January-May homicides down 2.9% compared to last year

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June 21, 2021

Crime scene — 50.4% of all homicides in the first five months of the year occurred in just six states.

Homicides declined 2.9% in the first five months of the year compared to the same period of 2020, Security Minister Rosa Rodríguez said Monday.

There were 14,243 homicides between January and May, 430 fewer than in the first five months of 2020, which was the second most violent year on record.

However, the number of homicides last month – 2,963 – was the highest monthly total since August 2020 and 1.3% higher than the figure for May last year, when 2,926 people were murdered.

Still, Rodríguez celebrated the decline during the first five months. “With regard to intentional homicides, we’re continuing to contain the upward trend,” she told reporters at President López Obrador’s morning news conference.

The security minister noted that 50.4% of all homicides in the period occurred in just six states: Guanajuato, Baja California, Jalisco, México state, Michoacán and Chihuahua.

Guanajuato, where several criminal groups including the Jalisco New Generation Cartel and the Santa Rosa de Lima Cartel are engaged in turf wars, recorded 1,545 homicides between January and May, or 11% of the national total.

But Rodríguez emphasized that the murder rate is declining in the Bajío region state, having dropped 18.8% annually in the first five months. She attributed the decline to security operations carried out by the army and the National Guard on the instructions of the president.

Baja California ranked as the second most violent state between January and May with 1,341 homicides followed by Jalisco (1,095); México state (1,084); Michoacán (1,084); and Chihuahua (1,027). Rounding out the top 10 most violent states so far this year were Sonora, Zacatecas, Veracruz and Guerrero.

Nine states recorded fewer than 100 homicides between January and May. They are Nayarit (96); Querétaro (92); Durango (81); Coahuila (65); Tlaxcala (52); Campeche (40); Aguascalientes (31); Baja California Sur (26); and Yucatán (18), which has long been considered Mexico’s safest state.

While homicides declined, femicides – the killing of women and girls on account of their gender – increased 7% to 423. There were 98 femicides last month, a 25.6% increase compared to April.

Among the other crimes that increased between January and May were muggings (up 6.4% compared to the same period last year); rape (up 30%); human trafficking (up 47%); and drug trafficking (up 8%).

Among the crimes that declined were vehicle theft (down 14.7%); business robberies (down 10.6%); home burglaries (down 6.8%); kidnappings (down 28.8%); and federal firearms offenses (down 5.5%).

Rodríguez also said that the Finance Ministry’s Financial Intelligence Unit has blocked more than 38,000 bank accounts linked to crime since the current government took office in late 2018. The government has seized more than 14.4 billion pesos (US $702.8 million) from those accounts, she said.

For his part, National Guard Commander Luis Rodríguez Bucio said that just under 100,000 guardsmen are now deployed to 214 security regions across the country.

The new security force was established by the current government and officially inaugurated by López Obrador in June 2019.

The president had high hopes that the National Guard would help to reduce violent crime but his first full year in office – 2019 – was the most violent year on record and homicides declined only 0.4% last year.

Apparently conceding that the security force had failed in its mission to reduce violence, López Obrador published a decree just over a year ago that ordered the armed forces to continue carrying out public security tasks for another four years.

Last week he proposed incorporating the National Guard into the army toward the end of his six-year term, a plan described as “madness” by National Action Party Senator Julen Rementería, who asserted that the president is attempting to “completely militarize” public security.

Mexico News Daily

Need to use some plump, delicious strawberries? We’ve got you covered

By

Janet Blaser

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June 21, 2021

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Strawberry galette — This gorgeous galette is easier than it looks!

It’s not just in Mexico that people love strawberries: these sweet red fruits are the most popular berry in the world. In Mazatlán, where I live, fresas y crema (strawberries and cream) is one of the most in-demand treats, sold in every store and by street vendors as well.

Mexico was actually the world’s biggest exporter of strawberries in 2020, overtaking Spain.

There are hundreds of varieties of strawberries, with slightly different shapes, color, flavor and firmness. At their best, all of them are irresistibly sweet.

And therein lies the challenge: how to pick the best strawberries for eating, for cooking or for freezing?

