NJ Democrats push ‘F---ICE Act’ to let residents sue over immigration enforcement

Democratic lawmakers in one major blue state are facing backlash over their latest attempt to blunt federal immigration enforcement through a new bill crafted around a vulgar acronym.

The F---ICE Act, with the acronym spelled out in practice, is officially the "Fight Unlawful Conduct and Keep Individuals and Communities Empowered Act" and would permit civil action for violations of the U.S. Constitution related to immigration enforcement. The measure was introduced after a clash between a federal agent and a democratic socialist councilman.

Tensions between local and state officials and DHS had soared this month after federal authorities reportedly detained nearly a dozen people on the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail in Jersey City. Jake Ephros, a Democratic Socialist councilman who went to the scene, was rebuffed by a federal agent who told him, "I don’t need a warrant, bro."

Assembs. Ravi Bhalla and Katie Brennan, two Democrats from neighboring Hoboken, crafted the F---ICE Act in response to the incident. Bhalla also announced several other bills seeking to restrict New Jersey’s cooperation with the federal government, according to the Hudson County View.

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Bhalla said that when he was mayor of neighboring Hoboken, his first move was to enact a sanctuary city ordinance. The city is famously home to Frank Sinatra and sits across the Hudson River from Midtown Manhattan.

"ICE has no place in our communities," he said in a statement. "Now, the stakes are even higher, and it is incumbent on all of us to use the power we have to keep our residents safe."

Brennan cited Ephros’ run-in with ICE in comments to People, adding that she cannot "sit back and do nothing while they violate people’s constitutional rights."

"These bills strengthen local protections and make sure these agents of chaos face accountability. We have to use the full force of our state government to protect the people of New Jersey."

Brennan told NJ Advance Media that while critics have voiced concern about her acting "unbecoming" and "unladylike," she said it was fellow Hoboken Democrat state Sen. Raj Mukherji who came up with the acronym.

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Mukherji has said ICE has sown "seeds of chaos" nationwide.

Not all lawmakers were on board, including some from the state’s more conservative, rural northwest.

"So, they’re doing acronyms now," said Assemb. Michael Inganamort, R-Chester.

"This sort of radicalism is the inevitable result of an unchecked, 25-year Democratic Majority. It’s what our Republican Minority stands against and why elections matter," Inganamort said in a statement on X.

Assemb. Dawn Fantasia, R-Sussex, said the bill’s title is "wild" but the premise is "wilder."

"[I] don’t have the text yet, but if it means what it sounds like, that’s illegal entry followed by a state-created pathway to sue over enforcement," she said.

"If I was a bettin’ woman, I’d guess NJ taxpayers will be footing the legal bill."

"Katie and Ravi need their mouths washed out with soap," quipped conservative commentator Matt Rooney of "Save Jersey."

Assemb. Paul Kanitra, R-Point Pleasant Beach, suggested the state should deal with the F---ICE Act the same way it deals with people who submit applications for off-color tags.

"Much like the state DMV has to turn down and in some cases even repossess license plates that are deemed vulgar, this should suffer the same fate," Kanitra said.

New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill could not immediately be reached for comment.

In one of her first acts in Trenton, Sherrill signed Executive Order 12, which restricts ICE activities on state property and creates a portal for residents to report immigration enforcement in their areas.

"I take seriously my responsibility to keep New Jersey residents safe and, as a Navy veteran and former federal prosecutor, my commitment to upholding the Constitution will never waver. This executive order will prohibit ICE from using state property to launch operations," Sherrill said in a statement at the time.

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Why keeping lawmakers in DC during shutdown may have caused more harm than good

"I can’t believe they just left!"

"Why didn’t they just stay until they fixed it?"

"Why didn’t they make them stay?"

I must have fielded forty questions last week from colleagues, friends and acquaintances. Even reporters and editorial staff from other news organizations. And that’s to say nothing of a few Congressional aides.

Everyone had the same question. They were in disbelief that lawmakers just abandoned the Capitol a week ago Thursday and left the Department of Homeland Security without funding on Saturday at 12:00:01 am et.

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The Senate tried twice to avert the partial government shutdown on Thursday. The Senate failed to break a filibuster on a placeholder, undetermined funding bill. And then Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., objected to a request by Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala., to approve a stopgap, two-week funding bill. Passage of the bill would require agreement of all 100 senators. But all it took was one objection. And Murphy, speaking for many Democrats on both sides of the Capitol, interceded to sidetrack Britt’s effort.

"I’m over it!" shouted an exasperated Britt on the Senate floor, as Congress pitched at least part of the federal government into its third shutdown since October 1.

Democrats are refusing to fund the Department of Homeland Security until there’s a specific agreement to reform U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). And - few Democrats will say this out loud - but their base insists on Democrats shuttering DHS over ICE tactics after the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis.

