Deported mom says toddler’s return to Venezuela after separation by US authorities was a ‘miracle’

Deported mom says toddler's return to Venezuela after separation by US authorities was a 'miracle'

A Venezuelan mother who was initiallydeportedfrom the US without her 2-year-old daughter says beingreunited with her childthis week felt like a "miracle." "Many times, I doubted that my daughter was going to come," said a tearful Yorely Bernal in an interview with Venezuelan news outlet La Iguana TV on Thursday. "But that miracle they gave me yesterday was something that there are no words to explain." Bernal was deported from the United States in March without her daughter Maikelys, who remained in foster care in the US. When Venezuelan First Lady Cilia Flores personally handed Maikelys Espinoza to Bernal at the presidential palace in Caracas on Wednesday, it put an end to nearly a year of separation between the two. According to the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Maikelys spent most of her time in the US in foster care under the custody of the US Office of Refugee Resettlement before being returned to her mother under court order. DHS claims that the separation was for the child's safety, alleging that Bernal and her partner, whom the US deported to the high-security CECOT prison in El Salvador earlier this year, are members of the Venezuelan criminal gang Tren de Aragua – something both parents deny. "The child's mother, Yorely Escarleth Bernal Inciarte, oversees recruitment of young women for drug smuggling and prostitution for Tren de Aragua," DHS alleged in a statement on May 14. The US government has not provided specific evidence for this allegation, and both Bernal and Espinoza say they have no affiliation with Tren de Aragua. Bernal told La Iguana that US authorities cited Bernal's upcoming immigration hearings at the time when they took first her daughter into custody last year. Bernal entered the United States with Maikelys and her partner Maiker Espinoza on May 14, 2024. All three were swiftly detained by US immigration authorities, Bernal told La Iguana, and Maikelys was removed from their care five days later. Months would pass before Mikaelys – who was just over a year old when they crossed the border – was able to see her mother again through a video calling app under immigration authorities' supervision, according to Bernal. At that point, the toddler no longer recognized her, she says. "They allowed me a video call once a week for thirty minutes," Bernal told La Iguana. "That's when I was able to see her. I knew it was her. But she didn't recognize me anymore. It had been about five months until I was able to see her again." Eventually, Bernal and Espinoza were able to see their daughter in 30-minute in-person visits, she says. In a Februaryaffidavitfiled in federal court, Espinoza said that this was around October 2024. Now reunited with her child in Venezuela, Bernal told Venezuelan media that she's still hopeful that her partner would eventually be set free from CECOT and join his family in Venezuela. "I know that he is going to be here, because he promised me," she said. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account atCNN.com

byKonstantin Pynzar

in

May 18, 2025

Deported mom says toddler’s return to Venezuela after separation by US authorities was a ‘miracle’

Deported mom says toddler's return to Venezuela after separation by US authorities was a 'miracle' A Venezuelan mother who was i...

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Caught between the U.S. and China, young people in Taiwan just want things to stay the same

Caught between the U.S. and China, young people in Taiwan just want things to stay the same

