A Mexican leader has just made a bizarre statement, that poor people “are immune” to the coronavirus pandemic.

The governor of the Mexican state of Puebla made the claim while addressing reporters last week.

Luis Miguel Barbosa told reporters that “the majority [of infected people] are wealthy”.

He added, "If you're rich you're at risk, but if you're poor, no, well us poor, we are immune".

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/is-the-covid-19-pandemic-threatening-ongoing-vaccination-programmes-289229" hreflang="en">Is the COVID-19 pandemic threatening ongoing vaccination programmes?</a>

No scientific evidence links the virus to one’s economic standing. His comments caused an uproar on social media, with people calling it misinformation.&nbsp;

Barbosa reached the appalling conclusion by suggesting that most cases of coronavirus in his country are imported, and claimed that only people rich enough to leave the country had brought the virus into Mexico with them.

However, statistics do seem to be in his favour. Mexico, so far, has over 475 confirmed cases. Out of these, 75 per cent came from outside the country.

<h6><img alt="ooo" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="fac59303-64e9-47fe-8786-5fb9fe29ebc4" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%2812%29_14.jpg" /> 
Aerial view of the Revolucion street as bars remain closed in downtown Tijuana, Baja California state, Mexico, on March 27, 2020 | AFP 
&nbsp;</h6>

In his town, Puebla, 44 people had tested positive for the virus.

The President of Mexico, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, recently drew criticism for his dismissive attitude against the coronavirus and a delayed response, a template which has caused catastrophic consequences across Europe.

In pics:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/architectural-marvels-of-the-world-pay-tribute-to-health-workers-289078" hreflang="en">Architectural marvels of the world pay tribute to health workers</a>

Recently, Mexican protesters shut down parts of the US border, asking for a blanket closure.

Until last week, Obrador, along the lines of Trump and Johnson, was seen evading social distancing, an important facet of controlling the pandemic.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-drops-idea-of-new-york-lockdown-as-us-death-count-crosses-2000-289203">Trump drops idea of New York lockdown as US death count crosses 2,000</a>

He further asked people to “live as they would”. However, as the positive cases continue to rise in the country, he has toned down and has urged people to stay at home.

As part of Mexico’s phase-2 response, schools have been shut, offices barred from functioning, and people being urged to practice social distancing.

Even though Obrador recently claimed that the outbreak would subside by mid-April, statistics and predictions suggest that the number of cases will rise tremendously.

On March 23, theatres, cinemas, gyms, bars, and zoos were forced shut by the government in Puebla.

(With inputs from Reuters, AFP)

A Mexican leader has just made a bizarre statement, that poor people “are immune” to the coronavirus pandemic. The governor of the Mexican state of Puebla made the claim while addressing reporters last week.

A Mexican leader has just made a bizarre statement, that poor people “are immune” to the coronavirus pandemic. The governor of the Mexican state of Puebla made the claim while addressing reporters last week. Luis Miguel Barbosa told reporters that “the majority [of infected people] are wealthy”. He added, "If you're rich you're at risk, but if you're poor, no, well us poor, we are immune". Also read: Is the COVID-19 pandemic threatening ongoing vaccination programmes? No scientific evidence links the virus to one’s economic standing. His comments caused an uproar on social media, with people calling it misinformation. Barbosa reached the appalling conclusion by suggesting that most cases of coronavirus in his country are imported, and claimed that only people rich enough to leave the country had brought the virus into Mexico with them. However, statistics do seem to be in his favour. Mexico, so far, has over 475 confirmed cases. Out of these, 75 per cent came from outside the country. Aerial view of the Revolucion street as bars remain closed in downtown Tijuana, Baja California state, Mexico, on March 27, 2020 | AFP In his town, Puebla, 44 people had tested positive for the virus. The President of Mexico, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, recently drew criticism for his dismissive attitude against the coronavirus and a delayed response, a template which has caused catastrophic consequences across Europe. In pics: Architectural marvels of the world pay tribute to health workers Recently, Mexican protesters shut down parts of the US border, asking for a blanket closure. Until last week, Obrador, along the lines of Trump and Johnson, was seen evading social distancing, an important facet of controlling the pandemic. Also read: Trump drops idea of New York lockdown as US death count crosses 2,000 He further asked people to “live as they would”. However, as the positive cases continue to rise in the country, he has toned down and has urged people to stay at home. As part of Mexico’s phase-2 response, schools have been shut, offices barred from functioning, and people being urged to practice social distancing. Even though Obrador recently claimed that the outbreak would subside by mid-April, statistics and predictions suggest that the number of cases will rise tremendously. On March 23, theatres, cinemas, gyms, bars, and zoos were forced shut by the government in Puebla. (With inputs from Reuters, AFP)

