>>20208636

An explosion at the Sandman Signature hotel in downtown Fort Worth, Texas has left at least 11 people injured, according to local CBS News.

Two people were critically injured, and one person's condition was given as serious, CBS said. One man told CBS he had to jump out the window, as there were no stairs.

Pictures from the scene show windows blown out and there are reports of a possible floor collapse. WFAA reported that it was a suspected gas explosion, and one man said he smelled gas before the explosion.

Fort Worth police have advised people in the local area to stay away while emergency personnel assess the scene.

'We are currently working a Major Incident. Please avoid the downtown area,' police wrote on X.

'PIOs are on scene. We will share more details as soon as we can confirm more information.'

The debris was all across the road, with windows and door frames hurled to the other side of the street.

Families were told to go to Sundance Square, to 200 Fifth Street, to be reunited with their loved ones.

The 245-room hotel is in a 1920s building right in the heart of downtown Fort Worth, and rooms cost around $160 a night.

Craig Trojacek, the Public Information Officer for the fire department, said the first call was at 2:43pm.

'It looks like some kind of gas leak,' he said. 'We are not sure of that. We don't know if the gas is from the explosion, or caused the explosion.'

He confirmed 11 people had been injured - nine of them taken to hospital - and the hotel owner 'a little bit ago' said one person was still unaccounted for. He could not say whether the 11 injured were inside the hotel, or outside.

'We are still doing a search of the building,' he said. 'We are going floor to floor, trying to make sure we've got everybody out.

'We are trying to make sure that when we walk out that building we can definitively say we have everyone out.'

Asked about a partial collapse of the building, he said he could not comment.

He said some reports suggested the explosion began in the restaurant, where there was some 'work' being done, he said.

Trojacek said that it was not possible to say how long the downtown would be shut off.

The gas department was on the scene, making sure the gas was all turned off, Trojacek said.

A Fort Worth police spokesman said they had closed the streets for a two block radius, and reiterated calls for people not to approach the area.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12940585/Explosion-Sandman-Signature-hotel-Fort-Worth-leaves-10-injured-declared-major-incident-city-police.html

>>20208869

pew pew

Feds shut down bizarre immigration fraud that involved staged armed robberies

JANUARY 7, 2024

Authorities uncovered a complex fraud scheme where a ring orchestrated armed robberies at convenience stores, involving illegal immigrants as purported victims, allowing them to file for Homeland Security visas to remain in the country.

The fraudsters demanded $10,000 per robbery, colluding with store owners who were tipped off about the plan and received a share of the money for facilitating the scam.

Following the staged robberies, the supposed victims reported the crimes to the police, engaging in the investigation process and utilizing the paperwork to apply for the U visa from Homeland Security. This visa shields against deportation and grants legal work authorization.

Emilio Gonzalez, the former director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, labeled this fraud as an unprecedented level of immigration deception.

The FBI has linked eight robberies to the group and is probing an additional 11 incidents across the eastern U.S. These incidents vary from a Subway outlet in Kentucky to a smoke shop in Pennsylvania and three liquor stores in Massachusetts.

In seven out of the eight confirmed cases, victims sought certification from local law enforcement for the U visa application. Four of the robberies involved supposed victims already filing paperwork with USCIS for the visa, according to an FBI agent’s testimony in court documents.

Two individuals, Rambhai Patel, 36, and Balwinder Singh, 39, face charges of conspiracy to commit visa fraud. Court records suggest the involvement of others, including an individual the FBI claims carried out one of the robberies with a fake gun and is now cooperating as a witness.

Experts highlight how this scam exploits the vulnerabilities of the immigration system, which is generous in granting legal status but lacks robust mechanisms to detect fraudulent activities.

The U visa was established to aid authorities in retaining illegal immigrants and temporary visitors within the U.S. to assist in investigating or prosecuting severe crimes. Police departments are required to complete a form certifying an individual’s victim status and their cooperation in pursuing the case.

However, in practice, numerous departments now, out of fear of legal action, hastily approve certifications, creating a substantial avenue for fraudulent activity.

Emilio Gonzalez, former USCIS leader during the Bush administration, estimates that up to 25% of U visa applications might be fraudulent, largely due to the program’s success.

“If individuals are faking an incident to acquire a U visa, why do they resort to such tactics? Because it’s effective,” he emphasized. “This administration must address immigration fraud seriously and prosecute to the fullest extent of the law.”

Robert Law, former USCIS policy chief in the Trump administration, echoed concerns, describing fraud as “widespread” within the U visa program. He criticized the Biden administration for seemingly encouraging dubious filings.

“A significant portion of pending U visa applications now primarily come from males, and regrettably, it’s often confirmed gang members posing as victims of rival gangs,” Law noted. “The Biden administration has granted exemption from removal for any undocumented individual simply applying for a U visa and is issuing work permits to those with pending claims.”

cont.

https://conservativeboxnews.com/feds-shut-down-bizarre-immigration-fraud/