CNBNews Editor Recalls the Newark Uprising

William E. Cleary Sr. | Cleary’s Notebook News

EDITOR’S NOTE: On August 30, Typepad, the host of our blog for the past 20 years, announced that they were shutting down its business on September 30. We had 70,000 articles posted on its site; they gave us four weeks to move the articles to a new host, or they would be lost forever. We will be republishing many of the old articles in the weeks and months ahead. The Newark article first appeared on August 1, 2024.

NEWARK, NJ (August 1, 2024)(CNBNews)–Although the Newark riot in 1967 happened 57 years ago, the memory of that time is still fresh in my mind. The 50th memorial anniversary of the Newark riots was remembered on July 12, 2017. Some of us who were there called it “The Battle of Newark.” The five-day conflict broke out on July 12, 1967. Soldiers from South Jersey who belonged to the 50th Armored Division,1st Battalion, 114th Infantry Regiment, also known as the “Jersey Blues,” were called early in the morning on that day to report to their respective armories either in Woodbury or Pitman. The same call was being sent to Guardsmen stationed at other armories in New Jersey.

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FACE OF DEFENSE: United States’ only Heavy Icebreaker completes Antarctic Treaty Inspections

MCMURDO STATION, Antarctica — The 159 crewmembers onboard U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star (WAGB 10) departed McMurdo Station Wednesday after escorting three refuel and resupply vessels and assisting with a five-day inspection of foreign research stations, installations and equipment in Antarctica.

MCMURDO STATION, MCMURDO STATION, ANTARCTICA 02.05.2020 Photo by Senior Chief Petty Officer NyxoLyno Cangemi U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Area Subscribe41 The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star (WAGB-10) is moored Feb. 5, 2020, next to the Maersk Peary in McMurdo, Antarctica. The crew of the 44-year-old icebreaker created a channel in the ice near McMurdo Station as a part of Operation Deep Freeze – the U.S. military’s contribution to the U.S. Antarctic Program, which is managed by the National Science Foundation. U.S. Coast Guard photograph by Senior Chief Petty Officer NyxoLyno Cangemi

The departure marks the Polar Star’s 23rd journey to Antarctica in support of Operation Deep Freeze, an annual joint military service mission to resupply the United States Antarctic stations, in support of the National Science Foundation, the lead agency for the United States Antarctic Program.

The Seattle-based 399-foot, 13,000-ton

Polar Star

created a 23-mile channel through the ice to McMurdo Sound, which enabled the offload of over 19.5 million pounds of dry cargo and 7.6 million gallons of fuel from three logistics vessels. Together these three ships delivered enough fuel and critical supplies to sustain NSF operations throughout the year until Polar Star returns in 2021.

Two scuba divers are lowered to the ice Feb. 1, 2020, from the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star (WAGB-10) approximately seven miles north of McMurdo Station, Antarctica. Scuba divers from the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Army and the Royal Canadian Navy are serving aboard the Polar Star in order to effect emergency repairs if needed to the 44-year-old heavy icebreaker. The crew of the Seattle-based Polar Star is working near Antarctica in support of Operation Deep Freeze 2020, the U.S. military’s contribution to the National Science Foundation-managed U.S. Antarctic Program. U.S. Coast Guard photograph by Senior Chief Petty Officer NyxoLyno Cangemi

The Polar Star also supported a team of U.S. government officials from the U.S. Department of State, National Science Foundation, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and U.S. Coast Guard who

conducted a five-day inspection

of foreign research stations, installations, and equipment in Antarctica.

The United States continues to promote Antarctica’s status as a continent reserved for peace and science in accordance with the provisions of the Antarctic Treaty of 1959. The inspection serves to verify compliance with the Antarctic Treaty and its Environmental Protocol, including provisions prohibiting military measures and mining, as well as provisions promoting safe station operation and sound environmental practices.

The team inspected three stations: Mario Zucchelli (Italy), Jang Bogo (South Korea), and Inexpressible Island (China). This was the fifteenth inspection of foreign research stations by the United States in Antarctica, and the first since 2012.

Inspections emphasize that all of Antarctica is accessible to interested countries despite territorial claims and reinforce the importance of compliance with the Antarctic Treaty’s arms control provisions. The United States will present its report on the inspection at the next Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting in Helsinki, Finland, in May 2020.