Mexican politician causes uproar after suggesting poor people can't contract coronavirus

As coronavirus pandemic grips the world, a Mexico governor argued that the poor people are immune to coronavirus.

Are poor people really immune to COVID-19?

The United States and&nbsp;Mexico&nbsp;are working on a plan to close their border to non-essential travel due to the coronavirus pandemic, the State Department said Thursday.

The move comes as similar measures are expected to come into force along the northern border with Canada by Saturday.

Watch:&nbsp;Donald Trump invokes wartime act to combat coronavirus outbreak

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Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and&nbsp;Mexico's Foreign Secretary Marcelo Luis Ebrard Casaubon spoke on "coordinating a plan to restrict non-essential travel across our shared border in response to the COVID-19 pandemic," State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said.

"The two leaders discussed the importance of creating a uniform North American strategy to reduce public health risks to our communities and more effectively address rising challenges jointly."

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hoax-everything-under-control-and-pandemic-a-timeline-of-how-donald-trump-denied-coronavirus-outbreak-287559">'Hoax', 'everything under control' and 'pandemic': A timeline of how Donald Trump denied coronavirus outbreak</a>

Pompeo tweeted that he had been working closely with Ebrard "on travel restrictions that balance protecting our citizens from further transmission of COVID19."

"Together, we can reduce public health risks and prioritize essential cross-border commerce and trade."

In a tweet, Ebrard said he would reveal more details of the closure on Friday.

The measure follows similar US moves to bar visitors from most of Europe, China and other parts of the world as its number of coronavirus cases surges.

The United States and Mexico are working on a plan to close their border to non-essential travel due to the coronavirus pandemic, the State Department said Thursday.

The United States and Mexico are working on a plan to close their border to non-essential travel due to the coronavirus pandemic, the State Department said Thursday. The move comes as similar measures are expected to come into force along the northern border with Canada by Saturday. Watch: Donald Trump invokes wartime act to combat coronavirus outbreak Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Mexico's Foreign Secretary Marcelo Luis Ebrard Casaubon spoke on "coordinating a plan to restrict non-essential travel across our shared border in response to the COVID-19 pandemic," State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said. "The two leaders discussed the importance of creating a uniform North American strategy to reduce public health risks to our communities and more effectively address rising challenges jointly." Also read: 'Hoax', 'everything under control' and 'pandemic': A timeline of how Donald Trump denied coronavirus outbreak Pompeo tweeted that he had been working closely with Ebrard "on travel restrictions that balance protecting our citizens from further transmission of COVID19." "Together, we can reduce public health risks and prioritize essential cross-border commerce and trade." In a tweet, Ebrard said he would reveal more details of the closure on Friday. The measure follows similar US moves to bar visitors from most of Europe, China and other parts of the world as its number of coronavirus cases surges.

