law enforcement

The conservative 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the plaintiffs lacked standing to challenge Senate Bill 4, the 2023 law that lets state police arrest people suspected of entering the country illegally.

The bill makes it a misdemeanor crime to go within 25 feet of a first responder while they are working. A violation can result in a fine up to $1,000 and jail term of up to six months.

Despite dissimilar backgrounds, a rural sheriff and two police chiefs are driven by a commitment to transparency and a desire to build community trust.

The state does not track the prevalence or provide guidance on the issue, leaving inmates to languish in jail and eventually sue counties for damages.

Local police chiefs opposed the bill. Two Democrats voted with Republicans to reject it.

Critics point to violation of First Amendment, potential of retaliatory arrests

Attorneys for hemp businesses say the raids have hurt their revenue and reputation, while police said they’re necessary to root out products with illegal levels of THC.

Oklahoma consistently ranks near the top nationally in per-capita fatal encounters involving police with about 8 deaths per million residents.

The law also mandates that all subpoenas in a criminal case be sealed in perpetuity, unless the court finds that unsealing a subpoena is in the “interest of justice.”

The two federal immigration agents who fired on Minneapolis protester Alex Pretti are identified in government records as Border Patrol agent Jesus Ochoa and Customs and Border Protection officer Raymundo Gutierrez.