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President-elect Donald Trump will return to power next year with a raft of technological tools at his disposal that would help deliver his campaign promise of cracking down on immigration — among them, surveillance and artificial intelligence technology that the Biden administration already uses to help make crucial decisions in tracking, detaining and ultimately deporting immigrants lacking permanent legal status. While immigration officials have used the tech for years, an October letter from the Department of Homeland Security obtained exclusively by The Associated Press details how those tools — some of them powered by AI — help make life-altering decisions for immigrants, including whether they should be detained or surveilled. One algorithm, for example, ranks immigrants with a “Hurricane Score,” ranging from 1-5, to assess whether someone will “abscond” from the agency's supervision. The letter, sent by DHS Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer Eric Hysen to the immigrant rights group Just Futures Law, revealed that the score calculates the potential risk that an immigrant — with a pending case — will fail to check in with Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers. The algorithm relies on several factors, he said, including an immigrant’s number of violations and length of time in the program, and whether the person has a travel document. Hysen wrote that ICE officers consider the score, among other information, when making decisions about an immigrant’s case. “The Hurricane Score does not make decisions on detention, deportation, or surveillance; instead, it is used to inform human decision-making,” Hysen wrote. Also included in the government’s tool kit is a mobile app called SmartLINK that uses facial matching and can track an immigrant’s specific location. Nearly 200,000 people without legal status who are in removal proceedings are enrolled in the Alternatives to Detention program, under which certain immigrants can live in the U.S. while their immigration cases are pending. In exchange, SmartLINK and GPS trackers used by ICE rigorously surveil them and their movements. The phone application draws on facial matching technology and geolocation data, which has been used before to find and arrest those using the app. Just Futures Law wrote to Hysen earlier this year, questioning the fairness of using an algorithm to assess whether someone is a flight risk and raising concerns over how much data SmartLINK collects. Such AI systems, which score or screen people, are used widely but remain largely unregulated even though some have been found to discriminate on race, gender or other protected traits. DHS said in an email that it is committed to ensuring that its use of AI is transparent and safeguards privacy and civil rights while avoiding biases. The agency said it is working to implement the Biden administration’s requirements on using AI , but Hysen said in his letter that security officials may waive those requirements for certain uses. Trump has publicly vowed to repeal Biden's AI policy when he returns to the White House in January. “DHS uses AI to assist our personnel in their work, but DHS does not use the outputs of AI systems as the sole basis for any law enforcement action or denial of benefits,” a spokesperson for DHS told the AP. Trump has not revealed how he plans to carry out his promised deportation of an estimated 11 million people living in the country illegally. Although he has proposed invoking wartime powers, as well as military involvement, the plan would face major logistical challenges — such as where to keep those who have been detained and how to find people spread across the country — that AI-powered surveillance tools could potentially address. Karoline Leavitt, a spokesperson for Trump, did not answer questions about how they plan to use DHS’ tech, but said in a statement that “President Trump will marshal every federal and state power necessary to institute the largest deportation operation” in American history. Over 100 civil society groups sent a letter on Friday urging the Office of Management and Budget to require DHS to comply with the Biden administration’s guidelines. OMB did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Just Futures Law’s executive director, Paromita Shah, said if immigrants are scored as flight risks, they are more likely to remain in detention, "limiting their ability to prepare a defense in their case in immigration court, which is already difficult enough as it is.” SmartLINK, part of the Intensive Supervision Appearance Program, is run by BI Inc., a subsidiary of the private prison company The GEO Group. The GEO Group also contracts with ICE to run detention centers. ICE is tight-lipped about how it uses SmartLINK’s location feature to find and arrest immigrants. Still, public records show that during Trump’s first term in 2018, Manassas, Virginia-based employees of BI Inc. relayed immigrants’ GPS locations to federal authorities, who then arrested over 40 people. In a report last year to address privacy issues and concerns, DHS said that the mobile app includes security features that “prohibit access to information on the participant’s mobile device, with the exception of location data points when the app is open.” But the report notes that there remains a risk that data collected from people "may be misused for unauthorized persistent monitoring.” Such information could also be stored in other ICE and DHS databases and used for other DHS mission purposes, the report said. On investor calls earlier this month, private prison companies were clear-eyed about the opportunities ahead. The GEO Group’s executive chairman George Christopher Zoley said that he expects the incoming Trump administration to “take a much more aggressive approach regarding border security as well as interior enforcement and to request additional funding from Congress to achieve these goals.” “In GEO’s ISAP program, we can scale up from the present 182,500 participants to several hundreds of thousands, or even millions of participants,” Zoley said. That same day, the head of another private prison company told investors he would be watching closely to see how the new administration may change immigrant monitoring programs. “It’s an opportunity for multiple vendors to engage ICE about the program going forward and think about creative and innovative solutions to not only get better outcomes, but also scale up the program as necessary,” Damon Hininger, CEO of the private prison company CoreCivic Inc. said on an earnings call. GEO did not respond to requests for comment. In a statement, CoreCivic said that it has played “a valued but limited role in America’s immigration system” for both Democrats and Republicans for over 40 years.