Young people inTaiwanare used to living with uncertainty when it comes toChina— a situation they generally say is for the best for the time being, particularly when recent actions by the Trump administration have some of them asking a certain question. "Can Taiwan continue to view the U.S. as an ally?" said Chan Yu-hsiang, 25, a graduate student at National Taiwan University. Chan's question reflects growing concern in Taiwan over the reliability of the U.S. as a security partner under PresidentDonald Trump, who has expressed support for the Beijing-claimed island in the face of Chinese military threats but also made critical remarks and upended trade relations. In aTaiwan government pollreleased in March, the percentage of respondents who said the U.S. military would "definitely" intervene in the event of a Chinese invasion dropped to 14% from 19% a year earlier. Almost half of respondents said the U.S. military was unlikely to intervene, the same as apoll by the Brookings Institutionconducted the same month. According to the same Taiwan government poll, 36% of respondents said U.S.-Taiwan relations would get worse under Trump, a 12% increase since January. Taiwan's rising wariness toward the U.S. comes amid growing pressure from China, which claims the self-governing democracy as its own territory and has not ruled out the use of force in achieving its unification goal. Beijing sends warplanes and ships toward the island on near-daily sorties. Last month, the Chinese militaryconducted large-scale drillsaround Taiwan in what it said was a warning to "separatist" forces. The Taiwan government has warned that Beijing could hold more drills in the coming days as the island marks one year under PresidentLai Ching-te, whom China describes as a "separatist" and "troublemaker." China has rebuffed multiple offers of talks from Lai, who says only Taiwan's 23 million people can decide its future. Beijing insists the island's future is "by no means an 'internal affair of Taiwan,'" warning that Taiwanese authorities would "suffer an apocalypse" if they sought formal independence. The U.S. has no formal relations with Taiwan but is its most important international backer, bound by law to provide it with defensive weapons. On Monday, Taiwan test-fired for the first time a new rocket system provided by the U.S. thatUkrainehas also used against Russia. Washington has long maintained a policy of "strategic ambiguity" when it comes to whether the U.S. military would defend Taiwan against a Chinese attack, not giving a definitive answer either way. Trump has not given any indication of a change in that policy. But he has unnerved Taiwan with comments accusing it of stealing semiconductor business from the U.S. and calling for Taiwan to pay more for its own defense, which it has pledged to do. Last month, he also slapped Taiwan with a 32% tariff on its goods, with an exemption for the chip industry, which makes up a big part of the Taiwan economy and which the U.S. relies on heavily. Taiwan has said it will not retaliate against the U.S. and that it is ready for trade talks "at any time," offering a package of zero tariffs on American goods and increased U.S. investment. The duties came as a surprise to Taiwan after state-backed chipmaker TSMC announced a plan in March toinvest an additional $100 millionin the U.S., where it is already building multiple factories. For Chan, this suggested that even Taiwan's "silicon shield" — the semiconductor industry that makes the island so indispensable to the global economy — is not enough to guarantee U.S. support. "If you keep giving away Taiwan's last line of defense, the U.S. will take advantage of it, but they won't necessarily treat you well," he said. "Why would Taiwan still believe that Trump would definitely deploy troops if it was to fall?" Though some U.S. officials and Taiwan's military point to 2027 — the 100th anniversary of the founding of China's People's Liberation Army — as a possible timeline for China to attack, polls show that most Taiwanese believean invasion is unlikelyin the next five years. Asurvey last yearby National Chengchi University in Taipei showed that over 88% of people in Taiwan support maintaining the status quo, in which Taiwan operates as a de facto independent country without formally declaring independence, a move that would risk all-out war with China. That's especially true for Taiwan's youngest voters, said Lev Nachman, a political scientist and assistant professor at National Taiwan University who hasstudied their views. Taiwan's Gen Zers "are by no means pro-China relative to other generations, but they don't have the same attitude towards Taiwan independence" as millennials do, he said. "Instead, we see younger generations having a much more sort of pro-status-quo approach to politics," Nachman said. Young people in Taiwan were too young to be radicalized in political upheavals such as the island's Sunflower Movement in 2014 and the martial law era, he said. They don't want to "rock any major boat" with any "radical change" in the Taiwan Strait, Nachman added, though the desire for unification with mainland China is still "incredibly low." The Taiwan government poll foundthat over a third of respondents ages 18 to 29 viewed China as the island's "primary threat" despite efforts by Beijing to win them over with preferential policies for studying and working in the mainland, as well as various activities including sponsored trips, internships and cultural events. Last year, over 4 million people from Taiwan visited mainland China for tourism, study or work, a year-over-year increase of 54.3%, according toofficial datareleased by Chinese authorities. According to China's Taiwan Affairs Office, young people were the "most active" group. "You are also Chinese. You are our family," Chan said he and other students from Taiwan were told by a tour guide last year on a Beijing-sponsored trip to the Chinese province of Henan. While some accuse Beijing of using such efforts to strengthen its sovereignty claims, these measures are "quite good" and enable young people in Taiwan to visit and explore different places, said Chen Pin-yin, a student at the National Taiwan University of Arts. Chen, 21, who is also pro status quo, said not everything is about politics. Young people in Taiwan are mainly concerned about practical issues such as the cost of living and their job prospects, she said. Chen did a one-month internship last summer for a variety show in the southern Chinese province of Hunan that was partly funded by Chinese organizers. The experience was "a dream come true" for Chen, who said the Chinese TV industry is "highly developed." She said she plans to pursue a master's degree in mainland China next year and that she would also consider working there. The most important thing "is to avoid wars for now," Chen said. "I hope the U.S. can play the role of a mediator when tensions are high."

byKonstantin Pynzar

in

May 18, 2025

Caught between the U.S. and China, young people in Taiwan just want things to stay the same

Caught between the U.S. and China, young people in Taiwan just want things to stay the same Young people inTaiwanare used to living with unc...

