International

After the new restrictions, fewer migrants can apply for asylum at the U.S. border

After the entry into force of a series of restrictions on the southern border of the United States, the number of migrants who can apply for asylum or some type of protection in the country has been reduced, several officials reported.

The measures, which were activated last week through an executive order of President Joe Biden, prohibit the majority of people who irregularly cross into U.S. territory from accessing this protection.

According to officials, a small group of media, including EFE, indicated the number of migrants who were referred to be deported in a “expedited” way to their countries or expelled to Mexico. This after being stopped at the border has doubled in the last week.

Specifically, from June 5 to 12, “73% of the family units and detained adults were prosecuted for voluntary return or expeditious deportation.”

In comparison, the week before the restrictions came into effect, this figure was 36%.

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An official of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) indicated that “the number of arrests in the El Paso sector (Texas) has decreased a little” and that they have seen “early signs that the number of arrests throughout the border is decreasing.”

In turn, he assured that since the restrictions came into feal “the number of adults and family units that are processed and detained for expeditious deportation has doubled.”

When asked about the effect of the restrictions on the number of people who are subject to detention every day at the border, officials assured that it is “very soon” to evaluate it.

However, an official of the Office of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) indicated that “the number of arrests in the El Paso sector has decreased a little” and that he has seen “early signs that the number of arrests throughout the border is decreasing.”

In the El Paso area, where the authorities built a large processing center with capacity for 2,500 migrants, the “majority” of the people in detention have not been able to apply for asylum, according to an officer of the Border Patrol.

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The reason, the officer said, is that they are not expressing that they are afraid of being returned to their countries.

As part of the new measures, people who are stopped crossing irregularly have to express on their own that they are afraid to return to their countries of origin.

The new restrictions eliminated the requirement for the Border Patrol to ask migrants if they were afraid of return. Now they must be the ones who express it to be able to have a “credible fear” interview, the initial filter to be able to access some type of protection in the United States.

The official explained that in different parts of the center, there are posters explaining this change to migrants. EFE could only see one, in the area where the initial data is taken.

The facility, located in the middle of the desert, is composed of several tents and containers and extends for more than 300.00 square feet.

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This Thursday, more than 1,321 migrants were detained in this center, according to the official.

It has a capacity for 2,500 people and today there were 1,320. In these facilities, about 700 people work daily, including CBP officials and contractors.

In this center, there are detainees both families and adults who travel alone and unaccompanied minors.

Migrants are detained in dozens of cells, with transparent doors. In each of them, they sleep and spend the day of 15 to 20 people.

Each cell has three toilets and two sinks. There are also several mats that people use to sleep on the floor. They are given an aluminum blanket to cover themselves.

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Several human rights organizations filed a lawsuit on Wednesday against the new restrictions imposed by Biden.

The organizations argued that the regulations are “categorically inconsistent with the asylum statute promulgated by Congress, which allows immigrants to submit asylum applications “whether they enter or not” through a port of entry.”

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.”