The Pentagon has been the source of news regarding war since 1947, post-WWII. The Pentagon, where the Department of War currently operates, has long granted journalists access throughout military conflicts in which the United States was involved. Now, with Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, the rules have changed. On Friday, March 20th, 2026, a federal judge blocked the restrictions the Pentagon placed on journalists seeking transparency for the world. The Pentagon did not follow the new rules set out. Instead, the Pentagon imposed restrictions on journalists, requiring escorts and the closure of the press wing. The Trump administration has been moving toward a more favorable reporting stance, with right-wing publications having access to the information since the Iran war started. Now, as we are nearly a month into the United States / Israel and Iran war, millions of Americans are asking for answers, but the government is restricting access to information.
Many are calling for the impeachment or resignation of key members of the Trump administration, such as Hegseth, Bondi, and, with Noem losing her position, the American public is one step closer to transparency and core leadership that represents the American interest and the values of the long-standing experiment on democracy in the western hemisphere.
One cool symbol of that relationship was the “Correspondents’ Corridor,” a section of the Pentagon where journalists had desks right next to defense officials. By 2012, people were already saying the corridor was about 40 years old, which would date it to the early 1970s.
That access has always expanded and contracted during conflict, demonstrating the complex relationship between military operations and the media. In the 1991 Gulf War, for example, the military’s use of pools and tightly controlled briefings became a major flashpoint, raising significant questions regarding transparency and information dissemination.
Press-freedom advocates later described the Gulf War as one of the most restrictive modern conflicts for journalists, with the Pentagon channeling information through official briefings and largely limiting independent newsgathering. This careful orchestration of communication was intended to control the narrative and prevent misinformation, yet it ultimately led to widespread criticism from various media organizations and civil liberties groups, who argued that such restrictions undermined the essential role of a free press as a watchdog in a democratic society.
The same battles over access, escort rules, and message control carried into later wars, including Afghanistan and Iraq, where similar restrictions were imposed, often leading to heated debates about the rights of journalists in war zones and the implications for democratic transparency. These debates intensified as technology advanced, enabling citizens to capture and disseminate information instantaneously, thus further complicating the notion of controlled narrative.
The ongoing struggle for journalistic access highlights the tension between national security interests and the public’s right to know, a narrative that continues to evolve with each new conflict, revealing the critical balance that must be struck between safeguarding sensitive information and upholding the foundational principles of democracy. The lawsuit by the New York Times in federal court in Washington, D.C., alleged that the Defense Department’s policy changes last year gave it free rein to freeze out reporters and news outlets for coverage it did not like, in violation of the Constitution’s protections for free speech and due process. The government disputed that characterization and said the policy is reasonable and necessary for national security, arguing that the increasing complexity of modern warfare necessitates such measures to ensure that operational security is not compromised while still attempting to facilitate some level of transparency where possible.
U.S. District Judge Paul Friedman said in his ruling “more important than ever that the public have access to information from a variety of perspectives about what its government is doing”
The memo outlining the changes can be found below:
The Reuters news agency reported on Monday that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed it has begun deploying hundreds of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to assist in security at airports facing significant staffing issues.
ICE agents were deployed at over twelve major travel hubs across the country, with agents seen in Atlanta, San Francisco, New York, and New Jersey. This comes as Donald Trump has threatened further action against everyday working-class people. Posed as a way to expedite lines at airports, ICE agents can be seen patrolling airports rather than processing security lines.
ICE agents are not trained to handle security at airports, unlike the thousands of TSA agents who show up to work every day. With this news to come, many are in fear of targeted harassment across the United States.
The Trump administration is calling for democrats to open the government, which has been holding out in an attempt to restrict funding of DHS. The truth is that Democrats are not the majority; they are not in control to pass legislation allowing the government to fully reopen after a partial shutdown when a funding bill was not passed.
On January 29, 2026, the Senate failed to advance the government funding package in a 45–55 vote. Seven Republicans joined all Democrats in opposing the bill.
