Ice Castles

Travel 4 Minutes

(I found this article from Fox News dated January of 2022!)

What’s the only thing cooler than a castle? An ice castle. Figuratively and literally, these ice castles and other impressive winter displays are among the best of the bunch. Read on for some of the most breathtaking ice castles and sculptures in the country. FYI: Unless specified or noted as a free attraction, check the website listed for entrance fees, which vary depending on age and day.

Ice Castles New Hampshire, North Woodstock, New Hampshire  

In the majestic White Mountains, journeyers will be treated to a fairy-tale display of ice castles from mid-January until mid-February depending on the weather conditions. All of the castles are hand-constructed and hand-placed by ice artists using hundreds of thousands of icicles, and you’ll also see tunnels, ice caves and ice slides. Illuminated by LED lights, visitors can also opt for a horse-drawn sleigh ride or the “Enchanted Forest Walk.”    

Ice Castles in Lake George, New York  

Prepare to be amazed in the Empire State. In Lake George, you’ll be treated to ice displays with LED lights and colors at the Festival Commons at Charles Wood Park. This new winter event is expected to be open from January to early March, weather permitting. Each hand-built castle is said to take thousands of hours to create, and each castle is approximately a whopping one acre in size.

Ice Castles in Midway, Utah 

It’s to Utah we go for yet another Ice Castles experience. This one, situated in the scenic foothills of the Wasatch Mountains at the Soldier Hollow Nordic Center — a one-time Winter Olympics venue — is Ice Castles’ original outpost. Guests will be amazed by ice-carved slides, fountains, caverns and narrow slot canyons, crafted completely in ice and inspired by the natural slot canyons for which the Southwest is known. For a special outing, hop aboard a horse-drawn sleigh ride through the Wasatch Valley for ice-ing on the cake. Ice Castles in Midway, Utah, typically opens in late December or early January and remains open through late February.

International Snow Sculpture Championships in Breckenridge, Colorado

Not familiar with Breckenridge’s International Snow Sculpture Championships? Once you start scoping out videos from the mesmerizing event, good luck leaving the YouTube vortex. The celebrated snow-sculpting competition brings together 12 teams from around the globe to hand-carve 20-ton blocks of snow into larger-than-life art. Making these pieces even more impressive is the fact that competitors can only use hand tools. The carving week takes place Jan. 24-28, 2022, and viewing week for this unique outdoor art gallery is Jan. 28-Feb. 2, 2022. 

Ice Castles in New Brighton, Minnesota

Head to Long Lake Regional Park in the Twin Cities suburb of New Brighton, and you’ll be greeted with quite the frozen sight to behold. As you marvel at the castle, take note of the various caverns, tunnels, crawl spaces, slides and fountains, all handcrafted from individually placed icicles. To up the ante, there’s also a sculpture garden with fairy-tale-themed ice sculptures linked by a light grove along a wooded trail to the castle. Ice Castles in Minnesota historically opens in early January and stays in place through early March, weather permitting.

Michigan Technological University’s 100th Winter Carnival in Houghton, Michigan

From Feb. 9 to Feb. 12, 2022, Michigan’s Upper Peninsula will host this free-to-visit carnival that’s sure to dazzle folks of all ages. Every year, the carnival has a different theme, and students put on quite the spectacle through highly detailed snow and ice sculptures.  Some of the largest sculptures take a month to create, and smaller statues are built overnight. There are also broomball games, comedy skits and the carnival’s queen coronation to enjoy.

Ice Castles in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin 

A crazy-cool citadel awaits at Geneva National Resort and Club in this so-called “Newport of the west,” where you can ooh and ahh at caverns, arches, ice slides, an ice maze, crawl tunnels, the arctic alcove (a popular spot for proposals) and more. To boost your holiday activities quota, you can take a horse-drawn sleigh ride along the shoreline of Lake Como. Due to the shorter winter season in Lake Geneva, Ice Castles in Wisconsin typically doesn’t open until late January and only remains open through late February, weather permitting.

Winter Carnival Ice Palace in Saranac Lake, New York

This free attraction alone is well worth a visit to the charming mountain town of Saranac Lake. At the winter carnival, the ice palace is the pièce de résistance, erected on the shore of Lake Flower’s Pontiac Bay and built similarly as it was in 1897, the first year the palace revealed its shimmering, glimmering self. Using ice harvested from Lake Flower with 1,500 blocks stacked atop each other, this ice display is built by volunteers. Visible for the duration of the carnival Feb. 4 to 13, 2022, heavy equipment is now used to help make the labor easier, but the communal spirit of neighbors coming together to make something special is ever–present.

Samoset Glacier Ice Bar & Lounge in Rockport, Maine

Yes, grown-ups can enjoy a good old-fashioned ice castle excursion, but for some adults-only fun, it’s tough to outshine this ice bar and lounge put together by ice sculptors and designers who devote weeks to chiseling down 300-pound blocks of ice to fashion bars, seats, tables, ice luges, couches and sculptures. Fire lamps and faux-fur cushions round out the mix as you sip on hits like a “snowball martini or “Old Man Winter” and warm up with New England clam chowder and chili. There’s live music at night and the bar will be open Jan. 14-15 and Jan. 21-22, 2022, with free access for hotel guests and $25 for outside visitors.

Ice Maze at CityCenterDC in Washington, D.C.

Our nation’s capital recently welcomed the return of the Ice Maze at The Park at CityCenterDC, a mixed-use development and public park. The free, interactive experience surpassed its previous ice records, with a 130,000-pound clear ice maze accompanied by multicolored lights. This year, the maze was created by 10 international award-winning sculptors and ran in mid-December for three days. Ice activations have been a tradition at CityCenterDC for the past five years, and an announcement will come in 2022 as to what surprise guests can expect in the new year.

SOURCE: By Perri Ormont Blumberg Fox News

Published January 16, 2022

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Published by pat frederick

Published

260 thoughts on “Ice Castles”

  1. Good morning, Miss Pat!

    Thanks for the interesting post on winter attractions. Never knew about ice castles. I had heard about snow sculptures.

    Best we can do down here is sand sculptures and sand castles.

    *https://www.myclearwater.com/News-Feed/The-Pier-60-Sugar-Sand-Festival-Announces-the-Dates-Theme-of-2024-Festival

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Morning GA!
      I envy you the sand castles at the moment–it would mean it’s sunny and warm!!!
      i love sand castles–never could make one though–mostly cause i hate sand and am suspicious of the things hiding in it…LOL
      how’s your clan doing??