“I am immensely proud of all the hard work and dedication the men and women of the Polar Star demonstrate each and every day,” said Greg Stanclik, commanding officer of the Polar Star.

“Maintaining and operating a 44-year-old ship in the harshest of environments takes months of planning and preparation, long workdays and missed holidays, birthdays and anniversaries with loved ones. The Polar Star crew truly embodies the ethos of the Antarctic explorers who came before us — courage, sacrifice and devotion.”

Commissioned in 1976, the Polar Star is the United States’ only operational heavy icebreaker, capable of breaking ice up to 21 feet thick. Reserved for Operation Deep Freeze each year, the ship spends the winter breaking ice near Antarctica, and when the mission is complete, returns to dry dock in order to conduct critical maintenance and repairs in preparation for the next Operation Deep Freeze mission.

If a catastrophic event, such as getting stuck in the ice, were to happen to the

Coast Guard Cutter Healy

(WAGB 20) in the Arctic or to the Polar Star near Antarctica, the U.S. Coast Guard is left without a self-rescue capability.

By contrast, Russia currently operates more than 50 icebreakers – several of which are nuclear powered.

The Coast Guard has been the sole provider of the nation’s polar icebreaking capability since 1965, and is seeking to increase its icebreaking fleet with

six new polar security cutters

to ensure continued national presence and access to the Polar Regions.

In April, the

Coast Guard awarded VT Halter Marine Inc.

of Pascagoula, Mississippi, a contract for the design and construction of the Coast Guard’s lead

polar security cutter

, which will also be homeported in Seattle. The contract also includes options for the construction of two additional PSCs.

\”Replacing the Coast Guard\’s icebreaker fleet is paramount,\” said Vice Adm. Linda Fagan, commander of the Coast Guard\’s Pacific Area. \”Our ability to clear a channel and allow for the resupply of the United States\’ Antarctic stations is essential for continued national presence and influence on the continent.\”

FACE OF DEFENSE

AMERICAN HERO

FACE OF DEFENSE: Major Energy Management Project Completed at CG Academy

NEW LONDON, Conn. – The largest Utility Energy Savings Contract ever awarded by the Department of Homeland Security was recently completed at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy.

One of the smallest and most specialized of the nation’s five federal service academies, the Academy has been located in New London since 1910. The institution moved to its present home, a sprawling 103-acre campus on the west bank of the Thames River, back in 1932.

One of the smallest and most specialized of the nation’s five federal service academies, the U.S. Coast Guard Academy campus has been in its present location New London, Conn., since 1932. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Senior Chief Petty Officer NyxoLyno Cangemi.

The energy savings project, which began in late 2017, has transformed the 87-year old campus into a more resilient, modern and sustainable institution.

The project included $39 million in capital improvements designed to reduce total electricity imported from the grid by nearly 80 percent, reduce overall energy consumption by 48 percent and reduce annual energy costs at the Academy by more than $2 million.

The Academy\’s fuel oil-fired boiler plant was replaced with a high efficiency natural gas plant, and supplemented with a combined heat and power plant that generates one megawatt of electricity onsite with a microturbine engine. U. S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Lauren Laughlin.

The project has substantively updated the institution’s energy infrastructure and impacted a number of facilities from student barracks to the academic laboratories. Overall, more than a dozen upgrades were completed in 30 different buildings across campus. “Anytime we can invest in the infrastructure onboard the service’s only accession point for officers we are making an investment in the long term strength of the service,” said Rear Admiral Bill Kelly, Academy Superintendent.

A natural gas plant was included in the project that was supplemented with a combined heat and power plant that generates one megawatt of electricity onsite with a micro-turbine generator. The result greatly improves the reliability of the Academy’s electrical systems and increases the institution’s energy resiliency.

In addition, the project incorporated renewable and onsite energy generation and implemented numerous energy and water conservation measures, lighting improvements, and the installation of rooftop solar arrays.

One of the main outcomes of the project is that the overall energy savings takes the Academy, previously the third largest consumer of energy within the U.S. Coast Guard, out of the service’s top 10 energy consumer list altogether.

The institution worked with the energy company Eversource and subcontractor Ameresco to manage the project which is funded through energy cost savings. According to Eversource, the improvements will reduce the Academy’s carbon emissions by around 7,800 metric tons of CO2 per year, which is equivalent to taking more than 1,600 cars off the road.

