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MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico’s government has acknowledged that at least two well-known Mayan ruin sites are unreachable by visitors because of a toxic mix of cartel violence and land disputes. The explosion of drug cartel violence in Chiapas since last year has left the Yaxchilán ruin site completely cut off, the government conceded Friday. They say that to get to yet another archaeological site, Lagartero, travelers are forced to hand over identification and cellphones at cartel checkpoints. Though no tourist has been harmed so far, and the government claims the sites are safe, many guides no longer take tour groups there. The guide said the ruin sites have the added disadvantage of being in jungle areas where the cartels have carved out at least four clandestine landing strips to fly drugs in from South America.

Persons: —, “ It’s, ”, Andrés Manuel López, “, López Obrador, Mexico — Organizations: MEXICO CITY, “, National Institute of Anthropology, Central Americans, National Guard Locations: MEXICO, Chiapas, Guatemala, Tonina, Gaza, Lagartero, Mexico, Palenque, Frontera Comalapa, Darien, South America, Central America, U.S, Cuba, Asia, Africa, Sinaloa, Jalisco

☆ Trump’s avalanche of dishonesty: Fact-checking 102 of his false claims from this fall
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( Daniel Dale | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +111 min

Below is a fact check of 102 of Trump’s false claims from the 12 speeches. But contrary to Trump’s claim, it’s not true that people had been attempting for decades to create such an initiative. Trump’s aid to farmersIn speech after speech, Trump claimed that he had given US farmers $28 billion from China. Even if the poll result is off, it’s clear that Trump’s claim that “nobody wants them” is not true. He said he was an airline pilot.”Facts First: Trump made a false claim while mocking Biden for making false claims.

