illegal immigrants – Author Carlo Carrasco

Illegal Alien In America Sentenced To 8 Years In Prison Over $89 Million Fraudulent Payroll Scheme

July 2, 2026July 1, 2026carlocarrasco

There is no denying the fact that fraud and other forms of crime went up in the United States whenever illegal aliens get involved. Recently an illegal alien was sentenced to eight years in prison for his involvement in an $89 fraudulent payroll scheme that saw illegal alien construction workers and their employers evade taxes, according to a news report by Breitbart. The convicted illegal alien criminal is from Honduras.

To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the report of Breitbart. Some parts in boldface…

An illegal alien has been sentenced to eight years in federal prison for his involvement in an $89 million fraudulent payroll scheme that saw illegal alien construction workers and their employers evade taxes.

“Today, we held an illegal alien from Honduras accountable for a brazen scheme that stole more than $38 million from American taxpayers to facilitate the employment of illegal aliens,” Assistant Attorney General Colin McDonald said.

“This case exposes how unchecked illegal immigration fuels widespread payroll tax fraud and underground economies that harm American workers and taxpayers,” McDonald said. “This sentence sends a strong message: Those who exploit our open borders, cheat the U.S. Treasury, and violate federal laws will face justice.”

Department of Justice (DOJ) officials detailed how the illegal alien helped operate the payroll scheme through several maneuvers to ensure that illegal construction workers were kept off the books:

According to court documents and statements made in court, from 2015 to 2022, Mario Flores, of Honduras, an illegal alien, conspired with others to create a series of shell companies to run an unlicensed check cashing and cash courier service business. These shell companies cashed approximately $89 million in checks from subcontractors in the construction industry, charging them a percentage of the dollar amount of the checks they cashed as a fee for this service. Through this scheme, construction contractors and subcontractors paid their workers in cash without withholding and paying required payroll taxes, allowing them to operate without regard to the workers’ legal authority to work in the United States. Flores also caused the filing of false tax documents with the IRS to conceal the scheme.

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In addition, Flores and his conspirators defrauded workers’ compensation insurance companies by leasing their certificates of insurance to contractors and by providing false and fraudulent information to the insurers about, among other things, the number of workers covered by the insurance and the amount workers were paid.

“Homeland Security Investigations is committed to protecting the integrity of our financial system and enforcing our nation’s laws,” HSI’s John Condon said. “Those who orchestrate large-scale payroll tax fraud and facilitate the illegal employment of unauthorized workers will be held accountable.”

Flores pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud the U.S. government and one count of conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money transmitting business.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think America still has a lot more illegal aliens working in construction and committing fraud to this day? Do you think illegal aliens are obsessed committing fraud and harming American workers and taxpayers?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Five Foreigners Arrested In Parañaque City Over Online Scam

June 30, 2026June 24, 2026carlocarrasco

Recently in the City of Parañaque, five foreigners were arrested by elements of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) over a suspected online scam hub located inside a condominium complex, according to a news report by The Daily Tribune.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of The Daily Tribune. Some parts in boldface…

Operatives of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) arrested five foreigners during an operation targeting a suspected online scam hub in Parañaque City.

The operation was conducted in the early hours of 17 June at a condominium complex in Sapphire Seaview Park, Parañaque City following intelligence reports linking the location to an alleged “love scam” operation that reportedly victimized individuals through online deception and cryptocurrency-related schemes.

Nabbed in the operation were Chinese national Tang Shun, Malaysian man Chia Kong Loon, as well as Burmese nationals Kum Htoi, Myo Oo, and Kyaw Tint Lwin. They were apprehended after immigration verification allegedly revealed violations of Philippine immigration laws.

According to intelligence information received by the BI, the location was allegedly being used for fraudulent online activities.

Authorities also received reports that some workers connected to the operation were being restricted from freely leaving the premises, prompting further investigation.

