WaPo: Trump Admin’s Campaign of Striking Boats in the Caribbean and Pacific Has Not Reduced Amount of Cocaine Entering the U.S.

The Washington Post is reporting that the Trump administration’s campaign of blowing up boats in the Caribbean and Pacific has not reduced the amount of cocaine entering the United States. A previously unreported assessment by the Drug Enforcement Administration concludes that the attacks have failed to affect the supply or price of cocaine in the United States. The U.S. boat strikes have killed at least 221 people since September. No evidence has been made public linking the boats to drug traffickers. Last week, Democratic Congressmember Chuy García called for an independent investigation into the strikes, as well as the recent murder of Ecuadorian prosecutor Alexandra Bravo, who was fatally shot along with her sister by a hitman on a motorcycle last month in the city of Manta. Drop Site News reports that at the time of her killing, she was investigating U.S. strikes on three Ecuadorian boats in which 36 passengers survived. Bravo was investigating claims by the survivors that they had been abducted and then tortured by American gunmen in U.S. military uniforms aboard a U.S.-flagged patrol ship. www.democracynow.org

Justice Department Drops Case Against SEIU Leader David Huerta

The Justice Department dropped its case against SEIU leader David Huerta. Last year, he was charged with obstructing an officer after being arrested while protesting ICE raids in Los Angeles. Video from the event showed a masked officer shoving Huerta to the ground during the demonstration. In a statement, Huerta said the Trump DOJ “is finally admitting what we knew from day one and what was obvious to anyone who saw the videos: the charge against me was baseless, meant to intimidate anyone who dares to speak out, organize, or demand justice.” www.democracynow.org

Trump Admin Announces New Rules for Asylum Seekers

The Trump administration has issued new regulations that could result in hundreds of thousands of asylum seekers being sent directly to deportation proceedings instead of giving them a chance to be interviewed first by an asylum officer. The rule could impact 440,000 cases. Doris Meissner, the director of the U.S. immigration policy program at the Migration Policy Institute, said, “The ultimate impact of making this change certainly seems to be to try to deny as many cases as possible, without regard to the fairness of the determination.” This comes as the Trump administration has fired more than 100 immigration judges and replaced them with military lawyers and former prosecutors for the Department of Homeland Security. www.democracynow.org

ICE Reportedly Stepping Up Plans to Deport Haitian Immigrants

ICE is reportedly stepping up plans to arrest and deport Haitian migrants, as hundreds of thousands of Haitians are set to lose their status under TPS, the Temporary Protected Status program. The Supreme Court last month sided with the Trump administration to end TPS programs for Haitians and Syrians. According to an internal government document, the plans to round up and deport Haitian immigrants could start this week. Guerline Jozef, executive director of the Haitian Bridge Alliance, said, “Once again our community members find themselves in a state of extreme trauma, fear and terror. One of them told me it feels like a tsunami or an earthquake with nonstop aftershocks.” www.democracynow.org

El-Sayed and Stevens Clash over AIPAC Funding in Final Debate Before Michigan Senate Primary

In Michigan, Democratic Senate candidates Dr. Abdul El-Sayed and Representative Haley Stevens sparred on Monday in the final debate before next Tuesday’s primary. It is one of the most closely watched Senate races in the country. The debate moderator, Roop Raj, questioned Stevens about receiving funding from AIPAC, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. Roop Raj: “Congresswoman, specifically about AIPAC money, more than $46 million has been spent on AIPAC spending to back your campaign. A lot of people wonder if that is something where they’re — you know, you’re going to do their bidding when you — should you win this seat. Is that something people should be concerned about? And if not, why not?” Rep. Haley Stevens: “Absolutely not, Roop. Look, I have been very clear, consistent and transparent, and I have continued to be. I want to see long-term peace. I want to see a two-state solution. I am deeply proud to represent one of the largest Jewish populations in a congressional district in the country.” During the debate, Dr. El-Sayed repeatedly criticized Stevens for taking AIPAC money. Dr. Abdul El-Sayed: “So, I just want to say, the difference between us is $46 million of AIPAC spending. They’ve set a record in this race to help elect my opponent because they know that she’ll be a reliable vote, just like she took last week to send your tax dollars to a foreign government that is aiding, arming and abetting the very people who want to foreclose on the possibility of Palestinian self-determination.” www.democracynow.org

Trump Admin Files Emergency Application to SCOTUS to Allow Order Restricting Mail-In Voting

The Trump Administration filed an emergency application to the Supreme Court to allow an executive order that would restrict voting by mail. This comes after a federal appeals court blocked key parts of the executive order over the weekend. The Supreme Court has until August 3 to respond. Under Trump’s executive order, DHS would create state-by-state lists of eligible voters who are citizens. The U.S. Postal Service would then use the lists provided by states to assess if voters should be allowed to vote by mail. www.democracynow.org

Trump Hosts Netanyahu at the White House as U.S. Weighs Next Steps Against Iran

President Trump is hosting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House today for the first time since the U.S. and Israel launched their war against Iran five months ago. The meeting comes as Trump weighs his next steps in Iran. On Friday, Trump paused strikes after two weeks of attacks. On Monday, Trump told Axios, “We are in very deep talks with Iran. If they don’t work out, we will go back to very strong military action.” In June, Trump and Netanyahu reportedly had a tense phone call with Trump repeatedly calling the Israeli prime minister “f-ing crazy.” Netanyahu will also attend today’s funeral for Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, who died on July 11. Over the weekend, The Wall Street Journal published an excerpt from an unreleased documentary showing Graham cheering on the U.S. strikes on Iran. www.democracynow.org