LOWELL, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 11, 2024-- RevBio, Inc., announced that it has received FDA approval to expand its ongoing clinical trial to immediately fixate cranial flaps using TETRANITE ®, the company’s bone adhesive biomaterial. The company also received reimbursement coverage from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (“CMS”) for the use of TETRANITE to replace metal plates and screws. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241211734903/en/ The computed tomography (CT) image on the left shows a patient who received TETRANITE® to fixate their cranial flap three months following brain surgery. On the right, a post-operative CT scan of the same patient six months following their surgery shows the conformal nature of the skull restoration and the reintegration of the flap with the surrounding bone. (Photo: Business Wire) Previously, RevBio received FDA approval to initiate a first-in-human clinical study for an initial five patients to restore cranial flaps following craniotomy procedures and to repair extradural use cases where intentional durotomies are not required. The approval of this clinical trial expansion is a result of the successful demonstration of safety in the first five patients treated with TETRANITE. The neurosurgeon investigators involved in this study will now be able to use TETRANITE in intradural use cases, such as tumor resection surgeries and other cranial procedures, which require intentional durotomies. “Metal plates and screws can produce radiographic artifacts which make it difficult to accurately interpret patient imaging following surgery. Furthermore, traditional cranial flap closure methods do not lead to the full osseous reintegration of the flap with the skull, resulting in issues with flap movement, patient pain, and the potential for post-surgical infection. Because TETRANITE eliminates radiographic artifacts and results in osseous union of bone flaps with the surrounding skull, it could become the new standard of care for cranial surgeries,” said Kevin T. Foley, MD, professor in the Departments of Neurosurgery and Orthopedic Surgery & Biomedical Engineering at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis, Tennessee, Chairman of Semmes-Murphey Clinic, and Chairman of the Board and Medical Director for the Medical Education & Research Institute (MERI). Dr. Foley also serves as a member of the Board of Directors and Chief Medical Officer for RevBio. Furthermore, in conjunction with the clinical trial expansion, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid approved TETRANITE for medical insurance reimbursement when used to replace metal plates and screws for cranial flap fixation. Private insurance companies will also typically provide reimbursement for CMS approved products. As a result, RevBio can now charge hospitals for this product. “We are pleased to receive reimbursement approval from CMS during our IDE clinical trial,” said Grayson Allen, CFO/COO of RevBio. “This will enable RevBio to establish a price with healthcare providers, which is a very important step in the overall product commercialization process.” About RevBio, Inc. RevBio, Inc., is a clinical stage medical device company developing and commercializing TETRANITE ®, a patented, synthetic, injectable, self-setting, and osteoconductive adhesive biomaterial. This novel technology will be indicated for use in dental, cranial, and broader orthopaedic applications as well as animal health. TETRANITE is not yet approved for commercial use. View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241211734903/en/ CONTACT: Michael Tiedemann mtiedemann@revbio.com KEYWORD: MASSACHUSETTS UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: OTHER HEALTH RESEARCH MEDICAL DEVICES CLINICAL TRIALS SCIENCE SURGERY BIOTECHNOLOGY NEUROLOGY ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE FDA OTHER SCIENCE HEALTH SOURCE: RevBio, Inc. Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 12/11/2024 03:20 PM/DISC: 12/11/2024 03:20 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241211734903/en2 convicted in human smuggling case after Indian family froze to death on US-Canada border
David Gray is defiant in his stance that Hibernian can turn their fortunes around quickly if they can produce more performances similar to their pulsating 3-3 draw with Aberdeen. Rocky Bushiri scored his first goal for Hibs, earning that the spoils were shared in a thrilling Scottish Premiership match at Easter Road that featured three goals in added time. The hosts commanded a deserved lead at half-time through Joe Newell's deflected effort, but they failed to hold onto it for the fifth time this season. Aberdeen equalised with Jamie McGrath firing beyond Hibs goalkeeper Jordan Smith - who was making his first league appearance for the club - 10 minutes after the restart. And Nicky Devlin appeared to secure victory for the visitors with a well-placed finish following a corner on 76 minutes. However, this exciting, end-to-end encounter wasn't over there. It was just getting started. The chaos intensified as Nicky Cadden scored a stunning free-kick to level the match two minutes into stoppage time. Substitute Ester Sokler then put Aberdeen ahead with an impressive overhead kick, seemingly sealing their win. Yet, just over a minute later, Bushiri pounced on poor Aberdeen defending to net from close range, igniting celebrations from the home faithful and easing pressure on head coach Gray. Gray, evidently delighted with his team's never-say-die attitude, now believes his players have shown that there's something to work from as they look to climb away from the foot of the table. "I think we need to be positive, of course, because of the way that the game finished" he told BBC Sportsound. "We've been on the receiving end of this too many times, so from that point of view, it's certainly something to build