Threads / Kevin Ortega-Rojas @hereswhykevinThreads / Kevin Ortega-Rojas @hereswhykevinThreads / Kevin Ortega-Rojas @hereswhykevinThreads / Kevin Ortega-Rojas @hereswhykevin
On March 11, 2026, Gavin Newsom publicly addressed reports about a alledged Iran-linked drone threat and said, “As it relates to drone strikes, we have been aware of that information.” KCRA reported this as remarks he made on Wednesday while discussing California security coordination through the State Operations Center and Cal OES.
On Facebook Newsom alerted:
I am in constant coordination with security and intelligence officials, including with California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, to monitor potential threats to California — including those tied to the conflict in the Middle East.
While we are not aware of any imminent threats at this time, we remain prepared for any emergency in our state.
The video was verified with the Govenrors press office
California is home to over 39.5 million people with a large coastal area stretching over 800 miles. Iran is 7,300 miles in distance from California. Iran’s longest-range documented ballistic missiles include the Khorramshahr-4, also known as the Kheibar, as well as other missiles in the Khorramshahr family. Publicly reported estimates place their operational range between roughly 2,000 and 3,000 kilometers. These are liquid-fueled systems designed to carry heavier warheads, and they have drawn particular attention for their reported ability to reduce detection and complicate interception. (Iran Watch)
Senator Alex Padilla,
“My office is aware of reports of potential Iranian retaliatory attacks on California communities and I remain in contact with local and state partners to ensure public safety. I’ve also requested additional information from Trump administration officials on federal efforts to counter any potential threats.”
In early 2026, immigration enforcement in the United States had expanded significantly, with increased funding and a shift toward conducting “at-large” arrests in communities. This expansion has resulted in unprecedented detention figures and increased fear among immigrant populations.
Current ICE Statistics (2025–2026)
Since the start of 2025, ICE operations have significantly increased under the current administration’s mass deportation efforts:
– Detention Surge: By January 25, 2026, ICE detained 70,766 individuals, a record high and 75% more than the previous year.
– Arrest Patterns: In 2025, ICE made about 240,000 arrests, more than doubling the 2024 figure, with a 600% rise in “at-large” arrests in communities.
– Criminal Records: Despite claiming to target “criminal illegal aliens,” data shows 74.2% of detainees have no criminal convictions. Non-citizen immigrants make up only 14% of the population.
– Fatalities: 2025 was the deadliest year for ICE detention, with 32 deaths. By mid-February 2026, there have been 6 deaths and 2 fatal shootings by agents.
– Funding: The “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” of 2025 allocated $45 billion for detention expansion, enabling ICE to operate up to 135,000 detention beds through 2029.
All across the country, people are standing up and voicing their anger toward the Trump Admin. Change is the point of voice, and independent journalists have a duty to share the stories of those who show up and stand out. Now is the time to voice and protest. Millions of working-class people are struggling to make ends meet and are one financial crisis away from collapse, yet the Trump administration has promised financial stability for families.
Trump, during his campaign, promised he would remove violent crime offenders from the communities, but many knew this was a dogwhistle of racism toward black and brown people. Many families are in fear, and the government is attacking the sanctity of American freedom.
Diana L. Adams-Wendler (Protester)Diana L. Adams-Wendler (Protester)Diana L. Adams-Wendler (Protester)
This episode is about the foundations of community action and fighting for the equality of all neighbors.
Penelope explores the opinions and righteous voice of Marra, a first-time protestor from Sparta, NJ, who contributed to the Ledgewood Ice protest, which attracted over 300 people from not only Ledgewood but the greater community, fighting to avoid the construction of a five-hundred-thousand-square-foot ICE facility that the federal government is attempting to implement in Roxbury, NJ.
Marra, Summit NJ Resident, First Time Protester
Marra – Ledgewood, NJ, Protestor, working-class perspective, an audio history of events transpiring for active change in New Jersey, transcribed.
Here is the transcript of the Penny Pointed Podcast between Penelope and Marra:
Podcast Transcript
Penelope: Thank you for tuning in. You’re listening to the Penny Tribune, Penny Pointed Podcast, a podcast about holding politicians accountable, exposing corruption, and sharing the stories and perspectives of working-class people and families. Today, we’re covering topics about ICE raids and protests happening across the state. My name is Penelope. I’m here with Marra, who attended the Ledgewood protest, and we’re going to talk about the outcomes and opinions and what to do in situations like this. So, Marra, thank you so much for giving me your time today. And first, I wanted to start with where you’re located, how you found the protest, and what has been your journey politically with activism.
