800 U.S. Troops Land in San Antonio

Currents News Staff

Cargo planes loaded with heavy equipment, vehicles and materials are among what’s been sent to major military bases.

They’ll serve as staging areas for the 5,200 troops heading to the southwest border.

This includes special operation teams – some for riot control – in advance of an unknown number of Central American migrants possibly reaching ports of entry or points in-between.

“The units that are normally assigned weapons, they are in fact deploying with weapons,” said Gen. Terrence O’Shaughnessy.

The NorthCom commander says the military and its resources will be used only in a support role. Still, some are saying the deployment is the latest example of demonizing immigrants.

At a news conference Monday, the commissioner of U.S. customs and border protection was asked whether the deployment was actually a campaign ploy.

“No, this is a law enforcement operation from C.B.P.’s perspective and we partner with D.O.D. all the time to help secure our border,” said Kevin McLennan, CBP commissioner.

Worshipers United Against Hate at Interfaith Gathering

By Tim Harfmann

Over 100 worshipers gathered at Park East Synagogue in Manhattan to stand together in prayer and unite against hatred. The bishop of Brooklyn, Nicholas DiMarzio, was one of many religious leaders in attendance. He said regardless of denomination, worshipers must be strong following the Pittsburgh shooting.

“We can’t be afraid to worship. That’s one of the basic freedoms we have in the United States,” said Bishop DiMarzio. “If we stay home because we’re afraid of coming to places of worship, we let those who are for hate win. We can’t let that happen.”

That was a message echoed by New York’s Cardinal Timothy Dolan — have faith in God during this tragic time. “He wants us not to wallow in mourning, but to behold a fresh morning where His grace and mercy rises unfailingly with His Son,” said Cardinal Dolan.

Wearing “united against hate” t-shirts, students from the neighboring Jewish elementary school lit candles for the 11 men and women killed at Tree of Life Synagogue. Lauren Myer teaches the Manhattan students. She grew up in Pittsburgh and attended temple there. “I know a couple of the victims from high holidays and Saturday and Sunday mornings there. It’s heartbreaking. They’re related to some of my friends. It’s devastating what they’re going through,” Myer said.

But for these worshipers, they stand strong in faith.

“Our country, in many ways, seems divided at this period of our history, which is a terrible thing. But we are united in faith. This terrible tragedy in the Jewish community affects all of us. So we’re here today to show our solidarity with one another,” said Bishop DiMarzio.

“This is a very important message that we need to send to the entire society that Jews and Judaism is not alone in fighting anti-Semitism. Other denominations, other religions, are going to be with Jews facing the threat,” said Boaz Vilallonga. He worships at the Park East Synagogue.

At the end of the event, worshipers sang God Bless America and reiterated their message of hope, faith, and to stand together against hatred

New York Auxiliary Bishop Under Review

By Christopher White, The Tablet’s National Correspondent

In the latest allegations of sexual abuse to hit the U.S Catholic Church, Bishop John Jenik, an auxiliary bishop in the Archdiocese of New York, has been accused of sexual abuse and is now under review by the Vatican.

In a letter dated October 29, sent to parishioners at Our Lady of Refuge parish in the Bronx, Cardinal Timothy Dolan announced that an allegation had been made against Auxiliary Bishop Jenik through the archdiocese’s Independent Reconciliation and Compensation Program (IRCP).

Auxiliary Bishop Jenik served as a pastoral associate at the parish from 1978 to 1985, and was appointed pastor in 1985.

In his letter, Cardinal Dolan noted that this was the first allegation made against Auxiliary Bishop Jenik.

“Although the alleged incidents occurred decades ago, the Lay Review Board has concluded that the evidence is sufficient to find the allegation credible and substantiated,” he wrote.

In a letter by Auxiliary Bishop Jenik accompanying Cardinal Dolan’s correspondence – which he referred to as “the hardest letter I have had to write in my 48 years of priesthood” – he denied the allegations.

“While I have the utmost respect for the both the IRCP and the Review Board, and know that they have a great burden to confront the evil of sexual abuse, I continue to steadfastly deny that I have ever abused anyone at any time,” he wrote.