Persons: Donald Trump, –, Trump, Joe Biden, Biden, Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley, “, ”, Mexico’s, ‘ Trump, Defense Department –, ” Theresa Cardinal Brown, CNN’s Priscilla Alvarez, ” Trump, I’ve, Todd Harrison, Harrison, It’s, Trump’s, ” Ben Cahill, Nobody, Jimmy Carter’s, Barack Obama, isn’t, El Salvador –, Obama, we’d, Obama’s, Webster, Covid, Wuhan ”, They’d, they’d, you’d, Scott Gottlieb, ” Gottlieb, Trump Trump, it’s, Abraham, Aaron David Miller, Miller, Dana El Kurd, Qasem Soleimani, they’ve, we’re, We’re, ’, Iran haven’t, ” Matt Smith, Biden’s, Smith, Ali Vaez, Kpler, Biden Trump, Iran “, Democrats ”, that’s, Jimmy Carter, Carter “, Carter, ‘, Hillary Clinton, Kari Lake, Bill Gates, Gates, ” Chris Wallace, Chris Wallace, Hunter Biden, “ Chris Wallace, ‘ He’s, ‘ ” Trump, Wallace, “ you’re, “ Biden, ‘ You’re, Wallace interjected, Rather, you’ve, ’ ” Pavel Molchanov, Raymond James &, ” Molchanov, Tim Woody, Woody, autoworkers, CNN’s Ella Nilsen, Joe Biden’s, Erin Mellon, Gavin Newsom, Mellon, ” Vonette Fontaine, Biden “, CNN’s Matt Egan, Egan, ” Biden, Europe Trump, United Kingdom “, Brent, Pavel Molchanov, Raymond James, Patrick De Haan, GasBuddy, De Haan, Matt Smith, Matt Egan, Afghanistan Trump, we’ve, Krista Wiegand, Wiegand, ” Netanyahu, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel, Qasem, Bibi, Netanyahu, Soleimani, Asad, Mark Milley, Hezbollah Trump, Steven Cheung, John Kirby, Cheung, Kirby, Iran’s, ” Ali Vaez, Joseph Amon, Washington –, Faiq Zidan, Zidan’s, Zidan, Abu Mahdi al, China Trump, Ukraine Trump, Letitia James, James, Attorney Alvin Bragg, Matthew Colangelo, You’re, Bragg, Colangelo, Tanya Chutkan, I’m, Jack Smith, Bill Clinton, That’s, everybody’s, Letitia James –, Al Capone’s, Al Capone, Capone, Brad Schwartz, CNN couldn’t, Schwartz, Eliot Ness, MAGA, “ MAGA, …, White, CNN’s Fareed Zakaria, Inflation Trump, Bacon, Joe, PolitiFact, Trump . Howard Gleckman Organizations: Washington CNN —, CNN, Republican, Trump Trump, Republican Jewish Coalition, Department, ISIS, Trump’s, Democratic, Congress, Defense Department, former Defense Department, Center, US Customs, Trump, American Enterprise Institute, Air Force, Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Strategic Petroleum Reserve, Energy Security, Center for Strategic, International Studies, US, IHS, Islamic, The State Department, Customs Enforcement, Policy Institute, ICE, El Salvador, ”, Merriam, The New York Times, Food and Drug Administration, FDA, Abraham Accords, United Arab Emirates, West Bank, Hezbollah, State Department, Carnegie Endowment, International, Arab Center Washington DC, Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps Quds Force, Obama, US International Trade Commission, Washington Post, U.S . International Trade Commission, New England lobstermen, England lobstermen, Americas, Crisis, government’s Energy, Administration, Washington Free Beacon, Energy Information Administration, Democrats, Biden, Electoral, Georgia, Michigan, Carter, Democrats can’t, Republicans, Alabama, Arizona, Fox News, ” Energy, Oceanic, Atmospheric Administration, NOAA, Wildlife, Alaska Industrial Development, Export Authority, Raymond James & Associates, Wilderness Society, Cox Automotive, Pew Research Center, New York Times, National Oceanic, California Gov, California, American Petroleum Institute, Union, West, Energy, American Automobile Association, AAA, GasBuddy, New Hampshire, Houston, Keystone XL, Obama administration’s State Department, –, Foreign, Military, DoD, Afghan, Defense, Policy, Taiwan News, “, University of Tennessee’s Center for National Security, Foreign Affairs, Israeli, NBC, Jerusalem Post, Yahoo, Pentagon, ” CNN, Joint Chiefs, Staff, Post, National Security, Group, US government’s Defense Intelligence Agency, Narcotics Bureau, Global Health, Drexel University Dornsife School of Public Health, Justice Department, Washington, Judicial, Popular Mobilization Forces, Customs and, Middle East, Customs, Protection, CBP, Border Protection, Kiel Institute, European Union, New York, New, ExxonMobil, Trump University, Trump Foundation, Manhattan, Attorney, federal Justice Department, Department of Justice, Washington DC, Presidential Records, Presidential, Mar, Biden White, MAGA Republicans, Inflation, Heritage Foundation, Trump ., Brookings Tax, Urban Institute Locations: New Hampshire, New York City, Saudi, Florida, al Qaeda, New York, Texas, Iowa, Mexico, “, U.S, Houston, Iraq, Israel, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Nord, Germany, Russian, Trump’s, Russia, Ukraine, Europe, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, El, Washington, ”, ” In Texas, Covid, China, Wuhan, Italy, France, Abraham, Bahrain, Morocco, Sudan, Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, Iran, Yemen, Libya, Palestine, Afghanistan, Somalia, Pakistan, New England, England, Kpler, Malaysia, Oregon, Alabama, Maricopa County, Arizona, Arizona’s, Moscow, Alaska, East, South Carolina, California, “ California, West Virginia, Virginia, United Kingdom, West Texas, “ U.S, Los Angeles, Venezuela, Mississippi , Louisiana, Canada, United States, Paris, Taiwan, “ China, Iranian, that’s, –, Singapore, Iraqi, San Diego, Kiel, York, Manhattan, York’s, Chicago, Philadelphia, Georgia, Qaeda

☆ Large Migrant Caravan Sets off for US From Southern Mexico
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-30 | by ( Oct. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Diego OréMEXICO CITY (Reuters) - A large migrant caravan comprising many Central Americans and Venezuelans left southern Mexico on Monday for the United States, organizers and officials said, as Washington grapples with renewed pressure on its southern border. U.S. President Joe Biden, who is seeking reelection next year, is under pressure to curb the number of people crossing illegally into the United States from Mexico. Most of the latest caravan are from Cuba, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras and Venezuela, according to Mujica. Mujica said the migrants opted to leave Tapachula due to frustration about not being able to obtain humanitarian visas. Tropical storm Pilar formed off Central America in the Pacific on Monday, and threatens to dump heavy rain on the region and parts of southern Mexico.