FACE OF DEFENSE

AMERICAN HERO

Guest Opinion: 75 percent of illegal immigrants skip deportation hearings, hiding out in US

OPINION: WASHINGTON SECRETS

Paul Bedard

| February 07, 2020 10:35 AM

More than 7 out of 10 illegal immigrant families ordered to be deported have skipped their court dates and remain in the United States, according to federal statistics.

In just 10 courts, some 36,115 illegal immigrant families ordered out from September 2018 to January 2020 never complied with a requirement to attend their hearings and instead are hiding out in the country, according to a Justice Department report from the Executive Office for

Immigration Review Adjudication Statistics

The report, according to an analysis by the

Center for Immigration Studies

, found that during the period, 47,925 families were denied asylum and ordered deported, but 75% didn’t attend their court hearings to get the order.

The statistics are the latest in a long string of reports that have detailed how illegal immigrants disappear into the U.S. once they enter.

“Their failure to appear suggests that they simply gamed loopholes in our immigration laws to gain entry into this country, to live and work indefinitely,” said former Immigration Judge Andrew R. Arthur, writing for CIS.

“There is nothing wrong with people looking for a better life generally, of course, but the problem in these cases are that (1) they put themselves and their children in danger by entering illegally to begin with, (2) they gave money to criminals and cartels to be smuggled into the U.S., (3) they are swelling immigration court dockets with hearing dates they never attended and likely never planned to attend, and (4) they make it harder for legitimate asylum seekers to get protection in a timely manner, which would allow those aliens to start a new life free from fear and protect their family members still abroad. Oh, and illegal entry is a crime,” he added.

The report said that as in the past, some 9 out of 10 immigrants seeking asylum into the U.S. were denied.

Over the 15-month period and 10 courts studied in the report, judges completed 52,646 cases resulting in deportations of 47,925 — a 91% removal rate.

*Supporting Those Who Served

Camden City, N.J. — Acting Camden County Prosecutor Jill S. Mayer announced the Office will host a symposium for military and veterans affairs Feb. 19 in Oaklyn as part of the Attorney General’s 21 County/21

Century Policing Project.

“Veterans put their lives on the line countless times for our country,” said Acting Prosecutor Mayer. “I’m proud to lead an office that supports these men and women by hosting a public forum to educate our veterans about the many services offered in Camden County for veterans in need.”

Representatives from various agencies, including the US Department of Veterans Affairs, the New Jersey Department of Military Veterans Affairs, Camden County Office of Veterans Affairs and Rutgers Office of Military and Veterans Affairs will be present among others at the Oaklyn VFW Post 4463 beginning at 6 p.m.

The event will link veterans, their families and friends with the support and services needed to reduce the risk of contact with the criminal justice system.

According to a 2012

National Institutes of Health Study

, 9 percent of Veterans and service members who served in Iraq and Afghanistan have been arrested since returning to their homes.

“The resources are out there for veterans, but not everyone knows about them,” said Acting Prosecutor Mayer. “By having multiple organizations in one place and giving each an opportunity to speak, we hope to educate the county on what kind of help is available for either themselves or a veteran they know.”

The event will run from 6 to approximately 8 p.m. at 5 Manor Ave., Oaklyn.

3 Life Tips for a New Military Spouse

(Gloucestercitynews.net)(February 11, 2020)–The U.S. military issues instructions and operations for nearly every imaginable scenario — in case of emergency, in case of attack, in case of disorder. But when it comes to the case of marrying a military man or woman, there is no instruction manual. The vows you take apply to both your beloved and the country they serve, and suddenly, your concept of \”family\” must grow to encompasses the entire army, navy, air force or marines.

No one tells you that the civilian life you knew will come to a sudden halt and a new life, complete with new rules and regulations, begins when you become a military spouse. Though this new life may seem overwhelming at first, knowing how to handle a few common issues can make transitioning into your new role, a new marriage and new life a little easier.

Dealing With Deployment

Every military spouse is inevitably faced with the deployment of their wife or husband. The threat of their sudden departure hangs heavy in the air when the couples are together knowing that at any time, they may need to separate for months, sometimes years at a time.