      Liked by 2 people

    1. Morning, Pat! It was 30 here when I got up, now up to 31! Warmer weather ahead, thankfully!

      “Georgia prosecutor settles divorce amid scrutiny over alleged relationship with DA Willis. The Georgia Senate last week approved the creation of a committee to investigate Willis’s conduct amid the allegations.”
      By Ben Whedon
      Published: January 30, 2024 5:46pm

      ENTIRE ARTICLE @ JustTheNews: “Nathan Wade, the special prosecutor in former President Donald Trump’s Georgia election case, settled his divorce ahead of scheduled testimony in which he was expected to address his finances and travel with Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis.

      Cobb County Superior Court Judge Henry Thompson announced Tuesday that both Nathan Wade and his estranged wife Jocelyn Mayfield Wade had agreed “to all issues presently before the court,” the Washington Post reported. Thompson also cancelled the hearing.

      Wade and Willis have faced allegations of maintaining an improper romantic relationship and her office’s payment of Wade has come under a close watch due to her hiring of him to handle the Trump case. Trump co-defendant and former Trump campaign official Mike Roman first highlighted the alleged relationship in a motion to dismiss his case. Wade, Roman stated, has received almost $654,000 in legal fees between January 2022 and December 2023.

      Court filings in the divorce case revealed that Wade paid for tickets on at least two out-of-state trips with Willis, including a 2022 trip to Miami, Fla.; and a 2023 trip to San Francisco, Calif. The divorce settlement means neither Wade nor Willis will testify to the allegations in that case.

      The pair may find themselves in front of other panels addressing them, however, as the Georgia Senate last week approved the creation of a committee to investigate Willis’s conduct amid the allegations.”

      Liked by 1 person

    1. Ooops! Should have read down before posting the JustTheNews article! What’s that saying? More is better! Yep! I’m goin’ with it!!!

      Liked by 1 person

      1. she wanted to avoid having to give a deposition. now she can.
        will it stop the investigations? i hope not
        but i think her case can proceed at this point–which is what she wanted.
        hopefully she will not escape scrutiny though

        Liked by 1 person

  11. stacey abrahms non profit implodes
    FTA
    Failed Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams’ nonprofit, Fair Fight, is laying off the majority of its staff, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

    Fair Fight, a group Abrams founded to combat alleged voter suppression in Georgia, will be laying off 75% of its staff and significantly narrowing its scope of operations, the AJC reported. The organization holds $2.5 million in debt but only has $1.9 million in cash, according to the AJC.

    Salena Jegede, chair of the organization’s board, said that it faces a “serious funding deficit that makes our current trajectory unsustainable.”

    Finances haven’t always been an issue for Abrams’ nonprofit.

    Fair Fight raised more than $100 million during its first three years of operations, according to AJC. Fair Fight Action, Fair Fight’s political arm, even aired an advertisement during the 2019 Super Bowl promoting Abrams.

    Things appear to have begun going downhill for Abrams’ nonprofit after the 2020 election cycle.

    https://dailycallernewsfoundation.org/2024/01/30/stacey-abrams-nonprofit-implodes-after-shelling-out-millions-in-failed-election-fights/

    Liked by 1 person

  13. i hate the tick tock club…and it’s to build interest i get it, but just post whatever the heck it is…

    Freedom ring
    January 31, 2024 7:38 am

    Via Admin Guy, O’Keefe to release major story – video today. Check his X site

    James O’Keefe on X: “People familiar with the story coming out tomorrow keep texting me, asking me about fear. I’ve taken the time to write a careful response. At 39, I’ve lived a good life. Whether it’s complete or not is not up to me. What happens next, I don’t know. If there’s more to come here,…” / X (twitter.com)

    Liked by 1 person

  15. “White House wants schools to gaslight parents about guns. White House targeting unsuspecting Americans with pure propaganda.”
    LEE WILLIAMS
    JAN 31, 2024

    ENTIRE ARTICLE: “The White House wants to enlist school officials to help hoodwink parents about its gun control plans, according to a statement issued last week. The reason is simple: They want to take advantage of the officials’ credibility, which the White House lacks, especially when it comes to guns. Teachers and administrators, the White House said in the statement, “can be trusted, credible messengers when it comes to providing guidance on gun violence prevention and safe firearm storage options.”

    The new program, which is one of three executive orders Joe Biden issued last week, will be spearheaded by Jill Biden, White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention Director Stefanie Feldman and Education Secretary Miguel Cardona. “This issue matters to the President. It weighs on his heart every day. And he’s not going to stop fighting until we’ve solved it,” Jill Biden said last week while touting the plan at a “Gun Violence Prevention Event,” which was held in the Indian Treaty Room of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building.

    From a civil rights perspective, the most worrisome portion of the White House plan is a customizable “communications template,” which school officials “can use to engage with parents and families about the importance of safe firearm storage and encourage more people to take preventive action by safely storing firearms.”

    The template is designed so school officials can insert the name of the school and their letterhead to make it appear as though the document came from the school and not the White House. In fact, neither the White House nor the Biden-Harris administration are even mentioned in the document.

    Dear [INSERT NAME OF SCHOOL OR SCHOOL DISTRICT] Families, Guardians, and Caregivers:
    and
    Sincerely, [INSERT NAME OF SCHOOL OR SCHOOL DISTRICT SDMINISTRATOR]

    The template was accompanied by a letter from DOE Secretary Cardona, which urges school officials to comply with the new White House mandate. “We encourage all school leaders to consider taking steps to build awareness in your school community about safe firearm storage, such as:

    — Share information about safe firearm storage with parents and families in your school communities. You can use the enclosed letter as a resource for parents, families, guardians, and caregivers—as well as teachers and school staff—to help build awareness around safe firearm storage, including what people can do to safely store firearms in their homes and spaces that children may occupy. You can also customize the letter to better meet your community’s needs.

    — Partner with other municipal and community leaders to help improve understanding of safe firearm storage and broader gun violence prevention efforts.

    — Engage other organizations and partners within your community, such as parent organizations, out-of-school time program leaders, nonprofit agencies, and other community-based youth-serving entities who routinely interact with children, teens, families, guardians, and caregivers, to inform them about the importance of safe firearm storage.

    — Integrate information about safe firearm storage into your communications with families, guardians, and caregivers about overall emergency preparedness and school safety.”