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Palm Springs fertility clinic ‘targeted’ in explosion that leaves one dead and at least 4 injured, officials say

Palm Springs fertility clinic 'targeted' in explosion that leaves one dead and at least 4 injured, officials say

At least one person is dead and four others injured after an explosion outside a fertility clinic in Palm Springs, California, authorities said Saturday. Investigators have preliminarily identified the individual believed to be responsible for the explosion as a 25-year-old man from the nearby city of Twentynine Palms, California, a law enforcement source told CNN. Officials believe the lone person killed in the explosion was likely responsible for the incident, CNN reported earlier, and authorities were investigating whether a residence in Twentynine Palms was associated with the attack. Due to the condition of the deceased individual's remains after the explosion, forensic testing will be conducted to help fully identify the suspect, the source said. Earlier Saturday, the FBI said they had "a person of interest in this investigation, but we are not actively out searching for a suspect." Officials are also aware of a rambling audio recording posted online in which a man describes his intention to attack an in vitro fertilization clinic, and they are working to determine whether it is associated with the incident, the law enforcement source told CNN. In the oftentimes incoherent audio message, the speaker discusses various grievances about his life, but the specific connection to IVF is unclear. The FBI is treating the explosion at the fertility clinic as an act of terrorism, according to Akil Davis, the agency's assistant director in charge of the Los Angeles' field office. "Make no mistake, this is an intentional act of terrorism," Davis said Saturday, adding the FBI believes the clinic was targeted. The agency's Joint Terrorism Task Force is working alongside the Palm Springs Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Davis said, describing the collaborative effort as "one of the largest bombing investigations we've had in Southern California." The blast took place around 11 a.m. local time outside American Reproductive Centers in Palm Springs, an upscale city around 100 miles from Los Angeles. Videos from the scene show plumes of smoke, blown out windows on nearby buildings, and sirens sounding off. A house in the city of Twentynine Palms, about 30 miles northeast of Palm Springs, was being investigated as possibly connected to the fertility clinic explosion, a law enforcement source briefed on the investigation told CNN. A neighborhood in Twentynine Palms was later evacuated amid a large-scale law enforcement operation,CNN affiliate KABCreported. A man who lives there told KABC that sheriff's deputies told him to evacuate because of suspected bomb-making material in a nearby house. An armored vehicle was at the scene, and officers were seen wearing tactical gear and working on a robot, according to a KABC crew. The KABC crew reported hearing a loud bang and officials shouting "fire in the hole." A spokesperson for the FBI's Los Angeles field office declined to comment about the "investigative activity" in the neighborhood but noted, "there are no known threats to public safety at this time." CNN reached out to Palm Spring's police and fire department, as well as the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department, about whether the evacuation in Twentynine Palms is connected to the fertility clinic explosion. Palm Springs Chief Andy Mills called the blast at the fertility clinic an "isolated" incident and said the "community is no longer at risk." "Terrorism came knocking on the door of Palm Springs. We survived, and I can tell you … this city will rise," Mills said. Although Davis said the attack appeared to be "targeted," he didn't specify whether authorities had identified a motive. The motivation behind the attack is still unclear, Palm Springs Mayor Ron deHarte told CNN Saturday. "We don't have the why or who yet," he said. Ina statement, American Reproductive Centers said no members of their team were harmed and their Palm Springs lab, "including all eggs, embryos, and reproductive materials" was undamaged. "Our mission has always been to help build families, and in times like these, we are reminded of just how fragile and precious life is," reads the clinic's statement. "In the face of this tragedy, we remain committed to creating hope—because we believe that healing begins with community, compassion, and care." American Reproductive Centers provides fertility services including in vitro fertilization, surrogacy and egg freezing, according to their website. The clinic describes itself as "Coachella Valley's first and only full-service fertility center and IVF lab." The American Society for Reproductive Medicine saidin a post on Xthey were "deeply concerned" about news of the explosion. Attorney General Pam Bondi said, "We are working to learn more, but let me be clear: the Trump administration understands that women and mothers are the heartbeat of America." "Violence against a fertility clinic is unforgivable," she said ina post on X. Deputies from the San Diego Sheriff's Office are conducting "extra patrols at fertility centers" within its jurisdiction, the agency said in a statement. There are "no known threats" to the San Diego County region, the statement continued. In vitro fertilization(IVF) is a common fertility treatment that can help families experiencing infertility: Around 2% of births in the US are the result of IVF. The technique involves removing eggs from ovaries and combining them with sperm inside a laboratory, before the fertilized egg is implanted in the uterus in the hopes of producing a successful pregnancy. The technique often involves freezing embryos for genetic testing or future use. Unused embryos may also be discarded or donated. IVF and the practice of discarding embryos has been the subject of someconservative and religious criticism; IVF procedures in Alabama stopped last year after the state Supreme Court ruled frozen embryos were legally children beforelater resuming. But a number of Republican lawmakers have alsovoiced their supportfor IVF, with President Donald Trump calling himself a "leader on IVF" andsigning legislationto expand access to the procedure. Witnesses to the disaster described a loud bang followed by smoke, with debris scattered across the scene. The debrief field spans over 250 yards, Davis said. "It looked like a movie," Nima Tabrizi, who witnessed the explosion while shopping at a nearby cannabis dispensary Saturday morning, told CNN's Jessica Dean. He heard a "boom" and then "everyone was just pointing, getting their cameras out, and we saw this large smoke," he recalled. Tabrizi said that he saw what he thought were human remains in the street before first responders rushed to the scene. The windows of a nearby liquor store were completely blown out, he added. "I can't imagine if you were within the immediate vicinity of that blast, for you not to get hurt," he said. "It was pretty wild," he said. "Never seen something like that before in my life." The blast created a "massive crime scene," police chief Mills said Saturday. "This is going to take a great deal of time for us to process the scene." He urged residents to leave any pieces of debris from the explosion where it is and call law enforcement to collect it as evidence. One building was on fire before being impacted by "structural collapse," Palm Springs Fire Department Paul Alvarado said Friday. Another eyewitness told CNN affiliate KABC that he was making a delivery for UberEats when he heard a "big bang." "All you see is just fire and disaster," Leon Bazilion said of the scene. He said he saw fragments of a car broken apart and on fire and "debris everywhere." "How is this possible here in Palm Springs, you know?" he said. "It's just a very scary situation right here." Gov. Gavin Newsom said he had been briefed on the explosion and he and his wife "are keeping everyone affected in our hearts"in a post on X. "The state is working closely with local and federal authorities as the investigation unfolds," he wrote. "Please avoid the area." CNN has reached out to the Palm Springs Fire Department for more information. Correction: This has been updated to reflect the affiliate network an eyewitness spoke to. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account atCNN.com

