INTERNACIONAL
McCaul touts money in Trump tax bill to pay Texas back for fighting Biden border policies

There’s a provision tucked into President Donald Trump’s broadly ranging «big, beautiful bill» that could see Texas get billions of dollars in funds that it spent on the state’s border security under the Biden administration.
The legislation earmarked $12 billion for a grant program allowing states to be reimbursed for costs they incurred trying to stem the flow of illegal immigration during the Democratic administration.
The measure was added to the bill hours before the final vote – but Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, the former chairman of the House Homeland Security and Foreign Affairs Committees, told Fox News Digital it was a product of months of negotiation.
«Early on, [Homeland Security Committee Chair Mark Green, R-Tenn., and I were discussing reconciliation going through the Homeland Security Committee. And, you know, there was about $70 billion for the border,» McCaul said. «Texas bore the brunt of the federal mission the last four years and deserves to be reimbursed. And so he agreed, had a conversation with Governor Abbott, and he agreed.»
HOUSE GOP TARGETS ANOTHER DEM OFFICIAL ACCUSED OF BLOCKING ICE AMID DELANEY HALL FALLOUT
Rep. Michael McCaul spoke with Fox News Digital about the weeks of talks it took to secure billions for states that incurred border-related costs during the Biden administration. (Getty Images)
While the text does not name Texas specifically, Fox News Digital was told that the measure’s inclusion was primarily sought by the Lone Star state’s congressional delegation.
The state of Texas, Fox News Digital was told, had incurred just over $11 billion in costs from Gov. Greg Abbott’s efforts to keep the border in his state secure.
«The fact of the matter is, when you look at the costs that were borne, Texas had the lion’s share of [the burden] carrying out the federal mission when the Biden administration completely failed to deliver on border security,» McCaul said. «My state built the border wall and built detention facilities. We bore a lot of costs.»
Operation Lone Star alone cost Texas $11.1 billion, according to The Texas Tribune.
Rather than add it to the initial text of the bill, McCaul said, leaders opted to include it in a «managers amendment» that was added on Wednesday night along with several other issues that lawmakers needed more time to negotiate.
«The legislative process, it’s something I’ve gotten to know over my 20 years and how to get things done up here. And I thought, you know, the way we worked it was strategically very smart,» McCaul said. «It’s going to the Senate now. And Senator Cornyn is going to take it up, be the champion in the Senate.»
The Texas Republican first met with Abbott and Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., on the matter in early February, Fox News Digital was told.

McCaul said Republican Study Committee Chairman August Pfluger also played a key role (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
McCaul said he also worked closely on the push with Republican Study Committee Chairman August Pfluger, R-Texas, who told Fox News Digital that «no state» carried more financial burden from the border crisis than Texas.
«Texas spent $11.1 billion on border security, including $5.87 billion on personnel costs and $4.75 billion on border wall and barriers. When the federal government failed to secure our border and protect our communities, Texans stepped up,» Pfluger said.
Johnson, for his part, thanked McCaul for his efforts in a public written statement.
«Thanks to Rep. McCaul, states that stepped up to protect Americans in the face of Biden’s border catastrophe will be reimbursed for doing the work the Biden Administration refused to do,» the speaker said. «Had those patriotic governors not taken action and used the resources of their state, the devastation from Biden’s wide-open border would have been significantly worse.»
MEET THE TRUMP-PICKED LAWMAKERS GIVING SPEAKER JOHNSON A FULL HOUSE GOP CONFERENCE
Green said of the need for the measure, «In the absence of help from the Biden-Harris administration, states were forced to take extraordinary measures to mitigate the crisis and protect their communities by building barrier systems and increasing law enforcement activity.»
And while McCaul and his colleagues’ efforts in the House do not guarantee that Texas will ultimately see those funds, it puts them one step closer to success.
The measure is one aspect in a multi-trillion-dollar bill that Republicans are working to pass via the budget reconciliation process.
By lowering the Senate’s threshold for passage from 60 votes to 51, reconciliation enables the party in power to pass certain fiscal legislation while completely sidelining the minority – in this case, Democrats.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s Operation Lone Star cost Texas over $11 billion (AP Photo/LM Otero, File)
Trump directed Republicans to use reconciliation to advance his policies on taxes, immigration, energy, defense, and the national debt.
The Senate and House must pass identical versions of the bill before it gets to Trump’s desk.
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McCaul told Fox News Digital that he was confident the measure would stay in the Senate bill after conversations with the Trump administration on the matter.
«I anticipate it will go forward,» McCaul said. «I’m, just proud that we were able to get this done. I’m very proud of what my state did to stop the flow of illegals and dangerous actors coming into the country.»
When reached for comment, Abbott told Fox News Digital, «This is a national issue that Texas was proud to address, and we are grateful for the allocation that reduces the financial burden that Texas incurred.»
House Of Representatives,Border security,Republicans
INTERNACIONAL
Fiscal estadounidense busca averiguar qué más sabe Ghislaine Maxwell del caso Epstein: se reunirán pronto

