INTERNACIONAL
Dem state election board under fire after ICE-arrested superintendent surfaces on voter rolls
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EXCLUSIVE: Maryland’s voter rolls are coming under House Republican scrutiny after it was discovered that an illegal immigrant serving as a superintendent of a massive school system in Iowa was fraudulently registered to vote in Maryland, Fox News Digital learned.
House Committee on House Administration chair Bryan Steil, R-Wisc., and Vice Chair Laurel Lee, R-Fla., sent a letter to Maryland State Board of Elections Administrator Jared DeMarinis on Thursday demanding answers regarding Ian Andre Roberts’ registration to vote in the state despite not holding U.S. citizenship. The House Administration Committee oversees House operations and oversight and also is charged with considering proposals to amend federal election law.
Roberts’ voter registration documents have faced intense scrutiny from conservatives, including when a Maryland county board of elections released redacted versions of the files in November that blacked out how Roberts answered the citizenship question.
«The Committee is concerned about the integrity and accuracy of Maryland’s citizenship verification processes, and therefore the state’s voter rolls. To assist the Committee’s oversight of this matter, please provide the following information as soon as possible,» the letter read, hitting the election chief with 10 questions related to the state’s voter role vetting process and the prevalence of illegal immigrants on voter rolls.
LEGAL THREAT CRACKS OPEN VOTER RECORDS FOR ILLEGAL SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT NABBED BY ICE
Former Des Moines, Iowa, superintendent Ian Andre Roberts, who was detained by ICE and federally charged. (Polk County Sheriff)
The committee is pressing for details, asking: «Is Roberts still a registered voter in Maryland?;» «Has Mr. Roberts ever voted in Maryland? If yes, what election(s) did he participate in?;» «Was Mr. Roberts ever mailed an absentee ballot? If yes, for which election(s)?» and «How does the State Board of Elections fulfill their obligations under 52 U.S.C. §20507 to conduct a general program to remove ineligible voters from the rolls?»
Maryland is a Democratic state, with the party controlling the offices of governor, secretary of state, attorney general and both chambers of the state legislature.
Roberts worked in Baltimore City Schools between August 2001 and June 2010, including serving as a teacher, resident principal and principal at various points across his career in Maryland, local media previously reported.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials arrested Roberts, who originally is from Guyana, in September. Roberts was working as the superintendent of the Des Moines, Iowa, public school system at the time of his arrest, which sparked widespread interest and concern that an illegal immigrant was in such a high-profile position despite his employment authorization card expiring in 2020.
The arrest opened the floodgates to investigations into Roberts’ past, including uncovering a lengthy criminal history in the U.S. that stretches back to 1996, when he was charged with criminal possession of narcotics with intent to sell in New York.
Roberts also was discovered to be a registered voter in Maryland. It is illegal for noncitizens to vote in federal or state elections.
Maryland, along with five other states, was additionally hit with a lawsuit earlier in December filed by the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division for «failure to produce their statewide voter registration lists upon request,» according to the DOJ.
«The Department of Justice’s lawsuit against the Maryland Board of Elections is a stark reminder of the deep-seated issues plaguing our voter registration system,» Republican state delegate Matt Morgan, who is chair of the Maryland Freedom Caucus, said of Maryland’s voter roles to Fox Digital.
«For years, we’ve heard dismissals that non-citizens voting ‘never happens,’ yet Ian Andra Roberts’ story is irrefutable proof to the contrary. These revelations highlight serious flaws that undermine public trust and the integrity of our elections. The Maryland Freedom Caucus supports the DOJ’s efforts to protect our democracy by ensuring only citizens vote,» he continued.
HEAVILY REDACTED VOTING RECORDS FOR SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT NABBED BY ICE SPARK OUTRAGE
The Roberts saga heightened in November after the American Accountability Foundation filed a public records request to obtain Roberts’ voter registration documents. The Prince George, Maryland, Board of Elections returned heavily redacted documents that blacked out Roberts’ sex, whether he checked the citizenship box, his date of birth and other information.
A vote here sign ahead of the 2025 election cycle. (Mark Kauzlarich/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Conservative legal group Restoring Integrity and Trust in Elections (RITE) sent the board a warning letter shortly after to provide unredacted versions of the documents or face a potential court battle. The county board complied in December, revealing Roberts fraudulently stated he was an American citizen on the documents.
