WATER NEWS 4/14

Mexico news roundup

Mexicans fear stricter border crossing checks

Since Donald Trump returned to the White House, entering the United States has never been the same, and not just for those who do so illegally.

“As of January 20 of this year, immigration policy has already changed significantly,” says Alex Gálvez, an immigration attorney.

Those who enter legally, using some type of visa, face greater scrutiny from customs officials, he adds.

“The government will now be searching social media and cellphones to see if they are entering for any purpose other than tourism, study, or work.”

At the pedestrian access point through the San Ysidro border crossing, some are already noticing the changes. (Vicente Calderón, Tijuana Press, Spanish)

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The Riviera Maya gears up for a seaweed-y Semana Santa

The turquoise waters of Cancún, in the Riviera Maya, are threatened by the arrival of a massive amount of sargassum leading up to Easter.

The local city council said it will present a contingency plan for Holy Week — which begins Sunday — in collaboration with the state Government and the Naval Ministry (Semar) to address the problem.

“We’ll present the contingency plan in case of a significant arrival [of seaweed],” Municipal Public Services Director José Antonio de la Torre Chambé said. “We’ve already established schedules for sargassum response, and monitoring will start at 5:00 a.m.”

Sargassum is a brown seaweed that floats on the open ocean, providing food, protection, and habitat for many marine species. However, it can be harmful when large quantities reach the shores, as it decomposes and produces hydrogen sulfide, a gas that smells like rotten eggs and may cause respiratory issues.

In the Riviera Maya, sargassum season usually lasts from May to November, although it varies each year. In 2024, the season officially ended on Nov. 14.

De la Torre said that sargassum collection has increased in recent weeks due to strong winds from the south, which have carried the algae to shores. In the last few days alone, he said 80 cubic meters of sargassum have been removed, mainly from Playa Delfines, one of Mexico’s most visited beaches.- (Mexico Ness Daily)

Oldest migrant shelter in Tijuana may close services due to cuts from USAID

Tijuanapress.com talked with Par Murphy, the American priest who runs Casa del Migrante in Tijuana about the impact on USAID changes that put the main and oldest shelter for migrants in the Mexican City at risk of closing.

He told us that several Services are already suspended.

Since they do not get any significant funding from Mexican government they are in the worst situation since its creation, more than 30 years ago.

Murphy is calling for people on both sides of the Border for help.

He says that this could force more people to try to get across illegally. (Vicente Calderón, Tijuana Press, Spanish)