El Salvadoran president coolly brushes off Ilhan Omar's election meddling, then flips her critique



Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) took a break from Somali politicking Wednesday to call on the Biden administration to meddle in El Salvador's domestic affairs ahead of its national election.

El Salvador's hugely popular president thanked the radical congresswoman for sparing him from her endorsement ahead of his likely re-election Sunday. After indicating precisely what her "attacks" meant to him, President Nayib Bukele flipped the script on Omar and other concern-mongers.

A 'threat to democracy' supported by 90% of voters

Bukele, 42, has transformed El Salvador from a blood-soaked gangland into a nation with the second-lowest homicide rate in the Americas — all inside a five-year window.

There were 51 homicides per 100,000 in 2018, the year prior to Bukele's initial election. The homicide rate fell to 7.8 in 2022 under his leadership, such that El Salvador saw fewer homicides that year (495) than were reported in Chicago during the same period (695). The homicide rate in El Salvador last year was reportedly 2.4 per 100,000.

To achieve this end, Bukele's administration has taken extreme measures, admittedly overstepping and cracking down on some civil rights. His administration has also allegedly thrown over 2% of the adult population behind bars, most of whom are supposedly suspected or known gang members.

Bukele's crackdown on crime, selective suspension of civil liberties, and warrantless arrests have earned him the loathing of both Democrats and liberal publications — the Economist said he was poised to "become Latin America's first Millennial dictator." However, his ability to bring relative peace to El Salvador has also won him the support of his countrymen.

According to Reuters, Bukele's approval ratings hover around 90%. The South China Morning Post indicated that a January 2024 opinion poll from the University of Central America's Public Opinion Institute indicated 82% of voters supported Bukele. By way of contrast, the latest Economist/YouGov poll put President Joe Biden's disapproval rating at 54%.

Tyler Mattiace, Americas researcher at Human Rights Watch, characterized Bukele as "one of the biggest risks for human rights and for democracy that we see in Latin America right now" but acknowledged the president is popular because of his perceived efficacy.

"Bukele is incredibly popular," said Mattiace. "We see a growing number of people in countries across Latin America who are supporting this kind of authoritarian populism because they believe that it could be the only way to address rising levels of violence."

Bukele's approach might be appealing to those nations that observed the utter failure of leftist Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador's "hugs not bullets" approach.

Omar gets involved in another foreign election

Just days after supporting the re-election of Said Abdullahi Deni, head of the northeastern Somali state of Puntland, Rep. Ilhan Omar led other leftist Democrats in urging Secretary of State Antony Blinken to "address ongoing threats to democracy and human rights in El Salvador."

"President Bukele is amassing power and establishing authoritarian rule in El Salvador. The Members of Congress are urging the State Department to review its relationship with El Salvador and use America's diplomatic influence to defend democratic values," said a statement accompanying the letter.

Democrats and the liberal media have in recent weeks increasingly conflated democracy and its well-being with electoral results they find preferable.

"President Bukele has also, during his first term, overseen the militarized harassment of the legislature, a significant erosion of judicial independence, and the de facto criminalization of civil society," said the letter. "Much of this persecution has been done with the active complicity of El Salvador's judicial system."

While Omar's letter suggested that "it is not the place of the United States government to determine who is eligible to run for President in a foreign country, nor to pick winners," she nevertheless suggested that the United States lean on El Salvador ahead of its election.

The letter tells Blinken to

  • "restrict security assistance and other support for the Salvadoran police and military";
  • rework aid mechanisms to ensure direct funding to NGOs and "Salvadoran civil society" rather than through intermediaries;
  • denounce the legal mechanism by which Bukele has curbed gang violence; and
  • send "an unequivocal message on the importance of respecting constitutional and democratic norms."

"The State Dept must review its relationship with El Salvador and defend democratic values," added Omar. "The Salvadoran people deserve free and fair elections without fear of repression."

The congresswoman's post was quickly slapped with community notes highlighting that Bukele was democratically elected with a clear majority in 2019; his party secured a majority in the legislative assembly; and a "president can be re-elected in El Salvador if in the 6 months prior to taking office he was not in charge."

Bukele thanks Omar

Bukele responded to Omar Wednesday on X, writing, "We are HONORED to receive your attacks, just days before OUR election."

"I would be very worried if we had your support," added Bukele. "Thank you."

