Militares de la Secretaría de Marina han detenido a nueve personas en Sinaloa tras una balacera iniciada durante un patrullaje en la comunidad de El Limoncito, a unos 40 kilómetros de Culiacán, ha informado el secretario de Seguridad federal, Omar García Harfuch, en un breve comunicado en redes. El ataque se produce en un momento sensible para el Estado norteño, en el punto de mira por la violencia por dos de las grandes facciones del Cartel de Sinaloa y el eco de los secuestros en grupo en las últimas semanas en varios puntos del territorio. Uno de los agresores ha perdido la vida en el intercambio de balas entre uniformados y armados.

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La Cineteca Nacional enfrenta la amenaza de huelga de sus trabajadores. El personal de la histórica institución para la preservación y exhibición del cine en México ha enumerado varias quejas en un comunicado y ha advertido que, de no ser atendidas, derivarán en el llamado a una suspensión de las actividades en las tres sedes emblema de Ciudad de México. Entre las denuncias, los empleados reclaman por los bajos salarios, el adeudo de quincenas y condiciones de precariedad laboral que les obliga a trasladarse entre las nuevas localizaciones de la Cineteca porque no ha habido nuevas contrataciones.

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“Canadá está en duelo”, declaró en la mañana del miércoles Mark Carney, visiblemente emocionado. El primer ministro canadiense anuló los eventos en su agenda para dedicar toda su atención a lo ocurrido el día anterior en Tumbler Ridge, una comunidad en el noreste de la provincia de Columbia Británica. Un ataque a una escuela secundaria, un hecho poco frecuente en este país norteamericano, dejó ocho muertos, entre ellos seis niños, y 27 heridos, además del tirador, que se suicidó. David Eby, primer ministro de Columbia Británica, dijo que está aún “asimilando esta tragedia inimaginable”.

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El secretario de Energía Chris Wright ha aterrizado este miércoles en Caracas, un día después de que Estados Unidos emitiera una licencia general que autoriza la exploración y producción de petróleo y gas en Venezuela. Su llegada constituye la visita de más alto nivel al país caribeño de un miembro de la Administración de Donald Trump, además de inaugurar un puente aéreo diplomático tras la captura del presidente Nicolás Maduro en enero y su traslado a una cárcel de Nueva York.

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Santiago, Chile – Latin America has taken a strategic step in the global race for artificial intelligence superiority. 

Chile, together with 15 other countries in the region, officially introduced Latam GPT, the first large language model (LLM) developed in Latin America – an initiative aimed at strengthening regional technological sovereignty amid competition with powers such as the United States and China.

The project, led by the National Center for Artificial Intelligence (CENIA) and backed by public, academic, and technology institutions, was unveiled on Tuesday in the presence of Chilean President Gabriel Boric, who described it as a milestone for the region.

“Thanks to this, more Latin Americans will be able to understand how AI works, there will be greater scientific specialization, collaboration networks that did not previously exist, and we will also be able to develop our own critical and forward-looking perspective on this technology,” he said during the presentation.

Latam GPT is the first LLM developed in Latin America and trained specifically in Spanish and Portuguese. Its first version is scheduled for release in September this year and will be trained on 70 billion words in both languages. The training process will be based on the open-source Llama 3.1 architecture.

The model will be open access for universities, governments, and communities, with the aim of democratizing the development and use of artificial intelligence across the region.

According to Álvaro Soto, director of CENIA, the project represents a historic opportunity to position Latin America as a player in the global technological revolution: “Latam GPT enables Latin America to join the AI revolution as an active participant, developing its own technology and demonstrating what is possible when the region works together.”

While a significant step forward, Latin America still trails global AI leaders. The United States leads through a powerful private sector and the development of frontier models; China through efficiency and large-scale infrastructure; and Europe through substantial investment and computing capacity. In this context, Latam GPT seeks to gradually narrow the gap and strengthen the region’s position in the global AI market.

One of the model’s central pillars is the preservation of Indigenous languages. In its initial phase, efforts will focus on incorporating Rapa Nui, spoken on the Pacific island of the same name, and Mapudungun. 

The initiative is expected to later expand to other Latin American countries, contributing to the digital projection of their languages and cultures.

The initiative stems from the recognition that major artificial intelligence models process a limited share of content in Spanish and Portuguese—around 4% and 2%, respectively—highlighting the region’s underrepresentation. 

This is compounded by a significant gap in the availability of historical data between the Global North and South, which hampers research and the accurate application of these tools in Latin American contexts.

Considered one of the most ambitious projects of Boric’s administration, Latam GPT aims to develop artificial intelligence tailored to the Latin American context. 

In the future, the initiative could enhance user experience across the region and support the management of public-sector processes, making them more agile and efficient.

Featured imagen: Official presentation of Latam GPT at Studio 4 of Televisión Nacional de Chile (TVN), in Santiago, February 10.
Image credits: Gabriel Boric Font via Instagram.

The post Latam GPT: Chile leads launch of first artificial intelligence system developed in Latin America appeared first on Latin America Reports.

Medellin, Colombia — Venezuela’s interim President Delcy Rodriguez last week announced plans to release political prisoners from the infamous El Helicoide detention center and transform the architectural marvel-turned alleged torture center in Caracas into a cultural hub, sparking mixed reactions from Venezuelans. 

While families of imprisoned dissidents are cautiously optimistic that their loved ones will soon be freed, critics fear the government’s plans could whitewash the memory of atrocities perpetrated there by the regime of Nicolás Maduro. 

Initially conceived in 1956 as a futuristic shopping mall and symbol of the nation’s modernity by then dictator Marcos Pérez Jiménez, following his overthrow two years later the project stalled. From the 1980s the government began to occupy the building as an administrative centre, eventually housing the headquarters of SEBIN, the Bolivarian National Intelligence Service. 

In more recent memory, the towering structure has served as a fearful symbol of state repression visible throughout Caracas. Its miles of reinforced concrete designed to allow consumers to drive to shop doors were converted into overcrowded cells that hold prisoners to this day. 

Human rights groups and the testimonials of former prisoners have denounced not only the political nature of some detentions, but also unsanitary conditions, overcrowding, and torture. A 2023 United Nations report found “reasonable grounds to believe” that the 2021 death of General Raúl Isaías Baduel, a former defense minister imprisoned for alleged corruption, was the result of a refusal of adequate medical care. Another report investigated the cases of over 90 victims of human rights violations between 2014 and 2021, with former SEBIN employees stating that Maduro gave direct orders instructing them to torture detainees. 

The decision to free prisoners at the site has been met with reserved optimism from human rights NGOs and families of the incarcerated. Foro Penal, which keeps a tally of political prisoners in the country, reported there were still over 600 people being held in El Helicoide after some 400 were released since January 8. That number differs vastly  from the government’s claim that it has released 900 so far.

The number of prisoners released could increase following the National Assembly’s unanimous approval of the first vote of an amnesty bill on February 5, which would benefit political dissidents imprisoned since 1999. During the announcement of the bill on January 31, Rodríguez also shared plans for El Helicoide to be transformed into a “cultural, sport, and commercial centre” for the benefit of local communities. 

Families of the imprisoned have since gathered outside the prison in anticipation of their loved ones’ release. Whilst some have celebrated the announcement, others have criticized the slow pace of releases, accusing the government of prolonging the suffering of families.  

The proposal to convert El Helicoide into a cultural centre has also been met with criticism from those who are concerned it could erase the prison’s violent past. “For a democratic transition it is fundamental to preserve historical memory,” Rosmit Mantilla, former National Assembly member and previous detainee, told RFI. For him the prospect of converting El Helicoide into a recreational centre is “very dangerous”. 

The planned changes would not be the first time the state has been accused of attempting to distract from the building’s use as a prison. Last May Transparencia Venezuela denounced the use of El Helicoide for a professional basketball league over a “dungeon of political prisoners.”

Alí Daniels, a lawyer and director of Acceso a la Justicia, a Venezuelan NGO that monitors human rights and the justice system, believes the future of the building should be geared towards education and the promotion of historical memory. 

Noting the symbolic nature of El Helicoide, Daniels believes that its structure should be maintained but as “a symbol of peace and coexistence” that simultaneously recognizes its history and those responsible for it. 

For Daniels, the seriousness of the building’s history “makes it necessary for it to become one of the first steps in establishing a construction of Venezuela’s historical memory” and therefore shouldn’t be distorted, but instead turned into a place for education. 

“It should be a museum of memory where future generations are taught what happened there […] to vindicate all those who have been victims,” he said. 

Featured image: El Helicoide

Image credit: Damián D. Fossi Salas via Wikimedia Commons. License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/

The post Venezuela’s plans for El Helicoide detention center draw criticism from rights groups appeared first on Latin America Reports.

Caracas, Venezuela — In late November, just over a month before the US attack on Caracas that would result in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro, President Donald Trump issued a warning that airspace around Venezuela should be considered “closed in its entirety” as the US military build up mounted in the Caribbean sea. 

It’s been over a month since the attacks and several airlines are taking steps to resume international flights to the country, opening up the possibility of improvements in connectivity as well as helping tourism in the Caribbean nation, known for its spectacular destinations.

Avianca is leading the return by resuming its daily Bogotá-Caracas route on February 12, followed by Air Europa on February 17 and Laser Airlines (Caracas-Madrid) on February 18. 