Auxiliary Bishop Jenik went on to note that he was stepping aside and relocating while the matter is investigated.

In 2006, Cardinal Edward Egan appointed Jenik as vicar for the Northwest Bronx. He was made a bishop in 2014 by Cardinal Dolan and continues to serve as vicar for the region.

“Please pray for all those involved in this case,” wrote Cardinal Dolan, “particularly the victim- survivor who brought forward the allegation, and all victims of abuse wherever it occurred.”

This story will be updated.

TEST

Catholics Divided Over Birthright Citizenship

By Tim Harfmann

Father Ruskin Piedra is a Brooklyn priest and works directly with immigrants to help them with legal assistance. He said a presidential executive order to stop birthright citizenship is inhumane. “On a human level, on a Christian, Catholic level, it’s totally unacceptable,” said Father Piedra.

Michael Long disagrees. He’s a Catholic and chairman of New York State’s conservative party. “We have the best country in the entire world. We’re the most generous country in the entire world. If we want to continue that, we have to maintain a nation. We have to have control of our nation. We have to have control of who’s coming in our nation,” Long said.

The leader of the Diocese of Brooklyn, Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio, is no fan of eliminating the right to citizenship for babies born on American soil — at least not through an executive order.

“I see reasons why people would like a change, because they feel people are taking advantage of our laws in this way. But there has to be a different way of dealing with it,” said Bishop DiMarzio.

And in some cases, it’s a big-time industry. Pregnant moms are offered temporary places — called “birth hotels” — where children are born and become citizens.

Last month, violence broke out near the corner of 161st Street and 45th Avenue in Flushing, Queens. Authorities believed the location was a birth hotel.

Father Piedra says it is important to care for mothers and children, no matter the circumstances of their arrival.

“Once they’re here, they’re your brothers and your sisters. And we reach each out to them, and we open our arms to them, and we try to do what we can for them,” said Father Piedra.

The United States is one of 30 countries that offer automatic citizenship to children born to undocumented immigrants, according to the Center for Immigration Studies.

In the latest data by the Pew Research Center, 30,000 babies born were born in the U.S. to undocumented immigrants in 1980. It peaked at nearly 350,000 in 2005. Though the births per year dropped to 275,000 by 2014, Long said that’s not enough.

“You cannot invite 10 people over for dinner and have each of them invite three more people, on a Sunday afternoon, when they all show up at your house. It just doesn’t work that way,” said Long.

The number of babies born to non-citizen parents could soon top the births in citizen families. The CBO estimates the difference could be as much as a million children in the next decade.

Currents News for Tuesday, October 30, 2018

On the newscast: President Trump sparks a heated debate as he vows to end the right to citizenship for babies born on U.S. soil to non-citizen parents – in the Brooklyn Diocese, where so many immigrants live, Catholics are lining up on both sides of the argument; thousands of U.S. troops deploying to the southern border; a show of force against that migrant caravan headed north; tearful goodbyes in Pittsburgh begin days after that synagogue massacre.

Is Birthright Citizenship a Privilege or a Right?

President Donald Trump is saying he could sign an executive order and end birthright citizenship for certain children. Bill Donohue is the president of the Catholic League, the prominent organization defending religious and civil rights. He speaks with Currents News Anchor Liz Faublas about the Constitutional amendment.

Trump Challenges The 14th Amendment

Currents News Staff

President Trump says he’ll use an executive order to end the right to citizenship for children born to non-citizens and undocumented immigrants, on U.S. soil.

”Where a person comes in, has a baby, and the baby is essentially a citizen of the United States for 85 years with all of those benefits. It’s ridiculous. It’s ridiculous,” said Trump.

Such a proposal would face immediate legal challenges. The fourteenth amendment of the constitution says all persons born in the U.S., are citizens of the U.S.

The President’s comments came in an interview with Axios released Tuesday -cone week before election day – as he seizes on immigration in closing arguments to voters.

