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Trump administration says emails ‘sent in error’ ordering Ukrainians to leave the U.S.

By
Ariana Figueroa
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A man holds the Ukrainian and U.S. flags at a ceremony at the Holodomor Genocide Memorial in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 4, 2025, as the three-year anniversary of the Russian invasion neared. The memorial honors victims of a famine in Ukraine in 1932-33. (Jane Norman/States Newsroom)

WASHINGTON (States Newsroom) — Unknown numbers of Ukrainians received emails by mistake from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security saying their humanitarian protected status was being revoked and they would have to leave the United States within days, the agency said Friday.

“A message was sent in error to some Ukrainians under the U4U program. The U4U parole program has not been terminated,” a DHS spokesperson told States Newsroom, referring to the Uniting for Ukraine program.

Attorneys challenging the Trump administration’s pause of humanitarian applications for Ukrainians and Afghans, as well as the end of legal status programs for nationals from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela, filed a copy of the termination notice sent to Ukrainians in the U.S. District Court of Massachusetts on Friday.

The notice, given on Thursday, instructs any Ukrainians in the Uniting for Ukraine humanitarian parole program to leave the U.S. within seven days of receiving the notice, according to court filings.

“It is time for you to leave the United States,” according to the notice sent to some Ukrainians that immigration rights groups filed in court. “If you do not depart the United States immediately you will be subject to potential law enforcement actions that will result in your removal from the United States — unless you have otherwise obtained a lawful basis to remain here.”

The next hearing is set for Monday before U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani, who was appointed by former President Barack Obama.

‘Numerous reports’ of erroneous emails

“Plaintiffs’ counsel have received numerous reports throughout the day today that other Ukrainian members of the putative class—potentially thousands—have received an identical letter, including individuals with approximately two years left on their parole period,” according to the brief by Justice Action Center, an immigrant rights group.

According to the brief filed Friday, attorneys with the Justice Action Center notified the Department of Justice attorneys handling the case. The lawyers said the response from those DOJ attorneys was “to say that they ‘have been looking into this’ but ‘don’t have any information to share yet.’”

The Biden administration’s renewed work and deportation protections for 103,700 Ukrainians are set to expire on Oct. 19, 2026.

Trump and Zelenskyy

In late February, President Donald Trump got into a heated exchange with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a meeting at the White House, breaking with Ukraine and its resistance to Russia’s invasion more than three years ago.

Former President Joe Biden’s administration created temporary protections for Ukrainians because of Russia’s invasion of the country.

Trump’s history with Ukraine, which was at the center of his first impeachment when he halted security aid approved by Congress, and his friendly relationship with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, have moved the U.S. further away from European allies who have coalesced around Ukraine’s fight for its democracy.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt in early March denied that the Trump administration was revoking protections for Ukrainians.

“The truth: no decision has been made at this time,” Leavitt wrote on social media.

Lavonia man charged in wreck that killed girlfriend

By
Joy Purcell
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(NowHabersham.com)

A Lavonia man faces first-degree vehicular homicide charges for a wreck that killed his girlfriend and injured his two young children.

State troopers determined that Dustin Cecil Owen was driving under the influence when the pickup truck he was driving ran off the road and crashed into a tree. The afternoon wreck occurred April 2 on Lankford Road in Hart County, southeast of Lavonia.

The wreck killed 22-year-old Brittney Nicole Lewis of Lavonia. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Owen’s 1-year-old son and 2-year-old daughter were also with him during the crash. They sustained minor injuries, troopers say.

The wreck seriously injured the 29-year-old Owen. Officials took him into custody following his release from a Greenville, South Carolina hospital. He was extradited back to Georgia after waiving his right to an extradition hearing and is now being held at the Hart County jail, says Cpl. William Jordan of Georgia State Patrol Post 52 in Hartwell.

Troopers from Post 52 and members of the Georgia State Patrol’s Specialized Collision Reconstruction Team investigated the crash.

In addition to vehicular homicide, troopers charged Owen with driving under the influence, two counts of child endangerment, failure to maintain lane, reckless driving, and violating tire requirements.

Cpl. Jordan says the investigation into the accident remains active and ongoing.

