International
Immigrants in Denver are afraid to take their children to school because of the raids
Migrant parents in the Denver area, the capital of Colorado, fear sending their children to school in the face of the new massive raids, while their school district undertook the first judicial fight in the country against the Trump Government to remove immigration agents from the classrooms.
Since February 5, Pedro and María, a Colombian couple, stopped taking their children to school in Aurora, east of Denver.
“We find blocked streets, armed agents in our neighborhood and people screaming and crying. They didn’t let us get to school,” the migrants told EFE.
“Since then, my children have not returned because they fear separating from us,” says Pedro, who, although he is a legal resident in the United States, prefers not to reveal his full name.
About a hundred alleged members of the transnational gang Tren de Aragua were arrested in the raid on April 5 in Aurora, a city east of Denver that was the epicenter of a national debate on security and immigration during the last presidential campaign.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids on apartment complexes in the area intensified the sense of vulnerability among immigrants, including those with legal presence.
“Before we knew we had to take care of ourselves, but we never stopped taking children to school. Now it’s different. ICE can enter schools, and I don’t know if they’re going to stop me or my children. I’m afraid they’ll separate us,” Pedro confesses.
The fear of raids not only affects the mobility of immigrants, but also generates profound mental, emotional and economic consequences.
According to the American Council on Immigration (AIC), about 16.7 million people in the US live in families where at least one parent is undocumented, including six million child U.S. citizens. In the event of detention, these families can lose between 40% and 90% of their income within six months.
Last week, Denver Public Schools (DPS) sued the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in an attempt to curb the presence of immigration agents inside and outside educational centers.
“Parents enroll their children in public schools with the confidence that they will be educated without fear of migratory operations within those institutions,” says the lawsuit.
The DPS demands guarantees so that students can attend classes without fear, since uncertainty is affecting school attendance and, therefore, the financing of the districts.
“The fear of school rounding is generating irregular and unpredictable attendance, with a direct impact on funds and school resource planning,” the legal document warns.
For weeks, Pedro and María have stopped attending community events and religious services.
“News and social networks increase anxiety. They say there was a raid here or that they are going to cut food benefits. I don’t know what’s going to happen. One wants to get ahead, but now I’m not sure my children have a good future,” María laments.
According to a report by the Migration Policy Institute (MPI), one in three Latino students in the US suffers from anxiety or depression due to the fear of immigration operations. Experts warn that this situation impacts the academic performance and emotional well-being of minors.
Meanwhile, Aurora Public Schools (APS) have implemented new security measures and expanded their communication system with parents, which could motivate Pedro and María to allow their children back to school.
However, the situation remains fragile. In some schools in the Denver metropolitan area, absenteeism has reached 80%, which could compromise school funds if students do not complete state exams.
“I don’t want my children to live in fear. I can’t give up. Like us, thousands of immigrants face uncertainty every day, but we continue to cling to the hope of a better future,” says Pedro.
International
Iran Rejects Negotiations With U.S. as Strait of Hormuz Remains Blocked Amid New Attack
Tensions remained high in the Strait of Hormuz on Monday after a vessel was hit by a projectile, despite U.S. President Donald Trump’s claims that negotiations with Iran were moving forward and that the strategic maritime route could reopen as early as Tuesday.
Tehran denied that direct talks were taking place, but Trump insisted that discussions were underway and described the situation as a final opportunity for Iran to reach an agreement.
“This is the last chance they have to sign a good document,” Trump told reporters at the White House, adding that the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz could happen “literally tomorrow” Tuesday.
The comments came after another escalation in rhetoric from Washington. Last week, Trump threatened Iran with military strikes before unexpectedly changing course on Sunday and announcing that negotiations with Tehran would resume.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baqai rejected the U.S. president’s version of events, stating that Tehran was not holding negotiations with Washington.
“At this moment, we are not negotiating with the United States. We are negotiating with Oman to guarantee safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz,” Baqai said.
Earlier, the Iranian official said that Tehran was close to reaching an agreement with Oman, which lies across the Strait of Hormuz, to reopen the crucial waterway that plays a key role in global energy trade.