Marra: Sure, no problem. Thank you for checking in. I’m actually a resident of Sparta, New Jersey, so I live in Sussex County, which is very well known as a red county. And I found the protest through Sussex Visibility Brigade, which my friend introduced to me, actually, pretty recently. I would say that I haven’t really been looking too far into where I can find such activism in our county because, again, it’s red. But when I saw this protest, this was actually my first protest I ever went to. So this is like a new thing for me to really start stepping out of my comfort zone and showing up and speaking up more just because of what we’ve seen in the last year in our country and with what this protest in Ledgewood was for, protesting against the potential sale of a warehouse in Roxbury that would become a detention center for ICE and what that would do to northern New Jersey, not just the town of Roxbury, but all of the neighboring towns in New Jersey. I just felt like I needed to be there. I needed to see other like-minded people outside with me, so I didn’t feel so alone in my fears about what’s been going on.
Penelope: Yeah, that’s understandable right now. There’s so much uncertainty, and I mean, I’m sure you saw everything in Minneapolis with Operation Metro Surge, and in New Jersey, ICE activity is picking up like extremely rapidly, and we’ve already had a shooting in New Jersey. Yeah, so things are escalating, and so many people are scared like you, and so many people are just frightened about what’s going to happen and angry, like rightfully so. And so, did you always live in Sparta? Growing up, what were your views on immigration and political policies? Like, how did you develop into these viewpoints to understand, like, social justice and getting involved?
Marra: So I grew up in Sussex County. I’m originally from Vernon. My husband is originally from Vernon, and we moved to Sparta once we got married. You know, I don’t know. I feel like growing up in Sussex County, there was this bubble, and I think it also depended upon how you were raised. I wouldn’t say that I wasn’t aware of how problematic our county and our country could be, but I definitely will admit to my privilege and my ignorance for a very long time. I’m fine with saying that. I think it’s honesty. But I do feel like I was always someone who couldn’t understand why people were so cruel and why racism was still so prominent. I went to college in New York City. I went to a technical school where people from every part of the world came. You know, it was a big LGBTQIA school. I was just immersed around people and just nothing any of them can do, whether you’re black, you’re brown, you’re gay, you’re bi, or trans, I don’t understand how people are so offended and can be so cruel. And I just think seeing it more now, seeing an administration that’s governing our country and using such vile language and speech against such large communities and taking all of the racism that’s been under the surface and letting it boil to the top and letting it be almost okay is just, it’s abhorrent and I guess I’m just at this point where the anger is, I can’t fully contain it anymore and it’s just being around so many people whose heads are down, they don’t want to disrupt status quo. It’s taken a lot of me looking inside myself, distancing from family and friends. So like I think there was always a little bit of the angry person in me wanting to fight back against people hurting other people and I just now is the time that it calls for more of us to stand up.
Penelope: Would you say everyday people and us being part of the working class, like what would you say our duty is to stand up and with the non-citizen population being less than 14% of violent crime or criminal offenders and Donald Trump’s admin saying that they’re only going after criminals, but now we see just like families being torn apart like what happened in Lindenwold where ICE decided to visit a bus stop for fourth and fifth graders and families were running, parents were alerting their neighbors? And how do you think this is all affecting, like, families and just the outright propaganda and fascism that’s happening right now?
Marra: I would hope that families, especially in my area, who I feel generally don’t talk about anything, are starting to wake up more to it. And look to just what was happening in Minnesota the last two months to see the damage that is being done. I mean, everything is being recorded. I cannot understand how people can look away from a video of a mother holding a baby as their dad is being dragged off. You know, I just it’s crazy to me and I would hope that I would hope that I could have more space in feel talking to coworkers or friends of friends to just say you need to take a look around you, like this could be anyone and everyone in your community and it’s affecting all of us because of the way that they’re being treated and the violent way with which they’re being kidnapped off of the street. It directly impacts all of us.
