The Reuters report details the Mexican government’s efforts to prevent migrants from reaching the U.S.-Mexico border through detentions and administrative obstacles. There’s also a program to bus and fly non-Mexican migrants to the southern part of the country near Guatemala.
The Reuters article is based on public data and conversations with a dozen U.S. and Mexican officials. Reuters journalists also witnessed immigrants being put on buses at a military checkpoint just 25 miles south of the U.S.-Mexico border.
According to Mexican officials who spoke anonymously, the goal of the program is to tire migrants so they give up before reaching the United States.
However, on the record, Mexico’s government said the purpose is to protect migrants from human traffickers. One immigrant from Venezuela told Reuters that he was apprehended, driven 2,000 miles south and had to start his journey to America all over again.
The report states the program is in its tenth month and started after U.S. officials closed a key trade route into the country which had an estimated cost of $100 million a day.
The data shows Mexico is now apprehending four times more migrants than it did during the Trump administration. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, who was just sworn in Oct. 1, has promised to work with whoever wins November’s election.
Nearly half of Americans support putting immigrants into military-guarded camps
A new survey reveals Americans are divided on whether undocumented immigrants should be detained in military-guarded camps. Support for the proposal is strongest among Republicans, while Democrats overwhelmingly oppose the idea.
According to the Public Religion Research Institute, 47% of Americans favor detaining undocumented immigrants in military-guarded camps, including 79% of Republicans, 22% of Democrats and 47% of independents.
AP Images
The survey shows growing support for mass deportations and stricter immigration enforcement, especially among Republican voters, as the 2024 presidential election approaches.
Immigration is now a top issue for more than 70% of Republicans, according to PRRI, marking a sharp increase from previous years. By contrast, immigration ranks lower in priority for independents and Democrats, reflecting a deepening partisan divide on the issue.
Critics, including many Democrats and human rights organizations, have condemned the idea of camps as extreme and inhumane. They argue that the policy would echo historical injustices and create ethical concerns about human rights violations.
Reuters
The survey also found that 51% of Americans now support building a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, up from 41% in 2016. Meanwhile, support for a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants has declined.
With the 2024 election on the horizon, immigration is likely to remain a contentious topic, with stark divisions on how to handle undocumented immigrants and the broader issue of immigration reform.
DHS identifies hundreds of migrants with possible ties to Tren de Aragua: Report
New data from The Department of Homeland Security showed more than 600 migrants in the United States may have connections to the well-known Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. The group has been a growing concern for the FBI because of its involvement in human smuggling, extortion and drug trafficking.
According to the report obtained by NBC News, around 100 of the 600 migrants DHS named as “subjects of interest” are confirmed members of the gang that the department wanted to put on an FBI watchlist.
DHS says the others could be members, victims or witnesses.
The data also revealed Tren de Aragua has a known presence in at least 15 states and possibly eight others.
Most people in the U.S. first learned about the gang in August when a video of armed men storming an apartment building in Aurora, Colorado, went viral.
The issue of immigration has become a main talking point in the final weeks of former President Donald Trump’s presidential campaign. He has said his opponent Vice President Kamala Harris hasn’t done enough on the immigration issue as vice president.
Harris visited the U.S.-Mexico border in September and promised “common-sense” solutions.
DHS said determining the exact number of Tren de Aragua members in the U.S. is a challenge because unlike most countries, Venezuela doesn’t share its criminal histories with U.S. officials.
That makes it difficult for border agents to identify the gang members. For that reason, law enforcement officials believe the number may be higher.
National Geographic releases Best of the World 2025 list
National Geographic released its highly anticipated Best of the World 2025 list. It highlights some of the most exciting, meaningful and unique travel experiences for the upcoming year.
The list features something for every type of traveler, from families to foodies, animal lovers to adventurers.
The 2025 destinations include a new rock-climbing paradise in India and an island-hopping trail in Stockholm, each chosen to inspire and captivate visitors.
Nathan Lump, editor-in-chief at National Geographic, described the Best of the World list as an annual invitation to explore the diverse beauty of the world.