When deployment occurs, the first night is always the hardest, but it does get easier from there. Staying busy during a loved one\’s absence is the first bit of

advice that experienced military spouses offer

. Filling your days with chores and activities is a critical strategy to keep the mind occupied and the nerves calmed. Another pearl of wisdom to help deal with deployment is to be prepared and plan ahead. Changing from a partnership to a single entity means you have twice the household obligations and responsibilities, including maintaining the day-to-day operations of life and home. That\’s why it\’s wise to plan ahead and get as much done as possible before the deployment.

For instance, military spouses left behind might learn that obtaining better auto insurance rates before your spouse leaves can save you time, effort and money. Some providers like

USAA auto insurance

make accommodations specifically for military families. With plans in place, the first night of deployment as well as those that follow, will not seem so unbearable.

Managing Money

The military offers some great benefits to its members and their spouses like free healthcare and retirement packages, so knowing what you are entitled to and how to claim it should be near the top of your list of things to do early in your military life.

For example,

the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP)

is strictly for military individuals and their families and offers simple investment choices and automatic enrollment. It is comparable to many 401(k) plans civilians have. The investments are all index funds, meaning they simply track the market instead of being actively managed, which means they are relatively safer and they yield greater savings that are passed directly to you. All members of the U.S. armed forces can contribute, and it\’s never too early to plan for retirement.

Moving Matters

Whether it be a Permanent Change of Station (PCS) or a temporary travel assignment, the process of moving is certainly stressful; and with upwards of

400,000 servicemen and woman PCS annually

, that stress is quite common.

If you\’re lucky enough to stay in the States, your moving process is significantly less complicated. You\’ll want to start out with your local transportation office and then decide how much you want to do on your own. If you are comfortable with Uncle Sam taking the reigns, he can help you with housing, relocation assistance referrals, transportation and employment in your new location, allowing you to focus on yourself and your family.

By following these tips on dealing with the difficult and inevitable heartbreak of deployment, mastering the management of money and navigating the waters of a military move, you\’ll be well on your way to becoming a veteran military spouse and growing ever more comfortable in your new life.

International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting

WASHINGTON – February 6 marks the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the FBI, and the Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section (HRSP) of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, all members of the Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center (HRVWCC), join U.S. and foreign government partners, non-governmental organizations, and local communities to call for the eradication of the practice.

The elimination of FGM/C has broad implications for the health and human rights of women and girls, as well as societies at large. This day serves as an opportunity to reflect on victims who have suffered from female genital mutilation/cutting, including many women and girls who have died or suffered lifelong health complications from the practice. The day also renews a global commitment to the health and well-being of all women, girls and communities by eliminating the practice.

Female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) is a federal crime, and any involvement in committing this crime is a serious human rights violation, which may result in imprisonment and potential removal from the United States. Individuals suspected of FGM/C, including sending girls overseas to be cut, may be investigated by the HRVWCC and prosecuted accordingly. In 2017, the HRVWCC initiated Operation Limelight USA, a program designed to bring awareness of FGM/C to passengers flying to countries where FGM/C is prevalent, to identify potential victims and perpetrators of FGM and to deter its practice. Since June 2017, ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in partnership with non-governmental organizations, FBI, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and others have conducted outreach operations at 18 U.S. airports and have engaged with nearly 4,000 passengers on 168 flights.

“Female genital mutilation is an affront to the human rights of women and girls throughout the world,” said Mark Shaffer, Chief of ICE’s Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center. “Ending this practice will require continued cooperation and creativity of governments, partner organizations, and communities.”

“Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting is a significant threat targeting women in our communities and around the world. The FBI is committed to identifying and investigating the human rights violators who perpetrate this heinous crime,” said Acting Unit Chief Tyrone Lara of the FBI International Human Rights Unit. “We are also dedicated to working with our domestic and international partners to bring perpetrators to justice and put an end to this practice worldwide.”

FGM/C prevalence is primarily concentrated in 30 countries in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, but also occurs in parts of Western Europe, North America, Australia and New Zealand. It is global in scope and found in multiple geographies, religions, and socioeconomic classes.

Anyone who has information about an individual who is suspected of assisting in this crime is urged to call the toll-free ICE tip line at (866) 347-2423 or complete the

ICE online tip form

or the

FBI online tip form

. All are staffed around the clock, and tips may be provided anonymously.

