International

Criticism of ICE in Florida for arresting a minor from Honduras and taking him away from a foster family

Congressmen and civil organizations criticized this Friday the Immigration and Customs Control Service (ICE) for handcuffing a 17-year-old Honduran teenager who was with a foster care family in Florida in possible violation of the law.

The Young Center for the Rights of Immigrant Children accused officials from the Florida State Department of Children and Families (DCF) of violating a 30-year rule that prohibits them from handing over an undocumented minor to migration authorities.

“Instead of protecting this young man and keeping him safe from damage, the state of Florida did the opposite by calling ICE, which then cruelly removed him from his foster home with handcuffs and shackles, and put him in immigration detention,” said Kelly Albinak Kribs, co-director of the organization, in a message.

The Young Center referred to an article published on Wednesday by the Miami Herald that reported that the authorities removed the young man, identified as Henry, from his foster family in Pensacola because members of Florida called ICE to take him.

The minor and his mother, who had already been deported, crossed the border to Texas, from where he traveled to Pensacola to look for work after being a victim of human trafficking for job search purposes.

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After the case was disclosed, local congressmen sent a letter this Friday to Secretary Taylor Hatch, of the DCF, to demand that she clarify the collaboration between this department and ICE, considering that what happened was “unnecessary and unacceptable.”

“It is morally reprehensible to try to complete deportation quotas by focusing on vulnerable children under the protection of Florida. Florida is better than this, even if our Government is not,” wrote Representative Fentrice Driskell when sharing the letter she signed with more than a dozen colleagues.

State Senator Ileana García, co-founder of the organization ‘Latinas for Trump’, blamed Stephen Miller, one of the president’s main advisers and architect of anti-immigrant policies, for this type of event.

“Miller has included undocumented minors in the shelter system, many of them victims of human trafficking, in its efforts to desperately meet a weekly deportation quota. These individuals are being picked up in the homes of their foster parents. This is unacceptable, regardless of her status as a citizen,” the Republican wrote in X.

The controversy occurs while Florida is a leader in the execution of Trump’s immigration policy, since Governor Ron DeSantis has promoted agreements 287(g) that force the authorities of the 67 counties to work with ICE.

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International

US panel backs Trump-themed coin amid controversy

The United States Department of the Treasury confirmed to AFP that the Commission of Fine Arts approved the design of a new collectible coin featuring Donald Trump, with members of the commission appointed by the current administration.

According to the proposal, the coin will feature an image of Trump standing with clenched fists over a desk on the obverse, while the reverse will display an eagle, a traditional symbol of the United States.

The sale price of the collectible has not yet been disclosed, although the United States Mint typically offers similar items for more than $1,000.

“There is no more iconic portrait for the front of these coins than that of our president Donald Trump,” U.S. Treasurer Brandon Beach said in a statement sent to AFP. He added that two additional coins — a $1 piece and a one-ounce gold coin — are also under consideration.

However, the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC), another body responsible for reviewing new coin proposals, declined to discuss the Trump design in late February.

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“Only nations governed by kings or dictators place the image of a sitting leader on their currency,” said Donald Scarinciat the time. “No country in the world has minted coins featuring a democratically elected leader during their term in office,” he added.

When contacted by AFP, the Treasury Department did not immediately respond to requests for further comment.

International

Fed’s Waller warns of rising inflation risks amid Middle East conflict

Christopher Waller, a governor at the Federal Reserve, said Friday that he is increasingly concerned about the inflationary impact of the ongoing conflict involving United States and Israel against Iran, particularly due to the prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Waller, who had supported interest rate cuts over the past year amid concerns about the labor market, said he has shifted his stance in recent weeks due to rising inflation risks.

“Since the Strait of Hormuz was closed, it suggests this conflict could be much more prolonged and that oil prices will remain elevated for longer,” Waller said in an interview with CNBC.

“Therefore, this indicates that inflation is a greater concern than I had previously assessed,” he added.

Waller also backed the Federal Reserve’s decision earlier this week to keep interest rates unchanged, signaling a more cautious approach as global geopolitical tensions continue to affect economic outlooks.

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International

Brazil offers to mediate Colombia-Ecuador tensions, calls for restraint

The government of Brazil has offered to mediate in the ongoing tensions between Colombia and Ecuador, while calling on both nations to exercise restraint.

In a statement released Wednesday, Brazil’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs urged the parties involved to act with moderation and seek a peaceful resolution to the dispute.

“Brazil encourages all sides to act with moderation in order to find a peaceful solution to the controversy. It stands ready to support dialogue efforts aimed at preserving peace and security in the region,” the statement said.

Brazil also expressed “serious concern” over reports of deaths in the border area between Colombia and Ecuador, noting that the circumstances surrounding the incidents have not yet been clarified.

The diplomatic move comes amid rising tensions between the neighboring countries, increasing regional concern over stability and security along their shared border.