Northeast
Lawsuit accuses New York National Guard soldiers of sexually exploiting migrants at hotel
Five New York National Guardsman and a contract worker are accused in a federal lawsuit of sexually exploiting asylum seekers staying at one of the hotels in the state hosting migrants.
Seven migrants detail several instances of sexual exploitation at a Quality Inn in Cheektowaga, New York, by at least six National Guard soldiers working at the hotel to help with the influx of migrants that have been bussed to the state, according to a report from Military.com.
The lawsuit, which was filed on Feb. 8, accuses the soldiers of taking migrants, sometimes including teens, away from the hotel and asking for sexual favors or attempting to enter into romantic relationships with them.
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A Quality Inn in Cheektowaga, New York, where migrants are being housed. (Google Street View)
“The guests were (and remain) particularly vulnerable, given their uncertain immigration status, lack of mobility, need of basic supplies, and other needs,” the lawsuit reads. “Even a trip to a Walmart was considered a great gift.”
Sgt. Deven Colon, a religious affairs specialist with 2nd Squadron, 101st Cavalry Regiment, is the only soldier named in the lawsuit. According to the report, Colon was the high-ranking Guardsman on duty at the hotel and is alleged to have had an inappropriate relationship with a migrant that included buying her gifts, making sexual comments, and taking her to his home and other locations. Colon also allegedly told the asylum seeker that he had the authority to help her, the lawsuit claims, promising to get her and her children a house and to support them.
The trips away from the hotel were referred to as “dates” by Colon, the lawsuit claims, noting that on one occasion the soldier arranged with six other Guardsmen to transport the woman and her children to a rental property about two hours from the hotel. The soldier then allegedly “demanded” sexual favors from the woman, which the suit claims she “reluctantly agreed” to.
According to the report, Colon then texted the woman the next day and apologized while telling her to keep their encounter a secret.
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“I am just so lost and I need to find myself again. I don’t recognize the man I have become in these last few months,” the text read, according to the lawsuit.
Colon is also accused of taking at least one other woman and her children from the hotel and giving the mother a massage while flirting with her teenage daughter, later texting the teen to tell her he thought she was attractive, the lawsuit claims.
The 27th Brigade Combat Team, which 2nd Squadron, 101st Calvary Regiment falls under, did not immediately respond to a Fox News Digital request for comment.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has tasked the state’s National Guard with helping with the migrant crisis, with about 175,000 asylum seekers being transported to the state as they process their cases. According to the report, 2,100 troops have been put on active duty to help manage the influx.
National Guard personnel arrive at a new migrant holding center on Randalls Island in New York. (Victor J. Blue/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
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Many of the migrants are housed at hotels like the one in Cheektowaga, which is located just outside of Buffalo.
Another teenager at that hotel claims that a National Guard soldier, identified only as “Thomas” in the lawsuit, groped her, causing her to run away. Other children were warned to stay away from Thomas, the lawsuit claims.
Migrants chat with a National Guard soldier after traveling on a bus from Del Rio, Texas, at the Port Authority Bus Terminal in New York. (Victor J. Blue/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
In a statement to Military.com, a spokesperson with the New York National Guard said the allegations against its personnel are being taken “very seriously.”
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“If allegations are substantiated following an investigation – can result in adverse administrative and/or disciplinary actions pursuant to regulation and New York State Military Law,” the spokesperson said. “Criminal activities are referred to law enforcement for appropriate action.”
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Northeast
Officials confirm devices recovered at NYC protest near Gracie Mansion were both IEDs
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New York City officials confirmed Sunday that two devices recovered during protests near Gracie Mansion a day earlier were improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
“The FBI and NYPD confirmed the suspicious items to be improvised explosive devices (IEDs),” FBI New York wrote on X. “Additionally, the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) will be conducting interviews, reviewing videos, collecting evidence, and chasing down all leads.”
A third “suspicious device” was also found Sunday afternoon in a vehicle in Manhattan in connection with the investigation, officials said.
In a statement posted to X earlier on Sunday, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said the department’s Bomb Squad determined the first device was neither a hoax nor a smoke bomb.
“The NYPD Bomb Squad has conducted a preliminary analysis of a device that was ignited and deployed at a protest yesterday and has determined that it is not a hoax device or a smoke bomb,” Tisch wrote. “It is, in fact, an improvised explosive device that could have caused serious injury or death.”
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A man throws a hand-made explosive at supporters of U.S. President Trump during a rally to stop public Muslim prayer, in New York City, on March 7, 2026. (Eduardo Munoz/ Reuters)
At the time, Tisch said authorities were continuing to analyze a second device recovered at the scene.
Police arrested Emir Balat and Ibrahim Kayumi on Saturday. Both remain in custody.
Three federal law enforcement sources told Fox News that the two suspects are believed to be U.S. citizens and that one suspect allegedly shouted “Allahu Akbar” before igniting and throwing an IED toward the protest area.