This is somewhat ironic. Republicans funded ICE through 2029 via last year’s One, Big, Beautiful Bill. So thanks to Democrats, TSA, the Coast Guard and FEMA – all under the DHS aegis – are without money right now. That means tens of thousands of employees are technically working without paychecks as they scan passengers at airports, patrol the seas and respond to natural disasters.

This brings us back to the basic question: Why didn’t they just stay until they figured it out?

As a reporter, I have covered dozens of shutdowns, partial shutdowns, near shutdowns, flirtations with shutdowns. That’s to say nothing of various permutations of interim spending bills – long and short – known as Continuing Resolutions or CRs. Those bills keep the funding flowing at the old spending level – until lawmakers all agree on something new. Sometimes one CR begets another CR. And even another one after that until everything’s resolved. The exercise can go on for months.

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But as it pertains to DHS, lawmakers weren’t going to solve the issues surrounding ICE right away. So both the House and Senate got out of Dodge last Thursday as the deadline loomed. Lawmakers were everywhere from the Middle East to Munich when the bell tolled midnight Saturday and DHS lumbered into a slow-speed funding crash.

Failure to fund the Department of Homeland Security may seem unreasonable from a policy standpoint – regardless of what you think of ICE. But it’s not unreasonable if you understand the politics and Congressional procedure to fund ICE.

Let’s say they were on the precipice of an agreement to fund DHS. That may involve some last-minute trading of paper between Senate and House leaders. Maybe a call or two from the President to reluctant Republicans. If lawmakers believed a deal was within range, it’s doubtful that leaders would have cut Members loose. They would have stayed if there was a viable path to nail something down last Friday, have the Senate expedite the process and vote on either Saturday or Sunday (albeit after the deadline) and then have the House vote on Monday. That’s all under the premise of a deal being close.

They were nowhere near that stage when lawmakers called it last Thursday. Democrats didn’t send over their offer for days after a brief shutdown of 78 percent of the government more than two weeks ago. Democrats then criticized Republicans and the White House for slowly volleying a counteroffer. Democrats then rejected the GOP plan – only sending back another plan late Monday.

Getting a deal which can pass both the House and Senate – and overcome a Senate filibuster – takes time. And there simply wasn’t a deal to be had yet.

This is where things get really interesting. With no agreement in sight, you simply don’t anchor lawmakers in Washington with nothing to do. There’s nothing to vote on. There are no committee meetings scheduled. All tethering lawmakers to DC does is stir up trouble.

There’s a line in the song "Trouble" in The Music Man by Meredith Willson: "The idle brain is the devil’s playground." Who knows what kinds of mischief you would have, just making very cranky lawmakers hang around Washington for days – without anything to vote on. Keeping everyone here does not contribute to securing a deal. Yes, all 532 House and Senate Members (there are two House vacancies) must eventually be dialed-in to vote on a bill to fund DHS. But we aren’t there yet. A handful of Members in the House, Senate and people at the White House will be the ones to negotiate an agreement. Rank-and-file Members marooned in Washington with nothing to do but post outrageous things on social media and appear on cable TV is counterproductive.

Now, let’s look at the other scenario of being close to an agreement. House and Senate leaders may believe they are still a little short of votes. But if something is viable, leaders know they can nail down the votes with some arm-twisting, legislative and ego massaging and a few forceful phone calls. Yes, that process may require elbow grease. But in that instance, keeping everyone in Washington for a few extra days and blowing up a long-awaited Congressional recess actually helps the process.

DHS SHUTDOWN LEAVES LOCAL EMERGENCY RESPONDERS ON THEIR OWN AMID EXTREME WEATHER, EXPERT WARNS

Why?

Think of the Stockholm Syndrome. You demand that everyone stay in Washington for an extra day or two and the "hostages" will start to come around to the viewpoints of their captors. Yes, everyone is frustrated and mad. But they feel the bill is something they can support and finally end this triumvirate of government shutdowns. In this case, the fustigation builds – but just a little. Everyone is happy to vote yes and rush off of Capitol Hill.

If they were close to nailing down an agreement on DHS funding, then Congressional leaders would have deployed a version of the Stockholm Syndrome to wrap up everything.

But with no deal, leaders were more afraid of the mayhem they may trigger by keeping everyone in Washington. The devil would romp freely through the playground of idle brains.

So how will you know when there’s a deal?

When everyone’s present and accounted for.

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Florida Senate passes 'Teddy Bridgewater Bill' allowing coaches to use personal funds for student welfare

Teddy Bridgewater has become something of a martyr in Florida.

While coaching at Miami Northwestern High School, the former NFL quarterback admitted to providing players with financial benefits, including Uber rides, meal costs and physical therapy for the team.