For more information about the practice of female genital mutilation/cutting,

view this Fact Sheet on FGM/C from the U.S. Department of State

visit the United Nations\’ Zero Tolerance Day website

ICE removes Kazakhstan national convicted of weapons trafficking to Russia

PHILADELPHIA — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) removed Eldar Rezvanov on Jan. 16, to his home country of Kazakhstan via commercial aircraft.

Rezvanov was convicted for international arms trafficking by exporting defense articles without obtaining a license or authorization.

Rezvanov and his coconspirator attempted to conceal the export of the firearms and firearm parts by using aliases to purchase the components and by providing false information on federal forms about the final destination of the articles. They smuggled the firearms and firearm parts onto overseas flights using false shipping inventories and concealed the disassembled firearm components by taping them to metal kitchen utensils before shipping them overseas.

“This individual took advantage of the many opportunities this country granted him,” said ICE Philadelphia Field Office Director Simona Flores-Lund. “Eldar Rezvanov started out as an international student, and three years later he was attempting to export an incredible number of firearms and ammunition to Russia. Thanks to our local and federal partners, this individual has served time and is now removed from the United States.”

In January 2013, Rezvanov was admitted into the U.S. as a F-1 non-immigrant student for the duration of his student status at Virginia International University. Rezvanov was granted employment status until February 2015. He then transferred to the American College of Commerce and Technology, and in November 2015, they terminated his student status in SEVIS for failure to enroll.

On Nov. 10, 2016, the Washington D.C. Metropolitan Police arrested Rezvanov and charged him with kidnapping and abduction of a foreign national. Rezvanov and his codefendants allegedly kidnapped an individual, held him hostage, beat him, and forced him to meet ransom demands.

On Nov. 29, 2016, the D.C Department of Corrections remanded Rezvanov to ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington custody. On the same date, HSI Washington turned Rezvanov over to ERO Washington custody, who detained him at the Farmville Detention Center in Farmville, VA. On April 11, 2017, an immigration judge (IJ) issued Rezvanov bond, and he posted bond.

On Oct. 20, 2017, after being notified by local law enforcement that Rezvanov was possibly involved in the illegal export of AECA controlled items, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) identified and examined several packages Rezvanov shipped at the Park Fairfax Post Office. These packages contained: 395 firearms parts such as firing pins, springs and extractors; 75 magazines for Glocks and AK 47 rifles; and 20 barrels and slides for Glock pistols.

The Arms Export Control Act (AECA) requires individuals to obtain a license from the Department of State (DOS) Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC) to export Defense Articles on the United States Munitions List (USML) from the United States to another country.

On Nov. 2, 2017, Rezvanov attempted to ship another package to Chechnya, Russia containing gun barrels taped to metals spatulas and gun slides taped to small wheels in an effort to conceal them as casters for kitchen cabinets. USPIS seized both of these shipments.

Without obtaining the required license, Rezvanov and his coconspirator purchased and attempted to export from the United States to Grozny, Chechnya: 7 full pistols; 130 assembled lower receivers; 266 firearm slides; 158 firearm barrels; 996 firearm magazines; 10 stocks; 133 firearm frames; and 453 firearm parts, including springs and firing pins. Purchasers were under aliases, and the firearm components were taped to kitchen utensils.

On Feb. 22, 2018, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia (EDVA) issued an arrest warrant for Rezvanov for violating AECA. On Feb. 27, 2018, HSI Washington arrested Rezvanov in Arlington, VA.

On July 24, 2018, Rezvanov was convicted of violating the AECA and international traffic in arms regulations. On April 15, 2019, ERO Philadelphia encountered Rezvanov at the Moshannon Valley Correctional Center (MVCC) in Philipsburg, PA and lodged an Immigration Detainer. On Nov. 8, 2019, MVCC remanded Rezvanov to ERO Philadelphia custody, who detained him at the Clinton County Correctional Facility (CCCF) in McElhattan, PA.

On Dec. 12, 2019, an IJ ordered Rezvanov removed from the United States to Kazakhstan. Rezvanov waived appeal. On Jan. 16, 2020, Rezvanov was removed from the United States.

Face of Defense: To the Moon … And Beyond!

FACE OF DEFENSE

AMERICAN HERO

Marine Corps Maj. Jasmin Moghbeli Job Title: NASA Astronaut Hometown: Baldwin, New York Unit: NASA Astronaut Group 22, \’\’The Turtles\’\’ Stationed: Johnson Space Center, Houston

JAN. 16, 2020 |

KATIE LANGE

, DOD NEWS

What was the process of getting into the astronaut candidate program?

