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JON STEWART: Where is the Democrats' Project 2025? The New DNC Chair kept saying it's a messaging issue, as though everything is going right, you just don't realize it yet. As opposed to, we've gotten away from New Deal values. HAKEEM JEFFRIES: Maya Angelou said it best — people won't remember what you say, they may not even remember what you do, but they will always remember how you make them feel. And I think what we have to do a better job of is making the American people feel that we understand the pain."
February 12, 2025 at 10:14 PM
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FEBRUARY 10, 2025 • PRESS RELEASE Dear Colleague: I write with respect to our ongoing effort to push back against the far-right extremism that is being relentlessly unleashed on the American people. We are engaged in a multifaceted struggle to protect and defend everyday Americans from the harm being inflicted by this administration. As outlined last week, it's an all hands on deck effort simultaneously underway in Congress, the Courts and the Community. In connection with this effort, House Democrats have formally established a Rapid Response Task Force and Litigation Working Group. I have asked Assistant Leader Joe Neguse to chair the Task Force, which will be co-chaired by Reps. Rosa DeLauro, Gerry Connolly and Jamie Raskin. If you are interested in participating, please contact Rep. Neguse or one of the co-Chairs this week. House Democrats are committed to driving down the high cost of living for everyday Americans. We recognize that there are far too many people in this country struggling to live paycheck to paycheck. That's not acceptable in the wealthiest country in the history of the world. In this regard, we will continue to solve problems for hardworking American taxpayers in order to improve their quality of life. Last year, Republicans repeatedly promised to make life more affordable for everyday Americans. Apparently, they didn't mean it. House Republicans and the administration have done nothing to lower the high cost of living. The cost of groceries is skyrocketing. Meanwhile, Republicans continue to launch far-right attacks on Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, public safety and the education of our children. The American people are counting on us to stop them. Thank you for your continued leadership during this perilous moment. Together, we press on for the people. Sincerely, Hakeem Jeffries Democratic Leader
February 12, 2025 at 3:22 PM
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To All ICE Employees January 31, 2025 Issuance of Interim Policy Guidance Regarding Civil Immigration Enforcement Actions Involving Current or Potential Beneficiaries of Victim-Based Immigration Benefits On January 30, 2025, I signed an interim policy guidance memorandum Interim Guidance on Civil Immigration Enforcement Actions Involving Current or Potential Bene-ficieries of Victim-Based Immigration Benefits. In accordance with the Executive Order (EO) entitled *Protecting the American People Against Invasion,* ICE Directive 11005.3: Using a Victim-Centered Approach with Noncitizen Crime Victims (Dec. 2, 2021) and ICE Policy 10076.1: Prosecutorial Discretion: Certairt Victims, Witnesses, and Plaintifis (Jun. 17, 2011) are rescinded and superseded by this interim guidance. Accordingly: • ICE officers and agents should coordinate and deconflict internally, and with local, state, and other federal law enforcement, as appropriate, when determining whether to take civil immigration enforcement actions to ensure criminal investigative and other enforcement actions will not be compromised; • When encountering an alien who is the beneficiary of a victim-based immigration benefit, ICE officers and agents should consult with the Office of the Principal Legal Advisor through their Field Office Directors or Special Agents in Charge prior to conducting a civil enforcement action against such known ben-eficianes, or against primary and derivative applicants or petitioners for such benefits, to ensure any such action is consistent with applicable legal limitations; • When encountering an alien during a civil immigration enforcement action who is not known to be an approved beneficiary of victim-based immigration benefits or to have applied or petitioned for such benefits, ICE officers and agents are not required to affirmatively seek to identify indicia or evidence suggesting an alien is a victim of a crime or consider such evidence as a positive discretionary factor in determining whether to take civil immigration enforcement action; and • ICE will no longer request expedited adjudications from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services; however, ICE may continue to do so subject to a case-by-case determination that doing so is in ICE's best interests. In implementing this guidance, ICE personnel remain bound to adhere to all applicable statutory and policy requirements including the provisions of 8 U.S.C. § 1367 and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Instruction No. 002-02-001. Rev 00-1: Implementation of Section 1367 Information Provisions (May 28, 2019). The interim guidance is effective immediately and remains in effect until superseded. I encourage all ICE employees in receipt of this guidance to review it and consult with their supervisory chain of command with questions, and for supervisors to consult with their senior leadership, the ICE Office of the Principal Legal Advisor, and the ICE Office of Regulatory Affairs and Policy as needed through their chain of command and Directorate or Program Office leadership. Guidance can be found here (hyperlink) Thank you for your continued commitment and perseverance. Caleb Vitello Acting Director
