EL PASO, Texas (BN24) — The U.S. government is constructing a vast detention facility capable of holding 5,000 immigrants in West Texas, a move that marks a significant expansion of President Donald Trump’s escalating crackdown on illegal immigration.
According to a Department of Defense contract released Monday, Acquisition Logistics—a Virginia-based firm—has been awarded $232 million in Army funds to build the new facility. The compound will house single adult migrants and is described in federal procurement documents as a “soft-sided facility,” a term commonly associated with large-scale tent camps.
The detention site is set to be constructed in El Paso, a city already home to the sprawling Fort Bliss Army base that spans both Texas and New Mexico. The location is seen as strategically important in the Trump administration’s ongoing push to increase detention capacity along the southern border.
The announcement comes on the heels of Florida’s rapid construction of a controversial detention complex, dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz,” located on a remote airstrip in the Everglades. That facility has raised concerns among civil rights advocates over its isolation and accessibility.
President Trump recently signed legislation allocating a record $170 billion toward border and immigration enforcement, including $45 billion dedicated specifically to detention efforts. Over the next five years, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is set to receive $76.5 billion—nearly ten times its current annual budget.
Despite a sharp decline in illegal border crossings in recent months, the administration is pressing ahead with expanded detention infrastructure as Trump renews his pledge to deport millions of undocumented immigrants living in the United States.
BOSTON (BN24) — A former American Airlines flight attendant has been sentenced to 18.5 years in federal prison for secretly recording girls in an airplane bathroom, a case prosecutors say involved “appalling” violations of trust and privacy at 30,000 feet.
Estes Carter Thompson III, of Charlotte, North Carolina, was sentenced Wednesday in Boston federal court after pleading guilty to attempting to sexually exploit children and possessing child sexual abuse material. Judge Julia Kobick handed down the prison term, followed by five years of supervised release, saying Thompson’s conduct had left his young victims with lasting emotional scars.
“Their innocence has been lost,” the judge said, citing the disturbing nature of the offenses and the trust Thompson violated in his role as a crew member.
The investigation began in January 2024 after a 14-year-old girl traveling on a flight Thompson was working discovered his cellphone taped to the toilet lid inside the lavatory. Authorities later found multiple videos of girls between the ages of 7 and 14 recorded using aircraft restrooms over a nine-month span.
Thompson was indicted on charges that included attempted sexual exploitation of children and possession of explicit material involving a prepubescent child. In court, he expressed remorse, calling his actions “selfish, perverse and wrong.”
According to a sentencing memo, prosecutors said Thompson “robbed five young girls of their innocence and belief in the goodness of the world,” noting the psychological toll the violations had on the victims and their families.
Thompson, 38, will serve his sentence at FMC Butner in North Carolina, where his defense attorneys say he intends to participate in sex offender-specific treatment. His legal team declined to comment further after sentencing.
WASHINGTON (BN24)—Venus Williams made a victorious return to professional tennis on Tuesday after a 16-month break due to health issues, teaming up with American partner Hailey Baptiste to defeat Canada’s Eugenie Bouchard and rising star Clervie Ngounoue 6-3, 6-1 in the opening round of the DC Open.
The 45-year-old tennis legend’s comeback marked her first competitive appearance since undergoing surgery last year. Williams admitted returning through doubles was challenging, given it’s not her usual format.
“Hailey asked me how it felt afterward. Honestly, it’s probably harder coming back through doubles because it’s not my usual game,” Williams said. “But having her alongside me helped a lot. She’s been playing regularly and performing well, and that gave us momentum.”
Williams described this year as a stark contrast to 2024, when her focus was solely on recovery. “It’s night and day compared to last year,” she said. “Back then I wasn’t even thinking about tennis — I just wanted to heal and be healthy.”
Her singles comeback is scheduled for Tuesday night, where she will face fellow American Peyton Stearns on the main court.