«When election officials attempt to hide eligibility records, the public loses the ability to verify that the law is being followed,» Restoring Integrity and Trust in Elections CEO and President Justin Riemer said in a December press release of the unredacted version of the files. «Once the records were produced, we saw just how weak Maryland’s safeguards really are. This is unfortunately all too common around the country and federal laws do little to help stop noncitizens from registering to vote.»
The Maryland State Board of Elections previously said Roberts did not vote in elections.
«Records released by the Maryland State Board of Elections confirm that a noncitizen has successfully registered to vote in Maryland on at least two occasions,» Steil and Lee continued in the letter. «The situation prompts ongoing concerns that states are not verifying the citizenship of registrants. Oversight of federal elections is critical to inform potential legislative reforms and safeguard the integrity of federal elections. The Committee is therefore seeking information from the Maryland State Board of Elections.»
DEM SCHOOL BOARD CHAIR DROPS SENATE BID AFTER ‘RADICAL EMPATHY’ BACKLASH OVER ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT SUPERINTENDENT
The letter also took issue with the heavy redactions to Roberts’ documents when they were initially released.
«Mr. Roberts repeatedly claimed U.S. citizenship and remained a registered voter in Maryland for years, despite leaving the state over a decade ago,» they wrote. «The American Accountability Foundation filed a public records request for Mr. Roberts’s voter registration application. The original release of the documents contained heavy, intentional redactions, including Mr. Roberts’s answer to the citizenship question. The subsequent release of Mr. Roberts’s application still redacts crucial information such as the source of his voter registration application.»
Republican Wisconsin Rep. Bryan Steil is leading the charge in demanding answers from the Maryland Board of Elections regarding illegal immigrants on voter roles. (Greg Nash/Pool via Reuters)
The committee leaders argued that the «recurring redactions suggest that Maryland is either concealing an accidental voter registration of an illegal alien or withholding information about its failure to verify citizenship.»
The county board of elections told Fox News Digital Wednesday that «the Prince George’s County Board of Elections adheres to all legal and statutory requirements under the Federal and State Election Laws, as well as the processes and requirements set forth within the Maryland Code of Regulations (COMAR.)»
«Following a review of the (Maryland public information act) request by legal counsel, and after consultation with the Maryland State Board of Elections, given consideration to the NVRA statutory laws as well as the accompanying reported Federal Cases addressing the subject of Election Board voter information disclosures, it was determined that some of the information in question concerning Mr. Robers could not be redacted. The situation concerning the previously redacted information was immediately rectified,» election administrator Wendy Honesty-Bey said in an email to Fox News Digital.
Republicans say that illegal immigrant Ian Andre Roberts being registered to vote in Maryland raises serious concerns about the state’s voting processes. (Keith Srakocic/AP Photo and ICE)
Roberts was taken into the U.S. Marshall’s custody and will face prosecution, the Department of Homeland Security said in October.
SEARCH FIRM BEHIND ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT SUPERINTENDENT SELECTION RECRUITS TOP SCHOOL LEADERS NATIONWIDE
Roberts’ arrest, itself, also was mired in controversy. He attempted to flee law enforcement officers, according to the Department of Homeland Security, and was found to be in possession of $3,000 in cash, a Glock 9 mm pistol and a hunting knife at the time of his arrest.
Roberts was criminally charged Oct. 2 with being an illegal alien in possession of firearms, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
The charges are his latest in a lengthy rap sheet that goes back to 1996.
Roberts first arrived in the U.S. in 1994, according to the Department of Homeland Security, and faced a charge for third-degree unauthorized use of a vehicle in Queens, New York, in 1998 that was later dropped, a 2012 conviction for reckless driving in Maryland, second-degree criminal possession of a weapon and other weapons charges in 2020, and a 2022 conviction for unlawful possession of a loaded firearm in Pennsylvania.
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The Iowa Board of Educational Examiners revoked Roberts’ education license following his arrest, and he is no longer permitted to serve as a superintendent in the state. The district is now suing the executive search firm that helped hire Roberts for breach of contract, negligent misrepresentation, general negligence and is also seeking monetary damages, Fox Digital previously reported.
Fox News Digital reached out to Roberts’ attorney for any updates on the case.
«We’re reviewing all allegations at this point to determine their veracity,» Brandon Brown, an attorney for Roberts, told Axios in October.
illegal immigrants,immigration,elections,maryland
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The Trump administration is reshaping when Americans can enter national parks for free – adding President Donald Trump’s birthday as a fee-free day while eliminating Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Juneteenth in a move already drawing criticism from civil rights leaders.