    Propaganda: There is a lot going on here and none of it is good. The White House’s template is classic propaganda, in which a target audience is unaware they are being influenced and unaware of the true source of the message. It is a psychological operation, or psyop, which targets unsuspecting Americans. Before the Bidens moved into the White House, that wasn’t supposed to happen. Nowadays, it’s become commonplace.

    That the White House and its gun control office would publicly propose such a plan proves they do not fear exposure from the legacy media. This, too, is telling. They know who their friends are and don’t worry about repercussions. School officials will have little choice but to participate in this scam. Secretary Cardona’s letter will see to that.

    Joe Biden, or more likely his handlers and puppeteers, have rewritten the rules to further their war on our guns. Now, anything goes, including psyops and other forms of gaslighting and deception. The White House statement also mentions that faith leaders and law enforcement have credibility in their communities.

    There’s little doubt the Biden-Harris administration will make a run at the nation’s clergy next.”

    Liked by 1 person

  16. IIRC, doesn’t the Senate also have to vote to impeach? It won’t pass and I highly doubt it will pass when the entire House votes!

    “House Homeland Security Committee approves articles of impeachment against Mayorkas. The vote came shortly after 1am Wednesday and the articles will now be considered by the full House of Representatives at a later date”

    https://justthenews.com/government/congress/house-homeland-security-committee-approves-articles-impeachment-against

    Liked by 1 person

        1. true…but look at this…

          Moderate Republicans have increasingly expressed willingness to move forward with the vote, with Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) telling reporters on Monday he now favored impeachment.

          Liked by 1 person

    2. Oh, FFS! She doesn’t even KNOW what an MoU is??!!?? Good grief! MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING, you jackass!!!

      Like

  20. https://www.theepochtimes.com/us/struggling-for-recruits-us-navy-lowers-education-standard-5575175
    EXCERPT FROM ARTICLE: “The U.S. Navy said Friday it will be starting to enlist those who didn’t graduate from high school, the latest attempt to fill its ranks in the wake of a recruiting crisis that troubles every branch of the U.S. military.

    Under the new plan, Navy recruits without a high school diploma will be able to join as long as they score 50 or higher on the Armed Forces Qualification Test (AFQT), which is used to determine basic eligibility for military service. The highest possible AFQT score one could get is 99.

    Those without a General Educational Development, or GED, credential can also enlist as long as they meet the same AFQT score threshold. The GED consists of four academic subject tests, and passing those tests certifies that the taker has the skills and knowledge equivalent to a high school graduate.” — The Epoch Times

    Our Take: “The problem being framed by the US Navy in this article is that Covid-19 made US military-aged males drop out of school, so they need to waive the graduation requirement for service. The actual problem is that US military-aged males who meet the service requirements are opting out of the service. This wasn’t a problem under the Trump Administration. It’s a direct result of the change in leadership — the change in the Commander in Chief.

    My oldest son planned on joining the US Army after high school, and attending university after his service. He talked about this plan, in varying levels of detail, since elementary school, and was intent on following in the footsteps of his grandfather and great grandfather. It wasn’t until the stolen election and military vaccine mandates that he changed his mind. My brilliant and beautiful adult male son decided not to become cannon fodder for globalists, as did many others. #Proud

    That, in my opinion, is why the Biden administration needs to relax military recruitment standards. You no longer have to be fit, 18-39 years old (it’s 41 now), mentally sound, or even educated. They really just need bodies; and if they don’t get enough overweight, 41 year old, mentally ill morons, they’ll reinstate selective service.

    They’ll reinstate the draft. In that case, it won’t be my son’s choice to serve. They’ll force him. This worked in WW2 because no one doubted the Commander in Chief’s allegiance to America. It worked less in Vietnam, as young people started to realize that these forever wars aren’t actually about ‘securing freedom’ or ‘spreading democracy.’ It won’t work in WWIII. The speed of information — and young people’s unfettered access to it — means that today’s kids aren’t just questioning the war.

    They’re questioning the war machine. They’re also questioning the dream they’ve been sold — and the legitimacy of the people who sold it. With the older generations, public trust, government transparency, and strategic intent are important worldview considerations. The younger generations are still stuck on the foundational question of legitimacy.

    Millennials, back when they were considered young people, found themselves in a similar dilemma— which they solved by conforming to the system and transforming it from within. But GenZ is the GenX of dystopia, and conforming seems unlikely. They’re either going to black pill or save the world. Maybe both. But they won’t be doing either from inside Biden’s armed services. Today’s young people are smart enough not to follow that man anywhere, let alone into war.” — Ashe in America

    Liked by 1 person

  21. NF: I’m guessing perhaps Ben Shapiro??? But would he be considered a “big time blogger?” The only “big time” blogger I am aware of is SD….from one of the places where I “steal” memes every day! LOL

    “More stolen memes….”
    Posted on January 31, 2024 | 1 comment

    “Did you know that I was recently accused of stealing memes from another blogger? A meme…….. Meme:  Noun: An amusing or interesting item (such as a captioned picture or video) or genre of items that is spread widely online especially through social media.

    Seriously? How childish. I won’t even name the supposed (Big time) blogger, but I will bet that with little thought he will come to mind. Next time I will just highlight his petty foolishness, change his comment into something I approve of and ban him
    Below is my brutal response…..

    ‘I have since been accused
    Of stealing words from my muse
    Thoughts and strains
    Not my own
    Rhythm and rhyme
    Verse and poem
    Stolen from the purse of a muse?
    I am speechless’

    Don’t fuck with me.

    Liked by 1 person

  22. ‘‘It’s just barbaric: Woman allegedly used ‘dull knife’ to torture animals on YouTube, had more than 20k subscribers”
    JERRY LAMBE, Jan 24th, 2024, 8:38 am

    ENTIRE ARTICLE @ lawandcrime: “A 28-year-old woman in Pennsylvania was arrested this week for allegedly posting a series of videos to her social media channel in which she slowly and sadistically tortured animals such as chickens, rabbits, frogs, and birds. Anigar Monsee was taken into custody on Friday and charged with four counts of aggravated animal cruelty, court records obtained by Law&Crime show.

    According to a probable cause affidavit, authorities were tipped off about videos that had been posted to YouTube by PETA headquarters documenting a “scantily-clad woman torturing rabbits, chickens, frogs, and pigeons by slowly disemboweling and otherwise mutilating the animals while still alive.” The document states that Monsee was also “severing the struggling and screaming animals’ necks with a dull knife over the course of several minutes.”