Persons: Diego, Irineo Mujica, Joe Biden, Mujica, it's, Oscar Gutierrez, Pilar, Diego Ore, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: MEXICO CITY, Central, Migration Institute, Central America Locations: MEXICO, Mexico, United States, Washington, Chiapas, Tapachula, Guatemalan, Cuba, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Venezuela, Huehuetan, Acapulco, Darien, Panama, Colombia, Venezuelan

My faith was huge,” said the 46-year-old woman, fearing her son would be forcibly recruited by a criminal organization. For many migrants like Hernández, their faith has been essential for coping with their challenging circumstances. Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said in early October that about 10,000 migrants per day were heading to the U.S. border. Agape welcomes migrants of any faith or ideology, but everyone is encouraged to attend services on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. “Imagine the experience of faith,” Rivera said.

Persons: Erika Hernández, “, don’t, ” “, ”, Hernández, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, José Guadalupe Torres, Biden, Albert Rivera, Rivera, ‘, ’, Mariana Flores, ” Miguel Rayo, Rayo, Pat Murphy, Alma Ramírez, ” Ramírez, Virgin Mary, Guadalupe, Ramírez, Murphy, ” Rivera, they’ll Organizations: Familia, Movimiento Juventud, Central, Agape, Casa, Catholic, Missionaries, Casa del, “, Lilly Endowment Inc, AP Locations: TIJUANA, Mexico, Mexico City, United States, Tijuana, America, U.S, Guanajuato, Guerrero, Pacific Coast, Casa Migrante, Casa

Venezuelans were arrested 54,833 times by the Border Patrol after entering from Mexico in September, more than double from 22,090 arrests in August and well above the previous monthly high of 33,749 arrests in September 2022. Venezuela plunged into a political, economic and humanitarian crisis over the last decade, pushing more than 7 million people to leave. Political Cartoons View All 1211 ImagesThe U.S. “surged resources and personnel” to the border in September, said Troy Miller, acting commissioner of Customs and Border Protection. Mexicans were arrested 39,733 times crossing the border in September, well behind Venezuelans. Republicans seized on the latest numbers as its leading presidential candidates have tried to frame the border as a major issue in next year's elections.

Persons: Venezuelans, Biden, Nicolás, ”, Troy Miller, ” Miller, Alejandro, Mayorkas, Mark Green of Organizations: DIEGO, Border Patrol, U.S . Customs, Protection, Customs, Central Americans, Republicans, Homeland, House Homeland Security Locations: U.S, Mexico, Venezuela, America, United States, New York, Chicago, South America, Africa, Asia, Hondurans, Mark Green of Tennessee

☆ Former Homeland Security secretary Jeh Johnson says Trump's reelection chances will be maximized if the federal government doesn't treat the migrant crisis as an 'all hands on deck' situation
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Jeh Johnson said that a failure to effectively tackle the migrant crisis would boost Trump in 2024. "The federal government needs to be all hands on deck, and that includes the State Department," he said. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . But since taking office, the administration has had to grapple with an ever-growing number of apprehensions at the southern border. In a Washington Post-ABC News poll released on Sunday, only 23% of registered voters approved of Biden's handling of immigration at the southern border, compared to 62% of respondents who disapproved.