I just submitted a resume on USAJobs.gov. It sounds almost underwhelming, right? Then, I came back here [to Johnson Space Center] for two rounds of interviews and got accepted to the program.

Tell me about the training you went through.

The training was really exciting and diverse. You have to be able to do a little bit of everything as an astronaut because, up in space, you\’re the doctor; you\’re the maintainer; you\’re the scientist and the spacewalker; and, so, the variety of things we\’ve learned over these two years has been incredible. Some of the major courses we learned were robotics, learning to speak Russian, learning about the International Space Station and its systems, and learning how to do spacewalks. Then, there\’s flying the T-38 jets!

What did you struggle with most?

The hardest part, for me, was the training in the neutral buoyancy lab. That’s where we trained for spacewalks. I’ve watched astronauts do spacewalks before, and you think, \’Wow, they make it look so easy and so smooth,\’ and that the suit is just an extension of their body. But then I got in there for the first time, and it’s just completely different than you\’d imagined. You now have to walk with your hands, and anytime you squeeze your hands to do anything, you’re fighting the pressure in the suit. It was just really tricky learning how to move within that suit. It\’s your own personal spacecraft at that point, and [you\’re] learning how to work with it by fighting against it.

What did you do best during training?

Something that I thought would be a challenge that I did well at was learning Russian. I\’ve really enjoyed learning another language, learning about their culture. We have one-on-one instruction, and my instructor is absolutely incredible. That was something I knew would be a real challenge, but I feel like I really progressed in it.

How did you feel when they announced that you were officially an astronaut?

I felt honored to be joining the company of so many amazing women and men.

Was this a dream of yours growing up?

I was actually born in Germany, but I grew up in Baldwin, New York, on Long Island. I went through kindergarten and high school there, and I dreamed of being exactly where I am today, which is really exciting for me. I wanted to be an astronaut since I was a kid, and when you say in sixth grade, \’I want to become an astronaut\’ nobody thinks you\’re actually going to become an astronaut. While it wasn\’t always the main focus of what I was doing at each point in my life, it\’s always been there in the background, driving the general path of where I\’ve been going.

Was the Marine Corps an asset to your success?

Being in the Marine Corps was a huge asset. It’s a testament to all those people and the mentorship. The Marine Corps played a very important part in shaping me and giving me a lot of the skills I needed – not just the hard skills but a lot of the soft skills, like how to communicate and how to take my entire team into consideration and not just my personal needs. It\’s hard to teach those things, but we do it very well in the Marine Corps. And my test piloting background — the operational experience and the engineering side of that — both tie in perfectly here.

As an official astronaut, what\’s next on your agenda?

It\’s a super exciting time to be in human space exploration. We\’ve been on the International Space Station for almost 20 years continuously now, and we\’ve got several new vehicles on the horizon. There\’s Boeing and Space X, both with their commercial crew vehicles. NASA is developing Orion and the Space Launch System to go onto the moon, and there\’s Mars with the [Lunar] Gateway program. So, there are a lot of exciting things. Right now, in my day to day, I\’m focused on the human lander system and getting us to the moon.

Do you think you could be the first female astronaut to get to the moon?

There is a chance, but at this point I’m just excited that I’ll know the first woman to be on the moon!

In 2015, Marine Corps Lt. Col. Nicole Mann became the first female Marine to graduate from the astronaut program and she mentored you. What would you say to her for that?

You\’ve been an inspiration to me. She was my mentor right from the beginning — called me before I ever showed up here and made sure I had what I needed. Watching you and knowing you\’re going to be the first person on the launch of a new spacecraft is such an inspiration.

What drives you to do better?

I think the same thing that pushes people in the military every day — your sisters and brothers to your left and right. We\’re in a similar job here where your failures … there are life or death situations here. What we do inherently is risky because we\’re constantly pushing the boundaries and just thinking, \’I need to focus because my buddy could be on that vehicle I was working on.\’ And I think that motivates me a lot.

What advice would you give to future generations of Marines?