The first thing to know is that strawberries are very perishable; you haven’t been imagining that. It’s most likely through no fault of your own that they don’t last more than a day or two after purchase (if even that!).

With just a few minutes and a saucepan, you can turn classic pancakes into something special with homemade strawberry syrup.

Their high water content (90%) makes them fragile and susceptible to rot — but that’s also why they freeze wonderfully. Kind of a delicious double-edged sword.

The best thing to do is to use strawberries the day you buy them. If that’s not possible, don’t wash or hull them until you’re ready to use them.

Just pat them dry and store, refrigerated, in layers separated by paper towels. If I know I’m just going to use them in yogurt or smoothies, I’ll hull and slice ’em, mix in a bit of sugar and store them in a covered container in the fridge. They may not stay firm, but at least they don’t go bad.

One of my pet peeves in buying commercial strawberries is that they’re inevitably hard and tasteless. They may look pretty, but that’s about it. Here in Mazatlán, I’ve sometimes been able to find “real” strawberries at the big weekly flea market and also at the organic farmers market when they’re in season.

When purchasing, look for berries that are firm and bright with a bit of a shine — a good gauge of freshness. (Of course, if you can sample, do that as well!)

Strawberries are easy to freeze and need just a bit of prep. Wash, dry and hull them carefully, then spread them in a single layer on a cookie sheet, lined with parchment if you like. Freeze overnight, then transfer to an airtight container.

Spinach-Berry Salad with Crispy Goat Cheese

One 6 oz. goat cheese log, cut into 1-inch medallions
1 egg, beaten
¾ cup panko bread crumbs
12 strawberries
2 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar
4 Tbsp. olive oil
1 tsp. honey
Salt and pepper
4 oz. baby spinach or torn spinach leaves
3 Tbsp. toasted pine nuts
3 Tbsp. vegetable oil

Working one at a time, dip each goat cheese medallion in egg, then in panko, pressing on crumbs to firmly adhere. Place on parchment-lined plate, refrigerate 30 minutes.

In blender, mix 4 strawberries, vinegar, olive oil and honey. Purée until smooth, about 30 seconds. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Thinly slice remaining strawberries and toss in a bowl with spinach and pine nuts.

Heat vegetable oil in medium skillet over medium heat. Fry cheese medallions until golden and crisp, about 2 minutes each side, turning once. Drain on paper towels. Toss salad with vinaigrette, add goat cheese on top, and serve.

spinach and goat cheese salad with strawberries — Add a dash of sweet to your savory by slicing a few perfectly ripe sliced strawberries atop a spinach and goat cheese salad.

Strawberry Fool

The classic British dessert, updated.

¾ cup fresh strawberries, washed, hulled and chopped
6 Tbsp. sugar, divided, plus more to taste
2 tsp. fresh lemon juice
1 cup chilled heavy cream
¼ cup Greek yogurt
¼ tsp. vanilla

Place half the strawberries and 3 Tbsp. sugar in small saucepan. Cook, stirring, over medium-low heat until berries have softened, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat, stir in lemon juice, add sugar to taste. Chill completely, about 1 hour.

In a bowl, mix remaining strawberries and 3 Tbsp. sugar. Refrigerate about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Whip cream to soft peaks. Gently fold in yogurt and vanilla. Reserve ¼ cup whipped cream; fold chilled strawberry compote into whipped cream. Spoon strawberry cream into glasses alternating with macerated strawberries. Top with a dollop of whipped cream.

Strawberry Avocado Salsa

1 avocado, diced
1 cup diced strawberries
1/3 cup diced mango
½ -1 jalapeño, seeded and minced
¼ cup diced red onion
2 Tbsp. chopped fresh cilantro leaves
1 tsp. honey, or more to taste
Juice of 1 lime
Salt to taste

Combine all ingredients, stir well and serve.

Strawberry Syrup

Add to sangria, yogurt, vanilla ice cream, oatmeal, salad dressings or sparkling water — or drizzle on pancakes!