byKonstantin Pynzar

in

May 18, 2025

Palm Springs fertility clinic ‘targeted’ in explosion that leaves one dead and at least 4 injured, officials say

Palm Springs fertility clinic 'targeted' in explosion that leaves one dead and at least 4 injured, officials say At least one person...

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'80s Sex Symbol, 66, Unrecognizable at Grammy Hall of Fame Gala

'80s Sex Symbol, 66, Unrecognizable at Grammy Hall of Fame Gala

The2025 Grammy Hall of Fame Galawas held Friday, May 16 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California. Among those performing as part of the tributes to the inducted recordings was former Bangles frontwoman and total '80s sex symbol,Susanna Hoffs. The 66-year-old singer was part of the tribute to Cat Stevens' song "Wild World," which was one of 13 newly inducted recordings. The new Hall of Fame members include: No. 1 Record—Big Star(Album)"Color Him Father" —Linda Martell(Single)"Conga" —Gloria Estefan & Miami Sound Machine(Single)"How I Got Over" —Clara Ward(Single)J.D. Crowe & The New South—J.D. Crowe & The New South(Album)"Knock On Wood" —Eddie Floyd(Single)"Last Kind Words Blues" —Geeshie Wiley(Single)Never Too Much—Luther Vandross(Album)Reasonable Doubt—JAY-Z(Album)Supernatural—Santana(Album)Tea For The Tillerman—Cat Stevens(Album)Wrecking Ball—Emmylou Harris(Album)Zombie—Fela Kuti & Afrika 70(Album) Musicians who performed as part of the tributes includedJohn Mellencamp, Jon Batiste, Leslie Odom Jr., Orianthiand Hoffs. "It's a privilege to recognize these eclectic recordings as the 2025 Grammy Hall Of Fame inductees," saidHarvey Mason Jr., CEO of the Recording Academy, in a statement. "Music has the unique power to shape culture and mark moments in time. Each inducted recording reflects that spirit, and we're excited to celebrate these impactful works, ensuring their legacies continue to inspire generations to come." Michael Sticka, President/CEO of the Grammy Museum, echoed this sentiment, adding, "The Grammy Hall Of Fame serves as a vital bridge between music's past and present, honoring recordings that have left a lasting mark on our cultural landscape. We're proud to preserve and share these influential works at the annual Grammy Hall Of Fame Gala this spring." Following the breakup of The Bangles in 1989, Hoffs has released nine solo albums. She also married filmmakerJay Roachin 1993, and they share two sons,Jackson, 30, andSam, 26. Hoffs also wrote the 2023 romcom novelThis Bird Has Flown, which Universal Pictures purchased the rights to for a screen adaptation.

byKonstantin Pynzar

in

May 18, 2025

'80s Sex Symbol, 66, Unrecognizable at Grammy Hall of Fame Gala

'80s Sex Symbol, 66, Unrecognizable at Grammy Hall of Fame Gala The2025 Grammy Hall of Fame Galawas held Friday, May 16 at the Beverly H...

