NYC Mayor Adams keeps door open to GOP switch, plans meeting with Trump's border czar



On Friday, New York City Mayor Eric Adams (D) appeared to leave open the possibility of switching to the Republican Party in the future amid discussions about his plans to meet with President-elect Donald Trump's incoming border czar, Tom Homan, next week.

During an interview with NY1, Adams was asked whether he would consider rejoining the GOP. The mayor was a registered Republican from 1995 through 2002.

'Those who don't like it, they will cancel me.'

"The party that's the most important for me is the American party. I'm a part of the American party," Adams responded.

"I love this country," he continued. "This is the home of the free, the land of the brave."

In a later interview with PIX11, Adams was asked to clarify his remarks but again did not outright dismiss the possibility of leaving the Democratic Party.

"You know what the headlines are going to be now that you haven't said 'no' to becoming a Republican," a news anchor with the media outlet told the mayor.

"I think that's what people fail to realize is I'm not motivated by headlines. We need to move away from identifying, classifying ourselves as anything other than Americans," Adams responded.

"I'm an American," he said. "So, no matter what party I'm on or vote on, I'm going to push for the American values."

Adams remarked that voters made it clear that they are fed up with political "squabbling" and are seeking solutions.

The mayor stated that he plans to run his re-election bid as a Democrat. However, he noted that he anticipates some on the left will still move to "cancel" him.

"My focus is the American people and the people of New York City. And those who don't like it, they will cancel me, and I say, 'Cancel me,'" he declared, repeating similar comments he made earlier in the week.

During his Friday interviews, Adams announced that he would sit down with Homan next week to discuss the administration's strategies for deporting criminal illegal aliens from the city.

Homan said earlier this week that he is "willing to meet with anybody to help make their communities safer."

When asked about meeting with Adams, Homan told NewsNation's Chris Cuomo on Tuesday, "I'm looking for partnerships. I'm not looking for enemies."

Adams has been accused of flip-flopping on his position regarding immigration and New York City's sanctuary status. Despite his advocacy for deporting violent criminal illegal immigrants, he does not endorse mass deportations of those he considers law-abiding immigrants.

The mayor's commitment to work with the incoming Trump administration has drawn scrutiny, particularly amid the ongoing criminal investigation against him. Critics have speculated that Adams might be trying to gain favor with Trump to secure a pardon.

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Trump devises workaround to deport illegal aliens when home countries refuse to repatriate: Report



President-elect Donald Trump's incoming administration has reportedly devised a workaround to deport illegal aliens whose home countries are unwilling to take them back.

Trump's administration is currently compiling a list of countries for deporting illegal aliens should their countries of origin decline to accept deportation flights from the United States, according to a Thursday report from NBC News.

'President Trump was given a mandate by the American people.'

Multiple nations, including Venezuela, China, and Cuba, have previously refused to repatriate their citizens who have illegally fled to the U.S.

Sources with knowledge of the incoming administration's strategy informed NBC News that illegal aliens could potentially be sent to other countries for deportation.

Countries on the list reportedly include Turks and Caicos, the Bahamas, Panama, and Grenada, with the possibility of more being added.

A source told the news outlet that the incoming administration has already contacted government officials from the countries listed to negotiate arrangements for deportation flights.

NBC News noted that it remains unclear whether the deported immigrants would be granted legal authorization to reside and work in the countries to which they are sent.

Karoline Leavitt, a spokesperson for Trump's administration, told NBC News, "President Trump was given a mandate by the American people to stop the invasion of illegal immigrants, secure the border, and deport dangerous criminals and terrorists that make our communities less safe. He will deliver."

A spokesperson for the government of Panama told the media outlet, "The Panamanian government does not respond to assumptions and rumors. We cannot speculate in this regard. We prefer to engage with the new U.S. administration once it takes office."