“In a time of uncertainty, we wanted to lean into travel that brings joy and taps into the excitement of discovery,” Lump said in an interview with CNN.
This year, joy became a key theme in travel trends.
One destination making waves is Guadalajara, Mexico, which earned its spot on the list thanks to its lively Mariachi Festival. The event transforms the city’s streets into a vibrant musical celebration.
Another notable pick is Boise, Idaho, where the Basque community’s Jaialdi Festival returns after a decade-long hiatus, featuring street parties and traditional sports, including wood-chopping competitions.
For travelers seeking a slower, more reflective experience, Italy’s centuries-old cenobitic monasteries offer a tranquil setting perfect for meditation and connection.
Cork, Ireland, also made the list. The city is known for its vibrant culture and warm locals, and it is undergoing a massive urban transformation that is expected to attract even more visitors in the coming years.
Los Angeles secured its place on the list for its rapidly growing art scene. Additionally, Bangkok was recognized for its quieter, lesser-known spiritual sites, like Wat Chaiwatthanaram, which offer a serene escape from the more crowded tourist destinations.
For those interested in remote cultural immersion, Haida Gwaii, located off the coast of British Columbia, offers a rare opportunity to connect with indigenous traditions and local wildlife.
Whether travelers want to hike active volcanoes in Guatemala, rock-climb in India’s Ladakh region or take a wildlife photography class aboard Malaysia’s luxurious Eastern & Oriental Express, the Best of the World 2025 list provides a variety of incredible experiences.
Large migrant caravan departs southern Mexico ahead of US election
A caravan of about 2,000 migrants left southern Mexico Sunday, Oct. 20, hoping to reach the U.S. southern border before the election on Nov. 5. This group is the third and largest since Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum took office Oct. 1. Sheinbaum is maintaining her predecessor Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s immigration policies, according to reports from The Associated Press.
Other groups encompassing 800 or 900 migrants, mostly from Venezuela, left Mexico earlier in October. Venezuelan migrants said dire situations in their country are motivating them to look for better opportunities in the United States.
Migrants told the AP that they worry that after the 2024 U.S. presidential race, either a Harris or a Trump administration may bring an end to asylum appointments through the Biden administration’s CBP One app.
“That is what makes us fearful,” one migrant making the journey with his wife said. “They say this could change because they could both close the CBP One appointment and all the services that are helping migrants.”
One activist estimates about 40,000 migrants are currently stranded in southern Mexico.
The Biden-Harris administration faced sharp criticism for its handling of immigration as U.S. Customs and Border Protection numbers show agents have encountered 8.6 million individuals at the U.S. southern border from fiscal year 2021 through fiscal year 2024.
Earlier this month, President Joe Biden signed an executive order expanding asylum restrictions for migrants looking to cross the U.S.-Mexico border. Under the action, migrants will not be granted asylum when federal officials deem the border overwhelmed. Restrictions won’t be lifted until there are fewer than 1,500 border crossings per day for 30 days.
Immigration is a key issue for voters. On the campaign trail, former President Donald Trump has said he will carry out mass deportations and hire 10,000 border patrol agents, while Vice President Kamala Harris says she stands by the failed bipartisan Senate border bill that would have poured $20 billion into border resources and hired 1,500 new agents.
Former Olympian is accused of running ‘ruthless’ drug smuggling operation
The U.S Department of Justice announced a federal indictment of former Canadian Olympic snowboarder Ryan Wedding on Thursday, Oct. 17, which accuses him of running a billion-dollar cocaine trafficking operation and ordering the murders of several people.
“Instead of using his privileges that come with being an Olympic athlete to do good for people, he did the opposite,” U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada of the Central District of California, said. “He chose to become a major drug trafficker, and he chose to become a killer.”
Federal authorities said the 43-year-old Wedding’s transnational drug trafficking organization, backed by Mexican cartels, smuggled tons of cocaine across the U.S. and Canadian borders for more than a decade, using hitmen to kill people who got in their way.