His actions led to his suspension last summer, but they are closer to being legal after a bill was signed in the state.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM 

Florida lawmakers on Thursday passed Senate Bill 178, the "Teddy Bridgewater Bill," which requires "the Florida High School Athletic Association to adopt bylaws authorizing a head coach to support the welfare of a student by using personal funds to provide certain effects to the student."

The bill says the coach must report the use of funds to the association, "providing that such use of personal funds is presumed not to be an impermissible benefit, etc."

The bill will now go to Florida's House of Representatives.

Speaking to the media last August after signing a one-year deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Bridgewater explained his thought process behind the events that led to his suspension.

BRETT FAVRE BLASTS NFL FOR NO LONGER APPEALING TO 'TRUE' FANS: 'THERE'S BEEN A SLIGHT SHIFT'

"Honestly, I think everyone knows that I'm just a cheerful guy, a cheerful giver as well. I'm a protector. I'm a father first before anything," he began. "When I decided to coach, those players became my sons and I wanted to make sure that I just protect them in the best way that I can. I think that's what came about." 

He reached out on social media asking for donations "so I no longer have to take from my personal funds to keep smiles on these young men's faces and remind them that they matter."

"Miami Northwestern is in a tough neighborhood, and sometimes things can happen when kids are walking home and different things like that," Bridgewater said at the time. "So, I just tried to protect them, give them a ride home instead of them having to take those dangerous walks. I just want people to continue to see me for the person that I've been from the time I arrived in the NFL, from the time that I arrived at the University of Louisville – just a humble guy who has a big heart and a cheerful giver."

Bridgewater was a one-time Pro Bowler in 10 years in the NFL and coached the school to a state title.

Fox News' Ryan Gaydos contributed to this report.

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Trump responds to Supreme Court ruling rejecting sweeping tariffs powers: 'A disgrace'

President Donald Trump has reportedly reacted to the Supreme Court's 6-3 decision that ruled he does not have the authority to levy sweeping tariffs under a specific emergency powers law.

A source outside the Trump administration told Fox News that an aide came into the closed-door White House breakfast with governors and handed Trump a note about the Supreme Court ruling.

The source said Trump "called it a disgrace, and then he went on with the remarks."

The high court blocked Trump's tariffs levied under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act in what amounts to a major test of executive branch authority. 

SUPREME COURT BLOCKS TRUMP TARIFFS IN MAJOR TEST OF EXECUTIVE BRANCH POWERS

Some of the Supreme Court's nine justices will likely be sitting in the audience when the president delivers the State of the Union address on Tuesday.

In the opinion, the high court declared, "Our task today is to decide only whether the power to ‘regulate… importation,’ as granted to the President in IEEPA, embraces the power to impose tariffs. It does not."

Trump has made tariffs a key plank of his economic agenda since retaking the Oval Office last year, but his policies have not come without controversy.

SUPREME COURT DEALS BLOW TO TRUMP'S TRADE AGENDA IN LANDMARK TARIFF CASE

Republican reaction to the ruling has been mixed.

Rep. Buddy Carter, R-Ga., slammed the high court's decision.

"The Supreme Court just undercut the President’s ability to defend American workers. President Donald Trump was elected to fight unfair trade and stop the United States from being ripped off. I’m outraged by this decision; it's clearly judicial overreach," Carter asserted in a post on X.

But Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., welcomed the ruling.

"In defense of our Republic, the Supreme Court struck down using emergency powers to enact taxes. This ruling will also prevent a future President such as AOC from using emergency powers to enact socialism," Paul noted in a post on X.

ELECTION INTEGRITY GROUPS PRESS SUPREME COURT TO REQUIRE BALLOTS BY ELECTION DAY

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Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., also hailed the decision.

"The Constitution’s checks and balances still work. Article One gives tariff authority to Congress. This was a common-sense and straightforward ruling by the Supreme Court. I feel vindicated as I’ve been saying this for the last 12 months. In the future, Congress should defend its own authorities and not rely on the Supreme Court. Besides the Constitutional concerns I had on the Administration’s broad-based tariffs, I also do not think tariffs are smart economic policy. Broad-based tariffs are bad economics," Bacon wrote in a post on X.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said Congress and the administration will determine the "best path forward" in the coming weeks.

"No one can deny that the President’s use of tariffs has brought in billions of dollars and created immense leverage for America’s trade strategy and for securing strong, reciprocal America-first trade agreements with countries that had been taking advantage of American workers for decades," Johnson wrote in an X post.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

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Guy Fieri never eats these 6 foods — would you?

→ One fast-food giant is ditching nuked meals in a bold bid to boost flavor.

→ All-you-can-eat spots are roaring back as savvy diners chase serious value.

→ A sweeping new review raises fresh questions about the real payoff of skipping meals for weight loss.

→ Guy Fieri, a chef famous for trying everything, has revealed a few firm food refusals.

