Astronaut Jonny Kim returns to Earth
NASA astronaut Jonny Kim, the first Korean American astronaut to fly to space, returned to Earth Tuesday after completing a 245-day mission aboard the International Space Station that ...
The Rebel Yellow - Issue #156
JD Vance faced criticism after calling mass migration “theft of the American Dream.” In New York City, Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani released a video outlining what immigrants can do during encounters with ICE. Separate enforcement cases continued to surface, including a South Korean man detained at his green card interview in Los Angeles and a 3-year-old girl required to appear alone in immigration court in Arizona. Additional developments included a reported assault during a WestJet check-in dispute in Edmonton, Joshua Van becoming the first Asian-born male UFC champion and multiple Asian creatives earning nominations at the 2026 Golden Globes.
JD Vance calls mass migration “theft,” gets told Usha “go back to India”
Vice President JD Vance drew yet another sharp criticism online, this time after declaring that mass migration is “theft of the American Dream,” leaving social media users pointing out that his wife is the daughter of Indian immigrants.
What he said: In an X post over the weekend, Vance wrote, “Mass migration is theft of the American Dream. It has always been this way, and every position paper, think tank piece and econometric study suggesting otherwise is paid for by the people getting rich off the old system.”
The vice president was responding to a video of a Louisiana construction company owner who claimed business had improved since Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) began operations in the state, saying he has “gotten more calls in the last week than I’ve gotten in the last three months.” Vance also said that a future Trump administration would try to remove as many undocumented migrants as possible.
Instant backlash: The post immediately sparked accusations of hypocrisy given Vance’s own family background. “Ok, send your wife and kids back to India and we’ll believe you mean it. You and the orange turd are married to immigrants and Barron is literally an anchor baby,” one commenter challenged. Another noted, “That means you have to send Usha, her Indian family, and your biracial kids back to India. Let us know when [you] buy the plane tickets. You must lead by example.”
Meanwhile, Rep. Shri Thanedar (D-Mich.), who is Indian American, shared an image of Vance with his wife’s family and wrote, “By your own logic, your wife’s entire family is ‘stealing the American dream.’”
About the family: Usha, who married Vance in 2014, was born in San Diego to parents who immigrated from the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. The couple has three children: Ewan, Vivek and Mirabel. Recent scrutiny of their marriage intensified after Usha was photographed without her wedding ring twice in recent weeks, though Vance told NBC News their marriage is “as strong as it’s ever been” and that they “kind of get a kick out of” the attention.
Separately, Vance sparked controversy in late October after wishing for his wife to convert to Christianity.
Mamdani guides immigrants on what to do during ICE encounters
Following an ICE operation that drew protests near Chinatown last week, New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani posted a video on social media Sunday explaining immigrants’ rights when encountering federal immigration agents.
Steps to take: Mamdani outlined specific protections available to the city’s 3 million immigrants, explaining that ICE agents cannot just enter homes, schools or private workplace areas without a judicial warrant signed by a judge. The video, which featured English captions and Spanish subtitles, included visual examples comparing legitimate judicial warrants with other documents agents may attempt to present.
“If ICE does not have a judicial warrant signed by a judge, you have the right to say, ‘I do not consent to entry,’ and the right to keep your door closed,” he said. He also emphasized, “ICE is legally allowed to lie to you, but you have the right to remain silent. If you’re being detained, you may always ask, ‘Am I free to go?’ repeatedly until they answer you.” People can also film ICE activities as long as they do not interfere with arrests. “We can all stand up to ICE if you know your rights,” Mamdani said.
Kristi Noem responds: On Tuesday, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said on Fox News’ “Hannity” that Mamdani “could be violating the Constitution by giving advice on how to evade law enforcement and how to get away with breaking the law.” She continued, “It’s really unbelievable in this country what we are seeing. Those ICE agents you were referencing — the violent attacks that have increased 1,200%, death threats against them are at 8,000%.”
“We’re certainly going after and looking into all of that with coordination of the Department of Justice,” she said.
Why this matters: Mamdani’s guidance signals how he will navigate tensions between sanctuary city policies and Trump administration enforcement as he prepares to become New York City’s first Asian American and Muslim mayor on Jan. 1. For Asian American communities, the video arrives amid heightened anxiety following immigration operations on Canal Street in both late October and November, where federal officers sparked community resistance.
Mamdani has also spoken out against the detention of a father and 6-year-old son from his Queens assembly district, calling for an end to such actions. His guidance essentially provides practical legal information to vulnerable communities while underscoring his protective stance, which comes just weeks after a surprisingly cordial Oval Office meeting with President Donald Trump.
The big picture: The video represents an early test of municipal resistance to federal immigration enforcement as the Trump administration ramps up deportation operations in Los Angeles, Chicago, New Orleans and other major cities. Mamdani previously called ICE a “rogue agency” with no regard for laws and vowed daily efforts to protect immigrants.
Still, questions remain about how much authority mayors actually have to resist federal enforcement. New York City’s sanctuary policies currently allow coordination with federal law enforcement on approximately 170 serious crimes, leaving gray areas in how enforcement works. At the same time, recent protests saw NYPD officers arrest demonstrators who blocked ICE vehicles, raising questions about whether police actions effectively assist federal operations that city law is meant to restrict.
South Korean man detained at green card interview remains in ICE custody
A South Korean man who has lived in the U.S. since infancy was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during a routine green card interview in Los Angeles in October and has remained in custody for more than 40 days.
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