February 10, 2025 at 6:52 PM
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FromCNIC WASHINGTON DC (USA) Sent: Monday, February 3, 2025 4:30 PM To: Navy SAPR PMs <navysaprpms@us.navy.mil> Subject: ANNOUNCEMENT: SAPR TRAINING STRATEGIC PAUSE Importance: High SAPR PMS, Effective immediately PAUSE ALL SAPR training until further notice. I know we have training that started this week, we worked diligently last week to get our IVAT and additional training reviewed to ensure compliance. This is still ongoing. We consulted with CNIC HQ SAPR's Senior Associate Counsel, who advised to stand down ALL SAPR Training until we receive further guidance. Before resuming, CNIC HQ must ensure course materials do not include information which may violate the Executive Orders. This will take time and we appreciate your patience and flexibility as we navigate new waters and work to protect our SARW as well as those we serve. Please disseminate widely. Additional Background: On 29 January 2025, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) provided the attached guidance addressing agency actions required in compliance with the attached Executive Order (EO), "Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to The Federal Government," (Defending Women) dated 20 January 2025. Please be advised that the Department of the Navy will fully comply with the required actions addressed in the attached OPM memo.
February 10, 2025 at 6:38 PM
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Tweet from David Axelrod (@davidaxelrod on X): “A year ago, Biden refused the traditional Super Bowl interview and the unparalleled audience it would have yielded. That bewildering decision was a major sign of trouble. Trump is all over it today.” 3:43 PM. Feb 9, 2025 266 retweets, 1.9k likes.
February 10, 2025 at 6:29 PM
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Subject: Adjudicating X Markers and Binary Sex Markers in U.S. Passports and Consular Reports of Birth Abroad (CRBAs). 1. (U) The President signed an executive order titled "Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government" on January 20. The executive order provides that the Executive Branch shall "recognize women are biologically female, and men are biologically male." It establishes a policy to "recognize two sexes, male and female," that "are not changeable," and defines the term "sex" referring to "an individual's immutable biological classification as either male or female." Federal agencies must use the definitions of "sex" and other terms set forth in the executive order when interpreting or applying statutes, regulations, or guidance and in all other official agency business, documents, and communications and use "sex," not "gender," when administering or enforcing sex-based distinctions. The executive order directs the Department of Health and Human Services to provide guidance regarding the definitions set forth in the order within 30 days. 2. (U) In accordance with the executive order, the Department no longer issues U.S. passports or CRBAs containing an X marker and has suspended applications seeking to change an individual's sex marker from their biological sex at birth as defined in the executive order This cable addresses the validity of existing U.S. passports and CRBAs with an X marker as well as the adjudication of sex markers. 3. (SBU) A passport or CRBA application requesting an X marker must be changed to a male or female sex marker when sufficient evidence of biological sex at birth is provided or, if that does not exist, a review of all available evidence establishing biological sex at birth by a preponderance of evidence. This change may be annotated in the For Issuance Office Only (FIOO) box as "Sex (M or F) per (Document)," e.g., "Sex M per Birth Certificate." Information Notice (IN) 941-24 should be included with the passport to inform applicants of the change in biographical data. 4. (SBU) If the citizenship and identity evidence submitted with the application does not sufficiently establish the applicant's biological sex at birth, the application must be suspended. The applicant's biological sex at birth might not be established if, among other things, documentation does not indicate their binary biological sex at birth, only lists an X marker or lists a designation of intersex, or there is conflicting information regarding their biological sex at birth. In such a situation, the office will suspend the application and send Information Request Letter (IRL) 708-21 to request citizenship evidence or identification that indicates their biological sex at birth. If their response to the 708-21 letter does not clarify whether the applicant is male or female, or provides conflicting information, adjudicators must suspend the application with IRL 708-22. Conflicting information and relevant Department databases should be carefully reviewed in order to best determine the applicant's biological sex at birth. Issuance dates of vital records and/or amendments are important indicators to consider. 