During the operation, one of the foreign nationals reportedly disclosed information indicating that multiple condominium units were being utilized for unlawful work-related activities. This led to the apprehension of the five foreign nationals.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What do you think about this recent development? If you are a resident of Parañaque, are you suspicious that there could be Chinese nationals living in your local community who could be secretly scamming people online? Do you believe that the concept of the Parañaque Renaissance includes criminal activities in the city committed by illegal aliens? Do you consider the city as a hot spot of illegal aliens today?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagement, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673

US Supreme Court Approves Trump’s Move To End Temporary Protective Status For Haitians And Other Refugees

June 27, 2026June 27, 2026carlocarrasco

Remember years ago when the failed US President Joe Biden welcomed a massive number of Haitians to the United States with the temporary protective status (TPS)? That finally ended when the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) approved US President Donald Trump’s authority to put a definitive stop at the TPS of the Haitians as well as other refugees living in America, according to news reports by Breitbart and CBN News. The vote was 6-3.

This development is justice for the nation and the many Americans whose lives got disrupted severely when the numerous, protected Haitians arrived in their local communities causing spikes in rents, taking job opportunities away, entering schools and the like. It also clarifies that the US President has the authority on TPS.

To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the Breitbart report. Some parts in boldface…

In a 6-3 vote, the U.S. Supreme Court has endorsed President Donald Trump’s authority to end “Temporary Protected Status” for at least 450,000 Haitian migrants welcomed by President Joe Biden.

The judges said Congress’s law bars any judicial review of the White House TPS decisions:

The TPS statute plainly bars consideration of respondents’ non-constitutional claims. It allows “no judicial review of any determination… with respect to the… termination” of a TPS designation. 8 U. S. C. §1254a(b)(5)(A). The term “determination” can be used to describe either an individual decision or the whole process leading to a final decision, and under either understanding of the term, §1254a(b)(5)(A) squarely bars all of respondents’ non-constitutional claims.

The decision is good news for many Americans, including the citizens of Springfield, Ohio. The Ohio town has been radically disrupted because the local elite welcomed at least 10,000 wage-cutting, rent-spiking, diversity-boosting Haitian migrants into the city’s jobs, homes, schools, welfare offices, and roadways.

The decision means that the Haitian migrants will lose their work permits, access to government aid, drivers’ licenses, and legal residency. In turn, employers will face fines if they keep employing the Haitians instead of Americans, and landlords will have to negotiate cheaper rents for Americans as Haitians move out of the local housing market.

Many Haitians were actually provided visas by Biden’s officials to fly from Haiti to American towns — despite the huge economic and civic harm to the millions of left-behind Haitians. The crippling outflow included many doctors, cops, teachers, and politicians.

But the decision is also an economic loss for many investors and a management headache for many employers who hired Haitian migrants instead of competing for Americans in the national labor market.

In April, Breitbart News reported that pro-TPS lobbyists had submitted a legal brief by pro-migration economists which said Biden’s 1.4 million TPS migrants from Haiti, Venezuela, and El Salvador create $20 billion in annual profits for investors.

The report of CBN News mentions Syrians and Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor’s highly unusual way of reading her dissent from the bench. Some parts in boldface…

The Supreme Court issued a key decision on the issue of immigration on Thursday, ruling that the Trump administration has the authority to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for certain refugees living in the U.S.

The immigrants affected by this case were granted Temporary Protected Status under a law passed by Congress in 1990. The program allows the Homeland Security Secretary to let people from certain countries remain and work in the U.S. when conditions back home make it unsafe to return. That same law also gives the secretary the authority to end those protections.

“It gives people protection while the country’s in turmoil or after they suffer a hurricane,” explained Border Czar Tom Homan during a press briefing Thursday.

The Trump administration first announced its plans to end TPS for Haitians in the summer of last year, and for Syrians in the fall. Those decisions were put on hold by lower courts until Thursday’s Supreme Court ruling.

“The decision creates the type of panic, in a sense, that people in our community are wondering what the best action to do now,” said Viles Dorsainvil, who runs a support center for Haitians in Springfield, Ohio.

He and his wife are also now at risk of deportation.

“We are just TPS holders and asylum seekers. So, we’ll be relying on our asylum. We have our permit in the asylum, that we will continue to work. We will continue to do what we gotta do, but we don’t know how long,” Dorsainvil said.

Thursday’s ruling was 6-3, the majority saying Congress gave the Homeland Security Secretary broad discretion over TPS, including the authority to decide when to end it.

Justice Sonia Sotomayor strongly disagreed with the ruling, taking the unusual step of reading her dissent aloud from the bench. “The consequences of today’s decision are predictable,” said Justice Sotomayor. “More people will die.”