    One video, titled “Cooking Lucky,” allegedly posted to Monsee’s account, showed her alongside a live chicken that was in her sink. Before harming the animal, Monsee allegedly commented about the number of viewers and likes that her livestreaming video was getting and “solicited more before she harmed the animal.”

    “For roughly the next 10 minutes, the actor aggressively handled the clearly terrified animal, plucked feathers from the bird’s neck, and hacked repeatedly at the struggling bird’s throat with knives while the animal attempted to escape,” the affidavit states. “The actor then climbed on the counter, pinned the bird down in the sink with her feet, before sawing at the bird’s neck in a slow back and forth motion. She continued carving at the bird’s neck for more than two minutes, until the screen went black.”

    Another video from September 2023 allegedly showed Monsee carving open a frog that was still alive as she “slowly pulled out the frog’s organs.” She also commented that the frog was “still alive” and joked that he was “dancing.” She then did the same to two other frogs while singing the song “Happy Death Day” to the tune of “Happy Birthday,” police said.

    Another video allegedly showed Monsee stroking a pigeon with a knife, then plucking all of the bird’s feathers out while it was still alive. She then ran the bird’s head “under scalding hot water” before “slowly sawing” its head off with a “dull knife.” Yet another video allegedly showed Monsee — again using a “dull knife” to torture a rabbit to death. The video lasted for more than 30 minutes, police said.

    Police were able to identify Monsee’s address based on the videos she posted online. Detectives responded to the home on Jan. 19 and she answered the door holding a toddler, per the affidavit. Monsee allegedly told the detectives that she was the individual in the videos torturing animals, at least one of which took place in the residence they were in at that time.

    Monsee was arraigned and a judge set her bond at $200,000. She is currently being held at the Delaware County Prison and is scheduled to appear in court again for her preliminary hearing on Feb. 5. “It’s just barbaric. It’s inhumane that someone could do that,” Upper Darby Police Superintendent Timothy Bernhardt said in a statement to the Delco Times. “She’s going to answer to all four of the incidents. Detectives looked into it and charged her. Hopefully it will send a message that this is cruelty.”

    Monsee’s YouTube channel had more than 20,000 subscribers, police said.

    He added, “Even more disturbing, is that there are people out there that are entertained by this and there’s a platform out there that is allowing it.”

    Liked by 1 person

  24. wonder how many different languages these signs have to be posted in?
    Winston
    Winston
    January 31, 2024 8:52 am

    (Minneapolis–Saint Paul, Mn) Metro Transit reminds riders to not defecate on trains or sexually assault passengers
    “Transit property is not a public restroom,” the new rules read.
    30 Jan 2024

    https://alphanews.org/metro-transit-reminds-riders-to-not-defecate-on-trains-or-sexually-assault-passengers/

    Metro Transit, which provides public transportation for the Twin Cities metro area, announced last week that it is installing new signs at light rail and bus transit stations which outline acceptable behaviors from riders.

    Peeing and pooping while riding on Metro Transit vehicles falls under the “illegal” category, according to the signs. “Transit property is not a public restroom,” the new rules read. They also explain to riders that sexual assault is illegal. “Sexual contact without consent is forbidden,” the rules state.

    Liked by 1 person

          1. That was back when car seats weren’t required. It was a hatch-back and I would put her in the back with her toys to play with. I can’t tell you how many times she fell over backwards when I accelerated. I’ve wondered some times if that may have caused unseen damage to her brain….hindsight, you know….but, then, I’m real good at looking at my past mistakes and raking myself over the coals for them. Guilt is ever present….

            Liked by 1 person

              1. Nope – never did! Even once it became law. Not until they changed the vehicles to ding at you constantly if you don’t use it. I used to connect it and leave it that way, with it behind my back as I drove. Again, that’s one of those things that the government shouldn’t be dictating! It is a matter of choice!

                Liked by 1 person

              2. Oran ran me to the store yesterday – I hooked my seatbelt but it kept dinging, just not as often as most vehicles. I looked over and saw that he hadn’t hooked his seatbelt – he told me he doesn’t usually use it except when Lois makes him use it when they go to Osmond! LOL

                Liked by 1 person

  27. THIS

    is in response to THIS

    Liked by 1 person


  28. “The hashtag #ExpelOmar became a top trend yesterday after a flurry of videos exposing her past controversial statements was posted by Libs of TikTok. Some of these videos include Ilhan Omar calling Somalia her home, talking about her close relationship with the Somali President, and downplaying 9/11.”

    Liked by 1 person


  29. “Cynt Marshall, the CEO of the Dallas Mavericks who Mark Cuban hired, boasts about being the most diverse in the NBA and switching up roles to have more women and black people in leadership positions. In the video, she states, “You have to have a diverse group… I made some leadership changes and now we have almost 50% women and 47% POC. Diversity matters!”

    Liked by 1 person

          1. It’s all just so disgusting, especially when you see someone who desperately needs help who actually deserves it but still can’t get it!

            Liked by 1 person

  30. “The UN’s Annual $8 Billion Budget to Support Global Migration. Another reason to stop funding the United Nations”
    ROBERT W MALONE MD, MS
    JAN 31, 2024

    EXCERPT: “The mission creep of the United Nations has gotten way out of control. As just one of many examples, the UN mission to unilaterally encourage global migration has resulted in multiple avoidable political crises.

    It is past time to de-fund and re-organize the United Nations. In the case of the US Congress under the current executive, in the immediate future this can be accomplished through use of specific restrictions on how appropriations can be used, much as is commonly done with internal budgeting. Looking forward to a new executive administration, this should be coupled with diplomatic efforts to build an international coalition of nations which will support a major defunding and restructuring effort.

    The current UN structure and charter has outlived its usefulness, and has been coopted to advance globalist, utilitarian, socialist and malthusian political objectives. This is not what the UN was created for, and efforts to create a globalist, one-world government structure by cooptation of the United Nations to serve this agenda can only be stopped by systemically reorganizing and downsizing the organization.

    As just one of many examples of UN mission creep, the United Nations, through its International Organization for Migration (IOM), has launched its Global Annual Appeal for 2024. The UN wants USD 7.9 billion to “support its operations and help create a system that realizes migration’s promise as a force for good throughout the world”.   Another case of a carefully crafted mission statement which obfuscates the actual intent and purpose of an initiative by using misleading feel-good wording.