Although presidents often revise the list, the changes are sparking criticism from civil rights advocates and Democratic lawmakers who say the removals undercut holidays that honor Black Americans’ history and contributions.
The shift in free-entry days marks a notable break from the 2025 calendar, which leaned heavily on long-established public lands celebrations and civil rights observances.
This year’s lineup included Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Juneteenth, National Public Lands Day, and the kickoff to National Park Week – all of which disappear under the 2026 schedule.
TOP TRUMP DEPARTMENT ROLLS OUT CHRISTMAS TREE SAVINGS PLAN: ‘MAKING THIS SEASON BRIGHTER’
Yosemite National Park visitors take a look at El Capitan rock formation and Bridalveil Fall from Tunnel View in Yosemite Valley in California. (Craig Kohlruss/Fresno Bee/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
In their place, the Trump administration has added a slate of historically themed or presidentially-aligned dates. President Donald Trump’s birthday on June 14 becomes a fee-free day for the first time, as do Constitution Day, the 110th anniversary of the National Park Service, and the birthday of Theodore Roosevelt.
The agency is also shifting some observances to federal holidays with broader national recognition, including Presidents’ Day, Memorial Day and a three-day Independence Day weekend.
YOSEMITE RANGERS BUST OUTLAW JUMPERS OFF EL CAP — ZERO TOLERANCE, SHUTDOWN OR NOT
The Trump administration is making changes to which days the public will be able to access National Parks for free in 2026, adding President Donald Trump’s birthday as one day, and removing Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Juneteenth. (Rick Bowner/AP Photo)
Veterans Day remains the lone date carried over from both years, underscoring how dramatically the free-day calendar is being remade heading into 2026.
FOX 5 in DC reported that some civil rights leaders have voiced opposition to the changes.
National Parks Conservation Association spokesperson Kristen Brengel told the station that the elimination of Martin Luther King Jr. Day is concerning, adding that the day had become a popular day of service for community groups that use it to conduct volunteer projects at the parks.
SQUATTERS TAKE OVER YOSEMITE AS SHUTDOWN LEAVES POPULAR NATIONAL PARK WITH FEW RANGERS: REPORT
Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., also weighed in on the changes in a post on X on Friday.
«Let’s be clear here: both MLK Jr. Day and Juneteenth were free entry days last year,» she wrote. «The President didn’t just add his own birthday to the list, he removed both of these holidays that mark Black Americans’ struggle for civil rights and freedom. Our country deserves better.»
Fox News Digital has reached out to the White House regarding the changes.
AMERICA’S NATIONAL PARKS ARE AT A CROSSROADS. HERE’S HOW CONGRESS CAN PROTECT THEM
An entrance sign for Colorado’s Rocky Mountain National Park. (John Greim/LightRocket via Getty Images)
The Department of Interior is pairing the new free-day schedule with a broader overhaul of how visitors access national parks beginning Jan. 1, 2026.
The agency is rolling out fully digital America the Beautiful passes – including annual, military, senior, fourth-grade and access passes – that can be purchased and displayed on mobile devices through Recreation.gov. Visitors will be able to activate passes instantly and still link them to physical cards if needed.
Officials say updated validation tools and new training for park staff are intended to speed up entrance lines and simplify visitor experiences across the system.
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE ANNOUNCES IT WILL RESTORE, REINSTATE STATUE HONORING CONFEDERATE GENERAL ALBERT PIKE
Yellowstone National Park sign and entrance. President Trump added his birthday to the list of dates that people can enter national parks for free. (iStock)
«President Trump’s leadership always puts American families first,» Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum said. «These policies ensure that U.S. taxpayers, who already support the National Park System, continue to enjoy affordable access, while international visitors contribute their fair share to maintaining and improving our parks for future generations.»
The department is also refreshing annual pass designs with new patriotic artwork that will appear on both digital and physical versions.
Alongside the digital rollout, the administration announced it is shifting its fee structure to emphasize lower costs for U.S. residents and higher prices for international visitors.
The annual pass will remain $80 for Americans but jump to $250 for nonresidents. Foreign visitors who do not hold a pass will pay an added $100 per person at 11 of the most visited national parks.
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The agency is also broadening access for motorcycle riders by allowing all America the Beautiful passes to cover two motorcycles instead of one.
