U.S. Says No Troops to Haiti as Country Reels from Explosion of Gang Violence

The United States has said it will not send troops to Haiti after a stunning eruption of gang violence seemingly designed to bring down the Caribbean nation’s enfeebled government and its unpopular prime minister, Ariel Henry. Earlier this week, nearly five days after powerful organized crime bosses launched a wave of deadly and apparently coordinated attacks, there had been “frantic” exchanges between U.S. and Haitian diplomats that had raised the prospect of an emergency deployment of U.S. special forces to help restore order. MORE

National Guard Members to Patrol NYC Subways

New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced that National Guard members will now patrol New York City subways. The governor announced a five-point subway safety plan this week “to rid our subways of people [who] commit crimes and protect all New Yorkers.” The plan includes redeploying nearly 1,000 law enforcement members to conduct bag checks in “the city’s busiest transit stations,” according to Hochul. MORE

Putin Warns West of Risk of Nuclear War, Says Moscow Can Strike Western Targets

President Vladimir Putin told Western countries last week they risked provoking a nuclear war if they sent troops to fight in Ukraine, warning that Moscow had the weapons to strike targets in the West. The war in Ukraine has triggered the worst crisis in Moscow's relations with the West since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis. Putin has previously spoken of the dangers of a direct confrontation between NATO and Russia, but his nuclear warning last week was one of his most explicit. MORE

The New York Times Announces a New Series on Nuclear Threats

At the Brink, a new limited-run series from The New York Times Opinion examines the reality of nuclear weapons today and explores the next arms race, where the present dangers lie, and what might be done to make the world safer again. The lead writer for the series is W.J. Hennigan, who joined Times Opinion in 2023. He marshals years of reporting on national security and the U.S. military to start the series off with a powerful essay laying out in detail what’s at stake if a tactical nuclear weapon were used in battle. MORE

Amid Rising Tensions, North, and South Korea Exchange Threats

North and South Korea exchanged threats after the North Korean leader abandoned the goal of unifying the peninsula and labeled South Korea a hostile country. Despite the rising tensions, the Biden administration assesses that there is no immediate threat of a North Korean attack. MORE

TAKE ACTION: Let Asylum Seekers Work

Amid historic labor shortages in critical sectors across the country, the Asylum Seeker Work Authorization Act (H.R. 1325) was introduced in Congress to bolster the workforce by allowing asylum seekers to apply for work authorization and get to work faster while their asylum claims are adjudicated. Refugees International invites us to tell Congress to support the Asylum Seeker Work Authorization Act. TAKE ACTION

The U.S. Economy Is Surpassing Expectations. Immigration Is One Reason.

A rebound in immigration is a big reason why the U.S. economic recovery after the pandemic has been stronger than expected. A resumption in visa processing in 2021 and 2022 jump-started employment, allowing foreign-born workers to fill some holes in the labor force that persisted across industries and locations after the pandemic shutdowns. Immigrants also address a longer-term need: replenishing the workforce, a key to meeting labor demands as birthrates decline and older people retire. MORE

Arizona Bill Would Make Shooting and Killing Migrants on Property Legal

Under a bill advancing in the Arizona legislature, property owners would have the right to threaten to kill or kill those who cross their property line to enter the United States without authorization. The proposal has received fierce opposition from critics. One lawmaker says it would mean "open season on migrants." MORE

TAKE ACTION: Tell the EPA to Finalize Strong Clean Car Standards

Transportation is the largest source of carbon pollution in the U.S. and vehicle emissions pose a major threat to people’s health — especially in low-income communities and communities of color. Clean car standards that would cut pollution and protect public health are under attack from the auto industry. EarthJustice urges us to tell the EPA to hold strong and finalize strong standards. TAKE ACTION

Islamic Scholars Call Muslim Nations to Cut Fossil Fuels, Echoing ‘Laudato Si'’

Last week, during the sixth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly in Nairobi, Kenya, 12 Islamic scholars issued "Al-Mizan: A Covenant for the Earth," a compendium of Islamic teaching on humanity's role as stewards of creation that applies that teaching to environmental issues — like climate change and biodiversity loss — facing the world today. The text, with a title that means "balance" in Arabic, is being called a "Muslim sibling" to Laudato Si'. MORE