Whatever you\’re interested in, have that vision of what you want to do, but also don\’t forget to focus on what you\’re doing in the moment. I wasn’t always assigned to the job I wanted to be assigned to, but I put my effort into that to the best of my ability and tried to do the best I could at that job. So, whether you\’re sweeping floors or doing something really cool, just do the best you can do.

Also, I think something that gets lost sometimes is being kind to others. When you\’re in the position to mentor someone, think back to when you were in their position and first learning something. Just remember we\’re all on the same team.

FACE OF DEFENSE

AMERICAN HERO

South Florida Federal Case Reveals Illegal Immigrants Buy, Rent Kids for Easier U.S. Entry

SOUTH FLORIDA–A federal case out of south Florida illustrates the perils of a U.S. policy that facilitates the entry of illegal immigrants with children over those traveling alone. The matter involves a Guatemalan national who obtained false documents in his impoverished Central American country to claim a 12-year-old boy as his son. The 35-year-old illegal alien, Walfre Eliseo Camposeco-Montejo, and his fake son were released by federal authorities as a family unit and remained free until the boy escaped. Camposeco-Montejo eventually pled guilty to providing and obtaining forced labor, alien smuggling and unlawfully transporting aliens. This month he was sentenced to

eight years in prison

for labor trafficking a minor.

Camposeco-Montego and the minor illegally entered the U.S. by crossing the Rio Grande in November 2016, according to the feds. Not coincidentally, there was a huge spike in family units entering the country via the southern border that year. In fact, Judicial Watch

reported

it after obtaining Department of Homeland Security (DHS) figures showing that, in the first 11 months of fiscal year 2016, the number of family units apprehended by the U.S. Border Patrol nearly doubled from the previous year. The majority of the illegal border crossers remained in the country under former President Barack Obama’s special refugee and family reunification programs. The Rio Grande Border Patrol sector used by Camposeco-Montego saw an astounding 91% increase in family units the year he crossed it with the boy, according to the government figures.

“Upon their arrest by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, when crossing the border, Camposeco-Montejo lied about being the boy’s father,” according to a Department of Justice (DOJ)

statement

issued this month. “Based upon Camposeco-Montejo’s false representations, he and the boy were released as a family unit and subsequently made their way to Florida.” The Guatemalan illegal alien obtained false identification documents for the boy and forced him to work in south Florida farms for months to repay a debt from the human smuggling operation, according to federal prosecutors. The scheme was exposed because the boy was eventually able to escape and report his smuggler. Authorities say the smuggler promised the boy’s mother he would provide him with an education upon arriving in the U.S.

In the last few years federal agents along the Mexican border have uncovered thousands of similar cases in which illegal immigrants use children to practically assure entry into the U.S. Family units also avoid long-term federal custody. They are known as “fake families.” During

congressional testimony

over the summer, the acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) explained the situation: “By requiring the release of family units before the conclusion of immigration proceedings, seemingly well-intentioned court rulings and legislation are being exploited by transnational criminal organizations and human smugglers,” Matthew Albence told lawmakers during the July hearing. “These despicable smugglers have created an entire illicit industry with untold millions of dollars being made through the sale, rental, and recycling of children—utilized by unscrupulous adults to pose as family units.”

The word that kids are a ticket into the U.S. has spread like wildfire throughout Central America. The nation’s largest Spanish-language news network, also viewed throughout Latin America, even aired a segment titled

“Children as Passport”

that points out “arriving at the U.S. border with a child in hand has become the best passport for tens of thousands of Central American migrants.” Another major Spanish news conglomerate recently reported that immigrants

buy children for $130

to create fake families that facilitate crossing the border. One Spanish news story reveals that a Guatemalan man

rented

an 8-year-old boy to cross the Lukeville port of entry in Arizona. Throughout Central America and Mexico, a multitude of news reports and social media postings reiterate similar stories.

As a result, there has been a huge—and unprecedented—rise in family units at the southern border. In 2019 there were 473,682 apprehensions of family units, an increase of more than quadruple from the previous year, according to a

report

issued by the Pew Research Center. The nonpartisan think tank describes it as a “big shift from the recent past” in which individual adults far outnumbered family units or unaccompanied children. Family units also represented more than half of all apprehensions in 2019. “The changing profile of those being apprehended has strained the Border Patrol, which follows different legal protocols for detaining family members and single adults,” the Pew report states.

SOURCE

https://www.judicialwatch.org/