1 UNITED STATES
Deportations of Russian asylum seekers resume
The Biden administration quietly resumed deportations to Russia. Immigration advocates were taken by surprise when a young Russian man, who came to the US fleeing Vladimir Putin’s efforts to mobilise citizens to fight in Ukraine, was abruptly deported last weekend from the US back to Russia. He was among several Russian asylum seekers, many of whom have made their way to the US in the last year, who are now terrified the US government will return them to Russia where they could face prison or be sent rapidly to the frontline, where Russia has seen tens of thousands of casualties.
“US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) remains committed to enforcing immigration laws humanely, effectively and with professionalism,” the federal agency said, adding: “Ice conducts removals to countries, including Russia, in accordance with country removal guidelines.”
News of resumed deportations to Russia came just over a year after reports that Washington had suspended deportation flights to Russia, Ukraine and seven other European countries during Russia’s attack on Ukraine.
2 UKRAINE/RUSSIA
Putin visits Mariupol despite war crimes charges
Vladimir Putin made a surprise visit to Mariupol last Saturday night in a show of defiance after the international criminal court issued an arrest warrant for him on war crimes charges.
Russian state media released footage showing the president on his first trip to Russian-occupied territories in Ukraine’s Donbas region since he launched a full-scale invasion last year. Putin visited several sites, spoke to residents and was presented with a report on reconstruction work in the city. Mariupol fell in May last year after one of the war’s bloodiest battles. It marked Russia’s first major victory in its war in Ukraine, after it failed to seize the capital, Kyiv, and focused instead on south-eastern targets.
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3 UNITED STATES
Alex Jones allegedly acting to avoid $1.5bn damages
Rightwing conspiracy theorist Alex Jones
