Slain Tamaulipas Mayoral Candidate Noé Ramos Provided His Own Security After State Withdrawal
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Slain Tamaulipas Mayoral Candidate Noé Ramos Provided His Own Security After State Withdrawal
Noé Ramos Ferretiz, a mayoral candidate for El Mante, Tamaulipas, who was tragically killed last Friday, had employed private security guards following the withdrawal of official protection by the state government. Despite previously being provided security due to threats, it was retracted six months later, forcing him to hire his team, comprised of retired military and marines, on February 24. The attack occurred shortly after he attended a local gathering, leading to a fatal stabbing. His security, though armed and authorized by the Sedena, failed to prevent the assassination, underscoring the peril candidates face in regions plagued by violence.
Ramos Ferretiz, the candidate from the "Fuerza y Corazón por Tamaulipas" coalition for mayor in El Mante, Tamaulipas, was murdered by stabbing during a campaign tour in the Azucarera neighborhood. The Tamaulipas State Attorney General's Office has confirmed the incident and launched a murder investigation. Previously, in December 2022, Ramos had reported receiving threats and had requested security measures for himself and his family, highlighting the escalating violence and threats he faced in the lead-up to the election. Ramos, an architect by profession and a prominent local political figure, was seeking re-election in the upcoming municipal elections. (With information from El Norte and Elefante Blanco.)
Operation Lone Star Credited for Drop in Texas Migrant Crossings, Experts Question Long-term Impact
Alejandro Serrano, Texas Tribune.- Operation Lone Star, a multibillion-dollar border security initiative, has been credited by Governor Gregg Abbot for a recent decrease in migrant apprehensions on the Texas-Mexico border. Abbott points to significant declines in crossings, particularly in areas like Eagle Pass, where Texas National Guard interventions have intensified. Federal data supports a drop in Texas' share of migrant encounters from 59% to 43% in the first half of fiscal year 2024, contrasting with increased crossings in non-Texas border sectors.
However, experts argue that attributing these shifts solely to state policies oversimplifies the complex dynamics of migration, which are influenced by various factors, including international socio-economic conditions, smuggling routes, and broader U.S. immigration policies. Critics suggest that while Texas' efforts may redirect migration patterns temporarily, they do not address the root causes of migration and are unlikely to effect long-term change in border crossing trends.
U.S. Resumes Deportation Flights to Haiti Amidst Rampant Gang Violence
AP.-The Biden administration has restarted deportation flights to Haiti, sending back around 50 Haitians as gang violence intensifies in the country. The flight departed from Alexandria, Louisiana, stopping in Miami before reaching Cap-Haitien, Haiti. Among those deported was Gerson Joseph, who had been living in the U.S. for over 20 years but had an outstanding deportation order from a failed asylum bid in 2005. This marks the first such flight in months amidst a backdrop of rising gang-related displacements and attacks in Haiti. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security stated it will continue to enforce immigration policies, while advocacy groups urge a cessation of deportations to the crisis-stricken nation.