    The UN says it will use the money for three purposes: 1) “saving lives and protecting people on the move”, 2) “finding solutions to displacement, including reducing the risks and impacts of climate change” and 3) “facilitating regular pathways for migration.” The UN (IOM) writes that their goals include “proactive work to unlock the huge potential of migration for economic growth and human development.”

    “The evidence is overwhelming that migration, when well-managed, is a major contributor to global prosperity and progress. We are at a critical moment in time, and we have designed this Appeal to help deliver on that promise. We can and must do better.”  – IOM Director General Amy Pope

    Who is Amy Pope, Director General of the UN’s IOM? In October, 2023, Amy Pope was elected as Director General of the UN’s International Organization for Migration. The IOM reports that her previous job in the US government was:

    “Senior Advisor on Migration to US President Biden and served as the Deputy Homeland Security Advisor to President Obama. While working at the White House, DG Pope developed and implemented comprehensive strategies to address migration, in areas such as countering trafficking in persons, resettling refugees and vulnerable people, and preparing communities to respond and adapt to climate-related crises.”

    So, basically Amy Pope is the person who is directly responsible for the open border resettlement policies under President Biden. She failed to protect our towns, cities and states from receiving massive incursions of illegal aliens in our border states. She is one the people responsible for six million refuges crossing our border into the USA since Biden took office….”

    https://rwmalonemd.substack.com/p/the-uns-annual-8-billion-budget-to

    Liked by 1 person

  31. EXCERPT: “Former U.S. President Trump has been nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize to honor his drive to implement the Abraham Accords treaty in the Middle East. The move was made public Tuesday by Claudia Tenney (R-N.Y.) who seeks to record the historic September 15, 2020, agreement to establish peace and normal diplomatic relations between Israel and two Arab states, namely, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain.

    (PM of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu, U.S. President Donald Trump, Foreign Affairs Minister of Bahrain Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, and Foreign Affairs Minister of the United Arab Emirates Abdullah bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan after the signing ceremony of the Abraham Accords at the White House September 15, 2020 in Washington, DC. (Alex Wong/Getty)

    In the weeks that followed, other Arab and Muslim states joined the agreement, including Sudan, Morocco, and Kosovo. “Donald Trump was instrumental in facilitating the first new peace agreements in the Middle East in almost 30 years,” Tenney told Fox News Digital in a statement. “For decades, bureaucrats, foreign policy ‘professionals’, and international organizations insisted that additional Middle East peace agreements were impossible without a resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. President Trump proved that to be false.”

    The Nobel Peace Prize previously acknowledged the peace accord between Israel and Egypt in 1978 as well as the Oslo Accords in 1994. However, there has been no recognition for Trump’s role in brokering an agreement between Israel and four of its Arab neighbors aimed at normalizing diplomatic and economic relations between the nations, Tenney noted.

    In 2009 former President Barack Obama won a Nobel Peace Prize for “his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples,” a snub to Trump his supporters have always been keen to remedy….”

    https://www.breitbart.com/middle-east/2024/01/31/nobel-peace-price-nomination-for-donald-trump/

    Liked by 1 person

  32. 🇺🇲Salty Texan
    @texan_maga
    So let me get this straight:
    Fulton County’s system was hacked right around the same time that State Senators began to investigate Fani Willis for an improper relationship with a special prosecutor. The news is reporting that the Judicial System can’t access online court filings and much of their system is down.
    Any chance these two events are related? What is going on here?

    -Pepe Lives Matter

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Chief Nerd
      @TheChiefNerd
      👀 NY Attorney Bobbie Anne Cox Says Mayor Adams is Pushing to Allow Illegal Migrants to Vote

      “NYC passed an ordinance a couple of years ago allowing non-citizens to vote in the NYC elections…That was struck down but do you know that Mayor Adams in NYC is appealing that decision? What would you be doing that? Put two and two together…They’re bringing in hundreds of thousands of unvetted illegal migrants across the southern border, shipping them into NYC and he’s fighting to get them the right to vote. It’s unbelievable.”

      Liked by 1 person

  34. Snow fog to the SE this morning – forecast said it would only get to the high 30’s today – I’m already showing 45!!! We almost made it to 60 yesterday and we just might hit that today!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. OK, now that the thermometer isn’t in the sun, it has dropped to 36 but it will rise again. I might try and get my truck out later….

      Liked by 1 person

  35. “ATF preparing to regulate private gun sales with background check, whistleblower group alleges. Empower Oversight says power grab would be unconstitutional, usurping powers on Congress and infringing 2nd Amendment.”
    By John Solomon, JustTheNews
    Published: January 31, 2024 8:59am

    ENTIRE ARTICLE: “The whistleblower group that represented the IRS agents in the Hunter Biden case is warning that the Biden administration is preparing an “unconstitutional“ power grab to regulate private gun sales by requiring a background check.

    In a letter Wednesday to Attorney General Merrick Garland, Empower Oversight said it had learned from two sources that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives was directed by the White House to make the change and “has drafted a 1,300-page document in support of a rule that would effectively ban private sales of firearms from one citizen to another by requiring background checks for every sale.”

    Empower Oversight said it believes that only Congress can make such a change because a 1986 law it passed explicitly forbade background checks for gun sales between private individuals. “Such an expansive rule that treats all private citizens the same as federal firearms licensees would circumvent the separation of powers in the Constitution, which grants ‘all legislative Powers’ to Congress while requiring that the President ‘take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed.’

    “To the extent such a rule prevents the private sale of firearms, it would also clearly violate the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution, which declares that ‘the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed,’” it added.

    Click to access 2024-01-31%20TL%20to%20DOJ-ATF%20%28private%20sale%20ban%29_Redacted.pdf

    Empower Oversight said the rule could also lead to clashes between ATF agents and private citizens, citing two violent tragedies from the 1990s that began with federal raids. “The lessons of the Ruby Ridge and Waco standoffs should make clear that attempting to enforce such an expansive regulation could endanger countless ATF field agents who are forced to serve as the face of the Biden Administration in going after private firearms owners for constitutionally-protected firearms sales,” it warned.

    President Joe Biden last March signed an executive order requiring the federal government to “clarify the definition of who is engaged in the business of dealing in firearms, and thus required to become Federal firearms licensees in order to increase compliance with the Federal background check requirement for firearm sales.” Biden admitted his goal was to “move us as close as we can to universal background checks.”