5. (SBU) Many jurisdictions do not list a marker on birth certificates. Absence of a sex marker, or the presence of a marker listing anything other than male or female, is not conflicting sex marker information. Indication on the application, a statement, or other documentation (e.g., ID or prior passport record) of a binary sex marker can be used to establish the appropriate biological sex at birth when there is no conflicting sex marker information. 6. (SBU) U.S. passports that have already been issued with the X marker remain valid until replaced or expired. If the passport with an X marker was issued less than one year ago, these passport holders may obtain a replacement passport containing a binary biological sex marker by submitting Form DS-5504, Application for a U.S. Passport Replacement. The replacement passport will be issued with no fee. The original passport with the X marker may be cancelled and returned to the applicant. 7. (U) CRBAs issued with X marker remain valid until amended. CRBA amendments from X to a binary sex marker may be completed on Form DS-5542, Request for Overseas U.S. Citizen Vital Records Services. 8. (SBU) When an applicant requests a change in their sex marker, adjudicators will review all available evidence and apply a preponderance of evidence to determine the applicant's biological sex at birth. 9. (SBU) If a passport or CRBA application requests a sex marker that differs from their citizenship evidence, identification, and/or prior passport record, the documentation issued closest to an individual's birth should be used to establish the biological sex at birth. Information Notice (IN) 941-24 should be included with the passport to inform applicants of any change in biographical data in the issued document. 10. (SBU) This guidance is in effect for all in-progress passport applications in the Department's possession and any future applications received as of February 7, 2025. 11. (SBU) Please contact AskPPTAdjudication@state.gov if you have questions not covered by this guidance or have an applicant with urgent travel and are unable to determine their biological sex marker. 12. (SBU) Posts must refer any U.S. media inquiries regarding executive orders to CA-Press@state.gov, and congressional inquiries regarding the executive order to ConsularOnTheHill@state.gov. Posts may respond to requests from international media regarding executive orders using CA's cleared press guidance located on CA Web (linked here), copying CA-Press@state.gov.), copying CA-Press@state.gov. 13. Minimize considered.
February 10, 2025 at 6:27 PM
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Subject: Guidance to Visa-Issuing Posts on January 20 Executive Order 14168 on Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government 1. (U) This is an Action Request. Please see paragraph 7. 2. (SBU) SUMMARY: To implement the January 20, 2025, Executive Order (E.O.) 14168 "Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government" the Visa Office is updating visa adjudication and issuance procedures. The E.O. states it is the policy of the United States to recognize two sexes, male and female and mandates that government-issued identity documents, including visas, and all forms that require an individual's sex shall accurately reflect an individual's immutable biological classification as either male or female. All visa-issuing posts must carefully review and follow this guidance effective immediately. If-asked talking points for use with applicants are below. This guidance supersedes current Foreign Affairs Manual (FAM) guidance and updates to the FAM will be published as soon as possible. END SUMMARY. 3. (U) Pursuant to this E.O., the sex listed on an issued visa must correspond to the visa holder's biological sex at birth. The E.O. includes the following definitions: • "Sex" shall refer to an individual's immutable biological classification as either male or female. • "Women" or "woman" and "girls" or "girl" shall mean adult and juvenile human females, respectively. "Female" means a person belonging, at conception, to the sex that produces the large reproductive cell. • "Men" or "man" and "boys" or "boy" shall mean adult and juvenile human males, respectively. "Male" means a person belonging, at conception, to the sex that produces the small reproductive cell. 4. (U) The E.O. text reads, in part: "When administering or enforcing sex-based distinctions, every agency and all Federal employees acting in an official capacity on behalf of their agency shall use the term 'sex' and not 'gender' in all applicable Federal policies and documents," "The Secretar[y] of State ... shall implement changes to require that government-issued identification documents, including passports [and] visas … accurately reflect the holder's sex, as defined under section 2 of this order," and "Agencies shall remove all statements, policies, regulations, forms, communications, or other internal and external messages that promote or otherwise inculcate gender ideology, and shall cease issuing such statements, policies, regulations, forms, communications or other messages. Agency forms that require an individual's sex shall list male or female, and shall not request gender identity." 