Texas’s 18th Congressional District is a historic community with deep cultural roots, a proud tradition of civic engagement, and a diverse population whose voice deserves to be heard—not silenced. Slicing it apart to dilute its power is unfair, anti-democratic, and wrong.

Luis Alberto Castillo Rivera, a 23-year-old from Venezuela, came to the U.S. through the CBP One appointment system, a way for asylum-seekers to enter the country. But when he arrived at the processing center, he was targeted for having tattoos, despite having no criminal record, and then deported to Guantánamo Bay. Torture, indefinite detention, and grave human rights abuses have defined the Guantánamo Bay Detention Center for more than two decades. Trump’s decision to revive the infamous detention facilities for migrant detention is cruel. It may even be illegal. And it is undoubtedly costly — with at least $21 million having already been spent by the Pentagon on deportation flights alone. It’s unacceptable, which is why Rep. Rashida Tlaib led 15 of her colleagues in the House of Representatives with a letter to the Trump administration demanding the immediate, permanent closure of Guantánamo — and today, we’re asking you to add your name to the letter. We’ve been vocal in the fight to close Guantánamo for years, so we need to amplify these calls to “Shut. It. Down.” and make our demands impossible to ignore in this critical moment. 

We need to talk about Palantir, Friend: the data-mining giant, co-founded by Republican mega-donor Peter Thiel. After winning a massive $30 million contract with ICE earlier this year, the firm is now helping supercharge Trump’s mass deportation agenda — the very architect of which, Trump’s deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, owns up to $250,000 in Palantir stock, allowing him to profit while the company builds an Orwellian surveillance system to track people slated for deportation. The scary truth is, Palantir’s ties with the Trump administration go so much deeper. Our personal bank account numbers, medical claims, student debt amounts, and so much more could soon be accessible to the White House if Trump’s nightmare surveillance state succeeds. With the help of Palantir, Trump is reportedly amassing “untold surveillance power” through this invasion of privacy that could soon be weaponized to threaten, persecute, attack, and punish dissidents, political opponents, and people of all ilk. Trump hasn’t been forced to publicly disclose his grand plans for Palantir. But with enough pressure from Washington, that can change. We can do our part today by sending a message to Congress tens of thousands of people strong, demanding they throw roadblocks at Trump’s data collection power grab and protect our personal privacy.

According to the 14th Amendment, Section 1 of the Constitution of the United States: All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws. We believe that this is a wise and proper law, foundational for a truly fair and democratic nation. We agree that it should be the duty of every law maker and every law enforcer in the land to abide by this amendment and this section without exception. This law has also been assumed to protect the right of return by US citizens. When a US citizen leaves the US, they have a right to freely re-enter their country, and can expect due process of law if there is any question about the circumstances of their return. In Kent v. Dulles, 357 U.S. 116 (1958), a landmark decision of the U.S. Supreme Court on the right to travel, Justice William O. Douglas, held that the federal government may not restrict the right to travel without due process: "The right to travel is a part of the 'liberty' of which the citizen cannot be deprived without due process of law under the Fifth Amendment. If that 'liberty' is to be regulated, it must be pursuant to the law-making functions of the Congress. ... Freedom of movement across frontiers in either direction, and inside frontiers as well, was a part of our heritage. Travel abroad, like travel within the country, ... may be as close to the heart of the individual as the choice of what he eats, or wears, or reads. Freedom of movement is basic in our scheme of values." Under current federal actions, we believe that our travel rights need to be made explicit. We have a right to travel from and return to the US, just as surely as we have a right to freedom of speech. We should not feel in danger simply for returning to our country. We should clearly have the right NOT to be locked out or locked up by our country upon re-entry without a fair hearing. • We have family, who we love, that we have a right to visit and even cohabit with when they are in other countries. This right strengthens good international relations. • We wish to enrich our understanding of the world, and bring those insights back to our country. • We hold strong feelings for a beautiful country of ocean shores, rivers, forest, mountains, and plains. These places are part of what has made us who we are. These are why we call the US our homeland. • And we most assuredly want to rejoin family and friends at home, and thereby are present to comfort and support them. • We also demand the right to be part of the great good that we as US citizens, regardless of our differences, can offer ourselves and the world when we act as one community of generosity and kindness. Over 8 million US citizens live abroad. This is of significant concern to our expatriates.  (World Population Review: American Expats by Country 2025)

Everglades National Park is in a High-Velocity Hurricane Zone—meaning buildings should be constructed to withstand winds of 180 miles per hour. But the Everglades detention camp is made up of flimsy tents, bunk beds, and chain fences—it’s blatantly unsafe for those being held there. The facility has already flooded once from normal levels of rain.  Beyond endangering human lives, the Everglades detention camp also threatens one of the country’s most fragile ecosystems. Journalists have already struggled to report on the facility because of the swarms of mosquitoes, some of which can carry dangerous diseases. And if industrial mosquito repellents are used, the environmental harm toward the Everglades and its nationally protected land could be staggering. DeSantis and his allies have refused entry to Democratic representatives demanding to exercise their legal duties to conduct oversight because they know how appalling the conditions inside are. The cruel and inhumane environment at Everglades detention camp is by design—it’s exactly what Trump and his cronies want. Sign the petition to expedite the camp’s shutdown and reject any replication of these disastrous conditions at other facilities! 