    ATF subsequently submitted a proposed rulemaking that raised alarm among Second Amendment advocates that the administration was seeking to require any private citizen who sells even a single firearm online to register as an FFL.

    Empower Oversight noted that legislation passed by Congress in 1986 made clear that the “business” of selling firearms “shall not include a person who makes occasional sales, exchanges, or purchases of firearms for the enhancement of a personal collection or for a hobby, or who sells all or part of his personal collection of firearms.”

    The whistleblower group requested that the Justice Department and ATF release under the Freedom of Information Act all records and communications related to “this unconstitutional measure,” including contacts with the Biden White House.”

    Liked by 1 person

  36. “More Republican Senators Expect Lankford Migration Plan to Collapse”
    NEIL MUNRO, 31 Jan 2024

    EXCERPT: Pro-migration Republican Senators are signaling a quick collapse for the Democratic-backed migration plan now being negotiated by Sen. James Lankford (R-OK) and Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY), according to Politico.

    Under the headline, “GOP senators fear border deal may already be doomed,” Politico reported comments from Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) who is a possible supporter of the legislation: “There are a number of our members who say, ‘Well, I’ll join a majority of the Republicans but if it doesn’t enjoy that sort of support, then count me out,’” Cornyn said in an interview. “The whole idea of passing something that the House won’t even take up is another challenge.”

    Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-ND) — an persistent advocate of more white-collar migration — complained about the voting trend, said Politico: “The very people who demanded that we have something on the border as part of the supplemental, suddenly all these months later say they don’t want something on the border,” said Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), who hasn’t committed to voting either way. “The fact, by the way, that the House may not take it up even if we do pass it. That’s not irrelevant. Why would a bunch of us spend political capital on a cause that can’t pass?”

    Lankford has said the GOP leadership will not push the final bill unless they have support from half the caucus.

    Another pro-migration GOP Senator, Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), blamed Russia for the rising GOP opposition, telling Politico “I suspect that a lot of the internet rumors are very well coming from overseas, where they would love to see this shut down because some people would rather not see funding for Ukraine.”

    Lankford, Democrats, and their media allies are blasting critics for sharing and debating leaked reports about the bill’s contents. The leaks suggest the bill will allow Biden’s deputies to import more legal migrants — but also put new legal shackles on any effort by a future President to reduce the inflow of wage-cutting, rent-spiking, productivity-lowering migrants.

    Some GOP Senators are pushing back against Lankford and McConnell. “If you want someone to blame for a failure to get something done to secure the border, or provide lethal aid to Ukraine, Israel or Taiwan, blame Washington’s Senate Republican leader, who is totally disconnected with our voters and who would rather pass anything for Ukraine than actually secure our border,” said an January 30 op-ed by Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL). Sen Ron Johnson (R-WI) backed up Scott, saying via a tweet:

    “Rather than suggesting without evidence that ‘a lot of the internet rumors’ about the border deal are coming from Russia, maybe the deal’s backers should release the bill text so we can deal with facts instead of rumors,” responded Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT), a noted critic of the pending giveaway….”

    https://www.breitbart.com/2024-election/2024/01/31/more-republican-senators-retreat-from-lankford-migration-plan/

    Liked by 1 person

  37. “This Pro-Trump New Jersey Group Is Making A Strong Push To Turn The Garden State Red – And People Are Listening”
    PAUL INGRASSIA
    JAN 31, 2024

    EXCERPT: “On Saturday, the America First Republicans of New Jersey hosted a ballot access and volunteer event in Bergen County, which attracted well over 250 attendees from the grassroots and several notable Trump World speakers. The event was spearheaded by Mike Crispi, a talk show host and former congressional candidate for NJ-04. Crispi leads a team that includes lawyer, Giancarlo Ghione; Montclair GOP Chairman, Michael Byrne; businessman, Anthony Somma; and campaign operative, Michael Casey.

    The goal of the event was twofold: mobilize the grassroots of Bergen County on behalf of President Trump’s 2024 campaign, and help New Jersey Congressman Jeff Van Drew, who the 45th President recently tapped to be his NJ campaign chairman, to ensure President Trump has enough petitions to qualify for ballot access. Though he could not be there in person, Van Drew attended the event virtually via Zoom and spoke for about ten minutes, where he conveyed his gratitude to Crispi’s group and highlighted the importance of grassroots efforts.

    “We had more Republicans at our inaugural rally than Nikki Haley has ever had at any event,” said Crispi, co-chairman of the America First Republicans of New Jersey. “The Republican Party is an America First party and we’re never going back to the globalist mentality of the uniparty.”

    Unlike neighboring New York, New Jersey’s election rules require that all candidates, even someone with President Trump’s national profile, still meet several complex, state-specific filing requirements to qualify for the ballot. It might seem strange to the average person that someone with President Trump’s name and pedigree would need to jump through hoops to qualify for the state ballot. But they should look no further than New Hampshire, where similar rules are in place that kept Joe Biden off the ballot in that state’s Democratic primary, forcing him to be a write-in candidate as a result.

    Crispi laid out an ambitious goal for his organization. “There is an active lawsuit against President Trump in New Jersey attempting to bar him from this process. We fully intend to set the all-time petition signature record for a Presidential election to send a message to the entire state that President Trump will not only stay on the ballot, but he cannot be denied and he will win this state in November.”

    Crispi also said that his group is planning similar events already for Sussex County, Morris County, Mercer County, Somerset County, Ocean County, Essex County, and Gloucester County, with more to be added in March….”

    https://paulingrassia.substack.com/p/this-pro-trump-new-jersey-group-is

    Liked by 1 person

          1. How long ago was that? I remember those days, before self-service at gas stations….LOL – the attendants were soooo pissed when we teen-agers came in and bought $.50 worth of gas so we could drag main street one more time before our curfew!

            Liked by 1 person

  38. “The EU’s Final Frontier … Masculinity”
    By Milt Harris ——Bio and Archives–January 31, 2024
    Canada Free Press

    ENTIRE ARTICLE: “The European Union, (EU) has once again decided that no display of stupidity is beneath them. In an area of the world that is seeing many of its traditions being stripped away, and with many deep seated issues and problems, they have decided that the way to fight evil and injustice is to eliminate what the EU refers to as “gendered words.”

