International

Mexico to give temporary visas to Central Americans to work in public works

Photo: EFE

May 23 |

The President of Mexico, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, announced this Monday that his government will grant one-year temporary visas to Central Americans to work in the country’s public works, such as the Mayan Train, one of the most emblematic constructions of his administration.

“This week I am going to present a program for our Central American brothers with the purpose that they can have temporary visas to work in public works in Mexico, that they can be legally in our country with temporary work visas,” informed the president in his daily press conference.

“Wages are also increasing in our country, in the Mayan Train operators, drivers, workers, are already earning better, because there is more demand for employment, so companies are paying more. These are attractive salaries to come, work for 15 days and return,” he explained.

Last Saturday, López Obrador continued, he received a letter from his U.S. counterpart, Joe Biden, congratulating him for the work done on the immigration issue and expressing his commitment to invest more in Central America and the Caribbean.

20260330_renta_mh_728x90

“We are working together,” the Mexican president assured about this type of immigration policies, which he said still need to be “fine-tuned”.

“It is not right to be rejecting migrants when there is a need for labor force. If not, how will there be growth? There are places in the United States where there are no workers,” he added.

López Obrador admitted that the public works promoted during his six-year term, among which the Mayan Train and the inter-oceanic corridor of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec stand out, are also in need of labor.

“We need many ironworkers, welders, even engineers, professionals,” he stressed.

For the Mayan Train, which will run through the southern region of Mexico and is scheduled to be inaugurated next December, he added that the government is sending drivers or mechanics to Europe for training.

20260330_renta_mh_728x90

The public works, which López Obrador has turned into the flagship projects of his Administration, have been surrounded by controversy due to the role of the Armed Forces in their construction and management, framed in a series of strategies that have boosted the militarization of the country.

The environmental impact and the impact on the indigenous communities that the Mayan Train will have has also been criticized, effects that the Government has denied.

Regarding potential workers coming from Central American countries such as Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and Nicaragua, from where many migrants arrive to Mexico in search of crossing to the United States, López Obrador did not clarify the procedure they will have to follow to obtain a temporary work visa.

Related Topics:Central Americans Mexico Visas

Up Next

President of Argentina calls for respect of labor rights

Don't Miss

Security council on murder of minors in Colombia concluded

20260330_renta_mh_300x250

International

Artemis II crew prepares for Earth return and splashdown recovery

Astronauts from the Artemis II mission are expected to be extracted from the Orion spacecraft approximately two hours after splashdown, scheduled for 20:07 UTC this Friday (6:07 p.m. in San Salvador), according to NASA.

Following recovery, a rescue team will transport the crew by aircraft to the USS John P. Murtha. Once onboard, they will undergo medical evaluations before boarding another flight to the Johnson Space Center.

On Thursday, NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, along with Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen from the Canadian Space Agency, continued preparations for their return to Earth.

Their activities include stowing equipment used during the mission, securing cargo and storage compartments, and installing and adjusting crew seats to ensure all items are properly fastened. The crew will also review the latest weather updates, recovery operations status, and reentry timeline, while preparing for post-landing procedures.

At 21:53 UTC (9:53 p.m. in San Salvador), Orion’s thrusters are scheduled to perform a second trajectory correction maneuver, refining the spacecraft’s path back to Earth. During this operation, Hansen will monitor guidance, navigation, and propulsion systems.

20260330_renta_mh_728x90

NASA explained that during Friday’s reentry, the service module will separate about 20 minutes before Orion reaches the upper atmosphere southeast of Hawaii. If necessary, a final trajectory adjustment will fine-tune the flight path before the capsule begins a series of roll maneuvers to safely distance itself from jettisoned components.

Just before atmospheric interface, Orion will reach a peak speed of approximately 3,800 km/h. As it descends to about 400,000 feet (around 121.9 km), communications will be interrupted for approximately six minutes due to plasma formation around the capsule during peak heating.

NASA expects the crew to experience up to 3.9 G during a nominal reentry profile. After exiting the blackout phase, the capsule will jettison its forward bay cover. Drogue parachutes will deploy at around 22,000 feet (6.7 km), followed by the three main parachutes at approximately 6,000 feet (1.8 km).

Artemis II marks NASA’s first crewed flight test of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft around the Moon. The mission aims to validate capabilities for deep space human exploration and lay the groundwork for future long-term scientific missions on the lunar surface.

20260330_renta_mh_728x90

International

Flooding in Dominican Republic leaves child dead and thousands affected

A two-year-old girl died after a wall of her home collapsed amid severe flooding that struck Dominican Republic on Wednesday. The heavy rains also caused power outages, school closures, and reduced working hours across affected areas.

Authorities issued preventive alerts in 15 of the country’s 31 provinces due to intense rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms that began Tuesday night.

Juan Méndez, director of the Center of Emergency Operations (COE), confirmed the child’s death to the press. The incident occurred in Santo Domingo Oeste, part of the capital region.

According to Red Cross officials, the girl died when a wall in her home collapsed following a landslide triggered by hours of heavy rain.

President Luis Abinader provided an update from the COE, stating that government agencies had been mobilized since early morning, particularly in Greater Santo Domingo, to protect lives and minimize material damage.

20260330_renta_mh_728x90

Floodwaters left several vehicles submerged, while others were swept away by strong currents. Authorities estimate that around 250,000 families have been affected by the flooding.

Earlier, Public Administration Minister Sigmund Freund announced reduced working hours, encouraging remote work for those facing transportation difficulties, while maintaining in-person operations for essential services.

International

Bill Gates to testify before Congress over Epstein connections

Bill Gates is set to testify on June 10 before a congressional committee in United States investigating links connected to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, a source familiar with the matter told AFP on Tuesday.

The Microsoft co-founder is among several high-profile figures named in documents released by the Department of Justice, which detail alleged close associations, questionable financial dealings, and private photographs involving Epstein.

According to a spokesperson cited by Politico, Gates “welcomes” the opportunity to appear before the committee. The representative emphasized that Gates “never attended or participated in any illegal activities with Epstein” and is prepared to answer questions to support the investigation.

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation did not immediately respond to AFP’s request for comment.

In late February, Gates told members of his foundation’s board that his association with Epstein was a “huge mistake.” He has consistently denied any involvement in the financier’s criminal activities. Epstein died by suicide in prison in 2019 while awaiting trial on charges of sex trafficking minors.

20260330_renta_mh_728x90

“I did nothing illegal. I saw nothing illegal,” Gates said, according to a recording obtained by The Wall Street Journal.

Gates acknowledged that his relationship with Epstein began in 2011, three years after Epstein pleaded guilty to soliciting prostitution from a minor.

A draft email written by Epstein and released by the Department of Justice referenced alleged extramarital relationships involving Gates. The message, which was apparently never sent, claimed that Epstein had helped “Bill” obtain medication related to encounters with Russian women.

Gates admitted to having had two extramarital affairs but denied any involvement with Epstein’s victims.