LATAM will resume its flights from Bogotá on February 23; Wingo will restart flights to Caracas from Medellín on March 1; Turkish Airlines and Plus Ultra will initiate flights on March 3; GOL will fly from São Paulo on March 8; and TAP Portugal will resume flights on March 30.  

In the case of flights to the United States, Copa Airlines has already enabled ticket sales for the Caracas-Panama-Miami route since January 30, allowing passengers to travel again under the same reservation. 

As for direct flights, American Airlines was the first US airline to formally announce its return, declaring itself “ready” to resume daily operations after being absent for nearly seven years in the country. However, there is still no formal date set for the start of these non-stop flights.

Most of these airlines suspended operations because, at the end of November 2025, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a maximum alert for Venezuelan airspace, citing instability in navigation systems and military activity, leading several airlines to consider flying a risk and suspending operations. 

For its part, the Venezuelan government responded by demanding that the airlines resume operations within 48 hours or lose their permanent permits, leaving several of them out of the country for months.

What does Venezuela’s tourism sector think?

Vicky Herrera, president of the Venezuelan Association of Travel and Tourism Agencies (Avavit), told Latin American Reports that the current situation is stabilizing and she expects a significant impact in the short term.

“I would describe it as a stabilization process. Why? Because at the moment, the airlines, both those that suspended operations and those that are re-entering the market, are somehow trying to adapt and establish everything related to operations in order to start flying again. I think that by March or April we will probably have a slightly more complete picture and we will be able to see more clearly which airlines will be operating in the country,” she said.

The tourism professional explained that it’s key for countries like the Dominican Republic and the United States to activate flights to Venezuela, something that will benefit the country.

However, her organization believes that connectivity to more nearby destinations should also be activated. 

“Hopefully, some destinations related to South America will be added, because I think it is one of the areas that is a little neglected and the return of some of the important destinations in South America could probably be significant,” she added. 

Another aspect she views as favorable is the predicted reduction of ticket prices as more and more flights are added. 

Just after the disputed elections in 2024, Venezuelans complained of skyrocketing ticket prices, with common routes like Bogotá – Caracas hitting between USD $800 and $1,700 per ticket. 

Herrera stressed that the tourism sector is eagerly awaiting an increase in flights. 

“We have been working for a long time for this moment, for this possibility of opening up, for this possibility of improving something as important as connectivity,” she said. “We have been clear for a long time that it was necessary for connectivity to open up to new possibilities so that we could really begin to see competitive advantages for tourism.”

Of course, she also is cognizant of the challenges that remain for tourism in the country, saying that as the economy and public utilities stabilize, hoteliers can “offer a service without the need for an electric generator” — which increases their costs. “This will surely have an impact on prices and we will have a better offer,” she said.

Featured image: Avianca Airbus A320.

Image credit: Wikimedia Commons

The post First international flights return to Venezuela appeared first on Latin America Reports.

Miles de personas se manifestaron este miércoles en las principales ciudades de Argentina contra la reforma laboral que promueve el Gobierno de Javier Milei. La movilización central se registró desde el mediodía en Buenos Aires, frente al Congreso, mientras los legisladores debatían el proyecto que pretende transformar el régimen de trabajo y que se votará cerca de la medianoche. La tensión en las calles fue en aumento y se desbordó cuando un grupo de manifestantes arrojó piedras y bombas molotov contra la policía y esta respondió con gases lacrimógenos y balas de goma. Al menos cuatro agentes antidisturbios resultaron heridos y dos manifestantes quedaron detenidos, según fuentes oficiales.

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Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Tuesday warned of an “attack on freedom of expression and information” after the disclosure of alleged parameters issued by Ecuador’s armed forces to restrict coverage by media outlets deemed critical, EFE reported.

By Danjha Leon Martinez

Peru has become one of the top destinations for Venezuelan migrants, second only to Colombia, with close to a million Venezuelans now calling it home. The Venezuelan diaspora started their mobilization journey after being forcibly displaced due to the socio-political situation in their home country.

Most migrants are young adults aged 18 to 34. About half hold technical or university degrees. Despite this, they had been encountering difficulties finding enough opportunities suitable for their professional or occupational credentials. In terms of resettlement, Peru still faces challenges in delivering the social services needed for effective migrants’ social integration. Specifically, the Peruvian system does not expedite their access to primary services such as documentation, healthcare, housing, and education during the early stages of their integration into the country. Thus, Venezuelans find themselves working in the informal economy as street vendors, construction workers, or housekeepers, taking any opportunities that they can find.

For many migrants, the choice to settle in Peru isn’t random. They are drawn by the country’s steady economic growth and its notable progress in reducing poverty. Others come to reunite with family or because Peru’s legal migration procedures are comparatively easier than those of other nations.

Diego: When I arrived in Peru, I said ‘Vaya! Hay Audis, Mercedes Benz, Starbucks…’ In Peru, I found opportunities… I was able to open a barbershop and take a loan to buy a car.

Venezuelan arrivals have put a slight increase in demand on Peru’s public services, with hospitals, schools, and social programs. But a growing population will grow the economy and produce more opportunities for all in Peru. Locals have noticed more competition for low-wage jobs, fueling worries about unemployment and sparking some anti-immigrant attitudes that are tied to xenophobic sentiment.

Given the high degree of informality in Peru’s economy, migrants can find work quickly, and open migration policies have made it easier for them to get temporary permits. Still, Venezuelans in Lima, the capital of Peru, face hurdles in getting formal jobs, leaving many with higher education degrees to work as street vendors, housekeepers, and in small trades just to get by.

For this reason, Venezuelans heavily rely on transnational and local social networks, which provide crucial support, including information about job opportunities, housing, and other resources that aid economic survival.

Pedro: (former employee at PDVSA, Petróleos de Venezuela): During the first three months that I was here in Peru, I could not find a job. I survived only with the support of my countrymen. 

Despite issues such as job precariousness and limited rights, Lima offers better economic opportunities than other potential destinations in Peru’s main cities. 

Saul: I feel like I really prospered. When I arrived, the challenges were overwhelming, but the benefits I gained from it are invaluable. Now I can give stability to my family, and I own a business which I’m proud of.

Jose (Venezuelan mechanic who moved to Lima in 2018): “The minimum wage here in Peru… it’s not feasible for a Venezuelan to live with dignity because the rent prices and groceries cost basically the whole salary.” 

Despite the funding and technical support from several international NGOs to implement humanitarian assistance, there has been a disconnect between the results of these initiatives and the intended outcomes. Almost 70% of the Venezuelan community still need to accelerate their migration process and acquire a formal status, requiring international protection. Coping strategies for financial survival include juggling multiple informal jobs, entrepreneurial activities, and sharing housing to reduce living costs, often under precarious conditions. Venezuelan migrants who plan for a future in Peru balance hopes for stability with the need to adapt to informal economic contexts and local cultural idiosyncrasies.

Peru’s political will towards the integration of the Venezuelan diaspora could be reflected by future policy frameworks that help secure legal immigration statuses and access to social programs with fewer bureaucratic hurdles. Even after facing a difficult journey, Venezuelan migrants have significantly contributed to Peru’s economy and society. They have filled critical labor gaps in sectors such as construction, food services, and informal vending, thereby driving economic growth, particularly in low-wage jobs. Many have also opened small businesses, diversifying local economies and creating jobs.

Overall, migration brings development opportunities to a country. As of now, the Venezuelan diaspora is still in the process of integration and organizing mutual support. Given the diaspora’s positive impact on the country’s development and Peru’s long-standing history of economic growth driven by the arrival of diverse migrant clusters, it would be beneficial for both the vulnerable community and the host country to advocate for the protection and effective integration of the Venezuelan diaspora.

Danjha Leon Martinez is a Research Assistant for the Immigration Lab at the Center for Latin American & Latino Studies. She is a Development Management graduate student at American University with a focus on humanitarian aid and global migration.

Edited by Ernesto Castañeda, Director of the Center for Latin American and Latino Studies (CLALS) and the Immigration Lab, Katheryn Olmos, Research & Data Coordinator, and Vincent Iannuzzi-Sucich, Research Intern at the Immigration Lab.

NEWS Americas, NY, NY, Tues. Feb. 10, 2026: The legacy of the late Caribbean American trailblazer Shirley Chisholm is taking physical form once again in Brooklyn, as city leaders this week announced the opening of the Shirley Chisholm Recreation Center in East Flatbush, Brooklyn, NY, a historic investment in community wellness, youth development, and public space in the heart of Little Haiti.

Unveiled by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, the new center is the first Parks recreation center built in more than a decade, the first ever in Central Brooklyn, and now the largest recreation center in the borough. City officials estimate it will serve more than 41,000 New Yorkers living within a 15-minute walk or transit ride of the facility.

Named in honor of Chisholm – the first Black and Caribbean American woman elected to the U.S. Congress and the first Black and Caribbean American woman to seek a major party’s presidential nomination – the center stands as a modern tribute to her lifelong commitment to equity, access, and community empowerment. Chisholm, whose parents immigrated from Barbados and Guyana, represented Brooklyn in Congress from 1969 to 1983 and famously ran “Unbought and Unbossed.”

