INTERNACIONAL
Military families demand DOJ distribute nearly $800M from French cement company found guilty of bribing ISIS
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In November 2017, Chief Petty Officer Kenton Stacy was injured in Raqqa, Syria while clearing the second floor of a hospital that ISIS had booby trapped with explosives.
Now a quadriplegic, Stacy, his wife Lindsey, and their 4 children are part of a lawsuit brought by military families against the French cement company, Lafarge, recently found guilty by a French Court of paying millions of dollars in bribes to ISIS to keep their factory open in ISIS-controlled territory in Syria.
«I mean, they were essentially funneling money to fund terrorists and ISIS and all these heinous crimes and evil acts,» Lindsey Stacy told Fox News while standing by the side of her husband, the former Navy Explosives Ordnance Disposal (EOD) specialist, who just had another surgery to deal with injuries sustained in Syria 9 years ago.
«It’s very overwhelming, Kenton struggles mentally and physically with his own battles and the kids and I. We have our own struggles,» she continued. «It’s hard to juggle, especially when our oldest son has cerebral palsy, and he requires his own 24-7 care.»
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Lafarge pleaded guilty to paying $17 million to the Islamic State group to keep a plant in Syria open, the Justice Department announced in federal court in New York City on Nov. 14, 2017. (Christophe Ena/AP)
President Trump praised Stacy’s service to the nation in his 2018 State of the Union Address to Congress. Army Staff Sergeant Justin Peck bounded into a booby-trapped building to rescue Kenton and then gave him more than 2 hours of CPR while medics worked to save his life.
«Kenton Stacy would have died if not for Justin’s selfless love for a fellow warrior. Tonight, Kenton is recovering in Texas. Raqqa is liberated.…All of America salutes you.»
In a landmark ruling in April, a French court convicted Lafarge, the world’s largest cement manufacturer, of providing material support to a terror group and sentenced its former CEO to 6 years in prison. Eight former Lafarge employees were found guilty. Lafarge is appealing.
The company acknowledged the court’s finding describing the issue as a «legacy matter,» which was «in flagrant violation of Lafarge’s Code of Conduct.»
Nearly 1,000 plaintiffs, most of them military families, are part of earlier litigation in the Eastern District of New York.
«They were killed in Syria by a gruesome terrorist organization that was funded in part by Lafarge. And that’s not an allegation. That is undisputed fact. Lafarge pled guilty to doing that in 2022.»
Todd Toral, the lawyer from Jenner & Block, is representing Stacy and about 25 other families.
Toral, who is also a US Marine, is seeking compensation for those families from the $777 million Lafarge paid to the Justice Department as part of the settlement. The DOJ has had that money since Oct 2022.
«I think the ruling by the court in France is significant generally, because it’s the first time in many, many years that a corporation, and not just the corporation, but executives at a corporation have been held to account for their misconduct in aiding terrorism,» Toral said in an interview with Fox.
In order to operate in ISIS-controlled areas of Syria, Lafarge paid more than $6.5 million to ISIS from 2013–2014 through its Syrian subsidiary to keep production facilities running. The cement produced at its factory in Jalabiya, a factory which was bought for $680 million months before the Syrian uprising began in 2011, was also used for tunnels and bunkers, which helped the terrorist group.
The lawsuit is significant because it marks the first time a company has faced U.S. charges for supporting a terrorist group.
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President Donald Trump arrives at the commencement ceremony on Cadet Memorial Field at the United States Coast Guard Academy in New London, Conn., on May 20, 2026. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
In October 2022, Lafarge settled with the DOJ before the French ruling, paying more than $777 million into an asset forfeiture fund currently controlled by the DOJ, funds which are supposed to compensate victims of the ISIS attacks, many of them American Gold Star families, like Hailey Dayton, whose father was the first American killed by ISIS in Syria on Thanksgiving Day 2016.
«I was 15 when my dad was killed,» Hailey Dayton told Fox from her home in Florida. «I saw six guys in Navy white step out of the van. I got so excited because I thought my dad came back to surprise us. I remember opening the door, huge smile on my face, and I was looking at the men, trying to find my dad and I didn’t find, I didn’t see him, but instead I saw six guys with tears in their eyes.»
The Biden Justice Department denied requests to distribute the Lafarge funds while the case was still pending before a French Court. Lafarge was found guilty by that court in April. In February, Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., pressed then-Attorney General Pam Bondi on when the DOJ planned to release the funds to the families.
«In February 2025, my colleagues and I sent you a letter urging the department to review the petitions for remission submitted by the families of those fallen service members, including several of my constituents. The previous administration ignored these victims and our requests and left their petitions unresolved,» Biggs asked Bondi during a Congressional hearing.