Because justice begins with accountability—and right now, Phoenix VA Police are bypassing the very systems meant to protect us. By refusing to fingerprint and collect DNA from individuals arrested for violent and serious crimes, VA Police are allowing dangerous suspects to avoid tracking, escape federal charges, and walk away unpunished. These aren’t technical glitches—these are conscious decisions to ignore the law. When federal agencies fail to follow DOJ procedures, sex offenders don’t get entered into the system. Rapists aren’t matched in CODIS. Cold cases stay cold. And violent criminals remain free to offend again. The tools exist. The laws are clear. But Phoenix VA Police are choosing inaction—and that inaction is putting veterans, employees, and the public at risk. If we don’t demand change now, we risk another preventable tragedy—another name in the headlines—because the system failed to act.

Jose Muyet’s case represents a broken system that has affected thousands — especially Black and Latino men — with unjust sentencing, no physical evidence, and coerced testimony. His 30+ year incarceration isn’t just about one man — it’s about a system that too often values punishment over truth, and silence over fairness. Jose's story is important because it shows us that people can change, but the system often refuses to. Despite decades behind bars, Jose has found healing, purpose, and voice through his writing and personal transformation. Freeing Jose isn’t just about ending one injustice — it’s about calling attention to all the others like his, and demanding that New York correct its past mistakes. Because this could be your brother, your son, your neighbor — or even you. If we stay silent, the system never changes. But when we raise our voices together, we show that people care about fairness, about truth, and about second chances. By joining this campaign, you are: • Standing up for someone who has spent 30 years locked away with no evidence • Demanding that the justice system be accountable • Supporting a man who has already done the hard work of transformation • Saying: Redemption is real. Injustice cannot stand. Jose can't fight for his freedom alone. But we can fight with him. Your voice matters. Your signature matters. Your share matters.

This is not just about one meeting or one leader — it’s about preserving the integrity, transparency, and values of the Hawai‘i Republican Party, and beyond. We are calling for accountability, respect for our rules, and protection of every member’s voice, regardless of their opinions or alliances. When leadership disregards the bylaws and parliamentary rules, they are not just silencing opposition — they are undermining the very foundation of our party. This campaign is about making sure: • Every delegate and member is heard • Rules are followed without favoritism, or because there is opposition • Decisions are made through a fair and lawful process • Unity means inclusion, not control If we don’t stand up now, the Party risks becoming a vehicle for personal agendas rather than a force for principled governance. This campaign is our stand to say: Integrity matters. Process matters. Our voice matters. Join us — not just to protest — but to help restore trust, fairness, and proper leadership to the Hawai‘i Republican Party.

Donald J. Trump does not deserve a Nobel Prize because of the havoc he is creating internationally as well as at home.  He is damaging international relations and the standing of the United States through his actions regarding tariffs, his bullying of our neighbors and allies, as well as his administration’s threatening of Ukraine.  His mass deportations of immigrants who are legally pursuing legal status in uncalled for in a democratic country. 

Because sexual harassment has been normalized — and that normalization is dangerous. At the Phoenix VA Police Department, female officers have quietly endured years of inappropriate comments, and power-driven intimidation from those in leadership. What should never be tolerated has instead become expected. A “don’t rock the boat” mentality has taken hold. And for many, silence feels safer than speaking out. 🚨 Female officers have left without ever filing complaints. Others remain, enduring the abuse quietly — not because they accept it, but because they fear retaliation, lost income, destroyed careers, or social exile from the tight-knit culture. 🚨 Some have confided in coworkers. Some have documented it. But few have ever received protection, and fewer still have seen justice. This is not about one bad actor. It’s about a systemic culture that empowers those in rank to humiliate, isolate, and dominate subordinates with no meaningful consequences. When sexual harassment is allowed to become routine, it destroys morale, it drives good officers out, and it tells survivors — men and women alike — that no one is coming to help them. We are raising our voices because this ends when the silence ends. #PhoenixVAPolice #CarlTHaydenVAMC #PVAHCS #PhoenixVAHealthcareSystem #VAHandbook0730 #38CFR1218 #VApoliceMisconduct

Matthew Cardon was shot and killed by police in Peoria, Arizona, on June 5th, 2025. Despite repeated requests from his family and community, authorities have not released all available footage. There are conflicting statements, missing body cam footage, and unanswered questions that demand transparency. We call on local and state leaders to release all footage, open an independent investigation, and ensure this never happens again. Matthew was a son, brother, and friend.His family—and the public—deserve the truth.

When community members protested Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) raids to protect their neighbors this weekend, they were met with what The New York Times called, “an extraordinary show of force.” “Dozens of federal agents wearing helmets and green camouflage arrived in two hulking armored trucks and other unmarked vehicles, and were soon approached by a crowd of immigrant activists and supporters. Some agents carried riot shields and others held rifles, as well as shotguns that appeared to be loaded with less-than-lethal ammunition.” This is mass deportation under Trump. Now that he has deployed thousands of National Guard troops along with 700 active duty Marines to crush protests in the Los Angeles area, more violent intimidation and threats to free speech are likely. Troops and tanks don’t belong on LA’s streets, or anywhere. But the horrifying reality is that Trump’s military flex likely won’t be limited to southern California or his DC tank parade — and that’s why we’re reaching out today with an urgent call. This is no time for business as usual. Senators have a crucial role to play in securing an end to the ICE raids and Trump’s violence-first responses. The good news? They’re more likely to do it if they hear from you today.