Coronavirus pandemic: US and Mexico plan to close border to 'non-essential travel'

While public events across the globe are being cancelled in the wake of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india/latest-coronavirus-news-update-India-confirms-third-coronavirus-case-in-Kerala">coronavirus</a> outbreak, Mexico City is going ahead with 'Vive Latino', one of the most important music festivals in the country.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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Grandes voces se escucharon hoy en <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/VL20?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#VL20</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/carlosvives?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@carlosvives</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/monlaferte?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@monlaferte</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/31minutos_tv?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@31minutos_tv</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Vicentico_?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Vicentico_</a> 🤘🤘 <a href="https://t.co/FYtsn7iaQi">pic.twitter.com/FYtsn7iaQi</a>
— Vive Latino (@vivelatino) <a href="https://twitter.com/vivelatino/status/1239055140121960448?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 15, 2020</a></blockquote>
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On Saturday, tens of thousands of music fans flocked to the first day of the festival, which still expects performances by Guns N' Roses, Carlos Vives and Zoe. Organisers of the event said that more than 70,000 tickets had been sold for each of the festival`s two days, as per The news agency.

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Grandes voces se escucharon hoy en <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/VL20?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#VL20</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/carlosvives?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@carlosvives</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/monlaferte?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@monlaferte</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/31minutos_tv?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@31minutos_tv</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Vicentico_?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Vicentico_</a> 🤘🤘 <a href="https://t.co/FYtsn7iaQi">pic.twitter.com/FYtsn7iaQi</a>
— Vive Latino (@vivelatino) <a href="https://twitter.com/vivelatino/status/1239055140121960448?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 15, 2020</a></blockquote>
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However, concerns about the COVID-19 illness were evident as at the entrance gate each person entering was checked for fever.

In pics: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-movie-shoots-to-award-show-events-that-have-got-affected-due-to-coronavirus-282912" hreflang="en">Movie shoots to award show, events that have got affected due to coronavirus</a>

But once past that, the dynamics of the festival didn't change much. People walked excitedly towards the different stages and crowded together for various performances. 
 
Only a few people showed up wearing masks, such as Daniel Ramirez, who covered his face with a mask decorated with a fox picture. He said he's suffering from asthma and he needs to be more careful. 
 
There were also people who were not convinced about the wisdom of doing so but attended because there were no refunds for the tickets that cost them 5,000 pesos ($228) for the two days of the festival.

While public events across the globe are being cancelled in the wake of coronavirus outbreak, Mexico City is going ahead with 'Vive Latino', one of the most important music festivals in the country.

While public events across the globe are being cancelled in the wake of coronavirus outbreak, Mexico City is going ahead with 'Vive Latino', one of the most important music festivals in the country. Grandes voces se escucharon hoy en #VL20 @carlosvives @monlaferte @31minutos_tv @Vicentico_ 🤘🤘 pic.twitter.com/FYtsn7iaQi — Vive Latino (@vivelatino) March 15, 2020 × On Saturday, tens of thousands of music fans flocked to the first day of the festival, which still expects performances by Guns N' Roses, Carlos Vives and Zoe. Organisers of the event said that more than 70,000 tickets had been sold for each of the festival`s two days, as per The news agency. Grandes voces se escucharon hoy en #VL20 @carlosvives @monlaferte @31minutos_tv @Vicentico_ 🤘🤘 pic.twitter.com/FYtsn7iaQi — Vive Latino (@vivelatino) March 15, 2020 × However, concerns about the COVID-19 illness were evident as at the entrance gate each person entering was checked for fever. In pics: Movie shoots to award show, events that have got affected due to coronavirus But once past that, the dynamics of the festival didn't change much. People walked excitedly towards the different stages and crowded together for various performances. Only a few people showed up wearing masks, such as Daniel Ramirez, who covered his face with a mask decorated with a fox picture. He said he's suffering from asthma and he needs to be more careful. There were also people who were not convinced about the wisdom of doing so but attended because there were no refunds for the tickets that cost them 5,000 pesos ($228) for the two days of the festival.

Mexico hosts 'Vive Latino' music festival despite coronavirus concerns

'A day without us': Women stage protest by absence against femicide

Nestle SA is launching a reforestation project to plant at least 3 million trees in Mexico and Brazil in the next year and a half as the Swiss food group strives for carbon neutrality by 2050.

Nestle vows to plant 3 million trees in Mexico

Mexico's Health Ministry confirmed the country's first cases of coronavirus on Friday, saying two men who recently returned from Italy tested positive for the virus.