In addition to retweeting Omar's post, ostensibly as a badge of honor, Bukele turned Omar's critique around, writing, "I think the United States should have free and fair elections."

I think the United States should have free and fair elections.
— (@)

The El Salvadoran president continued trolling Omar, sharing a critic's comment noting, "Democrats ask to interfere in El Salvador's elections so that they are 'clean.' The joke tells itself."

Bukele also shared a comment stating, "Considering recent history, perhaps [Bukele] could send some Salvadorian electoral officials to the US to help ensure free and fair elections."

— (@)

Milena Mayorga, El Salvador's ambassador to the U.S., added, "Then they say they do not interfere in our elections."

Soon, others piled on, ridiculing Omar and celebrating Bukele's response.

Former Rep. Mayra Flores Vallejo (R-Texas) wrote, "We need more Presidents like [Bukele] in the world. @Ilhan doesn't represent America. She has not love or respect for our country."

Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) noted that Bukele "is bringing peace and prosperity to El Salvador. He's doing a fantastic job of ridding their streets of violent cartel thugs and fighting for his people!"

Roger Kimball, editor and publisher of the New Criterion, stressed that Bukele, "along with Javier Millei, is the most impressive leader in the Western hemisphere."

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'Israel is a democracy': President Biden says Democrats who accuse Israel of being an apartheid state are 'wrong'



During an interview with Channel 12 News Israel, President Joe Biden disagreed with those in the Democratic Party who accuse Israel of being an apartheid state.

"I think they're wrong," Biden said. "Israel is a democracy. Israel is our ally."

Biden also said that he does not believe there is any chance that either the Democratic Party or a large contingent of the GOP would turn its back on Israel.

\u201cMore from exclusive @POTUS interview with @N12News: voices in the Democratic Party calling Israel an apartheid state are \u201cfew, and they are wrong\u201d\u201d
— Yonit Levi (@Yonit Levi) 1657734238

There is a rift in the Democratic Party between the many Democrats who support the nation of Israel and those who accuse Israel of being guilty of apartheid.

"The Israeli apartheid government’s ongoing ethnic cleansing seeks to degrade Palestinian humanity and break the will of the people to be free," Democratic Rep. Rashida Tlaib of Michigan said, according to a May press release.

Democratic Rep. Cori Bush of Missouri has also accused Israel of apartheid. "Congress must stop our tax dollars from funding Israel's apartheid practices," she said in a January tweet.

\u201cThis week, Israeli police dragged 15 members of the Salhiya family out of their home and then bulldozed it.\n\nThis is not an isolated incident. This is apartheid.\n\nCongress must stop our tax dollars from funding Israel's apartheid practices. #SaveSheikhJarrah\u201d
— Congresswoman Cori Bush (@Congresswoman Cori Bush) 1642718894

In a tweet last year, Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota indicated that being "on the right side of history" involves describing Israel as "an Apartheid state."

"While many in the west are still uncomfortable calling Israel an Apartheid state, this Israeli man was saying it four years ago. It’s time to get on the right side of history," Omar tweeted, apparently referring to a video that she had posted in a prior tweet.

\u201cWhile many in the west are still uncomfortable calling Israel an Apartheid state, this Israeli man was saying it four years ago. It\u2019s time to get on the right side of history.\u201d
— Ilhan Omar (@Ilhan Omar) 1621219743

During his tenure in office, former President Donald Trump moved the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jersusalem.

"The Embassy of the United States of America to Israel has been located on HaYarkon Street in Tel Aviv since the late 1960s. It was moved to Jerusalem on May 14, 2018. The building in Tel Aviv is now an Embassy Branch Office," according to embassy website.

Airline passengers sing Christian worship songs throughout cabin. Rep. Ilhan Omar is upset, prompting social media to ask, 'Why do you hate Christians?'



Viral video showed the moment proud Christians began worshipping on a flight from the U.S. to Germany, according to reports.

What are the details?

TMZ reported the video originated from a since-deleted Facebook post by Jack Jensz Jr., who is purported to be a pastor and founder of Kingdom Realm Ministries.

In the video, shared by Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), two people can be seen walking the aisle of what is reported to be an EasyJet flight to Europe.

The two can be heard singing while one plays the guitar, leading others in their seats to join in on the worshipping.

According to a report from the Daily Dot, Jensz posted the same video to his Instagram page earlier this month.