Mexico's president and the Bahamas' prime minister told the outlet that they do not want to accept illegal aliens.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum stated, "Obviously, we are in solidarity with everyone, but our principal function is to receive Mexicans. And we hope to have an agreement with the Trump administration in case there are these deportations so that they can also send people who come from other countries to their countries of origin."

Philip Davis, a spokesperson for the Bahamas' prime minister's office, told NBC News that the administration presented the idea but that the Bahamas "firmly rejected it."

"The Bahamas simply does not have the resources to accommodate such a request. The prime minister ... remain[s] focused on addressing the concerns of the Bahamian people. Since the prime minister's rejection of this proposal, there has been no further engagement or discussions with the Trump transition team or any other entity regarding this matter. The government of the Bahamas remains committed in its position," the spokesperson said.

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Missouri state senator-elect proposes $1,000 bounty for turning in illegal aliens



Missouri state Senator-elect David Gregory (R) pre-filed a bill on Tuesday that, if enacted, would award $1,000 to individuals who turn in illegal aliens.

Senate Bill 72 would create a state-level crime of trespass by an illegal alien, which stipulates that an individual is guilty of the offense if he or she knowingly enters Missouri, remains, and is present "at the time a licensed bounty hunter or peace officer apprehends the person."

'Let's do this right to protect our people.'

The felony crime would carry a penalty of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.

According to Gregory's campaign website, the new trespassing law aims to detain illegal aliens "until the federal government agrees to deport them or they are vetted and released by the Parole Board."

"The Parole Board will have the authority to vet and release illegal aliens that are truly seeking asylum and/or are not determined to be a threat to Missourians," it read.

Gregory's proposed legislation also prohibits illegal aliens in Missouri from voting, obtaining a driver's license, receiving taxpayer-funded benefits, or becoming a state resident.

If enacted, the bill would direct the Department of Public Safety to create a reporting mechanism for residents accessible via a free hotline, email, and online portal. Residents will receive a $1,000 reward if their report leads to an arrest.

Additionally, Gregory's legislation proposes establishing the "Missouri Illegal Alien Certified Bounty Hunter Program," enabling individuals to become certified bounty hunters responsible for locating and apprehending illegal aliens. Those licensed as bail bond agents, general bail bond agents, or surety recovery agents are eligible to apply.

In March, Gregory told KTVI about his plan to propose making illegal immigration a state-level offense.

"Let's do this right to protect our people, because immigration is good; illegal immigration is bad," Gregory stated.

State Senator Brian Williams (D) accused Gregory of pointing fingers instead of finding solutions to the issues that matter to Missourians. He argued that the bill could have devastating consequences.

"Right now, it sounds like the public is going to not only get finger-pointing but potentially be subject to various situations of discrimination," Williams told KTVI.

Despite issuing warnings about the possible dangers of Gregory's bill, Williams also asserted that it is essentially "do-nothing" legislation designed merely to dominate headlines.

Attorney Javad Khazalei told KCTV, "As a civil rights attorney, this is great for me. It'll take one week for a Puerto Rican to be harassed. This is a classic demanding papers situation — you must have your papers everywhere. This is Nazi Germany stuff."

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NYC Dem challenges Mayor Adams' 'tough talk' on sanctuary policies: Reopen ICE outpost



New York City council member Robert Holden (D) challenged Mayor Eric Adams (D) to back up his "tough talk" with action concerning the city's sanctuary policies.

On Wednesday, Holden called for Adams to reopen the Immigration and Customs Enforcement outpost at Rikers Island, facilitating easier coordination between local law enforcement and federal immigration officers.

'Mayor Adams should reopen the ICE office at Rikers Island.'

Adams has faced criticism for waffling on his stance regarding sanctuary policies. Although the mayor insists he does not advocate for the deportation of law-abiding illegal aliens, he has intensified discussions about removing those accused of violent offenses.

While Adams has acknowledged that the city's sanctuary status has shielded criminal illegal immigrants from ICE, he argues that his hands are largely tied since the policies can be revised only by the city council.

