Evening Brief: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement Removes Age Limits for New Recruits, Putin Proposes Trump Summit as White House Demands Inclusion of Zelenskyy

· Guy D. McCardle

US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) recruitment campaign posters. (@ICEgov/X)

Tensions are rising, policies are shifting, and the headlines are moving fast. Tonight’s brief covers Trump’s eyes on a summit with Putin—if Zelenskyy’s included. Israel signals plans to fully control Gaza before handing it to Arab allies. The VA scraps union contracts for most employees, sparking backlash. ICE lifts age caps to fuel a massive hiring push. Plus: US bases face growing security threats, a deadly helicopter crash on the Mississippi, and Haiti’s new transitional leader braces for gang retaliation. Here’s what you need to know before the day ends.

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Two Pennsylvania State Troopers Shot in Susquehanna County

Two Pennsylvania state troopers were shot late Thursday morning along Route 171 near Thompson Township in Susquehanna County, a rural area bordering New York.

Governor Josh Shapiro confirmed the incident during an event outside Philadelphia and stated he was in contact with Pennsylvania State Police Commissioner Col. Christopher Paris, who responded to the scene.

Authorities have not released the identities of the troopers or details about the shooter, as of writing.

US Senator Dave McCormick and Representative Rob Bresnahan both acknowledged the incident. Bresnahan stated that the injured troopers are expected to remain in stable condition.

The investigation remains ongoing.

 

Two Killed in Helicopter Crash While Working on Power Lines Near Mississippi River

Two workers died Thursday when their helicopter struck power lines, crashed into a barge, and triggered a fire on the Mississippi River near East Alton, Illinois.

The crash occurred around 11 a.m. local time on the Missouri side of the river, about half a mile from the Melvin Price Lock and Dam.

Witnesses reported the helicopter hit the lines and exploded before crashing. The aircraft was being used by a contractor and subcontractor for Ameren to repair tower lighting and marker balls.

No one was on the barge at the time, and no additional injuries were reported.

Emergency crews from roughly a dozen agencies in Illinois and Missouri responded. A tugboat and local fire departments helped extinguish the fire, which produced thick black smoke.

The river is now closed to commercial traffic.

Authorities identified the helicopter as an MD 369. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will lead the investigation, with an NTSB investigator expected on site Friday.

Ameren expressed condolences to the victims’ families and said it would cooperate with the probe.

 

VA Terminates Union Contracts for Majority of Workforce, Sparks Backlash

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced it is ending collective bargaining agreements with most federal unions, impacting about 80 percent of its workforce.

The decision follows a federal court ruling that cleared the way for President Donald Trump’s March executive order excluding the VA and nearly two dozen agencies from labor relations programs.

The change removes official recognition of contracts negotiated by major unions, including the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), National Federation of Federal Employees, and National Nurses United. While workers can remain union members, the VA will no longer honor their negotiated protections.

VA Secretary Doug Collins said the move will refocus resources on veteran care, reclaim over 187,000 square feet of office and medical space used by union reps, and reduce time spent on union business. He accused unions of protecting underperforming employees at the expense of veterans.

Unions and Democratic lawmakers condemned the action. AFGE called it retaliation for opposing VA hospital closures and job cuts. National Nurses United said the decision threatens patient advocacy and healthcare quality.

The affected unions represent nurses, administrative workers, and healthcare staff, but not VA police, firefighters, or security personnel. The VA previously halted payroll-deducted union dues and required union officials to vacate federal office space or pay rent. Legal battles are ongoing, with AFGE vowing to continue fighting the order in court.

 

ICE Removes Age Limits for New Recruits, Pushes Aggressive Hiring Campaign

The Department of Homeland Security recently announced it is removing age limits for new hires at US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to meet expanded hiring goals backed by new congressional funding.

The change eliminates the previous age cap of 37 to 40 years, depending on position.

ICE applicants must still be at least 21 years old under current guidelines, though Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem stated applicants as young as 18 will now be accepted.

All recruits must pass medical, drug, and physical fitness screenings.

ICE, central to the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement agenda, received funding earlier this year to hire 10,000 additional personnel. The agency is actively recruiting deportation officers, investigators, and attorneys.

New hires can receive up to $50,000 in bonuses, student loan forgiveness, and guaranteed overtime.

ICE promoted the policy change on social media using military-style imagery and aggressive slogans.

The agency framed the recruitment drive as patriotic, using enthusiastic and provocative messaging to attract a broad range of applicants.

 

Recent US Military Base Shootings Reflect Ongoing Security and Safety Challenges

The recent shooting of five US Army soldiers at a Georgia base adds to a growing list of violent incidents at US military installations in recent years. These shootings range from personal disputes to acts of terrorism, often involving service members or outsiders with access to base facilities.

