.S.
(4) TRUMP LEADING BIDEN ON YOUNG SWING STATE VOTERS: Former President Trump is leading Biden by 47% to 40% among voters aged 18-34 in key battleground states in a new Bloomberg News/Morning Consult poll from March 2024.
According to the poll, 18-34 swing state voters are more likely than other voters to consider housing costs as important in the 2024 election.
Why It Matters: Biden won 18-34 voters by 61% in 2020, and the economy and immigration are emerging as the biggest electoral losers for Biden in 2024. Falling support among younger voters is likely to spur the Biden administration to take action on some form of economic stimulus on student loans or rent controls. Increasing economic anxiety among younger Americans creates the potential for political unrest. However, Biden’s incumbency removes the incentive for Democrats and the far left to organize on this economic anxiety. – R.C.
Low Intensity Conflict SITREP (Early Warning)
(5) 2028 NATIONAL STRIKE AN “OPENING FOR MILITANCY”: Late last year, United Auto Workers (UAW) President Shawn Fain called for a national workers strike starting 01 May 2028 when the “Big Three” union contracts expire. Fain is calling for additional labor unions to join, and last year added that the next round of strikes will be the “Big Five or Big Six.”
Socialist media outlet Jacobin recently called the plan “a new opening for militancy,” hearkening back to days of union power of the 1930s and 40s. The author adds that Fain is calling for a broader “class struggle.”
Why It Matters: For now, Fain is calling for a larger version of the 2023 “Big Three” strike, but the risk is that his national strike grows into a general strike with far-ranging societal impacts. As opposed to a national strike of auto workers, a general strike is a widespread and coordinated effort by many labor unions and workers to build economic leverage for achieving social and political goals. Demands are likely to include universal healthcare, universal basic income, and other “social justice” programs. Left wing organizers have tried to foment a general strike since 2020 and will almost certainly attempt to latch on to the UAW’s efforts in 2028. Not only is it an election year, but the U.S. may still be struggling with the impacts of a recession and financial crisis, which will be accelerators of a domestic low intensity conflict. – M.S.
Americas Rollup
China’s embassy in Mexico is helping identify eight Chinese nationals who drowned off the Pacific coast of Mexico while migrating to the United States by boat. Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Wang Wenbin said Beijing is providing assistance to surviving Chinese citizens. (Wang Wenbin’s comment on Chinese aid to Chinese citizens is effectively a declaration that China is knowingly moving its citizens into the United States through Mexico illegally. The boat left from Tapachula, suggesting they came through a country more southerly than Mexico. – J.V.)
Argentina and Colombia are resuming diplomatic ties after Colombia severed them last week.
Indo-Pacific Rollup
Taiwan’s Commander of the Navy will visit the U.S. from 08 to 11 April to discuss greater integration between the U.S. and Taiwan’s navies with the U.S. Chief of Naval Operations. China called for an immediate cessation of military contact between Taiwan and the U.S. through its Foreign Ministry. (This summit butts up against the Trilateral Summit between the U.S., Philippines, and Japan. There is likely to be behind-the-scenes coordination between all four nations for greater military integration. – J.V.)
The Philippines set up the National Maritime Council, a council of national secretaries and department heads, to “[Strengthen] the country’s maritime security and domain awareness.” The council has 60 days to issue guidelines to that end and will give orders directly to the task force overseeing the disputed South China Sea.
U.S. Defense Department officials say joint patrols comprising the U.S., Philippines, and Japan will be announced at the 11 April summit. The U.S. may also invite Japan to be a technological partner in the AUKUS agreement.
Upcoming Protest Events (Next 24 Hours)
Livingston, NJ
Activity: Free Palestine rally outside of Congresswoman Mikie Sherill’s office.
Location: 357 S Livingston Ave, Livingston, NJ
Time: 1200; Monday, April 1
New York, NY
Activity: Cease Fire Now Vigil
Location: 720 W 101st St, New York, NY
Time: 1630; Monday, April 1
— END REPORT
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