International
Joe Biden’s administration weakened by immigration crisis

December 24 |
The arrival of thousands of migrants from Mexico every day puts pressure on states and police at the U.S. borders, a crisis that exposes the administration of Democrat Joe Biden to strong attacks from his Republican adversaries. In recent weeks, Border Patrol reported some 10,000 crossings per day, a higher rate than in previous months.
More than 2.4 million migrants were intercepted by land between October 2022 and September 2023, an influx also higher than in previous years. The reasons for this recent influx are less clear. The Border Police blames “disinformation distilled by human traffickers towards vulnerable people.”
Several immigrants interviewed by AFP on Thursday in Texas spoke of rumors of an imminent border closure. Since Tuesday, railroad tracks at the Eagle Pass and El Paso bridges in Texas have been closed due to a “resurgence” of irregular migrant entries on freight trains.
In Eagle Pass, vehicle crossings have been suspended again since the beginning of the month, as well as at a crossing point in Arizona and another in California. Border Police say they are having to redeploy their personnel to concentrate on intercepting and registering migrants.
After accusing President Biden of “deliberate inaction” in the face of the situation, Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott on Monday signed a controversial law criminalizing illegal entry into his state.
The law creates a “criminal offense of illegally entering Texas from a foreign country,” punishable by six months to 20 years in prison for repeat offenses.
The text, which could go into effect in March, gives state authorities the power to arrest immigrants and deport them to Mexico, prerogatives that in principle fall to federal authorities.
Several human rights organizations, including the influential American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), filed suit to challenge it as unconstitutional.
International
Paraguay summons Brazilian ambassador over Itaipú espionage scandal

Paraguay summoned the Brazilian ambassador in Asunción on Tuesday to demand “explanations” and called its own representative in Brasília for consultations following Brazil’s acknowledgment of an espionage operation. The Brazilian government, led by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, attributed the operation to the previous administration.
The surveillance effort aimed to uncover Paraguay’s position in now-suspended negotiations with Brazil regarding the pricing of electricity from the binational Itaipú hydroelectric plant, according to reports in the Brazilian press.
The Brazilian government “categorically denied any involvement in the intelligence operation,” stating in a Foreign Ministry communiqué on Monday that the espionage was carried out under former President Jair Bolsonaro’s administration (2019-2023).
“The operation was authorized by the previous government in June 2022 and was annulled by the interim director of the (state intelligence agency) ABIN on March 27, 2023, as soon as the current administration became aware of it,” Brazil’s government asserted.
Paraguay’s Foreign Minister Rubén Ramírez announced that Brazilian Ambassador José Antonio Marcondes de Carvalho was summoned “to provide detailed explanations” regarding the operation. Additionally, Paraguay recalled its diplomatic representative in Brasília “to report on aspects related to the intelligence activity conducted by Brazil regarding Paraguay’s government affairs.”
International
Elon Musk to step down as government advisor, per Trump insiders

President Donald Trump has informed his inner circle that Elon Musk will be stepping down from his role as a government advisor, according to a report by Politico today.
Citing three individuals close to Trump, Politico states that the president is pleased with Musk’s leadership at the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), where he has implemented significant budget cuts. However, both have agreed that it is time for Musk to return to his businesses and support Trump from a different position outside the government.
A senior administration official told Politico that Musk will likely maintain an informal advisory role and continue to be an occasional visitor to the White House. Another source warned that anyone thinking Musk will completely disappear from Trump’s circle is “deluding themselves.”
According to the sources, this transition is expected to coincide with the end of Musk’s tenure as a “special government employee,” a temporary status that exempts him from certain ethics and conflict-of-interest regulations. This 130-day period is set to expire in late May or early June.
International
Milei vows to make Argentina so strong that Falkland Islanders “choose” to join

Argentine President Javier Milei reaffirmed his country’s claim over the Falkland Islands (known as the Islas Malvinas in Argentina) and praised the role of the nation’s armed forces during a ceremony marking the “Veterans and Fallen Soldiers of the Malvinas War Day,” commemorating 43 years since the 1982 conflict with the United Kingdom.
Argentina continues to assert sovereignty over the islands, arguing that Britain unlawfully seized them in 1833.
“If sovereignty over the Malvinas is the issue, we have always made it clear that the most important vote is the one cast with one’s feet. We hope that one day, the Malvinas residents will choose to vote with their feet and join us,” Milei stated.
“That is why we aim to become a global power—so much so that they would prefer to be Argentine, making deterrence or persuasion unnecessary. This is why we have embarked on a path of liberation, working to make Argentina the freest country in the world and once again the nation with the highest GDP per capita on the planet,” he added.
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