Page 10 - AHATA

A2 U.S. NEWS
Saturday 6 September 2025
FCC taking steps that would allow US prisons to jam prisoners’

cellphone signals

By MEG KINNARD Carolina prison. The state
Associated Press was also first to apply for
CHAPIN, S.C. (AP) — Fed- a permit after the FCC in
eral officials on Friday said 2021 adopted a ruling that
they are taking steps that would allow state prison
will give state and federal systems to apply for permits
prisons the right to jam the to identify and turn off ille-
signals of cellphones smug- gal cell signals, but action
gled to inmates, devices on the application stalled.
they argue allow prisoners Prosecutors from around
to plot violence and carry the country have called
out crimes. on Congress to change a
FCC Chairman Brendan nearly century-old federal
Carr said Friday during a communications law that
news conference in Arkan- currently prevents state
sas that his agency would prisons from using jamming
vote at its Sept. 30 meet- technology to nullify illicit
ing on a proposal to lift a cell signals, but those ef-
restriction in place that pro- forts have also failed. On
hibits state and federal pris- Friday, Carr said that his
ons from jamming signals agency’s upcoming vote
of phones that prisoners would technically “deau-
aren’t allowed to have. thorize the lawful use of
The debate over using Correctional Officer Jose Sandoval inspects one of the more than 2,000 cell phones confiscated contraband cell phones” in
technology to make the from inmates at California State Prison, Solano in Vacaville, Calif., April 10, 2009. prisons, something he said
devices often smuggled Associated Press would mean current fed-
behind bars and even de- tion will and can make a years. Many incremental moves eral law “is no longer a pro-
livered over prison fences significant difference,” Carr They’ve also, according to on the issue have involved hibition to jamming” them.
by drones and hollowed- said. “Every single day that officials, been used to or- South Carolina, whose for- In a statement, officials
out footballs has been on- goes by, we’re leaving the chestrate violence outside mer state prisons director with CTIA, a wireless in-
going for years, with prison American public exposed, prisons. Robert Johnson, Bryan Stirling became a na- dustry group that opposes
officials saying these ac- and we’re going to close who worked as an anti- tional advocate for the use jamming, said providers
tions allow inmates to run that loophole.” contraband officer at one of jamming technology. In are “committed to ad-
criminal enterprises while Officials said smuggled of South Carolina’s most 2016, Stirling hosted then- dressing the serious issue of
incarcerated. phones allowed inmates to violent prisons, survived six FCC Chairman Ajit Pai to contraband phones while
“It may not be a silver bul- orchestrate a 2018 gang- shots to the stomach and tour South Carolina prisons fulfilling the longstanding
let, it may not be the right fit related siege that raged chest as he prepared to and hold a field hearing in Congressional mandate
for every facility, but there for more than seven hours head to work in 2010, be- the state. to protect legitimate com-
are certainly lots and lots of at a South Carolina prison, coming an advocate for In 2019, federal officials munications, including vital
facilities around this coun- killing seven inmates in the the use of jamming tech- oversaw a test of jamming public safety services, from
try where this type of solu- worst U.S. prison riot in 25 nology. technology at a South interference.”q

Judge blocks Trump administration’s ending of legal protections

for 1.1M Venezuelans and Haitians

By JANIE HAR Chen said Homeland Secu- granted by the previous cious. Soon after taking office,
Associated Press rity Secretary Kristi Noem’s administration exceeded The Department of Home- Noem reversed three ex-
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A actions in terminating and her statutory authority and land Security did not imme- tensions granted by the
federal judge on Friday vacating three extensions were arbitrary and capri- diately respond to an email previous administration to
blocked the Trump admin- seeking comment. immigrants from Venezu-
istration from ending tem- Temporary Protected Sta- ela and Haiti, prompting
porary legal protections tus is a designation that the lawsuit. Noem said that
that have granted more can be granted by the conditions in both Haiti and
than 1 million people from Homeland Security secre- Venezuela had improved
Haiti and Venezuela the tary to people in the United and that it was not in the
right to live and work in the States, if conditions in their national interest to allow
United States. homelands are deemed migrants from the countries
The ruling by U.S. District unsafe for return due to a to stay on for what is a tem-
Judge Edward Chen of natural disaster, political in- porary program.
San Francisco for the plain- stability or other dangerous Millions of Venezuelans
tiffs means 600,000 Ven- conditions. have fled political un-
ezuelans whose temporary Designations are granted rest, mass unemployment
protections expired in April for terms of six, twelve or and hunger. The country
or whose protections were 18 months, and extensions is mired in a prolonged
about to expire Sept. 10 can be granted so long crisis brought on by years
have status to stay and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem speaks to reporters as conditions remain dire. of hyperinflation, political
work in the United States. It before touring “Camp 57,” a facility to house immigration The status prevents holders corruption, economic mis-
also keeps protections for detainees at the Louisiana State Penitentiary in Angola, La., from being deported and management and an inef-
about 500,000 Haitians. Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025. allows them to work. fectual government.q
Associated Press