from. "We need to be positive because the amount of commitment and effort that everybody is putting into it at the moment. If we can keep delivering performance levels like that, tidy up in areas which we know, I know we can turn this around quickly." Read more: Rodgers issues rallying cry: Celtic must not underestimate Club Brugge Aberdeen title talk 'madness' as captain discusses Celtic dominance Hibs fans voiced their frustration at the club's board amid their poor start to the season by unveiling multiple 'Sack the Board' banners during the match. But it was the Hibees support who left the stadium the happier come full-time, and Gray knows the importance of trying to keep them onside. "I think you seen that right to the very end," he indicated. "I've that numerous times that it's my job to change this. I fully understand the frustrations from the crowd and the noise from the outside, purely because of where we find ourselves. "But the crowd were with us right to the very end and we are going to need them to be there. They were fantastic tonight, staying right to the end and getting us over the line. Every game we've got moving forward when your in the position that we are in, we are all in it together, we've got to stick together and we really need them behind us to make sure that they drive us over the line. "They play such a bit part and you seen that at the end of the game tonight." (Image: SNS Group) Meanwhile, Aberdeen boss Jimmy Thelin felt his side needed to have better game management to see their way through to victory and admitted that there's still areas they need to improve. "It was a really roller-coaster, emotional game," he said. "There were a lot of chances for both teams. It was not really controlled in some parts but still the positive thing was the team spirit and the players who bring in the qualities on the pitch in the second half. They made a huge impact with an assist and goals, and also how they fight for each other. Read more: Jimmy Thelin: Aberdeen must refocus after first Premiership defeat Hibs fans in ‘sack the board’ protest outside Easter Road "That's the good thing from the game today that we came back from one down in an away game. We struggled in some parts of the game but still find a way to almost succeed to take the three points. "The feeling we had directly after the game when we spoke in the dressing room was we made collective mistakes, we need to be more ready, the game isn't over until it's over, and we had to be much more impact in the last bit. They picked up many second balls when they score their last goal and that's tough learning for everyone. But that's football , we have to learn from that and move on."Duolingo partners with Netflix for 'Squid Game' tie-in
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NFL will consider replay assist for facemask penalties and other playsMan City stunned again as Feyenoord fight back to draw 3-3 in the Champions LeagueRocksteady Studios’ Suicide Squad game is officially coming to its end. The fourth season of Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League will welcome a new playable character, Deathstroke, to the game, and “will mark the final battle against Brainiac,” the developer said Monday on the game’s official website . Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League ’s next update will also bring with it the game’s long-promised offline mode, though Rocksteady and publisher Warner Bros. say that “all online features will continue to be available” for the cooperative shooter. Season 4 of Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League will launch on Dec. 10, with Deathstroke, offline mode, and Episode 7 of the game’s story. Episode 8, the game’s conclusion, will arrive on Jan. 14, 2025 and feature the final battle against Brainiac, whom Suicide Squad players have been battling in various multiversal forms over the past year. Deathstroke will be the fourth post-launch character released for Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League , following The Joker, Mrs. Freeze, and Lawless. Rocksteady and Warner Bros. never announced additional characters beyond those four, though early leaks from datamining indicated that Rocksteady was considering releasing DC villains Katana and Killer Croc as playable characters. Offline mode for Kill the Justice League will let players experience the main story campaign and seasonal story mission content without the need for an internet connection. The game has thus far required that players be online , an early point of contention for players. Offline mode will require that players either create a new profile by starting from the beginning of the game or creating a copy of their existing profile to retain their progress. Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League launched in February to middling reviews and a cool commercial reception. Warner Bros. Discovery boss David Zaslav called the game “disappointing,” saying that Rocksteady’s game was partly responsible for a “$200 million impact” on the company’s games division’s earnings. Reception to the game’s DLC hasn’t fared much better . Suicide Squad has since been given away and heavily discounted . Rocksteady’s take on the Suicide Squad was a lightning rod for controversy, based on its tone, games-as-a-service leanings, and treatment of the Arkhamverse heroes like Batman . But after dramatically killing the likes of Superman, The Flash, and Green Lantern, Kill the Justice League started to bring back its once-dead heroes , pulling them in from various Elseworlds. Some story threads are still unresolved, but perhaps the fourth and final season will give players the closure they need. Gaming News PC PlayStation Xbox Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League
Maple Leafs' injury list gets even longer with no timeline for Matthew Knies' returnNone