Penelope: When you were at the protest, what was the atmosphere like? Did you talk to anyone? What were the key points that were addressed?
Marra: So being my first protest, a little nervous, wasn’t sure what to expect. I actually thought it was going to be a smaller protest based off of just looking at the ad on Instagram, seeing that there weren’t a lot of likes. But showing up there, I went with two friends, and we got there, and it was larger than I thought it was going to be, and it was peaceful, and everyone was friendly. Everyone was, you know, willing to talk about their fears about what this if the sale of the warehouse could go through could mean. There were about four speakers. They were either from a union or a councilperson. One was a councilperson from Sparta who spoke on behalf of himself, not for Sparta Township. And they just rolled out the facts about what this could mean for Roxbury and the neighboring towns from an environmental standpoint, from a financial standpoint, you know, moral and ethics aside. So I think that was really important for them to reiterate that point of why we went there on Monday for the protest. And you know, like there was for every one car that drove by flipping us off or yelling bad words at us, there were ten more cars honking in support and that felt to me like that I just it gave me some hope we’re not alone. People that feel afraid and angered and worried and concerned that there are groups of us that are feeling it together and I think just showing up on Monday probably maybe 300 people, I don’t know exactly. I think seeing that number was was really great.
Penelope: How do you think protests like this inspire change in communities to take action?
Marra: I think the more people that show up and the bigger the protests are, I think this woman standing next to me on Monday, she had made a comment that sometimes like she feels that maybe protests don’t always work, but at least showing up in numbers it shows the people that we’re paying to govern us and pass our laws, it shows them that we’re watching them and that we see them. We’re like the checks and balances for them. So I think the more people that can make time to do protests or you know find other avenues of activism, I know Sussex Visibility Brigade, they were doing like a craft night where it was assembling whistles and things like that. Doing those small things and getting larger numbers to do them shows that we’re watching government and we’re looking for change.
Penelope: What changes do you think need to happen and how can you inspire your community members to make those changes?
Marra: Changes… a lot. I mean I guess when I’m looking at Sussex County, it’s still very antiquated in old thinking up here. I think a younger generation will push for more progressive thinking and I already see it with my friend’s kids, my nieces and nephews, they’re whole more accepting of everyone and I think we need to get I think we need to get younger people in leadership roles. They bring fresh perspective. I think they have, you know, a more open view of the world and I would hope that now that I’ve attended one protest that I could attend more and become more active, maybe with Sussex Visibility Brigade, and just step up more. I know it’s holding myself accountable and stepping up more.
Penelope: Awesome. Yeah. What do you think independent journalists like me, what is our responsibility to like show up for communities and tell the stories of what’s happening?
Marra: I think independent journalists like you are more important now than ever just based off of how much information we’re not getting from bigger journalists because their information is getting suppressed. I think it’s important that independent journalists remain open and honest, do their due diligence with research and you know show up for the people because I feel like bigger news now, I can’t I you can’t rely on them for it. And I came across you on Threads, seeing that you’re from New Jersey, seeing that you’re reporting what’s happening locally around us. You know, I’m not going to get that from a big news channel. I only get it from independent people.
Penelope: Yeah, yeah, that’s journalism is under attack right now by the Trump admin and it’s such a scary place to be but it’s definitely worth it to make sure truth is out and do you think the politicians in New Jersey are actually representing the people like Corey Booker and Governor Cheryl?
Marra: I’m wary. I’m not feeling great about Booker right now. I feel like I’m seeing that a lot. It just feels like he’s become very performative and I don’t know when that actually changed. My hope is that Governor Cheryl will be a good governor. I do like that she’s already been proactive as far as some of the executive orders and initiatives she’s taken with ICE in New Jersey. Can only hope for the best. But yeah, I there are some New Jersey reps that I am a little bit worried as far as where they really stand and I think Corey Booker is the biggest one because he’s been around for so long. I sometimes think that maybe and I voted for him a few times so I think that I don’t know is it that you get to a certain point and you’ve exhausted your seat and it’s time to let somebody else step up? I think there’s a lot of questions he needs to answer. I don’t know if he’s doing that because he’s on a book tour. But I think that people of New Jersey want answers. I know we’re a blue state but we have a lot of red areas and we just need we just we just need answers.