“More people will turn back and be subjected to violence because of something they cannot or should not have to change about themselves, such as their race, religion, nationality, or political opinion.”

Following her comments, Justice Samuel Alito, who read the majority decision, remarked that, had he known she planned to read her dissent from the bench, he would have said more in defense of the majority decision.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Has your local community been flooded by foreigners with TPS? Do you think the government should start the process of declaring temporary protective status illegal? Apart from the mentioned investors, who else do you think makes a lot of money out of TPS foreigners in America? What should the Trump administration do about the remaining TPS foreigners from other nations? Do you think US Supreme Court Justice Sotomayor tarnished the Court’s image with her unusual move?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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High-Profile Fraudster Kimble Back In The US After Getting Caught In The Philippines

June 21, 2026June 20, 2026carlocarrasco

Herbert Leon Kimble – one of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) most wanted fraudsters – was brought back to the United States following his arrest in the Philippines, according to a news report by GMA News. Kimble is notorious for illegal acts such as healthcare fraud, bribery, mail fraud and wire fraud to name a few. Kimble was caught at a casino in the Philippines.

To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the GMA News report. Some parts in boldface…

After his arrest in the Philippines, the US Department of Justice announced Saturday (Manila time) the capture of one of the most wanted fraudsters of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

Fugitive Herbert Leon Kimble arrived in the United States after being arrested by the Philippine Bureau of Immigration’s Fugitive Search Unit at a casino in Pasig City.

According to the US DOJ, immigration agents spent several months tracking Kimble’s whereabouts before finally apprehending him.

FBI records show that on April 4, 2019, Kimble pleaded guilty in the US District Court for the District of South Carolina, Columbia Division, to conspiracy charges related to defrauding the United States, making false claims to a federal agency, mail fraud, wire fraud, healthcare fraud, and offering kickbacks and bribes in connection with the scheme. However, Kimble failed to appear for his scheduled sentencing hearing on August 27, 2024. Federal authorities then issued an arrest warrant that same day after charging him with failure to appear.

US Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche announced the arrest of Kimble, who is accused of orchestrating more than $1.2 billion in Medicare fraud—one of the largest healthcare fraud cases ever prosecuted in America.

A reward of up to $150,000 had been offered for information leading to Kimble’s arrest.

“Fleeing the United States does not mean you can flee justice. Instead of facing accountability for his $1.2 billion Medicare fraud crimes in the United States, Kimble fled to the Philippines hoping to escape justice. That plan failed. Under President Trump’s leadership, the FBI has now apprehended two fraudsters from its recently unveiled Most Wanted Fraudsters list in just two weeks, with more to come,” Blanche said in a statement.

Call centers in the Philippines – The FBI said Kimble was involved in the “improper marketing and distribution” of durable medical equipment (DME), particularly orthopedic braces.

It said Kimble ran a “sophisticated call-center-based operation” from around 2014 to March 2019, which acted as the “marketing engine for a nationwide fraud scheme” wherein individuals contacted call centers in the Philippines, DME suppliers who served as billers, and orthopedic brace suppliers or drop shippers.

“His operations focused primarily on initiating contact with Medicare beneficiaries and persuading them to request orthopedic braces for pain relief, which were frequently unnecessary and prescribed through telemedicine consultations that often lacked legitimate medical consultations,” the FBI said.

The prescriptions were sold to DME companies, the designated suppliers would ship the braces, then the DME companies would bill Medicare for reimbursement, the FBI added.

“His fraudulent healthcare enterprise resulted in more (than) $1.2 billion in Medicare charges and affected thousands of Medicare beneficiaries, many of whom were elderly victims,” the bureau said.

Most Wanted Fraudsters list – Meanwhile, FBI Director Kash Patel thanked Philippine authorities and US law enforcement partners for their efforts in capturing Kimble.

