State Dept. condemns arrests, repression in Russia

The U.S. Department of State "strongly" condemned the mass arrests in Russia of protesters in a statement Saturday.

The department called for the release of the protesters and Kremlin critic Alexey Navalny, who was jailed last week after he returned to the country for the first time since recovering from poisoning with a nerve agent.

"The United States strongly condemns the use of harsh tactics against protesters and journalists this weekend in cities throughout Russia," State Department spokesperson Ned Price said in the statement. "The United States will stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our allies and partners in defense of human rights -- whether in Russia or wherever they come under threat."

Tens of thousands of people joined protests across dozens of cities in Russia Saturday. By early evening, police had detained over 1,600 people, according to OVD-Info, a group that monitors arrests.

In its statement, the State Department criticized the growing state of repression in Russia, from harassing protesters to threatening social media platforms, and defended Russians’ rights to protest and to free and fair elections.

It also called on Russia to explain the use of a chemical weapon on its soil and to cooperate with an international investigation.

-ABC News' Connor Finnegan

Earlier this week, the Biden administration announced a 100-day pause on deportations of most people living in the country illegally along with a new priority system for those who will still be subject to removal.

The memo makes clear that Homeland Security will not be issuing a full stop on arrests and removals, but rather focusing on those who pose a national security or public safety risk, including anyone convicted of an "aggravated felony."

"Nothing in this memorandum prohibits the apprehension or detention of individuals unlawfully in the United States who are not identified as priorities," the DHS memo reads. The announcements came as Biden also put forward his legislative immigration proposal, which provides a pathway to citizenship for 11 million undocumented immigrants.

-ABC News' Quinn Owen

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said Friday that the Senate trial in Trump's impeachment would begin the week of Feb. 8 -- a timeline that gives more leeway for Biden's Cabinet officials to be confirmed.

Right now, only two of Biden's appointees have been confirmed.

The House will deliver an article of impeachment against Trump on Monday, which will formally launch the impeachment trial against the former president, which could have begun as early as Tuesday.

The later date also allows Trump time to mount a legal defense.

-ABC News' Allison Pecorin

Biden and the president of Mexico spoke over the phone on Friday.

According to the the White House's readout, the Biden administration plans on "reversing the previous administration’s draconian immigration policies." Biden said he wants to increase the number of lawful immigration pathways, reduce migration by addressing its root causes, and improve processing asylum requests at the border. The two presidents agreed to work closely to together to both stem the flow of migration as well as coordinate the fight against COVID-19.

According to Mexico's readout, the conversation unfolded in a "cordial tone."