Penelope: Yeah. What are some small changes communities can do to protect the non-citizen population and what has been your personal experience with someone who’s non-citizen?
Marra: So I think well, I’ll take it from a business standpoint. I work in HR, so we deal with, you know, people and their documents coming in, making sure that they’re correct and stressing for them to get appropriate documents and following the correct path to get them. I think for small towns and communities up where I live, I think it’s a matter of speaking up, definitely getting more active in the community. That’s something I’m not and I think it’s hard too because I don’t have children. So in towns where I live, it feels like the people that run the show are parents. So for someone who’s child-free, it feels a little isolated.
Penelope: Yeah. So much is going on and these protests are making news and I mean, Minnesota made national news, but we’re seeing unprecedented numbers with ICE in New Jersey. And I know the Trump admin has been retaliating because Jack didn’t win the election and I just want to thank you for taking time to answer this call and give your perspective. The working-class view is so important with everything happening. We are the voters and our politicians should show up for us and govern and make policy and right now so much is going on with non-citizen people and it’s just it’s horrendous how they’re being treated. So I echo everything and I’m so thankful for you sharing your views and for everyone listening, Marra shared all of her views from Ledgewood and why we all need to be involved. So thank you for taking this call.
Marra: Thank you for speaking with me. Hopefully didn’t sound too ridiculous, this was stepping out of my comfort zone, so…
Penelope: Yeah, it’s I it was great conversation and I think people are going to resonate with everything you said. More people are supportive of rights for non-citizens as opposed to the radical MAGA ideology that is so inhuman.
Marra: Yeah.
Penelope: All right. Well, we can end here. I’m so excited to share what you have to say and the pictures you shared and everything and I’m so excited you got involved and you’re speaking up. It’s so important for working-class people to be heard and I can’t wait to share this with everyone.
On March 5th, 2026, Trump issued a statement announcing that Kristi Noem would be leaving her position. Noem has been under fire for her mishandling of the deaths of two American citizens during the ICE operation “Metro Surge” that resulted in the deaths of Alex Pretti and Renee Good. During the first year of Trump’s second term, Noem served as the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, an agency that the American people strongly protested for its conduct on immigration policies.
Noem came under the latest scrutiny during her congressional hearing. In the hearing, lawmakers asked Noem why she used $220 million in taxpayer money to fund an ad campaign she said Trump personally approved.
Trump told Reuters on Thursday, “I never knew anything about the ad campaign.”
Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem filming an ad at Mount Rushmore National Memorial in South Dakota, Oct. 2, 2025. Tia Dufour | DHS
The most significant legal and political consequences revolve around Governor Noem’s testimony about her top aide, Corey Lewandowski. When questioned about whether Lewandowski had a role in approving Department of Homeland Security (DHS) contracts, she responded with a flat “No.” However, internal DHS records and ProPublica reports later revealed his signature on multimillion-dollar contract routing sheets. This has led to accusations that she lied under oath.
Noem sparked a lively debate after her comments on two U.S. citizens, Alex Pretti and Renee Good, tragically shot by federal agents in Minneapolis. Even amidst significant pushback and conflicting evidence, she stood firm in her stance, choosing not to apologize for calling them “domestic terrorists.”
Noem has a legacy defined in mistrust and a lack of transparency for the American people, who have fought since the beginning of the second term of Donald Trump for accountability of ICE agents and internal policies.
The US and Israel launched their first attack in central Tehran, specifically targeting an area near the offices of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The explosions occurred around 9:40 am local time. The conflict with Iran started picking up in January of 2026 when talks with the leadership began failing from the United States to counter the Iranian nuclear program.
