WASHINGTON, Jan 27: The United States has announced the suspension of all foreign aid and ordered the review of American financial assistance to other countries, to ensure they are efficient and consistent with its foreign policy under the America First agenda.
The move comes after President Donald Trump signed an executive order in this regard.
State Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce Sunday said, “President Trump stated clearly that the United States is no longer going to blindly dole out money with no return for the American people. Reviewing and realigning foreign assistance on behalf of hardworking taxpayers is not just the right thing to do, it is a moral imperative.” She said Secretary of State Marco Rubio has paused all US foreign assistance funded by or through the State Department and US Agency for International Development (USAID) for review.
“He is initiating a review of all foreign assistance programmes to ensure they are efficient and consistent with US foreign policy under the America First agenda,” Bruce said.
She added that the secretary is proud to protect America’s investment with a deliberate and judicious review of how to spend foreign assistance dollars overseas.
“The mandate from the American people was clear — we must refocus on American national interests. The Department and USAID take their role as stewards of taxpayer dollars very seriously,” State Department spokesperson said.
The implementation of Trump’s Executive Order in this egard and the secretary’s direction furthers that mission, she added.
Bruce reminded reporters that Rubio has said, “Every dollar we spend, every programme we fund and every policy we pursue must be justified with the answer to three simple questions: Does it make America safer? Does it make America stronger? Does it make America more prosperous?” In 2023, USAID distributed nearly USD45 billion in foreign aid to 158 countries. This included USD400 million to Bangladesh, USD231 million to Pakistan, USD1 billion to Afghanistan, USD175 million to India, USD118 million to Nepal, and USD123 million to Sri Lanka. (PTI)
US officials visit gurdwaras to check for illegal immigrants
WASHINGTON, Jan 27: Law enforcement officials from the US Department of Homeland Security have started visiting gurdwaras in New York and New Jersey to check for the presence of illegal immigrants, drawing a sharp reaction from some Sikh organisations which see such actions as a threat to the sanctity of their faith.
Some of the gurdwaras in New York and New Jersey are believed to be used as a hub by Sikh separatists along with illegal and undocumented immigrants.
Within hours of Donald Trump being sworn in as the 47th President of the United States, acting Department of Homeland Security Secretary Benjamine Huffman in a directive rescinded the Biden administration’s guidelines for the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) enforcement actions that thwart law enforcement in or near so-called “sensitive” areas.
These “sensitive” areas included places of worship like gurdwaras and churches.
“This action empowers the brave men and women in CBP and ICE to enforce our immigration laws and catch criminal aliens- including murderers and rapists-who have illegally come into our country,” a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security said.
“Criminals will no longer be able to hide in America’s schools and churches to avoid arrest. The Trump administration will not tie the hands of our brave law enforcement, and instead trusts them to use common sense,” the spokesperson said.
In a statement, the Sikh American Legal Defence and Education Fund (SALDF) expressed grave concern over the directive rescinding the guidelines that designated “sensitive areas”, such as houses of worship, where immigration enforcement actions were previously restricted.
“This troubling shift in policy comes in tandem with community reports of DHS agents visiting gurdwaras in the New York and New Jersey areas just days after the directive was issued,” SALDF said.
“We are deeply alarmed by the Department of Homeland Security’s decision to eliminate protections for sensitive areas and then target places of worship like gurdwaras,” said Kiran Kaur Gill, executive director of SALDEF.
Gill said gurdwaras are not just places of worship; they are vital community centres that provide support, nourishment, and spiritual solace to Sikhs and the broader community.
“Targeting these spaces for enforcement actions threatens the sanctity of our faith and sends a chilling message to immigrant communities nationwide,” Gill said.
Sikh Coalition said the Trump administration’s decision to rescind the DHS policy on “protected areas” (which also included hospitals, schools, social service providers, and more) opens the door to Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents conducting surveillance, investigations, arrests, and raids at gurdwaras.” “The idea that our gurdwaras could be subject to government surveillance and raids by armed law enforcement with or without warrants is unacceptable to the Sikh faith tradition. It will burden religious exercise by limiting the ability of Sikhs to gather and associate with one another in accordance with our faith,” it said. (PTI)
Modi, Trump talk ‘mutually beneficial’ ties
Washington, Jan 27: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday spoke to U.S. President Donald Trump, saying both leaders are committed to a ‘mutually beneficial and trusted partnership’.
“Delighted to speak with my dear friend President @realDonaldTrump @POTUS,” PM Modi wrote on X.
The Prime Minister said that he also congratulated President Trump on his historic second term.
“We are committed to a mutually beneficial and trusted partnership. We will work together for the welfare of our people and towards global peace, prosperity, and security,” PM Modi wrote on X.
There was no word yet from the White House, which, as is the practice, will release a readout of the conversation shortly.
This was the second phone conversation between the two leaders after President Trump’s re-election; the first took place just after Trump won the election in November.
The two leaders have shared a close personal relationship going back to President Trump’s first term from 2017 to 2021. (IANS)
US pauses sanctions on Colombia
The decision comes after Colombia’s acceptance of Donald Trump’s terms
WASHINGTON, Jan 27: The US has paused sanctions and tariffs on Colombia after it agreed to accept all the terms of President Donald Trump, including accepting flights of deported migrants from America, the White House said.
The announcement comes after Trump and Colombian President Gustavo Petro threatened increased retaliatory tariffs after Petro turned away two US military aircraft full of detained Colombian migrants.
But the White House late Sunday night said Colombia has agreed to all of President Trump’s terms.
“The Government of Colombia has agreed to all of President Trump’s terms, including the unrestricted acceptance of all illegal aliens from Colombia returned from the United States, including on US military aircraft, without limitation or delay,” White House Press Secretary Karolina Leavitte said.
Based on this agreement, the fully drafted IEEPA (International Emergency Economic Power Act) tariffs and sanctions will be held in reserve, and not signed, unless Colombia fails to honour this agreement, she said.
The visa sanctions issued by the State Department, and enhanced inspections from Customs and Border Protection, will remain in effect until the first planeload of Colombian deportees is successfully returned, she said.
Today’s events make clear to the world that America is respected again, she said.
“President Trump will continue to fiercely protect our nation’s sovereignty, and he expects all other nations of the world to fully cooperate in accepting the deportation of their citizens illegally present in the United States,” Leavitte said.
Earlier in the day, Colombian President Petro denied entry to US military planes carrying Columbian migrants.
“The US cannot treat Colombian migrants as criminals. I deny the entry of American planes carrying Colombian migrants into our territory,” Petro said on X, a move that angered Trump.
“I was just informed that two repatriation flights from the United States, with a large number of Illegal Criminals, were not allowed to land in Colombia. This order was given by Colombia’s Socialist President Gustavo Petro, who is already very unpopular amongst his people,” an outraged Trump said on Truth Social, a media platform owned by him.
Petro’s denial of these flights has jeopardised the National Security and Public Safety of the United States, Trump said.
The US President directed his administration to immediately take urgent and decisive retaliatory measures.
He ordered visa restrictions and 25 per cent tariffs on all Colombian incoming goods, which would be raised to 50 per cent in one week.
“These measures are just the beginning. We will not allow the Colombian Government to violate its legal obligations with regard to the acceptance and return of the Criminals they forced into the United States!” Trump said.
The Colombian Government immediately responded by saying that it is sending a presidential plane for the dignified return of its people from the United States.
In a statement the Office of Colombian President Gustavo Petro said it has arranged for the presidential plane to facilitate the “dignified return of Colombian nationals who were to arrive in the country today in the morning hours, coming in from deportation flights.” (PTI)