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The World of Warcraft we know today is both intimately familiar and strikingly different from the game that launched two decades ago. This evolution, while sometimes jarring for long-time players, is entirely by design. Blizzard has consistently adapted WoW to changing player expectations, new technology, and evolving design philosophies. This article delves into the fascinating journey of World of Warcraft, exploring how it has managed to remain relevant while undergoing a constant metamorphosis. November 23, 2004, marked the dawn of a new era in online gaming . World of Warcraft, Blizzard Entertainment’s ambitious MMORPG, invited players to explore the vast and enchanting world of Azeroth. What started as a relatively niche genre exploded in popularity, with WoW at its forefront. The game’s success stemmed from its immersive world, engaging gameplay, and accessibility. It took the existing formula of Everquest and refined it, creating an experience that captivated millions. Twenty years and ten expansions later, World of Warcraft has become a titan of the gaming industry. Yet, it’s also a game that has undergone a dramatic transformation. From the simplistic class design of vanilla WoW to the complex specializations of today, from the grounded world of early Azeroth to the cosmic adventures in the Shadowlands, the game has continually reinvented itself. This constant evolution is a key reason for its longevity, but it also raises questions about the game’s identity and its future. The Ever-Shifting Sands of Time: A Personal Journey I remember stepping into Azeroth for the first time back in 2005. The world felt massive, dangerous, and full of wonder. Simple tasks like traveling from Elwynn Forest to Westfall were an adventure in themselves. Fast forward to today, and the game feels vastly different. Flying mounts, instant teleportation, and streamlined leveling have shrunk the world and accelerated the pace of play. While I appreciate the convenience these changes offer, I sometimes miss the sense of scale and exploration that defined early WoW. This feeling of change is echoed throughout the community . Veteran players often reminisce about the “good old days” of vanilla WoW, while newer players embrace the modern game with its faster pace and greater accessibility. This dichotomy highlights the challenge faced by Blizzard: how do you cater to a diverse player base with vastly different experiences and expectations? Evolving Gameplay: From Grind to Glamour One of the most significant changes in WoW’s history has been the shift in gameplay focus. Early WoW was defined by its challenging leveling process, time-consuming raids, and emphasis on community building. The game demanded patience, dedication, and a willingness to collaborate with others. Modern WoW, while still retaining elements of its hardcore roots, has become more accessible and streamlined. Leveling is faster, raids are more forgiving, and many quality-of-life improvements have been implemented. This shift has broadened the game’s appeal, but it has also led to criticism from some players who feel that WoW has lost its “soul.” The Lore Explosion: From Warcraft to World of Warcraft World of Warcraft’s lore has undergone a dramatic expansion since its inception. The original game drew heavily from the established Warcraft universe, focusing on the conflict between the Horde and the Alliance. Over time, the narrative has grown increasingly complex, introducing new races, cosmic forces, and alternate realities. This expansion of lore has been a double-edged sword. On the one hand, it has enriched the game’s world and provided countless hours of engaging storytelling. On the other hand, it has also led to criticism that the narrative has become convoluted and unfocused. Some players feel that the game has strayed too far from its Warcraft roots, venturing into territory that feels alien and disconnected. The Role of Nostalgia: Classic WoW and the Quest for the Past The launch of World of Warcraft Classic in 2019 was a testament to the enduring appeal of the original game. Millions of players flocked back to experience Azeroth in its “pristine” state, reliving the challenges and triumphs of vanilla WoW. The success of Classic WoW highlights the powerful role nostalgia plays in gaming. It also demonstrates the enduring appeal of the core gameplay loop that defined early WoW. While modern WoW may offer more content and convenience, Classic WoW provides a unique experience that cannot be replicated. Looking Ahead: The Future of World of Warcraft As World of Warcraft enters its third decade, the question remains: what does the future hold for this iconic MMORPG? Blizzard has shown a willingness to adapt and evolve, but it must also balance this with preserving the core elements that define the game. The upcoming expansion, Dragonflight, offers a glimpse into the future of WoW. It promises a return to Azeroth, a focus on exploration and discovery, and a renewed emphasis on player agency. Whether this will be enough to satisfy the game’s diverse community remains to be seen. One thing is certain: World of Warcraft will continue to evolve. The game that exists twenty years from now will likely be just as unrecognizable to us today as the current game is to players of vanilla WoW. This constant evolution is both exciting and daunting, but it is also a testament to the enduring appeal of Azeroth and its inhabitants. World of Warcraft at 20 is a game that is both familiar and unrecognizable. It has undergone a remarkable transformation, adapting to changing times and player expectations. While this evolution has sometimes been controversial, it has also ensured the game’s longevity. As WoW enters its third decade, it remains a vibrant and dynamic world, full of adventure and possibility.NFL will consider replay assist for facemask penalties and other plays