Approximately 3,000 fans witnessed Williams’ return, including NBA superstar and Washington native Kevin Durant. Williams expressed excitement at seeing Durant in the crowd.
“I was like, ‘Let me show KD what I’ve got,’” she joked. “But they hit every ball to Hailey!”
Baptiste echoed the enthusiasm: “It’s so cool that he came out to support us,” she said, noting the energized atmosphere as fans chanted “K-D.”
For Williams, returning to the court represented a personal triumph. “You can play all the matches in the world, but if your health is gone, everything else fades into the background,” she said. “That puts things in perspective — it made coming back easier, and now I’m playing with more freedom.”
Williams also emphasized the joy of sharing the moment with fans. “You train for months for this, and you never know if you’ll win until the final point. It’s special to share that emotion with the fans.”
Her opponent, Eugenie Bouchard, who announced her retirement next week in Canada, expressed admiration for Williams.
“It’s always special to play Venus,” Bouchard said. “She’s 14 years older than me and still out here competing. I have nothing but respect for her — she’s a legend.”
BASEL, Switzerland (BN24) — England will meet Spain in the Women’s European Championship final on Sunday, setting the stage for a high-stakes rematch of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup final, where Spain clinched a historic 1-0 victory in Sydney.
Spain secured their spot in the Basel final with a dramatic 1-0 win over Germany in extra time on Wednesday. Aitana Bonmatí, the reigning Ballon d’Or Féminin winner, struck the decisive goal in the 23rd minute of added time, catching the German defense off guard with a sharp shot from a narrow angle after shaping up for a cross.
The victory marked a significant milestone for Spain, who are into their first-ever Women’s Euros final. It also signaled the end of a remarkable streak for Germany, who had never been eliminated at the semifinal stage since 1997 and had only failed to score in four of their previous 50 matches in the tournament’s history.
Defending champions England, who lifted the Euro 2022 trophy at Wembley, will now have a chance to reclaim their continental crown and avenge last year’s World Cup heartbreak. The final will be held at St. Jakob-Park in Basel, with kickoff set for 6 p.m. local time (5 p.m. in the UK).
Sunday’s clash will rekindle one of the fastest-growing rivalries in international women’s football. Spain’s tactical precision and attacking flair under manager Montse Tomé will once again test Sarina Wiegman’s well-drilled England squad, which is looking to reaffirm its status as Europe’s dominant force.
The final not only pits the reigning European champions against the current world titleholders, but it also promises to be a defining moment in the evolving balance of power in women’s football.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BN24) — Kilmar Abrego, a Salvadoran migrant whose controversial deportation became emblematic of President Donald Trump’s hardline immigration policies, secured two significant court victories on Wednesday. Yet, despite the legal momentum in his favor, Abrego will remain in custody for now on federal human smuggling charges.
In separate rulings, federal judges in Tennessee and Maryland rebuked the government’s handling of Abrego’s case. A U.S. district judge in Nashville upheld a lower court’s decision granting Abrego bail, while another judge in Maryland ordered that U.S. immigration officials provide three days’ notice before attempting to deport him to any third country.
“These rulings are a powerful rebuke of the government’s lawless conduct and a critical safeguard for Kilmar’s due process rights,” said Simon Sandoval-Moshenberg, Abrego’s attorney.
However, Abrego, 29, will remain in criminal custody in Tennessee for at least 30 more days. His attorneys, fearing a repeat of his earlier deportation, requested a delay in any release order to prevent federal immigration authorities from quickly detaining and removing him again.
Abrego had been living in Maryland when he was deported to El Salvador in March, despite a 2019 court order barring his removal due to the risk of persecution by gangs. His forced return sparked criticism of the Trump administration’s immigration practices, with opponents citing the case as a clear infringement on constitutional protections.
The Supreme Court in April upheld a ruling by U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis that required federal officials to facilitate Abrego’s return to the U.S. He was flown back in June, but only after being indicted on charges related to an alleged migrant smuggling operation. Abrego has pleaded not guilty.