«Congressman, we are aware of that and we’re committed to doing everything we can to support the victims and work with you. Thank you for that question,» Bondi replied. That was more than a year ago and the DOJ has still not distributed the compensation funds.
Now the plaintiffs, most of them military families, say the decision to release the funds rests with Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche.
«I don’t know why. I don’t know why they’re ignoring us. To me, it feels like being a pawn. My dad, he went in when he was 19, he served 23 years,» Dayton, the Gol Star daughter of Chief Petty Officer Scott Dayton, said.
«To the current Department of Justice, I would, say, make things right.»
Lindsey Stacy, who says she and her family have difficulty making ends meet given Kenton Stacy’s severe injuries, added, «There’s a lot of families out there that could benefit from these funds. I mean, it’s been almost nine years. It would be nice to, you know, for justice to be served.»
FREEDOM ISN’T FREE: HONOR THOSE WHO NEVER CAME HOME ON THIS MEMORIAL DAY
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche attends a news conference at the Justice Department in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 19, 2025. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
«They have been convicted recently in their own country, guilty. It has been a long battle, but it’d be nice just for it to come to an end, get some closure and be able to just take care of our family,» she added. «I mean he made a huge sacrifice for our country and it would just be nice if they’d stand right by us and all the other co-plaintiffs.»
«We can think of no group of people who are more worthy of receiving compensation from that victim’s compensation fund than these families who lost a son, lost a brother, lost a husband, and they deserve to be treated better by the United States of America,» Toral, who continues to press his clients’ case said in an interview ahead of Memorial Day Weekend.
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The Department of Justice, which controls the $777 million dollars in penalties forfeited by Lafarge, issued the following statement:
«The Department is committed to compensating all victims to the maximum extent permitted by law. While we cannot comment on a pending matter, the Department will always engage in the appropriate process to evaluate claims and ensure that our brave servicemembers receive any amount of compensation to which they are entitled.»
france, isis, donald trump, terrorism
INTERNACIONAL
Por primera vez se conocen imágenes del interior de la cueva donde murieron cinco buzos italianos en Maldivas
Se difundieron las primeras imágenes del interior de la cueva Dhevana Kandu, en el Atolón de Vaavu, Maldivas, donde murieron los cuatro turistas y el instructor italianos. La organización Divers Network Alert (DAN) Europe publicó las fotografías tomadas por el rescatista finlandés Sami Paakkarinen, quien trabajó junto con los buzos Jenni Westerlund y Patrik Grönqvist en la misión de recuperación de los cuerpos.
Las imágenes muestran por qué este sistema de cuevas es tan peligroso: lo que comienza como una caverna amplia con luz natural se convierte rápidamente en una serie de túneles oscuros donde la visibilidad puede reducirse a cero.
Asimismo, la organización publicó el informe oficial de la misión de búsqueda y recuperación de los cuerpos en su página web. El operativo se extendió durante cuatro días, del 18 al 21 de mayo, y fue el resultado de una coordinación internacional que involucró a la Fuerza Nacional de Defensa de Maldivas, el Servicio de Policía de Maldivas, un equipo finlandés de buceo técnico, el Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores de Italia y otras organizaciones locales. DAN Europe difundió las primeras imágenes del equipo de rescate en la sección inicial de la caverna, donde todavía accede la luz. (Foto: Sami Paakkarinen/DAN Europe/Instagram @daneurope.)
El primer día operativo estuvo dedicado a la inspección del sistema de cuevas y a la identificación de la ubicación de los buzos desaparecidos, lo que se completó con éxito. Durante el segundo y el tercer día, el equipo llevó a cabo la recuperación de los cuerpos “en condiciones ambientales y operativas de gran complejidad”. El cuarto y último día se destinó a retirar todo el equipamiento y los materiales que habían quedado en el interior de la cueva. Todo lo recuperado fue entregado a las autoridades competentes.
La entrada de la cueva Thinwana Kandu. (Foto: Sami Paakkarinen/DAN Europe/Instagram @daneurope.)
Cómo es la cueva y dónde estaban las víctimas
El informe describe con precisión la estructura del sistema de cuevas que atrapó a los buzos. El acceso “se realiza a través de una primera cámara, una gran caverna”. Desde allí, “parte un túnel que conduce a una segunda cámara de grandes dimensiones, completamente a oscuras”, con un “fondo arenoso que puede reducir considerablemente la visibilidad si se altera”, señala el comunicado. La imagen muestra las secciones internas de la cueva, donde disminuye la visibilidad. (Foto: Sami Paakkarinen/DAN Europe/Instagram @daneurope.)
Fue durante las operaciones de búsqueda cuando el equipo identificó “un túnel adicional que se ramificaba desde esa segunda cámara”, ubicado a un lado del túnel de entrada. Al explorar ese ramal, los rescatistas encontraron a los cuatro turistas italianos en la misma zona, juntos. Los cuerpos fueron recuperados por un quipo de buzos finlandeses. (Foto: Sami Paakkarinen/DAN Europe/Instagram @daneurope.)
