Articles by Candace Hathaway

Technology

Exclusive: ICE arrests alleged MS-13 gang leader on El Salvador's ‘most wanted’ list

Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested one of El Salvador’s “most wanted” who stands accused of murder, according to a Department of Homeland Security press release exclusively obtained by Blaze News. 'These are the types of criminal illegal aliens that sanctuary politicians across Virginia are protecting as they demonize law enforcement.' On October 2 in Virginia, ICE agents captured Ismael Enrique Mendoza Flores, also known as “El Calaco,” believed to be an MS-13 gang leader. Mendoza Flores was wanted in El Salvador for aggravated homicide and illicit associations. According to Fairfax County case records, he was arrested in Virginia on August 23 for unauthorized use of a vehicle, a criminal felony. The alleged crime was reportedly committed on July 28. Mendoza Flores made bail and a preliminary hearing was scheduled for October 31. The DHS reported that ICE arrested Mendoza Flores due to an active warrant for murder. He was listed as part of the Salvadoran National Police’s “Most Wanted Gang Members” Program. Mendoza Flores told U.S. authorities that he entered the country as a child in 2015. RELATED: DOJ files first terrorism-related charges against alleged 'Antifa Cell' after ICE attack: 'Get to the rifles' Ismael Enrique Mendoza Flores, “El Calaco.” Image source: Department of Homeland Security “Our brave men and women of ICE arrested one of El Salvador’s most wanted fugitives off of the streets of Virginia. This MS-13 gang member was wanted for murder,” DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said. “These are the types of criminal illegal aliens that sanctuary politicians across Virginia are protecting as they demonize law enforcement,” McLaughlin continued. “President Trump and Secretary [Kristi] Noem are not going to allow gang members to terrorize American citizens.” RELATED: ICE accuses LA officials of giving 'a middle finger to the law' after county paves way for illegal aliens to receive funding Photographer: Christopher Dilts/Bloomberg via Getty Images The DHS vowed to continue the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown despite the ongoing government shutdown. The department stated that it “will not let the Democrats’ government shutdown prevent our law enforcement officers from executing the critical mission of securing our nation from the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens.” Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Technology

Harvard posts deficit of over $110 million as funding feud with Trump continues to sting

Harvard has stated that it had an “extraordinarily challenging” fiscal year amid its ongoing feud with the Trump administration. President Donald Trump withheld over $2 million in federal research funding after he accused Harvard of “repeatedly” failing to confront anti-Semitic harassment on its campuses, arguing that the university was violating federal civil rights law. 'Even by the standards of our centuries-long history, fiscal year 2025 was extraordinarily challenging, with political and economic disruption affecting many sectors, including higher education.' Harvard responded to the funding freeze by suing the administration. While most of those awards have been reinstated, according to Harvard, President Donald Trump’s actions against the university appear to have made an impact. “The reinstatements of those grants do not erase the disruption the terminations sparked, nor do they negate the uncertainty ahead. That means we can’t simply return to ‘business as usual,’” Harvard chief financial officer Ritu Kalra told Bloomberg. A financial report released Thursday by the Ivy League school showed a $113 million deficit for fiscal year 2025, which ended on September 30. This marks Harvard’s first operating loss since 2020 and its largest deficit since 2011. In contrast, for fiscal year 2024, Harvard reported a $45 million gain. Harvard’s financial difficulties prompted it to make “difficult but necessary choices,” according to Alan Garber, the university’s president. It reportedly implemented a hiring freeze, initiated layoffs, scaled back projects, and withheld salary increases from exempt employees. RELATED: Harvard’s hypocrisy hits the courtroom Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images “Even by the standards of our centuries-long history, fiscal year 2025 was extraordinarily challenging, with political and economic disruption affecting many sectors, including higher education,” Garber wrote. He also blamed President Donald Trump’s termination of federal research funding, noting that a federal judge found the move to be unlawful. The administration reportedly has plans to appeal the judge’s decision. RELATED: Why Trump’s war with Harvard hits closer to home than you think Photo by JOSEPH PREZIOSO/AFP via Getty Images “We closed [the fiscal year] confronting the abrupt termination of nearly all of Harvard’s federal research grants, facing potential constraints on the exchange of international scholars, and considering how we will absorb the enactment of a substantial increase to the federal tax on endowment income, scheduled to take effect in fiscal 2027,” the report read. Despite its reported challenges, Harvard recorded the largest current-use gifts in its history, totaling $629 million — a 19% increase over the previous fiscal year. However, the university's endowment gifts, which are more restricted in their use, have declined over the last two years. In fiscal year 2023, Harvard collected $561 million in endowment gifts, while the amounts dropped to $368 million in 2024 and $364 million in 2025. Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!