5. (SBU) Generally, the sex listed on the foreign passport should be considered as prima facie evidence of the applicant's sex as defined in the E.O. However, there may be instances when a consular officer becomes aware that the sex listed on the foreign passport may not be the applicant's sex as defined in the E.O. In such cases, the adjudicator should confirm the applicant's sex as defined in the E.O., indicate that sex on the visa, and add a case note documenting any discrepancy between the passport and the visa to prevent issues at the POE. In cases of discrepancy only, the case note must include #SMF25. 6. (SBU) Where there is a discrepancy in sex markers in the documents presented at the interview, the consular officer should attempt to resolve the issue by examining the documents and interviewing the applicant to determine the applicant's sex at birth. If the applicant is otherwise qualified for the visa but the officer is unable to determine the sex at birth, the officer should request evidence, including but not limited to a birth certificate, to assist in determining sex at birth to resolve the discrepancy and ensure the visa correctly lists the applicant's sex at birth. If needed to obtain evidence, the officer may refuse the case under INA 221(g). VO will create an AutoHotkey (AHK) shortcut ("SMF25") for this case note and communicate the change. Examples of cases where confirmation is needed and #SMF25 should be entered in case notes: • If an applicant was previously issued a visa listing a sex marker different from that in the applicant's current passport; • If an adjudicator becomes aware (either through IDENT or other records available in the CCD) that an applicant's passport denotes a different sex from the sex presented in other records or encounters; or, • When an applicant's passport lists a third-gender marker, such as "X" or no such marker at all. 7. (SBU) Action Request: Posts and GSS should immediately update public-facing instructions regarding visa applications to replace any phrasing about selecting gender identity with instructions to select sex at birth on visa applications. The following language should be included in the instructions: "When completing the 'sex' field of the DS-160 [or DS-260], please select your sex at birth: male or female. Generally, this will be the sex listed on your passport. However, if your passport lists your gender identity, does not list a sex, or lists 'X'/'unspecified' in a 'sex'/'gender' field, you must select your sex at birth." 8. (U) Currently valid U.S. visas issued prior to the effective date of this guidance bearing a sex that differs from the visa holder's sex as defined in the E.O. will remain valid through its expiration date; the visa holder does not need to apply for a new visa with an amended sex marker until the current visa expires. 9. (SBU) VO will publish updated FAM guidance and information on any updates to forms or systems related to this change as soon as possible. 10. (U) Talking Points: Posts should use only the below talking points on an if-asked basis with affected applicants: • Per the January 20, 2025, "Executive Order on Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government", it is the policy of the United States government to recognize two sexes, male and female. • The E.O. specifies that government-issued documents, including visas, shall accurately reflect an individual's immutable biological classification as either male or female. • As such, we are required to list sex, and not gender identity, on official documents including U.S. visas. • We will only issue U.S. visas with a M or F sex marker that matches the applicant's biological sex as defined in the E.O. • Visa applicants are instructed to list their biological sex at birth on the visa application. 11. (U) Additional guidance and contacts: Executive Orders and related guidance can be found on CAWeb. State Department personnel can also join the CA/VO Transition Coo rdination Team to review official guidance and submit questions to VO subject matter experts regarding the E.O. 12. (SBU) Inquiries: Posts must refer any U.S. media inquiries regarding E.O.s to CA-Press@state.gov, and congressional inquiries regarding the E.O. to ConsularOnTheHill@s tate.gov. Posts may respond to requests from international media regarding E.O.s using CA's cleared press guidance located on CA Web (linked here), copying CA-Press @state. goV. 12. Minimize considered.
February 10, 2025 at 6:19 PM