La evaluación preliminar de DAN Europe señala: “Se presume que los buceadores no pudieron encontrar el camino de regreso a la salida, probablemente debido a la desorientación dentro del sistema de cuevas”. La hipótesis es que, al intentar salir de la segunda cámara, confundieron el túnel lateral con el túnel de entrada y quedaron atrapados.
En el rescate, participaron tres buzos profesionales. (Foto: Sami Paakkarinen/DAN Europe/Instagram @daneurope.)
El informe aclara que cualquier “determinación adicional sobre las causas y circunstancias del incidente será responsabilidad de las autoridades policiales e investigadoras” de Maldivas, e instó al público y a los medios a “abstenerse de difundir suposiciones o especulaciones no verificadas, por respeto a las víctimas y sus familias”.
Leé también: Se casaron hace apenas 20 días y murieron en un accidente de tránsito
DAN Europe cerró el comunicado con un aviso de seguridad contundente: “Se recomienda encarecidamente no entrar en este sistema de cuevas sin la debida autorización, formación especializada en espeleobuceo y el equipo técnico apropiado. Los entornos de espeleobuceo son intrínsecamente peligrosos y solo deben ser explorados por buceadores altamente capacitados y debidamente equipados”.
maldivas, rescate, buzos
El entierro simultáneo de 20 campesinos asesinados en la comunidad de Rigores, Trujillo, volvió a exponer el profundo clima de miedo, violencia y conflicto agrario que durante décadas ha marcado al Bajo Aguán, una de las regiones más conflictivas de Honduras.
Entre llantos, escenas desgarradoras y reclamos de justicia, familiares y vecinos despidieron este viernes a la mayoría de las víctimas de una de las masacres más sangrientas registradas recientemente en el Caribe hondureño.
La tragedia no solo dejó a decenas de familias devastadas, sino que también reavivó el temor en comunidades campesinas que durante años han vivido bajo tensión debido a disputas por tierras, narcotráfico y presencia de grupos armados.
La mayoría de las víctimas fueron sepultadas entre las 7:00 y 8:00 de la mañana en el cementerio de Rigores, en medio de escenas de profundo dolor.
Hombres, mujeres y niños llegaron al camposanto para despedir a sus familiares mientras el llanto se escuchaba en distintos puntos de la comunidad.
“Yo quiero a mi abuelo”, gritaba desconsolada una niña mientras observaba el entierro de una de las víctimas.
Uno de los momentos más dolorosos ocurrió cuando tres hermanas fueron sepultadas juntas en una misma fosa, mientras que los hermanos Elmer y Wilmer Suchite, de 25 y 22 años, también fueron enterrados simultáneamente.
Los habitantes de Rigores describen la masacre como una de las peores tragedias ocurridas en la región del Aguán en las últimas décadas.
Tras la masacre, el temor volvió a apoderarse de los pobladores de la zona.
Muchos habitantes prefieren no hablar públicamente por miedo a represalias, mientras otros exigen anonimato para brindar testimonios sobre lo ocurrido.
Familiares de las víctimas aseguran que desconocen quiénes ejecutaron el ataque, pero reclaman que las autoridades actúen de inmediato para identificar y castigar a los responsables.
“Le corresponde al Gobierno y sus autoridades esclarecer este crimen y que se castigue con fuerza a sus autores”, expresó un familiar de una de las víctimas.
En la comunidad también circulan relatos estremecedores de sobrevivientes que escaparon por segundos de la escena del crimen.
El padre y el hermano de tres hermanas asesinadas lograron huir tras presenciar el ataque armado, según testimonios recopilados en la zona.
La región del Bajo Aguán es considerada una de las zonas agrícolas más importantes de Honduras debido a sus tierras fértiles utilizadas para cultivos de palma africana, maíz, frijoles y otros productos.
Sin embargo, también es uno de los territorios más violentos del país debido a un conflicto agrario que ha dejado más de 200 muertos durante las últimas décadas.
La disputa enfrenta históricamente a campesinos y terratenientes por el control de tierras reclamadas por comunidades agrícolas desde las décadas de 1970 y 1980.
Pobladores sostienen que muchas familias campesinas reclaman derechos históricos sobre terrenos que posteriormente fueron vendidos y quedaron bajo control privado.
Al mismo tiempo, organizaciones sociales denuncian que el conflicto se agravó con la presencia del narcotráfico y grupos criminales que operan en la región.
Aunque la Policía Nacional comenzó a desplegarse en la zona tras la masacre, muchos habitantes recuerdan con escepticismo que anteriores intervenciones militares no lograron detener la violencia.
