International
Mexico and the U.S. agree to keep border crossings open
December 29 |
Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said Thursday that U.S. officials agreed to keep border crossings and railroad crossings open at their meeting Wednesday to address the migration crisis.
“There is more and more movement on the border, on the bridges, and that is why we have to be vigilant so that the crossings are not closed. This agreement was reached. The railroad crossings and border bridges are already opening, normalizing the situation,” said the president in his usual morning press conference, highlighting the strong trade relationship between the two countries.
“We are already the main trading partners in the world Mexico and the United States, they are our main partners,” he detailed.
Lopez Obrador met Wednesday in Mexico City for more than two hours with Secretary of State Antony Blinken and other top U.S. officials, including Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, to address the sharp increase in migration.
The U.S. has suspended several legal crossings at the more than 2,000-mile border with Mexico arguing that it seeks to focus on processing undocumented immigrants.
The Mexican president added that both countries also agreed to have regular meetings to address the migration issue.
The Mexican Foreign Ministry said in a statement that there will be a meeting in January next year in Washington, although it did not specify the day.
Blinken’s visit came as the opposition Republican Party pressures U.S. President Joe Biden to crack down on migration in exchange for accepting more support for Ukraine in the U.S. Congress.
Wednesday’s trip was abruptly announced last week after Biden spoke by phone with Lopez Obrador.
The number of people seeking to enter the United States without authorization soared this month to about 10,000 per day, nearly double the number before the pandemic.
Few migrants are Mexican. For many years, most have come from Central America, ravaged by extreme poverty, rampant violence and poor harvests, worsened by climate change.
There has also been an increase in migrants from Haiti, plagued by gang violence and lack of a functioning government, and Venezuela, where commodities have become scarce after years of economic chaos.
International
20th Festival Salvadoreñísimo brings together thousands of salvadorans in Houston
Parades, baton twirlers, and a mix of Salvadoran and international music set the tone for the 20th edition of the Festival Salvadoreñísimo, held in Houston, Texas, with Tony Villatoro once again leading the organization.
This year, the highly anticipated event moved to a new venue: The Crown Festival Park in Sugar Land, Fort Bend County, within the “space city.” Despite the scorching sun of the open-air setting, spirits remained high, and a brief drizzle later brought relief and renewed energy to the celebration.
More than 5,000 Salvadorans gathered at the park, joining with Guatemalans, Hondurans, and even Mexicans to commemorate 204 years of independence for El Salvador and Central America. The festival was marked by a family-friendly atmosphere, where traditional foods such as pupusas, panes con gallina, pastelitos, and horchata could not be missed.
“Twenty years with this festival, and I am very grateful to the Salvadoran community that always shows up. Thanks to them, the sponsors, and to Diario El Salvador for supporting us since the beginning,” said Tony Villatoro, as more compatriots continued arriving to the celebration.
“I am satisfied. I didn’t expect this level of attendance, especially since we were trying a new outdoor venue with some challenges, but we made it through successfully,” Villatoro added.
The Festival Salvadoreñísimo, now a two-decade-long tradition, once again took place as part of Hispanic Heritage Month, a time when independence festivities run from mid-September through October.
International
El Salvador unveils 2025-2029 National Reintegration Plan for returned migrants
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has launched the National Reintegration Plan for Returned Salvadorans 2025-2029, a strategy designed to create greater opportunities, ensure access to quality services, and provide a favorable environment for Salvadorans returning to their home country to rebuild their lives.
The initiative is supported by the United Nations Network on Migration, coordinated by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), financed by the Peacebuilding Fund (PBF), and backed by the Inter-American Development Bank’s (IDB) Migration Unit.
During the presentation, Vice Minister of Diaspora and Human Mobility Cindy Mariella Portal emphasized that migrants often face multiple challenges upon returning to their communities.
“That is why we are implementing actions that generate real and sustainable opportunities for these individuals,” she stated.
International
Authorities capture CJNG financial chief in international airport operation
A man identified as the main financial operator of the powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) was arrested Thursday at Mexico City’s international airport, authorities reported.
The individual, named by Mexican media as Óscar Antonio Álvarez, was apprehended during an operation involving the army, navy, National Guard, police, and the attorney general’s office, according to a joint statement.
Álvarez is considered the primary financial operator of a criminal group originating in Jalisco, and the capture took place at Benito Juárez Airport as he arrived on a flight from Barcelona, Spain.
Authorities stated that Álvarez faces charges of organized crime and money laundering, specifically for receiving and transferring illicit funds. His work with the CJNG reportedly included purchasing properties and managing businesses in the tequila and livestock sectors.
According to El Universal, Álvarez was directly under the command of Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, “El Mencho”, the cartel’s top leader, for whom the U.S. offers a $15 million reward.
The CJNG, which operates throughout Mexico and in various parts of the world, was designated earlier this year as a “foreign terrorist organization” by the U.S. government.
Álvarez was handed over to the federal public prosecutor to determine his legal situation, the report added.
20th Festival Salvadoreñísimo brings together thousands of salvadorans in Houston
El Salvador unveils 2025-2029 National Reintegration Plan for returned migrants
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