Latest news with #LCSO
Mint
21 hours ago
- Mint
Tanya Tyagi, Indian student at University of Calgary, dies in Canada
Tanya Tyagi, an Indian student studying at the University of Calgary in Canada died, the Consulate General of India in Vancouver confirmed on Thursday. The Consulate expressed deep sorrow over the incident, saying it was "saddened by the sudden demise" of the student, identified as Tanya Tyagi. "We are saddened by the sudden demise of Ms. Tanya Tyagi, an Indian student at University of Calgary," the Consulate said in a post on X. It further added, "The Consulate is in touch with the authorities and will provide all required assistance to the bereaved family. Our heartfelt condolences & prayers are with his family & friends of the deceased." More details are awaited. Earlier in March this year, a 20-year-old Indian citizen and permanent US resident from Chantilly, studying at Pittsburgh University, was reported missing while on vacation in the Dominican Republic. She was last seen on March 6. "The Loudoun County Sheriff's Office (LCSO) is actively assisting in the investigation of a missing college student on vacation in the Dominican Republic. Sudiksha Konanki, a 20-year-old female from Chantilly and a student at the University of Pittsburgh, was reported missing on Thursday, March 6, 2025," according to Loudoun County Sheriff's Office's official statement. "Konanki, a citizen of India, is a permanent resident of the United States and was reported to be vacationing with five female college friends at a resort in Punta Cana," it added. According to sources, she disappeared while walking on the beach at a hotel in Punta Cana, La Altagracia province, east of the Dominican Republic. The LCSO was working closely with our federal partners at the US Department of State, FBI, DEA, and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), as well as the University of Pittsburgh police, to support the ongoing investigation by the Dominican National Police. According to Spanish media sources, "Last seen on March 6, 2025, at 4:50 am on the beach of the Riu Punta Cana Hotel," says the image, which includes a portrait of the young Hindu woman. According to the file, Sudiksha has black hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a brown two-piece bikini, large round earrings, a metal anklet on her right leg, yellow and steel bracelets on her right hand and another multi-coloured bracelet on her left hand, the sources added.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Laramie County sheriff secures first agreement allowing deputies to act as ICE agents
CHEYENNE — Some deputies with the Laramie County Sheriff's Office will now be authorized to interrogate and process suspected undocumented immigrants per an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) 287(g) Jail Enforcement Agreement. On May 20, LCSO joined agencies in more than 40 states officially participating in the Jail Enforcement Model (JEM), one of three models offered to local law enforcement that empower officers to act as ICE agents, with some limitations. Named for Section 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), these agreements allow ICE to delegate some of its responsibilities to state and local law enforcement officers. LCSO is pursuing all three agreements available to law enforcement, including the Warrant Service Officer (WSO) model and the Task Force Model (TFM), both of which are pending approval. 'Our focus on investigations for immigration is going to be kept to traffic stops and on the interstates for interdiction, or if you wind up in jail,' Laramie County Sheriff Brian Kozak told the Wyoming Tribune Eagle on Friday. 'Our policy is going to be pretty clear that our deputies, when they go to a call or do an investigation, do not ask about immigration status.' Regardless of Kozak's intent, these programs have been heavily criticized by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and others for potential financial and civil rights consequences, relying on law enforcement to do ICE's job at the expense of services to locals. Each agreement requires local law enforcement to take on different immigration tasks typically associated with ICE, said ACLU of Wyoming Senior Staff Attorney Andrew Malone. Even though there is training required, it is not as rigorous as the training for full-time ICE agents. The financial, civil rights and local service risks associated with the program don't lessen by pursuing all three contracts, Malone said. 'People are receiving less training, (and) are doing this in addition to their regular jobs,' Malone said. 'The exact scope depends on which type of model, but by choosing to take on all three, you're just kind of multiplying the issues that come with taking on any one of these models.' While ACLU advocates point to several case studies that demonstrate these risks, Kozak says he doesn't see staffing or financial burdens being an issue. Kozak added that trust issues between immigrant communities and law enforcement exist regardless of the agreements. 'That's always been an issue, no matter what,' Kozak said. 'Even though we've tried outreach to try to tell people not to be afraid to call us, it's still a problem.' LCSO has a few Spanish-speaking deputies who work on outreach to Spanish-speaking communities. Two of those deputies will be certified with ICE through the 287(g) agreements, according to Kozak. The first MOA While the TFM and WSO agreements are still pending, the JEM agreement is in effect, allowing deputies to process 'removable aliens,' or immigrants who are suspected of violating immigration laws. Per the memorandum of agreement between LCSO and ICE, deputies assigned to detention duties will perform immigration-related tasks in addition to performing their normal duties. Under the direction and supervision of ICE, these deputies will have the authority to: * Interrogate any person held in the jail 'who the officer believes to be an alien about his or her right to remain in the United States.' * Process for immigration violations for those arrested on federal, state or local offenses. * Serve and execute warrants of arrest for immigration violations. * Administer oaths and take and consider evidence, including fingerprinting, photographing and interviewing suspected undocumented