El fiscal general adjunto de los Estados Unidos, Todd Blanche, reveló este martes que inició los contactos para reunirse en la cárcel con la expareja del financista Jeffrey Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell, para averiguar «¿Qué sabe?» en concreto en la trama de delitos sexuales que los llevaron a prisión y que salpicó a empresarios, nobles y dirigentes políticos de ese país y Europa.
El anuncio del segundo en ranking jerárquico del Departamento de Justicia obtuvo el visto bueno del presidente Donald Trump que consideró «apropiada» la medida, en medio del revuelo que sigue generando el caso.
Justice demands courage. For the first time, the Department of Justice is reaching out to Ghislaine Maxwell to ask: what do you know? At @AGPamBondi’s direction, I’ve contacted her counsel. I intend to meet with her soon. No one is above the law—and no lead is off-limits. https://t.co/3IZh9viI7i
— Todd Blanche (@DAGToddBlanche) July 22, 2025
«Nadie está por encima de la ley y ninguna pista está descartada», advirtió Blanche en el posteo que publicó este martes en redes sociales que generó sorpresa cuando informó que «por primera vez, el Departamento de Justicia contacta a Ghislaine Maxwell para preguntarle: ¿Qué sabe?».
Maxwell que tiene ciudadanía británica, francesa y estadounidense cumple una condena a 20 años de prisión como aparente cómplice y captadora en la trama de delitos de abuso sexuales con menores de edad por la cual también había sido sentenciado Epstein, quien terminó muerto en la cárcel en 2019 «por suicidio», según las autoridades.
«Por orden de (la fiscal general) Pam Bondi, he contactado a su abogado. Tengo la intención de reunirme con ella pronto», afirmó el adjunto.
La fiscal Bondi, cuyo accionar siempre es destacado por Trump, fue cuestionada recientemente por no cumplir su promesa de publicar toda la evidencia de los delitos que se le adjudican a Epstein, luego de que en un encuentro en la Casa Blanca se repartieran a influencers copias de la investigación en las que se esperaba encontrar un listado de celebridades afines al magnate que nunca apareció.
Blanche remarcó que tras hablar con el abogado de Maxwell tenía «la intención de reunirme con ella pronto. Nadie está por encima de la ley y ninguna pista está descartada«.
Statement from @DAGToddBlanche:
This Department of Justice does not shy away from uncomfortable truths, nor from the responsibility to pursue justice wherever the facts may lead. The joint statement by @TheJusticeDept and @FBI of July 6 remains as accurate today as it was when… pic.twitter.com/uosIvk1818
— U.S. Department of Justice (@TheJusticeDept) July 22, 2025
Además, en otro posteo en X, señaló que si Maxwell «tiene información sobre cualquier persona que haya cometido delitos contra víctimas, el FBI y el Departamento de Justicia escucharán lo que ella tenga que decir«.
En agosto de 2024, Blanche como abogado había defendido a Donald Trump ante los estados de Nueva York por las acusaciones que le había hecho una joven estrella porno por un supuesto contrato irregular con el magnate que llegó dos veces a la Presidencia.
El abogado de Maxwell, David Oscar Markus, confirmó que el contacto oficial y, según la cadena CNN, afirmó que su clienta «siempre testificará con veracidad».
Poco después del anuncio, Trump afirmó en una rueda de prensa en la Casa Blanca que no tenía conocimiento de la decisión de Blanche pero que le parece una acción «apropiada».
Y, volvió a cargar contra las críticas que recibe por el manejo del caso como la «continuación de la cacería de brujas» a la que dice ser sujeto.
El manejo del caso Epstein ha creado una inesperada crisis entre los miembros del movimiento Make America Great Again (MAGA) del presidente Trump, después de que el FBI y el Departamento de Justicia concluyeran en una investigación que el financiero no contaba con una «lista de clientes» famosos para chantajear y confirmaran su muerte por suicidio en 2019.
Los simpatizantes del presidente manifestaron su insatisfacción con la Administración del republicano, que había prometido en campaña publicar dicha lista, una supuesta agenda de cómplices de Epstein que incluiría a celebridades y políticos influyentes que ha sido por años el centro de numerosas teorías de conspiración de la ultraderecha.
Trump, quien ha defendido «el gran trabajo» de Bondi, ordenó al Departamento de Justicia divulgar todas las pruebas «creíbles» del caso para aplacar a su base.
«Este DOJ no rehuye las verdades incómodas, ni la responsabilidad de buscar justicia dondequiera que los hechos lo requieran», agregó este martes Blanche, quien defendió la validez de los hallazgos del DOJ y el FBI.
Y, remarcó que «en la reciente revisión exhaustiva de los archivos del FBI en el caso Epstein, no se descubrió ninguna prueba que permitiera iniciar una investigación contra terceros no acusados«.
La polémica sobre el caso fue avivada la semana pasada con la publicación por The Wall Street Journal de una supuesta carta de contenido «obsceno» enviada por Trump a Epstein durante los años en los que eran amigos, algo que el presidente ha negado categóricamente diciendo la nota es «falsa».
SMB con información de EFE
Estados Unidos,Jeffrey Epstein,Donald Trump,Últimas Noticias
INTERNACIONAL
Ante la corrupción en el Ejército, el régimen de Xi Jinping recurre a la propaganda para contener la descomposición interna