U.S. authorities allege that Abrego helped transport undocumented migrants, including children, across the country. Prosecutors have attempted to justify his continued detention, citing these allegations. But U.S. District Judge Waverly Crenshaw ruled Wednesday that the government failed to demonstrate that Abrego posed a danger to the public or a flight risk.
Still, Crenshaw allowed for a future hearing on whether additional allegations involving children warranted pretrial detention. U.S. Magistrate Judge Barbara Holmes, who had previously ordered Abrego’s release, agreed to delay her ruling for 30 days to allow time for legal review and potential federal intervention.
Simultaneously, in Maryland, Judge Xinis ruled that if Abrego is eventually released from criminal custody, federal immigration agents in Tennessee may not re-detain him there. Instead, jurisdiction over his immigration case must return to Maryland, where Abrego had been living before his deportation. Xinis also required that immigration authorities give his legal team at least three days’ notice before attempting to deport him to any third country.
Despite the legal wins, Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin doubled down on the administration’s stance, labeling Abrego an alleged member of the MS-13 gang and declaring he “will never walk America’s streets again.” Abrego has strongly denied any gang affiliation.
McLaughlin criticized Judge Xinis, calling her decision “insane” for limiting Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s authority. However, Xinis’ ruling did not prohibit ICE from detaining Abrego in Maryland, only from doing so in Tennessee without proper notice.
As the case unfolds, it remains a legal flashpoint in the broader debate over immigration enforcement and due process under the Trump administration.
MIAMI (BN24) — Roy Black, the influential criminal defense attorney who helped negotiate Jeffrey Epstein’s controversial 2008 plea deal, has died at the age of 80, his law partner confirmed Monday.
Black died at his Coral Gables home following an illness, ending a legal career that spanned more than five decades and placed him at the center of some of the most high-profile trials in the United States.
“For more than 30 years, Roy was my teacher, mentor, and friend,” said fellow attorney Howard Srebnick in a statement to The Associated Press. “The personal and professional loss I feel is immeasurable.”
Black gained national attention in 1991 after winning an acquittal in the televised rape trial of William Kennedy Smith, a member of the Kennedy family. The case was groundbreaking, not just for its courtroom drama, but for its unprecedented media exposure, as much of the trial aired live with the accuser’s identity concealed.
Yet Black’s legacy remains inseparable from his role in defending Epstein, the disgraced financier later charged with sex trafficking of minors. In 2006, Black was part of the legal team that defended Epstein against state charges in Florida for soliciting sex from underage girls. Two years later, Epstein struck a secretive plea deal with federal prosecutors, allowing him to avoid more serious federal charges by pleading guilty to lesser state offenses. He was sentenced to 18 months in jail but served just 13 months, much of it on work release.
The plea agreement later came under intense public scrutiny. Two victims filed a lawsuit claiming that the deal violated the Crime Victims’ Rights Act because they were never notified or consulted. In response, Black defended the legality of the agreement, insisting in court filings that it was not a “sweetheart deal,” as critics alleged, and denied any effort to conceal facts from victims or the public.
In 2015, Black and attorney Martin Weinberg filed motions seeking to block the release of private communications between Epstein’s legal team and federal prosecutors during the plea negotiations, arguing such disclosures would cause “irreparable harm” to Epstein. The financier died by suicide in a Manhattan jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on new federal charges.
Beyond the Epstein case, Black’s client list included a mix of celebrities and high-profile figures. He represented pop star Justin Bieber, who was arrested in Miami in 2014 for drag racing and DUI; Bieber ultimately pleaded guilty to lesser charges. Black also successfully defended IndyCar champion Helio Castroneves in a high-profile federal tax evasion case.
Colleagues and fellow attorneys praised Black’s legal brilliance and commitment to criminal defense. David O. Markus, a fellow Miami defense lawyer, described Black as “the GOAT” — the greatest of all time — and likened his courtroom prowess to Michael Jordan’s dominance on the basketball court.