    When the EU peers through their moronic telescope, one of the things in their crosshairs is the iconic opening monolog from the original Star Trek series from 1966. In case you need a refresher, William Shatner, who portrayed Captain James T. Kirk on the show, would open the show with these words: “Space the final frontier. These are the voyages of the starship Enterprise. It’s continuing mission, to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations. To boldly go where no man has gone before.”

    The Telegraph reported that the cancel culture despises words such as guys, male, man, or any word that refers to biological beings that involve testosterone. To what ridiculous lengths does the EU gender bible want to control your speech? Read on and judge for yourself.

    The Telegraph reported that to the pin heads writing this report, “The classic” Star Trek’ line, “To boldly go where no man has gone before,” is cited as an example where “women may be subject to invisibility or omission.’” This piece of trivial absurdity did not sit well with Shatner. Upon hearing the mandate, Captain Kirk who often blasts the radical, left-wing, posted this on his X account:

    “Presentism at work yet again, Why start at Trek? Isn’t it better to start at the beginning and redo foundation material such as the Magna Carta, religious writings, works of Shakespeare before worrying about a silly TV show opening that reflects social commentary of the time? If people are offended by 6 seconds of dialogue recorded in 1966 without a modicum of understanding of the social issues at the time there’s bigger issues that they need to deal with first like educating themselves.”

    The EU is openly attacking men– Toolkit on Gender-Sensitive Communication

    The U.K. Daily Mail reported. That the new dictate came in the EU’s 61-page document that advised policymakers, legislators, and the media to stop using gendered language and to put women first in sequence in phrases, such as saying “queen and king” instead of saying “king and queen.”

    Labeled the “Toolkit on Gender-Sensitive Communication” the insanity goes on to downplay terms like “no man’s land” and “average Joe” because they have male-centered words in them. It also states that words like “shrill” and “pushy” should never be used because they are often used to describe women. The Telegraph also reported that the guidebook insists that the word “virile” should be banned because it is “strongly associated with only men” and should be replaced with “strong or energetic.”

    Tory MP Nick Fletcher ridiculed the document, saying: “I think it’s nonsense, especially when there’s far more serious issues going on at the moment that we need to be concerned about. The EU needs to take a good hard look at themselves and think about what other problems are going on in the world at the moment. “We’ve got wars being waged, an energy crisis and a lot of countries are dealing with the same kind of problems that we are in the U.K. Things like this are a waste of our time.”

    The EU is openly attacking men. The question is what exactly frightens them about biological males? They love and fully support the idea that mentally disturbed men can believe they are women even if it ends up ruining women’s sports. By downplaying the differences that exist between the sexes, all the left demonstrates is hatred.

    Hatred of traditional male and female relationships, hatred of language and in my opinion a deep-rooted hatred of themselves. These are disturbed individuals that will go to any length to spread their demented fantasies to others. Make no mistake, extreme woke liberalism is a disease that MUST be stopped. The cure starts with the word NO and then must be followed up with large doses of reality and sanity.”

    Liked by 1 person

  39. sounds like socialism to me

    Charlie Kirk
    @charliekirk11
    A federal judge has thrown out Elon Musk’s pay package as CEO of Tesla, on the grounds that Musk made so much money it was “unfair.” Instead, the judge says that Musk should have worked for free the past five years.

    Elon Musk has increased the value of Tesla by more than ten times since he entered into the pay package. He is by a country mile the most successful CEO in America, and it’s impossible to imagine Tesla succeeding as it has without Musk helming it. Tesla shareholders, even when Musk and his brother were excluded, easily approved the pay package.

    It’s increasingly obvious that the US court system only exists to attack political enemies under the guise of the law.

    Liked by 1 person

  40. Speaker Mike Johnson
    @SpeakerJohnson
    President Biden said “I’ve done all I can do” with executive authority to secure the border. That is simply untrue. He’s either lying or misinformed.

    Here are just a few of the authorities at his disposal – if only he would use them:

    • Presidential Authority to Restrict Entry 212(f)
    • Expedited Removal 235(b)(1)
    • Discretionary Detention Authority 236(a)
    • Mandatory Detention 236(c)

    No more excuses.

    Liked by 1 person

  42. “The Beltway Judge Hearing Trump Cases and Her Anti-Trump, Anti-Kavanaugh Husband”
    By Julie Kelly, RealClearInvestigations
    January 30, 2024

    EXCERPT: “Washington glitterati assembled at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in October to celebrate federal employees making a difference in government. Hosted by CNN anchor Kate Bolduan, the black-tie affair featured in-person appearances by top Biden White House officials including Chief of Staff Jeffrey Zients, Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco, and Secretary of Agriculture Thomas Vilsack.

    Midway through the evening’s festivities, Max Stier, president of the group sponsoring the event – the Partnership for Public Service, a $24 million nonprofit based in Washington that recruits individuals to work in the civil service – took the stage to thank his high-profile guests. “Great leaders are the heart and soul of effective organizations,” Stier said, “which is why I am so thankful to see so many of our government’s amazing leaders here tonight.”

    Stier also acknowledged one federal employee, his wife, Judge Florence Y. Pan, who sits on the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. Pan would soon need no introduction. Earlier this month she made headlines by asking Donald Trump’s lawyers whether the presidential immunity he sought in connection with alleged Jan. 6 crimes was absolute.

    “Could a president order SEAL Team Six to assassinate a political rival?” Pan asked Trump lawyer John Sauer. “That’s an official act – an order to SEAL Team Six?” she clarified. Although the back and forth between Pan and Sauer was inconclusive as to the question about a president’s criminal liability, many mainstream outlets misconstrued the exchange while lionizing Pan for posing a question that they then used to advance their description of Trump as a lawless menace.

    The exchange, which Pan prompted when she posed the pre-arranged hypothetical at beginning of the hearing, has raised new questions about the impartiality of judges hearing politically charged cases.

    For months progressives have been insisting that Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas should recuse himself from any case that involves Trump because of his wife Ginni Thomas’ political involvement and participation in the events of Jan. 6. Those same interests have yet to express similar worries about Pan’s objectivity, despite her husband’s longtime political activism and current opposition to another Trump presidency.

