Southwest
Texas Democrat says he can find 'common ground' with Trump's incoming border czar
Texas Democratic Congressman Henry Cuellar is already preparing to work with incoming border czar Tom Homan to improve border security.
Cuellar, whose district borders Mexico, argued on behalf of working with Homan as his fellow Democrats prepared to openly defy his support for mass deportations. Although Cuellar said he would like to see more details on border policy, he emphasized there are already plenty of things that can be done right now.
“We can deport people quickly under Title A, we can do ‘stay in Mexico,’ we can do so many things on policies that can work right away,” Cuellar said Tuesday. “In fact, today, I was communicating with Tom, and we talked about getting together sometime when I get back to D.C. in the next week or so, and I think we can find a lot of common ground.”
Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, insists there can be common ground between the Democratic and Republican parties on border security. (Christopher Lee/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Cuellar added that he reached out to Homan himself, who was also open to discussions.
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“That tells me that Tom knows what needs to work, and I can give him my experience. It’s interesting Tom and I are talking to each other. We might not agree on everything, but certainly we can agree to deport quickly the criminals, the national security folks, the 1.3 million final deportation people that have a final deportation order and are still here,” he said. “Some of the recent crossers are some of the folks we need to look at. So, there’s a lot of things that I think we can do, and certainly Mexico has done a lot, but they can do much, much, much more stopping fentanyl and stopping people from coming in.”
Cuellar said he plans to meet with incoming border czar Tom Homan next week. (Getty Images)
Cuellar encouraged his fellow Democrats to speak with Homan on the border, emphasizing that there are things both parties can agree on when it comes to border security.
“I told some of the Democrats, you can agree on deporting criminals, right? Some of them hesitated. Some of them hesitated. And I told them that would be a mistake if Democrats cannot even agree to deport criminals,” Cuellar said.
He also believed President-elect Trump’s threat of tariffs against Mexico will ultimately motivate the country to help with negotiations on the border.
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“Well, let me put it this way: Laredo’s the largest port; we handle 40% of all the trade between the U.S. and Mexico. I know this is a way to negotiate, get some leverage. I know that Mexico will come to the table,” he responded.
“But nobody wants a 25 percent tariff on them, and the Mexicans are threatening to do the same thing, and we don’t want to get into that,” Cuellar said. “But I think this will definitely get Mexico to the table so we can solve the problem about immigration and fentanyl.”
Cuellar has criticized the Biden administration over its poor handling of the border. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)
Cuellar has been a frequent critic of the Biden administration and the Democratic Party for ignoring and sometimes exacerbating the border crisis and dismissing migrants overwhelming border cities.
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Los Angeles, Ca
Man found guilty of sex trafficking victim along L.A.’s Figueroa Corridor
A former Riverside County man was found guilty of sex trafficking a female victim and forcing her to engage in commercial sex acts along L.A.’s notorious Figueroa Corridor.
Elias Abdul Shabazz, 34, formerly of Perris, was found guilty by a jury following a five-day trial, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.
Prosecutors said Shabazz had led the victim to believe they were in a romantic relationship before he turned physically and sexually violent. He began demanding that the victim engage in commercial sex acts from May to October of 2021, court documents said.
He carried a handgun with him and, on occasion, was accused of using it to pistol-whip the victim. He also fired the gun at her feet while threatening to kill her, prosecutors said.
At trial, the victim said Shabazz demanded that she meet a daily quota of commercial sex proceeds and that she was terrified of the consequences of not meeting that quota.
She testified that Shabazz compelled her to work in the notorious Figueroa Corridor in South L.A., a dangerous area known for human trafficking and prostitution.
Shabazz had confiscated her identification card, Social Security card and birth certificate. He constantly monitored her cell phone to stop her from communicating with any friends or family.
“He also introduced her to addictive narcotics and controlled every aspect of her life, including when she ate, slept and showered,” prosecutors said.
In May 2025, Shabazz was arrested and has remained in federal custody. His last known address at the time was in Washington, D.C.
On June 26, 2026, Shabazz was found guilty of one count of coercing or enticing interstate transportation for purposes of prostitution.
A sentencing hearing is scheduled for Oct. 6, where he faces 15 years to life in prison.
“Sex trafficking matters rank among the most tragic cases our office prosecutes,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli. “This defendant will now face many years in a federal prison cell for his sick, disgusting, and disturbing behavior.”
“Elias Shabazz preyed on a vulnerable victim using physical and sexual violence and cruel psychological coercion to compel commercial sex acts for his own profit,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “There is no place for this type of conduct in civilized society. We deeply respect the victim’s courage to face her trafficker in court. The Criminal Division will continue to bring these cases and try them.”
Anyone with information about human trafficking can report tips to the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 888-373-7888
Los Angeles, Ca
Watch Project Angel Food's 'Lead with Love' telethon on KTLA
The star-studded feel-good giveback event of the summer has returned. KTLA 5 is teaming up once again with Project Angel Food for the annual “Lead with Love: Going the Distance” telethon to raise critical funds for medically tailored meals delivered to people living with serious illnesses throughout Los Angeles County. The seventh annual telethon airs […]
Los Angeles, Ca
Woman ambushed, violently attacked by robber in downtown Long Beach
A woman was hospitalized with serious injuries after she was violently attacked by a robber in downtown Long Beach. On June 18, Jennifer Silva, 34, was attending a World Cup watch party at a Hooters restaurant at 90 Aquarium Way. After the game ended, she left the restaurant just before 11 p.m. As she walked […]
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