El Ejército Popular de Liberación (EPL) de China intensificó esta semana su campaña ideológica interna con la publicación de un editorial que insta a los cuadros políticos militares a “decir la verdad” y “enfrentar los problemas de frente”. El mensaje, difundido en el Diario del EPL, órgano oficial de las Fuerzas Armadas, forma parte de una estrategia propagandística que busca contener el desgaste institucional tras los múltiples escándalos de corrupción que han sacudido a la cúpula militar.
“El ocultamiento de los problemas o el maquillaje de la realidad reflejan un carácter partidario impuro y motivaciones egoístas”, advierte el texto, publicado sin firma individual, pero atribuido a un comentarista oficial del diario. El artículo exige a los funcionarios políticos del Ejército —encargados de aplicar la línea ideológica del Partido Comunista— actuar con “moralidad e integridad” en un contexto marcado por purgas internas, ausencia de información y la caída de varios altos mandos por corrupción.
Los cuadros, sostiene el editorial, deben ser “luchadores, no caballeros”, una formulación que refuerza la visión autoritaria del régimen sobre el papel del liderazgo militar. Se invoca además la figura de Mao Zedong y otros líderes revolucionarios para legitimar la necesidad de “predicar con el ejemplo” en medio de lo que el propio texto califica como “riesgos superpuestos” para el Ejército.
La publicación llega apenas dos días después de que la Comisión Militar Central (CMC), máximo órgano castrense de China, emitiera nuevas directrices para reconstruir la credibilidad de las Fuerzas Armadas. El documento, también difundido por el Diario del EPL, establece “líneas rojas políticas” y limitaciones en las interacciones sociales de los oficiales, con el objetivo explícito de frenar redes de favores y tráfico de influencias.

Aunque no se mencionan nombres, ambos textos aparecen en medio del silencio oficial sobre el paradero y la situación legal de figuras como el general He Weidong, uno de los oficiales de más alto rango que ha desaparecido del espacio público sin explicación. Tampoco se ha informado sobre las causas reales que llevaron a la caída de los dos últimos ministros de Defensa, reemplazados en medio de investigaciones internas cuya existencia no ha sido formalmente reconocida por las autoridades.
La falta de transparencia, sumada a la sustitución del debido proceso por campañas ideológicas, ha sido una constante en la gestión del Ejército bajo el liderazgo de Xi Jinping. En lugar de una rendición de cuentas abierta, el régimen ha optado por reforzar el control político mediante discursos de moral partidaria, publicaciones anónimas y referencias simbólicas a la historia del Partido.
La coincidencia entre el tono del editorial y las nuevas normas disciplinarias revela un patrón habitual en el sistema de propaganda del Partido Comunista Chino: el uso de medios oficiales para ejercer presión indirecta, consolidar el poder de la jerarquía política y silenciar cualquier forma de disidencia dentro del aparato militar.

Lejos de ser un gesto de reforma, el llamado a la “honradez” y a la “verdad” se produce en un entorno donde la verdad institucional se decide desde arriba, sin mecanismos independientes ni espacio para el escrutinio público. En ese contexto, las apelaciones a la lealtad, la disciplina y la “pureza ideológica” funcionan como herramientas de blindaje para un régimen que prioriza la estabilidad política frente a la rendición de cuentas.
(Con información de EFE)
INTERNACIONAL
ICE chief warns AI technology could lead to safety risks for agents: ‘Fringe organizations’

