Houston Woman Pleads Guilty in Cuellar Bribery Case Linked to Azerbaijan
A quick look at the main issues on the US-Mexico border
Houston Woman Pleads Guilty in Cuellar Bribery Case Linked to Azerbaijan
William Melhado, The Texas Tribune.- Irada Akhoundova has pled guilty to acting as an agent for the Azerbaijani government, marking the third guilty plea in the case involving U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar. Akhoundova facilitated a $60,000 payment for Imelda Cuellar, part of nearly $600,000 in alleged bribes linked to Azerbaijan and a Mexican bank. The indictment accuses Cuellar of pushing U.S. policy favorable to Azerbaijan in exchange for bribes. Two other consultants previously admitted to laundering funds from a Mexican bank. Akhoundova, who faces a possible five-year prison sentence and a $250,000 fine, has agreed to cooperate further with federal investigators.
More than 80,000 Mexicans used CBP One to request asylum in the US in 2023
Raúl Flores, La Verdad Juárez.- In 2023, more than 80,000 Mexicans managed appointments through the US government's CBP One application to request asylum, ranking as the second nationality with the most appointments after Venezuelans. The application seeks to order the entry of migrants and discourage illegal crossing.
MarÃa MartÃnez and her family traveled from Zacatecas to Ciudad Juárez for her appointment at the Paso del Norte International Bridge, seeking to escape the violence and crime in her region. Like them, many Mexicans have turned to CBP One, with 413,320 appointments assigned through the app from January to December 2023. The Mexican states with the most displaced citizens include Michoacán and Guerrero, according to the Survey of Displaced Mexicans and Applicants of Asylum in Ciudad Juárez (ENMEDESA).
Despite the option of scheduled appointments, the number of illegal crossings remains high, with many migrants waiting months for an appointment. Shelters in Ciudad Juárez are filled with Mexicans who have left everything behind the violence and are seeking a safer life in the U.S. However, obtaining appointments remains a challenge, especially for Mexicans, who report longer wait times than other nationalities.
Texas Lawmakers Urge Federal Funds Withholding Over Mexico's Water Treaty Delays
Matthew Choi, The Texas Tribune.- A bipartisan group of Texas representatives is pressing Congress to withhold funding to Mexico amid ongoing disputes over water deliveries stipulated by a 1944 treaty. With Mexico needing to deliver 1.75 million acre-feet of water to the U.S. by next October and still having over 700,000 acre-feet pending, Texas lawmakers argue that the shortfall is exacerbating water shortages and affecting local agriculture severely. The group has written to House and Senate appropriators, urging them to restrict funds until Mexico complies with the treaty terms, emphasizing the urgent need to protect South Texas farmers from further economic strain.
Series of Earthquakes Strike Baja California, Felt Across Southern California
Grace Tohey, Los Angeles Times.- Baja California experienced a series of earthquakes, with the largest, a magnitude of 4.9, occurring just south of the U.S.-Mexico border near Mexicali. This event was part of an earthquake swarm that started on Sunday before 10:30 a.m. and included almost 30 tremors within 15 hours. While most were below magnitude 4, three exceeded it, with the latest occurring after 2 a.m. on Monday. The tremors were felt as light shaking in San Diego County, but no significant damage or injuries were reported. This pattern is typical of "earthquake swarms" in the region, lasting from hours to months.
Mexican Expats in Texas Gear Up for Historic Presidential Election
Maria Probert Hermosillo, The Texas Tribune.- Mexican citizens residing in Texas are preparing to vote in an upcoming presidential election that could see Mexico elect its first female president. Community organizations in Central Texas actively assist Mexican nationals with voter registration and information on consulate services. This election is particularly significant as it offers the chance to continue or change the political direction under President Andrés Manuel López Obrador's party, Morena. Claudia Sheinbaum of Morena and Xóchitl Gálvez of the Broad Front for Mexico are the leading candidates, each with distinct policy priorities. Voter engagement among Mexicans abroad has been increasing, reflecting the community's desire to impact their home country's future from afar.