International

Mexican agents find 415 migrants in Sonora state

Photo: EFE

September 26 |

Mexican authorities reported Monday that agents of the National Guard and the National Migration Institute (INM) patrolling the Aztec country’s border with the US have found 415 immigrants, including 67 minors, from 19 countries at various points in the state of Sonora in the last two weeks.

In a joint statement, both institutions highlighted that in the last 15 days border troops redoubled surveillance on the Hermosillo-Nogales highway in the municipality of Santa Ana, as well as in the arrivals halls of the Hermosillo International Airport.

The National Guard and the INM stated that the agents, who were carrying out security, surveillance and crime prevention tasks, searched several buses, passengers and cargo vehicles, as well as the air terminal lounges, where they located 308 men, 107 women and 67 minors.

The immigrants were citizens of various countries such as Albania, Bangladesh, Brazil, China, Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, Ghana, Guinea, Honduras, India, Mauritania, Nepal, Nicaragua, Senegal, Sri Lanka, El Congo and El Salvador, although no numbers were given for each nationality.

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As they did not have the documentation to prove their legal stay in Mexico, the foreigners were transferred to secure INM facilities where they received food and medical attention, as well as legal advice to legalize their status in the country.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) presented last Friday a report which showed that the variety of nationalities of migrants crossing Mexico to reach the U.S. is increasing, since after the Covid-19 pandemic a new migratory wave has been described in the region.

It was also reported that they are willing to pay between $6,000 and $12,000 to reach the U.S., often resorting to traffickers who profit from their desperation, which is why a call was made to create regular and safer routes for emigration in order to avoid the death of people.

Following the repeal of Title 42 of the U.S. immigration law, Mexico is experiencing an upturn in the flow of migrants, with hundreds of thousands of migrants crossing the country in multiple ways.

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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.