“This center will soon be alive with possibility,” Mayor Mamdani said at the opening. “Shirley Chisholm believed politics should be accountable to everyday people. This space is a living tribute to her legacy — proving that when we invest in affordable, accessible public spaces, we build a city that works for all.”

Spanning approximately 74,000 square feet, the Shirley Chisholm Recreation Center offers far more than traditional gym facilities. It includes a competition-size six-lane swimming pool with full accessibility features, a walking track, a regulation gymnasium for basketball, volleyball and pickleball, cardio and weight rooms, and dedicated spin and exercise studios.

Beyond fitness, the center emphasizes education, creativity, and youth engagement – pillars that echo Chisholm’s own priorities. Amenities include a teaching kitchen, an afterschool program space with an outdoor play area, a supervised teens-only zone, and the Dr. Roy A. Hastick Sr. Media Lab, named after the late Grenadian-born founder of the Caribbean American Chamber of Industry and Commerce, (CAACI), complete with a mixing room for audio-visual production, podcasting, and digital storytelling.

NYC Parks Commissioner Tricia Shimamura called the center a long-overdue investment in Central Brooklyn. “Over 41,000 New Yorkers now have an affordable space to exercise, learn, and connect,” she said. “This is exactly the kind of community infrastructure Shirley Chisholm fought for.”

Membership is free for New Yorkers 24 and under, with discounted rates for all ages. The center officially opens to the public today, Tuesday, February 10, and for its first week, all New Yorkers are invited to enjoy one free day of access to explore the facility before registering for membership. Guided tours, demonstrations, and sign-up events will also be held throughout the opening week.

Local elected officials praised the project as both a practical resource and a symbolic victory. Council Member Farah Louis noted that the center represents years of advocacy and a $141 million investment in a community long underserved by recreational infrastructure. State Senator Kevin Parker called it “a statement about what our communities deserve.”

As Brooklyn marks Black History Month and reflects on a century of Black political progress, the opening of the Shirley Chisholm Recreation Center offers more than brick and mortar. It delivers a tangible reminder that Chisholm’s legacy – rooted in Caribbean migration, courage, and public service — continues to shape the future of the communities she fought to uplift.

In East Flatbush, her name now anchors a space designed not just to serve, but to empower – a living embodiment of “Unbought and Unbossed.”

ABOUT CHISHOLM

Shirley Anita Chisholm (1924–2005) was a groundbreaking U.S. politician who made history in 1968 as the first Black woman elected to Congress, representing Brooklyn for seven terms (1969–1983). Born in New York to Caribbean immigrant parents from Barbados and Guyana, Chisholm spent part of her childhood in Barbados and carried the West Indian heritage throughout her life and public service.

In 1972, she shattered another barrier as the first Black candidate to seek a major-party presidential nomination and the first woman to run for the Democratic nomination, campaigning under her iconic motto, “Unbought and Unbossed.” Known for fearless advocacy, she took resolute stands against economic, social, and political injustice, championing civil rights, women’s rights, education, and anti-poverty programs. In 2015, she was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, cementing her legacy as a Caribbean-rooted American pioneer.

RELATED: Black Caribbean Immigrants In US Black History

MIAMI, Feb. 10, 2026 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The evolution of Royal Caribbean’s Artist Discovery Program continues on board the newest Icon Class vacation, Legend of the Seas, this summer. Designed to provide local, emerging artists with the opportunity to showcase their work to global audiences, the program has expanded to give artists across the Caribbean and Central America the opportunity to display their work for millions of vacationers who will set sail for years to come. Artists can send their submissions starting today through March 1 here.

“Our Artist Discovery Program is a testament to how Royal Caribbean creates culturally immersive experiences for guests, connecting vacationers of all ages with the destinations we visit around the world,” said Michael Bayley, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean. “We’re excited to expand the program to include emerging artists from Central America alongside the Caribbean and increase the number of locations for large-scale murals on Legend from four to six, creating more opportunities for artists to highlight the diverse destinations we visit through their work.”

Selected artists will be commissioned to paint large-scale murals that will create a visually immersive experience for guests in six highly visible locations on board Legend including: the Royal Promenade neighborhood, Legend‘s embarkation area, the Suite Sundeck Lobby and Suite Sundeck. Redefining how art lives, moves and inspires at sea, the program will celebrate the creative spirit of the Caribbean and Central America.

Artists interested in joining the Artist Discovery program must submit:

• Five samples of conceptual work: The work must be original and may not currently be published or on display.
• A brief artist statement that helps explain their work, inspiration and other details regarding the pieces submitted.
• A copy of their resume.

The next cohort of budding artists will join those whose work has appeared on Icon of the Seas, Starof the Seas and at the vacation brand’s newly opened exclusive destination Royal Beach Club Paradise Island in Nassau, The Bahamas. The Artist Discovery Programs on Icon and Star highlighted artists from the Caribbean emulating the rhythm and vibrance of the region, while the program at Royal Beach Club Paradise Island exclusively showcased local Bahamian talent, capturing the unique energy and spirit of The Bahamas.

Legend will level up European summers in 2026 with 7-night Western Mediterranean adventures from Barcelona, Spain, and Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy. The bold adventures on board continue on shore, whether it’s stepping back in time at Rome’s Colosseum, feasting on flavors from the fishing villages of Provence (Marseille), France, or diving into the local cultures of Naples, Italy, and Palma De Mallorca, Spain. In November 2026, Legend will make its grand Caribbean debut in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, with 6-night Western Caribbean getaways and 8-night Southern Caribbean vacations to the beaches of Oranjestad, Aruba, and Willemstad, Curacao. Plus, every Caribbean vacation visits Royal Caribbean’s top-rated Perfect Day at CocoCay, featuring turquoise blue waters and beaches, a thrilling waterpark, pools, swim-up bars and more.

Additional information on the Artist Discovery Program can be found here.

About Royal Caribbean

Royal Caribbean
, part of Royal Caribbean Group (NYSE: RCL), has delivered memorable vacations for more than 50 years. The cruise line’s game-changing ships and exclusive destinations revolutionize vacations with industry-leading innovations and an all-encompassing combination of experiences, from thrills and ways to chill, to dining and entertainment, for every type of family and vacationer. Voted “Best Cruise Line Overall” for 23 consecutive years in the Travel Weekly Readers Choice Awards, Royal Caribbean makes memories with adventurers across more than 300 destinations in 80 countries on all seven continents, including the vacation brand’s Perfect Day at CocoCay and Royal Beach Club Paradise Island in The Bahamas, plus four new signature destinations joining the growing lineup by 2027.

Media can stay up to date by following @RoyalCaribPR on X and visit www.RoyalCaribbeanPressCenter.com. For additional information or to book, vacationers can visit www.RoyalCaribbean.com, call (800) ROYAL-CARIBBEAN or contact their travel advisor.

By Felicia J. Persaud

By News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Feb. 2026: More than a year after the Trump administration moved aggressively to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives across federal agencies and publicly criticized corporate and cultural efforts tied to racial equity, the Super Bowl 2026 ads unfolded as a revealing moment in America’s ongoing debate over representation, culture, and belonging.

On the surface, Super Bowl 2026 reflected progress. According to new data from market research firm Zappi, 68% of national Super Bowl advertisements visibly featured multiple racial or ethnic groups, a notable increase from 57% the previous year. In more than a quarter of the ads, characters from historically underrepresented communities were not just present, but central to the narrative – speaking, driving the action, or occupying the visual center of the story.

Yet, beneath those gains, familiar limitations remained.

Celebrity casting in Super Bowl commercials continued to skew overwhelmingly white. Of the 103 celebrities appearing in ads this year, at least 60 were white, according to counts by industry publication ADWEEK. Meanwhile, LGBTQ+ representation declined for the second consecutive year, with just five ads explicitly featuring LGBTQ talent — all of whom were already publicly out celebrities — and no transgender representation for the third straight year.

The contrast illustrated a broader tension playing out across American institutions: representation is expanding, but cautiously, even as political pressure mounts against DEI frameworks.

That pressure has been particularly pronounced since Donald Trump returned to office as President, pledging to eliminate what he has called “woke ideology” from government and public life. Over the past year, his administration has rolled back DEI programs, challenged diversity-based hiring initiatives, and supported efforts to limit the teaching of Black history and race-related topics in public institutions.

Against that backdrop, the Super Bowl – long viewed as both a commercial showcase and cultural barometer — became an unintended mirror of the moment.

Several of the most effective ads this year leaned into multicultural storytelling. Campaigns from Dove, Rocket Mortgage, the NFL, Volkswagen, Toyota, and Novo Nordisk ranked 8% above average in sales impact, according to Zappi, reinforcing research that inclusive representation resonates with broad audiences. Rocket Mortgage’s “America Needs Neighbors,” for example, depicted a Latino family and a white family building community, while Levi’s featured a diverse cast that included K-pop star Rosé and rapper Doechii.

Still, the reliance on white celebrity faces for marquee roles suggested that brands remain cautious, balancing inclusion with perceived commercial safety.

Beyond advertising, the Super Bowl’s cultural reach extended onto the field and the halftime stage.

Players with immigrant and Caribbean roots featured prominently in the game, reflecting demographic realities often absent from political discourse. The half-time show, headlined by Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny, placed Spanish-language music and Latin and Caribbean culture at the center of one of the most-watched broadcasts in the world – a moment that sparked both celebration and backlash.