“#Jesus is taking over this Flight,” he wrote in the video’s caption, the outlet reported.

According to TMZ, Jensz and Kingdom Realm Ministries were traveling across Europe to support Ukrainian refugees when the impromptu worship service broke out.

Jensz's wife, Lilly, appeared to corroborate the reports through her Instagram posts.

In one post, the Jenszes can be seen with a vast quantity of groceries. The photo is captioned, “Church, because of your generosity, we were able to supply a van full of medicine, food, hygiene products to two pastors who host refugees in their cities from Eastern Ukraine as well as help their congregation and city as products are impossible to get now in their area. They were overwhelmed with your generosity! We are continuing to pray for Ukraine and doing what we can to help.”

What else is there to know about this?

On Saturday, Omar shared the video to Twitter and captioned it, "I think my family and I should have a prayer session next time I am on a plane. How do you think it will end?"

At the time of this reporting, Omar's tweet has received more than 21,000 comments and has been viewed more than 32 million times.

I think my family and I should have a prayer session next time I am on a plane. How do you think it will end?pic.twitter.com/5696Erwsl5
— Ilhan Omar (@Ilhan Omar) 1650165166

Her remarks drew heavy criticism.

"Why do you hate Christians, Ilhan?” Georgia House candidate Vernon Jones asked. “If the freedom of religion we enjoy here in America disturbs you, feel free to pack your bags and head back to Somalia, Sudan, or wherever you’re from. Take your brother with you.”

Former congressional candidate Buzz Patterson added, "I spent decades flying in the Middle East. We weren’t even allowed to bring Bibles into the countries or worship. This sort of impromptu singing would turn into arrests and imprisonment. I’ll celebrate our freedoms here. You do you"

Florida congressional candidate Jose Castillo wrote, "In America, Muslims can & do pray in public. If she wants a country where Christians aren’t allowed to do the same @IlhanMN should go back to her own country.

Cicely Davis, who is running against Omar for the Minnesota seat, added, "Qatar — a country you’re very familiar with — plays Islamic prayers on the intercom before takeoff on their planes. They have a designated prayer area & coordinates for Mecca are posted on the screens. It’s no problem. The issue is you hate Christians & Jews & lots of Muslims."

Twitter user and filmmaker Jonathan Kołodziej Durand chimed in on the conversation and said that he witnessed the group ministering to Ukrainians earlier in the month.

He wrote, "I just spent a week volunteering at the train station in Przemysl, Poland, right across from the Ukrainian border & saw the same people there. They were playing to Ukrainian refugees stuck waiting hours for transportation, who'd just fled from the bombing of Kharkiv & Mariupol."

I just spent a week volunteering at the train station in Przemysl, Poland, right across from the Ukrainian border & saw the same people there. They were playing to Ukrainian refugees stuck waiting hours for transportation, who'd just fled from the bombing of Kharkiv & Mariupolpic.twitter.com/yXjtlUhAPv
— Jonathan Ko\u0142odziej Durand (@Jonathan Ko\u0142odziej Durand) 1650217740

'This is wildly immoral': Ilhan Omar is outraged that Biden is considering asking Saudis to pump more oil



Democrat Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota was outraged at a report saying President Joe Biden, also a Democrat, is considering asking Saudi Arabia to pump more oil as gas prices skyrocket at home.

Axios reported that Biden may make a trip to Saudi Arabia in spring to ask for increased gas production as energy prices jump skyward as a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Omar lashed out at Biden over the suggestion.

"Our response to Putin’s immoral war shouldn’t be to strengthen our relationship with the Saudis who are currently causing the worst humanitarian crisis on the planet in Yemen," tweeted Omar.

Our response to Putin\u2019s immoral war shouldn\u2019t be to strengthen our relationship with the Saudis who are currently causing the worst humanitarian crisis on the planet in Yemen. \n\nYemenis might not matter to some geopolitically but their humanity should. This is wildly immoral act.https://twitter.com/jimvandehei/status/1500596667581620224\u00a0\u2026
— Ilhan Omar (@Ilhan Omar) 1646612456

"Yemenis might not matter to some geopolitically but their humanity should," she added. "This is wildly immoral act.

Since 2015, Saudi Arabia has helped the Yemeni government fight against an insurgent movement by the Houthi Islamists, a group which has been labeled as a terror group.