WASHINGTON — The House on Wednesday passed a $895 billion measure that authorizes a 1% increase in defense spending this fiscal year and would give a double-digit pay raise to about half of the enlisted service members in the military. The bill is traditionally strongly bipartisan, but some Democratic lawmakers opposed the inclusion of a ban on transgender medical treatments for children of military members if such treatment could result in sterilization. It passed by a vote of 281-140 and next moves to the Senate, where lawmakers sought a bigger boost in defense spending than the current measure allows. The Pentagon and the surrounding area is seen Jan. 26, 2020, from the air in Washington. Lawmakers are touting the bill's 14.5% pay raise for junior enlisted service members and a 4.5% increase for others as key to improving the quality of life for those serving in the U.S. military. Those serving as junior enlisted personnel are in pay grades that generally track with their first enlistment term. Lawmakers said service member pay failed to remain competitive with the private sector, forcing many military families to rely on food banks and government assistance programs to put food on the table. The bill also provides significant new resources for child care and housing. "No service member should have to live in squalid conditions and no military family should have to rely on food stamps to feed their children, but that's exactly what many of our service members are experiencing, especially the junior enlisted," said Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Ala., chairman of the House Armed Services Committee. "This bill goes a long way to fixing that." The bill sets key Pentagon policy that lawmakers will attempt to fund through a follow-up appropriations bill. The overall spending tracks the numbers established in a 2023 agreement that then-Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., reached with President Joe Biden to increase the nation's borrowing authority and avoid a federal default in exchange for spending restraints. Many senators had wanted to increase defense spending some $25 billion above what was called for in that agreement, but those efforts failed. Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., who is expected to serve as the next chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said the overall spending level was a "tremendous loss for our national defense," though he agreed with many provisions within the bill. "We need to make a generational investment to deter the Axis of Aggressors. I will not cease work with my congressional colleagues, the Trump administration, and others until we achieve it," Wicker said. Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., speaks with reporters Nov. 21 on Capitol Hill in Washington. House Republicans don't want to go above the McCarthy-Biden agreement for defense spending and are looking to go way below it for many non-defense programs. They are also focused on cultural issues. The bill prohibits funding for teaching critical race theory in the military and prohibits TRICARE health plans from covering gender dysphoria treatment for children under 18 if that treatment could result in sterilization. Rep. Adam Smith of Washington state, the ranking Democratic member of the House Armed Services Committee, said minors dealing with gender dysphoria is a "very real problem." He said the treatments available, including puberty blockers and hormone therapy, have proven effective at helping young people dealing with suicidal thoughts, anxiety and depression. "These treatments changed their lives and in many cases saved their lives," Smith said. "And in this bill, we decided we're going to bar service members' children from having access to that." Smith said the number of minors in service member families receiving transgender medical care extends into the thousands. He could have supported a study asking medical experts to determine whether such treatments are too often used, but a ban on health insurance coverage went too far. He said Speaker Mike Johnson's office insisted on the ban and said the provision "taints an otherwise excellent piece of legislation." Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, called the ban a step in the right direction, saying, "I think these questions need to be pulled out of the debate of defense, so we can get back to the business of defending the United States of America without having to deal with social engineering debates." Smith said he agrees with Roy that lawmakers should be focused on the military and not on cultural conflicts, "and yet, here it is in this bill." Branden Marty, a Navy veteran who served for 13 years, said the loss of health coverage for transgender medical treatments could prompt some with valuable experience to leave the military, affecting national security because "we already struggle from a recruiting and retention standpoint." He also said the bill could regularly force service members into difficult choices financially. "It will be tough for a lot of them because of out-of-pocket expenses, especially enlisted members who we know already struggle with food insecurity," said Marty, the father of a transgender teenager. "They don't get paid very much, so they're going to be making a lot of choices on a day-to-day, tactical level." House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., responds to reporters Dec. 6 during his weekly news conference at the Capitol in Washington. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, the House Democratic leader, said his team did not tell Democrats how to vote on the bill. "There's a lot of positive things in the National Defense Authorization Act that were negotiated in a bipartisan way, and there are some troubling provisions in a few areas as well," Jeffries said. Overall, 81 Democrats voted for the bill and 124 against it. On the Republican side, 200 voted for the bill and 16 against it. "It's disappointing to see 124 of my Democrat colleagues vote against our brave men and women in uniform over policies that have nothing to do with their intended mission," Johnson, R-La., said. The defense policy bill also looks to strengthen deterrence against China. It calls for investing $15.6 billion to build military capabilities in the Indo-Pacific region. The Biden administration requested about $10 billion. On Israel, the bill, among other things, includes an expansion of U.S. joint military exercises with Israel and a prohibition on the Pentagon citing casualty data from Hamas. The defense policy bill is one of the final measures that lawmakers view as a must-pass before making way for a new Congress in January. Rising threats from debt collectors against members of the U.S. armed forces are undermining national security, according to data from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), a federal watchdog that protects consumer rights. To manage the impact of financial stress on individual performance, the Defense Department dedicates precious resources to improving financial literacy, so service members know the dangers of notorious no-credit-check loans. “The financial well-being of service members and their families is one of the Department’s top priorities,” said Andrew Cohen, the director of financial readiness in