International
A Mexican-American artist denounces the deportations with a mural on the border
The Mexican-American artist Lizbeth de la Cruz Santana painted a mural on the border between the Mexican Ciudad Juárez and the American El Paso with images of 13 mothers, veterans and ‘dreamers’ who already had a life in the United States but were deported from that country.
His work, installed on pillars and foundations of the Santa Fe international bridge, on the Mexican side of the border, shows the human side of deportation, asylum and what happens with American families disarmed by the immigration system of the United States.
“There are 13 people, different profiles, different nationalities, it is very important to take into account that people from different parts of the world arrive at this point of the border,” the muralist said on Monday in an interview with EFE.
He said that the project in Juárez includes the documentation of the stories of these 13 people, so the mural has QR codes so that people who visit this point know the stories on the artist’s website.
De la Cruz Santana commented that Mexico must have more humane policies to receive the deportees so that they can integrate more easily into society because they suffer a lot of discrimination.
He said that the main audience of the work are the deportees themselves, whose photos have been captured, so that they do not feel that their stories have been forgotten, in addition to being a message for governments, so that they are more human.
“For me, it is very important not to forget the people who have suffered deportation. People or relatives who are left behind or who have to take their children born in the United States to another country like Mexico, remind people that this issue has not been solved,” he remarked.
An example is Any García, who was born in Jalisco, a state in western Mexico, from where her family took her to the United States when she was 4 years old, but the authorities deported her 30 years later.
“My whole family is in the United States, my mom, my sisters, the father of the children, even if we are together, because we are missing those on the other side. In a perfect world, we want the way to return, even if it is not to live, but to be able to be with our loved ones,” Any said.
The woman commented that the border separates thousands of families, so the idea of participating in this project is to make visible what migrants deported by a “very inhuman” system are experiencing.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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