“Thank you to Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and our Justice Department partners for their assistance in returning Kimble to the US to face justice. President Trump set a mandate to end the abuse of hardworking taxpayer money, and each and every day this team will be committed to delivering,” Patel said.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Are you delighted by the successful arrest of Herbert Leon Kimble whose criminal acts were so extensive and involved a massive amount of money? Do you personally know anyone who was affected by Kimble’s criminal acts?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Chinese National Arrested In Laguna For Posing As A Filipino

June 7, 2026June 5, 2026carlocarrasco

Here in the Philippines, illegal immigration in the form of foreigners pretending to be Filipino citizens is a growing problem. Recently in Laguna province, a Chinese national who pretended to be a Filipino was arrested by the authorities, according to a news report by GMA News.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the GMA News report. Some parts in boldface…

A Chinese national allegedly posing as a Filipino was arrested in Sta. Rosa, Laguna, with authorities now investigating how he obtained a driver’s license from the Land Transportation Office (LTO) that was reportedly used in the deception.

According to a report on “24 Oras Weekend” by John Consulta, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) and the National Bureau of Investigation Organized and Transnational Crime Division (NBI-OTCD) implemented a deportation order and served a warrant at a residence in a subdivision in Sta. Rosa.

However, the target was not immediately found, and only a woman was initially encountered at the house.

Authorities later tracked down the suspect within the subdivision, where he was reportedly cornered while jogging. He allegedly tried to evade arrest but was eventually subdued by operatives.

NBI Director Melvin Matibag said the Chinese national was arrested for allegedly using falsified documents identifying himself as Filipino, including a Philippine-issued driver’s license.

Authorities also recovered his Chinese passport, which remains valid until 2027, along with the LTO-issued driver’s license.

While the surname on both documents matched, the driver’s license reportedly carried a Filipino-sounding first and middle name and listed the holder’s nationality as Filipino.

LTO chief Asst. Sec. Markus Lacanilao said a review of records showed the foreign national applied for a driver’s license that was later used in assuming a false Filipino identity.

The agency clarified that the document was not a conversion of a foreign driver’s license.

“This is not a conversion of a license. A foreign-issued license converted into a Philippine license—that is not the case,” he said.

Records also showed that the suspect first applied for a driver’s license in 2010 and renewed it in 2018 in Bulacan, where his nationality was listed as Filipino.

“They use Filipino names. They try to hide by pretending to be Filipino-Chinese, but they are actually Chinese nationals posing as Filipinos,” Lacanilao said.

The arrested foreign national is currently detained at the Bureau of Immigration detention facility. He has yet to issue a statement and is reportedly filing an appeal before the Department of Justice.

Authorities said a deeper investigation is ongoing, including a review of other documents that may have been issued to the suspect, and the possible cancellation of his driver’s license.

“(Revocation) is automatic. We will cancel his driver’s license, and the places where it was issued must also be investigated,” he said.

Lacanilao also warned that such documents may be used for acquiring properties, vehicles, and other fraudulent activities. Matibag said this scheme also poses national security concerns.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Are you concerned that there could be several thousands more Chinese nationals who are living in the Philippines with false identities as Filipinos? Do you think all government agencies should be prepared to spot false documents from foreigners who intend to gain false Filipino identities? What do you think is the main reason why some Chinese nationals exerted efforts to gain Filipino identities?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Japan Approves Bills To Raise Visa Fees And Introduce Online Pre-Entry Screening

June 4, 2026May 29, 2026carlocarrasco

Recently members of Japan’s parliament approved an immigration control law revision that effectively raised fees for foreigners applying for residence status while also paving the way for the introduction of the online pre-entry screening covering those coming from abroad, according to a news report by Kyodo News.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Kyodo News report. Some parts in boldface…

Japan’s parliament on Friday passed an immigration control law revision to raise the maximum fee for residence status applications by foreigners and introduce an online pre-entry travel authorization system for overseas arrivals.

Once the fee changes are implemented later this fiscal year, the upper limit will be set at 100,000 yen ($630) for visa renewals and 300,000 yen for permanent residency applications, marking a sharp increase from the existing threshold of 10,000 yen.

The fees are currently 6,000 yen for changing residence status or extending the period of stay and 10,000 yen for permanent residency. The new fees will be formally set by a Cabinet order after soliciting public comments.

The government, which has cited rising costs for the revision, has said it will ease the payment burden on humanitarian grounds and for those facing financial difficulties, but lawmakers have pointed out during parliamentary deliberations that the criteria for such considerations remain unclear.

The Immigration Services Agency plans to formulate guidelines setting forth specific requirements and other details.