“He worked harder than any lawyer I know,” Markus told the AP. “And he outlawyered every prosecutor he ever went up against. His impact on criminal defense is beyond measure.”
Jackie Perczek, another of Black’s law partners, said he taught her the importance of standing up for the vulnerable. “It’s a lawyer’s duty to fiercely battle the oppressors and support the underdog,” she said. “This generation and many to come stand on his shoulders.”
His wife, Lea Black, told the Miami Herald that her husband always fought for civil rights and second chances. “He understood that we all have our flaws,” she said. “He was able to separate people’s behavior from their character. He wanted the best for everyone.”
Roy Black is survived by Lea, their son RJ, and daughter Nora. Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced.
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (BN24) — A federal judge has denied a Trump administration request to unseal grand jury transcripts from Jeffrey Epstein’s earlier criminal investigations in Florida, ruling that the Justice Department failed to meet the narrow legal criteria required to make such records public.
U.S. District Judge Robin Rosenberg issued the decision Wednesday in a 12-page ruling, concluding that the government’s request to disclose grand jury proceedings from 2005 and 2007 did not fall under any of the “extraordinary circumstances” outlined in federal law that would permit release. The sealed records stem from a period when Epstein, a wealthy financier, faced allegations of sex crimes involving minors but ultimately avoided federal charges in a controversial non-prosecution agreement.
The request, submitted last week, was an effort to counter intensifying speculation among President Donald Trump’s supporters that federal authorities had concealed evidence, including surveillance footage and client lists allegedly tied to Epstein’s crimes. The Justice Department argued that releasing the records could dispel conspiracy theories suggesting Epstein’s elite connections shielded him from prosecution.
Judge Rosenberg disagreed, saying the public interest did not outweigh the legal protections surrounding grand jury secrecy. “There is no exception here that warrants disclosure,” she wrote, pointing out that grand jury materials are intended to remain confidential to protect witnesses, preserve the integrity of investigations, and safeguard the rights of individuals not indicted.
A similar motion seeking the release of separate grand jury records from investigations conducted in 2018 remains pending in New York federal court.
Legal experts had earlier cautioned that any effort to unseal grand jury materials would likely fail, noting that such transcripts usually contain limited evidence, as prosecutors tend to present only enough information to secure an indictment. “The idea that these records will reveal bombshell evidence is a long shot,” said one former federal prosecutor.
Epstein was arrested in 2019 on federal sex trafficking charges involving underage girls, some as young as 14. He died by suicide in a Manhattan jail cell a month later, according to the New York City medical examiner.
The latest ruling comes amid continued public interest in uncovering the full extent of Epstein’s alleged network and the names of individuals who may have been implicated in his abuse. Despite renewed scrutiny and political rhetoric, Wednesday’s decision reaffirms the legal challenges of piercing grand jury secrecy—even in high-profile cases.
Meanwhile, Trump’s Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, appeared at a press event touting the release of a House Intelligence Committee report she claimed downplayed Russian interference in the 2016 election. The event further fueled partisan claims, including Trump’s unproven accusation that former President Barack Obama committed “treason.”
As the Epstein case continues to spark public outcry and political finger-pointing, the legal wall around grand jury records remains firmly intact—for now.
MOSCOW, Idaho (BN24) — Bryan Kohberger, the former criminology student charged with the 2022 slayings of four University of Idaho students, was sentenced Wednesday to four consecutive life terms without the possibility of parole, bringing a legal end to one of the most harrowing cases in recent memory.
Latah County Judge Steven Hippler handed down the sentence after Kohberger pleaded guilty to four counts of first-degree murder and one count of burglary, sparing him the death penalty in exchange for waiving his right to appeal. He was also ordered to serve a 10-year sentence for burglary and pay $270,000 in fines and civil penalties.
The November 13, 2022 killings of Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin in their off-campus rental home left the close-knit college town of Moscow, Idaho, gripped by fear. Kohberger, then a graduate student at Washington State University studying criminology, lived just a short drive away from the crime scene.