Persons: Jeh Johnson, Johnson, —, Biden, Donald Trump's, that's, Barack Obama, Trump Organizations: Trump, State Department, Service, Security, White House, Department of Homeland Security, TPS, Central, MSNBC, Washington Post, ABC Locations: United States, Central America, South, Mexico, Washington

☆ Costa Rica beat Saudi Arabia after protest at St James' Park
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/5] Soccer Football - International Friendly - Saudi Arabia v Costa Rica - St James' Park, Newcastle, Britain, September 8, 2023 Saudi Arabia's Ali Abdullah Hazzazi in action with Costa Rica's Manfred Ugalde and Francisco Calvo Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith Acquire Licensing RightsNEWCASTLE, England, Sept 8 (Reuters) - Costa Rica earned a 3-1 win over Saudi Arabia at St James' Park in a friendly on Friday after a pre-match protest by Newcastle United fans over the use of the stadium by the Saudi team. However, they could not find the equaliser and Costa Rica wrapped up the win when Randall Leal fired home in the 89th. Costa Rica interim coach Claudio Vivas told ESPN: "Keylor Navas has a very distinguished career, playing for Real Madrid is important, it's not for just anyone. A group of Newcastle fans protested before the match against the use of St James' Park by Saudi Arabia, who will play again at the stadium on Tuesday versus South Korea. Saudi Arabia won the last of their thee Asian Cup titles in 1996.

Persons: Park, Saudi Arabia's Ali Abdullah Hazzazi, Costa Rica's Manfred Ugalde, Francisco Calvo, Lee Smith, Keylor Navas, Joel Campbell's, Manfred Ugalde, Jimmy Marin's, Roberto Mancini, Ali Al Bulayhi, Feras Al Brikan's, Randall Leal, it's, Navas, Claudio Vivas, He's, St, Angelica Medina, Janina Nuno, Ken Ferris Organizations: Soccer Football, James, Saudi, St James, Newcastle United, Real Madrid, Costa, CONCACAF, Central Americans, ESPN, United Arab, Newcastle, South, Public Investment Fund, AFC Asian, Thomson Locations: Saudi Arabia, Costa Rica, Newcastle, Britain, Saudi, NEWCASTLE, England, Qatar, Italy, Feras, United Arab Emirates, Croatia, South Korea, Mexico City

"We have waited for this moment for many years," said Carlos de Leon Samayoa, 27, as he celebrated on the streets of Guatemala City. Arevalo unexpectedly emerged out of political obscurity to build a large anti-graft movement with his Semilla party, after many other opposition candidates were barred from running. [1/9]Guatemalan anti-graft presidential candidate Bernardo Arevalo, of the Semilla political party, poses for a photo during the presidential run-off election, in Guatemala City, Guatemala August 20, 2023. "The ruling pact will likely continue to target electoral officials and Arevalo’s Semilla party with investigations ahead of January’s change in government," she said. POLITICAL TENSIONSBeyond his anti-graft policies, Arevalo said he wants to expand relations with China alongside Guatemala's longstanding allegiance with Taiwan.

Persons: Bernardo Arevalo, Arevalo, Sandra Torres, Alejandro Giammattei, revel, Guatemalans, Arevalo's, Carlos de Leon Samayoa, Torres, Guatemala's, Pilar Olivares, Risa Grais, Arevalo’s, Eladio Loizaga, Giammattei, Ana María Méndez, Cassandra Garrison, Sofia Menchu, Herbert Villarraga, Diego, Drazen Jorgic, Stephen Eisenhammer, Miral Fahmy, Stephen Coates, Gerry Doyle Organizations: GUATEMALA CITY, Central, Twitter, REUTERS, Eurasia Group, Organization of American States, Central America, Diego Ore, Thomson Locations: GUATEMALA, Guatemalan, United States, Guatemala, Americas, Guatemala City, June's, China, Taiwan, Taipei, Honduras, America

Police officers stand guard at the Constitucion square, ahead of Sunday's presidential election, in Guatemala City, Guatemala August 19, 2023. Guatemalans now represent the largest number of Central Americans seeking to enter the United States. "I hope that everything is calm, that democracy wins, that there is no fraud or political issues ... and that our country gets ahead more than anything," said Ardem Villagran, 58, a merchant in Guatemala City. Outgoing President Alejandro Giammattei has vowed to ensure an orderly vote and transition of power. Reporting by Cassandra Garrison in Guatemala City, additional reporting by Herbert Villarraga; Editing by Drazen Jorgic and Cynthia OstermanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Pilar Olivares, Bernardo Arevalo, Sandra Torres, Arevalo, Ardem Villagran, Alejandro Giammattei, Engel, Eladio Loizaga, Eric Olson, Olson, Cassandra Garrison, Herbert Villarraga, Drazen Jorgic, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: REUTERS, GUATEMALA CITY, Central, U.S . State Department, of American States, OAS, Seattle International Foundation, Thomson Locations: Guatemala City, Guatemala, GUATEMALA, United States, June's, Central America, U.S