Others criticized the report for different reasons. Republican Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas excoriated the Biden administration for seeking foreign sources of oil after shutting down domestic production.

"Two weeks after Biden banned new drilling on federal lands he's begging Saudi Arabia to drill for more oil. Does he think that only American energy is bad for the environment?" tweeted Cotton.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters Monday that there was no plan yet for Biden to visit Saudi Arabia. She also went on to say that they would not be increasing domestic oil production to ease the oil crisis but instead spun the crisis to validate their anti-oil policies.

“It’s a reminder that real energy security comes from reducing our dependence on fossil fuels,” she claimed.

Also on Monday, the stock market continued to tank in response to high oil prices and the escalating war in Ukraine from Russian invasion.

Here's more about gas prices skyrocketing:

Gas prices soar as Russian attacks on Ukraine continue l GMAwww.youtube.com

Ilhan Omar surprises with reaction to GiveSendGo donor hack: 'Journalists need to do better'



In our hyper-politicized discourse, Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) offered on Wednesday what many of her critics may find to be a surprising position: She defended GiveSendGo donors whose privacy was breached and shared on the internet.

What is the background?

After a hacker breached GiveSendGo, the Christian-based crowdfunding platform that was being used to fundraise for the Freedom Convoy protests in Canada, media members on both sides of the border began identifying donors and demanding that they answer for their contributions.

Enter, for example, Tammy Giuliani, owner of Stella Luna Gelato Café in Ottawa. Her business was forced to close due to threats after media revealed that she had contributed $250 to support Freedom Convoy demonstrators.

An editor at the Ottawa Citizen highlighted the story on social media and appeared to suggest that Giuliani was supporting a violent movement — despite the Freedom Convoy protests remaining peaceful, yet politically inconvenient — by noting that Giuliani made her donation when Canadian law enforcement were describing demonstrations as "volatile and dangerous."

At least one reporter from the Washington Post reached out to people whose donation information was illegally breached to ask them why they supported the Freedom Convoy protests.

What did Omar say?

Responding to the ongoing incident, Omar condemned journalists' actions as "unconscionable" and urged them to "do better."

She was specifically responding to the harassment of Giuliani.

"I fail to see why any journalist felt the need to report on a shop owner making such a insignificant donation rather than to get them harassed," Omar said. "It’s unconscionable and journalists need to do better."

I fail to see why any journalist felt the need to report on a shop owner making such a insignificant donation rather than to get them harassed. It\u2019s unconscionable and journalists need to do better. https://twitter.com/alisonmah/status/1493676835028099072\u00a0\u2026
— Ilhan Omar (@Ilhan Omar) 1645052262

While Omar was praised for her response, others pointed out the person she was responding to — the Ottawa Citizen editor — did not personally dox Giuliani.

While that is true, the substance of Omar's criticism also remains true: the media took advantage of an illegal breach of data and began exposing donors of the Freedom Convoy protests, which led to harassment.

Anything else?

GiveSendGo announced Wednesday the introduction of new security measures to prevent further breach of data. The company also confirmed that no money was stolen, and credit card data was not obtained in the hack. So far, more than $9.5 million has been raised for the freedom demonstrators.

Aubrey Cottle, an infamous hacker, has taken credit for hacking GiveSendGo.

"Yes, I tossed the trucker. I hacked GiveSendGo, and I'd do it again. I'd do it a hundred times. I did it. I did it. Come at me. What are you going to do to me?" Cottle admitted in a TikTok video. "I'm literally a famous f***ing cyberterrorist, and you think that you can scare me?"

Ilhan Omar's office claims ads from pro-Israel group are putting her 'life at risk' by 'baselessly' quoting from her statements



Leftist Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) has had no problem likening the United States to Hamas and the Taliban or accusing Israel of committing "unthinkable atrocities" and horrible human rights abuses.

But if pro-Israel groups hit back, her modus operandi appears to be to get testy and accuse them of putting her life in danger.

What happened?

In June, Omar upset a large number of people by equating the U.S. and Israel to Hamas and the Taliban.

Omar claimed in a tweet that the U.S., Israel, Hamas, and the Taliban have all committed "unthinkable atrocities" and human rights abuses.

"We must have the same level of accountability and justice for all victims of crimes against humanity," she said as the world was still dealing with the repercussions of thousands of Hamas rocket attacks on Israel in May.

