The Biden administration has decided against extending parole for tens of thousands of Venezuelan migrants who entered the U.S. under a controversial program. This decision has sparked a heated debate on immigration policy, with Republicans criticizing the administration’s handling of the border crisis and immigration activists expressing outrage. The move comes as the administration seeks to address the ongoing border crisis and navigate the upcoming election.
Controversial self-styled godman Asaram Bapu, serving a life term for rape, has been granted a 7-day parole by the Rajasthan High Court for Ayurvedic treatment in Pune. This comes after two previous parole requests were denied due to potential law and order concerns. Asaram’s health has been a concern, with recent reports of chest pain and a coronary angiography revealing significant arterial blockages. The court ordered police custody throughout the treatment.
Kashmir MP Rashid Engineer, currently in jail on terror-funding charges, was granted two hours of custody parole by a Delhi court to take his oath as a Member of Parliament on July 5th. The decision came after the National Investigation Agency (NIA) gave its consent under certain conditions, including no media interaction. Engineer Rashid, who defeated Omar Abdullah in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, contested from Tihar jail, where he has been incarcerated for the past five years.
Reena Virk’s killer has expressed remorse and concern about a TV show about the 1997 murder, stating that it will re-victimize the family. The show, titled ‘Under the Bridge,’ explores the tragic event and has sparked mixed reactions from the public. Kelly Ellard (now Kerry Sim), who was 15 at the time of the murder, has acknowledged her role in Virk’s death and believes the show will further traumatize the family. Sim is currently serving a life sentence for the second-degree murder of Virk, who was 14 at the time.
Ellow Williams allegedly stalked a 23-year-old woman for several blocks before following her into her apartment building and raping her. During the attack, Williams placed a mask over his face and choked the victim while threatening to shoot her. After the assault, he stole $40 from her before fleeing the scene. Williams has been charged with multiple felonies and is scheduled to be back in court on April 29.
Robert Riley Saunders, a 54-year-old former case worker for the Ministry of Children and Family Development, has been denied full parole by the Parole Board of Canada. Saunders was convicted in 2022 for stealing over $460,000 from the ministry in the names of vulnerable Indigenous youth. Despite positive progress, the board raised concerns about the extent and nature of Saunders’s fraudulent activities, which spanned over two decades.
Disgraced Paralympian Oscar Pistorius has been pictured for the first time since his release from jail for killing his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp. The images show a visibly aged and weight-lost Pistorius with thinning gray hair. Friends of Steenkamp expressed sympathy for her mother, June Steenkamp, who lost her husband last year to a broken heart. Pistorius, now 37, was photographed reporting to the parole office in Pretoria. He has been paroled until 2029 and is subject to strict conditions, including attending anger management classes and abstaining from alcohol. While Pistorius has remained at his uncle’s mansion since his release, he is forbidden from contacting Steenkamp’s family or discussing the crime publicly.