1 cup sliced strawberries
1 cup water
1 cup sugar

Combine strawberries, water, and sugar in a small saucepan. Heat over high heat until boiling, stirring to dissolve sugar. Reduce to simmer; cook about 10 minutes till berries are soft. Remove from heat; cool and strain. Reserve or discard berries. Syrup will keep one week in a sealed container in the refrigerator.

strawberries with pico de gallo — Strawberries make a surprisingly great addition to pico de gallo-type salsas.

Easy Strawberry Galette

1¼ cup flour
¼ tsp. salt
¼ cup + 1 Tbsp. sugar
½ package cream cheese
1 stick cold unsalted butter
2 lb. strawberries
1 Tbsp. cornstarch
1 vanilla bean
½ tsp. vanilla
1 egg
2 Tbsp. sugar

In food processor, pulse flour, salt, and 1 Tbsp. sugar. Add cream cheese and butter; pulse until large crumbs form. Add 3-4 Tbsp. water; pulse just until dough begins to come together. (Alternately, mix dough by hand.) Turn dough out onto a lightly floured work surface; gently knead until combined. Pat into a disk, wrap tightly in plastic, refrigerate at least 1 hour or up to overnight.

When ready to bake, roll dough between 2 sheets of parchment into a 12” diameter circle, 1/8 inch thick. Transfer to baking sheet; refrigerate 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 350 F.

In large bowl, toss strawberries with cornstarch, vanilla and remaining sugar. Arrange strawberries atop dough, leaving a 1-inch border. Fold border up and over strawberries to create a 1-inch-wide rim. Brush crust with egg wash and sprinkle with a pinch of sugar. Bake galette until golden, 40–45 minutes.

Strawberry Toast

1 slice multigrain or sourdough bread
3 Tbsp. requesón or ricotta
1 Tbsp. orange marmalade
¼ cup diced strawberries

Toast slice of bread and top with ricotta, marmalade and diced strawberries.

Janet Blaser is the author of the best-selling book, Why We Left: An Anthology of American Women Expats, featured on CNBC and MarketWatch. A retired journalist, she has lived in Mexico since 2006.

Power outage in war-torn Aguililla since Friday; criminal blockades thwart repairs

By

MND Staff

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June 21, 2021

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A backhoe clears a blockade earlier this year in Aguililla.

Cartel blockades continue to play havoc in Aguililla, Michoacán, not only cutting off highway access but cutting electricity and telephone service since Friday, according to residents.

The blockade on the Aguililla-Apatzingán highway has prevented workers from the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) from entering the municipality to restore power.

A resident of Apatzingán, a neighboring municipality, confirmed that cartel members had instigated the blockade. “We cannot enter Aguililla. There is no cell phone service because … they cut the electricity on Friday, there is none. For what reason? We do not know exactly, but we do know that the CFE cannot enter … it is blocked by the Cárteles Unidos … You cannot enter the town … and you cannot leave,” he said.

He added that the CFE didn’t want to enter the town.

Despite the reports, state Interior Minister Armando Hurtado Arévalo said services to the town had been normalized since the passage of a tropical storm.

The Archbishop of Michoacán, Carlos Garfias, this weekend urged the federal government to install a security committee to address violence in the area.

For several months and despite police and army operations, Aguililla has been the site of a bloody turf war between the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) and the Cárteles Unidos. Violence has long plagued the town, where CJNG leader Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes – a wanted man in both Mexico and the United States – was born.

With reports from Reforma

Thieves blamed for 12-hour power outage in Playa del Carmen

By

MND Staff

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June 21, 2021

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A 12-hour power cut in Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo, Sunday was caused by thieves, the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) said.

Electricity supply was interrupted early in the morning after power lines were stolen.

The outage left 10,904 users without electricity, affecting about 7% of the population of Solidaridad, the municipality in which Playa del Carmen is located. Power had been completely restored by 4:30 p.m.

The CFE said it would take legal action against those responsible “who had vandalized CFE infrastructure on repeated occasions,” referring to smaller scale power cuts caused by vandalism on Saturday night.

In those outages the neighborhoods affected were Toscana, Colonia Santa Fe, Villas Rivero, Villamar 2 and Bosque Real.

Aside from vandalism, power failures are common on both the Yucatán Peninsula and in Baja California and Baja California Sur due to the vulnerability of their remote electricity generators.