“These individuals ran what we call the Wedding criminal enterprise,” Estrada said. “This criminal enterprise was extremely prolific and ruthless. By prolific, they moved massive amounts of cocaine. They were one of the largest suppliers of cocaine to Canada and the United States. They move an average of 60 tons of cocaine per year. By ruthless, they were killers. Anyone who got in their way, they would target with violence, including murder.”
Prosecutors said all victims of the assassins were shot execution-style in Canada, so their family members could see them murdered, including two parents in Canada, who were mistakenly thought to have stolen a drug shipment. The mother and father were shot in front of their daughter, who was also shot several times but survived.
Authorities seized cocaine, guns, ammunition, cash and more than $3 million in cryptocurrency.
Wedding is among four of the named 16 defendants in the indictment who are still on the loose and considered to be fugitives.
Harris sits down with Fox News, Trump holds town hall
Vice President Kamala Harris appeared on Fox News to talk about topics ranging from immigration and whether she would continue policies implemented by the Biden administration. And what led to the tragic fatal fall of British pop star Liam Payne in Argentina. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024.
Harris sits down with Fox News, Trump holds town hall
With less than 20 days until America heads to the polls to elect the next president, Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump appeared on Fox News Wednesday, Oct. 16. While Fox News is a familiar outlet for Trump, this was Harris’ first interview with the outlet since becoming the Democratic nominee.
In the one-on-one sit-down interview, Harris told Fox News Anchor Bret Baier her presidency would not be the same as Joe Biden’s previous four years after being questioned about past comments she made, saying she would not have done anything differently than the president.
“So, you’re not Joe Biden, you’re not Donald Trump, but nothing comes to mind that you would do differently?” Baier asked.
“Let me be very clear: my presidency would not be a continuation of Joe Biden’s presidency, and like every new president that comes to office, I will bring my life experiences and professional experiences and fresh and news ideas,” Harris said. “I represent a new generation of leadership. I, for example, am someone who has not spent the majority of my career in Washington, D.C.”
At times during the interview the anchor and the vice president spoke over one another to get their point across. One of those times was when they touched on the topic of immigration and the border.
When pressed about whether she had concerns about President Biden’s health, Harris noted Biden is not the one running for president, Trump is and mentioned former senior Trump officials who said he is not fit for office.
Former President Trump’s town hall with Fox News anchor Harris Faulkner also aired Wednesday. It had an audience made up of all women.
During the event, Trump touched on the topics of abortion and IVF, where he said he was the “father of IVF.”
“We really are the party for I.V.F.,” Trump said. “We want fertilization, and it’s all the way, and the Democrats tried to attack us on it, and we’re out there on I.V.F., even more than them.”
In response to Trump’s “father of IVF” comment, Vice President Harris told reporters it was “quite bizarre.”
A Trump campaign spokesperson said Trump made a joke “in jest when he was enthusiastically answering a question about IVF as he strongly supports widespread access to fertility treatments for women and families.”
Judge invalidates 7 new Georgia election rules
As early voting is underway in Georgia, a judge has ruled seven new rules put in place after the 2020 election are “illegal, unconstitutional, and void.” Among those were three particularly controversial rules — one requiring ballots be hand-counted after polls close and two that had to do with the certification of election results.
On Wednesday, the judge ruled the state Election Board did not have the authority to make those rules and ordered them to be immediately removed. It must also inform all state and local election officials that the rules have been invalidated and not to follow them.
Also in Georgia Wednesday, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, who charged former President Trump with interfering in the 2020 election, asked an appeals court to reinstate multiple charges against him and his co-defendants that had been tossed out by the trial court judge earlier this year.
Willis argued the judge made a mistake in dropping six of the charges against Trump related to Solicitation of Violation of Oath by a Public Officer. That ruling removed three of the charges Trump was facing in the case. The same judge later tossed two more counts against Trump.
US bombers strike Houthi weapons facilities in Yemen
The “precision strikes” by the B-2 stealth bombers targeted five underground storage facilities used by the Iran-backed rebel group. Defense officials said those facilities housed advanced weapons that the Islamist military organization has been using to attack military and civilian vessels in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden for months now.