the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense at the Pentagon. But debt collectors are gaining ground. Last quarter, debt collection complaints by U.S. military service members increased 24% , and attempts to collect on “debts not owed” surged 40%. Complaints by service members against debt collectors for deceptive practices ballooned from 1,360 in the fourth quarter of 2023 to 1,833 in the first quarter of 2024. “There’s a connection between the financial readiness and the readiness of a service member to perform their duty,” said Jim Rice, Assistant Director, Office of Servicemember Affairs at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Laws exist to protect the mission readiness of U.S. troops from being compromised by threats and intimidation, but debt collectors appear to be violating them at an alarming pace. “If they’re threatening to call your commander or get your security clearance revoked, that’s illegal,” says Deborah Olvera, financial readiness manager at Wounded Warriors Project, and a military spouse who’s been harassed herself by a collection agency that tried to extort money from her for a debt she didn’t owe. But after she requested the name of the original creditor, she never heard from them again. “The financial well-being of service members and their families is one of the Department’s top priorities.” —Andrew Cohen, Director of Financial Readiness at the Pentagon Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, it’s illegal for debt collectors to threaten to contact your boss or have you arrested because it violates your financial privacy. The FDCPA also prohibits debt collectors from making false, deceptive, or misleading representations in connection with the collection of a debt, even for borrowers with bad credit scores. But according to the data, debt collectors are increasingly ignoring those rules. “Debt collection continues to be one of the top consumer complaint categories,” said a spokesperson at the Federal Trade Commission. The commission released a report earlier this year revealing that consumers were scammed $10 billion in 2023, a new benchmark for fraud losses. In his book Debt: The First 5,000 Years, David Graeber argues that debt often creates a relationship that can feel more oppressive than systems of hierarchy, like slavery or caste systems because it starts by presuming equality between the debtor and the creditor. When the debtor falls into arrears, that equality is then destroyed. This sense of betrayal and the subsequent imbalance of power leads to widespread resentment toward lenders. Photo Credit: Olena Yakobchuk / Shutterstock The debt collector reportedly harassing military service members most was Resurgent Capital Services, a subsidiary of collection giant Sherman Financial Group. The company tacks on accrued interest and junk fees and tries to collect on debts purchased for pennies on the dollar from cable companies, hospitals, and credit card companies, among others. Sherman Financial Group is run by billionaire Benjamin Navarro, who has a reported net worth of $1.5 billion, according to Forbes. Sherman Financial also owns subprime lender Credit One Bank and LVNV Funding, which outsource collections to Resurgent Capital. According to CFPB data, the second worst offender is CL Holdings, the parent company of debt-buyer Jefferson Capital Systems. The company has also been named in numerous complaints to the Better Business Bureau for alleged violations of the FDCPA, such as failing to properly validate debts or update credit reports with accurate information. Under the leadership of CEO David Burton, Jefferson Capital Systems is a wholly-owned subsidiary of CompuCredit Corporation, which markets subprime credit cards under the names Aspire, Majestic, and others. The third most referenced debt collector is publicly traded Portfolio Recovery Associates [NASDAQ: PRAA], which was forced to pay $27 million in penalties for making false representations about debts, initiating lawsuits without proper documentation, and other violations. Portfolio Recovery Associates is run by CEO Vikram Atal. Fourth place for alleged worst offender goes to Encore Capital Group [NASDAQ ECPG], which was required to pay $42 million in consumer refunds and a $10 million penalty for violating the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Encore collects under its subsidiary Midland Credit Management Group. These debt collectors all operate under a veritable shell game of company and brand names, almost none of which are disclosed on their websites, sending consumers on a wild goose chase to try and figure out how they’re related to each other. But despite their attempts to hide their tracks behind a smoke screen of subsidiaries, a leopard can’t change its spots, and the CFPB complaint database makes it harder for them to try. Photo Credit: Bumble Dee / Shutterstock Although widely considered a consumer-friendly state, complaints spiked most in California, which saw a 188% increase in complaints filed from the fourth quarter of 2023 to the first quarter of 2024. California is home to 157,367 military personnel, making it the most populous state for active-duty service members. The second-largest increase in debt collection complaints was in Texas, which saw a 66% jump from the fourth quarter of 2023 to the first quarter of 2024. The U.S. Department of Defense reports 111,005 service members stationed in the Lone Star State, which is the third-most populous state for active-duty military. The rising trends do not correlate to the number of military personnel by state. Complaints against debt collectors in Virginia, the second most populous state with 126,145 active duty personnel, decreased by 29% in the same quarter-over-quarter period. And complaints filed quarter-over-quarter in North Carolina, the fifth most populous state with 91,077 military personnel, decreased by 3% in the same period. The third largest percentage increase in debt collection complaints was from service members stationed in Maryland, where alleged harassment reports jumped 112% from the fourth quarter of 2023 to the first quarter of 2024. Maryland ranks number 12 with just 28,059 active duty service members. Fourth place goes to Ohio – the 28th most populous active-duty state – where complaints doubled, followed by Arizona – the 15th most populous military state – where