Sine Die: North Georgia lawmakers talk 2025 session on final day at the Capitol

By
Brian Wellmeier
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Georgia House of Representatives in session on Friday, April 4 (Jerry Neace/Now Habersham)

With just hours left on the clock, lawmakers scrambled under the Gold Dome at Georgia’s State Capitol to strategize, negotiate and move to pass legislation on Friday, April 4 – the final day of this year’s legislative session, otherwise known as Sine Die.

Sen. Steve Gooch (R-Dahlonega) told Now Habersham at the Capitol on Friday that he feels this year’s legislative session was a positive one for Georgians, specifically for investments made in certain areas while also maintaining fiscal conservatism in passing a $37 billion budget.

Sen. Steve Gooch (R-Dahlonega) poses alongside the design of a new license plate, which he pushed for, expected to be offered to Georgians (Brian Wellmeier/Now Habersham.com)

“A lot of good, conservative legislation has passed (this session),” Gooch said. “Of course, our biggest focus every year is the budget. We just finished putting the final touches on the budget … state funds will be spent primarily on public safety and education. We’re proud of the work we’ve done on that.”

On Friday, just after 10 a.m. outside the House Chamber, Rep. Victor Anderson (R-Cornelia) said that while he’s glad to see this session come to a close, he’s eager to continue working on legislation for Georgians in the months before next year’s session.

“I can’t wait to get this one over with – not because I don’t love what we do here – it just gets so intense at this level,” Anderson said. “It’s time for us to take a little break, but the break won’t be long. We have a study committee coming up, as well as other duties and responsibilities for constituents back home. (After today), I’ll be as busy a month from now as I am right now.”

Rep. Victor Anderson (R-Cornelia) speaks to colleagues in the House Chamber Friday, April 4 (Brian Wellmeier/Now Habersham.com)

District 50 Sen. Bo Hatchett (R-Cornelia) also described the 2025 session as successful.

“This was a very productive and really efficient session,” said Hatchett, who pointed to the passage of legislation addressing human trafficking to Senate Bill 1, which prohibits transgender females from participating in women’s sports, as top accomplishments.

Sen. Drew Echols (R-Gainesville) had just come out of the Senate Chamber when he expressed his thoughts on the session as a whole.

“I feel like I got some things done,” Echols, who took office last year, said. “I got three or four bills through the Senate, over to the House and back to the governor’s desk…I feel good about that.”

Sen. Drew Echols (R-Gainesville), left, at Georgia’s Capitol on the final day of the legislative session on April 4, 2025. (Brian Wellmeier/Now Habersham.com)

District 32 Rep. Chris Erwin, R-Homer, said that while the session would likely end by midnight Friday, he felt ready for the days ahead.

“I’ve still got a lot of energy – because we’ve got to finish strong,” Erwin said. “…I’m also very excited to get back to God’s country in Northeast Georgia. I’ve still got the energy, but I’ve still got the desire to be back there where home is.”

In the coming days, Now Habersham will have more from our local lawmakers about this year’s legislative session and the expected impacts their actions will have on Georgians.

Georgia lawmakers pass a bill that could let people sue over local gun control measures

By
Charlotte Kramon
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ATLANTA (AP) — Georgians may be able to sue local governments for enacting local gun safety measures under a bill passed Friday that supporters say ensures localities don’t violate people’s gun rights.

Senate Bill 204, would let people sue local governments if they have been “aggrieved” by a rule that conflicts with gun rights granted by state law and seek compensation for some damages. The Senate will likely give final approval to the measure that passed in the Republican-led House 99-74 on the last day of the legislative session.

Trenton Republican Sen. Colton Moore proposed the original measure to thwart gun safety ordinances like one in Savannah that punishes people who leave weapons in unlocked cars. But Moore said he no longer supports the move in part because the most individuals can receive in compensation is $25,000 instead of $50,000.

Democrats — including those who said they own and value their guns — said the bill would hinder local governments that want to protect people from preventable gun violence.

The legislation also comes months after a mass shooting at Apalachee High School, the school northeast of Atlanta where a 14-year-old boy stands accused of killing two teachers and two students and wounding several others last year on Sept. 4. He obtained a firearm from his father.

“The Apalachee families have come here again and again, asking you to pass common-sense safe storage laws,” said Atlanta Democrat Shea Roberts. “And how do we respond? With a bill that precludes safe storage? SB 204 is a slap in the face to those families. And for what? To punish Savannah for trying to prevent gun theft and violence?”

Republican Rep. Alan Powell called it a “shame” for Democrats to bring up the shooting, arguing it had nothing to do with ensuring state gun laws are upheld.

