Southwest
End of defund police era? Crime, prosecutorial crackdown in blue and purple states signals shift, experts say
Politicians and pundits have described the 2024 election as a “mandate” for change from the American people after four years of frustration with the economy, illegal immigration and crime, among other factors.
In 2020, local and federal politicians met demands from protesters to “defund” or “dismantle” police departments across the country. Intending to reform the criminal justice system, they passed bills aimed at moving police funds to other entities or changing the way police pursue suspects after George Floyd’s murder.
Four years later, however, Americans are frustrated with the state of violent crime in some areas and sought in the 2024 election to give more power and funding to law enforcement.
“We are seeing a huge shift post election now in legislation propositions – even candidates who rejected defunding, they rejected decriminalization, they rejected decarceration,” Betsy Brantner Smith, a retired police sergeant and spokesperson for the National Police Association nonprofit, told Fox News Digital. “And we’re really heartened at what we’re seeing. This has… been 10 years of progressive, quote-unquote reform, police reform, criminal justice reform.”
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Police officers stand at attention during a memorial for slain Officer Eric Talley on March 22, 2022, in Boulder, Colorado. (Chet Strange/Getty Images)
California
In California, residents rejected another term for progressive Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón, who was backed by billionaire George Soros.
Californians also overwhelmingly voted in favor of Proposition 36, the Homelessness, Drug Addiction and Theft Reduction Act, which seeks to undo portions of Proposition 47 by increasing penalties for some crimes.
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Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon lost re-election. (Myung Chun/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
When Proposition 47 passed in 2014, it downgraded most thefts from felonies to misdemeanors if the amount stolen was under $950, “unless the defendant had prior convictions of murder, rape, certain sex offenses, or certain gun crimes.”
Progressives criticized Prop 36 as racist. The ACLU of Northern California described it in a press release as “part of a broader conservative strategy in California and across the nation to roll back criminal justice reforms aimed at interrupting the cycle of mass incarceration of Black and Brown people.”
In Alameda County just outside San Francisco, voters recalled District Attorney Pamela Price and Mayor Sheng Thao.
Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price was recalled in the 2024 election. (Lea Suzuki/The San Francisco Chronicle)
Criminal defense attorney Michael Cardoza, a FOX 2 San Francisco legal analyst who previously worked in the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office, told the outlet that the Board of Supervisors has received a “referendum or a mandate from the voters: we don’t want the liberal approach.”
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Paul Mauro, Fox News contributor and former NYPD inspector, is not as optimistic. He told Fox News Digital that while there has been a shift in rhetoric and the electorate, there has not been a significant shift in “the ruling class” in certain blue areas “yet.”
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“The tea leaves are inescapable,” Mauro said. “You had Gascon out. Mayor of San Francisco out. Mayor of Oakland out. The D.A. of the county that covers Oakland out. Proposition 36 [was] overwhelmingly approved in the same jurisdiction that had approved the prior proposition that went against police efforts… So, you have to lie to yourself to believe that there hasn’t been a significant shift in the electorate.”
“You’d have to lie to yourself to believe that there hasn’t been a significant shift in the electorate.”
Mauro said the “cynic” in him says that if Democrats “had squeezed out a win, they wouldn’t even be having that conversation” about crime and immigration concerns. “But now they’re being forced to have that conversation,” he explained.
Oakland’s homeless population jumped 9% over the past two years, according to the latest official estimate. (Jane Tyska/Digital First Media/East Bay Times)
“While I believe the electorate is much better informed regarding the defund police movement and clearly do not support anything like it… the ruling class on the left, the progressive class on the left, that managed to grab so many of the state and city legislatures and mayoralties and governorships, will ignore this message,” he said.
Other blue and purple areas saw voting trends similar to what happened in California.
Colorado
In Colorado, voters approved Proposition 128, which will require people convicted of crimes to serve 85% of their sentences before becoming eligible for parole, which is 10% more time than the state’s current law, which requires inmates to serve at least 75% of their sentences, according to Colorado Public Radio.
Colorado voters also favored Proposition 130 to increase law enforcement funding. The law will direct $350 million from the state legislature to help law enforcement agencies recruit, train and maintain officers, and boost their pay.
Aurora, which has a population of about 390,000, has become the Tren de Aragua gang’s home base in Colorado, officials said. (Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
Those who opposed both measures argued that they would actually increase crime in Colorado. The Coloradans for Smart Justice coalition, for example, described the measures in a post-election statement as “outdated, punitive, and costly approaches to public safety.”