complaints were up 70% in the same quarter-over-quarter period. Photo Credit: PeopleImages.com - Yuri A / Shutterstock In 2007, Congress passed the Military Lending Act to cap the cost of credit to a 36% annual percentage rate, inclusive of junk fees and late charges, for active duty military service members. That rate is still considerably higher than average credit card rates, which range from 8% for borrowers with excellent credit scores to as high as 36% for borrowers with bad credit. But lenders still get hauled into court for violating the MLA. Don Hankey, the billionaire subprime auto lender who funded Donald Trump’s $175 million appeal bond , is among those violators. His company, Westlake Financial, which markets high-interest car loans for bad credit, has been sued twice by the Department of Justice for harassing military service members. In 2017, the DoJ alleged Hankey’s Westlake Financial illegally repossessed at least 70 vehicles owned by military service members. Westlake Financial paid $700,000 to settle the charges. In 2022, Westlake Financial paid $250,000 for allegedly cheating U.S. troops out of interest rates they were legally entitled to. Westlake Financial continues to receive complaints from military service members alleging abusive debt collection practices on its no-credit-check loans. A steady year-over-year increase in the number of complaints filed against Westlake Financial continued from 2020 to 2023. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau data shows a 13% increase in the number of complaints against the company from 2020 to 2021, a 28% increase from 2021 to 2022, and a torrential 119% surge from 2022 to 2023. The numbers suggest systemic complaint-handling processes and inadequate customer service resources. Photo Credit: Cynthia Shirk / Shutterstock On May 16, 2024, a deceptively named predatory lending industry front group dubbed the Community Financial Services Association of America (CFSA) lost a legal attempt to defund the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. In an effort to deprive Americans of essential consumer protections, the lobby group argued that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s funding structure was unconstitutional. But the Supreme Court denied its claim. In a 7-2 ruling, the Court held that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s funding structure is indeed constitutional. That means the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau cannot be defunded, but it does not mean the agency cannot be defanged. The New York Times suggested that Hankey’s incentive to finance Trump’s $175 million bond could have been a reciprocity pledge to neuter the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau if Trump wins the upcoming U.S. presidential election. If Trump wins a second term, he could replace Consumer Financial Protection Bureau director Rohit Chopra, an American consumer advocate, with a predatory lending advocate. In 2020, the Trump Administration secured a Supreme Court ruling that made it easier for the president to fire the head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The ruling struck down previous restrictions on when a president can fire the bureau’s director. Like other federal agencies, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has also been confronted for overstepping its bounds, pushing too far, and acting unfairly against entities it regulates. Photo Credit: Lux Blue / Shutterstock Seasonality and rising interest rates do not explain the increase in debt collection complaints from service members. The surge in complaints is not tied to predictable seasonal fluctuations or changes in interest rates. The increase in debt collection complaints by service members may point to underlying systemic issues, such as aggressive and predatory debt collection practices that exploit the unique financial vulnerabilities of service members, who face frequent relocations and deployments. Debt Complaints by Service Members The 24% spike in debt collection complaints exhibits no correlation to fluctuations in interest rates. 30-Year Fixed Mortgage Rates Pandemic stimulus checks were also not a factor. COVID-19 relief benefit checks went through three major rounds during the pandemic. The final round of Economic Impact Payments went out in March 2021 . To better understand the rising trend of debt collection complaints, we calculated the increase in the total number of complaints and the percentage increase quarter-over-quarter. For example, New Jersey has the second largest percentage increase in complaints quarter-over-quarter, but the total number of complaints increased by just 16. The data for this study was sourced from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) complaint database. The dataset specifically targeted complaints filed by U.S. military service members, identified using the tag “Servicemember” within Q4 2023 and Q1 2024. Readers can find the detailed research methodology underlying this news story in the accompanying section here . For complete results, see U.S. Troops Face Mounting Threats from Predatory Debt Collectors on BadCredit.org . Homelessness reached record levels in 2023, as rents and home prices continued to rise in most of the U.S. One group was particularly impacted: people who have served in the U.S. military. "This time last year, we knew the nation was facing a deadly public health crisis," Jeff Olivet, executive director of the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, said in a statement about the 2023 numbers. He said the latest homelessness estimates from the Department of Housing and Urban Development "confirms the depth of the crisis." At least 35,000 veterans were experiencing homelessness in 2023, according to HUD. While that's about half of what it was in 2009—when the organization began collecting data—things have plateaued in recent years despite active efforts to get that number to zero. Although they make up just 6.6% of the total homeless population, veterans are more likely to be at risk of homelessness than Americans overall. Of every 10,000 Americans, 20 were experiencing homelessness. Of veterans living in the United States, that number jumps to 22, HUD data shows. Complicated by bureaucracy, family dynamics, and prejudice, the path from serving in the military to homelessness is a long