Los Angeles Archdiocese to pay $880M to clergy sex abuse victims
Attorneys for more than 1,300 people who say they suffered abuse at the hands of local catholic priests, reached the settlement after months of negotiations with the archdiocese. It puts an end to more than two decades of litigation against the most populous archdiocese in the United States.
The Archdiocese of Los Angeles has reached an agreement in principle worth $880 million to compensate more than a thousand decades-old claims of childhood sexual abuse.
The archdiocese has previously paid $740 million to victims in various settlements. This settlement put the total payout at more than $1.5 billion, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Liam Payne, member of One Direction, dies at 31 after fall from hotel balcony
The music industry and fans around the world are mourning the death of Liam Payne, a member of the British boy band One Direction. He died Wednesday at 31 years old.
According to authorities in Argentina, Payne fell from a third-story balcony at a hotel in Buenos Aires. The circumstances surrounding his death are under investigation, however, the Associated Press reported police rushed to the hotel in response to a call about an “aggressive man who could be under the influence of drugs or alcohol.”
Since the band took an indefinite hiatus in 2016, Payne embarked on a solo career. The singer has been open about his struggles with alcoholism, announcing in July 2023 that he had been sober for six months after seeking treatment.
Pop star Charlie Puth, who collaborated with Payne in the past, remembered the One Direction singer on social media saying, “Liam was always so kind to me. I can not believe that he is gone…may he rest in peace.”
Payne is survived by his 7-year-old son, his parents, and two older sisters.
Pizza Hut to open “Personal Pan Pizza Hut” pop-up location in New York City
For those craving pizza but not wanting to share it, Pizza Hut has come up with a concept just for you.
It’s opened the Personal Pan Pizza Hut, a small restaurant experience only offering the pizza chain’s popular 6-inch personal pan pizza. Guests who are able to snag a reservation can customize their pizza any way they want, in their personal hut.
The Personal Pan Pizza hut will only be around in New York City for two days sometime later this month, so spots are limited. Reservations open Thursday, Oct. 17, and are available on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Reports raise doubts on Mexican soldiers’ claims in migrant shooting
Earlier this month, Mexican soldiers killed six migrants when they opened fire on a pickup truck carrying 33 migrants near the Guatemalan border. The shooting occurred the night of Tuesday, Oct. 1. On Wednesday, Oct. 16, Reuters reported that local residents have cast doubt on Mexican soldiers’ account of the incident, increasing scrutiny on Mexico’s security crisis.
Mexican soldiers claimed they opened fire after hearing a series of explosions and shots coming from the truck. They also stated that the vehicle carrying the migrants was traveling at high speed, attempting to evade patrol.
However, three residents told Reuters they didn’t hear explosions, only the vehicle crashing and gunshots. They also expressed confusion over claims that the soldiers mistook the migrants for cartel members, noting they could hear the cries of young children.
A police officer who surveyed the scene also stated that the military’s use of force appeared excessive.
Mexico’s new president, Claudia Sheinbaum, has not provided much detail about her immigration policy. However, local residents feel the Mexican government is under pressure to address the migrant crisis affecting the U.S. southern border in recent years.
Mexico’s Ministry of Defense announced that the two soldiers who opened fire have been relieved of duty, detained and will be tried under military laws.
Human rights groups condemned the shooting and asserted that Mexico’s process for trying military members lacks transparency.
Why deportations are an ‘economic disaster’ and other immigration truths
There are likely more than 11 million immigrants living in the U.S. today without authorization. On the campaign trail, former President Donald Trump has promised to enact “mass deportations” to remove unauthorized immigrants. Trump said he would use the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, which has not been used since internment camps during World War II.
The American Immigration Council, an advocacy group in favor of expanding immigration, estimates that a single mass deportation operation would cost at least $315 billion, a “highly conservative estimate.” A longer-term operation would cost nearly $1 trillion over a decade.