The tweet included a clip of Omar questioning Secretary of State Antony Blinken on how those who perpetrate human rights abuses — including, she said, Hamas, the Taliban, and Israeli security forces — will be held accountable.

Even a dozen of her fellow Democratic lawmakers came out to condemn her statements. After the dustup, reports surfaced that the rift between Omar and congressional Democrats was more significant than previously reported, with some Democratic lawmakers reportedly calling her an "anti-Semite" privately.

The American Israel Public Affairs Committee, also known as AIPAC, began running an ad recently that goes directly after the lawmaker's attacks on the United States and Israel.

Rep. Omar’s office did not like having @AIPAC baselessly quoting her. https://t.co/M4TB0eDdE9

— Chris Field (@ChrisMField) 1628715874.0

And Omar did not take kindly to AIPAC's criticisms, Fox News reported.

Her spokesman, Jeremy Slevin, hopped on Twitter Wednesday to claim the group's attack ads — which responded directly to the congresswoman's statements — were "Islamophobic" and to accuse the group of endangering Omar's life.

"The language AIPAC uses in paid ads to smear and vilify [Rep. Omar] is virtually identical to the language used in death threats she gets," Slevin said in a post that included a screenshot of an AIPAC ad that took issue with Omar's statements. "Make no mistake: AIPAC is putting Rep. Omar's life at risk with repeated Islamophobic attack ads."

"It shouldn't have to be stated, but baselessly linking Muslim-Americans to terrorism is *the* textbook example of Islamophobia and is routinely used to silence advocacy for Palestinian human rights," he continued.

Fellow "Squad" member and radical leftist Democratic Rep. Rashida Tlaib (Mich.) responded to Slevin's post with a tweet of her own: "I am so sick of this s**t."

Image source: Twitter/@RashidaTlaib screenshot

AIPAC replied to Slevin's attack by saying, "Your baseless attack on us can't deflect from [Omar's] attack on America and Israel."

"It is outrageous for Rep. Omar to put the U.S. and Israel on the same level as the Taliban and Hamas," the group added. "There is no moral equivalence between democratic allies and the terrorists who target them."

Your baseless attack on us can't deflect from @Ilhan's attack on America and Israel.It is outrageous for Rep. Oma… https://t.co/oRvwmonSMn

— AIPAC (@AIPAC) 1628713523.0

AIPAC told Fox News it stands by the ad.

"The ad concerning Representative Omar is completely fair and accurate," an AIPAC spokesperson said. "It is not a personal attack and highlights her outrageous statement putting the United States and Israel on the same level as the Taliban and Hamas."

Mark Levin: These Are Islamist American Marxists

Mark Levin: These Are Islamist American Marxists

Rep. Ilhan Omar compares US to Hamas and Taliban terrorists, says all are guilty of 'unthinkable atrocities'



Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) on Monday seemingly compared the United States and Israel to Hamas and Taliban terrorists.

Hamas, the Gaza-based terrorist group, is officially classifiedby the U.S. government as a "foreign terrorist organization." However, Taliban soldiers who terrorize Afghanistan are not technically part of a U.S.-designated terrorist group.

What are the details?

Omar, one of the most far-left members of Congress, claimed the U.S. and Israel — along with Afghanistan, Hamas, and the Taliban — have committed "unthinkable atrocities" and human rights abuses.

"We must have the same level of accountability and justice for all victims of crimes against humanity," Omar said.

We must have the same level of accountability and justice for all victims of crimes against humanity. We have see… https://t.co/Aq6WVVv1mO

— Rep. Ilhan Omar (@Ilhan) 1623094457.0

The context of Omar's inflammatory claim included her questioning Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Monday about how perpetrators of human rights abuses — she cited the Israeli security forces and Hamas, the Afghanistan government and the Taliban — will be held accountable, especially because the U.S. government opposes the International Criminal Court, the global tribunal tasked with prosecuting war crimes.

Why exactly, then, Omar invoked the U.S. in her tweet and lumped America into a group with terrorist organizations is unclear — unless she is also publicly accusing the U.S. of committing war crimes and human rights abuses.

Omar did not elaborate on what crimes against humanity she thinks the U.S. is guilty of committing. Interestingly, Omar did not cite the U.S. when she questioned Blinken.