The NYPD is working alongside the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York and the FBI through the Joint Terrorism Task Force.
The incident unfolded during dueling demonstrations Saturday morning near East End Avenue and East 87th Street, just steps from Gracie Mansion, the official residence of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
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The incident unfolded amid two dueling protests on March 7, 2026, near Gracie Mansion in New York City. (FNTV)
One rally was organized by right-wing activist Jake Lang to oppose public Muslim prayer. Counter-protesters also gathered at the scene.
Though police initially kept the groups separated, tensions escalated after pepper spray was deployed during a confrontation.
Approximately 30 minutes later, authorities say an 18-year-old counter-protester ignited and threw a device toward the protest area. Witnesses reported seeing flames and smoke before it extinguished itself near responding officers.
Police say the 18-year-old then retrieved a second device from a 19-year-old, lit it, and attempted to flee.
Both suspects – identified as Balat and Kayumi – were taken into custody.
Three additional arrests were made on charges including disorderly conduct and obstructing traffic.
Bomb squad technicians on Saturday described the devices as jars wrapped in black tape, slightly smaller than a football.
X-rays revealed nuts, bolts and screws inside – materials commonly used as improvised shrapnel – along with a hobby fuse that could be lit.
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Right-wing activist Jake Lang leads a rally to stop public Muslim prayer, in New York City, U.S., March 7, 2026. (Eduardo Munoz/Reuters)
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Mayor Zohran Mamdani condemned both the protest and the violence in a statement posted Sunday.
“Such hate has no place in New York City. It is an affront to our city’s values and the unity that defines who we are,” Mamdani wrote. “What followed was even more disturbing. Violence at a protest is never acceptable. The attempt to use an explosive device and hurt others is not only criminal, it is reprehensible and the antithesis of who we are.”
He thanked NYPD officers for their response and said his administration is “closely monitoring the situation.”
The NYPD could not be immediately reached by Fox News Digital for comment.
Fox News’ Bill Melugin and CB Cotton, as well as Fox News Digital’s Alexandra Koch contributed to this report.
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Boston, MA
Shay Maloney’s overtime goal lifts Boston Fleet to road victory
VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Shay Maloney scored 41 seconds into overtime and the Boston Fleet edged the Vancouver Goldeneyes 2-1 on Tuesday night.
Much of the game was a goalie duel, with neither side scoring until the third period.
Haley Winn was first to strike, getting the Fleet on the board early in the final frame with her second goal of the year.
Hannah Miller responded for the Goldeneyes with 3:26 remaining, blasting a one-timer past Boston goalie Aerin Frankel from just inside the blue line. Frankel stopped 25 of the 26 shots she faced, and the Fleet won its sixth straight game.
Kristen Campbell made 25 saves in the Vancouver net.
The win moved the Fleet back into sole possession of first place in the league standings, two points ahead of the Montreal Victoire.
Vancouver was without goalie Emerance Maschmeyer, who is listed as day to day with an upper-body injury. Kimberly Newell served as Campbell’s backup.
Pittsburg, PA
How Pittsburgh area drivers can save money on gas as prices rise during the war with Iran
Until the prices at the gas pump start to come down, we’re all looking for a way to trim our spending on fuel. The good news is that there are a number of ways to do that, and they just might be in your wallet or on your phone right now.
Whether it’s credit card reward programs or brand loyalty programs, finding a discount at the gas station is easier than you might think.
Most major gas stations either have loyalty programs or memberships that can save you money. There’s also the option of using AAA to find some savings.
On your phone, there are several apps and options that can save you money, like GasBuddy or Waze.
“The Auto Club app, which is our app, it actually will guide you toward the least expensive fuel in the area near you,” explained Jim Garrity of AAA East Central.
Both AAA and AARP have deals with Shell, where members can get five cents off a gallon.
Meanwhile, if you’re getting your shopping done at one of the warehouse, wholesale stores such as Sam’s Club, BJ’s, or Costco, part of your membership is a gas discount, which is usually at least 10 cents cheaper.
Even if you aren’t a member of one of these wholesale stores, many grocery stores have rewards programs that can get you a discount at gas stations.
Garrity said there are also things you can do behind the wheel that can save you money on gas, starting with slowing down.
“Essentially, for every five miles over 50 miles an hour you’re driving, we found that you’re decreasing your fuel economy exponentially,” he explained.
He also said that drivers should avoid jack rabbit starts – basically pushing down on the gas pedal instead of easing off the brake and putting slight pressure on the gas pedal. Drivers also should make sure that they’re keeping up with regular maintenance.
“They save up pennies that over time really add up,” he said.
Obviously, changing your driving habits is hard, especially because you don’t see immediate results, and that can lead to frustration.
Using those memberships, rewards programs, and discount resources, that’s real money and more immediate.
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