International
Texas Governor criticizes the new restrictions on Biden’s asylum: “They don’t change anything”
The governor of Texas, Greg Abbott, criticized the new restrictions on asylum at the border announced by the Administration of President Joe Biden, assuring that they will do nothing to reduce irregular crossings.
The measures, which came into effect this Wednesday morning, “do not change anything with respect to the chaos that Biden created on the border,” the Republican said in an interview with Fox News.
As of today, most people subject to detention crossing irregularly to the United States will be considered “unfit” to seek asylum, except in some exceptional cases or that meet stricter standards to apply to other types of protections.
The restrictions, harshly criticized by human rights groups, will only be lifted when irregular crossings drop from more than 2,500 to an average of 1,500 a day, a figure that has not been recorded since 2020.
Abbott, a close ally of former President Donald Trump and a pioneer in anti-immigrant measures in the United States, assured that what the restrictions will do is increase the number of people crossing without being detected by the authorities.
“It will attract more people to come to our country illegally; there are people who cross every day who do not want to ask for asylum, who are criminals, rapists, murderers,” he said in the interview.
To apply for asylum in the United States, the law stipulates that a person must already be in U.S. territory.
In 2023, the Biden government imposed a dating system, through a mobile application called CBP One, which limits the number of people who can show up each day at the ports of entry to ask for this protection. Throughout the border, which spans more than 3,139 kilometers, there are only 1,450 daily appointments available.
Desperate and in the face of the dangers of staying in Mexico, where they are subject to the violence of cartels and insecurity, many migrants decide to cross irregularly into the United States to surrender to the US authorities.
The new restrictions seek to prevent most of these people from seeking asylum and being quickly deported to their countries of origin or to Mexico if they are Mexican, Venezuelan, Cuban, Haitian or Nicaraguan.
However, it remains to be seen how the Government manages to enforce the new orders, since it has a limited capacity both to keep people in detention centers for migrants and to carry out deportation flights.
Hundreds of thousands of people have arrived so far this year at the southern border of the United States, the world’s first economy, in search of better opportunities and fleeing deep social and political crises in countries such as Venezuela, Nicaragua or Haiti.
The entire American continent is registering high numbers of people movement, with more than 21 million currently displaced, according to data from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
International
Colombia to Send High-Level Delegation to Ecuador to Ease Trade Tensions
Colombia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed on Friday that, at the instruction of President Gustavo Petro, a high-level delegation will travel to Ecuador in an effort to normalize bilateral relations, which have deteriorated following the imposition of reciprocal tariffs.
“In line with Colombia’s policy of good neighborliness and the spirit of cooperation and integration that guides its foreign policy,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement, adding that the delegation will be led by Foreign Minister Rosa Villavicencio and Defense Minister Pedro Sánchez.
“Following instructions from the Presidency of the Republic, and as has been publicly reiterated, the Colombian delegation expects to reaffirm Colombia’s offer of support to the Republic of Ecuador to strengthen control over phenomena stemming from transnational organized crime,” the statement said.
The Foreign Ministry noted that the delegation will attend the meeting with a full willingness to engage in dialogue and to seek concrete solutions to the unilateral measures that have affected the longstanding relationship between the two neighboring countries.
Trade tensions between Ecuador and Colombia escalated on January 21, when Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboaimposed a 30% tariff on Colombian products, citing a lack of cooperation in anti-drug efforts. Colombia responded with similar measures and the suspension of energy exports, while Ecuador increased transportation costs for Colombian crude oil.
Business associations in both countries have warned that the dispute is harming both economies and have called on the governments to resolve their differences through dialogue.
International
Super Bowl Halftime Show Puts Bad Bunny—and Immigration Politics—Back in the Spotlight
The long-standing argument that sports and politics should not mix may be put to the test on Sunday during the Super Bowl halftime show, which will be headlined by Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny, a choice that has sparked backlash from segments of the U.S. right wing.
Just one week after his headline-making appearance at the Grammy Awards—where he sharply criticized the United States’ anti-immigration policies—Bad Bunny will once again take center stage on the global spotlight with his performance at the NFL final in Santa Clara, California.
Beyond the expectations surrounding the show itself, speculation has grown over whether the artist could again use the platform to protest policies associated with the administration of former President Donald Trump, in front of an audience expected to exceed 120 million viewers in the United States alone.
In fact, one of the most popular Super Bowl prop bets this year revolves around whether the Puerto Rican singer will deliver a direct message against ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement), similar to the one he delivered at the Grammys last Sunday.
While few expect Bad Bunny to repeat such a pointed statement, the mere speculation highlights the delicate balance the NFL must manage during the most-watched broadcast of the year.
The world’s most powerful sports league has drawn criticism from the MAGA movement since announcing in September that Bad Bunny would headline a halftime show largely performed in Spanish.
Trump himself declined to attend the matchup between the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks, despite having made history last year as the first sitting U.S. president to attend a Super Bowl. He described the musical lineup—which also includes outspoken critics such as Green Day—as “a terrible choice” that would “sow hatred.” In response, his supporters have organized an alternative event dubbed the “All-American Halftime Show,” featuring like-minded artists such as Kid Rock.
International
Venezuela Debates Broad Amnesty Law Covering 27 Years of Chavismo
Venezuela’s Parliament began debating on Thursday a sweeping amnesty bill that would cover the 27 years of Chavismo in power, while explicitly excluding serious human rights violations and crimes against humanity.
The proposed legislation, titled the “Amnesty Law for Democratic Coexistence,” was introduced by interim President Delcy Rodríguez, who assumed power following the capture of Nicolás Maduro during a U.S. military operation.
The legislative session was convened for Thursday afternoon, with lawmakers holding an initial discussion focused on the general principles of the bill. This phase precedes a consultation process with civil society, after which the proposal will move to a final debate examining each article individually.
According to a draft of the bill obtained by AFP, the amnesty would apply to individuals accused of crimes such as “treason,” “terrorism,” and “incitement to hatred,” charges that were frequently brought against political prisoners over the past decades. The scope also includes offenses ranging from acts of rebellion to punishments imposed for social media posts or messages sent through private messaging services.
The bill’s explanatory text emphasizes reconciliation, stating that it seeks to move away from “vengeance, retaliation, and hatred” in favor of “opening a path toward reconciliation.”
However, the proposal explicitly excludes from its benefits crimes such as “serious human rights violations, crimes against humanity, war crimes, intentional homicide, corruption, and drug trafficking.”
These exclusions, the text notes, are based on strict compliance with the Venezuelan Constitution, which already prohibits granting amnesties or pardons for such offenses.
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