In june Trump launched a military operation stating,
“Iran’s key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated,” June 21st 2025
Though the conflict between the United States and Iran started in the 19th century when Iran was called Persia, the relationship has been marked by intense hostility since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. This event shifted Iran from a close U.S. ally to a fierce adversary. Major issues include the 1979-1981 hostage crisis, Iran’s backing of regional proxies like Hezbollah and Hamas, and U.S. sanctions to curb Iran’s nuclear ambitions. The relationship involves ‘twilight war’ tactics such as cyber attacks, assassinations, and military brinkmanship in the region. Key conflicts include the 1979-1981 hostage crisis, Iran’s support for regional proxies (Hezbollah, Hamas), and U.S. sanctions aimed at stalling Iran’s nuclear program. The relationship is characterized by “twilight war” tactics, including cyber warfare, assassination, and regional military brinkmanship.
In recent years, the conflict has escalated with presidents citing regional risk and the rise of Israel’s power in the region. Conflict between Israel and Iran has been going on for decades as Israel colonizes Palestine, taking more land and genociding the people native to the land.
“As far as I’m concerned, the key here is making sure that this is executed the right way,” Gottheimer said. “We see what’s happened overnight — what’s happened is not just in Iran, but with our allies in Qatar, Bahrain and other attacks. So as far as I’m concerned, what’s key now is making sure that the president briefs the Congress immediately.”
– Democratic Rep. Josh Gottheime February 28th 2026
“the U.S. was “undertaking a massive and ongoing operation to prevent this very wicked, radical dictatorship from threatening America and our core national security interests.”
– In a video posted on Truth Social, Donald Trump
While J.D Vance monitored the military operation from the situation room, Trump was at Mar-a-lago in Palm Beach, Florida. A source close to the White House alerted CBS News of. Donald Trump has golfed 97 days out of 405 days since returning to office (24.0% of the presidency spent golfing). Source: https://didtrumpgolftoday.com/
As of now, CENTCOM confirms there have been no casualties of U.S. personnel and citizens.
Operation Epic Fury was launched early on February 28th, 2026.
“When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take. This will be probably your only chance for generations,”
– Donald Trump
“Our joint operation will create the conditions for the brave Iranian people to take their fate into their own hands,”
– Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
By early 2026, amidst escalating tensions, President Trump moved significant naval forces toward Iran. This buildup culminated in a large US-Israel attack announced on February 28, 2026. A “massive armada” was reported heading to the region by January 28, 2026, with the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group shifting from the Caribbean to the Mediterranean on February 12, 2026.
“The destroyed building is a primary school for girls in the south of Iran. It was bombed in broad daylight, when packed with young pupils,”
– Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi
Saturday, February 28th, 2026, early morning, Trump and Israel launch a joint military “Operation Epic Fury” targeting major locations in Iran.
Trump Releases press conference
An image from video obtained by CBS News on Feb. 28, 2026, shows air defense rockets launching from near a U.S. military base at Erbil International Airport, in northern Iraq, amid Iranian retaliatory strikes targeting American bases across the Middle East.CBS News
Israel closes airspace to commercial traffic and advises people to shelter in place.
“Following the initial wave of U.S. and partner strikes, CENTCOM forces successfully defended against hundreds of Iranian missile and drone attacks,”
Iran state TV states over 200 people have been killed in the airstrikes led by the United States and Israel
2:10 PM / February 28, 2026
A U.S. Navy base was struck by an Iranian missile at the Bahrain base. Officials are conducting assessments. No casualties declared.
3:05 PM / February 28, 2026
State Department issues worldwide caution for Americans
3:20 PM / February 28, 2026
Iran’s Supreme Leader is presumed dead after U.S.-Israel strikes, sources say
8:55 PM / February 28, 2026
Iranian state media reports that Supreme Leader Khamenei has been killed in an airstrike
9:35 PM / February 28, 2026
Funeral for Khamenei to be held Sunday
(Live Coverage of Funeral)
11:04 PM / February 28, 2026
Head of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, top adviser killed, state-run media says
Maj. Gen. Mohammad Pakpour, the head of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, and Ali Shamkhani, top advisers to Khamenei, were killed in the attacks on Iran. According to a report by Israeli broadcaster N12. Among the most powerful men in Iran, Pakpour was the IRGC commander for 260 days.
12:49 AM / March 1, 2026
“For the 20th time in the last 24 hours, millions of Israelis run to shelter across Israel under Iranian missile fire,” the IDF wrote on Twitter.