Wildlife Crossings Can Mend a Landscape

The United States can learn a lot from the Netherlands, which has the longest wildlife crossing in the world to allow animals to roam freely without the risk of becoming roadkill. Despite being one of the most densely populated countries in the world, the Netherlands has nearly 3,000 crossings in place that reduce habitat fragmentation and improve connectivity for wildlife like red foxes, roe deer, wild boar, otters, badgers, and more. MORE

Uyghur Region Product Bans Take Toll

An estimated million Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities have been detained and held in modern slavery and forced labor in the Uyghur region of China. Others have been forced into labor schemes and transferred out of the Uyghur region to work in factories. Many countries have recently passed legislation to ban products made with Uyghur forced labor from entering their country. Now both China and foreign companies like Volkswagen who manufacture in that region, are starting to feel the effects of that legislation. MORE

228 Arrested During ‘Operation March Sadness' Human Trafficking Bust in Florida

In Florida, the Polk County Sheriff's Office (PCSO) reported that with the assistance of multiple agencies, they arrested 228 suspects during an eight-day-long undercover human trafficking operation. PCSO said that of the 66 women who were arrested during the investigation, 13 were identified as possible human trafficking victims. Authorities said 150 suspects were arrested for alleged solicitation and traveling to undercover locations to negotiate having sex in exchange for money. MORE

UN: 'Convincing Information' Sexual Violence Committed Against Hostages in Gaza

A UN team says there is "convincing information" that hostages held in Gaza have been subjected to sexual violence including rape and sexualized torture. There were grounds to suspect the abuse was still ongoing, the UN said. The UN team also found "reasonable grounds to believe" sexual violence, including gang rape, took place when Hamas attacked Israel on 7 October. MORE

Gun Laws Can Keep Domestic Violence Victims Safe — But They’re Under Unprecedented Threat

In November, the United States Supreme Court heard oral arguments in a case that could have dangerous implications for survivors of domestic violence. The case, U.S. v. Rahimi, challenges a federal law that bans people under final domestic violence protection orders from possessing guns. The statute is meant to protect domestic violence victims and there is evidence that such measures can work. The challenge could bring renewed attention to how state laws can fill in the gaps. MORE

TAKE ACTION: Support the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act

Since the 2012 Supreme Court decision in Shelby County v. Holder gutted the Voting Rights Act (VRA), at least twenty-nine states have passed ninety-four laws that make it harder to vote, with the burden falling hardest on Black voters and other voters of color.   The John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act is vital legislation that is needed to fully restore and modernize the VRA and ensure that discriminatory voting policies are stopped.  The League of Women Voters urges us to tell Congress to support the passage of the JLVRAA. TAKE ACTION

On ‘Alternative Walking Tours,’ Formerly Unhoused People Share Their Perspectives

Invisible Cities has trained 118 formerly unhoused people to become tour guides. It’s a creative way of giving them not only a new income stream but also a new sense of purpose — and skillset, too. Invisible Cities provides training for guides to create these “alternative walking tours,” as well as in public speaking and customer service skills. MORE

Starbucks, Workers United Union Agree to Start Collective Bargaining, Contract Discussions

10,000+ Starbucks baristas at nearly 400 stores fought for this moment for two and a half years. This week, Starbucks committed to working with Starbucks Workers United to create collective bargaining agreements for unionized stores and partners, a fair organizing process for all not-yet-unionized workers, and the end of all litigation, including Starbucks’ lawsuit over the union’s logo. MORE

Willie Pye is scheduled to be executed on March 20 by the state of Georgia for the murder of Alicia Lynn Yarbrough. Please hold Willie, Alicia, their families, and the people of Georgia in prayer. TAKE ACTION

Michael Smith is scheduled to be executed on April 4 by the state of Oklahoma for the murder of Janet Moore and Sarath “Babu” Pulluru. Please hold Michael, Janet, Sarath, their families, and the people of Oklahoma in prayer. TAKE ACTION

Brian Dorsey is scheduled to be executed on April 9 by the state of  Missouri for the murders of Sarah and Ben Bonnie. Please hold Brian, Sarah, Ben, their families, and the people of Missouri in prayer. TAKE ACTION