Two other men who were part of the same group visiting Bergamo in northern Italy are under observation, a health ministry official said.

Italy is Europe's epicentre with 650 cases and 17 deaths centred around cities in the north.

One of Mexico's confirmed cases, a 35-year-old resident of the capital, "has a mild, mild illness," with symptoms "similar to that of a cold," said Hugo Lopez-Gatell, a senior health ministry official.&nbsp;

"He is a young individual and so he is at very low risk."

The man and five members of his family have been isolated in the National Institute of Respiratory Diseases, Lopez-Gatell said.

The second positive case, a 41-year-old man who also returned from Bergamo, is in isolation at a hotel in the northwestern state of Sinaloa after being tested by regional authorities, the official said.

"We have two other men who are asymptomatic, one in the State of Mexico, the other in Mexico City, who will be under observation under contact protocol," he said.

"All this seems to be related to a case, a person also of Mexican nationality, who is in Bergamo, Italy, where the four individuals were in the third week of February and is most likely where the contagions occurred," he said.

Brazil confirmed Latin America's first coronavirus case on Wednesday.

The new coronavirus has infected 83,670 people and killed 2,865 around the world, according to an AFP toll based on official sources as of 1000 GMT on Friday.

Mainland China, where the epidemic started in late December, has 78,824 infected and 2,788 deaths.&nbsp;

Elsewhere in the world, 55 countries -- including Mexico -- and territories are affected with 4,846 cases and 77 deaths. 
&nbsp;

Mexico's Health Ministry confirmed the country's first cases of coronavirus on Friday, saying two men who recently returned from Italy tested positive for the virus.

Mexico's Health Ministry confirmed the country's first cases of coronavirus on Friday, saying two men who recently returned from Italy tested positive for the virus. Two other men who were part of the same group visiting Bergamo in northern Italy are under observation, a health ministry official said. Italy is Europe's epicentre with 650 cases and 17 deaths centred around cities in the north. One of Mexico's confirmed cases, a 35-year-old resident of the capital, "has a mild, mild illness," with symptoms "similar to that of a cold," said Hugo Lopez-Gatell, a senior health ministry official. "He is a young individual and so he is at very low risk." The man and five members of his family have been isolated in the National Institute of Respiratory Diseases, Lopez-Gatell said. The second positive case, a 41-year-old man who also returned from Bergamo, is in isolation at a hotel in the northwestern state of Sinaloa after being tested by regional authorities, the official said. "We have two other men who are asymptomatic, one in the State of Mexico, the other in Mexico City, who will be under observation under contact protocol," he said. "All this seems to be related to a case, a person also of Mexican nationality, who is in Bergamo, Italy, where the four individuals were in the third week of February and is most likely where the contagions occurred," he said. Brazil confirmed Latin America's first coronavirus case on Wednesday. The new coronavirus has infected 83,670 people and killed 2,865 around the world, according to an AFP toll based on official sources as of 1000 GMT on Friday. Mainland China, where the epidemic started in late December, has 78,824 infected and 2,788 deaths. Elsewhere in the world, 55 countries -- including Mexico -- and territories are affected with 4,846 cases and 77 deaths.

Mexico confirms first two cases of coronavirus, linked to Italy

A flutter of wings faster than the eye can see, a quick sip of nectar, and he vanishes from view. Once a common site in Mexico City but in 2020 a rarity in the sprawling metropolis.

Urban gardens in Mexico fight hummingbirds' extinction

Activists from the Sea Shepherd conservation organization on Friday (February 21) rescued a Humpback whale that was caught in illegal fishing nets in Mexico's upper Sea of Cortes.

Whale rescued from illegal fishing net in Mexico's Sea of Cortes

Relatives of a seven-year-old girl murdered in Mexico said on Monday the government had failed to protect her despite their pleas, while President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador appeared to blame the crime on neo-liberal economics.

