International

Haitian armed gangs mobilize before the arrival of the multinational force

The armed gangs of Haiti call for a series of demonstrations in repudiation upon the arrival, scheduled for May 26, of the multinational force to restore security in the nation and which will lead Kenya.

The demonstrations are organized by the armed coalition “Vivre Ensemble” (Living Together), led by the powerful Haitian ex-police officer Jimmy Cherisier, alias “Barbecue”.

Carrefour, south of Port-au-Prince, is practically paralyzed this Saturday, just like yesterday, since the armed structures that control the area require the population to prepare to go out to the street to demonstrate against the arrival of police forces.

To attract large crowds, bandits force thousands of people to take to the streets under threat of beating, killed or expelled if they refuse, as happened on Friday in Fontamara, in the south of the capital; in Bel-air, in the heart of the capital, and in Canaan, at the northern entrance of Port-au-au-Prince, where thousands of citizens demonstrated.

In the massive demonstrations, heavily armed men with sa balacers shouted slogans hostile to the international community and the multinational assistance force to the Haitian Police, approved last October by the Security Council of the United Nations (UN).

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Information circulating on social networks suggests that gang leaders are putting pressure on their members to prevent them from fleeing inland in the face of the arrival of international force.

Meanwhile, the armed gangs gain new territories and on Friday night they took the police station of the town of Gressier, at the southern entrance of the capital, which until then was not under the control of the gangs.

A resurgence of kidnappings in the metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince has also been reported these days, at the same time that there is a timid resumption of school activities in the capital.

For several days, U.S. military aircraft have been coming and going through the runway of Port-au-au-Prince’s Toussaint Louverture airport, as part of the preparations for the initial deployment of the multinational force.

More than a hundred U.S. military flights are expected in the coming days, according to the local press.

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Haiti is experiencing a crisis in all orders, aggravated by the terror imposed by the armed gangs, a situation that led to the resignation of the Prime Minister, Ariel Henry, and gave way to the installation in April of the Transitional Presidential Council, which must pave the way for the holding of elections to choose a new president no later than February 7, 2026.

This country, the poorest in America, held presidential elections for the last time in 2016, when Jovenel Moise won, killed on July 7, 2021 by an armed group in his private residence in Port-au-Prince.

International

Bolivia Orders Three Investigations Into Deadly Military Plane Crash

Bolivia’s Defense Minister Marcelo Salinas announced Monday that three separate investigations will be conducted into Friday’s crash of a military cargo aircraft at El Alto International Airport, near La Paz, which left at least 22 people dead.

The Hercules aircraft, operated by the Fuerza Aérea Boliviana (FAB), was transporting cash intended for the Central Bank of Bolivia when it overshot the runway after landing from the city of Santa Cruz. The plane reportedly traveled nearly one kilometer beyond the airport perimeter.

The incident sparked chaotic scenes, with individuals attempting to collect scattered banknotes. Authorities detained 51 people in the aftermath, and the government declared three days of national mourning.

Multiple Investigations Underway

The first inquiry is being led by a military board from the Bolivian Air Force, which has already taken custody of the aircraft’s black box for analysis.

Minister Salinas said two additional investigations will follow — one conducted by the insurance company and another by the aircraft’s manufacturer.

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“At least two more investigations will come, that of the insurance company and that of the aircraft manufacturer,” Salinas said during a press conference in Santa Cruz.

He cautioned that the investigative process could take between three and six months, noting that the black box cannot be opened in Bolivia due to the lack of specialized laboratories for analysis.

Awaiting Official Findings

Salinas stressed that the FAB investigative board is the highest authority in the case and urged the public to wait for its conclusions to avoid speculation about the causes of the crash.

He also confirmed that the government has contacted the families of the 22 victims and the 37 injured, as well as the owners of 15 damaged vehicles, to coordinate procedures with the insurer and cover the corresponding expenses.

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International

Mexico Calls for Immediate Probe After National Dies in ICE Custody

Mexico’s Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores (SRE) on Monday called on U.S. authorities to conduct an “immediate and thorough” investigation into the death of a Mexican national while in custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at a processing facility in California.

In a statement, the Mexican government described the death as “regrettable” and urged U.S. officials to clarify the circumstances surrounding the case in order to “determine responsibilities and ensure that such events do not happen again.”

Death at Adelanto Processing Center

According to available information, the Mexican citizen died at the Adelanto Processing Center in California while under ICE custody. Authorities have not yet released the individual’s identity or the cause of death.

Following the incident, Mexico’s Foreign Ministry formally requested “detailed information” from U.S. authorities, including the detainee’s medical records and custody reports.

Consular Assistance Activated

The Mexican Consulate in San Bernardino, California, has activated consular assistance protocols to provide ongoing support to the deceased’s family. Officials have contacted relatives to express condolences and offer legal guidance, as well as assistance with the necessary procedures to repatriate the remains.

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“The handling of situations like this and the establishment of mechanisms to resolve them are priorities for the Government of Mexico,” the Foreign Ministry said, adding that it will formally request an investigation into any systemic conditions that may have contributed to such incidents.

Local Mexican media reported that seven Mexican nationals died while in ICE detention last year — the highest number recorded since the agency was created.

International

Anti-ICE Billboard Campaign Targets Immigration Spending in 31 U.S. Cities

More than 200 billboards criticizing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) began appearing Monday in 31 cities across the United States, including Miami, as part of a campaign highlighting the high cost of immigration enforcement operations for taxpayers.

The initiative, titled “ICE Costs Us,” was launched by the civil rights organization Mijente and will run for four weeks.

Criticism of Spending and Enforcement Tactics

The billboards feature images of ICE agents during arrests or carrying military-style weapons. According to the organization, spending on military-grade equipment for the agency has increased by 600 percent in recent years.

Several signs display messages such as:
“Your taxes are being wasted” and “ICE’s cruelty costs you $28 billion,” referring to the agency’s annual budget.

In a statement, Marisa Franco, co-founder of the Mijente Support Committee, said:
“For too long, our government has prioritized building cages and investing billions in an immigration enforcement apparatus that has left families torn apart and communities terrified.”

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She added that “Millions of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck, yet this violent agency continues operating with a blank check. These decisions do not make us safer nor improve our economic security. Our billboards highlight these choices and demand a different path.”

Budget Debate and Medicaid Comparison

The campaign also draws a comparison between ICE’s funding and the estimated 17 million people who could lose health coverage under Medicaid due to federal budget cuts under President Donald Trump.

Other billboard messages seen in various cities include:
“They get billions to beat us; we get layoffs and rising rents” and “Funding ICE is a fast track to fascism.”

Organizers say the goal is to spark public debate about the allocation of federal funds for immigration enforcement and the broader economic and social impact of such policies on communities nationwide.