On Tuesday, the mayor dared the left to "cancel" him over his commitment to work with the incoming Trump administration to facilitate the deportation of criminal illegal aliens.

Adams also noted that the city's taxpayers have doled out more than $6.4 billion to provide services to over 200,000 migrants.

"We all should be angry at what happened to our city under this administration," Adams declared, referring to President Joe Biden's administration.

"Cancel me, because I'm going to protect the people of this city," Adams remarked.

Last week, Holden encouraged his fellow Democratic peers to rethink their position on sanctuary policies, arguing that they are "shielding" criminal illegal immigrants from ICE.

In a letter to Adams, Gov. Kathy Hochul (D), and other city and state leaders, he pressed for the termination of sanctuary jurisdictions within New York.

Holden has applauded President-elect Donald Trump's incoming border czar, Tom Homan, for vowing to hold local leaders responsible for thwarting ICE's efforts with sanctuary policies.

On Wednesday, Holden challenged Adams to make good on his promise to cooperate with Trump's deportation efforts.

"Tough talk is good, but actions speak louder," Holden remarked. "The mayor had the chance to amend or repeal sanctuary city laws through his Charter Revision Commission but chose not to. Now, it's time to right these wrongs."

"To truly show commitment to public safety, Mayor Adams should reopen the ICE office at Rikers Island and give the NYPD, [Department of Corrections], [Department of Probation] the ability to communicate with ICE and honor detainers for criminal migrants," he said.

A spokesperson for Adams responded to Holden's comments, advising that he redirect his efforts toward convincing council members to reverse the sanctuary policies.

"Mayor Adams has repeatedly said that while we will continue to respect our city's sanctuary laws, we must also have a serious conversation about the small number of individuals who repeatedly commit violent crimes in our city and the consequences they should face," the spokesperson said. "We must also fix this nation's unsuccessful border policies that have led us to this place."

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DOGE reveals staggering cost of Biden's immigration crisis



The Department of Government Efficiency underscored this week the staggering cost of the Biden administration's ongoing immigration crisis, comparing the expense of it to other historic milestones and projects.

Based on data collected by the Federation for American Immigration Reform, the planned advisory committee, headed by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, reported that American taxpayers shelled out $150.7 billion in 2023 to address the immigration crisis.

'The scale of spending on illegal immigration boggles the mind!'

FAIR reached the amount by combining the total federal, state, and local expenses and subtracting the tax contributions from illegal aliens.

The organization estimated that the gross cost is $1,156 per year — per taxpayer.

"In 2017, FAIR estimated the net cost of illegal immigration at approximately $116 billion," the organization wrote. "This means that in just 5 years, the cost of illegal immigration has increased by nearly $35 billion. This rapid increase is a consequence of the ongoing border crisis and a lack of effective immigration enforcement. The sections below further break down and explain these numbers at the federal, state, and local levels."

New York City taxpayers have already spent $6.4 billion to support the 200,000 migrants who have entered the city since the beginning of the immigration crisis. Since December 2022, Denver has expended $356 million to provide housing, food, and other services for illegal immigrants.

DOGE highlighted FAIR's findings in a Monday post on X.

The department attempted to put the total "in context with other costs" after adjusting for inflation. It noted that World War I cost $334 billion, the Apollo Space Program $257 billion, the Manhattan Project $30 billion, the Panama Canal $15.2 billion, and the Hoover Dam $1 billion.

— (@)

Musk responded to DOGE's post, writing, "The scale of spending on illegal immigration boggles the mind!"

X users mocked Democrats for insisting it would be too expensive to deport illegal aliens or complete a border wall.

One user responded to DOGE's post asking, "How much would it have cost to keep those illegals out?"

Another user wrote, "How can we afford NOT to deport them?"

Over the past several weeks, DOGE has brought to light numerous instances of wasteful government expenditure, including the expenses related to vacant buildings resulting from remote work policies.

