🚨🌊 Border Drownings Spike as Migrants Flee Violence, Texas Border Policies Tighten
🏛️⚖️ ICE Plans New Detention Facility in California as Mass Deportations Loom 🚔⚖️ Trump Taps Rodney Scott to Head Customs and Border Protection Amid Push for Hard-Line Immigration Policies
🚨🌊 Border Drownings Spike as Migrants Flee Violence, Texas Border Policies Tighten
Arelis R. Hernández and others, The Washington Post.- An investigation reveals that drownings along the Rio Grande have surged, especially in Eagle Pass, Texas, where Governor Greg Abbott's Operation Lone Star has intensified border security. Since 2017, at least 1,107 migrants have drowned attempting to cross, with a significant increase in 2022. The deaths are attributed to a combination of dangerous river currents and increasing border enforcement measures, including the installation of barriers such as razor wire, buoys, and shipping containers. Migrants, primarily from Venezuela, face desperate conditions as they cross, often choosing dangerous routes to avoid detention. While Operation Lone Star aims to deter migration, critics argue it has pushed migrants into more hazardous crossings, contributing to higher death rates. As Texas strengthens its security, migrant families continue to risk their lives in pursuit of asylum, with women and children increasingly among the fatalities.
🚔⚖️ Trump Taps Rodney Scott to Head Customs and Border Protection Amid Push for Hard-Line Immigration Policies
Rebecca Santana, Associated Press.- President-elect Donald Trump has appointed Rodney Scott, former Border Patrol chief, to lead Customs and Border Protection (CBP), signaling a continuation of his administration's hard-line immigration stance. Scott, a staunch supporter of Trump's border policies, is expected to collaborate with a team of immigration hard-liners, including South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem as DHS secretary and Stephen Miller as deputy chief of staff. Scott, who spent much of his career in San Diego, is known for his strong support for border walls and enforcement measures. Critics have raised concerns about his past actions, such as using tear gas on protesters and resisting Biden administration directives. While CBP plays a significant role in immigration enforcement, it also oversees trade and travel security. It will be crucial if Trump follows through on his proposed tariffs on Mexico, China, and Canada.
🏛️⚖️ ICE Plans New Detention Facility in California as Mass Deportations Loom
Harriet Ryan, Los Angeles Times.- With the incoming Trump administration's promise of mass deportations, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is exploring the possibility of establishing a new detention facility in California to house up to 950 people. The agency is focused on areas within a two-hour radius of its San Francisco regional offices, such as Sacramento, San Jose, and Bakersfield. ICE's push for expansion comes as it seeks to increase detention capacity by around 10%, or 3,800 beds, to accommodate various security classifications. This plan, including potential centers in Phoenix, El Paso, and Seattle, has faced backlash in California, where state laws limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement in public institutions. California officials, including Attorney General Rob Bonta, are preparing to challenge the federal efforts, reaffirming their commitment to immigrant rights and state values.
🚢💸 How Trump Tariffs Could Threaten El Paso's Economy Amid Rising Trade Tensions
Diego Mendoza-Moyers, El Paso Matters.- If President-elect Donald Trump follows through with his plan to impose tariffs on all foreign goods, the impact could be especially severe on El Paso’s economy, which relies heavily on cross-border trade. El Paso imports over $64 billion in goods annually, mainly from Mexico, including vehicle parts and electric machinery. The proposed tariffs, which could target Mexican goods, could increase consumer costs and disrupt key industries like warehousing, logistics, and manufacturing. The city's economy, reliant on smooth trade relations, could face job losses in Juárez, reducing consumer spending in El Paso. While economists warn that tariffs could lead to “stagflation” and retaliatory measures from other nations, local business leaders argue that trade between the U.S. and Mexico will likely continue despite the disruptions, though at a higher cost to consumers.