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Mariska Hargitay Reveals Shocking Family Secret She's Kept for More Than 30 Years in New Documentary

Mariska Hargitay Reveals Shocking Family Secret She's Kept for More Than 30 Years in New Documentary

SAMEER AL-DOUMY/AFP via Gett Mariska Hargitay revealed with the premiere of her documentaryMy Mom Jaynethat her biological father is not Mickey Hargitay, the man who raised her Her biological father is a former Las Vegas entertainer named Nelson Sardelli Mariska opened up about the revelation in an interview withVanity Fair, recounting the moment she first met and introduced herself to Sardelli, who is still alive and in his eighties Mariska Hargitayis opening up about a family secret she's kept for more than 30 years. At the Cannes Film Festival on Saturday, May 13, theLaw & Order: SVUactress, 61, revealed with the premiere of her documentaryMy Mom Jaynethat her biological father is not Mickey Hargitay, the man who raised her, but rather a former Las Vegas entertainer named Nelson Sardelli. John Nacion/Variety via Getty; Silver Screen Collection/Hulton Archive/Getty As Mariska explains in the documentary — which marks her feature film directorial debut — she first learned of Sardelli when she was 25. She confronted Mariska, the only father she'd ever known, with the news, and after he insisted he was her father, the two never spoke of it again. But it left Mariska with many questions, wondering if she was Hungarian like her father and her brothers, Zoltan and Mickey Jr., or if she was really Italian like Sardelli. The actress opened up further about the revelation about her father in an interview withVanity Fair. She told the outlet that she went to see Sardelli perform in Atlantic City, N.J., when she was 30 years old, and described his emotional reaction when she introduced herself. Moved to tears, he said, "I've been waiting 30 years for this moment." But Mariska said she found herself giving him a tough time and going "full Olivia Benson on him," referring to herSVUcharacter. "I was like, 'I don't want anything, I don't need anything from you.… I have a dad, ' " she recalled telling him, explaining, "There was something about loyalty. I wanted to be loyal to Mickey." She toldVanity Fairthat after the momentous meeting with Sardelli, she grappled with "knowing I'm living a lie my entire life." Sardelli, who is still alive and now in his late eighties, participates in the documentary, as do his other two daughters — Mariska's half sisters. Albert L. Ortega/Getty Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE's free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. In the film, Mariska explains that, at 61 years old, keeping this a secret was no longer necessary. Mariska also has an older sister, Jayne Marie Mansfield, from her mother's first marriage, as well as a younger brother, Tony Cimber, from her mother's third marriage, both of whom are also featured inMy Mom Jayne. The actress toldVanity Fairthat once she eventually built a bond with Sardelli and his daughters, she better understood that her mother returned to Mickey because she knew he would love and provide a stable home life for Mariska. "I grew up where I was supposed to, and I do know that everyone made the best choice for me," she said. "I'm Mickey Hargitay's daughter —thatis not a lie." BERTRAND GUAY/AFP via Getty "This documentary is kind of a love letter to him, because there's no one that I was closer to on this planet," she noted. Mariska toldVanity Fairthat she and her Sardelli sisters gathered together for a private screening of the documentary in Las Vegas, and recalled how they were overcome with emotion. "They just wept and wept and wept," she said. "These two women that I love so much — I made them secrets! It's so heartbreaking to me." For Mariska, sharing her story with the world in the documentary was a way to "unburden all of us." Following the film's premiere screening at Cannes on Saturday, the audience gave a five-minute standing ovation. Mariska was joined at the event by her husband, Peter Hermann, and three kids. Read the original article onPeople

byKonstantin Pynzar

in

May 18, 2025

Mariska Hargitay Reveals Shocking Family Secret She's Kept for More Than 30 Years in New Documentary

Mariska Hargitay Reveals Shocking Family Secret She's Kept for More Than 30 Years in New Documentary SAMEER AL-DOUMY/AFP via Gett Marisk...

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