Minnesota Democratic Gov. Tim Walz was slammed online by Republicans after proposing a $10 million emergency relief package for small businesses across the state impacted by the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown.

Walz unveiled the proposal Thursday after Border Czar Tom Homan announced that Operation Metro Surge in Minnesota would be ending. The proposal calls for forgivable loans ranging from $2,500 to $25,000 to be distributed to eligible businesses that are able to demonstrate «substantial revenue loss» during «specified dates» tied to the operation.

«The campaign of retribution by the federal administration has been more than a short-term disruption; it has inflicted long-term damage on Minnesota communities,» Walz said in a statement. «Recovery will not happen overnight. Families, workers, and business owners are feeling the effects, and our responsibility is clear: we will help rebuild, stabilize these businesses, protect jobs, and ensure Minnesota’s economy can recover and thrive.»

Republicans quickly criticized the proposal as Minnesota continues to face extensive fraud allegations.

CONVICTED MINNESOTA FRAUDSTER ALLEGES WALZ, ELLISON WERE AWARE OF WIDESPREAD FRAUD

President Donald Trump previously claimed that fraud in Minnesota exceeded $19 billion.

Dozens of people have been prosecuted in Minnesota in recent years for alleged large-scale welfare fraud schemes involving food assistance and autism services. Federal prosecutors have alleged the schemes stole hundreds of millions of dollars from taxpayer-funded programs, with separate investigations also examining alleged fraud in the state’s daycare system.

House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn. reacted to the governor’s proposal on X, saying, «BREAKING: Tim Walz opens up a new avenue for fraud in Minnesota.»

NOEM HAMMERS WALZ, FREY FOR IGNORING 1,360 ICE DETAINERS FOR CRIMINAL ILLEGAL ALIENS

Democratic Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz speaks to reporters after he announced that he would not seek reelection, at the Minnesota State Capitol on Jan. 5, 2026.  (Reuters/Tim Evans)

Minnesota Republican state Sen. Michael Holmstrom said on X that the proposal would be an «immediate NO from me,» adding that Minnesota taxpayers «do not deserve to have more money stolen from them.»

Others referenced fraud related to Minnesota’s daycare system, including Rep. Eli Crane, R-Ariz., who responded to the proposal on X, «Does that include learing centers?»

His post referenced a typo that read «Quality Learing Center,» which was eventually corrected. The Quality Learning Center was infamously featured in a video by YouTuber Nick Shirley, who visited multiple daycare centers across Minnesota that allegedly received public funds but were not providing any services.

SCOOP: THOUSANDS OF VIOLENT ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS ARRESTED IN MINNESOTA AS ADMIN VOWS ‘WE WILL NOT BACK DOWN’

Gov. Tim Walz unveiled an emergency loan plan tied to the economic impact of federal immigration enforcement under President Donald Trump. (Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images and Tibrina Hobson/Getty Images)

The governor’s office included a statement from Henry Garnica, the owner of CentroMex in East St. Paul, who said the past few months during the immigration operation have been «some of the hardest I’ve experienced as a business owner.»

«Sales are down, we have limited hours, and we have had to change how we operate,» he stated. That’s not who we are as a neighborhood store. This proposed forgivable loan package would give businesses like mine breathing room — to keep employees on payroll and keep our doors open. For some of us, it could mean the difference between surviving and closing for good.»

On Thursday, Walz demanded that the federal government «pay for what they broke» after the Trump administration said it would draw down its presence in the Twin Cities.

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Walz said during a news conference that federal law enforcement’s presence in the state was leaving «deep damage» and «generational trauma.»

Fox News Digital’s Michael Dorgan contributed to this report.

The USS Gerald R. Ford has been ordered to move from the Caribbean Sea to the Middle East, as President Donald Trump weighs whether to take military action against Iran amid tensions in the region, a U.S. official confirmed to Fox News.

This will put two aircraft carriers and their accompanying warships in the region. The USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier and three guided-missile destroyers arrived in the Middle East more than two weeks ago.

The USS Ford, which set out on deployment in June 2025, was sent from the Mediterranean Sea to the Caribbean last fall as the administration established a significant military presence ahead of the operation to strike Venezuela and capture its president, Nicolás Maduro.

SCOTT BESSENT SAYS IRAN UNDERSTANDS ‘BRUTE FORCE’ AS TRUMP WEIGHS OPTIONS AMID NUCLEAR STANDOFF

On Thursday, Trump warned Iran that failure to reach a deal with the U.S. regarding its nuclear program would be «very traumatic» after the two countries held indirect talks in Oman last week.

«It should happen quickly. They should agree very quickly,» he told reporters.