U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), who will head the nearly formed Senate DOGE Caucus, sent a letter to Musk and Ramaswamy last week outlining ways the department could slash $2 trillion in government waste. Her first suggestion was to reduce spending on unused or mostly empty buildings, calling it President Joe Biden's "billion dollar boondoggles."

On Wednesday, DOGE noted that the Social Security Administration approved an agreement with the American Federation of Government Employees allowing 42,000 employees to work remotely until 2029. An SSA spokesperson verified the telework agreement with Bloomberg. The AFGE claimed it would "secure staffing levels through prevention of higher attrition."

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Chicago cops train to identify Tren de Aragua while mayor vows to shield illegal aliens from deportation: Report



The vicious Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua has extended its reach in Chicago, Illinois, prompting the local police department to initiate training for its officers to identify the dangerous gang members.

Tren de Aragua has been linked to numerous crimes across the country, including retail theft and human trafficking.

'Tattoos are big with these guys.'

According to Chicago Police Department memos obtained by America First Legal and viewed by the New York Post, the gang has now expanded its criminal activity into dealing "pink cocaine," a mysterious illicit substance.

The memo read, "Drug of choice is Pink Cocaine which is a mixture of several drugs and can vary between different narcotics. E.g. Ecstasy, Amphetamines, LSD, or other synthetic drugs."

When recovering the substance, officers are advised to treat it similarly to fentanyl since "it is often used" as an ingredient.

A federal law enforcement source told the Post that the new drug sells for at least $100 per gram. Authorities are concerned about its growing popularity, especially considering there is no standard formula for it.

Drug Enforcement Administration special operations division chief Derek Maltz told the news outlet that it is "not like cocaine." He warned that TDA is "going to do everything they can to make money."

The CPD documents also revealed that officers are being trained on how to spot TDA-affiliated tattoos, which encompass a wide range of symbols, including doves, roses, owls, rifles, gas masks, trains, crowns, stars, pocket watches, the Michael Jordan logo, and Popeye the Sailor.

"Tattoos are big with these guys," the memo read. "They'll be seen dressed like rappers and wearing black & red jerseys like Bulls, Blackhawks or Jordan apparel."

While CPD ramps up training to combat TDA's presence in the city, Mayor Brandon Johnson (D) is doubling down on his commitment to shield illegal aliens from President-elect Donald Trump's mass deportation plans.

Chicago is a sanctuary city that prevents local law enforcement officers from cooperating with federal immigration agents.

Earlier this month, Johnson stated, "The president-elect, former President Trump, his threat is not just toward new arrivals and undocumented families. His threats are also against black families."

"We're going to stand up and protect undocumented individuals," he declared.

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Deporting criminal illegal aliens from sanctuary city will 'take a lifetime,' warns NYC ICE director



Kenneth Genalo, the director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement's New York City field office, warned that "it would take a lifetime" to deport the criminal illegal aliens currently residing in the city.

Since the spring of 2022, over 223,000 immigrants have arrived in New York City.

'The majority of these crimes that are being committed are against ... migrant females and the migrant children.'

On Friday, Genalo told the New York Post that his regional ICE office requires "additional resources" to handle the ongoing immigration crisis.

He stated that "it would take a lifetime to clear the city of the criminals that we have," given New York City's current trajectory.

Genalo suggested that his field office, which includes 400 workers, is investigating thousands of cases per day.

"The fact is that I have to focus all of my resources on the worst of the worst, the most egregious violators. All I can tell you is we have leads that we work every day — and it's not in the hundreds," Genalo told the Post.

He noted that New York City's sanctuary policies are hindering ICE from detaining and deporting criminal illegal aliens.

Genalo expressed interest in testifying before the city council to "educate" far-left members on the dangers of the city's current policies.

"The only people they're shielding are the criminals, and they're shielding the criminals from us," he told the Post.