Relatives of a seven-year-old girl murdered in Mexico said on Monday the government had failed to protect her despite their pleas, while President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador appeared to blame the crime on neo-liberal economics. Fatima Cecilia Aldrighett went missing on February 11. Her body was discovered over the weekend in a plastic garbage bag in Mexico City's Tlahuac neighbourhood, days after another murder of a young woman triggered angry protests. Sonia Lopez, Aldrighett's aunt, said the girl could have been found alive if authorities had listened to the family. "Fatima is not with us because the protocols were not followed, because the institutions did not give the attention they should have," Lopez said, her voice breaking with emotion as she spoke to reporters. "We will not forget her." Also Read: Murders in Mexico hit record as Lopez Obrador seeks justice system reform Lopez said precious hours were wasted after Aldrighett was reported missing. She also said social services had not heeded calls to help the girl's mother, who has health problems, support her daughter. Mexico City's attorney general and mayor promised justice and offered a $107,000 reward for information. The attorney general, Ernestina Godoy Ramos, said she would review the office's handling of the case. "The full institution has been activated for the investigation," she told reporters. Asked about the girl's death, Lopez Obrador said he was sure authorities would catch the perpetrators, but said punishment alone was not the solution. [ People protest outside the school of seven-year old Fatima Cecilia Aldrighett, who went missing on February 11 and whose body was discovered last weekend inside a plastic garbage bag, in Mexico City (Courtesy: Reuters) ] The bigger challenge, he said, was to purify Mexican society, which he said had "fallen into decline, a progressive degradation that has to do with the neoliberal model." Lopez Obrador regularly blames problems such as corruption, poverty and violence on policies implemented during the era of pro-market policies such as economic liberalization starting in the 1980s. Family members and parents protested on Monday outside Aldrighett's home and her school, where she was seen leaving accompanied by an adult woman last week. #JuticiaParaFatima, or Justice for Fatima, was tweeted 179,000 times and her name was a top global trend. Footage on Twitter showed residents of the girl's neighbourhood pushing and shouting as they held signs demanding justice. The girl's grandfather, Guillermo Anton Godinez, standing outside the family's modest home, said Lopez Obrador could not blame only his predecessors for Mexico's problems. [ Man looks on next to white balloons and flowers at the site where the body of seven-year old Fatima Cecilia Aldrighett was discovered over the weekend inside a plastic garbage bag (Courtesy: Reuters) ] "Now he is in charge, he is president... He should show us he is different." Social media users noted other countries with free-market economies do not suffer the levels of gender violence seen in Mexico. Women on Friday daubed the words "femicide state" in blood-red on the door of Mexico's National Palace and demanded justice for 25-year-old Ingrid Escamilla, whose killer skinned her body last week. Lopez Obrador on Monday asked the protesters not to paint the palace, saying his government was working to end the murder of women. Approximately 10 women a day are killed in Mexico and the year 2019, the first of Lopez Obrador's government, set an overall homicide record, according to official data. Victims of femicide increased by 10 per cent in 2019 to over 1,000.

Government accused by Mexican family for daughter's murder in Mexico City

Mexican demonstrators splash presidential palace red in protest over murder of women

Hundreds of women protested in the doors of Mexican newspapers outraged for the publication of graphic photos of the murder and dismemberment of 25-year-old Ingrid Escamilla. The young women also threw red paint against the main door of the National Palace.

Mexico killing sparks fury over violence against women

Conservationists in Mexico returned seven turtles back to the wild on Sunday (February 9), following their recovery from a deadly Red Tide that swept through Mexico's Oaxacan coastline.

Mexico releases Oaxaca turtles back to the wild after deady red tide

The unusual museum is located inside the office of the Ministry of National Defense in Mexico City. Watch this story for more information.

Your Story: Top secret Museum, not open for public?

The unusual museum is located inside the office of the Ministry of National Defense in Mexico City.

Inside Mexico's Secret Drug Museum

The US President Donald Trump has formally signed a new trade pact with Mexico and Canada bringing his campaign promise to replace the three countries exiting deal closure to reality.