On Monday the White House announced the deployment of 5,200 troops to the border with Mexico, as thousands of Central American migrants make their way toward the U.S.

“The president is simply determined to make sure that we got the manpower on the border to provide the support, as appropriate, to the border patrol to continue to harden our border to ensure that people are applying into our country are doing so through ports of entry and the color of the law,” said Vice President Mike Pence.

While Trump believes the issue will energize the GOP in border states with key senate races, others say it could alienate moderate republicans in key suburban house races.

Anti-Semitism On The Rise – Increase From 2016

Currents News Staff

Investigators say Robert Bowers wanted all Jews to die. The suspect using his arsenal of weapons to try and kill as many Jews as he could, now faces a myriad hate crime and murder charges.

In Squirrel Hill, the center of Jewish life in and around Pittsburgh resident Hallie Goldstein says fear was never part of the equation until now.

“Before everyone was saying that they felt strong and they felt braver. And I don’t feel brave. I just felt scared,” said Goldstein.

Now there is a reason to fear, eleven people were just slaughtered in a synagogue in America.

For years incidents of anti-Semitism were on the decline in America then came the 2016 and presidential election.

Since then a meteoric rise, a 34 percent increase in 2016 and a 57 percent increase in 2017 according to the Anti-Defamation League that tracks it.

“That’s the single largest surge we’ve ever seen since we started tracking this data,” said Johnathan Greenblatt, CEO, Anti-Defamation League.

In Omaha, Nebraska a veteran’s memorial scarred with a swastika. In Indiana, a synagogue desecrated. In Sacramento California, flyers targeting Jewish students on campus.

“It screams of the same type of graphics and the same type of design that the Nazi’s used,” said Michael Gofman, UC Davis Student Body President.

And no one can forget the torch bearing men in Charlottesville, Virginia spewing their hate filled rhetoric. What is behind all this the ADL and those who track hate say there is no doubt political rhetoric is in part to blame.

That rhetoric can be subtle or in your face like U.S. Representative Steve King for example re-tweeting messages from a known Nazi sympathizer:

“I’m not deleting that because then you all pile on me and say Kind had to to apologize he was wrong he knows he’s guilty. I’m not. I don’t feel guilty one bit. I’m human,” said King.

While those accused of anti-Semitism for years, like Louis Farrakhan, continue to tweet and make inflammatory statements.

“When Jews are literally under attack, we should have a zero policy, a zero-tolerance policy on intolerance. It’s unacceptable that anyone from the president to Minister Farrakhan TO anyone in between who should make derisive comments in all of it should be called out. All of it should be unacceptable,” said Greenblatt.

5,200 Troops To Deploy To Southwestern U.S. Border

Currents News Staff

The troops are gearing up and will be at the border by the end of the week.

“We will deploy over five thousand two hundred soldiers to the southwest border. That’s an addition to the 2,092 that are already employed from our National Guard Operation Guardian support,” said Command General O’Shaughnessy, U.S. Northern Command and North American Aerospace Defense.

The nearest migrants, traveling by foot, are about 900 miles away. They’re weeks away from arriving at the border, where many reportedly plan to seek asylum.

The Commander-In-Chief has a message for them, with Trump tweeting, “Many gang members and some very bad people are mixed into the caravan heading to our southern border. Please go back, you will not be admitted into the United States unless you go through the legal process. This is an invasion of our country and our military is waiting for you!”

Vice President Mike Pence echoing that sentiment: “Our message to people in the caravan is simple: turn around you will not be allowed to come into the United States of America illegally. We will not allow it.”

Critics claim Trump is creating a crisis around the migrants for political gain — to stoke fears and gain votes for republicans in the midterm elections that is just days away. And far from invading, the migrants would be following the law by claiming asylum if they reach the border.

Meanwhile, the White House Press Secretary says his motives are pure. “The President’s number one job and number one priority is to protect the safety and security of Americans. And he’s going to do what he deems necessary in order to do that,” said Sarah Huckabee Sanders.

A defense official says the new operation is expected to run from November fifth through December 15th.