For supporters, the performance reflected an America that is multilingual, multicultural, and shaped by immigration. For critics, it became another flashpoint in debates over national identity and cultural change.

Industry observers note that this dual reaction is not new, but it is increasingly visible. “Brands are responding to a society that is more diverse than ever, while navigating a political climate that is openly skeptical of diversity efforts,” said one advertising analyst familiar with the Zappi research. “The Super Bowl shows both impulses at once.”

The decline in LGBTQ+ visibility further underscored that progress is uneven. GLAAD reported that while some brands continue to feature queer talent, many appear to be pulling back amid heightened political scrutiny and social backlash.

Taken together, Super Bowl 2026 did not signal a reversal of diversity, but neither did it mark a decisive break from old patterns. Instead, it offered a snapshot of a country negotiating who is seen, who is centered, and how far representation is allowed to go during moments of mass cultural attention.

In a year defined by DEI retrenchment at the policy level, the Super Bowl showed that diversity has not disappeared from American storytelling – but it is advancing carefully, selectively, and under pressure.

For millions watching, the message was mixed but unmistakable: America’s cultural reality continues to push forward, even as the political debate over that reality intensifies.

Felicia J. Persaud is the founder and publisher of  NewsAmericasNow.com, the only daily syndicated newswire and digital platform dedicated exclusively to Caribbean Diaspora and Black immigrant news

RELATED: From Borders To The Big Game: How Immigrants Defined Super Bowl LX

News Americas, NY, NY, Tues. Feb. 10, 2026: From hurricanes in the Caribbean to economic instability across Latin America, healthcare providers in the region face a unique set of challenges. The resilience of a clinic often has little to do with the size of its building or the sophistication of its technology.

Instead, it depends heavily on the strength of its internal systems, its adaptability, and the leadership behind its daily decisions. The most successful institutions have one thing in common, a robust healthcare operations approach that anticipates disruptions and turns adversity into an opportunity for reinvention.

Dr. Neymar Lima, a recognized healthcare entrepreneur and orthopedic surgeon, has long emphasized the role of systems thinking in clinic leadership. “Resilience doesn’t start during a crisis. It starts with the culture and protocols you build every day,” he has stated in conferences across Latin America.

Why management matters more than ever

In times of crisis, clinical excellence alone is not enough. The real test lies in how well a facility is organized to respond quickly and strategically to unpredictable situations.

Whether dealing with political unrest, supply chain breakdowns or natural disasters, clinics that thrive are those with strong planning protocols, flexible staffing models and transparent communication.

In countries like Colombia, the Dominican Republic or Haiti, where resources are often stretched and support systems are fragile, healthcare leaders must do more with less. This demands not just creativity, but also discipline in management.

As Dr. Neymar Lima has noted, “Leadership in healthcare is not just about decisions, it’s about preparation. The clinics that prepare are the ones that survive.”

Lessons from Latin America and the Caribbean

Several case studies across the region show how a proactive mindset makes all the difference. A small pediatric clinic in Puerto Rico stayed open throughout Hurricane Maria thanks to solar power, remote access to health records and well-rehearsed staff protocols.

In Mexico, a community center maintained operations during the COVID-19 crisis by decentralizing decision-making. Local teams managed triage and launched digital consultations that reduced in-person visits while keeping essential services available.

These examples prove that resilience is not improvised during the storm. It is built through preparation and constant evaluation of internal systems.

The power of local leadership

One of the key but often underestimated elements of crisis-resilient healthcare is local leadership. In many Latin American and Caribbean communities, private clinics serve as the only access to care. In such cases, leaders must understand the social and cultural dynamics that shape their environment.

Managers who empower their staff, promote team input and build strong local networks are more likely to sustain service continuity. They are also quicker to mobilize support from donors, municipal authorities or neighboring clinics when needed.

Dr. Neymar Lima often highlights this connection between leadership and environment. “We don’t lead in a vacuum. A clinic only becomes resilient when it’s aligned with the community it serves,” he said during a medical leadership forum in São Paulo.

Core strategies for resilience

You do not need massive budgets to build a clinic that can survive crisis. What matters is smart planning and consistent execution. Here are several proven strategies:

• Develop adaptable care protocols for different types of emergencies
• Digitize patient records with cloud-based access
• Train staff regularly in crisis roles and communication
• Build relationships with more than one supplier
• Monitor operational data to detect early signs of strain
• Connect with local NGOs and public agencies for shared resources

With these strategies in place, clinics can improve not only their emergency response, but also their everyday efficiency and trust within the community.

Regional impact and responsibility

In many countries, particularly in underserved or rural areas, private clinics are the backbone of the healthcare network. Ensuring their operational resilience protects not only their own patients, but the stability of the wider system.

When clinics can absorb shocks, public hospitals face less overflow, critical services remain available, and patients continue receiving timely care. This is especially relevant in disaster-prone or politically unstable parts of the region.

Moving forward with confidence

Crisis is no longer a question of if, but when. The way clinics prepare today will define how they respond tomorrow. Adopting a strategic healthcare operations approach is not optional, it is essential.

In a region shaped by resilience and creativity, the clinics that lead with structure and foresight will define the future of care. As Dr. Neymar Lima reminds us, “Sustainability in healthcare isn’t just about surviving. It’s about evolving, improving, and leading through adversity.”

Football teams have 22 players in addition to punters and kickers. Of those 22, one player, the quarterback, gets 60 % of the attention and credit (and blame) for a team’s performance. Five other players (the backs and the two ends) get 35% (in other words each get 7%) of the attention. The remaining 5% goes to the 11 members of the defensive team (that is, each get less than a half of 1%). The 5 members of the offensive line (excluding the ends) get 0%. Why is that? The performance of the defensive line can get measured by the number of tackles, sacks and fumble recoveries. But all the offensive line does is block. How can you measure that?

Medellín, Colombia — Cuba announced late Sunday night that it will run out of jet fuel within 24 hours following the United States’ blockade of oil exports from Venezuela. 

The shortage is expected to impact international flights as planes landing in Cuba will not be able to refuel. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the shortage could last until March 11.

Air Canada announced Monday that the carrier would cancel flights to the island for the time being, and more flight cancellations are expected.  

The country hasn’t received an oil shipment since December, according to the Cuban government, and on January 29, President Donald Trump signed an executive order threatening tariffs for countries providing fuel to Cuba.  

“I find that the policies, practices, and actions of the Government of Cuba constitute an unusual and extraordinary threat, which has its source in whole or substantial part outside the United States, to the national security and foreign policy of the United States,” read the order. 

In response, Cuba’s Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez took to X to declare an “international emergency”, using Trump’s own words to state that the new tariffs constitute “an unusual and extraordinary threat[…] to the national security and foreign policy of all countries”.

According to DW, Cuba produces only a third of the energy it uses, relying on countries like Venezuela, Mexico and Russia to fill the gap. 

The jet fuel crisis is part of a broader dearth of energy resources Cuba faces after the U.S.’s January 3 attacks on Caracas, which resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. 

Financial Times reported on January 29 that according to the data company Kpler, Cuba had just 15 to 20 days of oil left after Mexico canceled a shipment. 

The shortages have resulted in rolling blackouts across the nation, as well as rising food and transportation prices, according to Al Jazeera. On February 4, UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned of the potential humanitarian “collapse” in Cuba that could occur if shortages were not resolved. 

Shortages could also impact the already struggling tourist industry, which, according to DW, has been in crisis since the COVID-19 pandemic. The FT reported that last year Cuba “experienced an 18 per cent drop in visitors” from 2024.

Dmitri Peskov, the press secretary for Vladimir Putin of Russia, said on Monday that the country would look for ways to help resolve the situation in Cuba. 

“We are talking with our Cuban friends about possible ways to resolve these problems or, at least, to provide whatever help is within our reach,” Peskov said, according to La Jornada. 

Many flights to Havana remain scheduled for now despite the fuel issues, and according to Reuters, Cuban airlines are used to these shortfalls. Last year, a similar crisis pushed aircrafts to refuel in “nearby third countries including Panama, the Bahamas, the Dominican Republic, and the United States.”

Featured image: José Marti International Airport in Havana, Cuba.

Image credit: Wikimedia Commons

The post First airlines begin cancelling flights to Cuba following jet fuel shortage announcement appeared first on Latin America Reports.

By Felicia J. Persaud

News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Mon. 9, 2026: Super Bowl LX was more than a championship game. It became a vivid, unfiltered reflection of who America is – and who it too often overlooks. On one of the world’s most watched stages, players with immigrant roots – from Colombia to Mexico, Venezuela to Panama, Sierra Leone and Puerto Rico stood not as symbols, but as living testaments to immigrant journeys. Their presence – along with the celebration of Latino culture in the halftime spotlight – reminded us that America’s story is not written by borders alone, but by the people who cross them, contribute to them, and define them.

On football’s biggest stage, immigrant stories were not on the sidelines. They were on the field. As millions tuned in, the matchup between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots showcased more than athletic excellence. It highlighted how deeply immigrant families are woven into the fabric of American life, even as political rhetoric continues to paint immigrants as outsiders or threats.