Deal signed amid Trump's Impeachment

Mexico's at-risk bees have found a new oasis in the southern state of Oaxaca. Threatened by pesticides, intensive agriculture and the effects of climate change, a sanctuary of sunflowers set up by local farmers could be a literal lifesaver for the black and gold insects.

Sunflower sanctuary, hope for bees in southern Mexico

More than 500 pieces of textile art were joined together on Mexico City's iconic Zocalo Square on Sunday (January 26) in a collective artwork that seeks to draw attention to the violence that organizers say women and children face in their daily lives in Mexico and around the world.

Collective quilt art seeks to combat violence and misogyny in Mexico

Mexican troops used tear gas to detain 800 migrants who surged into <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/the-vatican-must-probe-cover-up-of-child-sexual-abuse-275752">Mexico</a> Thursday after wading across a river on the country's southern border with Guatemala.&nbsp;

National Guard forces in the southern state of Chiapas prevented them from continuing their journey by forming a human fence along a road, as panic erupted among some of the migrants.&nbsp;

The Central Americans, who were trekking on foot towards the city of Ciudad Hidalgo, were intercepted by troops who used tear gas and scuffled with the migrants to halt their progress, an AFP journalist at the scene reported.&nbsp;

<img alt="Central American migrants" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2dc9f225-d02d-47be-b584-04be81ed1234" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%2876%29_0.jpg" />

The Interior Ministry later said 800 migrants of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/shock-investment-urged-to-stem-flow-of-central-american-migrants-245236">Central American</a> origin were "rescued" after crossing the border at the Suchiate River.

Following their detention, the migrants were taken to buses run by the National Migration Institute, the agency that will determine their official immigration status and manage deportations.

Officials said that they were still looking for another 200 migrants who managed to avoid detention.&nbsp;

Thousands of Central Americans have crossed Mexico toward the United States in caravans in recent years, fleeing chronic poverty and brutal gang violence in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras.

The so-called "2020 Caravan" left Honduras on January 14, gathering an estimated 3,500 people as it made its way across Guatemala. The bulk of the caravan crossed into Mexico at the weekend.

Mexican National Guard troops also fired tear gas on Monday to force back migrants attempting to enter the country, leading to scenes of chaos as huge crowds of people flailed across the Suchiate River.&nbsp;

<img alt="Central America migrants" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="4126b09d-00b2-458c-b5a8-ed76ccb6eccb" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%2875%29.jpg" />

About 500 were able to enter the country illegally, though more than 400 of them were later arrested at a roadblock.&nbsp;

The Interior Ministry said it deported 460 Hondurans via official planes and buses following Monday's clashes.

"We want to speak with President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/mexico-is-bleeding-can-its-new-president-stop-the-violence-193818">Lopez Obrador</a> directly," read one long cloth banner held up as the migrants walked Thursday.

Others waved flags from their countries, as well as a giant US banner.

"We are coming peacefully," some of the migrants shouted.&nbsp;

Others distributed apparently unofficial forms requesting refuge in Mexico.

Mexico's migration authority said the country was ready to welcome foreigners as long as they entered the country in a manner that was "lawful, safe and orderly."

Officials have begun implementing a government plan to offer jobs and shelter to migrants to encourage them to stay in southern Mexico.

However, most want to be allowed to move freely through Mexico to the US border, citing their intention to seek asylum in the United States to escape poverty and gang violence in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras.

Mexican President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/mexico-accuses-bolivia-of-intimidating-its-diplomats-in-la-paz-269871">Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador</a>, an anti-establishment leftist who came to office vowing to protect migrants' rights, said 4,000 jobs were available to migrants from the new caravan if they remain in southern Mexico.

Mexico faces pressure to keep migrants from crossing its northern border from US President Donald Trump, who last year threatened to impose steep tariffs if the country did not do more to stop a surge of undocumented Central Americans.&nbsp;

Lopez Obrador deployed some 26,000 troops to the country's borders in response.&nbsp;

Mexican troops used tear gas to detain 800 migrants who surged into Mexico Thursday after wading across a river on the country's southern border with Guatemala. National Guard forces in the southern state of Chiapas prevented them from continuing their journey by forming a human fence along a road, as panic erupted among some of the migrants.