"The majority of these crimes that are being committed are against the most vulnerable people in the community, and that's the migrant females and the migrant children. I don't understand how they believe sanctuary policies are helping or assisting," Genalo explained.

According to ICE data, through July 21, of the roughly 7.8 million illegal aliens in the country, more than 660,000 are convicted felons or are facing pending criminal charges.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams (D) has also previously called on the city council to roll back sanctuary policies.

"The mayor knows we need to cooperate," Genalo told the news outlet. "He sees what's going on in New York City, and he wants help from the federal government."

Meanwhile, New York Governor Kathy Hochul (D) slammed the Biden administration after its Customs and Border Protection announced on Tuesday that it would be reducing office hours at many ports of entry, including four along New York's northern border.

Hochul said, "While the Biden-Harris Administration has achieved measurable success in enhancing southern border security, New York is experiencing a dramatic increase in irregular crossings along our northern border."

"We need to expand enforcement at the northern border today, and I call on the U.S. Customs and Border Protection to reverse this decision," she added.

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Trump vows mass deportations as Democratic cities RESIST efforts



President-elect Donald Trump is doubling down on his promise of mass deportations, announcing plans to use the U.S. military to carry out the largest deportation effort in U.S. history.

In a recent post on Truth Social, Trump confirmed he plans on declaring a national emergency and deploying military assets to assist in removing millions of undocumented migrants — and incoming border czar Tom Homan is completely on board.

“As far as a deportation operation, we will prioritize public safety threats and national security threats because they’re the biggest. They pose the biggest danger to the United States,” Homan said in a recent interview on Fox News.

Homan went on to explain that the deportation operation will be “out of the gate” and the “priority.”


“Second thing is secure that border, lock that border down, and catch and release, and secure the border,” he continued, adding, “We got over 300,000 missing children.”

Those children, Homan claimed, were released by the Biden administration.

“Some of these children are in forced labor, we already found some in forced labor, some are in forced sex trafficking, some are living with pedophiles. We need to save these children,” he added.

Pat Gray of “Pat Gray Unleashed” is thrilled with Homan’s appointment but notes that “liberal politicians are promising they’re not going to cooperate.”

One of those politicians is Boston Mayor Michelle Wu.

“Elections have consequences, and the federal government is responsible for a certain set of actions and cities,” Wu said in a recent interview.

“No individual city can reverse or override some parts of that, but what we can do is make sure that we are doing our part to protect our residents in every possible way, that we are not cooperating with those efforts that actually threaten the safety of everyone by causing widespread fear and having large scale economic impact,” she continued.

The police chief in Los Angeles, California, was also reported to have said he would not participate in any deportations.

“Continue to support illegal activity in this country,” Gray comments, adding, “Your family must be proud.”

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Massachusetts to boot illegal alien families out of overrun shelter system — but won't aid Trump's deportation efforts



Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey (D) announced on Friday that her administration plans to cut state-run shelter costs by tightening stay limits for families with children.

At present, families have a nine-month stay limit in taxpayer-funded accommodations. However, this duration will soon be capped at six months.

'Governor Healey is only making this change so she can hang her hat on saying she is doing something.'

A Friday press release from Healey's administration framed the new policy as a cost-cutting measure to reduce the amount of taxpayer dollars going toward lodging to house homeless local and illegal alien families. Ultimately, the administration's stated goal is to phase out the use of hotels and motels from the state's shelter model, which has been overrun amid the ongoing immigration crisis.

The administration claimed the move would "help more families find stable, permanent housing."

Beginning on December 10, families will either be placed on the "Rapid Shelter Track," which offers a 30-day stay for those who can obtain "self-sufficient permanent housing," or the "Bridge Shelter Track," which provides six months of housing to "high-risk families and those with more complex needs."

Healey stated, "In recent years, the state's family shelter system has grown to be increasingly unsustainable. We've taken significant action to rein in its growth, and we've seen tangible results. The size of the system has remained stable for the past year, we no longer have families relying on Emergency Departments or the airport for shelter, and all shelter sites currently have a service provider instead of relying on the National Guard."

