International

Mexican agents find 415 migrants in Sonora state

Photo: EFE

September 26 |

Mexican authorities reported Monday that agents of the National Guard and the National Migration Institute (INM) patrolling the Aztec country’s border with the US have found 415 immigrants, including 67 minors, from 19 countries at various points in the state of Sonora in the last two weeks.

In a joint statement, both institutions highlighted that in the last 15 days border troops redoubled surveillance on the Hermosillo-Nogales highway in the municipality of Santa Ana, as well as in the arrivals halls of the Hermosillo International Airport.

The National Guard and the INM stated that the agents, who were carrying out security, surveillance and crime prevention tasks, searched several buses, passengers and cargo vehicles, as well as the air terminal lounges, where they located 308 men, 107 women and 67 minors.

The immigrants were citizens of various countries such as Albania, Bangladesh, Brazil, China, Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, Ghana, Guinea, Honduras, India, Mauritania, Nepal, Nicaragua, Senegal, Sri Lanka, El Congo and El Salvador, although no numbers were given for each nationality.

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As they did not have the documentation to prove their legal stay in Mexico, the foreigners were transferred to secure INM facilities where they received food and medical attention, as well as legal advice to legalize their status in the country.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) presented last Friday a report which showed that the variety of nationalities of migrants crossing Mexico to reach the U.S. is increasing, since after the Covid-19 pandemic a new migratory wave has been described in the region.

It was also reported that they are willing to pay between $6,000 and $12,000 to reach the U.S., often resorting to traffickers who profit from their desperation, which is why a call was made to create regular and safer routes for emigration in order to avoid the death of people.

Following the repeal of Title 42 of the U.S. immigration law, Mexico is experiencing an upturn in the flow of migrants, with hundreds of thousands of migrants crossing the country in multiple ways.

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International

Two killed in shooting at restaurant near Frankfurt Airport

Two people were shot dead early Tuesday at a restaurant in Raunheim, near Frankfurt Airport, according to local police.

Preliminary findings indicate that an armed individual entered the establishment at around 03:45 local time (02:45 GMT) and opened fire on the victims, who died at the scene from their injuries.

The suspect fled and remains at large, while the motive behind the shooting is still unclear, German media reported. Authorities have launched a large-scale search operation.

International

U.S. counterterrorism chief resigns over opposition to war in Iran

Joe Kent, director of the National Counterterrorism Center, announced Tuesday that he has resigned from his post, citing his opposition to the ongoing war in Iran.

In a post on X, Kent said he could not, “in good conscience,” support the conflict, arguing that Iran did not pose an imminent threat to the United States. He also claimed that the war was driven by pressure from Israel and its lobbying influence in Washington.

In a resignation letter addressed to Donald Trump, Kent alleged that at the start of the current administration, senior Israeli officials and influential figures in U.S. media carried out a disinformation campaign that undermined the “America First” platform and fostered pro-war sentiment aimed at triggering a conflict with Iran.

Kent further stated that he could not support sending a new generation of Americans to “fight and die in a war that provides no benefit to the American people and does not justify the cost in American lives.”

Since the United States and Israel launched attacks against Iran on February 28, at least 13 U.S. service members have been killed, while 10 others have been seriously wounded and around 200 have sustained minor injuries, according to a report published by The Wall Street Journal.

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International

German president warns Iran war could spread and disrupt Strait of Hormuz

The president of Germany, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, warned Monday that the war involving Iran could expand and further disrupt shipping through the strategic Strait of Hormuz. He urged a swift end to hostilities between Iran, United States and Israel.

Speaking in Panama City during a joint appearance with Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino, Steinmeier said available information suggests Iran has significant capacity to disrupt maritime traffic through the key oil route.

“Iran has considerable potential to interfere with shipping through the Strait of Hormuz,” Steinmeier said through an interpreter. “We should therefore reach an end to the hostilities as soon as possible and call on all parties involved to make that happen.”

The remarks came during Steinmeier’s visit to Panama, the first by a German president to the Central American nation.

The German leader described the possibility of the conflict spreading as “very dangerous,” saying recent developments indicate that such a scenario cannot be ruled out.

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Over the weekend, U.S. President Donald Trump urged allied nations to help ensure safe passage for ships through the Strait of Hormuz after Iran moved to block the waterway in response to U.S. strikes. However, several allies—particularly in Europe—have shown little support for the proposal.

“Some are very enthusiastic, others are not, and some are countries we have helped for many years,” Trump told reporters at the White House. “We have protected them from terrible external threats, and they’re not that enthusiastic. And the level of enthusiasm is important to me.”

Meanwhile, Kaja Kallas, the European Union’s top diplomat, said the Strait of Hormuz falls “outside NATO’s scope” and stressed that “the war involving Iran is not Europe’s war.”