Several players taking the field carried stories rooted far beyond U.S. borders. Patriots kicker Andrés “Andy” Borregales became the first Venezuelan-born player to compete in a Super Bowl – a milestone that transcends sports and connects with a region long underrepresented in professional American football. Cornerback Christian González, who made incredible plays for the Patriots Sunday night, made history as the first player of Colombian heritage to appear in a Super Bowl. While safety Jaylinn Hawkins, of Panamanian descent, also took the field.

The winning Seahawks’ roster reflected the immigrant reality as well. Tight end Elijah Arroyo, whose roots trace back to Mexico, represented another chapter in the growing influence of Latino athletes in the NFL. Safety Julian Love is of Mexican and Cuban heritage, Federico Maranges brought Puerto Rican representation to the field and Jaxon Smith-Njigba, the wide-receiver is of Sierra-Leone descent. Their presence underscored a truth often ignored in immigration debates: immigrant families are raising children who grow into leaders, professionals, and champions. Together, these players offered a snapshot of immigrant influence woven into the very fabric of American sport.

These were not token appearances. These are young men whose families crossed borders, worked hard, and raised children who stood on one of the world’s largest stages. Their presence challenged simplistic narratives that reduce immigrants to stereotypes, reminding us that belonging takes many forms and includes many faces.

The significance extended beyond the field.

The half-time show, headlined by Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny, marked another powerful moment of visibility. Spanish echoed across the Super Bowl stage, placing Latino and Caribbean culture at the center of one of America’s most watched events. For some, this sparked discomfort and backlash. For others, it reflected the country as it exists – multilingual, multicultural, and continually evolving.

The half-time show – and the players on the field- served as reminders that immigrant voices do belong in moments that define America’s cultural calendar.

Celebrating this visibility is not a dismissal of the very real struggles immigrants continue to face, from harsh enforcement policies to detentions and discrimination. But it does reclaim a powerful truth: immigrants are creators, competitors, entertainers, and contributors to the national story.

At a time when immigrants are being vilified in political rhetoric and targeted in enforcement actions, seeing Colombian heritage, Venezuelan roots, Panamanian lineage, Mexican pride, and Puerto Rican culture woven into the Super Bowl narrative matters. It challenges the notion that immigrants are outsiders. They are not merely present – they are essential.

Sports alone will not fix immigration policy. Representation does not end deportations. But when a generation of children sees themselves in the plays called on the field or hears Spanish in the halftime spotlight, something deeper is affirmed: America is at its best when it reflects all of its people.

And this year, Super Bowl LX did exactly that.

They were athletes under stadium lights. Artists commanding global stages. Families cheering from living rooms across the country.

And on Super Bowl Sunday, they were not guests in America’s house – they were home.

Felicia J. Persaud is the founder and publisher of  NewsAmericasNow.com, the only daily syndicated newswire and digital platform dedicated exclusively to Caribbean Diaspora and Black immigrant news

Related: Sinners, Vampires, Nicki Minaj & Trump

Senator Iván Cepeda, the presidential candidate of Colombia’s ruling Pacto Histórico coalition, said he will file a criminal complaint against former President Andrés Pastrana (1998–2002) after Pastrana’s name appeared in newly declassified records linked to Jeffrey Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell, who was convicted in the United States for her role in the trafficking scheme.

Cuba has warned international airlines that it will run out of aviation fuel starting Monday, widening an energy emergency that has already disrupted transport, public services and economic activity — and now threatens to further squeeze tourism, one of the island’s main sources of hard currency.

Bad Bunny turned the Super Bowl LX halftime show into a hemispheric cultural statement: Puerto Rico at the center, Spanish as the primary language, and an idea of “America” that stretches beyond the United States.

Caracas, February 4, 2026 (venezuelanalysis.com) – Chavista supporters filled the streets of Caracas on Tuesday to demand the release of President Nicolás Maduro and First Lady and Deputy Cilia Flores. The rally marked one month from their kidnapping on January 3 as part of a US military attack against Venezuela. Heavy gunfire erupts near Presidential […]

The post Venezuela stages Massive Rally demanding Maduro Liberation & Return to Caracas appeared first on New Jetpack Site.

Bolivia will honor lithium agreements concluded by the previous government with Russia and China if the integrity and transparency of those deals are confirmed, President Rodrigo Paz said. The deals will be reviewed and made public to allow proper scrutiny, Paz told the Financial Times in an interview published Tuesday. Bolivia controls the Price of […]

The post Bolivia to honor transparent Lithium Deals with Russia & China appeared first on New Jetpack Site.

Cuba’s fuel shortage is rippling through daily life, with Havana’s urban bus network largely shut down, hospitals preparing to scale back non-urgent services, and longer planned blackouts announced in some areas—while social-media reports pointed to pots-and-pans protests in parts of the capital.

Caracas, Venezuela — In the first of two planned votes, Venezuela’s National Assembly on Thursday unanimously passed an amnesty bill that could free hundreds of political prisoners in the country. 

The law was proposed by interim President Delcy Rodriguez on January 30. On Thursday, her brother Jorge — who leads the National Assembly — said, “The path of this law is going to be full of obstacles, full of bitter moments.” 

The Rodriguez’s have long been key figures in the Chavismo political movement, brought about by former President Hugo Chávez and taken over by his hand-picked successor, Nicolás Maduro, who was captured by US forces on January 3 and flown to New York to face drug charges. 

If passed, the law could free political prisoners who were detained as far back as 1999. The bill could help heal “the wounds left by political confrontation and violence,” President Rodriguez said. 

The government began to slowly release political prisoners following the US attacks, but has been criticized for inflating the numbers of those freed. 

Foro Penal, an NGO which monitors political prisoners in the country, reported that 383 political prisoners have been released as of February 5, much lower than the 900 the government claims to have released. 

Late Friday, Jorge Rodriguez said that all political prisoners would be freed by February 13. 

Read more: Families Of Venezuela’s Political Prisoners Continue Demanding Their Release As Uncertainty Lingers

As the amnesty law moves forward in Congress, some rights groups watch with cautious optimism, as similar laws from the past have fallen short to protect the citizenry and address core societal issues. 

Manuel Virgüez, a lawyer and director of the NGO Movimiento Vinotinto, recalled that in 2015, non-governmental organisations made a similar proposal that was not accepted by Maduro’s administration. 

In that bill, they considered it necessary to mention some specific events where political persecution of certain members of the public had taken place so that they could be subject to amnesty.

“In the 2015 law we proposed, we spoke specifically about the events of 11 April (2002), we had talked about the events of April 2013 and 2014, and particularly 2014, everything that happened,” he told Latin America Reports, referring to periods of popular unrest that were met with harsh crackdowns by the government. 

Amnesty or pardon?

The meaning of amnesty is a topic of debate in Venezuelan legal circles, as many argue that the political prisoners have done nothing they need amnesty from, according to Virgüez.

“Amnesty itself is a term that causes … a certain amount of controversy, right? Because here there are processes that should never have existed, sentences that are invalid and that should never have been, let’s say, enforced by the Venezuelan State,” he said. 

He suggested that, although the complete annulment of the trials would be “ideal” because they are “absurd and illegal”, amnesty could be a more practical solution at this time.

Virgüez said that most political prisoners are considered victims of the State and therefore those on the lists of political prisoners compiled by human rights groups should receive favorable treatment.

He suggested that, as a first step, all detainees must be released from prison, followed by the closure of all legal proceedings and, finally, accountability on the part of the authorities to help dismantle the repressive government apparatus.

“What I believe is that the accountability process must involve the dismissal and investigation of the people who committed these acts against these citizens,” he added.

What’s more, investigations and attributing responsibility to those who committed crimes against political detainees are essential to moving forward with a process of reconciliation, although the human rights lawyer recognizes that this is something that will take time and, above all, will happen when the population sees a willingness to change on the part of the authorities.

“National reconciliation is not necessarily a straitjacket, no … you don’t decree it with a law, it comes from the people,” Virgüez said. “If there is genuine remorse in the official discourse and actions, rather than just rhetoric, from the grassroots of the ruling party that implemented this repressive apparatus to the top, a discourse that genuinely shows repentance, a willingness to ask for forgiveness for their actions, then I believe we are talking about national reconciliation,” he said.

Some countries, such as Spain, he said, could provide Venezuela with a path for healing conflict after that country suffered years of civil war. 

“Now, in the case of Venezuela, what is wanted is a pact of coexistence; or what should happen. But that does not come about through a law, it comes about through political will and, I believe, through the factor of time,” he said. “Because the problem is that when a sector of the population does not see itself represented or does not have the capacity to make decisions, that is when the pitfalls of social conflict become apparent,” he concluded.

Featured image: Families of political prisoners in Venezuela protest for their release.

Image credit: Julio Blanca

The post Venezuela amnesty law passes first vote, could free political prisoners  appeared first on Latin America Reports.

The luxury resort scene in Los Cabos keeps getting more heated all the time. This has clearly become the go-to spot for high-end hotel chains to make their mark in Mexico. The home-grown Mexican companies are no slackers, however, and Grand Solmar Land’s End is worth considering for its impressive pool complexes, large rooms,...

The post Tour Grand Solmar Land’s End at the Tip of the Baja Peninsula appeared first on Luxury Latin America Blog.

by Jonathan Valenzuela

During President Trump’s first term (2017-2021), a variety of immigration policy changes were implemented, which contributed to a shift in migration from Central America away from the United States and towards Europe. Now, in his second term more extreme anti-immigration policies alongside the rollback of Biden-era practices, such as the ending of the CBP One app, similar shifts of destination countries for Central American immigrants may continue. In 2023, it is estimated that there are about 4.3 million Central American immigrants in the United States, and 323,000 Central American immigrants in Spain.  