With reports from Infobae and El Universal

Yesterday’s heroes in coronavirus battle dismissed by message on WhatsApp

By

MND Staff

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June 21, 2021

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Nurses hired to battle Covid in Zacatecas who were abruptly fired — The nurses were hired last year to supplement hospital staff in Zacatecas during the worst days of the Covid-19 crisis.

More than 100 nurses who were hired in Zacatecas last year to treat patients during the first peak of the coronavirus pandemic were unceremoniously dismissed via the WhatsApp messaging service last week.

“Yesterday we were heroes, today we’re unemployed,” said Eladio Sandoval Flores, one of the temporary nurses who was hired in the first half of last year and cared for Covid patients during the first and second waves of the pandemic.

He is one of more than 30 relief nurses at the Zacatecas Women’s Hospital who is now without a job. The other nurses dismissed last week worked at general hospitals in the municipalities of Fresnillo, Jerez, Loreto and Jalpa. All were paid just 180 pesos (about US $9) for each eight-to-12-hour shift and received no benefits.

David Villagrana told the newspaper Milenio that he and other relief nurses at the women’s hospital, located near the state capital, worked during the “ugliest and most intense” periods of the pandemic but their service didn’t even earn them the right to be told about the termination of their employment face to face.

He said that one of his colleagues received a WhatsApp message from her boss last Monday and that she was told to tell all the other relief nurses not to go into work the next day.

Enrique López, a relief nurse at the Loreto General Hospital, recounted a similar story.

“The truth is, it’s very unfair that they dismiss us in this way. … We were on the frontline; we worked during the peak of the pandemic … but we’re discarded from one day to the next; it’s not fair at all,” he told Milenio.

“We know that we’re temporary nurses, but we were also the ones who took up the fight to attend [to patients during] the most critical stage of the pandemic; we put our lives on the line but were notified with a simple WhatsApp message that we’re fired,” Sandoval told the newspaper El Universal during a protest outside the Zacatecas Women’s Hospital.

The dismissed nurses called for health authorities to employ them on a permanent basis even though the pandemic, and the number of hospitalized Covid patients, has declined significantly.

“The only thing we’re asking for is that our work be respected; we’re not asking for anything that we haven’t earned with dedication, effort and love for what we do,” said López.

Frida Esparza, a Democratic Revolution Party federal deputy from Zacatecas, characterized the nurses’ dismissal as a betrayal.

“Yesterday they were considered heroes of the pandemic by President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, but today they’re fired,” she said.

Norma Castorena, secretary-general of Section 39 of the National Health Workers Union, called for the dismissed nurses to keep their cool and not intensify their protest in any way because authorities are looking at the possibility of extending their contracts.

Whether that occurs remains to be seen.

With reports from El Universal and Milenio

In 5 months, 41,000 migrants have sought asylum in Mexico, 16 more than in all of last year

By

MND Staff

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June 21, 2021

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Migrants in Mexico — For many, Mexico is becoming a destination rather than a transit country.

Mexico is on track to record its highest ever number of asylum requests as growing numbers of migrants choose to stay in the country rather than seek entry into the United States.

The Mexican Commission for Refugee Assistance (Comar) registered 41,195 applications for asylum in the first five months of the year, 16 more than in all of 2020, when migration fell due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The figure is 68% higher than that recorded in 2019, when Comar received 24,551 requests between January and May. New records for asylum applications were set in March, April and May this year with more than 9,000 requests in each month.

Mexico is becoming a destination rather than a transit country for a growing number of migrants, said Marcos Tamariz, deputy head of mission for Doctors Without Borders in Mexico and Central America.

“We’re seeing statistics that are going to exceed the historic record of 80,000 refugees [in one year],” he said, adding that many of those who are seeking asylum are living in precarious conditions in migrant shelters, detention centers and makeshift camps.

Migrants in Tapachula, Chiapas. — Migrants earlier this year waiting to be processed in Tapachula, Chiapas.

In a new report entitled Global Trends: Forced Displacement in 2020, the United Nations Refugee Agency said that out of 549,200 internationally displaced Salvadorans, Guatemalans and Hondurans, 78,600, or 14%, sought asylum in Mexico.