“This is an affirmation of our strong and unwavering support of the Second Amendment and this legislation ensures that Georgians are protected from government overreach,” said Republican House Majority Leader Chuck Efstration.

Democrats also accused Republicans of “hijacking” bills. The measure got tacked onto a separate Senate Democratic bill.

Gov. Brian Kemp’s office said he declined to comment on pending legislation, including whether the Republican would sign the bill if it reached his desk.

Another Democratic proposal would have created a $300 tax credit for safe storage devices and lessons and had bipartisan support in past years. Democrats also wanted to make it a crime for adults to let kids get their hands on a gun if they didn’t store it safely.

Their proposals got stripped down and merged with House Bill 79 to create a four-day sales tax holiday in October for guns and gun accessories. It instead offers a $300 tax credit for people who participate in an in-person course on safe gun use. The bill awaits Senate approval.

GOP budget would add an ‘unprecedented’ $5.8 trillion to the deficit, analysis finds

By
Jennifer Shutt
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The U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., is pictured on Thursday, March 14, 2024. (Jennifer Shutt/States Newsroom)

WASHINGTON (States Newsroom) — The nonpartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget released an analysis Friday showing the budget resolution Republicans plan to adopt later this month would allow Congress to add up to $5.8 trillion to the deficit during the next decade.

The organization wrote the reconciliation instructions included in the budget would allow GOP lawmakers to draft a bill later this year that could outpace the deficit impact of many big-name laws enacted during the last two administrations.

“A $5.8 trillion deficit-increasing bill would be unprecedented,” the analysis states. “It would add 14 times as much to the deficit than the bipartisan infrastructure law ($400 billion), more than three times as much as American Rescue Plan ($1.8 trillion), three times the 2020 CARES Act ($1.7 trillion), and nearly four times the original score of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act ($1.5 trillion). In fact, it would add more to the deficit than all four of these major laws combined.”

That deficit impact, CRFB wrote, “would be the equivalent of adding a large new welfare program to the federal deficit.”

No Democratic votes needed

Republicans in Congress must adopt a budget resolution in order to use the complex reconciliation process to pass many of their core campaign promises.

The special legislative pathway will let the GOP enact changes without needing the support of Democrats to get past the Senate’s 60-vote legislative filibuster.

The largest deficit increase within the package would come from extending the 2017 GOP tax law, about $4.5 trillion in deficits, and likely making other changes to the U.S. tax code, about $1.5 trillion.

House Republicans want to try to offset some of that $6 trillion total in new deficits by cutting about $1.5 trillion in federal spending, though exactly how they’d do that remains under discussion.

Centrist Republicans in Congress have raised concerns about the House’s instructions calling on the Energy and Commerce Committee to find at least $880 billion in spending cuts.

That panel oversees Medicare and Medicaid and couldn’t reach that level of spending cuts without making some substantial changes to one or both of the programs.

GOP leaders and President Donald Trump have repeatedly said they won’t touch Medicare, leaving Medicaid, the state-federal program for lower-income people, as the likely source of the funding cuts.

Senate GOP approach

Senate Republicans wrote themselves a much lower threshold for cutting government spending in the budget resolution —  a $4 billion minimum from four different committees across the 10-year budget window.

The Senate instructions, CRFB wrote in its analysis, “would allow a reconciliation bill that is nearly as large as the largest federal spending programs.

“A bill adding $5.8 trillion to deficits would be more than three-quarters (77 percent) as large as all projected Medicaid spending. It would equal 69 percent of base defense spending over the same time period, including being three times as large as projected spending dedicated to the Army. It would even equal half of all net spending on Medicare and a third of all spending on Social Security.”

CRFB wrote that Congress should change its course now.

“Instead of passing a bill with an historically large deficit impact, lawmakers should use this opportunity to rein in borrowing with a fiscally responsible package that can set the stage for a permanent package of thoughtful tax extensions and budget savings that grows the economy and improves our debt outlook.”

The Senate is expected to vote sometime this weekend to approve the compromise budget resolution and send it back to the House for final approval.

Once both chambers vote to adopt it, they can formally begin writing, debating, amending and voting to approve the reconciliation package.

Bárbara Rivera Holmes sworn in as first Latina to lead Georgia Department of Labor

By
Stanley Dunlap
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ATLANTA (Georgia Recorder) — Former Albany Herald business reporter Bárbara Rivera Holmes became the first Hispanic woman to hold a statewide executive office position when she was sworn in Friday as state labor commissioner.

