Supreme Court rules that Texas cannot block federal border agents
The Border Center for Journalists and Bloggers (BCJB) summarizes the main news on the border for January 23, 2024.
The US Supreme Court ordered Texas to allow federal border agents access to the state's border with Mexico
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Texas cannot prevent federal agents from accessing the state's border with Mexico, The Texas Tribune reported. This ruling upholds the principle that border security is a federal, not a state, responsibility. The conflict began when Texas sued the federal government after Border Patrol agents cut a barbed wire fence along the Rio Grande, which Texas claimed was destruction of state property. The recent confrontation at Shelby Park in Eagle Pass became a focal point of this dispute. Gov. Greg Abbott had stepped up border control measures, including installing concertina wire and limiting access to the park. Despite Texas' efforts to assert control, the Supreme Court's decision maintains the federal government's authority in border security matters. The ruling comes against the backdrop of ongoing tensions under Abbott's Operation Lone Star, in which the state has taken several unilateral actions on border security since 2021.
Journalist Patricia Mayorga narrates forced displacement and fight for the truth
Journalist Patricia Mayorga, forcibly displaced since 2017, reports in Raichali, a native digital medium dedicated to narrating the experiences of indigenous communities in Chihuahua, their experience, and the emotional impact of exile. After the murder of journalist Miroslava Breach, Mayorga decides to flee Chihuahua due to the lack of security and government support. She describes the pain of leaving her homeland and the difficulty of adapting to a new home in Peru, underscoring the importance of emotional and professional reconstruction in exile. Her story reflects the challenges journalists face in Mexico, where violence and impunity force many to choose between silence and survival. Despite adversity and constant risk, Mayorga highlights the need for brave and committed journalism. Her testimony is a call to recognize and support journalists who fight for the truth in contexts of extreme violence.
SEDENA detects exclusive US weapons in Mexico; Biden promises investigation
Semanario Zeta.- According to Keneth Lee Salazar, US Ambassador to Mexico, the Ministry of National Defense (SEDENA) of Mexico has warned about the entry of weapons exclusive to the US Army into the country. During a high-level bilateral meeting in Washington D.C., Secretary General Luis Cresencio Sandoval raised the concern, leading the US government, led by President Biden, to commit to investigating the situation. Alicia Isabel Adriana Bárcena Ibarra, head of the SRE, emphasized the urgency of investigating this illicit trafficking. The US ambassador acknowledged that the majority of the weapons that cause violence in Mexico come from the US and reaffirmed that combating arms trafficking is a priority for President Biden. In addition, the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit ruled in favor of Mexico in a lawsuit against weapons manufacturers, opening the way to review the merits of the matter.