What about Israel?

During military tensions between Israel and Hamas last month — which started when Hamas terrorists began launching rockets from Gaza into Israel — Omar accused Israel of committing war crimes.

"We need accountability for every war crime committed. And we need to stop underwriting crimes against humanity while doing nothing to end the occupation," Omar said.

Omar also criticized President Joe Biden for moving forward with a proposed arms sale to Israel, saying, "The United States should not stand idly by while crimes against humanity are being committed with our backing."

Despite accusations of war crimes, human rights abuses, and even claims that Israel is operating an "apartheid" state, Israeli leaders take special precautions to prevent civilian causalities during military campaigns against Hamas, even calling off military strikes if it means saving innocent lives.

The reason many non-military Gaza residents are killed when military tensions flare is because Hamas operates from residential areas, knowing their strikes will prompt a response from Israeli forces. By locating themselves in residential and civilian areas, Hamas allows Gaza civilians to become causalities knowing international media will provoke empathy for the Palestinian cause.

AOC and other Democrats lash out at Biden for keeping Trump's 'racist' refugee cap after promising major increase during the campaign



President Joe Biden received a tidal wave of criticism on Friday following the announcement that the administration would not increase refugee admissions this year. Much of the backlash that Biden received for keeping the historically low refugee caps set by former President Donald Trump was from fellow Democrats, including the outspoken Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.).

While running for president, Biden promised to reverse much of the immigration policies of the Trump administration. Biden made a campaign pledge to drastically increase Trump's refugee cap of 15,000 per year to 125,000, and promised to "raise it over time commensurate with our responsibility, our values, and the unprecedented global need."

The Biden campaign website states:

Increase the number of refugees we welcome into the country. With more than 70 million displaced people in the world today, this is a moment that demands American leadership. Offering hope and safe haven to refugees is part of who we are as a country. As a senator, Joe Biden co-sponsored the legislation creating our refugee program, which Trump has steadily decimated. His Administration has reduced the refugee resettlement ceiling to its lowest levels in decades and slammed the door on thousands of individuals suffering persecution, many of whom face threats of violence or even death in their home countries. We cannot mobilize other countries to meet their humanitarian obligations if we are not ourselves upholding our cherished democratic values and firmly rejecting Trump's nativist rhetoric and actions. Biden embraces the core values that have made us who we are and will prioritize restoring refugee admissions in line with our historic practice under both Democratic and Republican Administrations. He will set the annual global refugee admissions cap to 125,000, and seek to raise it over time commensurate with our responsibility, our values, and the unprecedented global need.

However, Biden is on track to accept the fewest number of refugees this year of any modern president, including Trump, according to a report from the International Rescue Committee.

"Over the first half of this fiscal year, the precipitous downward trajectory of refugee admissions seen under the Trump administration endures," the IRC said. "If the current pace of admissions continues – and if the Trump administration's admissions policies remain in place – the Biden administration will admit an estimated 4,510 refugees in FY21, less than half of the last year of the Trump administration and fewer than any President in history."

In February, Biden's State Department issued a report to Congress proposing to increase the cap to 62,500 for the current fiscal year, according to CBS News.

Democrats wrote a letter to Biden earlier this month demanding that he act and raise the refugee cap.

"Having fought for four years against the Trump Administration's full-scale assault on refugee resettlement in the United States, we were relieved to see you commit to increasing our refugee resettlement numbers so early in your Administration," Democratic lawmakers wrote. "But until the Emergency Presidential Determination is finalized, our refugee policy remains unacceptably draconian and discriminatory."

Despite his campaign promise, the State Department's recommendation, and a plea from fellow Democrats, Biden will continue with Trump's refugee cap number of 15,000.

Prominent Democrats were enraged by the Biden administration's decision to continue Trump's refugee cap.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez: "Completely and utterly unacceptable. Biden promised to welcome immigrants, and people voted for him based on that promise. Upholding the xenophobic and racist policies of the Trump admin, incl the historically low + plummeted refugee cap, is flat out wrong. Keep your promise."

Rep. Ilhan Omar: "As a refugee, I know finding a home is a matter of life or death for children around the world. It is shameful that @POTUS is reneging on a key promise to welcome refugees, moments after @RepSchakowsky@RepJayapal, myself and others called on him to increase the refugee cap."