9:49 AM / Mar 1, 2026
CENTCOM confirms three deaths of US forces have occurred. Additional casualties.
ICE targets a Lindenwold bus stop, sparking fear and protests. Gov. officials and neighbors rally for NJ students after a chaotic morning.
Thursday, the eve of the weekend. A typical day for students heading to school. There was no delayed opening, but for many, the school day was disrupted and chaotic, hindering learning. Children screaming, parents alerting their neighbors. A fear-stricken community in Lindenwold, NJ, was targeted by ICE Agents while parents were at the bus stop with their kids.
On February 12th, 2026, ICE agents targeted the bus stop at Woodland Village Apartments for 4th and 5th-graders. The bus driver circulates around the complex, rescuing kids from the dangers posed by Trump’s masked secret police.
On Friday, Camden County Commissioner Director Louis Cappelli Jr. issued a statement regarding the incident.
“The absolute chaos sowed by this ICE operation in Lindenwold yesterday morning was appalling,” Cappelli Jr. wrote. “At the moment we are short on facts and details about the intentions of ICE and do know at some point they called 911 for support. That said, the impact and fear that struck the children of our county was painful to watch and I can’t imagine the anxiety and trauma that came from this incident. We have a dialogue with our Congressman who is helping us get answers to what happened yesterday. I also want to applaud the work of the Superintendent of the Lindenwold Schools whose staff jumped into action to identify the whereabouts of the students and ensure their safety. Furthermore, as a community, segments of our population are being terrorized and scared to leave their homes. This is no way for any of us to live.”
As you can see, students are running, and community members are shouting “ICE, ICE” to alert neighbors to the dangers outside their doors. For many in this community, they fear that when leaving their homes, they may not come back to their families. With nearly 30% of the community in Lindenwold, NJ, being Latino or Hispanic, a large portion of the community is actively being targeted and labelled as “Illegal”.
The following day, Cooper River Indivisible organized a protest that drew hundreds of people from the broader community and gained the attention of elected officials like Donald Norcross.
Sharon Schultz, a left-leaning progressive from South Jersey, attended the protest. Sharon grew up primarily in Detroit and emigrated to New Jersey when she was fourteen. She had attended a protest with her mother for pro-life causes in high school, but this was her first time at an anti-ICE action.
When Sharon was asked how the atmosphere was at the protest, she shared,
“Super positive! Lindenwold police were on site, supportive in general. People were energized, lots of Bad Bunny. People driving by were very engaged, lots of positive, but also a good amount of negative, thumbs down, middle fingers and such.”
Like Sharon, many others are looking to get involved, and Sharon learned about the protest through an Instagram post and confirmed its legitimacy with Cooper River Indivisible. She was looking for ways to get involved and stand up against Trump’s policies, but kept hearing about events after they had happened. She caught this one in time and showed up to support her community.
Many members of the community cheered for justice, and the main driver of organizing was the strength of Cooper River Indivisible’s individuals.
At the protest, organizers from Cooper River Indivisible interviewed organizer Tatiana, who had these powerful statements.
Despite the scale of the crash, an ambulance did not arrive for 20 minutes. St. Paul police later confirmed the victim’s injuries were not life-threatening.
A multiple-car crash has been confirmed following a high-speed chase with ICE agents during the pursuit of an individual. The crash occurred outside Nina’s Coffee Cafe in St. Paul.
Over a dozen agents were on the scene at the time of the crash.
“This is just another incident that tells us loud and clear: Operation Metro Surge needs to end immediately,” said St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her,
Brandon Reade said a single federal agent in an unmarked sedan sped by, giving chase – Minnesota Reformer
After the initial crash, an agent was seen exiting a vehicle and chasing the victim on foot, catching up to them. A bystander called 911 to report the incident, and an ambulance arrived twenty minutes later with ICE agents leaving shortly after. St. Paul police reported the victim did not sustain life-threatening injuries.
Another unconfirmed sighting of ICE occurred between Emerson Ave and Fremont Ave off of West Broadway. Neighbors came out and alerted everyone. The ice vehicle left the alley and was headed west on Broadway.