During Friday’s swearing-in ceremony, Republican Gov. Brian Kemp trumpeted Holmes’ groundbreaking accomplishment of becoming Georgia’s first Hispanic woman to become a constitutional officer. The former news reporter resigned as president and CEO of the Albany Area Chamber of Commerce after being selected by Kemp to fill the remaining term of former Labor Commissioner Bruce Thompson, who died in November following an eight-month battle with pancreatic cancer.

“Like I said last month when we announced the appointment of Bárbara Rivera Holmes to this position, I said that she was smart, accomplished, and dedicated to growing opportunities for hard-working Georgians,” Kemp said. “She also brings unique experience in economic development, especially in rural parts of our state, and education at the highest levels in our state will benefit all those who are looking for work.”

Holmes will begin leading the Georgia Department of Labor amid rising fears of a recession as President Donald Trump’s administration levies historic tariffs that critics argue could raise the price of U.S. goods while disrupting the global economy.

Her predecessor, Thompson, spent a decade in the Senate prior to becoming labor commissioner in 2023, taking over a state agency that had struggled to process a surge of unemployment claims since the start of the pandemic.

On Friday, Holmes credited her family’s sacrifices, including her grandparents’ 1961 search for political refuge from Cuba in America, as the driving force behind her becoming the state’s 11th labor commissioner.

Holmes said Friday that she plans to run for a four-year term as labor commissioner when her current term ends in the 2026 election year.

“The Department of Labor is vital to our state’s economy for supporting workforce development, job attainment, safe working conditions and the prosperity of our communities,” she said.

Forest Service lifts burn ban

By
Joy Purcell
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(Daniel Purcell/NowHabersham.com)

The U.S. Forest Service has lifted its week-long burn ban for the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest.

The ban was issued on March 27 in response to extreme fire weather conditions across Northeast Georgia.

Effective immediately, visitors to the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest may resume campfires and other permitted fire activities following local regulations and forest guidelines.

The public is reminded to follow fire safety best practices, including:

  • Keeping fires small and manageable;
  • Never leaving fires unattended;
  • Fully extinguishing fires before leaving an area;
  • Checking for any additional local fire restrictions.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. shifts gears with his No. 8 logo to avoid potential conflict with Lamar Jackson

By
Associated Press
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FILE - Dale Earnhardt Jr. answers questions during a news conference before the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Feb. 16, 2020, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Terry Renna, File)

NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr. is shifting gears with his No. 8 merchandising.

Earnhardt announced on social media Friday that he has secured the right to use a stylized version of No. 8 and will forgo the original No. 8 logo used by his NASCAR team, JR Motorsports. His decision came two days after Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson filed an opposition claim with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to stop Earnhardt from putting that JRM version of No. 8 on merchandise.

“We are looking forward to the remainder of an already successful season,” Earnhardt wrote on social media.

Jackson, who has worn No. 8 since his college days at Louisville, previously registered the trademark “ERA 8 by Lamar Jackson.” His latest claim argued that Earnhardt’s attempt to trademark that particular version of No. 8 would create confusion among consumers.

Earnhardt avoided a trademark review with the rebranding. Had the U.S. Patent and Trademark appeal board denied Earnhardt, Jackson could have sued had Earnhardt used that No. 8 on any merchandise.

Roger Dale Dodd

By
Now Habersham
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Mr. Roger Dale Dodd, age 68, of Mt. Airy, GA, passed away Friday, April 4, 2025, at Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville, GA.

Born June 29, 1956 in Commerce, GA, he was the son of Betty Sue Smith Dodd and the late Billy Allen Dodd.

Mr. Dodd was a grinder/fabricator of metal, working for Toccoa Casket Company and Scovill. He was of the Baptist faith. He loved fishing and hunting, riding his four wheeler and cheering on his Georgia Bulldogs.

He is survived by his wife, Kathy Darlene Watkins Dodd, of Mt. Airy; his mother, Betty Sue Smith Dodd, of Mt. Airy, GA; daughters, Melinda Wilson of Marietta, GA, and Kathy Almond (John) of Mt. Airy, GA; sons, Brian Dodd of Martin, GA and Londan Dodd of Toccoa; sisters, Teresa Hanson (Rodney) and Donna Frady; brothers, Daniel Dodd (Rhonda), Tony Dodd (Annie) and William Dodd (Jennie); six grandchildren, and several nieces, nephews, and cousins.

