International
Leo XIV, an American pope who challenges Trump’s immigration policy?
The election of Pope Leon XIV has been received with hope by the defenders of immigrants on the border between the United States and Mexico, who see him as a follower of Francis’ legacy and a possible moral counterweight to Donald Trump’s strict immigration policies.
This is the widespread feeling in the border town of El Paso (Texas), one of the most Catholic municipalities in the United States and where the church has been leading the defense of migrants for decades.
“He is a pope with a heart for migrants, workers, the poor and the disadvantaged,” Rubén García, director of the Annunciation House hostel network, told EFE.
García, whose organization has received a legal onslaught from the Texas authorities to close it, stressed the importance of the years in which the new pope lived in Peru and assured confidently that he will be a “continuist” of the defense of migrants exercised by the late Francis during his pontificate.
Although Robert Prevost, born in Chicago in 1955, is the first American pope in history, there is no special harmony with the Trump Administration, as happened with his predecessor.
Francis was critical of the Republican president: he said that building walls is not Christian, declared that not welcoming migrants is a sin and, shortly before his death, he openly opposed Trump’s plan of mass deportations.
The Vice President of the United States, JD Vance, a Catholic and the last high-ranking foreign official to meet with Francis, admitted that the late pope had “some disagreements” with the US Executive.
Leo XIV seems to follow the same line. This is indicated by the activity of Cardinal Prevost on social networks until now, because in his last message in X he shared a publication of another account that criticized the agreement of the United States with El Salvador to deport migrants to the maximum security prison of the Central American country.
The publications shared by the new pope also reflect criticism of Vance and a commitment to the poor and migrants, especially Venezuelan refugees in Peru, where he spent much of his life.
After making a mass dedicated to the new Holy Father official this Friday, the rector of the Cathedral of St. Patrick in El Paso, James Marcus McFadin, explained to EFE that Leo XIV has been “very clear” when speaking “in favor of migrants, workers, the poor and the most disadvantaged by society.”
“What I have heard since his election is that immigration is an important issue for him and that he will continue with the message and mission of Francis with immigrants,” emphasized McFadin, who declared himself surprised that an American pope has been elected, something he never imagined he would see.
“It is a unique opportunity and a very intelligent decision on the part of the cardinals to connect the Latin world with the United States,” Antonio Fernández, director of Catholic Charities in San Antonio (Texas), told EFE, who hopes that the American nationality of the new pope can serve as an interlocutor with the White House.
“He will have the ability to work to find good solutions for humanity and for migrants,” he said.
For the time being, Trump, a regular of the confrontation and who caused controversy before the conclave for publishing a recreation of himself dressed as a pope, has been restrained and institutional when celebrating the election of the new pontiff and his American roots.
“It is a great honor to know that he is the first American pope. What a thrill and what a great honor for our country! I look forward to meeting Pope Leo XIV. It will be a very significant moment!” he said.
International
Trump to decide soon on deportation exemptions for construction and farm workers
U.S. President Donald Trump stated on Tuesday in Florida that he will make a decision in the coming weeks regarding exemptions from deportations for workers in the construction and agriculture sectors.
Trump made these remarks to the media during a visit to the new migrant detention center, ‘Alligator Alcatraz,’ located in the middle of a wetland in Florida, the White House reported.
ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) raids have targeted many of these workers, sparking fear among them and threatening to slow down two sectors that are vital to the U.S. economy.
In construction, 25.7% of workers are immigrants, and 14.1% of the total workforce nationwide is undocumented, according to the American Immigration Council.
In agriculture, the percentage of undocumented employees rises to 42%, according to data from the Department of Agriculture cited by the New York Times.
International
IDB plans $11 billion in sustainable financing to support countries facing currency risks
The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) aims to unlock at least $11 billion in sustainable financing to help countries address challenges including natural disasters that strain their currencies and hinder private sector investment.
As the United States and other wealthier countries reduce official development assistance, multilateral lenders face pressure to find new ways to tackle issues such as climate change and biodiversity loss. During the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development, IDB President Ilan Goldfajn stated that the measures adopted by the IDB are expected to inspire more private sector contributions, which is a key priority of the conference.
“We are not just announcing ideas; we are launching what the private sector is asking for: credible tools, scalable platforms, and real opportunities to invest with impact and confidence,” he added.
Support will include a new platform designed to help countries manage the risk of large swings in their national currencies that can deter international investors by making returns harder to predict. Based on a program in Brazil that has already attracted $8 billion from the private sector since its launch last year, the plan is to expand the concept to other regional economies over the next three years and at least double the amount mobilized.
Called FX EDGE, the platform will offer a credit line that activates if a currency drops sharply—a common problem during political or debt crises or after natural disasters—ensuring debtors can continue to service their loans in dollars or other foreign currencies.
The platform also aims to enable greater use of long-term currency hedging instruments, such as derivatives, through local banks and financial institutions, backed by the IDB’s credit rating.
International
Maduro’s government appeals to Vatican for help rescuing migrant children
Este lunes, durante su programa semanal ‘Con Maduro +’, el mandatario venezolano anunció que pediría al sumo pontífice su ayuda para rescatar a 18 niños migrantes.
“Yo sé que el papa es un hombre que comprende estos temas. Le pido ayuda a la Iglesia católica, apostólica y romana, al papa León, para que la Iglesia católica de Estados Unidos y la Iglesia católica de El Salvador proteja a los migrantes y nos ayude con sus gestiones para rescatar a estos niños y a estas niñas”, indicó Maduro en el espacio transmitido por VTV.
Más temprano, Rodríguez había pedido al alto comisionado de la ONU para los Derechos Humanos, Volker Türk, y al coordinador residente de la ONU en Venezuela, Gianluca Rampolla, pronunciarse sobre este hecho y exigió a Washington devolver a los pequeños.
Trump to decide soon on deportation exemptions for construction and farm workers
IDB plans $11 billion in sustainable financing to support countries facing currency risks
Maduro’s government appeals to Vatican for help rescuing migrant children
Tec de Monterrey honors one of its students for his contribution to nanotechnology in medicine
Defense Minister commends salvadoran soldier for Central American Cross Country victory
Extension of the state of emergency approved in southern Chile
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