VOA News/Carla Babb FREDERICKSBURG, VIRGINA — It is more than three weeks into the partial government shutdown. Among the hundreds of thousands of federal employees affected by the political battle are military veterans. According to the latest government data, veterans make up about a third of the federal government’s civilian workforce. Tyler Holmquist of Fredericksburg, Virginia, […]readmore
VOA/Ken Bredemeier WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump said Monday he would not, at least for the moment, declare a national emergency to build a wall at the U.S.-Mexican border, instead demanding that opposition Democrats agree to fund the barrier construction. “This is so simple,” Trump told reporters at the White House as left to speak […]readmore
VOA News/Jamie Dettmer WASHINGTON — Fears are mounting for Paul Whelan, the former U.S. Marine seized last month in a Moscow hotel after being accused of espionage. Western intelligence officers and analysts fear he may remain in detention in Russia for a long time and are casting doubt on the likelihood of a spy exchange. Kremlin […]readmore
VOA News/Jeff Seldin U.S. counterterrorism officials are sticking by their assessment that terror groups like Islamic State and al-Qaida are not actively trying to sneak operatives into the country from Mexico, despite claims by the White House and Homeland Security officials that «the threat is real.» «We do not see any evidence that ISIS or […]readmore
VOA News/Ken Bredemeier & Michael Bowman U.S. President Donald Trump and congressional leaders are meeting again Wednesday, but there were no signs they were ready to compromise over Trump’s demand for funding for construction of a barrier wall along the U.S.-Mexican border, a dispute that has led to a 19-day partial government shutdown. Trump is […]readmore
Patsy Widakuswara WASHINGTON — The Trump administration is pushing hard to portray the southern border with Mexico as an imminent «humanitarian and national security crisis» to win support for border wall funding in a fight with lawmakers that has brought the country to a 17-day partial government shutdown. Vice President Mike Pence, in a briefing to […]readmore
WASHINGTON, QAMISHLI — The U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) Monday confirmed the arrest of five Islamic State foreign fighters and the handover of five more to their governments in efforts to rid eastern Syria of the jihadists. In an interview with VOA, SDF spokesperson Mustafa Bali confirmed the five IS fighters, two Americans, two Pakistanis, and […]readmore
PORTLAND, Maine — U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will celebrate the citizenship of 29 children during a special citizenship ceremony Friday at the Children’s Museum and Theatre of Maine. USCIS Portland Maine Field Office Director Cindy Lembarra will administer a special Oath of Allegiance to the children and will present the children with their certificates of citizenship. […]readmore
VOA News/Ken Bredemeier & Chris Hannas U.S. President Donald Trump says he is addressing the nation Tuesday about the «humanitarian and national security crisis» on the country’s U.S.-Mexican border before traveling there Thursday for a firsthand look at efforts to thwart illegal immigration. Trump announced the prime-time nationally televised address Monday shortly after news […]readmore
VOA News U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton is due to hold talks Monday in Turkey as the Trump administration seeks assurances that Turkish forces will not target Kurdish fighters allied with American forces. The visit to Turkey comes a day after Bolton said protection for the Kurdish fighters who have helped battle Islamic State […]readmore