Displaying items by tag: Mexico

In the coastal town of Necocli, migrant families are now returning south after failed attempts to enter the USA, marking a reversal of a once-dominant northward migration trend. Harsh immigration policies under Donald Trump, including the withdrawal of the asylum app and increased military presence along the border, have left many stranded in Mexico or deterred from even attempting the journey. Some, like Luis Angel Yagua Parra, braved the deadly Darién Gap only to be forced back. Others, including a Venezuelan couple whose child was born in the USA, have left voluntarily, fearing deportation. Aid workers in Necoclí report a growing daily influx of returnees, but dwindling foreign support has led to closures of humanitarian organisations. Pastor Jose Mendoza’s food hall, struggling to meet rising needs, might have to close due to a lack of funding. For families like Marisela Bellorin’s, who have been homeless for months, survival is precarious. As the ‘American dream’ fades, many migrants are choosing new destinations such as Chile, in search of safety and stability.

Donald Trump has imposed a 25% duty on imports from Canada and Mexico and doubled tariffs on Chinese goods to 20%. He says that all three countries have failed to do enough to stem the flow of the deadly opioid fentanyl. These measures could disrupt over $2.2 trillion in trade. China immediately retaliated, announcing new tariffs on US agricultural products and export restrictions on 25 American firms, including those linked to arms sales to Taiwan. Canada and Mexico also pledged countermeasures, with Canada targeting US goods such as beer, wine, and home appliances. Ontario premier Doug Ford even suggested halting nickel shipments and electricity exports to the USA. China, already facing heightened tariffs on semiconductors and electric vehicles, expressed frustration, accusing the US of violating trade agreements. With trade tensions escalating, global markets remain uncertain as major economies brace for economic fallout.

China has retaliated against new US tariffs by imposing 15% duties on certain energy imports and 10% tariffs on crude oil, vehicles, and machinery. It also announced export controls on key minerals like tungsten and added two firms to its ‘unreliable entities’ list. Additionally, China launched an antitrust investigation into Google. On 2 February Donald Trump had imposed 10% tariffs on Chinese goods, part of broader trade measures also targeting Mexico and Canada. He has briefly paused tariffs on those two nations following talks. China denounced the tariffs at the World Trade Organisation, warning of economic disruption. The dispute extends beyond tariffs, touching on security and fentanyl production. While Beijing aims to avoid an escalating trade war, China’s slowing economy adds pressure. Meanwhile, Trump has indicated that he might impose tariffs on other nations.

Claudia Sheinbaum, former mayor of Mexico City, has been elected as Mexico's first female president, with 58% of the vote. This strengthens the Morena party's control, following outgoing president Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (AMLO). Despite concerns about Sheinbaum’s close ties to AMLO, both have insisted he will not influence her administration. She has committed to addressing Mexico's issues, particularly violence and security; the country is plagued by over 30,000 murders a year. During her tenure as mayor, the homicide rate in the capital dropped by 50%, credited to improved security measures. She plans to continue AMLO's strategy of non-confrontation with crime groups, relying on the national guard for security. Analysts expect Sheinbaum's presidency to be more disciplined and globally aware than AMLO's. However, the challenges she faces were highlighted when a female mayor was shot dead on 4 June.

In Mexico's drought-stricken Michoacan state, subsistence farmers are taking direct action against commercial farms, particularly avocado orchards, which are depleting water sources. Angry residents have organised teams to remove illegal water pumps and breach unlicensed irrigation ponds, sparking potential conflicts with avocado growers, some of whom have ties to drug cartels. The drought, exacerbated by increased water use for lucrative export crops, has led to disappearing rivers and lakes. The residents are demanding fair access to water resources; they have proposed giving 20% of the water to the orchard owners. The government has been urged to address the root causes of the conflict and prevent further environmental degradation.

The killing of Jesus Ociel Baena, a prominent Mexican non-binary activist, has triggered widespread grief within the LGBTQ community, leading to candlelight vigils across the country. Many participants waved rainbow fans as they lashed out at the ongoing insults and violence faced by LGBTQ+ individuals in Mexico. Baena and their partner, Dorian Nieves, were discovered dead in their home in Aguascalientes state. Baena had suffered multiple lacerations from a razor, including a likely fatal one to the neck. Preliminary evidence suggested the possibility of Nieves committing the murder and subsequently committing suicide, but Baena's father has rejected this theory. LGBTQ+ rights advocates pointed out that Baena had been threatened due to their activism and called for a careful, unbiased investigation to explore every possibility. Aguascalientes, known for its conservative values, had witnessed Baena breaking barriers as the first non-binary person as a state judge.

Two indigenous families in rural Mexico, previously unaware of God's existence, were profoundly impacted by audio recordings of the Gospel of Mark in their tribal language. This led them to embrace Christianity and attend church services. They said that listening to the audios helped them understand Jesus' purpose on Earth, inspiring them to accept God into their hearts. Some members had been suffering from an incurable disease but attributed their complete healing to their newfound faith. Despite a history of tribal beliefs, one family member thanked God for His Word in their language and the worker who shared the recordings. This success reinforces the importance of continuing translation efforts to bring the message of redemption and salvation to people in their native languages. Pray that everyone can access and be transformed by God's Word in the language of their hearts. Various projects, including translating the Book of Jonah, have contributed to this mission, promoting literacy and understanding in indigenous communities.

US president Joe Biden's administration is to build a section of border wall in southern Texas in an effort to stop rising levels of immigration. Around 20 miles (32 km) will be built in Starr County, where officials report high numbers of crossings. Building a border wall, a signature policy of Donald Trump, was fiercely opposed by Democrats. In 2020, Mr Biden promised he would not build another foot of wall if elected. The US Customs and Border Protection defended the latest move, saying it was using funds already allocated for a border barrier. The rising number of illegal border crossings has made the issue a vulnerable one for the president. More than 245,000 crossings have been made this year in the Rio Grande Valley area alone. Several US cities say they are feeling the strain of the influx. New York City mayor Eric Adams predicted the cost of housing the more than 100,000 new arrivals since last year will rise to $12bn over the next three years. ‘We are at capacity’, he said.

Concerns about the inhumane treatment of migrants along the border with Mexico were made in an email from an unnamed Texas trooper to the state department of public safety. In the email the trooper said they were given orders by Border Security agents to push the Mexicans back into the Rio Grande River and ordered not to give them water despite the extreme heat. Officials in the Lone Star State have been criticised for deploying barrels wrapped in razor wire on the river, which the trooper described as traps, because the wire has increased the risk of drowning by forcing migrants into deeper parts of the river. The email detailed several incidents on the border in Eagle Pass last month, including a pregnant woman being trapped in wire and having a miscarriage and a four-year-old girl fainting from heat exhaustion after soldiers pushed the group she was in back towards Mexico.

An additional 1,500 active-duty troops will join the 2,500 National Guards on the US-Mexico border in anticipation of an influx of migrants when the Covid-era restrictions expire on 11 May. Their assistance will free up resources so that US Customs and Border Protection can operate freely while soldiers fill gaps in ground-based detection, monitoring, data entry, and warehouse support. They will not be doing any law enforcement. Many believe further militarisation of the border is unacceptable in the middle of a humanitarian crisis in the Western Hemisphere. Deploying military personnel signals that migrants are a threat. Nothing could be further from the truth. More encounters at the Mexico border are expected as smugglers take advantage of the changes. They are already hard at work spreading disinformation that the border will be open, placing strains on the entire system. There were 7,000 daily encounters on the US southern border recently. Numbers are expected to rise in the coming weeks.