“While the intended destination of people on the move from these three countries generally remains the United States, some are increasingly settling in Mexico, and a much smaller number go south to Costa Rica and Panama. These countries are also becoming major transit countries for nationals from within the subregion and from outside the region,” the UNHCR said.

Comar says it has received asylum requests from citizens of 78 countries but that just six — El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Venezuela, Cuba and Haiti — typically account for 90% of applications. It has processed just over 13,000 applications this year and ruled in favor of granting asylum in almost three-quarters of the cases.

While it is busy assessing asylum applications, the National Immigration Institute (INM) is equally busy detaining and deporting migrants. The INM reported on June 6 that it had detained 90,850 undocumented migrants this year and deported 42,067 — 46% of the total — to their country of origin.

Some 12,000 INM officials and members of security forces, including the military and National Guard, are deployed to control the flow of migrants, record numbers of whom have arrived in Mexico in recent months on their way to the United States.

Mexico and the United States signed an agreement earlier this month to work together to address the lack of economic opportunities in El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras, where poverty, violence, climate change and two devastating hurricanes late last year have triggered an exodus of people.

Mexico's National Guard repelling Suchiate River migrants from crossing into Mexico — National Guard forces repelling migrants trying to cross the Suchiate River into Mexico from Guatemala. File photo

The federal government deployed large numbers of security force members to stop migrants in 2019 in order to appease former United States president Donald Trump, who threatened to impose blanket tariffs on Mexican goods if Mexico didn’t do more to stem illegal migration.

The United States has scrapped many of Trump’s harshest immigration policies, but Vice President Kamala Harris nevertheless told would-be migrants not to travel to the U.S. during a trip to Guatemala earlier this month. She later softened her message, saying that she was “committed to making sure we provide a safe haven for those seeking asylum, period.”

President López Obrador told Harris in May that his administration agreed with the migration policies the U.S. government was developing and would aid in their implementation. “You can count on us,” he said.

Both Mexico and the U.S. say they are committed to addressing the root causes of migration in Central America, which history shows have been notoriously difficult to combat.

With reports from EFE

Father drowns after saving his son at Nayarit beach

By

MND Staff

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June 21, 2021

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Rescue workers attempt to resuscitate the victim at Chacala beach.

For a Jalisco family on holiday in Nayarit, Sunday will not be a Father’s Day to remember. A father drowned saving his son from strong ocean currents yesterday morning at Chacala beach in Compostela.

The 13-year-old entered the water at around 8:00 a.m. but shouted for help as he was dragged away by the current shortly after.

His father, José Guadalupe Cruz, showed no hesitation and swam out to attempt his rescue, according to Nayarit officials.

However, the strength of the current dragged them both farther out and only after some anxious moments did Cruz manage to get his son onto dry land. But having spent all of his energy in the rescue, he was pulled down by the current.

Several onlookers tried to help Cruz, and rescue workers managed to pull him out of the water. Civil Protection officers attempted cardiopulmonary resuscitation, but he did not respond and was declared dead at the scene.

Officers who interviewed the son confirmed that Cruz’s last words were, “Hang on so we can get out together.”

With reports from Cultura Colectiva and Reforma

Boxer buys portrait to support young artist in her studies

By

MND Staff

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June 21, 2021

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González at the roadside with her painting of Saúl Álvarez.

An appeal from a young artist seeking buyers for her paintings in order to fund her university studies got a positive response from the subject of one of her works, champion Mexican boxer Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez: he bought the piece from the Sonora high school student.

Nicole González, 17, attempted to sell the portrait of Álvarez by displaying it on the side of a busy boulevard in Hermosillo.

“Hi I’m Nicki, I’m 17. I’m selling all my works to pay for university in Mexico City,” read her sign advertising the painting.

Posts on social media helped to publicize the paintings further: “My dream is to study visual arts at a university in Mexico City. After 37 days I’ve finished my painting of @canelo, acrylic on canvas. It is one of my greatest achievements. He [Canelo] has inspired me to follow with my dreams, to try and never stop. This painting means a lot to me,” her post read.

The Hermosillo student’s activity gained traction, and caught the attention of the Jalisco native, who is currently the unified super middleweight world champion.