The latest revision also includes the establishment of the Japan Electronic System for Travel Authorization, with an eye on implementation in fiscal 2028.

The system, aimed at preventing terrorism and illegal employment, targets 74 countries and regions whose citizens qualify for visa-free entry for short stays.

Travelers will be required to provide information online, such as their name, purpose of visit, and destination, several days prior to departure, which will be cross-checked against criminal records and other databases.

If there is a suspicion of illegal overstaying, travelers will be denied boarding on planes or ships.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think the newly approved measures will help Japan control immigration better while also enhancing the security of its citizens? Do you think the raised fees will discourage Third World foreigners from migrating to Japan?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Twenty Nations Will Accept Illegal Aliens From America

May 29, 2026May 28, 2026carlocarrasco

The Trump administration’s enduring efforts to bring down the number of illegal aliens still present in America achieved a huge breakthrough deportations as twenty nations have formally agreed to accept the said illegals, according to a Newmax news report. This development could lead to an acceleration of deportations.

To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the Newsmax report. Some parts in boldface…

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Wednesday that the United States has secured agreements with 20 countries to accept migrants living in the U.S. illegally who refuse to return to their home nations, describing the deals as a key part of the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement strategy.

Rubio said the agreements allow the United States to deport certain illegal aliens to so-called “safe” third countries when returning them directly to their countries of origin is not possible.

“A part of securing our border is dealing with the people that are in this country unlawfully, many of whom do not want to go back to the country that they originally came from,” Rubio said during a Cabinet meeting at the White House.

He said in some cases deportations are blocked because the migrants’ home countries refuse to accept them or because court rulings delay removals.

“One of the key things we have achieved is now 20 countries have signed third-country national agreements,” Rubio said. “These are safe countries where individuals who refuse to go back to their country of origin can be sent to that country instead.”

The agreements mark a significant expansion of the administration’s deportation efforts as President Donald Trump pushes forward with a broad immigration crackdown focused on border security and removal of illegal aliens living in the country illegally.

Rubio said the administration has worked closely with the Department of Homeland Security to implement the policy. He did not identify the countries that have signed the agreements or specify when the deals were finalized.

According to Rubio, the threat of deportation to a third country has also encouraged some illegal aliens to voluntarily return to their home countries.

“What often happens when you go to the person who’s here unlawfully and say, ‘We’re going to send you to this third country,’ is all of a sudden they decide they’d rather go back to their home country instead,” Rubio said.

Immigration enforcement and deportation policies have remained central priorities for the Trump administration, which has argued tougher enforcement measures are necessary to deter illegal immigration and strengthen border security.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think this breakthrough will lead to more deportations of illegal aliens soon? How many illegal immigrants are living within your local community right now?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Vietnamese National Arrested In Parañaque City For Performing Illegal Cosmetic Procedures

May 26, 2026May 29, 2026carlocarrasco

Recently in the City of Parañaque, elements of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) arrested a Vietnamese national for illegal cosmetic procedures done in a clandestine clinic, according to a GMA News report.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of GMA News. Some parts in boldface…

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) arrested a Vietnamese citizen for allegedly performing illegal cosmetic procedures at a clandestine clinic in Parañaque City.

Operatives from the NBI Special Action Unit conducted an entrapment operation on May 13 after receiving a complaint about an individual posing as a medical professional offering invasive procedures.

“Upon verification with the PRC, this individual is not a licensed medical professional and is not allowed to practice medicine,” an NBI agent said during a press briefing.

Authorities said an undercover operative applied for a liposuction procedure, which requires professional medical expertise.

“Liposuction is considered an invasive procedure that requires the expertise of a medical professional,” the agent added.

The suspect was arrested after operatives entered the clinic and found two Filipino patients who had just undergone procedures.

“They are still fresh from their medical procedures,” the NBI said, noting this confirmed active medical practice inside the facility.

Authorities also seized medical equipment used in the operation. The suspect is facing charges for violation of the Medical Act of 1959.

Investigators said the clinic offered procedures at around P40,000—lower than rates charged by licensed practitioners, which can range from P50,000 to P80,000.

Officials warned the public to be cautious of unusually cheap procedures and to verify the credentials of practitioners.

