Top U.S. & World Headlines — January 28, 2026
Quick Read
Summary
Takeaways
- ❖Congress member Ilhan Omar was attacked at a town hall in Minneapolis, shortly after President Trump publicly mocked her.
- ❖A CBP internal review contradicted the Trump administration's account of the fatal shooting of Alex Prey, confirming federal agents shot him while he was unarmed.
- ❖House Democratic leaders threatened impeachment proceedings against Homeland Security Secretary Christy Gnome if she is not fired, citing her handling of the Prey case.
- ❖A federal judge ordered ICE head Todd Lions to appear in court to explain violations of immigration crackdown orders.
- ❖Local businesses in Minneapolis are operating as donation hubs and safe spaces for protesters following the shooting of Alex Prey.
- ❖A 5-year-old asylum seeker, Liam Kjo Ramos, and his father were temporarily blocked from deportation, while a 5-year-old U.S. citizen, Henness Gutierrez Castanos, was deported to Honduras with her mother.
- ❖Protesters occupied a Hilton hotel in New York believed to house ICE agents, leading to arrests, and Milan's mayor stated ICE agents are not welcome at the Winter Olympics.
- ❖The Trump administration plans a permanent CIA presence in Venezuela following the abduction of President Nicolas Maduro, and families are suing the U.S. for wrongful deaths in Caribbean missile strikes.
- ❖President Trump continued threats against Cuba, which lost Venezuelan aid post-Maduro's abduction, and Mexico canceled its oil shipments to Cuba.
- ❖South Carolina reported nearly 800 measles cases, the largest U.S. outbreak in two decades, amid altered immunization policies by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Insights
1Attacks on Congress Members Amidst Political Rhetoric
Democratic Congress member Ilhan Omar was attacked with a strong-smelling liquid at a Minneapolis town hall. This incident occurred hours after President Trump openly mocked her at an Iowa rally, questioning her patriotism and constitutional understanding. Separately, Congress member Maxwell Frost was assaulted at the Sundance Film Festival by an individual making racial slurs.
Congress member Omar attacked at town hall; President Trump's rally remarks; Congress member Frost assaulted at Sundance.
2CBP Internal Report Contradicts Official Account of Fatal Shooting
A review by U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Internal Watchdog Office directly contradicted the Trump administration's claims regarding the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Alex Prey. The CBP report confirmed two federal immigration agents fatally shot Prey as they wrestled him to the ground, and he did not brandish a weapon, despite claims by Homeland Security Secretary Christy Gnome. Prey had previously suffered a broken rib protecting protesters.
CBP's report confirms agents shot Prey while unarmed; Gnome claimed Prey brandished a weapon; Prey's prior injury protecting protesters.
3ICE Director Faces Contempt Charges for Court Order Violations
A federal judge in Minnesota ordered ICE head Todd Lions to appear in court to explain why he should not be held in contempt for violating court orders related to an immigration crackdown. The judge, Patrick Schlitz, cited the 'extraordinary' extent of ICE's violations. Dozens of cities filed an amicus brief to stop the Trump administration's surge of ICE agents into Minneapolis.
Federal judge Patrick Schlitz ordered Todd Lions to appear for contempt; 'extraordinary' violations cited; cities filed amicus brief against ICE surge.
4Community Support for Protesters in Minneapolis
Local businesses on the block where Alex Prey was shot and killed by federal agents have opened their doors to protesters. They are operating as donation hubs, offering solace, heat, electricity, and public bathrooms, emphasizing their role in embracing the community that supports them.
Businesses opened doors to protesters, providing donation hubs, water, heat, electricity, and public bathrooms.
5Deportations of Children and Asylum Seekers
A federal judge temporarily blocked the deportation of 5-year-old Liam Kjo Ramos and his father, Adrien Kaneo, who were detained seeking asylum from Ecuador. Images of Liam in his Spider-Man backpack went viral. Separately, 5-year-old U.S. citizen Esther Gutierrez Castanos was deported to Honduras with her mother, a domestic violence survivor, after being detained without legal access.
Liam Kjo Ramos and father's deportation blocked; Henness Gutierrez Castanos, a U.S. citizen, deported to Honduras.
6International Opposition to ICE Presence
Dozens of demonstrators were arrested in New York after occupying a Hilton hotel lobby where federal immigration agents were believed to be staying. New York City Mayor Zoran Mamdani praised the protesters, calling ICE a 'rogue agency.' Milan's mayor, Jeppi Salah, stated ICE agents would not be welcome at the Winter Olympics in Italy, describing them as a 'militia that kills.'
Demonstrators arrested in NYC Hilton lobby; Mayor Mamdani's statement; Milan Mayor Salah's remarks on ICE at Olympics.
7U.S. Foreign Policy Actions in Venezuela and Cuba
The Trump administration reportedly plans a permanent CIA presence in Venezuela following the abduction of President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, with the CIA having covertly installed a team to surveil Maduro prior to a U.S. military strike. Separately, President Trump continued threats against Cuba, which lost Venezuelan oil and money post-Maduro's abduction, and Mexico canceled its oil shipments to Cuba. Trump is considering a total blockade on oil imports to Cuba.
CNN reports planned permanent CIA presence in Venezuela; CIA covert operations prior to Maduro strike; Trump's threats against Cuba; Mexico canceled oil shipments; potential total oil blockade on Cuba.
8Measles Outbreak Amidst Altered Immunization Policies
South Carolina reported nearly 800 measles cases, marking the largest outbreak in the United States since the disease was declared eliminated almost two decades ago, with 18 hospitalizations. This outbreak occurs as Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his allies have reportedly 'upended' U.S. immunization policies by spreading misinformation about vaccines.
South Carolina reported 800 measles cases; largest outbreak in two decades; HHS Secretary Kennedy Jr. upended immunization policies via misinformation.
Quotes
"They have to show that they can love our country. They have to be proud. Not like Ilhan Omar. Did you see what did you see that wise guy? You know, she's always talking about the Constitution provides me with the following. You know, the Constitution, she comes from a country that's a disaster."
"Because people are willing to come spend their hard-earned money with me, the least I can do is open up my doors when it's gas outside. Least I can do is let my bathrooms be public. Least I can do is have water up here waiting for y'all. So if you need solace, if you need heat, if you need electricity, our job as business, our job as small business owners is to embrace the community that's coming to spend money with you under all circumstances."
"ICE is a rogue agency that has repeatedly carried out cruel, inhumane, and lawless raids and arrests of American citizens."
"I'm banking on being arrested because it's time that every citizen risks arrest. Everyone who is able to be out here doing this. We all have our part to play. Not everyone can do what I'm doing today."
"This is a militia that kills a militia that enters into the homes of people signing their own permission slips."
"We don't want Trump's thuggish squad here. People who kill civilian citizens. We don't need them. I don't understand what they're even doing here. And so, we think that the government and all institutions together should say, 'We don't want you.'"
"State plants the flag, but CIA is really the influence."
"It is a sovereign decision and PEMX makes its choice. And also, as we have said, Mexico's decision to sell or give oil to Cuba for humanitarian reasons has to do with a sovereign decision that has been in place for many years. It is not recent."
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