Investigators connected Kohberger to the killings through a sheath found near one of the victims’ bodies that contained a single trace of DNA. They used genetic genealogy to trace the DNA to Kohberger’s family and confirmed the match using a sample collected from his parents’ home in Pennsylvania, where he was arrested six weeks after the murders. Cell phone data, surveillance video of a white Hyundai Elantra near the crime scene, and online purchases of a combat-style knife and sheath further built the case.
At the sentencing hearing, families of the victims delivered emotional impact statements that underscored the lasting trauma the killings had caused.
Alivea Goncalves, sister to Kaylee, addressed Kohberger directly. “If you hadn’t attacked them in their sleep, in the middle of the night like a pedophile, Kaylee would have kicked your fucking ass,” she said, calling Kohberger “pathetic,” prompting a standing ovation from the courtroom.
Kaylee’s parents, Steve and Kristi Goncalves, had long advocated for the death penalty but reluctantly accepted the plea deal. “BK did not show Kaylee ANY mercy,” Kristi said, referring to Kohberger by his initials. She told him in court, “Hell will be waiting for you.”
Maddie Mogen’s stepfather, Scott Laramie, said the family agreed with the plea deal, stating: “Society needs to be protected against this evil.”
Xana Kernodle’s family also spoke. Her stepfather, Randy Davis, told Kohberger, “You’re evil … you took our children … you are gonna suffer.” Her aunt, Kim Kernodle, offered a rare note of forgiveness, telling Kohberger, “I’ve forgiven you, because I could no longer live with that hate,” and added she would listen if he ever chose to speak about what happened.
Despite the emotional testimonies, Kohberger declined to speak before sentencing, responding simply, “I respectfully decline,” when offered the chance.
Prosecutors initially sought the death penalty, citing the brutality of the attack. Defense attorneys challenged the validity of the DNA evidence and argued for its exclusion, but the legal challenges failed. Kohberger ultimately accepted a plea deal that removed capital punishment in exchange for four life sentences and no right to appeal.
The sentencing ends a nearly three-year legal process and brings closure to a community still shaken by the random and savage nature of the crime.
WASHINGTON (BN24) — The U.S. Justice Department informed President Donald Trump in May that his name appears multiple times in government files related to the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, according to a report published Wednesday by The Wall Street Journal.
Attorney General Pam Bondi reportedly told Trump during a White House meeting that his name was among those mentioned in the Epstein files, along with several other prominent figures. The information in the documents reportedly includes what officials described as “unverified hearsay” about individuals who socialized with Epstein in the past, including Trump himself.
The Justice Department has opted not to release further Epstein-related records due to the presence of child pornography and the need to protect victims’ identities, Bondi told the president during the meeting, the Journal said.
The disclosure comes as the Trump administration works to contain mounting pressure from within the Republican base over what many perceive as a lack of transparency in the handling of the Epstein case. Earlier this month, the Justice Department and FBI issued a joint memo confirming the conclusion that Epstein died by suicide in federal custody and announced they would not release additional case files, sparking backlash from Trump’s supporters who had hoped his administration would expose a broader network of individuals connected to Epstein.
Trump has a well-documented past with Epstein. In a now-infamous 2002 quote, Trump told New York Magazine, “I’ve known Jeff for 15 years. Terrific guy. He’s a lot of fun to be with. It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side.”
Last week, The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump had once sent Epstein a provocative birthday message in the early 2000s, noting that the two shared “certain things in common.” Trump denied the report and filed a lawsuit against the publication shortly thereafter.
The Journal’s latest report was amplified by tech billionaire Elon Musk, a former adviser in Trump’s first administration and now a frequent critic, who posted on X (formerly Twitter), “Trump is in the Epstein files. That is the real reason they have not been made public. Have a nice day, DJT!”
