🗽📜 Biden Administration Implements Stricter Asylum Rules Amid Migration Concerns
New Border Base in Eagle Pass Staffing Up Amid Community Concerns * Environmentalists Urge Enforcement of Decree for El Chamizal Restoration
Members of the dance group Tijuana Dance Company perform on the sidewalk across the street from the Sistema Integral de Transporte Publico (SITT) bus station near Plaza Rio during an event called Ocupamos el SITT (Occupy the SITT) on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Tijuana, Mexico. / Photo by David Maung for Voice of San Diego
Biden Administration Implements Stricter Asylum Rules Amid Migration Concerns
Rebecca Santana, The Associated Press.- The Biden administration announced Monday further tightening of asylum restrictions at the U.S. southern border, effective Tuesday. Established initially in June, the revised rules now require that migrant numbers must consistently stay below 1,500 daily for almost a month before restrictions can be lifted. Previously, children from Mexico were the only minors counted towards this number; now, all children are included. Despite these restrictions, which have remained active since June due to high migrant encounters, new changes aim to ensure prolonged reductions in numbers. Critics argue that these policies severely restrict asylum access, potentially endangering individuals fleeing persecution by setting unrealistic thresholds that could indefinitely extend the restrictions.
New Border Base in Eagle Pass Staffing Up Amid Community Concerns
Sandra Sanchez, Border Report. Texas is establishing a Forward Operating Base in Eagle Pass to accommodate 2,300 National Guard troops, raising safety and well-being concerns among residents. Currently housing 700 troops, the $131 million facility is set to be completed in November. This strategic move, part of Texas’ Operation Lone Star, aims to strengthen border control. During his recent visit, Governor Greg Abbott emphasized Texas' commitment to securing the border, announcing the relocation of the state's military headquarters from McAllen to Eagle Pass.
Tijuana Artists Rally at Transit Stations to Demand Functioning Bus System
Sandra Dibble, Voice of San Diego.- In a striking display of public engagement, artists and activists in Tijuana commandeered transit stations across the city on Saturday to protest the failed delivery of a functional bus rapid transit system, promised in 2016 but never fully realized. The event, orchestrated by Mover la Ciudad, turned these spaces into stages for performances and exhibitions, highlighting the city's critical need for reliable public transportation. Despite its initial promise, the Sistema Integral de Transporte de Tijuana (SITT) has floundered, with current operations far below the projected capacity, stirring frustrations over municipal neglect and mismanagement. This grassroots movement underscores a broader dissatisfaction with urban planning and public project failures in Tijuana, serving as a call to action for city officials and residents.
Environmentalists Urge Enforcement of Decree for El Chamizal Restoration
Raúl Flores, La Verdad Juárez.- Environmental activists from the Frente en Defensa de El Chamizal visited Profepa in Ciudad Juárez, demanding action against a construction within the recently declared ecological restoration zone of El Chamizal. Despite the favorable presidential decree, they expressed concerns over ongoing unauthorized developments, asserting these constitute ecological crimes. They criticized the local government's handling of previous complaints and emphasized their commitment to enforcing the decree to protect the park’s 327 hectares.