Joaquin Castro: "I strongly disagree with the Biden administration's decision to maintain Trump's historically low refugee policy. Raising the refugee resettlement cap is vital for American global leadership and to restore the soul of our nation. I urge the President to keep his promise."

Rep. Joe Neguse: "America has long been a beacon of hope to refugees around the world, including my family. As a son of refugees & Co-Chair of the Congressional Refugee Caucus, proud to join @RepJayapal @Ilhan and @janschakowsky in imploring the Biden administration to honor our nation's values."

Rep Pramila Jayapal: "It is simply unacceptable and unconscionable that the Biden Administration is not immediately repealing Donald Trump's harmful, xenophobic, and racist refugee cap that cruelly restricts refugee admissions to a historically low level."

Rep Pramila Jayapal: “It is simply unacceptable and unconscionable that the Biden Administration is not immediately… https://t.co/eqMKSX5moN
— Yamiche Alcindor (@Yamiche Alcindor)1618597720.0

There were swift reactions by press members, included Washington Post White House reporter Seung Min Kim, who wrote on Twitter, "One thing to remember is that the 62,500 refugee figure Biden pledged was already a prorated figure for a fiscal year that was half over. An apples-to-apples comparison is that Biden pledged 125,000 refugees and decided to stick with 15,000. Quite the stunning drop."

Julie Davis, congressional editor at the New York Times, showed the similarities of the rationale of Biden and Trump on their refugee cap decisions.

Biden's team is using the same rationale to justify a historically low refugee cap as Trump's did, pointing to the… https://t.co/etRjy88vnH
— Julie Davis (@Julie Davis)1618598876.0

The Atlantic writer Adam Serwer tweeted, "Biden maintaining Stephen Miller's refugee policy is not something anyone should defend. It's a disgrace."

Axios reporter Jonathan Swan reacted by saying, "Biden keeps the Trump / Stephen Miller refugee cap. Genuinely curious to hear Biden allies explain how what was 'racist' and 'cruel' under Trump is now enlightened and humane."

Stephen Miller, who spearheaded the Trump administration's immigration policy, chimed in, "Thoughts on this announcement: 1. This reflects Team Biden's awareness that the border flood will cause record midterm losses *if* GOP keeps issue front & center 2. Staggering # being released at border DWARF # saved by not raising cap 3. Refugee cap should be reduced to ZERO*."

Curfew imposed on Minneapolis to prevent rioting, but Rep. Ilhan Omar obtains exemption for Muslims observing Ramadan



Local and state officials imposed a curfew Monday on Minneapolis in order to prevent violence from possible protests over a police shooting, but Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) said she obtained an exemption for Muslims observing Ramadan.

Tensions arose quickly after 20-year-old Daunte Wright died from a police shooting Sunday afternoon in nearby Brooklyn Center. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said Monday that he had declared a state of emergency and announced a curfew of 7 p.m.

Almost immediately, Omar, who is also a Muslim, complained that the curfew might interfere with other Muslims trying to observe the first day of Ramadan.

My office reached out to the Minneapolis Mayor and Governor's offices to urge them to include an exemption to the c… https://t.co/rzThIRfrSc
— Ilhan Omar (@Ilhan Omar)1618268879.0

"My office reached out to the Minneapolis Mayor and Governor's offices to urge them to include an exemption to the curfew this evening for travel to and from Ramadan activities/prayer services," Omar tweeted.

"The Governor's Executive Order was just announced with that exemption so that folks are able to observe the first night of Taraweeh this evening without fear of arrest," she added in a second tweet.

Wright had been pulled over by police who discovered that he had an outstanding arrest warrant. When they attempted to arrest him, he broke loose and jumped back into his vehicle. An officer shot him as he tried to drive away. Wright was able to drive away, but then later crashed into another vehicle. Wright died at the scene.

Police told reporters on Monday that the officer who shot and killed Wright believed that she was holding a Taser and not a gun. The police released the bodycam video that showed the officer yelling, "Taser! Taser! Taser!" before she shot.

Some complained to Omar that it was unfair to allow Muslims to avoid the curfew while others were not allowed to protest against the police.

The death of Wright increased tensions already at a height over the trial of Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer who kneeled on the neck of George Floyd who died in police custody.

Here's more about the unrest in the Minneapolis area:

Protesters, police clash over Minneapolis shootingwww.youtube.com