☆ Japan down Costa Rica to put one foot in last 16
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Playing through Mina Tanaka in an advanced midfield role rather than playmaker Yui Hasegawa as they had against Zambia, Japan were already well in the ascendant before the double blow that knocked the stuffing out of the Central Americans. Costa Rica, who were beaten 3-0 by Spain in their opener, were barely able to land a blow on their opponents and it looked from then on only a matter of many goals Japan would rack up. Despite having 25 attempts on goal, however, Japan were unable to add to their tally - a shortcoming that might concern coach Futoshi Ikeda with tougher challenges lying ahead. Japan face Spain in Wellington on Monday in a match that will almost certainly decide which of the two sides top the group, while Costa Rica will play Zambia in Hamilton at the same time as both sides continue to seek their first World Cup win. Reporting by Nick Mulvenney in Sydney; editing by John StonestreetOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Aoba Fujino, Yui Hasegawa, Molly Darlington, Mina Tanaka, Hikaru Naomoto, Maria Paula Coto, Daniela Solera, Solera, Futoshi Ikeda, Nick Mulvenney, John Stonestreet Organizations: Soccer Football, FIFA, Costa Rica, Forsyth Barr, Costa, Dunedin, Central Americans, Zambia, Thomson Locations: New Zealand, Japan, Costa, Dunedin , New Zealand, Molly Darlington DUNEDIN , New Zealand, Costa Rica, Zambia, Spain, Wednesday's, Auckland, Wellington, Hamilton, Sydney

☆ Mexico to announce work visa program for Central Americans
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

MEXICO CITY, May 22 (Reuters) - Mexico will present a program this week to give Central Americans temporary visas to work on public infrastructure projects, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said Monday. Such projects require more people such as welders, iron-workers and engineers, Lopez Obrador told his regular daily news conference. "We need a workforce for these projects, especially if it's skilled labor," Lopez Obrador said. Lopez Obrador has long pushed for investment in Central America to stem the migration of thousands of people every year fleeing poverty and violence in Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador. He has also sought to boost development in the impoverished southern region of Mexico, which sits near the border with Guatemala.

☆ Title 42 dramatically changed who arrived at U.S.-Mexico border
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +8 min

Title 42 dramatically changed who arrived at the borderChart showing that before Title 42 began, most people apprehended at the U.S.-Mexico border were Mexican, Guatemalan, Slavadorian or Honduran. Title 42 mostly applied to Mexican migrants Mexicans are the nationality most frequently caught crossing the U.S.-Mexico border and also made up the largest group of quick Title 42 expulsions. With Title 42 in place, Mexican migrants processed under Title 8 dropped, as most were deported to Mexico under Title 42. Chart showing the breakdown of migrants from Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador apprehended under Title 8 and Title 42. All four nationalities began to increase once Title 42 began until Title 42 was expanded to include people from Venezuela in October 2022 and people from Cuba, Haiti and Nicaragua in January 2023.

☆ Migrants risk life and limb to jump Mexico trains in rush to border
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( Jose Luis Gonzalez | Gustavo Graf | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

I doubt it,” said Romario Solano, 23, a Venezuelan, while waiting for hours in baking sun near the trash-strewn rail tracks in Huehuetoca. For years, mainly Central Americans have crisscrossed Mexico on cargo trains, dubbing them collectively “La Bestia” (The Beast) due to the risk of injury, even death, if they fell off. The latest wave of people aboard “La Bestia” are largely poor Venezuelans, including families with small children, mostly aiming to reach Ciudad Juarez, opposite the Texan city of El Paso. “There are hundreds of people arriving every day,” said migrant activist Guadalupe Gonzalez last week in the central city of Irapuato, where the train makes a stop. “We hadn’t seen so many migrants passing through here like this before.”During the past month, as many as 700 people were trying to board per day, she said.