Interior officials say the increased revenue from higher nonresident fees will be directed toward facility upgrades, maintenance projects, and visitor services across the park system.
national parks,donald trump,parks
INTERNACIONAL
Chechen leader threatens Zelenskyy amid drone strike, echoes alleged assassination plot
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Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov’s threats against Ukraine following a drone strike echo a 2022 plot to infiltrate Kyiv and target President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, a former Ukrainian government official has said.
The leader’s latest threat came after a Ukrainian drone reportedly struck a high-rise building near Kadyrov’s home in Grozny on Nov. 5.
The strike prompted the Chechen strongman to vow retaliation in an online video post, according to Reuters.
«This new threat would just be another assassination threat for Zelenskyy. The Chechens are really serious about revenge,» a former government official told Fox News Digital.
RUSSIAN CRUISE MISSILES HIT US COMPANY IN MASSIVE UKRAINE STRIKE AMID TRUMP’S PEACE PUSH
Head of Chechnya Ramzan Kadyrov smiles prior to Russian-UAE talks on December 6, 2023, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Getty Images)
«But in Kyiv they are not panicking about this like they were in 2022,» the former official said under condition of anonymity.
«Zelenskyy is now better protected, feels more powerful and is less fragile,» they said.
The recent Ukrainian strike, reported by Reuters, hit the 28-story Grozny-City tower that sits roughly 830 meters from Kadyrov’s home.
TRUMP EYES NEW SANCTIONS ON PUTIN AFTER LARGEST-EVER DRONE ATTACK
Ramzan Kadyrov is one of Vladimir Putin’s most aggressive enforcers. (Rob Welham/Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
Kadyrov, who is loyal to Russia, later allegedly confirmed the attack in a Telegram post, stating there were no casualties, but he condemned the strike as making «no tactical sense.»
He also warned that retaliation was imminent.
«Starting tomorrow and in the course of the week, the Ukrainian fascists will be feeling a stern response,» he threatened.
Unlike Ukraine’s strike, he added, «we will not be making a cowardly strike on peaceful targets,» per Reuters.
Ukrainian attacks have hit sites in Chechnya before now, including a police barracks and a training academy. Chechen units were also deployed during Russia’s 2022 invasion and were among the Kremlin’s most loyal forces.
RUSSIA LAUNCHES MASSIVE DRONE AND MISSILE BARRAGE ON UKRAINE HITTING KYIV, OTHER TARGETS THROUGHOUT COUNTRY
Russian and Chechen soldiers in a devastated Mariupol neighborhood close to the Azovstal frontline. (Maximilian Clarke/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
At the time of the 2022 invasion, the official said there was intense anxiety in Kyiv.
«At the beginning of the large-scale invasion in 2022, Chechens were sent to Kyiv to murder top politicians,» the former official said.
«This included Volodymyr Zelenskyy and top politicians from the government and security services and Parliament, and many other agencies.
«Zelenskyy and Yermak were very scared,» they claimed. «They were calling from the office, asking some people in the military and security service to secure the metro station in Kyiv.»
The source said one metro station in Kyiv was a potential infiltration route for the Chechens into Zelenskyy’s presidential bunker.
RUSSIAN ATTACK ON UKRAINE LEAVES 25 DEAD IN TERNOPIL AFTER MASSIVE OVERNIGHT STRIKES
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky gives a press conference in Kyiv on February 26, 2025, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (Tetiana Dzhafarova/AFP via Getty Images)
At the time, the station in Kyiv that was deep underground and near the presidential bunker, was viewed as the most vulnerable entry route, the source said.
«They were afraid that Chechens would get to the bunker through this metro station, but in the end the Chechens were killed before they reached Kyiv.
«They tried to reach Kyiv, somehow downtown, somehow via the river, but it’s quite a complicated way to get there,» the former official said.
Meanwhile, with the Nov. 5. Grozny strike landing so close to his home, Kadyrov, already one of Putin’s most aggressive enforcers, is signaling a harsher stance as attacks reach inside Russian territory.
The Moscow Times reported that the drone struck a building that houses regional government offices, including the Chechen Security Council and agencies connected to tourism and religious affairs.
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Despite the rhetoric, the former Ukrainian official claimed Zelenskyy is unfazed this time around.
«These days, Zelenskyy isn’t afraid of Kadyrov’s actions against him or the Ukrainian people. Zelenskyy is feeling very powerful right now,» they added.