Migration of Central Americans to the United States and Europe began during the armed conflicts of the 80s and 90s. It marked the start of a migration pattern which has only continued to grow. The most recent wave of Central American migrants to Europe began with Nicaraguan women in the mid-2000s to the early 2010s. 

The largest Central American population is in Spain, with Hondurans most prevalent in Catalonia, Nicaraguans in the Basque Country, and Salvadorans in Madrid and increasingly in Seville. These populations have concentrated in these regions primarily because of established immigrant communities, strong labor markets, and an unmet need for labor in sectors such as elder or childcare. Notably, the population of Central Americans in Europe is composed primarily of Hondurans, Salvadorans, Guatemalans, and Nicaraguans. Costa Rican and Panamanian immigrants remain at a smaller number than those from the other four countries.

The outlook of Central American immigrants in Spain is both different and like those in the United States. On one hand, many female members of both communities work in domestic jobs such as childcare or housekeeping, but a main difference is that the Central American home in Europe is headed by the women of the household, who struggle less to find jobs than men do.  

The acceleration of Central American immigration to Europe has notably grown because of the increased militarization of the United States’ southern border and policy changes since the first Trump administration. The increased difficulty of migrating to arrive to the United States made Central Americans seek other destinations. Spain is a solid option because of the ease of entering the country due to a lack of visa requirements, a perceived welcoming environment, an easier immigration process, a shared language, and similar cultural elements. From 2021 to 2024, the number of Central American immigrants in Spain grew by some 60,000. 

The United States is the preferential destination for most Central American as it is the home of the largest diasporas. Experts agree that increased hostility on the Mexico-U.S. border, especially during the first Trump administration, is tied to the increase of Central American immigration to Europe. Through increased collaboration with Spain, the United States seeks to reduce the flows of immigration from the region towards itself, but not necessarily to stop it altogether. 

Now, it is only a matter of time until this pattern further evolves with the second Trump administration, which has signaled its desire to further deter immigrants from entering the country. Regardless of the paid ads or policy changes the administration pushes, people will continue to immigrate.  

Spain has continued to receive immigrants from Latin America and is considered to have “solved” immigration and it has the fastest growth of any European economy thanks to immigration. However, with anti-immigration protests in the country and throughout the world, the question remains whether these deterrent efforts will successfully push Central American immigrants to other destinations? And how long will these destinations such as Spain remain open to Central Americans before they decide to implement stricter migration policies as well? Or whether we are starting to see an equilibrium between the people needing to leave Central America, the people settling in other countries in the region, Mexico, the United States, and Spain, and the decrease in gang violence and economic opportunities in Central America.   

Jonathan Valenzuela Mejia is a Guatemalan-American legal professional based in New York City. He completed a B.A. in Global Studies and a B.A. in Public Affairs with a minor in Central American Studies from UCLA. 

Edited by Ernesto Castañeda, Director of the Immigration Lab and the Center for Latin American and Latino Studies. 

Trump has issued the following statement on Truth Social: “We will guard, and very powerfully so, any and all Federal Buildings that are being attacked by these highly paid Lunatics, Agitators, and Insurrectionists. There will be no spitting in the faces of our Officers, there will be no punching or kicking the headlights of our cars, and there will be no rock or brick throwing at our vehicles or at our Patriot Warriors. If there is, those people will suffer an equal, or more, consequence.”

The USA began overthrowing governments in Latin America in the 1890’s, often working with internal elements, usually the military and the business community, to do so, Peter Kuznick, the director of the Nuclear Studies Institute at American University, told Sputnik. Its the internal betrayal that is sometimes even more disturbing, because that is not a […]

The post US-Backed Coups in Latin America are Bad, Local Elites’ Judas-Style Betrayals are Worse appeared first on New Jetpack Site.

By Maria Muradyan 

Most of the narratives about immigration are wrong. They are simplistic, outdated, and dangerous. — Ernesto Castañeda.  

This quote carries particular weight here in Washington, DC, where harmful rhetoric and harsh policy are produced just a couple of blocks away from immigrant communities who face its consequences directly. For decades, the topic of immigration has been at the forefront of American political discourse. Americans on opposite ends of the aisle have consistently disagreed on immigration policy and whether or not we as a country have a responsibility to accept people who cross the border and enter America “illegally”. Opinions on the topic, though always polarizing, have transformed and intensified drastically in the last decade, with the election of President Donald Trump and the emergence of the “MAGA” movement. The slogan “Make America Great Again” can be most often associated with right-wing populism, conservative nationalism, but perhaps most famously, a narrative that casts Latin American immigrants as threats to national security and as a strain on American society. 

The current administration’s rhetoric and policy on immigration have single handedly created one of the most polarized political environments in American history. As the political climate has shifted, these ideological divisions have fueled a wave of widespread misconceptions and stereotypes about Latino immigrants, who they are, why they come, and the impact they have on American society. These harmful misinterpretations not only distort public attitudes but also pave the path for harsh immigration policies and are used to justify the unlawful and inhumane deportation practices carried out by ICE in Washington, DC, and across the nation. 

In an effort to better understand these stereotypes and the effects they have on victims and their families, I conducted an interview with Dr. Ernesto Castañeda, a migration scholar, professor, and Director of Immigration Lab at American University’s Center for Latin American and Latino Studies. Dr. Castañeda is a leading voice on how misconceptions shape the lived experiences of immigrant communities in DC, and how enforcement, family separation, and uncertainty shape the lives and psychological well-being of youth. 

The first false assumption he addressed is the belief that America has become ‘overflooded with immigrants’. Dr Castañeda pointed out that actual population data proves just the opposite. According to a Pew Research study conducted in 2023, immigrants make up roughly 15% of America’s population (52% being from Latin America). Not only this, but out of the total number of individuals not born in America, undocumented immigrants made up a mere 27% (Pew Research 2025). Locally, immigrants constitute about the same share of the D.C. population as they do nationally. All immigrants make up about 13% of the population, out of which 11.3% identify as Latino (American Immigration Council 2025) 

When looking at data from the 2024 election year, an analysis of tens of thousands of statements made by Trump showed that he repeated the sentence ” [South American countries are] emptying out their prisons and their mental institutions into the United States ” or similar ones over 560 times during his most recent re-election campaign (Marshall Project 2024). Dr. Castañeda explains how these repeated claims are what perpetuate stereotypes such as Latinos are ‘dangerous criminals, ‘ invading the country, and ‘using up public resources. ’ When average Americans, with little knowledge or exposure to immigrants, hear these statements repeatedly, they will inevitably begin to accept them as facts. However, long-term empirical studies show us otherwise. Research analyzed by the Journal of Criminology over the span of 24 years showed that no evidence exists that links undocumented immigrants to the number of violent crimes in the country. Not only this, but this study found that increases in the immigrant population within the states correspond to decreases in the prevalence of violence and crime (Light & Miller, 2018). 

According to Castañeda, current narratives fail to take into account that the vast majority of Latino immigrants come to America to ‘study, work, contribute to science, to work in hospitals, to get married, and that is rarely part of the story’. Furthermore, as he explains both in his book Immigration Realities and in our interview, immigrants actually rely on public assistance at lower rates than U.S. citizens, and this is true even for their U.S born children. They also play an essential role in keeping the economy and population growing. Immigrants contribute to scientific progress, cultural creativity, and the continuation and spread of American ideas and culture. Any evolving society needs new people to sustain itself, and throughout history, immigrants have taken on that role in the United States. 

While these negative narratives dominate the national conversation, their most immediate impact becomes visible in places like DC, where families must confront fear and instability while navigating their day to day lives. The Shrine of the Sacred Heart, a Catholic Church, which is just a short bus ride from the White House, has long served as a place of worship for the Catholic Latin American community in DC. However, in the last several months, it has become a hub for ICE attacks this October. The Associated Press reports that over 40 members of the parish have been recently deported as churchgoers are ‘fearful to leave their homes, get food, medical care or attend Mass’. The Archdiocese of Washington describes these mass deportations as “instruments of terror” for the Latino community of DC. The climate in the city remains especially volatile for mixed status families, who must live with the fear that their loved one will be detained while doing their daily tasks. This became a reality for one member of the Sacred Heart Church whose husband was detained by ICE while selling fruits and vegetables at the family owned fruit stand. She says, “ It’s been a very difficult, bitter month of crying and suffering…our lives changed forever one day to the next” (Associated Press, 2025) 

Stories like these are not limited to Sacred Heart but are a reflection of the unique set of challenges that mixed-status families face in DC and across the nation. These effects are already being felt in DC high schools and universities, where Dr. Castañeda notes the current political environment is having consequences on youth in these mixed status families. He states, “Youth are afraid for themselves and are afraid for their families, for their friends, for the communities…that makes it harder to focus on school, we see that in the universities, we see that with colleagues, we see that with staff members who have undocumented family members”. A 2024 study published by the Journal of Latinx Psychology followed a sample of youth who are US citizens but lived in mixed status families. They discovered that exposure to current violent immigration enforcement, such as witnessing a parent or loved one deported, significantly increases severe anxiety, fear, and depression among the sampled youth. These psychological effects extended beyond the immediate family members, as the trauma was felt even when enforcement actions targeted people in their community rather than someone directly inside the home. Their study also confirmed that anti-immigration stigma quickly becomes internalized, as adolescents in the study reported feeling ashamed of their background, immigrant family, and language (Lieberman et al., 2024). 

