The Federal Aviation Administration briefly shut down the airspace over El Paso, Texas, for ten days, a decision that surprised local officials and disrupted travelers, according to a report from the New York Times. The restrictions, which began late Tuesday, were lifted less than eight hours later, but the reason for the abrupt shutdown of the major regional airport remains unclear.
The order, which came without warning, halted all flights to and from El Paso International Airport within a 10-mile radius. While Trump administration officials suggested Mexican cartel drones had breached U.S. airspace, others disputed that explanation, according to the NY Times.
In other news, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard ended the work of a task force that sought to reform the U.S. intelligence community after less than a year since its creation, according to Fox News. The task force, established in April, was also tasked with probing ways to reduce spending on intelligence and whether reports on high-profile topics such as COVID-19 should be declassified.
Also, a federal judge in Louisiana released four illegal immigrants with lengthy criminal records, including convictions for murder and child sex crimes, from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody earlier this month, according to Fox News. Judge John deGravelles, an Obama appointee, granted the defendants release on February 6.
Meanwhile, the Internal Revenue Service improperly disclosed the confidential taxpayer information of thousands of people with the Department of Homeland Security, according to a new court filing reported by Fox News. This was part of an agreement to share immigrant data to help identify those living in the country illegally.
Finally, chaos erupted on New York City's Upper East Side as residents protested a planned homeless shelter, according to Fox News. At a Community Board 8 Manhattan meeting, opponents voiced concerns about the shelter's proximity to schools and daycares, accusing city officials of rushing the process to limit community input. The women's shelter, converted from a men's facility, is slated to open around April and will accommodate up to 250 women.
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