The move will put two aircraft carriers and their accompanying warships in the region. (Jonathan Klein/AFP via Getty Images)

Trump held talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday and said he insisted to the Israeli leader that negotiations with Iran must continue.

TRUMP SAYS IRANIAN SUPREME LEADER KHAMENEI SHOULD BE ‘VERY WORRIED’ AMID TENSIONS

The USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier and three guided-missile destroyers arrived in the Middle East more than two weeks ago. (Mike Blake/Reuters)

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Netanyahu is calling on the Trump administration to push Tehran to scale back its ballistic missile program and end its support for terror groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah as part of any deal.

Fox News’ Jennifer Griffin and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

El Partido Nacionalista de Bangladesh (BNP) se adjudicó una victoria contundente en las elecciones parlamentarias celebradas el viernes, la cual marcó el regreso del partido al poder tras el levantamiento de 2024 y el fin de 15 años de gobierno de la jeque y ex primera ministra de Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina.

Su líder, Tarique Rahman, está a punto de convertirse en primer ministro, según los resultados provisionales. El líder del BNP, Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, declaró una “victoria aplastante” y pidió a sus seguidores celebrar el resultado con oraciones en mezquitas, en vez de manifestaciones en las calles.

Miles de simpatizantes esperaron los resultados frente a las oficinas del partido durante la noche.

La embajada de Estados Unidos en Dhaka felicitó al vencedor de los comicios y al BNP por lo que calificó como una “victoria histórica”, según un comunicado de la embajada estadounidense en Dhaka.

El primer ministro de India, Narendra Modi, celebró la victoria del partido y congratuló a su líder: “Transmito mis más sinceras felicitaciones al Sr. Tarique Rahman por liderar al BNP hacia una victoria decisiva en las elecciones parlamentarias de Bangladesh. Esta victoria demuestra la confianza del pueblo bangladesí en su liderazgo. La India seguirá apoyando un Bangladesh democrático, progresista e inclusivo”

A las 8:00 am (horario local) del viernes, las proyecciones de medios locales indicaban que el BNP superó el umbral necesario para una clara mayoría en el Parlamento, con el canal Jamuna estimando 212 escaños para el partido.

La coalición islamista liderada por Jamaat-e-Islami, que realizó una campaña centrada en la justicia y la lucha contra la corrupción, alcanzó 70 escaños, un avance significativo respecto a elecciones previas.

La Comisión Electoral, que aún no ha publicado los resultados finales, anunció que el cómputo definitivo se dará a conocer el viernes por la mañana para 299 de los 300 distritos electorales. Otros 50 escaños, reservados a mujeres, serán asignados a partir de listas partidarias.

La votación transcurrió en su mayoría de manera pacífica, aunque la campaña estuvo marcada por enfrentamientos que causaron cinco muertes y más de 600 heridos. Observadores de la ONU advirtieron sobre un clima de intolerancia, desinformación y amenazas durante el proceso electoral.

El líder interino Muhammad Yunus, quien asumió tras la destitución de Hasina en agosto de 2024 y cuya administración prohibió la participación del parido de la jeque, instó a la calma y a la unidad nacional hasta la transición del poder.

Yunus, Premio Nobel de la Paz, impulsó una carta de reforma democrática que fue sometida a referéndum junto con las elecciones, y las proyecciones apuntan a un respaldo mayoritario del electorado.

Desde su escondite en la India, Hasina, condenada a muerte en ausencia, calificó las elecciones como “ilegales e inconstitucionales”. Entretanto, Rahman y el BNP celebran un triunfo que sus dirigentes interpretan como un mandato para dejar atrás los años de represión y renovar el sistema político bangladesí.

“Esta victoria era esperada. No es de extrañar que el pueblo de Bangladesh haya depositado su confianza en un partido (…) capaz de hacer realidad los sueños que nuestros jóvenes imaginaron durante el levantamiento”, reivindicó este viernes a la agencia AFP Salahuddin Ahmed, miembro destacado del comité del BNP.

El político eclipsado durante mucho tiempo por sus padres y heredero de una de las dinastías políticas más poderosas de Bangladesh, finalmente saltó a la fama.

A sus 60 años, el líder del Partido Nacionalista de Bangladesh (BNP) se prepara para hacerse cargo de la nación del sur de Asia de 170 millones de habitantes, impulsado por lo que él llama una ambición de “hacerlo mejor”.

Su ascenso marca un cambio notable para un hombre que regresó a Bangladesh en diciembre después de 17 años de exilio en Gran Bretaña, lejos de las tormentas políticas de Dhaka.

Ampliamente conocido como Tarique Zia, lleva un nombre político que ha marcado cada etapa de su vida. Tenía 15 años cuando su padre, el presidente Ziaur Rahman, fue asesinado en 1981.

(Con información de AFP)