The family will receive friends at the mortuary from noon until the service time on Tuesday, April 8, 2025.

Funeral services will be held at two o’clock Tuesday, April 8, 2025 from the Chapel of Whitlock Mortuary with the Rev. Tony Dodd officiating.

Burial will follow at Stephens Memorial Gardens, and Mr. John Almond will speak at the graveside service.

The following gentlemen will serve as pallbearers: William Dodd, Bobby Harris, Rodney “Bubba” Hanson, Daniel Dodd, Kevin Frady, Londan Dodd, and Tyler Harris.

Please keep the family in your thoughts and prayers and sign the online guestbook at www.whitlockmortuary.net.

Whitlock Mortuary, Funerals and Cremations is honored to be serving the family of Mr. Roger Dale Dodd.

Georgia Rivian factory development continues as auto industry prepares for tariff impacts

By
Amanda Andrews
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After a pause in construction last year, development is underway again for the Rivian factory near Social Circle, east of Atlanta. (GPB News)

SOCIAL CIRCLE, Ga. — Progress on building Georgia’s Rivian factory near Social Circle, which was paused last year, has a new timeline for completion. Construction crews are scheduled to break ground in 2026 and the first vehicles are expected to roll off the production line in 2028.

Georgia offered Rivian $1.5 billion in incentives to develop the 2,000-square-foot factory and promote economic development. The deal with the state requires the company deliver 80% of its promised jobs and investments by 2030.

Georgia will produce the new R2 and R3 midsize SUV models. Production of the R2 began at Rivian’s existing plant in Normal, Illinois, to make the cars available to consumers more quickly.

Rivian spokesperson Peebles Squire said the company’s anticipating the new car will attract new buyers.

“We’re opening up the Rivian brand to a whole new group of folks with a much more competitively priced vehicle that sits like right in that midsize SUV segment, and hopefully continues to invite people to make the switch to electric and really experience the brand firsthand,” he said.

Like many auto manufacturers, U.S.-based Rivian is waiting to see what impacts tariffs will have on the industry overall. Squire said the stated goals of the Trump administration support the company’s current company strategy.

“The narrative here is all really about ensuring those jobs, bringing U.S. manufacturing back, and we’re certainly aligned with the administration on that,” he said. “Ultimately in Georgia that means 7,500 jobs by 2030 that people, you know, can be proud to have.”

Rivian recently opened a showroom in Alpharetta where consumers can see vehicles in person.

This article appears on Now Habersham in partnership with GPB News

Judge orders return of Maryland father deported by mistake to El Salvador prison

By
Ariana Figueroa
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Protestors outside the U.S. District Court of Maryland in Greenbelt rally in support of Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, a Maryland father who was deported to El Salvador in an "administrative error,” calling for him to be returned to the U.S. (Ariana Figueroa/States Newsroom)

GREENBELT, Md. (States Newsroom) — A federal judge in Maryland Friday ordered the Trump administration to return a national from El Salvador by April 7 who was erroneously deported to a notorious prison in El Salvador, despite an order blocking such removal.

The ruling from U.S. District Court of Maryland Judge Paula Xinis sets up a fight with the Trump administration. Officials have admitted the deportation of Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia of Beltsville, Maryland, was a mistake, but have stood by their actions.

The case could also mean that the more than 250 Venezuelan men in a separate case who were removed under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 without due process can be returned to the U.S.

Cheers could be heard outside the courthouse after the order, as dozens of protestors waited for the decision.

Hours later, the Department of Justice appealed the decision to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit.

‘It was unconstitutional’

Xinis, who was appointed by former President Barack Obama, said “there is no evidence to hold” Abrego Garcia at the notorious prison Centro de Confinamiento del Terrorismo, known as CECOT, and even noted his March 12 arrest by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement had no basis for removal.

“That means from the moment he was seized, it was unconstitutional,” Xinis said.

The attorney representing the Department of Justice, Erez Reuveni, said the Trump administration is not challenging the merits of the case and the only argument it has is that the Maryland court lacks jurisdiction because Abrego Garcia is in the custody of El Salvador.

Xinis pressed on what grounds Abrego Garcia was removed to the prison.