Notable recent cases include:

  • Fort Gordon (Dec 2023): A National Guard soldier was charged with murder after a fatal shooting at a former girlfriend’s residence on base grounds.
  • Fort Stewart (Dec 2022): A soldier fatally shot a sergeant using a privately owned firearm. Fellow soldiers subdued the gunman.
  • Grand Forks AFB (June 2020): A domestic violence-related shooting left a woman and a man dead.
  • NAS Corpus Christi (May 2020): A gunman wounded a sailor before being killed by security. The FBI treated it as a terror-related attack.
  • NAS Pensacola (Dec 2019): A Saudi trainee killed three American sailors and wounded eight. Officials linked the attack to al-Qaida.
  • Pearl Harbor Base (Dec 2019): A US Navy sailor killed two civilian workers before committing suicide.
  • NAS Oceana (Feb 2017): A sailor was shot dead after crashing a gate and confronting officers aggressively.
  • Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland (Apr 2016): An airman killed his commander and then himself.
  • Chattanooga (July 2015): A Kuwaiti-born gunman killed four Marines and a sailor in a two-site attack.
  • Fort Hood (Apr 2014): A soldier shot and killed three troops before taking his own life.
  • Washington Navy Yard (Sept 2013): A contract employee killed 12 people before being fatally shot by police.
  • Fort Hood (Nov 2009): Army psychiatrist Nidal Hasan killed 13 and injured over 30. He said the attack was in response to planned deployment to Afghanistan.

These incidents highlight persistent threats to safety and security at US military bases, stemming from a mix of internal conflicts, mental health issues, and terrorism-related motives.

 

US Air Force Denies Retirement to Transgender Troops, Enforces Separation Without Benefits

The US Air Force confirmed Thursday it will deny early retirement to all transgender service members with 15 to 18 years of service, forcing separation without retirement benefits.

Instead, affected personnel must choose between accepting a one-time lump-sum payout or facing involuntary separation.

Although some were initially told they could retire under exception requests, the Air Force said none of those exceptions were approved.

A spokesperson acknowledged about a dozen transgender service members had been “prematurely notified” of retirement eligibility before the reversal.

The policy follows the Supreme Court’s May decision allowing the Pentagon to enforce a ban on transgender military service. Shortly after, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued guidance giving openly serving transgender troops limited options for leaving the force.

A Pentagon official said the policy was designed to treat impacted individuals with “dignity and respect,” but affected service members described the process as dehumanizing, especially when forced to revert their records to birth gender.

This marks the latest implementation of the Trump administration’s ban, which mandates separation of all transgender personnel across the services.

 

Haiti’s Transitional Presidential Council Installs Business Leader as Gangs Threaten Overthrow

Haiti’s transitional presidential council appointed businessman Laurent Saint-Cyr as its new head Thursday, amid escalating gang violence and deepening political instability.

Saint-Cyr, a former Chamber of Commerce president, took office in Port-au-Prince under tight security as gang leader Jimmy “Barbecue” Chérizier issued threats to overthrow the government.

Saint-Cyr and newly named Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, both from Haiti’s private sector, now share executive power.

Saint-Cyr vowed to prioritize national security, restore state authority, and called on international partners to send reinforcements, noting the current UN-backed mission lacks personnel, equipment, and air support. The mission currently fields only 991 officers—well below its 2,500 target.

Hours before the ceremony, gunfire broke out across the capital. Gangs attacked security forces and set armored vehicles ablaze. Kenyan police, part of the international mission, came under Molotov attacks and suffered minor casualties.

Skirmishes also erupted between Saint-Cyr supporters and critics, some of whom accuse Haiti’s elites of enabling gang violence.

The UN reported over 1,500 deaths and 600 injuries from April through June, mostly during operations against gangs.

Gangs recently kidnapped eight people in Kenscoff, including an Irish missionary and a child.

With more than 1.3 million Haitians displaced, Saint-Cyr faces a collapsing state and armed groups that control 90 percent of Port-au-Prince.

 

Netanyahu Signals Full Gaza Takeover, Plans to Hand Control to Arab Forces

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Thursday that Israel aims to take full control of the Gaza Strip to eliminate Hamas and eventually hand over administration to allied Arab forces.

The statement came ahead of a Security Cabinet meeting to consider expanding the 22-month war, which has already devastated the territory and killed over 61,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.

Israel currently controls about 75 percent of Gaza. Expanding the operation would further risk civilian lives and the safety of the roughly 20 remaining Israeli hostages. Protests broke out in Jerusalem as hostage families warned the escalation could doom their loved ones.