“Kapag napuna ninyo na mas mura, i-verify muna ninyo kung ito ay may registration, may permits,” NBI Spokesperson Palmer Mallari said.

(If you notice the price is lower, verify first if the clinic is registered and has permits.)

The NBI also flagged new tactics used by illegal clinics to avoid detection, including restricting patients from using mobile phones during procedures. According to investigators, this may be intended to prevent communication with authorities or accomplices during entrapment operations.

Authorities added that such operations have become more “compartmentalized,” making it harder for both patients and law enforcement to identify those actually performing the procedures.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What do you think about this recent development? If you are a resident of Parañaque, do you feel angry about the illegal cosmetic procedures performed by the Vietnamese national before getting arrested? Are you concerned that there could be several patients who availed of the suspect’s illegal procedures? Do you think the suspect should be banned from returning to the Philippines? How do you think the clandestine clinic and the illegal procedures were set-up in the city in the first place? Do you personally know anyone who became a victim of the suspect?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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USCIS Makes Major Change Compelling Aliens To Return Home For Proper Processing Of The Adjustment Of Statuses

May 24, 2026May 23, 2026carlocarrasco

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) formally announced a major change that will compel aliens seeking the adjustment of status to return to their respective countries and go through the consular processing via the Department of State. The change marks the USCIS’ return to the law’s original intent to ensure that aliens navigate America’s immigration system properly.

To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the USCIS’ official announcement. Some parts in boldface…

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services today announced a new policy memo reiterating the fact that, consistent with long-standing immigration law and immigration court decisions, aliens seeking adjustment of status must do so through consular processing via the Department of State outside of the country.

Officers are directed to consider all relevant factors and information on a case-by-case basis when determining whether an alien warrants this extraordinary form of relief.

“We’re returning to the original intent of the law to ensure aliens navigate our nation’s immigration system properly. From now on, an alien who is in the U.S. temporarily and wants a Green Card must return to their home country to apply, except in extraordinary circumstances. This policy allows our immigration system to function as the law intended instead of incentivizing loopholes. When aliens apply from their home country, it reduces the need to find and remove those who decide to slip into the shadows and remain in the U.S. illegally after being denied residency,” said USCIS Spokesman Zach Kahler.

“Nonimmigrants, like students, temporary workers, or people on tourist visas, come to the U.S. for a short time and for a specific purpose. Our system is designed for them to leave when their visit is over. Their visit should not function as the first step in the Green Card process. Following the law allows the majority of these cases to be handled by the State Department at U.S. consular offices abroad and frees up limited USCIS resources to focus on processing other cases that fall under its purview, including visas for victims of violent crime and human trafficking, naturalization applications, and other priorities. The law was written this way for a reason, and despite the fact that it has been ignored for years, following it will help make our system fairer and more efficient.”

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? If you are an American citizen, do you agree with the USCIS’ change of policy and processes with regards to aliens who are already present in the United States while seeking to adjust their respective statuses? Do you think this latest change will somehow bring down the number of illegal immigrants/aliens present in America? Do you think it makes sense for aliens in America to go back home to their respective countries to apply for change of status at the U.S. consular?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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A Look Back at The Kindred #4 (1994)

May 15, 2026May 12, 2026carlocarrasco

Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from reading the comic book and doing personal research. Anyone who wants to use this article, in part or in whole, needs to secure first my permission and agree to cite me as the source and author. Let it be known that any unauthorized use of this article will constrain the author to pursue the remedies under R.A. No. 8293, the Revised Penal Code, and/or all applicable legal actions under the laws of the Philippines.

Welcome back, superhero fans, 1990s arts and culture enthusiasts, Image Comics and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the mid-1990s to examine one of the many tales of the WildStorm universe through The Kindred mini-series.

After reading the first three issues of this WildStorm mini-series, Grifter and Backlash were well defined as two former teammates of Team 7 who are at great odds with each other. Adding more emphasis to the Team 7 legacy and the dirty history of International Operations (IO) was IO officer John Lynch (who became a captive in this mini-series) and the revealed leader of the Kindred. The stage is set for the conclusion of this mini-series.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at The Kindred #4, published by Image Comics in 1994 with a story written by Jim Lee, Brandon Choi, Sean Ruffner and the illustrator himself, Brett Booth.