immigrants in custody. * Prepare charging documents, affidavits and take sworn statements for ICE supervisory review. * Detain and transport arrested immigrants subject to removal. Per the memorandum, LCSO is responsible for maintaining proper records and is required to notify ICE of a hold related to a suspected immigration violation within 24 hours. LCSO personnel are also required to 'report all encounters with asserted or suspected claims of U.S. citizenship to ICE immediately, but generally within one hour of the claim. From deputy to ICE agent Though he has reiterated the goal to maintain community trust and keep ICE actions restricted to the jail several times, Kozak has recently decided to pursue a contract that will give his deputies immigration authority outside of the jail, the 287(g) TFM. Kozak recently decided to pursue the more aggressive agreement after reflecting on his experience with law enforcement in Avon, Colorado. While in Avon, officers working with Kozak encountered two suspected violent offenders who were abusing approximately 18 victims of human trafficking. 'We asked ICE assistance in that case, and they would not assist,' Kozak said. 'We were almost ready to release the offenders because we had no authority to investigate the federal crimes.' After some pressure, Kozak said ICE eventually assisted. That was in the early 2000s, and now, Kozak says he wants to avoid that situation at all costs. 'I want our deputies who are doing human trafficking interdiction to be able to help victims and do everything all at once,' Kozak said. 'That's the main reason why I changed my mind about (TFM).' The TFM will allow deputies to be a 'force multiplier' in 'non-custodial settings,' essentially acting as ICE agents outside of the jail, which Kozak intends to utilize in drug and human trafficking interdiction operations. Now Kozak says that, assuming ICE is pursuing someone suspected of criminal offenses, deputies trained under the TFM agreement could potentially assist ICE with local operations. Task forces return under Trump While Kozak is hopeful that these deals will help build community trust, the 287(g) TFM has a history of civil rights abuses, particularly racial profiling, which caused it to be discontinued under the Obama administration, according to the ACLU. The option for TFM has only recently returned following an executive order from President Donald Trump in January titled 'Protecting the American People Against Invasion.' 'Depending on how each specific agreement is crafted and enforced, all three 287(g) models may expose local law enforcement agencies to potential liability for constitutional and legal violations,' two representatives of the ACLU of Wyoming wrote in an article published May 14. Despite the agreement's history, Kozak is still intent on utilizing it, pending ICE approval. 'We know I-80 (and) I-25 are the major corridors for human trafficking and drugs,' Kozak said. 'We just want to be effective in what we're doing, and … having our deputies certified to take action on all those issues.' Kozak added that often those involved in drug trafficking are also 'illegal aliens,' though data from the CATO Institute indicates that the majority of drug traffickers in the U.S. are citizens. According to the Department of Homeland Security, 'There is no single profile of a human trafficker; their only commonality is that they are driven by profit at the expense of others.'
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Yahoo
Fairfax County man identified in fatal Loudoun County crash
LOUDOUN COUNTY, Va. () — The man who in South Riding was identified. The Loudoun County Sheriff's Office (LCSO) said deputies responded to a fatal crash at around 2:15 p.m. Friday, June 6, at the intersection of Tall Cedars Parkway and South Riding Boulevard. Advocates raise concerns after video appears to show ICE detain people outside immigration court There, a Volkswagen Jetta and a Nissan Quest had crashed into each other. The driver of the Jetta and the front seat passenger were taken to the hospital, where the driver later died. Police identified the driver as 18-year-old Khalid Al Rakan of Chantilly. The driver of the Quest was treated at the scene of the crash. LCSO said the investigation is still ongoing, but believes speed was a factor in the crash. There is no indication that drugs or alcohol were involved. Anyone with information is asked to call (703) 777-1021. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Yahoo
Man accused of shooting, killing family member in altercation, police say
LIMESTONE COUNTY, Ala. (WHNT) — The Limestone County Sheriff's Office said a man is accused of shooting and killing a family member Friday. LCSO said around 7 p.m., deputies responded to a shooting incident in the 17000 block of Kelley Drive in Athens. Upon arrival, LCSO said deputies found the body of Todd Robert Jennett, who had sustained multiple gunshot wounds. Also at the scene was Michael Stephen Esposito, 63, of Athens, Alabama. After securing the scene, investigators began a thorough investigation. Preliminary findings indicate that Jennett and Esposito, his stepfather, had been involved in a verbal altercation that escalated. During the dispute, Esposito reportedly produced a firearm and shot Jennett multiple times. Michael Esposito was taken into custody at the scene without incident and was transported to the Limestone County Jail. He is currently being held pending an Aniah's Law hearing, which will be scheduled at a later date. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Laurel County deputies ask for help after camera footage captures man accused of burglary
LAUREL COUNTY, Ky. (FOX 56) — The Laurel County Sheriff's Office (LCSO) asked for help on Sunday in finding a man accused of stealing from a home. Read more of the latest Kentucky news Deputies posted on Facebook just before 4:45 p.m. on Friday, May 30, asking for help finding a man after security camera footage captured him stealing from a residence off Whitson Lane in the Hawk Creek Road, about six miles west of London. Authorities asked anyone who may know the man captured in security camera footage to contact the sheriff's office at (606) 864-6600 or email The burglary investigation remains ongoing. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