Top Israeli security officials, including Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, cautioned against full occupation, citing strain on the military and danger to hostages.

Netanyahu told Fox News that Israel intends to remove Hamas and “hand it [Gaza] over to Arab forces” after creating a security perimeter. Far-right members of Netanyahu’s coalition continue to push for more extreme measures, including mass displacement of Palestinians and the reestablishment of Jewish settlements.

On Thursday, Israeli airstrikes and shootings killed at least 42 Palestinians, including 13 in a military zone near United Nations aid convoys. The area, known as the Morag Corridor, has seen multiple deaths and injuries in recent weeks as civilians seek food.

Israeli forces and contractors with the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) have been accused of using excessive force, including live rounds and pepper spray.

Doctors Without Borders (MSF) issued a scathing report accusing GHF of turning aid distribution sites into “death traps.” MSF documented 1,380 injuries and 28 deaths near GHF sites between June 7 and July 20, including 147 gunshot wounds and 41 child casualties.

GHF denied the claims, calling them part of a Hamas-led disinformation campaign.

The GHF system, backed by the US and Israel, was created as an alternative to the UN aid pipeline. Critics argue it puts civilians at risk and supports efforts to displace Gaza’s population.

The UN has denied allegations of aid diversion and condemned the GHF model for worsening humanitarian conditions.

 

Putin Proposes Trump Summit as White House Demands Inclusion of Zelenskyy

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced plans for a potential meeting with US President Donald Trump next week, possibly in the United Arab Emirates. However, the White House signaled the summit would not move forward unless Putin agrees to also meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

The announcement comes ahead of a US deadline for Russia to show progress in ending the three-year war in Ukraine or face additional sanctions.

Despite Putin’s openness to a future meeting with Zelenskyy under “certain conditions,” the Kremlin emphasized its current priority is a bilateral Trump-Putin summit.

No location or details have been finalized.

US officials, speaking anonymously, confirmed sanctions are still expected to be imposed Friday.

Trump has recently taken a harder line on Putin after earlier showing sympathy toward Moscow’s stance.

Defense and diplomatic officials see the summit as a potential but unlikely step toward ending the war, given Moscow and Kyiv’s wide differences.

Zelenskyy expressed concerns about being excluded and stressed the need for European involvement in any peace process. He reiterated Ukraine’s priorities: a ceasefire, long-term security guarantees, and inclusion of Western allies.

Meanwhile, Russian attacks on civilians continue, with a strike in Dnipro killing four and wounding eight this week.

A Gallup poll released Thursday revealed a major shift in Ukrainian public opinion. About 70 percent now support negotiations to end the war, a sharp decline from the 75 percent who backed continued fighting in 2022.

Views in Kyiv remain mixed on the value of a US-Russia summit, with many expressing doubts that Putin will make real concessions.

 

Thailand and Cambodia Agree to Monitor Ceasefire, Dispute Over Captured Soldiers Remains

Thailand and Cambodia agreed Thursday to deploy interim observer teams to monitor a fragile ceasefire that ended five days of deadly border clashes.

The agreement came at the close of a four-day General Border Committee meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, which aimed to ensure full implementation of the July 28 ceasefire brokered by Malaysia.

The clashes, triggered by a land mine explosion that wounded five Thai soldiers, left dozens dead and displaced more than 260,000 people on both sides of the border.

Each country will now deploy its own ASEAN-coordinated observer teams within their respective territories, pending a formal regional mission.

Cambodian Defense Minister Gen. Tea Seiha and Thai Deputy Defense Minister Gen. Natthaphon Nakpanit led the talks, with Malaysian Defense Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin and observers from the US and China in attendance.

US Ambassador Edgard D. Kagan called the outcome a key step but stressed the need for a sustainable ceasefire.

Despite the truce, both sides accuse each other of ceasefire violations, civilian attacks, and use of illegal weapons.

The unresolved fate of 18 Cambodian soldiers captured by Thailand after the ceasefire remains a flashpoint. Cambodia accuses Thailand of mistreatment, while Thai authorities call them prisoners of war and insist, they will only be released once the conflict formally ends.

Thailand said the men are in good health and being held in accordance with international humanitarian law, with Red Cross access confirmed.

Two wounded Cambodians from the captured unit have already been repatriated.

Tensions between the two nations have simmered for years over their shared 800-kilometer (500-mile) border and escalated in May after a fatal confrontation.

Economic pressure from the US, including tariff reductions, played a key role in pushing both sides toward the current ceasefire.

 

Sources: News Agencies