one. According to a 2022 study by Yale School of Medicine researchers, homelessness typically occurs within four years of leaving the military, as veterans must contend with the harsh reality of finding a job in a world where employers struggle to see how skills on the battlefield transfer to a corporate environment. These days, veterans also deal with historically high rent and home prices, which causes many to rely on family generosity while figuring out a game plan. Stacker examined academic studies, analyzed government data, and spoke with members of the Biden administration, experts, and former members of the armed forces to see the struggles members of the military face when leaving the armed forces. The Department of Veterans Affairs offers transition assistance to the roughly 250,000 service members who leave each year. However, those programs can be burdensome and complex to navigate, especially for those who don't have a plan for post-military life. Only a small portion of veterans have jobs lined up when they leave, according to 2019 Pew Research. Many also choose to live with relatives until they get on their feet, which can be longer than anticipated. Some former service members are unsure what kind of career they'd like to pursue and may have to get further education or training, Carl Castro, director of the Military and Veteran Programs at the Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work at the University of Southern California, told Stacker. "It takes years for that kind of transition," Castro said. Many have trouble finding a job after leaving the service, even if they are qualified. Some employers carry misconceptions about those who have served. A 2020 analysis from the journal Human Resource Management Review found that some veterans face hiring discrimination due to negative stereotypes that lead hiring managers to write them off as a poor culture fit. Underemployment, or working low-wage jobs below their skill level, is also an issue. While the unemployment rate for veterans was 3% in March 2024, a study released by Penn State at the end of 2023 found three years after leaving the service, 61% of veterans said they were underemployed because of perceived skill mismatches . This phenomenon can have long-term economic effects, and eventually, that frustration can boil over, strain relationships, and potentially lead to housing instability. Working, especially a low-wage job, is not protection against homelessness. A 2021 study from the University of Chicago found half of people living in homeless shelters and 2 in 5 unsheltered people were employed, full or part-time. High rents make it difficult to save up, even when applying for a VA loan—a mortgage backed by the Department of Veterans Affairs that typically has more favorable terms. While the VA does not require a downpayment, some lenders, who ultimately provide the loan, do. They're not entirely risk-free either, and veterans can still lose their homes if they are unable to keep up with their mortgages. In November 2023, the VA put a six-month pause on foreclosures when an NPR investigation found thousands of veterans were in danger of losing their homes after a COVID forbearance program ended. Biden officials pointed to high rents and the end of COVID-era housing restrictions like eviction moratoriums to explain the spike in Americans experiencing homelessness. In the last year, homelessness rose 12%—to more than 650,000 people—the highest level since data began being collected in 2007. Overall, more than half of people experiencing homelessness in 2023 live in states with high living costs. Most were in California, followed by New York and Florida. Western states, including Montana and Utah, experienced massive population growth during the pandemic, becoming hubs for remote workers who drove home prices and rents even further. For veterans, housing costs certainly play a role, but those who leave the military also face systemic barriers. "It's worrying there are people that continue to fall through the cracks," said Jeanette Yih Harvie, a research associate at Syracuse University's D'Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families. Just under a quarter of adults experiencing homelessness have a severe mental illness , according to 2022 HUD survey data. They are also likely to have chronic illnesses but are unable to maintain preventative care, which only exacerbates these problems. Veterans facing homelessness are more likely to have experienced trauma , either before or after joining the military, according to Yale researchers who analyzed the 2019-2020 National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study. Childhood trauma was among the most significant commonalities among vets who become homeless. Substance use disorder is also widespread and can indicate an undiagnosed mental illness . Racial and ethnic disparities are at play, too. A 2023 study in the Journal of Psychiatric Research showed that Hispanic and Black veterans were more likely to screen positive for PTSD, and Hispanic veterans were more likely to report having suicidal ideation. Overall, access to mental health care has improved in the last decade or so. In December 2023, the VA announced it would open nine additional counseling centers. However, the stigma of getting help remains, especially after years of being conditioned to be self-reliant and pull oneself up by their bootstraps. That help, in the form of public policy, is slowly working to catch up to the need. In 2023, the Biden administration invested millions into research programs and studies on suicide prevention by the VA office in addition to a proposed $16 billion to improve quality and lower-cost mental health care services for veterans. And, in February of this year, HUD and the VA announced they would give up to $14 million in vouchers to public housing agencies for veterans experiencing homelessness. The program would also offer case management and other services. Still, with a culture that pushes people to keep going, it can be challenging for servicemembers to take advantage of these opportunities, Harvie said. "When you've been doing that for the last 15 or 20 years, it's difficult to stop and say, 'I'm the person that needs help.'" Story editing by Kelly Glass. Copy editing by Kristen Wegrzyn. 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