Geoff Bennett:
Also today, Rubio viewed a deportation flight carrying dozens of migrants from Panama back to Colombia. The State Department says such actions send a message of deterrence to those trying to cross Panama en route to the U.S.
The Trump administration is ending deportation protections for nearly 350,000 Venezuelans living in the U.S. The order from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem affects more than half of the Venezuelans covered by temporary protected status, or TPS. That means they could lose their work permits or be deported starting in April.
Today’s order signaled that the administration believes conditions in Venezuela no longer merit such protections against deportation. Republican critics of TPS say it’s been used to allow migrants to stay much longer than intended. The official termination notice will be published Wednesday and go into effect 60 days after that.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwandan-backed M23 rebels have declared a unilateral cease-fire starting tomorrow. In a statement, a spokesperson said the group has no intention of claiming more territory in the region. But he added that it remains committed “to protecting and defending the civilian population and our positions.”
The announcement comes as morgues in the Eastern city of Goma are overcrowded with bodies, forcing health workers there to bury the dead in mass graves. The U.N.’s health agency said at least 900 people died in last week’s fighting for the city.
On Wall Street today, stocks slumped on worries about President Trump’s tariffs. The Dow Jones industrial average recovered from steep losses earlier in the day, ending about 120 points lower. The Nasdaq fell 235 points on the day. The S&P 500 also ended in negative territory.
And Beyonce took home the top prize of the 2025 Grammy Awards after four prior efforts came up short.