“But actually, the direct costs of implementing the deportation aren’t even the worst,” said Zeke Hernandez, Wharton School professor and author of “The Truth About Immigration: Why Successful Societies Welcome Newcomers.” “Think of it this way: All of a sudden, businesses have about 11 to 12 million fewer consumers. Is that what we want? Businesses have 11 to 12 million fewer workers to fill critical jobs in key areas; areas that are essential for our economy, like construction.”
“It really would be an economic disaster,” Hernandez said. “And not only do we have to speculate about that, we actually have many historical precedents where we have done exactly that.”
All of a sudden, businesses have about 11 to 12 million fewer consumers. Is that what we want?
Zeke Hernandez, author, “The Truth About Immigration”
The last official count of 11 million unauthorized immigrants in 2022 included 4 million Mexicans; roughly 4 million more from the Caribbean and Central and South America; 1.7 million from Asia; and 1.3 million from Europe, Canada, the Middle East, Africa and Oceania. The Census numbers have not been updated to reflect ongoing migration at the U.S.-Mexico border since 2022.
Trump campaign national press secretary Karoline Leavitt says a majority of Americans “want mass deportations of illegal immigrants and trust President Trump most on this issue.”
In a recent Gallup poll that has tracked Americans’ immigration preferences since 1965, 55% of respondents said they preferred immigration levels be decreased, compared to 16% who said they should be increased and 25% who said they should stay the same. It’s the highest amount of Americans reporting a desire to decrease immigration levels since the month following the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
Hernandez said the shifting attitude is understandable given the negative immigration rhetoric from politicians and the media.
It’s not just that you have a few bad apples coming in, it’s that our system for bringing in apples is completely screwed up.
Zeke Hernandez, author, “The Truth About Immigration
“One of the big surprises of the last year or so is that both the Right and the Left have now taken a fairly aggressive message about the border and about how the influx of immigrants is really doing us damage,” he told Straight Arrow News.
Hernandez cited Democratic mayors who used to be pro-immigration, now taking a stance on limiting immigration. Many of those mayors are facing budget constraints from an unexpected influx of migrants. While these arrivals cause short-term pain points, Hernandez argues that long-term economic benefits are around the corner.
“Immigrants contribute five big economic benefits to every country and community they arrive to,” he said. “And those would be, one, investment, two, innovation, three, talent, four, consumption, and five, taxes. And those are the inputs to any prosperous economy.”
That’s not to say America’s immigration system isn’t in need of a major overhaul.
“It’s not just that you have a few bad apples coming in, it’s that our system for bringing in apples is completely screwed up,” Hernandez said.
In an extended interview with SAN, Hernandez draws on 20 years of research to give fact-based explanations on the impacts of legal versus unauthorized immigration, skilled versus low-skilled migrants, immigration storylines of villain versus victim and why both are wrong, and the changes he would apply to the U.S. immigration system. You can watch the entire conversation in the video above.
Mexico deploys nearly 700 soldiers to protect lime growers from cartels
Mexico’s drug cartel problem is getting worse and it’s now impacting one of the country’s most exported fruits, limes. Growers are reportedly facing threats from cartels who are demanding a cut of their profits.
Extortion by cartels has apparently gotten so severe that the Mexican government is calling in hundreds of guards to protect lime-growing operations. The Sheinbaum administration announced on Thursday, Oct. 10, it has sent nearly 700 National Guard soldiers to communities with significant lime growing operations.
Government officials said the troops will help escort trucks to market as they distribute fruit, and they’ll be conducting searches of facilities.
The announcement comes after soldiers reportedly uncovered 10 guns and two grenades owned by cartels in a western community known for its abundant fruit distribution.
This isn’t the first time that lime producers have faced trouble from gangs. In 2013, produce workers joined forces to create a vigilante force to end the influence cartels had over the fruit market. Extortionists were reportedly telling lime and avocado growers when they could harvest and how much they could charge for their fruits.
Mexican lime exports are not only facing challenges from cartels but extreme weather as well. High temperatures and dry conditions led to a shortage of limes earlier this year. As a result, key importers including some U.S. retailers made a temporary shift toward limes from Colombia and Peru.