"More needs to be done so that Massachusetts taxpayers do not continue to be on the hook for this federal problem. The changes we are making will reduce costs, phase out the use of hotels and better meet the needs of all families," Healey added.

Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll stated there is "clearly a consensus around making shelter brief, rare and non-recurring."

Paul Craney of the Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance told Blaze News that the Healey administration's latest announcement is nothing more than "window dressing" that "will do very little to deter illegal immigrants and inadmissible migrants from coming to Massachusetts."

"They seek the taxpayer-funded housing and generous welfare benefits," Craney stated. "Governor Healey is only making this change so she can hang her hat on saying she is doing something. In reality, what she's been doing since she was elected Governor is make the situation a whole lot worse."

"Under the Governor's watch, they have expanded very generous welfare benefits for illegal immigrants and inadmissible migrants, making us a top destination in the country," he continued. "If the Governor wants to do something about Massachusetts being the top magnet state in the country, she should work with the new administration which is trying to solve the problem."

Healey stated earlier this month that her state police will "absolutely not" be cooperating with President-elect Donald Trump's mass deportation plan. She vowed to use "every tool in the toolbox" to "protect" illegal aliens from the incoming administration's efforts.

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Blaze News original: Biden's immigration nightmare — Trump left to clean up $160 million in ICE waste, unused centers



With the sun setting on the Biden-Harris administration, President-elect Donald Trump and his incoming Cabinet face an unprecedented challenge — resolving the chaotic and overwhelming immigration crisis.

Despite having the necessary resources to put a stop to illegal immigration, the current administration has instead used taxpayer dollars in ways that have worsened the problem rather than solving it.

Under the Biden-Harris administration, millions of dollars were allocated to various initiatives purportedly designed to tackle the immigration crisis. Yet some of those investments — including a multimillion-dollar processing center and Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention space — were not utilized.

Unused illegal alien center

In the summer, the Biden-Harris administration's Federal Emergency Management Agency allocated nearly $20 million in taxpayer funds to open an illegal immigrant processing center in San Diego County.

The decision to establish the center was made amid a massive surge in unlawful immigration in the San Diego Sector. Border encounters in the area spiked by 40% in fiscal year 2024, surpassing the already record-high numbers from the year before.

The facility was designed to provide basic services to foreign nationals who had recently entered the country as well as assist them with traveling to their intended destinations within the U.S.

‘Instead of prioritizing Americans' needs, this administration has chosen to funnel resources into programs that don't even function.’

In two separate votes, four out of five San Diego County supervisors voted to accept FEMA's funding, believing it would help manage the overwhelming crisis.

Supervisor Jim Desmond (R), the one lone dissenter on the board, was not convinced. He argued that the FEMA funds failed to establish a long-term solution to the immigration issues, instead acting as only a Band-Aid over a symptom.

Desmond contended that passing the proposal "effectively approves and perpetuates the federal government's mismanagement of the border."

"I refuse to be complicit in a broken system," he added.

Desmond's skepticism about the multimillion-dollar processing facility was warranted. Although FEMA funding was approved in May, the facility has remained largely unused.

In July, the county selected Jewish Family Service to manage the center. However, after two months of negotiations, the deal collapsed after the parties could not develop a sustainable plan.

San Diego County spokesperson Michael Workman said in a joint statement with JFS, "Despite best-faith efforts, the two parties have been unable to develop a plan to meet the scope of work required to address the needs of migrants in the region based on federal funding criteria and have mutually agreed to end negotiations."

Consequently, the county was forced to relaunch the search for a new contractor, with no clear timeline on when an agreement might be secured.

Following the devastating impact of Hurricanes Helene and Milton, the federal government claimed that FEMA's funds were quickly dwindling and the agency would struggle to provide aid in the event of another disaster.