“Thank you very much to all the people interested in this painting, it is no longer available, it is going to Canelo,” Nicole confirmed. “I hadn’t ever expected so many people to be interested in this painting, I am very grateful,” she added.

Despite her success, Nicole has not received any professional training as an artist. The 17-year-old’s paintings are for sale on her Instagram page: @nicki_arte.

CORRECTION: The artist’s Instagram address was incorrect in the original version of this story. We regret the error.

With reports from El Universal and El Sol de México

Stay at home, citizens in Los Cabos urged as Covid cases reach historic high

By

MND Staff

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June 21, 2021

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Baja California Sur Covid-19 cases — The numbers represent, from left to right, each municipality's active cases, total deaths, and total recoveries from Covid-19. Baja California Sur Ministry of Health

Authorities in Los Cabos, Baja California Sur, are urging residents to stay at home due to an increase in both coronavirus cases and hospital admissions of Covid-19 patients.

The message was broadcast over loudspeakers in the resort city on Sunday, and the Los Cabos council took to social media to advise people to continue to social distance and wear a face mask if they have to go out.

Separately, Mayor Armida Castro Guzmán called on citizens to follow all virus mitigation measures as Los Cabos — one of Mexico’s popular tourism destinations — attempts to get on top of a growing Covid outbreak.

“The Covid numbers … have exceeded the municipality’s hospital capacity,” she said. “We’re very worried, … we have to keep following the [health] measures.”

There are currently 1,402 active coronavirus cases in Los Cabos, according to state government data, a figure that accounts for more than 60% of the total in Baja California Sur. State capital La Paz is also facing a growing outbreak with 782 active cases.

Federal data shows that 97% of general care beds at the IMSS General Hospital in Cabo San Lucas are occupied and 93% of those with ventilators are taken. State data shows that 126 Covid patients are in general care hospital beds in Los Cabos and 44 are on ventilators. A team of 20 health workers from Puebla arrived in the municipality on Friday to support overwhelmed local medical personnel.

Mayor Castro said Sunday that health checkpoints, where citizens are monitored for Covid symptoms such as fever, had been set up across Los Cabos with the assistance of the National Guard. Cemeteries were closed on Sunday – Father’s Day – to avoid crowds and entry to beaches was limited to 40% of normal capacity.

Across Baja California Sur, there are currently 2,272 active cases, according to the state government, the highest figure recorded since the start of the pandemic. New infections increased some 90% during the past two weeks compared to the previous fortnight.

The state has an accumulated case tally of almost 36,000 and has recorded 1,586 Covid-19 deaths. La Paz ranks first for cases and deaths among the five Baja California Sur municipalities while Los Cabos is second in both categories.

The official Covid-19 death toll is 728 in La Paz, 522 in Los Cabos, 167 in Comondú, 129 in Mulegé and 40 in Loreto.

With reports from Milenio and El Independiente

Northern border remains closed to nonessential traffic for another month

By

MND Staff

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June 21, 2021

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Pedestrians at the Nuevo Laredo border crossing in Tamaulipas.

Border restrictions were extended Sunday by United States authorities for non-essential travel with Mexico and Canada.

The continued measure limits land crossings for a further month, until at least July 21, while allowing for essential work-related travel.

The announcement on the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) official Twitter account read: “To reduce the spread of #Covid-19, the United States is extending restrictions on nonessential travel at our land and ferry crossings with Canada and Mexico through July 21, while ensuring access for essential trade and travel.”

Such restrictions have been extended monthly since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The U.S. announcement comes days after meeting between Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard and the U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, in which they agreed to accelerate the rate of vaccination at the border in order to reactivate commerce and tourism.

DHS added it was optimistic about future easing of restrictions. “DHS also notes positive developments in recent weeks and is participating with other U.S. agencies in the White House’s expert working groups with Canada and Mexico to identify the conditions under which restrictions may be eased safely and sustainably,” it said on Twitter.

Canada also extended restrictions on cross border movement with the United States Friday. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau confirmed the aim is to have 75% of the population vaccinated with a first dose before normalizing travel.

With reports from El Financiero