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Arizona
In Arizona, voters approved Proposition 314, which will make entering the country illegally a state crime on top of a federal crime. It will also allow police to arrest those who cross the U.S.-Mexico border illegally.
Betsy Brantner-Smith, who lives in southern Arizona, believes the new law will boost morale among police officers, border patrol agents and civilians alike.
“[W]e’re going to see this shift in morale, and that is going to bring recruitment numbers back up.”
“Since the election results of bringing a pro-police president back to the White House, we don’t want to put people in jail who don’t deserve it. Cops want to go out there, arrest bad guys, and more importantly, we want to protect our citizens,” the 29-year law enforcement veteran said. “And I think that we’re going to see this shift in morale, and that is going to bring recruitment numbers back up.”
The Tucson Sector has been overwhelmed by a surge of migrants. (USBP)
Progressives believe the law will incite discrimination across the state.
“Proposition 314 will not fix the flaws in our immigration system, nor ‘secure the border’ in the way its proponents have represented,” Noah Schramm, border policy strategist for the ACLU of Arizona, said in a statement after the bill passed. “What it will do – if the courts ever allow it to stand – is break families apart, exacerbate racial profiling, and increase criminalization of immigrants and communities of color.”
Dallas, Texas
Dallas, Texas, voters also showed support for pro-law enforcement initiatives.
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Proposition U, which won by just over 50%, aims to increase funding for the police department and require the department to maintain a force of 4,000 officers, which is about 900 more officers than are currently employed.
Proposition S, a ballot measure that received 55% of the vote, will allow residents to sue the city if it does not comply with the city charter, city ordinances and state law, according to FOX 4 Dallas.
A Texas flag is on the back of a police motorcycle outside of the funeral for police Sgt. Michael Smith at Watermark Community Church, July 14, 2016, in Dallas. (Mark Mulligan/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images)
“We saw in the city of Dallas even, which is kind of a progressive area in a very red state… passed two propositions, bringing some power back to the city government in their ability to allow police to do their jobs,” Brantner-Smith said. “In fact, one of the propositions in Dallas gives standing to citizens to file lawsuits if the city government refuses to enforce the law. That’s huge.”
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Mauro believes that while the 2024 election signaled a shift in priorities for voters, a single controversial law enforcement encounter could quickly reverse that change.
“All the progress that’s been made is going to go right back down the tubes, and we’ll be right back where we were,” Mauro said. “You know that they’re waiting for something like that.… The progressives are very frustrated. They had a very bad night, and their entire narrative has been undermined, which means their entire funding is in question. And that whole thing is an industry. The grievance industry against police is enormous.”
Fox News’ Jamie Joseph contributed to this report.
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Southwest
Florida’s CAIR threatens lawsuit against DeSantis after he labels group a ‘foreign terrorist’ organization
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The Florida chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) says it plans to take Gov. Ron DeSantis to court after the Republican governor issued an executive order labeling the Muslim civil rights organization a “foreign terrorist organization.”
Hiba Rahim, the chapter’s deputy executive director, said during a news conference that the order was an attack rooted in conspiracy theories and compared it to historical efforts that targeted Jewish, Irish and Italian American communities.
“We are very proud to defend the founding principles of our Constitution, to defend free speech,” Rahim said at a news conference. “We are proud to defend democracy, and we are proud to be America first.”
Rahim argued that the governor’s support for Israel played a role in the order, saying the group’s activism had caused “discomfort” to the U.S. ally. She said CAIR does not intend to back down.
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Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis labeled CAIR and the Muslim Brotherhood as a “foreign terrorist organization.” (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell, File)
Governor DeSantis, meanwhile, defended the move, saying his administration had sufficient grounds for the designation. Speaking to reporters Tuesday, he said he welcomed CAIR’s legal challenge and described the designation as “a long time coming.”
DeSantis’ order also lists the Muslim Brotherhood as a “foreign terrorist” organization. Last month, President Donald Trump issued an executive order to begin a federal process to consider designating certain chapters of the Muslim Brotherhood as a foreign terrorist organization.
The governor said he expects Florida lawmakers to pursue related legislation when the legislature reconvenes in January, calling the executive order “the beginning.”
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Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said he welcomes CAIR’s lawsuit. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Under DeSantis’ directive, state agencies are barred from awarding contracts, employment or funds to CAIR, the Muslim Brotherhood or any groups deemed to have materially supported them.
At the Tampa news conference, attorney Miranda Margolis criticized the order and argued DeSantis had exceeded his authority by unilaterally designating a nonprofit as a terrorist organization.
“This designation is without legal or factual basis and constitutes a dangerous escalation of anti-Muslim political rhetoric,” Margolis said.
