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A2 U.S. NEWS
Saturday 4 OctOber 2025
FBI cuts ties with Southern Poverty Law Center, Anti-Defamation

League after conservative complaints

By ERIC TUCKER “committed to exposing
Associated Press hate and extremism as we
WASHINGTON (AP) — FBI work to equip communities
Director Kash Patel says with knowledge and de-
the bureau is cutting ties fend the rights and safety
with two organizations that of marginalized people.”
for decades have tracked The Anti-Defamation
domestic extremism and League has also faced
racial and religious bias, criticism on the right for
a move that follows com- maintaining a “Glossary of
plaints about the groups Extremism.” The organiza-
from some conservatives tion announced this week
and prominent allies of that it was discontinuing
President Donald Trump. that glossary because a
Patel said on Friday that number of entries were out-
the FBI would sever its rela- dated and some were be-
tionship with the Southern ing “intentionally misrepre-
Poverty Law Center, assert- sented and misused.”
ing that the organization Founded in 1913 to confront
had been turned into a anti-Semitism, the ADL has
“partisan smear machine” long worked closely with
and criticizing it for its use of the FBI, not only through
a “hate map” that docu- research and training but
ments alleged anti-gov- FBI director Kash Patel and Attorney General Pam Bondi listen as President Donald Trump speaks also through awards cere-
ernment and hate groups with reporters in the Oval Office at the White House, Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025, in Washington. monies that recognize law
inside the United States. Associated Press enforcement officials in-
A statement earlier in the premier federal law en- conservative activist Char- ed the SPLC just this week volved in investigations into
week from Patel said the forcement agency. The or- lie Kirk amid renewed at- about its descriptions of Kirk racially or religiously moti-
FBI would end ties with the ganizations over the years tention to the SPLC’s char- and the organization. vated extremism.
Anti-Defamation League, a have provided research on acterization of the group, A spokesperson for the Former FBI Director James
prominent Jewish advoca- hate crime and domestic Turning Point USA, that Kirk SPLC, a legal and advo- Comey paid tribute to that
cy organization that fights extremism, law enforce- founded. For instance, the cacy group founded in relationship in May 2017
anti-Semitism. ment training and other SPLC included a section 1971 as a watchdog for mi- when he said at an ADL
The announcements services, but have also on Turning Point in a report norities and the underprivi- event: “For more than 100
amount to a dramatic re- been criticized by some titled “The Year in Hate leged, did not directly ad- years, you have advocat-
thinking of longstanding FBI conservatives for what they and Extremism 2024” that dress Patel’s comments in ed and fought for fairness
partnerships with prominent say is an unfair maligning of described the group as a statement Friday but said and equality, for inclusion
civil rights groups at a time their viewpoints. a “case study in the hard the organization has for and acceptance. You
when Patel is moving rap- That criticism escalated right.” Prominent figures in- decades shared data with never were indifferent or
idly to reshape the nation’s after the assassination of cluding Elon Musk lambast- the public and remains complacent.”q

Trump administration offers migrant children $2,500 to voluntarily

return to home countries

By VALERIE GONZALEZ voluntarily return to their toms Enforcement didn’t return home would be pro- try without their parents,
Associated Press home countries, dangling say how much migrants vided after an immigration called “Freaky Friday.” The
McALLEN, Texas (AP) — The a new incentive in efforts would get or when the offer judge grants the request administration has also of-
Trump administration said to persuade people to self- would take effect, but The and the individual arrives fered $1,000 to adults who
Friday that it would pay deport. Associated Press obtained in their country of origin,” voluntarily leave the coun-
migrant children $2,500 to U.S. Immigration and Cus- an email to migrant shelters ICE said. “Access to finan- try. Advocates said $2,500
saying children 14 years of cial support when returning may prevent children from
age and older would get home would assist should making informed decisions.
$2,500 each. Children were they choose that option.” “For a child, $2,500 might
given 24 hours to respond. ICE, the Department of be the most money they’ve
The notice to shelters from Homeland Security and ever seen in their life, and
the U.S. Health and Human the Health and Human that may make it very, very
Services Department’s Ad- Services Department did difficult for them to accu-
ministration for Families and not immediately respond rately weigh the long-term
Children did not indicate to questions about the risks of taking voluntary de-
any consequences for chil- amount of the payment parture versus trying to stay
dren who decline the offer. and age eligibility. ICE dis- in the United States and
It asked shelter directors missed widespread reports going through the immigra-
to acknowledge the offer among immigration law- tion court process to get re-
within four hours. yers and advocates that lief that they may be legal-
An Immigration and Customs Enforcement vehicle is parked ICE said in a statement that it was launching a much ly entitled to,” said Melissa
outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) the offer would initially be broader crackdown Friday Adamson, senior attorney
building Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2025, in Broadview, Ill. for 17-year-olds. to deport migrant children at the National Center for
Associated Press “Any payment to support a who entered the coun- Youth Law.q