These effects could be expected to be felt especially strongly in DC due to the high prevalence of Latino youth immigrants who arrived a decade prior. Beginning in 2014, DC saw a large surge in unaccompanied youth, between the ages of 13-18, who came to America to unite with their parents, grandparents, or extended families. Castañeda explains that since this group of youth has reached a legal adult age, ICE agents might be ‘looking for an excuse to deport them’. As ICE revisits these old cases of unaccompanied minors, they are also using this as an opportunity to track down their immediate and extended families as well as their sponsors. Subsequently, the result is a painful cycle in which youth who once struggled to reunite with their family, once torn apart by borders, must now live in psychological torment and fear of losing each other once more. Current immigration enforcement practices are undoubtedly a form of psychological violence that produces hypervigilance, fear, and depression, and will cause long term trauma in immigrant communities. 

Looking ahead, it is clear that America is in dire need of immigration reform, one that is based on facts, research, and empirical evidence, rather than stereotypes. However, Castaneda notes that the general public is not to blame, as one cannot expect regular Americans to understand topics as complex as immigration law. Rather, this responsibility falls on our lawmakers who must put aside partisanship and focus on creating solutions that maintain the dignity of immigrants, while addressing the realities of the current day border.  

Castañeda explains the best form of immigration reform would be what he calls “generous amnesty”, or a broad pathway to legalization. Individuals and families who have been living in America for an extended period of time and have built entirely new lives must be given a path to citizenship. This is both a moral imperative but also it is a sentiment that, according to him, is largely supported by most Americans on both sides of the aisle. Recent Gallup polls confirm this fact, as 64% of Republicans and 91% of Democrats classify immigration as a positive (Gallup, 2025). A generous amnesty does not mean an open borders concept. Rather, it is a way to create legal paths to citizenship, so that migrants have other options rather than resorting to crossing the border. It is only natural that individuals and families desperate for survival will resort to the only option available to them.  

Second, the US is becoming an aging nation with a retiring workforce and a declining birth rate. With the declining population and lowered birth rates, many key industries, such as agriculture, are having projected worker shortages, unable to meet the labor demands. The Economic Policy Institute finds that “Achieving historically ‘normal’ GDP growth rates will be impossible, unless immigration flows are sustained” (Bivens 2025). Employment based immigration is one way through which the government can offset this issue. Granting a greater number of H-1B and H-2B visas can help balance these effects by bringing in younger and eager individuals who are ready to work in these essential positions. 

In conclusion, data, decades of research, the realities in DC, and Dr. Castañeda’s expertise make one point unmistakably clear. The narratives that dominate our national conversation about immigration are misinformed, outdated, and harmful to those who live with its consequences daily. The political rhetoric from our nation’s leaders creates instability, fear, and psychological trauma in immigrants while simultaneously distorting the public’s perception of the issue. Research continues to show that immigrants make America stronger, enriching society, unifying communities, and bettering the economy. Dr. Castañeda’s work reminds us that looking ahead, we must demand from our lawmakers a change that is rooted in the recognition of these principles and the creation of dignified paths to citizenship.  

As I reflect on my childhood and the little girl I was when I first arrived in America, I see no difference between myself and another little girl today arriving from El Salvador, Mexico, Honduras, Cuba, or Guatemala. We all carried the same fears of an unfamiliar place, the same uncertainty, the same dreams of a brighter, better future in this country. The only difference between the treatments we received was the country we came from and the political implications that country brought with it. It is time that we begin to approach immigration with greater empathy, remembering that we ourselves, or our parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents, once stood in these very same shoes. Latino immigrants have positively shaped this nation from the beginning of its history, and they continue to do so today. These facts are unmistakable, the human suffering is devastating, and the need for humane immigration reform has long been overdue. 

Maria Muradyan is a senior at UCLA studying Political Science with a strong interest in American politics and public policy. She participated in UCLA’s UCDC program in Washington, DC. Her interests include immigration policy and community advocacy, with a particular emphasis on how political institutions and policy frameworks shape social and economic outcomes. Through her research and writing, Maria aims to contribute to a more nuanced understanding of contemporary policy debates and their real-world implications. 

References 

Castañeda, Ernesto (2025, November 21st), Personal Interview on Immigration. 

Geiger, A. (2025, August 21). What the data says about immigrants in the U.S. Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2025/08/21/key-findings-about-us-immigrants/  

Immigrants in the District of Columbia – American Immigration Council. (2025). American Immigration Council. https://map.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/locations/district-of-columbia/?utm_source=chatgpt.com  

The Marshall Project. (2024, October 21). Fact-checking Over 12,000 of Donald Trump’s Statements About Immigration. The Marshall Project. https://www.themarshallproject.org/2024/10/21/fact-check-12000-trump-statements-immigrants 

Light, M., & Miller, T. (2018). Does Undocumented Immigration Increase Violent Crime? Criminology, 56(2), 370–401. https://doi.org/10.1111/1745-9125.12175  

Henao, L. A., & Stanley, T. (2025, October 27). Immigration crackdown sows fear among Catholic church community in US capital. AP News. https://apnews.com/article/immigration-crackdown-catholic-church-washington-874e6deca9e54a4e14081c63adca7718  

Jamile Tellez Lieberman, Dsouza, N., Valdez, C. R., Pintor, J. K., Weisz, P., Carroll-Scott, A., & Martinez-Donate, A. P. (2024). Interior immigration enforcement experiences, perceived discrimination, and mental health of U.S.-citizen adolescents with Mexican immigrant parents. Journal of Latinx Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1037/lat0000263  

Saad, L. (2025, July 11). Surge in U.S. Concern About Immigration Has Abated. Gallup.com; Gallup. https://news.gallup.com/poll/692522/surge-concern-immigration-abated.aspx  

The U.S.-born labor force will shrink over the next decade: Achieving historically “normal” GDP growth rates will be impossible unless immigration flows are sustained. (2025). Economic Policy Institute. https://www.epi.org/publication/the-u-s-born-labor-force-will-shrink-over-the-next-decade-achieving-historically-normal-gdp-growth-rates-will-be-impossible-unless-immigration-flows-are-sustained/?utm_source  

One Year into Trump 2.0, Some Immigration Myths are Shattering, but Some of the Big Lies from the 2024 Trump Campaign Continue

By Ernesto Castañeda, PhD

One year into Trump’s second administration, significant developments have reshaped U.S. immigration policy. This piece examines key changes and events, clarifies factual misunderstandings, and analyzes how immigration has been framed and discussed in media coverage and political commentary.

Biden Did Not Have an Open Border

It is factually wrong to claim that “Biden had an open border policy and welcomed a record number of undocumented immigrants.” Although this claim is frequently repeated, it is misleading. Following the COVID-19 Pandemic, the U.S., along with the rest of the world, closed its borders for months. Under the pretense of public health, Title 42 was used to block access to asylum at the border. Thus, many individuals seeking asylum, attempting to reunite with family members, or workers reporting to jobs in the United States were trapped en route. Ultimately, a lot of people were forced to wait in Mexico for their opportunity to request asylum, and hundreds of thousands of people were deported from the border shortly after entry. 

Interestingly, after the end of the pandemic and the eventual lift of Title 42, members of the Biden administration came up with creative solutions to deal with a border surge — which again was not caused by the Biden administration but was a by-product of the pandemic and the terrible political, economic, and security conditions across much of Latin America and the Caribbean. In response, the Biden administration implemented the use of the CBP One mobile application, an app developed during the first Trump administration, which allowed individuals to obtain a spot in line to present themselves at border ports of entry for an orderly metered process to enter and request asylum. This was not a promise that all of them would be granted asylum or allowed to stay, but it did allow them to start their legal process. 

There were technical problems with this trial app, and in practice, it amounted to an online algorithmic lottery that created competition among hundreds of thousands of people for appointments. Nevertheless, it was an improvement from sleeping in camping tents during the winter while in line at border entrances in Mexico, or having notebooks where people wrote their names to hold their place in line on a first-come, first-served basis. The CBP One app also generated data on who sought to enter the country and on those permitted to enter. 

Other alternatives to detention, such as ankle bracelets and other tracking apps, allowed the U.S. government to identify newcomers and track their whereabouts. These tools have been used by ICE under the current Trump administration to locate and deport individuals who entered legally under these programs. As I said following Trump’s election, ICE agents would be tempted to detain and deport these easy-to-find immigrants in temporary or between immigration statuses in order to fulfill quotas while inflating the numbers of “dangerous” deportees.

Given hemispheric geopolitics, the Biden administration also created a legal program, known as CHNV, for certain people with family or contacts in the US who could offer financial support if needed and vouch for them to enter the U.S. legally through airports from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela, to apply for asylum. These new programs were created for populations from countries to which the U.S. was sympathetic, and because these countries would not accept deportations. These programs shifted what could have been undocumented immigration flows into technically legal immigration flows. These new arrivals quickly received work permits so that they could work legally. This system became a lifeline for the U.S. economy and a lifeline for essential workers, allowing the U.S. economy and society to recover faster from the negative effects of the COVID pandemic.