☆ 103 unaccompanied minors found in abandoned trailer in Mexico, govt says
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

MEXICO CITY, March 6 (Reuters) - Mexican authorities found 103 unaccompanied minors mostly from Guatemala inside an abandoned truck trailer in the eastern Mexican state of Veracruz, the government said on Monday, in one of the biggest recent discoveries of migrant children traveling through Mexico. In addition to the 103 children, authorities found 212 adults from Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and Ecuador in the trailer, the National Migration Institute (INM) said in a statement. Another 28 migrants traveling as families from Guatemala and El Salvador were also in the trailer, bringing the total number of passengers to 343. It was outfitted with fans, a partially ventilated roof and a structure that created a second level inside the trailer. Earlier this year, Mexican authorities found 57 unaccompanied minors from Guatemala at a checkpoint near the U.S.-Mexico border, and 20 other unaccompanied minors in a group of mostly Central Americans in the southern state of Chiapas.

☆ U.S. officials prepping legislation to revamp asylum system
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-09 | by ( Ted Hesson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

"It's a total rethink of the approach and is not constrained by current laws," one of the DHS officials said. Blas Nunez-Neto, a top DHS policy official, is one of the people leading the legislative effort, according to one of the DHS officials and another person familiar with the matter. The new Biden asylum bill could also potentially incorporate a requirement that migrants seek asylum in countries they pass through if protections are available elsewhere, the third person familiar with the effort said. The Biden administration has said it wants to end Title 42 and replace it with a more established rapid deportation process known as "expedited removal." U.S. officials since last year have pressed Mexico to accept non-Mexicans via expedited removal once Title 42 terminates, two U.S. officials told Reuters.

☆ The Biden administration could exclude North Africans and Middle Easterners as 'white' in the 2030 Census. New categories will prevent undercounting of MENA people, advocates say.
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-30 | by ( Hannah Getahun | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

It includes categories for Middle Eastern and North African people previously considered white. The proposed changes come after years of reviews on the way the US Census Bureau collects its data. Last year, President Joe Biden continued the review effort after former President Donald Trump's administration stalled on decisions regarding the implementation of proposed changes for the 2020 census, NPR reported. The new MENA category would also help with allocating resources to these groups, the document notes. A MENA category was supposed to be added to the 2020 census, but the bureau announced in 2018 that would no longer be the case until further research on the categories was done.

☆ U.S. border arrests drop in January after new Biden restrictions -sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-20 | by ( Ted Hesson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

U.S. Border Patrol agents have arrested an average of about 4,000 migrants per day in January, three U.S. officials told Reuters this week. At the current pace, border arrests could be the lowest since February 2021, a month after Biden took office. In December, border patrol agents made more than 221,000 arrests at the U.S.-Mexico border, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection data released on Friday. Biden, a Democrat who intends to seek reelection in 2024, earlier this month expanded COVID-related restrictions that allow migrants caught at the U.S.-Mexico border to be rapidly expelled back to Mexico. Several U.S. officials said border arrests typically dip around the end of the year due to holidays, which likely contributed to the January drop-off.

[1/4] Migrants queue near the border fence, after crossing the Rio Bravo river, to request asylum in El Paso, Texas, U.S., as seen from Ciudad Juarez, Mexico January 5, 2023. Initial backlash to Biden's policy shift also signals it could be challenged in court, from both those who favor restricting immigration and advocates for asylum seekers. The restrictions, known as Title 42, allow U.S. authorities to rapidly expel migrants caught at the border back to Mexico without the chance to claim asylum in the United States. The Biden administration tried last year to end the Title 42 border restrictions, but U.S. courts have left them in place and legal challenges are ongoing. The court rulings that left the Title 42 order in place give the Biden administration time to experiment with different strategies.