Reuveni said he has no idea and was not given any information from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

She asked why Abrego Garcia could not be returned to the United States, which is what his family was seeking in Friday’s preliminary injunction hearing.

Reuveni said that he has asked officials that same question, and has not received an answer that is “satisfactory.”

Reuveni made one request to the court, that Xinis give the administration of President Donald Trump 24 hours to try to rectify the situation.

U.S. paying $6 million

Attorneys for Abrego Garcia are not only asking for him to be returned, but for the Trump administration to cease payments to the mega-prison for his detainment. The White House has stated it’s paying the government of El Salvador $6 million to detain nearly 300 men.

Reuveni said because Abrego Garcia is in custody in El Salvador, he is no longer in U.S. custody and therefore cannot be retrieved.

Xinis pushed back on that argument, noting that the U.S. and El Salvador have a contract to detain the men at the prison.

Reuveni said that it’s not a contract the U.S. and El Salvador have.

Simon Y. Sandoval-Moshenberg, the attorney for Abrego Garcia, contended that “there is significant coordination between the two governments.”

He noted that Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has filmed herself while visiting CECOT and Secretary of State Marco Rubio has a close relationship with El Salvador President Nayib Bukele.

Xinis said to Reuveni that because the U.S. is paying El Salvador $6 million to detain the men, “I can draw the logical argument that the U.S. is the payer.”

She asked Reuveni if he has any evidence to show her that contradicts that knowledge.

“The government made a choice here to produce no evidence,” Reuveni said.

Wartime law invoked

On March 15, three deportation flights left for El Salvador with two planes carrying Venezuelans removed under the wartime law and a third plane that carried nationals from El Salvador, including Abrego Garcia.

A 2019 order from an immigration judge deemed that Abrego Garcia should be removed from the U.S. However, he was granted protection because it was more “likely than not that he would be persecuted by gangs in El Salvador” if he were returned, according to court documents.

Attorneys for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement could have challenged that decision, but did not. Instead, Abrego Garcia was required to check in with ICE every year, including earlier this year.

When Abrego Garcia was driving his 5-year-old son home on March 12, he was pulled over by ICE and informed that his “status had changed,” and was quickly transferred to a detention center in Texas. Within three days he was on a plane to CECOT, despite the order barring his removal to El Salvador.

Xinis asked Reuveni under what authority Abrego Garcia was removed and he said he didn’t know. All he was given was a declaration by ICE Acting Field Office Director of Enforcement and Removal Operations Robert L. Cerna, he said.

“This was an oversight, and the removal was carried out in good faith based on the existence of a final order of removal and Abrego-Garcia’s purported membership in MS-13,” Cerna wrote in a Monday court filing.

Xinis said if the government could not cite what legal authority he was being removed under, “then there is no basis to have seized him in the first place. That’s how I’m looking at it.”

ICE and the Department of Justice have admitted the removal was an “administrative error,” but the Trump administration has stood by its decision.

White House gets involved

Vice President J.D. Vance wrote on social media, without evidence, that Abrego Garcia was a convicted member of the MS-13 gang and White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt this week echoed Vance.

“The administration maintains the position that this individual who was deported to El Salvador and will not be returning to our country was a member of the brutal and vicious MS-13 gang,” Leavitt said.

Because of those comments by Leavitt, Sandoval-Moshenberg asked the judge to “keep the government on a tight leash.”

Abrego Garcia does not have a criminal record in the U.S., El Salvador or anywhere else, Sandoval-Moshenberg has stated.

Abrego Garcia came to the U.S. without legal authorization in 2011, fleeing violence in his home country of El Salvador, according to court records. Six years later while he was looking for work at a Home Depot in Hyattsville, Maryland, he was taken into custody by Prince George’s County Police Department.

While there, he was questioned about gang affiliation and law enforcement did not believe he was not a member of the MS-13 gang, according to court records.

The evidence officers submitted included Abrego Garcia wearing a Chicago Bulls hat, a hoodie and a statement from a confidential informant that stated he was a member of MS-13, according to court documents.

While he was never charged with, or convicted of being, in a gang, he was kept in ICE detention while his case proceeded before an immigration judge.

Special Olympics: The true victory lies in daring to try

By
Nora Almazan
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Habersham County Schools held its Special Olympics April 4 at Raider Stadium. (Nora Almazan/NowHabersham.com)

The crisp spring air in Mt. Airy, Georgia, buzzed with an energy unlike any other. It wasn’t just the anticipation of competition; it was the pure, unadulterated joy radiating from the athletes, families, students, and volunteers gathered for the annual Habersham County Special Olympics on Friday, April 4, 2025 with opening ceremonies starting at 9:30 a.m.

