International

Migrants from Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela are left in limbo in Mexico due to US measures.

Migrants from Venezuela, Nicaragua, Haiti and Cuba are in limbo on the border of Mexico after the decision of the President of the United States, Joe Biden, not to extend temporary permits for these nationalities and the promise of the former president (2017-2021) and Republican candidate, Donald Trump, to eliminate the ‘humanitarian parole’.

The immigration restrictions, imposed as the US presidential elections approach on November 5, affect Ciudad Juárez, the epicenter of the humanitarian migration crisis in Mexico.

In the face of the elections and the change in migration policy, “there are still many people who are surely expectant, attentive to the international political dynamic,” said Jesús Enrique Valenzuela, general coordinator of the State Population Council (COESPO).

“Even, we must say, this type of situation that occurs both in Mexico and in the United States and that, in some way, could affect migration policy, because of course they somehow impact the flow of people,” he told EFE.

Without permission to migrate

The Biden Government announced on October 4 that it will not allow people from Cuba, Nicaragua, Haiti and Venezuela who arrived in the country with a program known as ‘humanitarian speech’ to extend the migration benefit for more than two years.

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More than half a million people of these four nationalities have entered the country under the program, which began in October 2022 for Venezuelans and extended to the other three nationalities in February 2023.

The decision, announced less than a month before the November 5 elections, came amid criticism from Trump, who said in September that, if he returned to the White House, he would end up with the benefit.

This has left migrants who are stranded in Mexico “very worried”, such as Nicaraguan Lionel Martín Olivas.

“I left my country because I am politically persecuted and in that fact I would no longer be able to return to my country and, if they do not let me into the United States either, then it hurts me a lot because it would be in the air, I would not know what to do anymore. And, like everything, one is thinking about reaching the United States to get ahead,” he said.

Humanitarian permits for migrants

Humanitarian permits, implemented by the current Administration, allowed migrants from these countries to apply for temporary protection in the United States due to the crises in their home nations, but Trump maintained that this measure is “an invitation to uncontrolled immigration.”

Migrants who left these countries in the hope of seeking asylum in the United States now feel that their journey was in vain.

“It seems unfair to me because one spends so much work to get here and one is applying, that is, to pass legally. One is no longer going through the wall or anything like that and it seems unfair to me that you want to close the application to so many people that we want to pass legally,” said Darlenis, originally from Venezuela.

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The Government of Mexico reported 200,289 Venezuelans “in an irregular migration situation” in the first half of 2024, 215% more than reported in the same period of the previous year, so Venezuela is the main country of origin of irregular migrants in Mexico, where they represent more than one in four.

Migration is one of the pillars of Trump’s campaign, who has also promised to reinstate other more restrictive policies, such as the construction of the border wall and the re-establishment of the ‘Stay in Mexico’ program, which forces asylum seekers to wait in this country.

International

U.S. Senate Rejects Budget, Bringing Government Closer to Shutdown Amid DHS Dispute

The U.S. Senate voted on Thursday against a budget proposal in a move aimed at pressuring changes at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), following the killing of two civilians during a deployment of immigration agents in Minneapolis.

All Senate Democrats and seven Republican lawmakers voted against the bill, which requires 60 votes to advance, pushing the country closer to a partial government shutdown that would cut funding for several agencies, including the Pentagon and the Department of Health.

The rejection came as Senate leaders and the White House continue negotiations on a separate funding package for DHS that would allow reforms to the agency. Proposed measures include banning Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from wearing face coverings and requiring them to use body-worn cameras during operations.

The vote took place just hours after President Donald Trump said he was “close” to reaching an agreement with Democrats and did not believe the federal government would face another shutdown, following last year’s record stoppage.

“I don’t think the Democrats want a shutdown either, so we’ll work in a bipartisan way to avoid it. Hopefully, there will be no government shutdown. We’re working on that right now,” Trump said during a Cabinet meeting at the White House.

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International

Trump Says Putin Agreed to One-Week Halt in Attacks on Ukraine Amid Extreme Cold

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he secured a commitment from Russian President Vladimir Putinto halt attacks against Ukraine for one week, citing extreme weather conditions affecting the region.

“Because of the extreme cold (…) I personally asked Putin not to attack Kyiv or other cities and towns for a week. And he agreed. He was very pleasant,” Trump said during a Cabinet meeting broadcast by the White House.

Trump acknowledged that several advisers had questioned the decision to make the call.
“A lot of people told me not to waste the call because they wouldn’t agree. And he accepted. And we’re very happy they did, because they don’t need missiles hitting their towns and cities,” the president said.

According to Trump, Ukrainian authorities reacted with surprise to the announcement but welcomed the possibility of a temporary ceasefire.
“It’s extraordinarily cold, record cold (…) They say they’ve never experienced cold like this,” he added.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky later commented on the announcement, expressing hope that the agreement would be honored.

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International

Storm Kristin Kills Five in Portugal, Leaves Nearly 500,000 Without Power

Storm Kristin, which battered Portugal with heavy rain and strong winds early Wednesday, has left at least five people dead, while nearly half a million residents remained without electricity as of Thursday, according to updated figures from authorities.

The revised death toll was confirmed to AFP by a spokesperson for the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANPEC). On Wednesday, the agency had reported four fatalities.

Meanwhile, E-Redes, the country’s electricity distribution network operator, said that around 450,000 customers were still without power, particularly in central Portugal.

Emergency services responded to approximately 1,500 incidents between midnight and 8:00 a.m. local time on Wednesday, as the storm caused widespread disruptions.

The Portuguese government described Kristin as an “extreme weather event” that inflicted significant damage across several regions of the country. At the height of the storm, as many as 850,000 households and institutions lost electricity during the early hours of Wednesday.

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Several municipalities ordered the closure of schools, many of which remained shut on Thursday due to ongoing adverse conditions.

Ricardo Costa, regional deputy commander of the Leiria Fire Brigade, said residents continue to seek assistance as rainfall persists.
“Even though the rain is not extremely intense, it is causing extensive damage to homes,” he noted.

In Figueira da Foz, a coastal city in central Portugal, strong winds toppled a giant Ferris wheel, underscoring the severity of the storm.