The maritime route has remained blocked by Iran since the outbreak of hostilities following U.S. and Israeli strikes against the Islamic Republic on February 28.
Meanwhile, Yemen’s Houthi rebels announced Tuesday that they had launched an attack against an airport in Saudi Arabia. The Iran-backed group had previously disrupted the passage of Saudi vessels through the Red Sea, an alternative route used for crude exports by the world’s largest oil producer.
The continued instability in the region has raised concerns over global energy supplies, as the Strait of Hormuz remains one of the most important chokepoints for international oil shipments.
International
Lula Launches Re-Election Campaign Amid Rising Tensions With Trump
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is set to be officially nominated for re-election by his Workers’ Party (PT), marking the start of his campaign for a fourth presidential term.
The nomination takes place during the party’s national convention in São Paulo, Brazil’s economic hub, where around 3,000 supporters gathered to back the veteran leftist leader.
“Today I’m here because Lula’s policies changed my life and my family’s. Thanks to him, we finally own a home after eight generations without one,” said Cristiane Rosa Julho, a 51-year-old social worker attending the event dressed in the PT’s signature red.
Seeking the presidency for the seventh time in his political career, Lula is expected to face Senator Flávio Bolsonaro in next year’s election.
The 45-year-old senator is the son of former far-right President Jair Bolsonaro, who has been jailed over his alleged role in an attempted coup following his defeat to Lula in the 2022 election.
The party convention opened with videos highlighting Lula’s social initiatives and speeches by four women praising his leadership, while supporters waved PT flags and held signs reading “We Want Lula as President” and “Brazil Is Not for Sale.”
The campaign begins amid growing tensions with the United States and President Donald Trump, a close ally of the Bolsonaro family who has openly backed several conservative candidates across Latin America.
Last week, Lula warned against foreign interference, declaring, “In Brazil, we do not accept anyone sticking their nose where it doesn’t belong.”
In July, the United States imposed two rounds of tariffs on Brazilian products, accusing the country of unfair trade practices. The measures followed earlier restrictions introduced in 2025, encouraged by Jair Bolsonaro’s son Eduardo Bolsonaro, in response to legal proceedings against the former president.
Lula has vowed to wage what he called a “war of truth against lies” in response to Washington’s pressure and accused Flávio Bolsonaro of undermining Brazil’s interests by allegedly helping the United States damage the country’s economy. The senator has denied the accusations.
The Brazilian president also claims Washington is attempting to influence the country’s political landscape in an effort to prevent his re-election.
International
Truck bomb attack near police station in Colombia leaves 14 injured ahead of presidential inauguration
A truck loaded with explosives exploded on Saturday near a police station in the Colombian city of Cúcuta, close to the Venezuelan border, leaving 14 people injured in an attack that occurred six days before president-elect Abelardo de la Espriella’s inauguration.
The blast took place in the early hours of the morning and was allegedly carried out by members of the National Liberation Army (ELN), who detonated a vehicle packed with explosives. According to the latest report from the Colombian Army, the attack injured 11 police officers and three civilians.
The explosion involved around 15 explosive devices, and two of the wounded officers are in critical condition and “fighting for their lives,” said William Villamizar, governor of Norte de Santander, the region where the attack occurred.
The incident comes amid Colombia’s worst wave of violence in the past decade, with armed groups expanding their presence in several areas of the country.
“I strongly condemn the cowardly terrorist attack carried out in Cúcuta against our National Police. Terrorism will not intimidate Colombia or break the determination of Colombians to live in peace and security,” De la Espriella said in a post on X.
The conservative lawyer, who has been described as a far-right figure, will take office on August 7, replacing Gustavo Petro, Colombia’s first left-wing president. The inauguration ceremony will be held in Cali, the country’s third-largest city and a frequent target of attacks by armed groups.
The United Nations condemned what it described as an “indiscriminate attack” that caused not only injuries but also “fear and distress among the population.”
De la Espriella has repeatedly warned about an alleged plot against his life. Meanwhile, President Gustavo Petro, who is currently visiting Cuba, has not commented on the attack. During his visit, Petro met with Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel to discuss what Havana describes as the United States’ “policy of suffocation” toward the island.
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