🛑⚖️ Fear Grips Migrant Families on Both Sides of Border After Trump's Election
🛑⚖️ Fear Grips Migrant Families on Both Sides of Border After Trump's Election
⚖️🚫 Federal Court Strikes Down Biden's Immigration Policy Shielding Spouses of U.S. Citizens 💧🌿 Tijuana River Estuary's Oxygen Levels Reflect Impacts of Sewage Crisis
🛑⚖️ Fear Grips Migrant Families on Both Sides of Border After Trump's Election
Alexandra Mendoza and Kristen Taketa, The San Diego Union-Tribune. - Migrant families, particularly those in shelters along the U.S.-Mexico border, are gripped by fear after Donald Trump’s victory in the 2024 election. With Trump's promises of mass deportations and harsher immigration policies, families like Emir Mejía’s, who have been waiting for asylum hearings in Tijuana, are uncertain about their futures. Many migrants, such as Carmen Amado, fled violence in their home countries and saw the U.S. as a last hope for safety. However, under Trump, migration policies like the Migrant Protection Protocols and Title 42 may return, increasing deportations and complicating asylum processes. While some families are considering staying in Mexico, most continue to hold onto the hope of asylum in the U.S. As shelters report a rise in deportations and uncertainty, organizations are preparing to defend immigrant rights against the looming threat of Trump’s policies.
⚖️🚫 Federal Court Strikes Down Biden's Immigration Policy Shielding Spouses of U.S. Citizens
Danya Pérez, Houston Landing. - A federal court in Texas ruled against the Biden administration's Parole in Place program, also known as Keeping Families Together, which aimed to shield undocumented spouses of U.S. citizens from deportation during their process to become lawful residents. U.S. District Judge J. Campbell Baker ruled that the administration lacked statutory authority to grant "parole in place" to undocumented immigrants. This decision means that many families will face prolonged separation, as undocumented spouses will now need to leave the country to apply for permanent residence, risking a 10-year ban. The ruling follows a lawsuit filed by Texas and other states, and immigrant rights groups are now pushing for an appeal. Despite the setback, advocates remain hopeful that the fight for family unity will continue.
🚌⚖️ New York Can't Block Texas Migrant Buses, Court Rules
Cedar Attanasio, Associated Press. - A state judge ruled that New York City cannot use an old, unconstitutional law to block Texas from offering free bus rides to migrants heading to the city. The lawsuit, filed by Mayor Eric Adams, cited an 1817 statute that criminalized bringing indigent people into the state. Judge Mary Rosado declared the law unconstitutional, as it infringes on the right to travel and improperly regulates interstate transportation. While Adams’ lawsuit failed, he claimed success in reducing the number of buses arriving in the city. The decision was praised by the New York Civil Liberties Union, which emphasized the constitutional right of all individuals to travel freely within the U.S. The ongoing dispute highlights tensions between Texas and New York over immigration and federal responsibility for migrant support.
🛑⚖️ Failure of Disappeared Persons Policy Deepens Families' Plight in Coahuila, No Real Solutions
Jesús Peña, Semanario.- The disappearance of individuals in Coahuila continues to rise, with no effective policy addressing the critical needs of affected families. The state's program, PROFADE, which was created to support families with essential services such as healthcare, education, and legal assistance, has fallen short due to insufficient funding and limited resources. Despite significant increases in disappearances, the government has allocated minimal funds to the program, and families report worsening physical and mental health conditions. A lack of substantial support in housing, employment, and justice has left many victims' families struggling to cope. Local officials and advocacy groups are pushing for a more comprehensive plan to address the systemic issues, including proposals to integrate more services from state health and education departments. However, the government’s continued failure to provide adequate resources and solutions has deepened the trauma faced by these families.
💧🌿 Tijuana River Estuary's Oxygen Levels Reflect Impacts of Sewage Crisis
Tammy Murga, The San Diego Union-Tribune. - The Tijuana River estuary, one of the few intact salt marshes remaining in Southern California, faces a severe environmental crisis due to pollution from untreated sewage. Researchers have linked high sewage flows to dangerously low oxygen levels in the water, creating hypoxic and anoxic conditions that threaten aquatic life. Dissolved oxygen, crucial for marine life, has been alarmingly low, with some areas showing zero oxygen for several days. The estuary saw record sewage flows in 2023, reaching over 44 billion gallons, exacerbating the crisis. Recent improvements came after Mexico fixed a pump that diverts polluted water, reducing daily sewage flows significantly. Despite some positive changes, the estuary remains under stress, with fish populations plummeting and the ecosystem struggling. Efforts to improve wastewater infrastructure on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border are underway, with hopes for recovery contingent on further decreases in sewage contamination.
💧🌾 U.S.-Mexico Water Deal Offers Hope for South Texas Farmers Amid Drought
Berenice Garcia, The Texas Tribune. - A new amendment to the 1944 water treaty between the U.S. and Mexico aims to provide much-needed relief to South Texas farmers grappling with severe drought conditions. The agreement allows Mexico to transfer water from its reservoirs, Falcon and Amistad, to fulfill its water delivery obligations to the U.S., which currently faces a shortfall of over 1 million acre-feet. The amendment also allows Mexico to use water from rivers outside the treaty’s original tributaries to meet its commitments, raising hopes among farmers in the Rio Grande Valley that water shortages will ease in time for the next planting season. While concerns remain about how the water will be distributed, especially for future years, the agreement is seen as a crucial step in addressing water scarcity and ensuring the sustainability of agriculture in the region.
🚔💥 Armed Robbers Steal Three Trucks on Reynosa Highway
EL NORTE Staff - Once again, the Reynosa highway in Nuevo León became the scene of armed robberies by criminal groups targeting motorists. Using high-powered rifles, the robbers stole three trucks at different points near China and Los Ramones, around 6:30 to 7:20 AM. Despite the highway being a toll road, authorities only responded after the incidents were reported. By the time the National Guard arrived, the criminals had already fled. Two stolen vehicles, a GMC and a 2022 Toyota Tundra, were taken in China, while a 2018 Ford Raptor was seized near Los Ramones. The victims, left in shock by the roadside, were reportedly heading toward the border. This highway has been a hotspot for violence against innocent travelers, with previous incidents including murders and disappearances.