Durante el gobierno de Xiomara Castro se creó una comisión especial para buscar una solución al conflicto agrario del Aguán, pero la problemática continuó sin resolverse.
Algunos pobladores denuncian además una supuesta alianza entre sectores políticos, estructuras criminales y terratenientes para mantener el control sobre las tierras más productivas de la región.
Mientras tanto, Rigores permanece sumida en el luto y el miedo tras una masacre que volvió a recordar que el conflicto en el Aguán sigue siendo una herida abierta en Honduras.
corresponsal:Desde Tegucigalpa, Honduras
INTERNACIONAL
NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani releases audit accusing federal immigration agents of misleading tactics
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Findings from audits of six New York City agencies intended to ensure compliance with the city’s sanctuary laws found that federal immigration authorities use aggressive and deceptive tactics, the office of Mayor Zohran Mamdani said Friday.
The audits and recommendations were part of Executive Order 13, which mandated a public safety audit for six specific city agencies: the Administration for Children’s Services (ACS), the New York Police Department (NYPD), and the Departments of Correction (DOC), Probation (DOP), Health & Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), and Social Services (DSS).
The order was issued by Mamdani upon taking office in an effort to fulfill a promise to protect the city’s immigrant communities.
The 19-page executive summary details the interactions between the agencies and federal immigration authorities, as well as recommendations to close loopholes and blind spots in the city’s sanctuary policies.
MAMDANI CLARIFIES NYC WON’T CHECK IMMIGRATION STATUS FOR UNIVERSAL CHILDCARE ENROLLEES
New York City mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani has said the NYPD will not assist federal immigration enforcement operations, reaffirming a promise he made on the campaign trail. A report outlying the results of an audit of six city agencies detailed loopholes and ways to strengthening the city’s sanctuary laws. (Nicolas Economou/Getty Images)
«The findings and recommendations released today will strengthen City agencies’ protocols when interacting with federal authorities and ensure that all New Yorkers, regardless of immigration status, can safely access the City services they deserve,» said Faiza Ali, commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs, in a statement.
Among the findings were that federal immigration authorities have intensified their targeting of city shelters, resulting in a sharp increase in detainer requests to the city’s Department of Correction and New York Police Department. The report also accused immigration authorities of using aggressive and misleading tactics.
The NYPD received 3,672 requests for civil immigration detainers in 2025—a massive spike from just 99 requests the previous year. The NYPD did not transfer any individuals to ICE in response to these requests.
MAMDANI VOWS NYPD WILL ‘NEVER’ GO BACK TO ADAMS-ERA COOPERATION WITH ICE ENFORCEMENT
In June 2025, personnel with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) visited a shelter and initially falsely identified themselves as Fire Department officials, the report states. They only admitted they were with DHS after a city employee demanded identification.
In April 2025, officers from several federal agencies, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), DHS, the FBI, and the DEA visited shelters ten times, sometimes in plainclothes. They used tactics such as asking to conduct «wellness checks» on children in order to inquire about specific clients. In other instances, agents presented subpoenas or administrative warrants, which do not legally authorize access to shelters, though they did present legally binding judicial warrants on two occasions (leading to one arrest).
In another instance, ICE agents entered a Department of Probation (DOP) building in Brooklyn and asked to use the bathroom, but then attempted to look through the facility’s sign-in book. Staff intercepted them, checked their identification, and escorted them out, the report said.
MAMDANI DECLARES HE’S READY FOR ‘ANY CONSEQUENCE’ FOR STANDING AGAINST TRUMP’S FEDERAL IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT
Mamdani has been a vocal opponent of ICE and the Trump administration’s immigration agenda. In a statement, he called the audit a «critical step towards strengthening compliance with our local laws and reinforcing New York City’s protections for immigrant communities.»
«I am proud to share key findings and recommendations from the audit that will ensure that we are responding to the changing nature of federal immigration enforcement and protecting the rights of all New Yorkers, regardless of immigration status,» he said.
In a statement to Fox News Digital, the White House urged leaders to cooperate with ICE.
«ICE officers act heroically to enforce the law and protect American communities — local officials should work with them, not against them,» White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson said. «Anyone doing otherwise is simply doing the bidding of criminal illegal aliens. The Trump Administration will not waver on enforcing federal immigration law.»
The recommendations in the report include:
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- Limiting the inclusion of immigration status details in pre-sentencing investigation reports.
- Strengthening internal protocols for tracking and publicly posting detainer requests.
- Revising shelter incident reports and protocols regarding access to city property.
- Establishing protocols requiring the NYPD Communications Division to notify its Operations Division about any 911 calls or requests involving federal immigration authorities.
police and law enforcement, new york city, immigrant rights, zohran mamdani, sanctuary cities
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