Citizens, opponents, civil society organizations and workers of the Judiciary of Mexico who are on strike, protested to raise the pressure against the reform of the president, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, who seeks to have popular elections to appoint judges and the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation (SCJN).
The protest was repeated in different states of the Mexican territory, while, in Mexico City, a concentration of people marched from the historic Monument of the Revolution, along the main Paseo de la Reforma avenue and to the capital’s Zocalo, in front of the National Palace, the main public square in the country.
Among the positions that were heard from the north and to the south of the country in various public squares, it was defended that the proposal aims to violate judicial independence, the career of officials who aspire to climb by merit, as well as warned of risks to Mexican democracy and the counterweights to power.
“Judicial power, national counterweight,” “without color or party, justice has been imparted,” “if the people are informed, the reform does not pass,” “We are not opposition, we serve the nation,” “democracy yes, dictatorship no,” were just some of the slogans of the demonstrators.
Among the 700 demonstrators registered by the Secretariat of Citizen Security of the Mexican capital, workers of the Judicial Power of the Federation (PJF) demonstrated in the Zócalo, who have been on strike for a week.
It was last Monday, August 19, when PJF workers, including base administrators, secretaries of agreements and actuaries, decided to interrupt the work and go to a work stoppage, placing chains and locks on the doors of several judicial precincts.
Then judges and magistrates were added, which means the strike of at least 1,200 Mexican players throughout the country, according to data from the National Association of Magistrates and District Judges (Jufed).
The administrative body of the PJF, the Council of the Federal Judiciary, although it has endorsed the stoppage of work, reported that a regime of minimum services will be maintained to deal with serious or urgent cases.
On Thursday, the Mexican Government treamed to fire those who do not show up to work, as well as to cut their salaries, while workers and judges refuse to resume activities until there is a real negotiation on the judicial reform that is being promoted in Congress.
Meanwhile, the reform proposed by López Obrador supposes that anyone with a law degree could apply to be elected to head a court, although legislators have maintained that there will be controls so that they end up nominated on a ballot and that the current judges will have the right to be able to participate to rejoin the PJF.
The above has also triggered a series of warnings to the business climate in the country, as pointed out by the rating agency Fitch Ratings or entities such as Citibanamex, Bank of America and Stanley Morgan.
While the ambassadors in Mexico of the United States and Canada have revealed concerns of investors in their countries and the Mexican peso has felt the climate of risk aversion, touching almost 20 units during the week.
King Charles III of the United Kingdom reaffirmed the strength of the British-American relationship on Tuesday during a speech before the United States Congress, describing the alliance between the two nations as “irreplaceable and unbreakable.”
The address, delivered at the Capitol, marked the first speech by a British monarch before Congress since Queen Elizabeth II in 1991 and comes at a time of political tensions between Donald Trump’s administration and the Labour government of Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
“As President Trump himself observed during his state visit to Britain last autumn, the bond of kinship and identity between the United States and the United Kingdom is invaluable and eternal. It is irreplaceable and unbreakable,” the king said.
While reflecting on the upcoming 250th anniversary of U.S. independence, which will be commemorated this year, Charles III stated that the partnership between the two countries “was born out of disagreement, but is no less strong because of it.”
The monarch emphasized the democratic values shared by both nations and noted that major global changes have occurred whenever the two allies found common ground.
“When we have found that way to agree, great changes have taken place not only for the benefit of our peoples, but for all peoples,” he said.
King Charles also quoted British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who recently described the relationship as “an indispensable alliance.”
Concluding his speech, the monarch described the shared history of the United States and the United Kingdom as “a story of reconciliation, renewal, and an extraordinary partnership.”
He added that Washington and London have forged “one of the most consequential alliances in human history.”
“I pray with all my heart that our alliance continues to defend our shared values, together with our partners in Europe, the Commonwealth, and around the world, and that we ignore calls urging us to become increasingly isolationist,” Charles III stated.
The king ended by urging both nations to “recommit to one another in selfless service to our peoples and to all peoples of the world.”
The administration of President Donald Trump is evaluating new immigration guidelines that could deny permanent residency to immigrants based on their political views, according to a report published by The New York Times.
The proposed measures, outlined in internal Department of Homeland Security documents, would instruct immigration officials to take applicants’ public expressions and ideological positions into account when reviewing green card applications.
According to the report, cases involving “possible anti-American and/or antisemitic conduct or ideologies” would need to be referred to higher authorities for additional review.
Even if applicants have not violated any laws, authorities could still reject residency requests if they determine that individuals have “endorsed, promoted, or supported anti-American views.”
Among the factors listed in the guidelines are participation in pro-Palestinian activities, actions considered antisemitic, and the burning of the U.S. flag.
The documents reportedly describe such actions as “heavily negative” factors in immigration evaluations, potentially blocking applicants from obtaining permanent residency and, eventually, U.S. citizenship.
The directives also place particular attention on demonstrations held on university campuses following the 2023 Hamas attacks against Israel.
However, flag burning has previously been recognized by the U.S. Supreme Court as a form of protected free speech under the Constitution.
The proposal has sparked criticism from immigrant advocacy organizations, including the New York Immigration Coalition.
Its president, Murad Awawdeh, warned that the policies could pose a threat to fundamental rights and freedoms.
Mexican authorities arrested Audias Flores, known as “El Jardinero,” on Monday during a naval operation in the western state of Nayarit, delivering another major blow to the Cártel Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG).
Flores was considered one of the top regional leaders within the cartel and had reportedly overseen criminal operations along Mexico’s Pacific coast. Security analysts viewed him as a potential successor to slain drug kingpin Nemesio Oseguera.
The arrest was carried out by Mexico’s Navy Special Forces in a planned operation, according to Security Minister Omar García Harfuch.
The United States Department of the Treasury had previously identified Flores as a “significant foreign narcotics trafficker,” while U.S. authorities offered a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to his capture and extradition.
A U.S. grand jury indicted Flores in 2021 on charges including conspiracy to distribute cocaine and heroin.
His capture comes months after the reported death of “El Mencho,” an operation that Mexican authorities considered a priority due to the cartel leader’s alleged involvement in a 2020 assassination attempt against García Harfuch.
King Charles III Says U.S.-UK Alliance Is “Irreplaceable and Unbreakable”
Mexico Arrests CJNG Leader “El Jardinero” in Nayarit
U.S. allows Venezuela to fund Maduro and Cilia Flores’ legal defense
Suspect Armed With Shotgun and Knives Detained at White House Correspondents Dinner
Trump Administration Considers Denying Green Cards Over Political Views
U.S. Sanctions Network Linked to Fentanyl Trafficking Across India, Guatemala and Mexico
Guatemala’s President to Hold Private Interviews for Attorney General Candidates