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→ From Washington's beef pies to Trump's well-done order, presidential palates tell a revealing story.

→ With some fresh fruit juice and a fast whirl, you can craft this frothy cocktail craze yourself at home.

→ A content creator threw a wild birthday bash complete with a McDonald's McNugget Caviar kit.

→ Researchers tested beef versus chicken — and the results weren't what many expected.

LIKE WHAT YOU'RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOOD AND DRINK NEWS

→ This airline breakfast left one passenger horrified and looking for a voucher.

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WWE star Logan Paul explains reason behind viral Bad Bunny reaction before Super Bowl

WWE star Logan Paul went viral before Super Bowl LX when he was asked by Fox News Digital whether he was excited for Bad Bunny’s halftime show.

He responded with a resounding, "No!" as he walked off a red carpet the night before the game.

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Paul explained his thinking behind the one-word comment on the latest episode of "IMPAULSIVE."

"Bad Bunny is a world-renowned superstar. He also can be a WWE superstar when he wants. He’s a good wrestler. He can f---ing wrestle. There have been talks about maybe us wrestling. Like, it’s been floated around. I’ve been candid about the fact that I’d love to do that. I think it would be the greatest WWE match of all time. I really believe that.

"In that regard, any time I’m asked about Bad Bunny, I think that in the back of my mind. So, it’s like to set that up, when I’m asked if I’m excited for the halftime show, saying ‘No,’ one word, it’s like, OK, now people are talking about it. However, there is truth to the fact that I’m a 30-year-old man, I’m not excited about any halftime show. I don’t care. I also didn’t even watch the game really that much."

Paul said his remark was 80% him working his audience and 20% being he didn’t really care whether it was Bad Bunny or anyone else.

BAD BUNNY'S SUPER BOWL HALFTIME SHOW IGNITES TRUMP'S FURY, DIVIDES VIEWERS

He had some lament about his brother, Jake Paul, firing off posts about Bad Bunny. The boxer wrote on X that he had an issue with Bad Bunny "openly hating America" with regard to the singer’s comments about U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

"It was very circumstantial because I didn’t work myself into a shoot. My brother worked my work into a shoot, brother," Logan Paul added.

He said that he felt it was "important" to separate his own stance about Bad Bunny from his brother’s comments made on X.

"I love him, but that doesn’t mean we agree on things," Logan Paul said. "And it complicates things because people confuse us. They already think we’re the same person. I’ll walk outside right now and get called ‘Jake’ five times. He’ll go outside in the Netherlands and get called ‘Logan.’

"I felt in this scenario I had to put my flag in the sand. And I’m glad I did."

Paul said he still would like to meet Bad Bunny in a pro wrestling ring.

"I think it would be insane. I think it transcends WWE," he said.

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Third suspect, known as 'Prophetess,' indicted in Kingdom of God Global Church forced labor case

A federal grand jury in Michigan indicted a third defendant in an alleged forced labor conspiracy tied to the Kingdom of God Global Church, the Justice Department announced.

Kathleen Klein, said to also be known as "Prophetess," allegedly served as a leader and executive of the church — formerly known as Joshua Media Ministries International — and helping run a multi-state call center operation that prosecutors say exploited workers to solicit donations.

The Justice Department said Klein, 53, and co-defendants David Taylor and Michelle Brannon allegedly operated call centers in Michigan, Missouri, Florida and Texas, where victims were forced to work long hours without pay and pressured to meet aggressive fundraising targets.

Prosecutors said workers who fell short or resisted were subjected to public humiliation, sleep deprivation, physical abuse, withholding of food and shelter, forced repentance rituals and threats of "divine judgment in the form of sickness, accidents, death, and eternal damnation."

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The superseding indictment, issued Feb. 11, alleges that the organization collected roughly $50 million in donations since 2014, which leaders used to fund personal real estate purchases, vehicles, airline tickets and luxury goods.

In addition to adding Klein as a defendant, the superseding indictment includes new allegations that Taylor frequently requested and received sexually explicit photos and videos from female church workers.

SELF-PROCLAIMED ‘APOSTLE’ WHO CLAIMS TO BE JESUS' BEST FRIEND ARRESTED IN FORCED LABOR SCHEME

Klein is charged with conspiracy to commit forced labor, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

Taylor and Brannon were first indicted in July 2025 on charges including conspiracy to commit forced labor, forced labor and conspiracy to commit money laundering. If convicted, they face up to 20 years in prison on each count.

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"This case reflects the gravity of forced labor schemes that strip victims of their basic human rights and subject them to physical and brutal psychological abuse," said Assistant Attorney General Andrew Tysen Duva in a statement. "Combating human trafficking is a top priority for the Department of Justice. We will relentlessly pursue those who facilitate and profit from forced labor and fight to obtain justice for survivors."

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