Desmond torched the federal government for throwing money at the immigration crisis and failing to allocate enough resources to ensure assistance for Americans.

"The federal government claims they have no funds left to assist American citizens whose homes and lives have been torn apart. Yet this is the same government that spent $20 million on a migrant processing center in San Diego that isn't even being used. That was a complete waste of taxpayer dollars, and now American citizens are being told there's nothing left for them," Desmond explained in an emailed press release.

"At the time, I voted against accepting $20 million from the federal government to establish a migrant processing center in San Diego County," he continued. "I firmly believe that we shouldn't be complicit in the federal government's — and specifically this administration's — failure to enforce immigration laws effectively. My concerns were validated. That facility, which was supposed to address a critical immigration issue, is sitting idle, serving no purpose, while Americans are left to suffer."

He called the shortage of funds for citizens "a slap in the face to every hardworking American."

"It's a glaring example of the federal government's incompetence and mismanagement. Instead of prioritizing Americans' needs, this administration has chosen to funnel resources into programs that don't even function," Desmond added.

‘This is taxpayer money that incentivizes illegal immigration and could be far better spent on pressing local needs.’

In mid-September, the county submitted a Notice of Intent to Award after entering into negotiations with a different provider. However, the offer was rescinded approximately a month later due to failed negotiations.

"No award will be made, as there were no additional proposals received to evaluate," the county's rescindment notice read.

A spokesperson for San Diego County told Blaze News, "The County is pausing work to consider its options and will be sharing an evaluation with the Board of Supervisors in early 2025."

Desmond described the county's decision to open the center as "completely unnecessary."

He told Blaze News, "The County of San Diego's plan to open a 'Migrant Welcome Center' is completely unnecessary, especially given the incoming administration's commitment to securing our borders."

Desmond explained that Vice President-elect JD Vance told him that securing the border and stopping the Biden-Harris administration's illegal immigration crisis would be the incoming administration's "top priority."

"The need for a facility to welcome and process migrants will be obsolete as this new administration takes real, decisive action to stop illegal crossings," he added.

"The county has already poured millions into temporary shelters and legal fees for those facing deportation, with little to show for it," Desmond continued. "FEMA contributed $19 million, and the county has spent $6 million on a temporary shelter, alongside another $5 million in legal fees to defend illegal immigrants facing deportation. This is taxpayer money that incentivizes illegal immigration and could be far better spent on pressing local needs, from infrastructure to community services that directly benefit San Diegans."

Empty beds

The Department of Homeland Security's Office of Inspector General has released a number of bombshell reports spotlighting federal government waste. A startling report in September revealed that under the Biden-Harris administration, ICE wasted more than $100 million in taxpayer dollars on unused detention bed space.

The OIG report read, "We calculated ICE paid approximately $160 million for unused bed space under guaranteed minimum contracts."

To make matters worse, as of July, there were more than 425,000 convicted criminal immigrants and another 222,000 with pending criminal charges on the agency's non-detained docket, according to data released in September by ICE acting Director Patrick Lechleitner. The convicted and accused criminals were reportedly responsible for offenses ranging from traffic violations and theft to sexual assault and homicide.

Jessica Vaughan, the director of policy studies for the Center for Immigration Studies, called ICE's unused detention space "one of the most scandalous examples of negligence under the Biden administration."

Vaughan told Blaze News, "ICE left beds unused and closed detention facilities, even as illegal migrants surged over the border in historic numbers and even as they were releasing criminal aliens in the interior."

"Americans were killed by illegal aliens that they released who should have been and could have been detained and removed," she added.

‘The Biden administration should have at least finished the parts of the job that were paid for, but Congress let him get away with just throwing away the money.’

In a New York City-specific instance of inefficiency, taxpayers paid $432 million for a contract with Rapid Reliable Testing NY LLC, also known as DocGo, aimed at providing housing for illegal aliens. However, according to an August independent audit, over the first two months of the no-bid contract, DocGo received $1.7 million for nearly 10,000 hotel rooms for illegal immigrants that sat vacant.