☆ U.S. ramps up immigration arrests mostly at Mexican border
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-30 | by ( Mica Rosenberg | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

NEW YORK, Dec 30 (Reuters) - Immigration arrests nearly doubled in 2022 compared to 2021 as border authorities apprehended more migrants and courts blocked efforts by U.S. President Joe Biden to more narrowly target detentions to focus on serious criminals. Around two-thirds of those arrests were of people with only immigration violations, the data showed. Most were migrants apprehended at the U.S.-Mexico border with no criminal convictions or charges pending and who were transferred to ICE, officials said on a call with reporters. U.S. Border Patrol agents apprehended a record 2.2 million migrants at the southwest border in the 2022 fiscal year. Those not expelled are either released into the country to pursue immigration claims or detained by ICE.

☆ Thriving network of fixers preys on migrants crossing Mexico
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-29 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +23 min

With soaring numbers of people entering Mexico, a sprawling network of lawyers, fixers and middlemen has exploded in the country. Detained migrants stand in the outdoor area of the Siglo XXI Migrant Detention Center in Tapachula, Mexico, on Oct. 4. When the immigration agency was asked directly, via freedom of information requests, it said it was just one. An empanada vendor's stall advertises information, and immigration documents outside the main immigration office in Puebla, Mexico, on Sept. 23. By mid-December, the immigration agency suddenly announced the closing of the camp with no explanation.

Frosty diplomatic relations between the United States and the governments of Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela have complicated deportations to those countries. The new rules for Cubans, Nicaraguans and Haitians would be modeled on an existing program for Venezuelans launched in October. Mexico has only accepted the expulsion of some nationalities, mostly Mexicans and Central Americans, under Title 42. Two officials said the policy shift for Cubans, Haitians and Nicaraguans could come as soon as this week. Close to half of those arrested were rapidly expelled under the Title 42 policy.

U.S. President Joe Biden, a Democrat, had campaigned on overturning Trump's hardline immigration measures before taking office in 2021 but kept Title 42 in place for more than a year. A federal judge last month ruled Title 42 was unlawful in response to a lawsuit originally brought by asylum-seeking migrants represented by the American Civil Liberties Union. Hours later, Chief Justice John Roberts in a brief order issued a stay that will leave Title 42 in place until further notice from the court. DHS last week updated a six-pillar plan that calls for the expanded use of a fast-track deportation process if Title 42 is terminated. In El Paso, shelters have struggled to provide for arriving migrants even as many ultimately are headed to join relatives in other parts of the United States.

REUTERS/Jordan VonderhaarWASHINGTON/CIUDAD JUAREZ, Mexico, Dec 19 (Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday said COVID-era restrictions at the U.S.-Mexico border that have prevented hundreds of thousands of migrants from seeking asylum should be kept in place for now, siding with Republicans who brought a legal challenge. U.S. President Joe Biden, a Democrat, had campaigned on overturning Trump's hardline immigration measures before taking office in 2021 but kept Title 42 in place for more than a year. A federal judge last month ruled Title 42 was unlawful in response to a lawsuit originally by asylum-seeking migrants represented by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). Hours later, Chief Justice John Roberts in a brief order issued a stay that will leave Title 42 in place until further notice from the court. In El Paso, shelters have struggled to house newcomers even as many ultimately are headed to join relatives in other parts of the United States.

The temporary order from the nation's highest court means Title 42 will stay in place until further notice from the court. Title 42, aimed at slowing the spread of COVID-19, was issued in March 2020 under Republican former President Donald Trump, an immigration restrictionist. Jean-Pierre stressed that migrants entering illegally could still be removed via other means even if eventually Title 42 goes away. "Truly, I am asking from my heart for the opportunity to enter" the United States. In El Paso, shelters have struggled to house newcomers even as many ultimately are headed to join relatives in other parts of the United States.

[1/5] A Texas National Guardsman watches as a group of migrants wades across the Rio Grande as U.S. border cities brace for an influx of asylum seekers when COVID-era Title 42 migration restrictions are set to end, in Eagle Pass, Texas, U.S. December 18, 2022. But because of an ongoing legal battle, it remains unclear whether Title 42 will end on Wednesday. For months, El Paso has been receiving large groups of asylum-seeking migrants, including many Nicaraguans who cannot be expelled to Mexico. On Saturday, the city's mayor declared a state of emergency to move migrants from city streets as temperatures have dropped below freezing. In El Paso, shelters have struggled to house incoming migrants, straining limited resources that are already accommodating the local homeless population.

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