Fox News Digital has reached out to Zelenskyy’s office for comment.
volodymyr zelenskyy,ukraine,russia,vladimir putin,wars
INTERNACIONAL
Panamá se ofreció a recibir a miembros de la dictadura de Nicolás Maduro para facilitar una transición en Venezuela
Panamá afirmó que está dispuesto a asumir un papel de mediación entre Estados Unidos y Venezuela en un contexto marcado por el incremento de la presión internacional sobre el régimen de Nicolás Maduro.
El vicecanciller panameño, Carlos Hoyos, explicó que el país centroamericano analiza opciones para facilitar un canal diplomático directo entre Washington y Caracas, incluida la posibilidad de brindar acogida temporal a personas vinculadas al entorno de Maduro, como parte de un eventual proceso de negociación.
“El presidente José Raúl Mulino ha sido claro en que, si se requiere recibir a ciertos actores para facilitar un acuerdo, Panamá estaría dispuesto a evaluarlo de forma temporal”, declaró Hoyos durante su participación en el Foro de Doha.
Las declaraciones se producen meses después de que ambos países reactivaran parcialmente los servicios consulares, un vínculo que había quedado en pausa tras las objeciones de Panamá a las elecciones presidenciales venezolanas de 2024.
En aquel proceso, Maduro fue declarado vencedor en medio de denuncias de manipulación electoral. Estados Unidos y varios gobiernos de la región cuestionaron la transparencia de los resultados, mientras la oposición venezolana argumentó que el proceso se desarrolló sin garantías.
El incremento de tensiones también coincide con el despliegue de unidades militares estadounidenses en el Caribe. Washington sostiene que la operación busca frenar redes de narcotráfico, pero la dictadura chavista afirma que se trata de una maniobra que podría servir como plataforma para acciones orientadas a forzar un cambio político.
En una declaración reciente, Maduro aseguró que “Venezuela enfrenta una amenaza inaceptable” y acusó a Estados Unidos de promover “una política de presión permanente”.
A esto se suma el aviso emitido por la Administración Federal de Aviación de Estados Unidos, que instó a las aerolíneas a extremar la precaución durante vuelos sobre Venezuela y áreas del sur del Caribe.
El comunicado advirtió sobre un “entorno operativo impredecible” en la región, lo que generó efectos inmediatos en la conectividad aérea hacia y desde el país sudamericano, ya afectado por restricciones previas.
Panamá observa estos desarrollos con preocupación, en particular por la posible repercusión en el Canal, uno de los principales corredores marítimos del comercio global.
Hoyos recalcó que cualquier hecho que altere la estabilidad regional podría afectar el tránsito seguro.
“El Canal es crítico para el comercio internacional y para nuestra economía. Una interrupción tendría efectos globales”, explicó.
Autoridades panameñas han recordado que cada año la vía genera ingresos esenciales para el presupuesto estatal y sostiene una porción significativa del movimiento marítimo entre Asia, Norteamérica y Europa.
Respecto al papel de Estados Unidos en la protección de la vía interoceánica, Hoyos sostuvo que ambos países mantienen coordinación técnica constante.
“Estados Unidos siempre ha mostrado interés en garantizar que el Canal opere sin interrupciones”, afirmó.
Agregó que Panamá preserva el principio de neutralidad establecido por los tratados que regulan el funcionamiento de la ruta marítima.
Las relaciones entre Washington y Panamá habían sufrido fricciones a comienzos de año tras declaraciones del presidente Donald Trump, quien comentó que su administración buscaría “revisar la situación del Canal”.
Aquellas palabras generaron inquietud política dentro de Panamá, pero Hoyos señaló que el episodio quedó atrás.
“Ese impás está totalmente superado. Hoy las conversaciones se concentran en comercio, migración y seguridad”, dijo.
Funcionarios estadounidenses han reiterado en múltiples ocasiones que su interés principal consiste en mantener el funcionamiento estable de la vía.
Las autoridades panameñas esperan que la mediación contribuya a evitar un deterioro mayor en la relación entre Estados Unidos y Venezuela.
Según Hoyos, cualquier incidente de carácter militar en el Caribe tendría consecuencias inmediatas en la región. La postura de Panamá busca reducir la incertidumbre en un escenario donde se combinan tensiones geopolíticas, disputas electorales en Venezuela y decisiones de seguridad adoptadas por Estados Unidos.
(Con información de EFE)
Diplomacy / Foreign Policy,North America,NEW YORK CITY
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