Copyright 2025 Google
Background:
“Metro Surge” initiative began in early December 2025. Some sources specify actions started around Dec. 1. This is a federal crackdown under the Trump administration aimed at arresting and deporting undocumented immigrants. Over 3,000 federal agents were deployed to the Twin Cities.
Grappling with the president’s involvement in the Epstein case
The Department of Justice released over 3.5 million additional files from the Epstein Files mandated by law. This comes 45 days after they were required to release the documents in a press conference held by Deputy AG Blanche. He states that all photos of women have been redacted, but the DOJ made redaction errors, took files down in real time, and links began expiring. The government partnered with Akamai to deliver the files using a content delivery network. As the files were indexed, President Trump was mentioned over 38,000 times.
Controversy arose when initial files showed witnesses attesting to “Calendar Girls,” an auction at Maralago, where Trump auctioned off girls measuring their vulva by placing a finger to see tightness. The tip implicates multiple Trump family members, including Elon Musk. In June of 2025, Elon posted on X (Formerly Twitter) stating that the files had not been released because they contained Donald Trump’s material.
Elon asked to visit Epstein at his New Mexico ranch along at his island.
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As more digging is happening, the Truth will be uncovered. The victims over the years have participated in interviews, with many committing suicide, under the pressures of surviving horrendous suffering at the hands of convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.
Trump recently has distanced himself from Epstein and has called the files a Democratic hoax. Evidence suggests close ties between Jeffrey Epstein and Donald Trump, with Trump even calling Epstein a terrific guy.
“I’ve known Jeff for 15 years. Terrific guy,” Mr. Trump told New York magazine in 2002. “He’s a lot of fun to be with. It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side.”
Portrait Jeffrey Epstein (left) and real estate developer Donald Trump as they pose together at the Mar-a-Lago estate, Palm Beach, Florida on February 22, 1997. Davidoff Studios/Getty Images
George Houraney and his girlfriend attended a dinner with Trump in 1992, during Trump’s first presidential bid in 2016. Houraney participated in an interview and made an assertion that he had to ban Jeffrey Epstein from his events and could not sign on to deals because of Epstein’s conduct. Houraney also goes on to explain the business deals that failed due to Trump’s inappropriate conduct with girlfriend, Jill Harth.
Donald Trump with Jill Harth in 1992.Credit…George Houraney
Jan. 24, 1993, Harth and Houraney visited to Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida for a contract-signing celebration, At the request of Trump “Calendar girls” were brought along. He offered Harth a tour of the estate and then pulled her into the empty bedroom of his daughter Ivanka. In the FBI tips released in the latest files calendar girls can be attested by multiple sources. Trump has denied this claim.
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NY Times reporter Nicholas Kristof asked Harth in 2016, “Why would a woman who accused Trump of attempted rape ever go out with him?”
Harth replied
“I was scared, thinking, ‘what am I going to do now?’” she says. “When he called me and tried to work on me again, I was thinking maybe I should give this a try, maybe if he’s still working on me, I should give this rich guy a chance.”
Documents released as part of this new trove of files showed prominent international figures such as Prince Andrew and Jack Lang working with Epstein. Lang began a non-profit, with Epstein spearheading the founding and an initial donation of $75,000. Sylvie Aubry, A long-time friend of Jack Lang and a co-founder of the non-profit, also runs a floral business in France. Jack Lang was previously the minister of Culture, who also states that the non-profit was created to fund a movie. The movie funding was never disclosed. Other Associates of the non-profit, such as the president, treasurer, and secretary, were described as long-term staffers or friends of Lang.
Bill Gates can be seen in multiple photos with Epstein and world leaders, with some of the pictures of Gates with redacted women discovered during an FBI raid of Epstein’s Island. Recently, in the files, documents state that Gates contracted an STI from Russian girls, but Gates has denied the claims.
Gates on emails released from files:
“These claims are absolutely absurd and completely false,” a spokesperson for Gates said in a statement obtained by PEOPLE.
Further, Gates’s statement states that the files show only Epstein’s frustration at not obtaining a long-term business partnership with Gates.
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As more information comes out from the files, be sure to check back at this article for updates.