    Power couples are the lifeblood of Washington so it’s not unusual for political activists, judges, and White House bigwigs to rub elbows at fancy soirees like the October gala at the Kennedy Center. But Max Stier’s longtime ties to the Democratic Party, his access to key Biden administration officials, and his suggestion that Trump represents a threat to democracy at the same time his wife is handling sensitive matters related to the Department of Justice’s prosecution of the former president should raise questions about her impartiality….”

    https://www.realclearinvestigations.com/articles/2024/01/30/beltway_power_couple_tied_to_the_kavanaugh_furor_back_then_-_and_the_anti-trump_court_struggle_now_1007948.html

    Liked by 1 person

  45. Whoa! On Fox – Numbers of those crossing at Eagle Pass have plummeted from 5K/per day to a few hundred! Good on ‘ya, Texas!!!

    Liked by 1 person

  46. Some entertainment for the morning….




    NF: If you’re anything like me, you’ll be grabbing the sides of your chair…..dang! She’s beyond stupid!!!

    Liked by 1 person

  47. “Trump/RFK Jr Team Up Would Betray Gun Owners”
    Ammoland Inc.
    Posted on January 30, 2024 by David Codrea

    “Just don‘t trust citizens of the REPUBLIC with guns?”

    ENTIRE ARTICLE: “People close to former President Trump made preliminary overtures to Robert F. Kennedy about the possibility of serving as his running mate,” the New York Post reported Saturday. “I wouldn’t write it off by any means,” an unidentified “insider” told the Post. That assessment said to “still be alive in Trump circles,” was shared by two large donors, one of whom asserted, “Bobby can bring new people to the polls.”

    And no less a prominent Trump supporter than former White House strategist Steve Bannon, “who remains close to the former president, has also pushed the idea and said in August that a Trump-Kennedy ticket would produce a ‘massive landslide.’” Judging from reader comments, many are not just open to the idea but enthusiastic about it. And there are similar favorable reader reactions at supposedly “conservative” Fox News’ favorable report on the potential.

    It would be a “yuge” mistake. Knowing the truth about Kennedy’s historic support for citizen disarmament would take the fire out of a lot of gun-owning voters’ bellies. While he’s done respectable work exposing the corruption and bad “science” behind the government/pharma Covid cartel, Kennedy’s climate extremism (“ban fossil fuels, raise taxes, and pass a Green New Deal”), his “flip-flopping” on abortion, and out-and-out socialist embrace of “reparations” are disqualifiers by themselves.

    But what about his siding with Texas on the border crisis and pledging to secure it? Assuming that is allowed to happen, how about the tens of millions already here? A “path to citizenship”? Chuck Schumer couldn’t have said it any better. As The Federalist noted: “RFK Jr. does promote some limited government, anti-establishment policies that conservatives and libertarians strongly support, but his leftist proposals far outweigh them.”

    Add his personal and political affinity for citizen disarmament, and we’re talking a hard “No.” Consider a tweet he posted in 2018 – and then deleted; it’s not unfair to assume because it could hurt him politically: “Let’s be honest. The NRA is as responsible for the MSD child murders as if they pulled the trigger. NRA has turned 2d Amendment into a suicide pact for our children. When do we deal with NRA?”

    But wait, he now says, “My position on gun control is that I’m not going to take away anybody’s guns. I’m a constitutional maximalist and the issue has been settled by the Supreme Court.” Does anyone believe him? Especially after arguing that “gun control cannot ‘meaningfully’ reduce gun violence” and then going for the Holy Grail of gun grabs:

    “Kennedy said that he would get behind a bipartisan assault weapons ban, which the overwhelming majority of Democrats support, but has little chance of getting through Capitol Hill given widespread GOP opposition. ‘If we can get a consensus on it, if Republicans and Democrats agree to it and it passes Congress, I would sign it,’ he said.”

    Trump has a problematic enough (and wholly self-created) record with gun owners [NF: Huh???], and putting Bobby Jr. on the ticket would only add to a growing TINVOWOOT sentiment among Americans who see that the left won’t stop pushing as long as they can do so with personal impunity. But say for a minute that Steve Bannon proves to be more politically savvy than he is principled, and a Trump/Kennedy campaign attracts enough independents to where even election interference and cheating can’t slip it to the Democrats:

    Trump is getting up there in years. He’s not in the best shape. He’s been having some pretty significant slip-ups, particularly with the Haley/Capitol Security brain f*rt that the Democrat media is having a field day with as it ignores Biden’s daily dotage. [NF: Clearly, this author isn’t up on the real nature of Trump’s “mistakes!” In fact, he seems to have his head up his ass re: Trump!]

    How does it benefit gun owners to put a guy who thinks NRA members are murderers and the Second Amendment is a suicide pact for children a heartbeat away from the presidency?”

    TINVOWOOT = There Is No Voting Our Way Out Of This

    Liked by 1 person

  48. SHIT! EVEN LIBYA CAN DO IT!!!

    “Libya deports hundreds of illegal migrants back to Nigeria: Around 320 illegal migrants were on board deportation flights from Tripoli and Benghazi on Tuesday”
    January 31, 2024
    editor: REMIX NEWS author: THOMAS BROOKE

    (Nigerian migrants board a plane to be voluntarily repatriated to Nigeria, organized by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Misrata, 200 km east of Tripoli, Libya, Thursday, Jan. 27, 2022. (AP Photo/Yousef Murad)

    ENTIRE ARTICLE: “The Libyan government took steps to crack down on illegal immigration on Tuesday by sanctioning deportation flights for hundreds of Nigerian nationals living unlawfully in the country. More than 320 illegal migrants were expected to be on board flights from Tripoli and Benghazi back to Nigeria, an immigration official told AFP.

    “We carried out on Tuesday the expulsion of 163 irregular migrants of Nigerian nationality from the Mitiga airport, including 107 women, 51 men, and five children,” said Mohamad Baredaa, the head of security at Libya’s migration agency. Additionally, “160 Nigerians will also be sent back to their country from Benina airport in Benghazi,” Baredaa stated.

    Tens of thousands of Nigerians have been sent back to their home country by the Libyan authorities since 2017 with assistance from the International Organization for Migration (IOM). The Libyan capital of Tripoli has long been a hot spot for migrants from across the African continent who plan to travel clandestinely to Europe, but many Nigerians also stayed in the country and worked illegally, sending their wages to their families back home.

    Many became stranded in the country during the Libyan civil war and the subsequent Covid-19 pandemic when employment opportunities dried up. Under a voluntary return scheme operated by the IOM, more than 20,000 Nigerian migrants were flown home between 2017 and 2022, while a further 9,370 people left under the program last year.”

    Liked by 1 person

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