Early story

The story begins some time after the leader of the Kindred revealed himself to Lynch, Grifter, Backlash and Alicia Turner. It has been former IO operative and Team 7 member Roberto Diaz all along and he blamed Backlash for leaving him for dead more than twenty years prior during a desperate situation in South America.

On the orders of Diaz, a few of the beastly Kindred servants carried the severely damaged body of Backlash to a waterfall and threw him down. Elsewhere, Grifter is naked and contained in a water container with oxygen and a communication device attached to him. Roberto Diaz watches and communicates with him. Diaz tells Grifter that the his old identity is no more and the only thing he requires from him are gen samples which are crucial to better understand the genesis drug.

Diaz reveals to him that duplicating the genesis drug is crucial for the Kindred to create more life and be able to overwhelm the world and force it to recognize the might of the Kindred society. Grifter tries to reason with his former teammate by telling him that the genesis serum is something that is not meant to be tampered as it will lead to destruction…

Quality

This early, I can say that Jim Lee, Brandon Choi, Sean Ruffner and Brett Booth gave their best effort to make this final chapter very intriguing, dramatic and explosive to read at the same time. Along the way, they expanded the lore of the original WildStorm universe while building up anticipation for the Team 7 original mini-series (released in the 4^th quarter of 1994).

The writing got even stronger in this final issue in terms of storytelling and character development. Roberto Diaz is not a one-dimensional super villain. In fact, he strongly believes that he was betrayed not only by Team 7 and IO, but by humanity in general. As such, he found purpose with the Kindred during his survival days and injected himself with the genesis drug which enhanced him but also turned him into an addict (this alone added drug addiction as a key theme). As far as Roberto Diaz is concerned, he is on a path of no return and his obsession with vengeance against humanity justifies his leadership of the Kindred and the master plan to overwhelm humanity someday. In terms of geopolitics, this reminds me a lot about Islamic terrorists going up against Western civilization using violence while having their fellow Islamists migrate into different nations worldwide to overwhelm those societies from within. Of course, the concept of Diaz and the Kindred plotting against many billions of humans here is high fantasy mixed with unethical science, terrorism, infiltration and terrorism.

The creators managed to develop Grifter, Backlash and John Lynch even more. Lynch here is portrayed as very stressed and struggling with being responsible over the deaths of many men IO sent to rescue him. He even believed for a while that Backlash is dead and he knows fully well that the Kindred are not crazy but rather intelligent and are obsessed with seeking justice. In some ways, Lynch is also responsible for the Kindred and he reflects on what he did for decades for IO while serving as a Team 7 member with a leadership role.

*John Lynch in the prison cell with Colby.*

Grifter and Backlash, who are often visually featured in the promos of this mini-series, also have their fair share of the spotlight. Both heroes are severely beaten and not even their special talents or powers were enough to overcome the violent opposition of the Kindred. I like the way the creators emphasized Grifter’s (civilian identity: Cole Cash) personality as he got into the same prison cell with Alicia Turner who turned out to be involved with him several years prior. Grifter here is uneasy about the past not only as member of Team 7 but also as a person. As for Backlash, I’ll say that he has the classic heroic comeback in this issue and things got really tense between him and Roberto Diaz.

When it comes to superhero spectacle, this one is really packed with action and Brett Booth delivered some dynamic artworks to make the story look entertaining. When he draws the Kindred – those animalistic loyalists of Roberto Diaz – he makes them look horrific and intimidating from time to time. When it comes to drawing Backlash and Grifter, Booth’s take has some rough edges as this mini-series was produced before the start of the Backlash series.

Conclusion

*A dynamic action shot of a battered Grifter with Alicia Turner.*

I can say that The Kindred #4 (1994) is a worthy end to the mini-series. By the time the plot concluded, the lore and the paramilitary concepts of the original WildStorm universe got expanded a lot with emphasis on the legacy left behind by Team 7 and IO. Grifter, Backlash and John Lynch – all former teammates of Team 7 – got nicely developed here and their significance within the WildStorm universe got stronger. This comic book delivered intrigue, surprises and a good amount of spectacle from start to finish. It also succeeded in setting the stage for the late-1994 launch of Team 7.

Overall, The Kindred #4 (1994) is recommended.

+++++

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