Stories by Fadel Allassan

ICE arrested fewer people in 2019 as focus shifted to the border

ICE agents detain someone. — Photo: Sarah L. Voisin/The Washington Post via Getty Images

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested fewer people this fiscal year, as the agency shifted its priorities to the U.S.-Mexico border, the agency announced Wednesday.

By the numbers: ICE officers arrested approximately 143,000 undocumented immigrants in fiscal year 2019, nearly 13,000 fewer than the year prior. The agency deported more than 267,000 people — an increase from FY 2018. The number of people apprehended or not admitted at the border, meanwhile, increased by 68% from the previous fiscal year.

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What they're saying:

“There is no doubt that the border crisis, coupled with the unwillingness of some local jurisdictions that choose to put politics over public safety has made it more difficult for ICE to carry out its congressionally mandated interior enforcement mission.”

— ICE acting director Matt Albence

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Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

Fadel Allassan4 hours ago

Joe Manchin says he's torn on voting to convict Trump in Senate trial

Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) told CNN on Wednesday that he's "very much torn" on voting to convict President Trump in a Senate impeachment trial.

Why it matters: Manchin, a moderate representing West Virginia, is widely regarded as among the most likely senators to defect from fellow Democrats in a potential vote to remove Trump from office.

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What he's saying: "We have a divided country. On the other hand, we have equal branch of governments, responsibilities in the Constitution. There are a lot of things at stake here. The future of our country. And the future of how we're able to do our business depends on how we handle this," Manchin told CNN.

"I'm very much torn on it," he added. "I think it weighs on everybody."

Of note: Manchin said he would not have a problem with calling Hunter Biden to testify in the trial, despite vocal opposition from most Democrats who argue that it would divert attention from the allegations at the heart of the impeachment case against Trump. "That's all a part of this," he said.

Go deeper: House Democrats unveil articles of impeachment against Trump

Donald Trump impeachment

Fadel Allassan7 hours ago

Biden told Senate Democrat he would "serve two terms if necessary"

Joe Biden talks into a microphone with a finger raised. — Joe Biden. Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images

Former Vice President Joe Biden told Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) that he would "serve two terms, if necessary" in response to a Politico article suggesting he had signaled he would only serve a single term if elected president, CNN's Ali Zaslav said Wednesday.

Background: Biden, who would be 81 years old by the 2024 election, has grappled with addressing his age and sharpness throughout his campaign. He has considered making a public pledge binding himself to just one term, per Politico, but aides fear such a promise could drain his political capital upon entering office.

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Instead, Politico writes the former vice president is "quietly indicating" that he won't run for reelection, with Biden campaign staffers telling Politico reporter Ryan Lizza a second-term run would be "virtually inconceivable."

What they're saying: Responding to Politico's reporting, Kate Bedingfield, Biden's deputy campaign manager tweeted Wednesday: "Lots of chatter out there on this so just want to be crystal clear: this is not a conversation our campaign is having and not something VP Biden is thinking about."

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Joe Biden