Italy's parliament has approved a plan to send naval boats to Libya in efforts to stop the influx of immigrants crossing the Mediterranean. They claim that the chief objective is to help the Libyan coastguard target people smugglers. Italy, along with Greece, is the main receptors for migrants from Northern parts of Africa and the Middle East. Over 110,000 migrants have crossed the Mediterranean to seek asylum in the European Union, who recently passed a law pressuring migrants to seek asylum in the first country they land. The amount of migrants from Libya has increased since the death of muammar gaddafi in 2013, as the ensuing power struggle within the country causes duress on its citizens.
Tri-met has said they will not be checking fares today because of the heat, this however will cause an influx of rides that will only further increase the delays. Efforts to fix a network problem brought the MAX light rail system to a halt Tuesday morning which affected the ticket vending machines and the electronic fare payment as well. If temperatures reach 100 degrees, MAX trains will not go over 35 MPH due to tracks being deformed from the heat.
Today, Trump has unveiled a new Senate Bill that could cut the amount of green cards issued by 50%. It is being called the "RAISE" act, Reforming American Immigration for Strong Employment. This bill would be creating a merit-based immigration system, awarding points on factors such as English fluency, education, and job skills. Drastic cuts would be made to family-based immigration programs that allow siblings and grown children of U.S. citizens and legal residents to apply for green cards. The group, Asian Americans Advancing Justice, released a statement saying, "The RAISE act is part of a larger strategy to scapegoat immigrants and further marginalize people of color."
- KBOO