New York City Comptroller Brad Lander (D) stated at the time, "Our detailed investigation into DocGo invoices and properties found a wide range of fiscal mismanagement and shoddy oversight — from DocGo overpaying security subcontractors by $2 million, skimming off over $400,000 in overhead for almost 10,000 unused hotels rooms, and failing to ensure promised social and casework services. Each misstep reveals that the administration failed to adequately vet the company or oversee their work."

A spokesperson for Democrat Mayor Eric Adams' office accused Lander's audit of "nitpick[ing]" during "an unprecedented international humanitarian crisis."

The wall

Vaughan told Blaze News that one of the most disgraceful examples of the federal government throwing away taxpayer dollars was the Biden-Harris administration's decision to stop the construction of the southern border wall after the materials had already been purchased and contractors had already been paid for the work.

"The materials sat and rusted out in the open for many months, until Texas purchased some of them. The Biden administration should have at least finished the parts of the job that were paid for, but Congress let him get away with just throwing away the money," Vaughan explained.

Last year, the New York Post reported that the administration was quietly auctioning off the unused materials for a fraction of the original $300 million cost.

The materials, auctioned on GovPlanet, fetched prices between $25,700 and $32,505. In October 2023, the federal government managed to recover about $116,000 by selling 28-foot metal fencing tubes. Previously, in September, it sold approximately $455,000 worth of unused border wall materials, and in August, it gained around $500,000 from similar sales.

Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) stated at the time, "This sale is a wasteful and ludicrous decision by the Biden administration that only serves as further proof they have no shame."

Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) also criticized the administration for the move.

"Leaving the border open to terrorists while selling border security materials at a loss is Bidenomics in a nutshell," Cotton said.

House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer called the sale of the materials an example of "waste and abuse of taxpayer dollars."

"We should be using tools already at our disposal to stop the surge of illegal border crossings. When someone is repeatedly breaking into your home, you don't sell the locks on the door," he added.

Days after the Biden administration was caught selling off the unused material, it announced that it planned to resume building a new 20-mile section of the wall along the Rio Grande Valley in Texas. The funding for the new section was reportedly appropriated by Congress in 2019.

The Biden administration had to purchase or seize private lands and bypass environmental laws to build the new section.

‘Dismantle Government Bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure Federal Agencies.’

Trump torched Biden for the reversal.

"So interesting to watch Crooked Joe Biden break every environmental law in the book to prove that I was right when I built 560 miles ... of brand new, beautiful border wall. As I have stated often, over thousands of years, there are only two things that have consistently worked, wheels, and walls!" he wrote on Truth Social.

"Will Joe Biden apologize to me and America for taking so long to get moving, and allowing our country to be flooded with 15 million illegals immigrants, from places unknown. I will await his apology!" he added.

Trump has vowed to finish the construction of the border wall once he returns to office.

When asked how the Trump administration can ensure taxpayer funds are no longer wasted on unused services and materials, Vaughan told Blaze News, "The incoming administration can end a lot of this waste by enforcing the law, by detaining illegal border-crossers and repatriating them swiftly, by using the accelerated forms of due process available under the law, by streamlining the immigration court processes, by reprogramming money from activities that benefit NGOs [nongovernmental organizations] and their illegal alien clients to activities that support immigration enforcement, and by denying federal law enforcement grants to sanctuary jurisdictions."

There is optimism that the incoming administration will focus on reducing unnecessary expenditures and removing the bureaucratic red tape within the federal government.

On November 12, Trump tapped Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Ohio entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy to lead his new Department of Government Efficiency, also known as DOGE. The two business leaders will be tasked with shrinking the federal government and ensuring taxpayers' dollars are used wisely.

Trump stated, "Together, these two wonderful Americans will pave the way for my Administration to dismantle Government Bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure Federal Agencies - Essential to the 'Save America' Movement."

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