International
Trump visits the city he used to stigmatize Venezuelans and promises to “clean” the US
The former president of the United States (2017-2021) and Republican candidate, Donald Trump, sokened this Friday fears of migration in Aurora (Colorado), a city that he himself put at the center of national attention to criticize the policies of the Democratic government and promote false narratives about Venezuelan immigrants.
In a massive rally, Trump raised the tone of the xenophobic ideas that set the pace of his campaign, said that Venezuelan migrants have “infected” Aurora and promised to “clean” the country if he reaches the Presidency.
“On November 5, I will rescue all the cities that have been invaded and conquered,” stressed the former president, among cheers from the attendees.
Trump spoke in front of a false wall, decorated with the words ‘deport all illegals now’ and stood in the middle of the photos of two migrants, pointed out by local authorities as members of the transnational gang Tren de Aragua.
Trump and the myth
Aurora, a suburb of Denver – the capital of Colorado – jumped to the national sphere in Trump’s mouth and through the right-wing media ecosystem, as did social networks such as X or TikTok.
The area has become a kind of myth for the Republicans, who have drawn the image of a city “taken” by Venezuelan gangs.
In particular, they mention the Aragua Train, an organization born in a prison near Caracas and pointed out for crimes such as extortion and sexual exploitation of migrants in South America.
Local authorities deny this narrative, including the Republican mayor of Aurora, Mike Coffman, who said this week that “concerns about the activity of Venezuelan gangs are gross exaggeration.”
The Denver Metropolitan Area Police has acknowledged having identified the presence of members of the Aragua Train in the area and have pointed to 10 people, several of them already arrested.
The statistics
Multiple studies have shown that the migrant population commits fewer crimes than people born in the US and in Aurora, in particular, crime has decreased by 17% in the last five years, according to data compiled by the local network Denver 7.
Throughout the election campaign, the president has extrapolated individual cases of crimes committed by migrants in the country to stir up fears among foreigners and accuse the government of Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, his opponent in November, of promoting a policy of “open borders.”
“She has committed crimes by allowing these migrants to enter the United States. They are ruining our country,” Trump said.
The Democratic government, contrary to what Trump assures, has imposed harsh restrictions on asylum on the border that have been criticized by international organizations such as the UN agency for refugees.
As a result, the number of irregular crossings on the border with Mexico has reached its lowest point in four years and the number of deportations under this Government – including hot expulsions at the border – are on their way to surpassing those carried out during the four years that Trump was in power.
International
Floods in Central Vietnam leave 28 dead, thousands displaced
The death toll from heavy rains and flooding in central Vietnam has risen to 28, with six people reported missing and 43 injured, local newspaper VnExpress reported Friday night.
More than 22,100 homes remain flooded, primarily in the cities of Hue and Da Nang. Floods and landslides have destroyed or swept away 91 houses and damaged another 181, the report added.
Around 245,000 households are still without electricity, particularly in Da Nang, where over 225,000 homes are affected.
Additionally, 80 stretches of national highways are blocked or disrupted due to landslides. Authorities expect the flooding to continue for another day or two in the region.
International
FBI foils ISIS-Inspired attack in Michigan, arrests five teens
Kash Patel did not provide further details, but police sources told CBS News that the potential attack was “inspired” by the Islamic State (ISIS).
“This morning, the FBI thwarted a potential terrorist attack and arrested several individuals in Michigan who were allegedly planning a violent attack during the Halloween weekend,” Patel wrote on X.
“Thanks to swift action and close coordination with our local partners, a possible terrorist act was prevented before it could be carried out,” he added.
CBS reported that five people between the ages of 16 and 20 were arrested on Friday. At least one of them was reportedly acquainted with a former member of the Michigan National Guard, who was arrested in May for plotting an ISIS-inspired attack on a U.S. military facility in the Detroit suburbs.
International
U.S. warns China over Taiwan during high-level defense talks in Kuala Lumpur
U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth expressed concerns over China’s growing military activity near Taiwan during a meeting on Friday with Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun in Kuala Lumpur.
“It was a constructive and positive meeting,” Hegseth wrote on X. “I emphasized the importance of maintaining a balance of power in the Indo-Pacific and raised U.S. concerns about China’s actions around Taiwan,” the self-governed island that Beijing claims and does not rule out invading.
The meeting took place on the sidelines of the ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting-Plus, one day after U.S. President Donald Trump met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Busan, South Korea. According to Trump, Taiwan was not discussed during their talks.
“The United States does not seek conflict and will continue to firmly defend its interests, ensuring it maintains the capability to do so in the region,” Hegseth added in his message.
Friday’s encounter followed a September 9 video call between Hegseth and Dong. Their previously planned meeting at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore was canceled due to Dong’s absence from the event.
Trump’s sit-down with Xi — their first since 2019 — resulted in some trade agreements but avoided addressing the issue of Taiwan, a long-standing source of tension between the world’s two largest powers.
Trump has taken a more ambiguous stance on Taiwan’s future compared with former President Joe Biden, who repeatedly stated that Washington would support Taipei if China launched an invasion. The Republican president has also criticized Taiwan for “stealing” the U.S. semiconductor industry.
Floods in Central Vietnam leave 28 dead, thousands displaced
FBI foils ISIS-Inspired attack in Michigan, arrests five teens
U.S. warns China over Taiwan during high-level defense talks in Kuala Lumpur
Tec de Monterrey honors one of its students for his contribution to nanotechnology in medicine
Defense Minister commends salvadoran soldier for Central American Cross Country victory
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