Florida’s action comes after Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued a similar proclamation. CAIR has challenged Abbott’s designation in federal court, arguing it violates the U.S. Constitution and Texas law. Muslim and interfaith organizations have urged Abbott to rescind the order.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued a proclamation designating CAIR and the Muslim Brotherhood as “foreign terrorist organizations.” (Getty Images)
State-level designations do not carry the same legal weight as federal Foreign Terrorist Organization classifications, which can only be issued by the U.S. State Department.
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CAIR argues the Florida order violates its First Amendment rights and due-process protections and that terrorism designations fall under federal jurisdiction, not state power.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Southwest
Fugitive repeat offender keeps walking free as courts let him loose to hurt people, experts warn
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A felon wanted in California and with over two dozen prior arrests has been repeatedly granted bond throughout Texas, raising questions about repeat offenders being released back onto the streets around the country.
In 2022, authorities charged Carlos Rusi and three other Houston men with a bank jugging case in Burbank, California, according to FOX 26.
Rusi, who was suspected of committing other similar thefts throughout the area, allegedly skipped bond in July 2023 – subsequently forcing authorities to name him as a wanted fugitive.
Prior to Rusi’s 2022 alleged California jugging spree, he reportedly spent three years in a Texas prison for engaging in organized criminal activity in what was not his first time behind bars.
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Carlos Rusi received separate prison sentences in 2018, 2015, 2011, 2008, 2006 and 2005 for various convictions on felony cases stemming from charges of robbery, organized criminal activity and drug-related crimes in Texas, according to KPRC 2. (iStock; FOX 26)
His lengthy criminal record includes more than 30 arrests spanning several years and showcases 26 mugshots dating back to 2006, according to KPRC 2.
Additionally, records show he received separate prison sentences in 2018, 2015, 2011, 2008, 2006 and 2005 for various convictions on felony cases stemming from charges of robbery, organized criminal activity and drug-related crimes, the outlet reported.
Last year, Rusi was sentenced to five years of probation after accepting a plea agreement over charges of robbery and evading arrest.
In July, while on probation in Harris County, Rusi allegedly followed a 71-year-old man from his bank to a local coin dealer, where police say he shoved the man to the ground and robbed him.
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The Harris County Jail in Houston, Texas, on Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024. (Karen Warren/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images)
Security camera footage led investigators to Rusi’s gray Volvo, which was registered to a car rental company, KPRC 2 reported.
The vehicle’s rental agreement was reportedly registered to Rusi’s mother and returned after the alleged robbery took place – with investigators subsequently finding previous reports in which Rusi’s mother rented vehicles for her son, who would then use them to commit crimes.
One day later, police said Rusi followed another individual from a Bank of America in Fort Bend County and robbed them at gunpoint, according to KPRC 2.
Later in July, as officers were performing surveillance of the suspect’s vehicle, he allegedly returned to the same bank and followed several victims for 28 miles, KPRC 2 reported. When the individuals stopped at a gas station, Rusi allegedly broke into their vehicle and snatched the woman’s purse – which contained $5,200 cash.
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Carlos Rusi has been released on bond in multiple counties throughout Texas, despite having numerous prior convictions and a warrant for his arrest in California, according to FOX 26. (iStock)
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Officers reportedly arrested him shortly after and recovered the purse.
Rusi was charged with theft in Harris County following the incident, but was released on a $75,000 bond on July 21 while still on probation, according to KPRC 2.
In August, Pearland Police allege Rusi broke into a car in a Walmart parking lot and stole $100 cash after following the victim from a nearby ATM, the outlet reported.
In September 2025, Rusi was reportedly arrested in Montgomery County for a similar jugging case, but was released from jail on a $25,000 bond. He was taken into custody again in October after allegedly testing positive for drugs while out on bond in Montgomery County, but was re-released on Nov. 4.
The Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office declined Fox News Digital’s request for comment, citing Rusi’s pending case.
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During the same month, while on probation, Rusi was convicted of misdemeanors for falsifying a drug test and displaying a fake handicap placard, KPRC 2 reported.
In November, he was reportedly handed a second bond in Harris County stemming from the alleged July robbery. The next day, he was also granted bond in Brazoria County.
Currently, Rusi remains out on bond, despite the various charges spanning multiple counties throughout Texas and the active warrant for his arrest in California, according to FOX 26.
“What jumps out is that this isn’t one bad call, it’s a chain of release decisions across jurisdictions,” Bobby Taghavi, Managing Partner of law firm Sweet James, which has offices in Texas, told Fox News Digital.