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Far-left organizations could be using artificial intelligence and other technology to reveal the identity of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, acting ICE Director Todd Lyons told Fox News Digital in an interview.
Lyons’ remarks come as Democrats in Congress recently proposed the VISIBLE Act, which would require clear identification of ICE agents and prevent masking of federal immigration authorities in public-facing circumstances.
«If legislation passes to try to unmask ICE agents, they are not allowed to wear them, it runs the risk of agitators, different groups, you know, these fringe organizations using reverse technology, AI, to try to dox their families, try to get their identity, their home addresses,» Lyons said of the reaction from agents on the ground. «We’ve heard elected officials say there shouldn’t be any rest for ICE agents or their families.
«So they’re definitely concerned about that. They’re also concerned about their own well-being when they go out to effectuate these arrests because now we have to send more officers out into the communities because where we can send four or five to make arrests in the past, now we had to send up to eight or 10 just to protect the four that are making the arrests of one individual.»
MASSACHUSETTS BILL WOULD FORCE ICE AGENTS TO UNMASK
Residents surround federal and Border Patrol agents after an immigrant raid on Atlantic Boulevard in Bell, Calif., June 19, 2025. (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
He added that the safety risk does require more resources when conducting arrests. When ICE was conducting operations in Los Angeles in June, President Donald Trump sent in the California National Guard to the city with the goal of protecting agents and quelling riots. That move was legally challenged by California Gov. Gavin Newsom.
«The Marines are withdrawing. This is another win for Los Angeles,» Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass posted to X Monday.
ICE agents have faced an 830% increase in assaults since last year, according to DHS. However, proponents of the VISIBLE Act have said it’s nessescary for accountability.
«For weeks, Americans have watched federal agents with no visible identification detain people off the streets and instill fear in communities across the country,» Sen. Cory Booker, D-New Jersey, said in a statement July 8.
«Reports of individuals impersonating ICE officers have only increased the risk to public and officer safety. The lack of visible identification and uniform standards for immigration enforcement officers has created confusion, stoked fear and undermined public trust in law enforcement.»
DHS FIRES BACK AT DEMOCRATS FOR ‘BEYOND THE PALE’ RHETORIC AS ICE AGENTS FACE WAVE OF VIOLENT THREATS

Ten suspects were charged with attempted murder of a federal officer in an alleged July 4, 2025, ambush attack on the Prairieland Detention Center in Alvarado, Texas. (Johnson County Sheriff’s Office)
«Assault could be anything from resisting arrest where they assault the officers, whether they’re kicking, grabbing officers. It could be something as dramatic as what we saw in Alvarado, Texas, where we had local police ambushed with firearms,» Lyons said.
«You saw it during the recent marijuana grow farm raid operation, where we had an individual firing a handgun at ICE officers, rocks thrown at them. It’s everything from verbal assault to physical assault to threats of bodily harm, deadly force. It’s run the whole gamut.»
Authorities have charged 12 people in an alleged anti-ICE attack at the Prairieland Detention Center on Independence Day, including ten for alleged attempted murder of federal officers and gun offenses. Reports have indicated that some planning occurred through a Signal group chat, and Lyons noted that this was likely planned by the Dallas area activists for some time.
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«Death to ICE» is written on a garbage cart after multiple detentions by Immigration and Customs Enforcement in downtown Los Angeles June 6, 2025. (Reuters/Daniel Cole)
«Well, the FBI is doing a great job investigating it as a whole organized event,» Lyons said. «So, you saw where it was actually organized with social media, where you have organized people in a typical L-shaped ambush where you had escape vehicles. So, without getting too much into what the Department of Justice and the FBI do, there is definitely evidence that this was planned for a while, and it wasn’t just a spur-of-the-moment protest. These were agitators focused on assaulting law enforcement officers and assaulting ICE.»
In terms of facing these coordinated efforts, the director said it’s a matter of planning and looking at the information available before conducting an operation.
ACTING ICE DIRECTOR CALLS MAYOR WU’S NEO-NAZI COMPARISON ‘DISGUSTING’ AMID INCREASE IN AGENT ASSAULTS

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents look over lists of names and their hearing times and locations inside the Federal Plaza courthouse before making arrests June 27, 2025, in New York. (Bryan R. Smith/AFP via Getty Images)
«What we’re doing is definitely working with all of our federal partners as well as the state partners that do coordinate with us what we use and all the intelligence that we have at our disposal to go ahead and try to find out as much about these groups and as much as about these organizations and these planned events that we can to let our officers and agents know in the field prior to going out,» Lyons said.
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«So, we wanna make sure that officers are fully aware of what the situations they’re getting into, but we are also making sure that we’re properly staffed when we go out.»
In addition, he said recent funding from the «big, beautiful bill» would be to try to bring back personnel that «retired early» under the Biden administration and look at veterans and officials at the local and state levels who «already have the training» to «beef up» staffing at the agency.
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