This wasn’t just a day of races and games; it was a vibrant celebration of ability, courage, and the unwavering power of the human spirit.

Opening Ceremony of the Special Olympics in Habersham County, Georgia, Friday, April 4. (Nora Almazan/NowHabersham.com)

The Opening Ceremony started off the day filling Larry Black Raider Stadium with cheers, music, and the thrill of the competition. Student volunteers and athletes carried the banners from their respective schools, circling the track. From the moment the torch was given to the first torch-bearer, pride from beaming young athletes reflected the meaning of the day and a wave of warmth washed over the Raider Field.

Applauds erupted, not because there would be record-breaking feats, but for the determination of athletes to make every stride count to cross the finish line. Stepping back to listen to the chants and cheers, one might think it to be a symphony of encouragement, a testament of a community united in its belief in the potential of every individual.

Students filled the stadium with signs and cheers for the Special Olympic athletes. (Nora Almazan/NowHabersham.com)

“Today is all about our athletes. It is a day for them to shine and to compete to the best of their ability,” Whitney Morris, P.E. Instructor at Fairview Elementary said. “We try to make this whole event about our athletes and make it extra special for them. I have volunteered to run all the games, so my Elementary P.E. colleagues are helping me today. We have students from our sports teams helping as well.”

There were the focused faces of runners pushing their limits, the delighted squeals of children, and the shared high-fives between athletes and their buddy volunteers. One young man, after carefully crossing the orange ribboned finish line, turned to a volunteer with a grin that could light up the entire county. “I did it!” he exclaimed, his voice filled with pure elation.

Opening ceremony allowed students to carry the banners of their schools. (Nora Almazan/NowHabersham.com)

Beyond the traditional sports, the day offered moments of quiet connection and unwavering support. Volunteers, many of them local high school students and community members, knelt beside athletes, offering gentle guidance and enthusiastic praise. The bond between them was palpable, a silent language of understanding and respect.

Scott Davis, Engineering teacher at Tallulah Falls school and spouse of Dr. Susan Davis, Director of Elementary Schools for Habersham County, brought a group of Key Club members from Tallulah Falls School. The fourteen students had chosen to come to the games to help instead of taking a half-day trip with their peers.

Athletes enjoyed competing in the Special Olympic Games in Raider Stadium. (Nora Almazan/NowHabersham.com)

For Davis it is personal. “My brother had severe Downs Syndrome and when I attended Habersham Central High School back in 1988, I got involved in Key Club to help out with Special Olympics.” Now, he is offering that same experience of serving to students at Tallulah Falls.

Madeline Martin, a volunteer student from Tallulah Falls school, expressed, “We just wanted to come out and show our support and help these kids have fun because it is a really important event.”

Ella Chambers, Superintendent Patrick Franklin, and Ben Gallagher. (Nora Almazan/NowHabersham.com)

Superintendent Patrick Franklin expressed his joy of being in Raider Stadium for the games, “Several thousand people are here to celebrate these students. The sun is shining, it’s 70 degrees, and I’m so happy to be here for this event.” Students gravitated to Franklin as he congratulated them on their efforts and celebrated in the excitement of doing well.

It really wasn’t about the medals, although many wore them proudly around their necks. It wasn’t about the competition or even who crossed the finish line first. It was about the spirit of the game, the thunderous applause, and genuine admiration for every person attempting to participate.

The smiles on their faces, the expressions of completion – some with shy pride, others with exuberant, arm-waving leaps – were a powerful reminder of the significance of their achievements. It was about the personal victories and the people there to celebrate the sheer joy of participation.

Special Olympians prepare to run at Raider Stadium on Friday, April 4. (Nora Almazan/NowHabersham.com)

One particularly touching moment involved a young boy who had been hesitant to participate in the running race. With the gentle encouragement of his coach and the roaring cheers of the crowd, he took to the track. Though he didn’t finished near the front of the pack, the ovation he received was accolades enough. Tears welled in his eyes as he crossed the finish line, his face beaming with a newfound sense of accomplishment.

In that moment, everyone present understood that a true victory is not about being first or claiming the win, the true victory lies in daring to try.

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