“When someone described by police as a repeat offender with a long history is still receiving probation and multiple bonds, and is also reported as a wanted fugitive out of California since 2023, that raises a serious red-flag question – was the full-risk picture consistently in front of every court and judge at the time those decisions were made?”
Court records indicate that various officials throughout the Texas counties were unaware Rusi was a wanted man, despite details of his alleged California crime spree appearing on Internet searches, FOX 26 reported.
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However, according to Taghavi, the blame falls on government officials involved in every step of the criminal process.
“This kind of failure usually happens when critical information isn’t surfaced, confirmed and emphasized in real-time, especially out-of-state warrant status at the moment bond or probation decisions are being made,” Taghavi said.
“Responsibility is typically shared across the system. Prosecutors need to present the complete record and argue risk, judges must evaluate it, probation departments must accurately report supervision status, and law enforcement must ensure warrants and holds are properly entered and actionable.”
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The pattern of Rusi’s habitual criminal behavior being met with only a slap on the wrist has also raised concern for community leaders in Texas.
“I’ve never in my life seen anything as absurd as this,” Andy Kahan with Houston Crime Stoppers told FOX 26. “Shame on our criminal justice system for continuing to allow this defendant to roam our community and to steal our property and to hurt people.”
The Harris County District Attorney’s Office, Rusi’s attorney and Texas Department of Public Safety did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
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While Rusi remains on the streets pending trial, Taghavi suggests the saga could signify an overarching problem plaguing local and state authorities regarding repeat offenders being released into communities as officials remain in the dark.
“If it’s one missed check, that can be an isolated oversight,” Taghavi told Fox News Digital. “But when the same person is reportedly able to obtain probation and bonds across multiple jurisdictions, it starts to look more like a systemic breakdown in coordination and verification – not just one-off human error.”
Fox News Digital’s Olivia Palombo contributed to this report.
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Southwest
Jasmine Crockett cites Mamdani-Trump, AOC-Trump voters when confronted on path to victory in Texas
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Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, pointed to Mamdani-Trump voters, AOC-Trump voters and Obama-Trump voters when confronted Tuesday on her difficult path to victory in the Texas Senate race.
MS NOW host Chris Hayes asked Crockett about people who question her ability to win the “8 to 10% of Republican voters necessary to win this race,” who cited the voters who supported both President Donald Trump and Democrats like Zohran Mamdani, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and former President Barack Obama.
Crocket, who launched her Texas Senate bid on Monday, disagreed with the notion that she needs to win over a percentage of Republican voters and said she hoped to energize her base in a way Democratic candidates have failed to do in the past.
Hayes pointed to Georgia’s Senate races and said Democratic Sens. Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff were the closest model after their hard-fought wins in the 2020 and 2022 cycles. He said, “They definitely got high levels of turnout, but they also did win crossover voters.”
From left, Zohran Mamdani, Rep. Jasmine Crockett and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. (Adam Gray/Bloomberg via Getty Images; John Medina/Getty Images for MoveOn; Neil Constantine/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
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The lawmaker agreed that Texas was a difficult place to win, but said some Trump voters were unsatisfied and pointed to the recent congressional election in Tennessee, which was a closer race than it had been in the past.
“I don’t think anyone who is super in love with Trump would ever vote for me or any other Democrat. That is just the reality. I think what it is, is who is going to talk to people and make them understand that they will fight for them. That is why you have Mamdani-Trump voters. That is why you have AOC-Trump voters. That is why you had Obama-Trump voters,” she told Hayes.
“Let me tell you something, Mamdani has not backed down whatsoever from his rhetoric against the president in the Oval Office. He stood there and he said what he said about him being a fascist. Yet he was able to win those voters. So, Democrats that believe the only way that you can win is by being soft and sounding like a Republican, that is not true,” Crockett said.
Rep. Jasmine Crockett speaks during the Won’t Back Down event at The Van Buren on August 3, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona. (John Medina/Getty Images for MoveOn)
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She argued voters were looking for someone to fight for them and that’s what she plans to do.
Crockett similarly said she didn’t need to win over Trump’s supporters on Tuesday during an interview on CNN and said that it wasn’t her “goal.”
CNN host Laura Coates asked Crockett if she needed to garner support from Trump voters.
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“Our goal is to definitely talk to people. No, we don’t, we don’t need to. Our goal is to make sure that we can engage people that historically have not been talked to, because there’s so many people that get ignored, specifically in the state of Texas,” she said.
Crockett is trying to become the first Democrat since 1988 to win a U.S. Senate race in Texas.
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