Images of lines at the border and people sleeping in the streets of El Paso and in front of the Roosevelt Hotel in New York City after the busing of immigrants and the unfortunate statements from New York’s Mayor Adams seemed to make these arrivals unmanageable, but as we have researched at The Immigration Lab, new arrivals have managed to find jobs to pay for the housing, food, and other expenses and even send some money to family in their places of origin. These individuals enter with permission from the government, which knows who and where they are. They are not undocumented nor “illegal.”

The Biden administration deported hundreds of thousands of people from the border, and people from Mexico and many other countries were not allowed in. 

The Biden administration actively helped individuals fleeing crises in Cuba, Venezuela, Haiti, Nicaragua, as well as those displaced from violent conflict in Ukraine and Afghanistan. Most people were coming into the U.S./Mexico border, raising their hands, waving, presenting themselves to authorities at the border, giving their information, and then following the procedures and instructions that they were given. Many, but not all, of them were then legally allowed into the country, granted work visas soon after staying a few days on the streets of host cities like El Paso, New York City, or Washington, DC. The great majority of the new arrivals eventually found places to rent and obtained jobs in the broader economy. Today, many are either still working or have been deported with no legal grounds or reasons beyond fulfilling ICE quotas to reduce the number of people of color born abroad.

Any serious discussion of immigration must take into account the barriers preventing people from returning and rebuilding a life in their country of origin, including instability, political repression, and economic hardships in countries like Venezuela and Haiti. 

Claims that the Border is Now Secured 

Border communities in the United States have long been safe, as documented in our book “Immigration Realities.” It is true that fewer people are arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border seeking entry, but this is not purely a Trump effect.  There are five main reasons for this: 

1) The pandemic created a bottleneck influx of immigrants that eventually eased during the second part of the Biden administration. The programs discussed above (CBP One and CHNV) onboarded quickly those people who had been waiting at the border for years before. These numbers had already begun to decrease in the last months of the Biden administration due to policy changes and the organic leveling off from the bottleneck and pent-up demand. 

2) There was lower demand for people from Ukraine and Afghanistan to enter through the border. 

3) Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Panama, and Colombia were pressured by the U.S. to make it even harder to cross the Darien Gap and to get close to the U.S./Mexico border. Many of these countries used their military to control, dissuade migration, and deport people, often without due process. As a result, new arrivals stopped.

4) On January 20, 2025, Trump declared a national emergency at the border and sent the military to certain areas of the border. 

5) People from Latin America are largely no longer arriving seeking to apply for asylum because, contrary to international and U.S. law, people are not allowed to enter the country by applying for asylum at the borders. Title 42 conditions have become chronic. These immigration policies, along with the strong campaign rhetoric, dissuaded many from entering the country, whether illegally or legally.

At his January 20, 2026, press conference, Trump compared his desire for the U.S.-Mexico border to that of North Korea. Likewise, in order to carry out these mass deportations quickly, authoritative actions of going against civil liberties are needed, as seen in Minnesota. He also boasted that “the border is secure” and with “no legislation” on the topic. 

For those concerned about “chaos at the border,” or upset that some new migrants were entering with permission at the border while others could not previously, do not worry. Most of the new arrivals have lost their legal status; many have been detained or deported, or are in the process of moving back. Their absence will have negative consequences for the U.S. employers, neighbors, and communities that relied on them. 

All Immigrants Are Criminals

Trump promised he would deport “the worst of the worst.” Many voters, and even some immigrants themselves, supported and voted for Trump, believing that he was referring only to criminals, not themselves or their loved ones.  As 2026 is already showing, nothing could be further from the truth. Most people detained and deported have no criminal records. For Trump and MAGA, no immigrants from non-majority White countries were welcome or innocent. Even if they had an H1-B visa.

The goal to deport the “worst of the worst” to send ICE or the National Guard to reduce crime in cities was always a lie. There is no need to keep repeating it as either a supposed campaign promise or ICE’s mission, only to compare it to the excesses we have seen on the streets this year. We do not need to abolish ICE; we need amnesty to regularize people. Local police and courts can handle the small percentage of foreign-born individuals who commit crimes. At some point, Trump officials said that most immigrants detained had a criminal record or could build one in the future. In hindsight, the criminalization of migration that Trump and Vance were promoting during the 2024 presidential campaign was successful because they (barely) won the elections. But since the election, those happy with Trump closing the border were in the low 50s in polls at their highest points in time. On January 23, 2026, the views on the border are 50/50; nothing to campaign on. Most people who identify as Democrats and the great majority of independents oppose ICE. Regarding immigration policies in general, the administration is underwater, with many more people saying they have gone too far than supporting it.

In 2025, many Democratic elected federal politicians had been saying on TV interviews that Trump had won the immigration argument, meaning electorally but also implying empirically and in terms of policies. Immigration policies as a whole have been toxic. Contrary to the desire of people in the center right to deport all people without a current immigration status, detentions and deportations in the first year of this Trump administration have largely focused on people who entered legally with a visa or CBP One, people applying to renew their TPS, or asking for asylum. People have been arrested in immigration courts even when judges have not asked for removal. Some individuals have been arrested during their naturalization ceremonies just minutes before becoming citizens. This makes sense if one cares more about quotas and about removing people who are not seen as White before they become American citizens and/or have more U.S.-born children. Trump has also gone after birthright citizenship and has asked for denaturalizations —stripping citizenship from those who proactively jumped all the hoops to become citizens. These facts, along with the many dog whistles and open loudspeaker broadcasting to extreme right subcultures in public speeches, conferences, and X posts, show that the energy behind all these immigration policies is White Christian Nationalism. A dream about racial purity, one not too far from being open to using violence to achieve it, possibly leading to genocide if nobody opposes it. Fortunately, most Americans are against that. But many of those in favor of the current full immigration agenda openly say they do not want religious and racial minorities in the U.S., and even want more to be done. There is no staying neutral on these matters while people are shot at, imprisoned, and terrorized.

Unfortunately, in early 2026, I still hear some elected Democrat officials and operators saying that Trump “had won the immigration debate.” That is false. Others claim without evidence that Trump won, including in 2024, because of his promise to close the border. They forget the 2016 promise about the border wall and how little he built. They do not explain why anti-immigrant claims against caravans and Central American immigration did not help him win in 2000. Other problematic praises from Democratic officials come along the lines of saying, “Trump did a great job closing the border to undocumented immigrants, and that this is a good thing, that should continue.” MAGA without MAGA.

That is disrespectful to the undocumented immigrants and their communities, which would prefer to vote Democrat but are repulsed by such Trumpian comments. In another sense, polls and massive protests show that most people in the interior do not really care about the status of border crossings. What most people care about today is what we see in Minneapolis and what we saw before in Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington, New Orleans, and many other places around the country. That is an excessive use of force by ICE to find our neighbors who happen to be undocumented. Violations of the Bill of Rights, unconstitutional stops, entering homes without judicial orders, and racial profiling.

Mass Deportations are Regular Politics

The number of undocumented people in the U.S., between 8 and 15 million, and probably around 11 million when Trump retook the Presidency constitutes around 3% of the overall population in the United States. For the U.S. to get rid of all its undocumented population, it would indeed need something related something akin to an authoritarian state. That is what we have started to see, and that is what most people don’t like because there are undocumented kids in schools. There are undocumented nurses. There are undocumented teachers, agricultural workers, construction workers, and also people with their own businesses providing professional services, designing and renovating homes, etc. So, in order to find them, we will have to trample the civil liberties of many citizens. Is it worth it? I don’t think so. So, rather than just calling for the abolition of ICE, reform, or a return to the status quo so that the minimum due processes are followed before deportation, we have to start talking again about amnesty, paths to citizenship, and expanding chosen ways for legal immigration. Because, despite a false rhetoric that this was about “illegality,” this second Trump administration has also limited the legal pathways for migration. He has limited people’s ability to seek asylum. He has really reduced the number of refugees, made it more difficult and expensive to obtain professional visas like the H-1B visa, and curtailed other forms of legal migration, including for international students, the diversity visa lottery, and other programs that had bipartisan consensus that they were good for the country. He has also limited the ability to apply for new immigrant visas and green cards for people from over 75 countries, plus a travel ban of at least 19 countries, and has declared places such as Belize as safe third countries, making gaining asylum in the U.S. more difficult if people passed through those countries and making it easier to deport people from third countries there.

So, it is a masquerade to say that this was only about illegal immigration or getting criminals off the streets. These have been other of the big lies of the 2016 and 2024 campaigns. It is time that we get rid of those lies and we talk about the truth. We need immigration reform that allows people who are already living and paying taxes in the U.S. to do so legally, safely, and as fully recognized members of society. And lastly, we must establish a new legal pathway for newcomers because the country needs workers to keep the U.S. population and economy growing. So that’s what we need today. That’s the truth about immigration.

Ernesto Castañeda is a Professor at American University, where he leads the Immigration Lab and the Center for Latin American and Latino Studies. He has been studying immigration scientifically for over 20 years and has written many books on the subject, among them “Reunited: Family Separation and Central American Youth Migration” and “Immigration Realities: Challenging Common Misperceptions.”

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