When asked by ABC News last week whether Bondi had informed him about his name appearing in the Epstein files, Trump replied, “No, no,” and praised Bondi’s handling of the situation, saying she managed the Epstein matter “very well.”
The latest revelations add further complexity to a case that continues to stir controversy, conspiracy theories, and calls for accountability, even years after Epstein’s death in a Manhattan jail cell in 2019.
TELAVIV, Israel (BN24)—Dozens of Israeli activists marched through Tel Aviv on Tuesday, protesting what they described as the Israeli government’s role in the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where aid agencies warn of widespread famine and rising child mortality.
Gathering at HaBima Square, demonstrators carried placards reading “Starvation is a War Crime” and “It’s Being Done in Our Name.” The group marched toward the Israeli Ministry of Defense carrying symbolic sacks of flour, denouncing the alleged weaponization of food and forced displacement of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
The protest comes amid escalating international concern over what the United Nations has described as a “man-made famine.” In a June 2025 statement, the UN condemned Israel’s restrictions on humanitarian aid into Gaza, declaring the blockade and resulting starvation a violation of international law and a potential war crime.
UN: Famine Crisis Escalates in Gaza
More than 2.1 million Palestinians are now living in increasingly dire conditions, with the majority displaced and crowded into 12 percent of Gaza’s territory. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the territory’s food, water, and medical supplies are at “unprecedented” scarcity levels.
Humanitarian agencies report that food convoys remain blocked at Gaza’s borders while malnutrition rates—especially among children—have doubled in recent months. Al Jazeera cited medical sources reporting the deaths of 21 children from starvation in just 72 hours this week, amid widespread shortages.
At Gaza’s overwhelmed hospitals, including Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah and Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis, staff report a surge in patients suffering from acute food deprivation. Among the deceased were two newborns and a young child.
Dr. Mustafa Barghouti, Director of the Palestinian Medical Relief Society, warned that Gaza has entered a critical phase of famine. “We are seeing irreversible damage—children with memory loss, pregnant women with severe deficiencies, and no medical infrastructure to support them,” he said.
Airstrikes Compound Humanitarian Disaster
Tuesday’s protest also coincided with reports of renewed Israeli airstrikes across Gaza. According to local hospital officials, at least 45 Palestinians were killed in a single day, including five civilians—three of them children—near the Ali Ibn Abi Talib Mosque in Gaza City. Thirteen others died in pre-dawn shelling of a tent encampment at Al-Shati refugee camp.
The rising civilian toll has intensified calls for international intervention. The Arab League urged the UN to pass an emergency resolution ending the siege and ensuring the flow of humanitarian aid. Algeria and Somalia, both currently serving as non-permanent members of the UN Security Council, have been tasked with lobbying for the resolution.
Professional Unions Join Global Appeals
Palestinian professional associations including doctors, journalists, and lawyers—have joined the outcry. In a rare joint statement, they appealed to global unions and human rights organizations to condemn what they called a “systematic starvation policy” and demand accountability under international humanitarian law.
Medical workers in Gaza describe operating under extreme conditions, with hospitals running at 250% capacity and supplies exhausted. Some doctors report being forced to treat patients while suffering from hunger themselves.
The situation has sparked outrage beyond the region. U.S.-based company GHF and its CEO, Johnnie Moore—an evangelical pastor and outspoken supporter of Israel—have come under scrutiny following reports linking them to controversial food distribution operations in Gaza. Critics accuse GHF of exacerbating civilian suffering by allegedly controlling food flows in what they called “Hunger Games-style tactics.”
A Humanitarian Catastrophe Unfolding
The UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) recently reported that more than 5,500 children in Gaza are now suffering from severe acute malnutrition. Estimates suggest 17,000 children are at immediate risk, with hundreds arriving daily at hospitals exhibiting signs of starvation-related cognitive dysfunction.
“We are facing a full-blown famine,” said a UN spokesperson. “The main threat in Gaza is no longer airstrikes—it’s hunger.”