Mexican troops used tear gas to detain 800 migrants who surged into Mexico Thursday after wading across a river on the country's southern border with Guatemala. National Guard forces in the southern state of Chiapas prevented them from continuing their journey by forming a human fence along a road, as panic erupted among some of the migrants. The Central Americans, who were trekking on foot towards the city of Ciudad Hidalgo, were intercepted by troops who used tear gas and scuffled with the migrants to halt their progress, an AFP journalist at the scene reported. The Interior Ministry later said 800 migrants of Central American origin were "rescued" after crossing the border at the Suchiate River. Following their detention, the migrants were taken to buses run by the National Migration Institute, the agency that will determine their official immigration status and manage deportations. Officials said that they were still looking for another 200 migrants who managed to avoid detention. Thousands of Central Americans have crossed Mexico toward the United States in caravans in recent years, fleeing chronic poverty and brutal gang violence in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras. The so-called "2020 Caravan" left Honduras on January 14, gathering an estimated 3,500 people as it made its way across Guatemala. The bulk of the caravan crossed into Mexico at the weekend. Mexican National Guard troops also fired tear gas on Monday to force back migrants attempting to enter the country, leading to scenes of chaos as huge crowds of people flailed across the Suchiate River. About 500 were able to enter the country illegally, though more than 400 of them were later arrested at a roadblock. The Interior Ministry said it deported 460 Hondurans via official planes and buses following Monday's clashes. "We want to speak with President Lopez Obrador directly," read one long cloth banner held up as the migrants walked Thursday. Others waved flags from their countries, as well as a giant US banner. "We are coming peacefully," some of the migrants shouted. Others distributed apparently unofficial forms requesting refuge in Mexico. Mexico's migration authority said the country was ready to welcome foreigners as long as they entered the country in a manner that was "lawful, safe and orderly." Officials have begun implementing a government plan to offer jobs and shelter to migrants to encourage them to stay in southern Mexico. However, most want to be allowed to move freely through Mexico to the US border, citing their intention to seek asylum in the United States to escape poverty and gang violence in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras. Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, an anti-establishment leftist who came to office vowing to protect migrants' rights, said 4,000 jobs were available to migrants from the new caravan if they remain in southern Mexico. Mexico faces pressure to keep migrants from crossing its northern border from US President Donald Trump, who last year threatened to impose steep tariffs if the country did not do more to stop a surge of undocumented Central Americans. Lopez Obrador deployed some 26,000 troops to the country's borders in response.

Mexico detains 800 Central American migrants headed to United States

US President Donald Trump will sign the new North American trade pact with Mexico and Canada next week, a White House official said Thursday.

The USMCA, the fruit of years of negotiation between the three key trading partners, is billed as an update to the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement, which Trump had long thrashed as a job killer and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/mexican-businesses-want-clarity-on-details-of-usmca-trade-deal-267698">threatened to scrap outright</a>.

<img alt="NAFTA" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a3349387-d5f0-41e7-9ba0-c19f18aa21ad" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%2885%29_1.jpg" /> 
[Flags of all three nations involved in the agreement&nbsp;(Courtesy: Reuters) ]

The US Senate approved the pact last week and White House officials said Trump will sign it Wednesday. The earlier NAFTA created a vast free-trade zone across North America, leading to radical shifts in the makeup of industries in the three countries and vastly increasing cross-border exchanges in goods, services and people.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/usmca-united-states-mexico-and-canada-finalize-new-trade-agreement-267552">United States, Mexico, Canada sign deal finalizing USMCA trade pact</a>

While the agreement produced winners and losers in some areas, economists say overall it increased growth and raised the standard of living in North America. The new deal changes content rules on auto manufacturing and requires higher salaries for some Mexican auto workers.

It also makes changes to e-commerce, intellectual property protection and dispute settlement for investors, as well as tougher labour provisions that require reforms to Mexico's labour laws. Mexico ratified the new agreement December 10, and Canada is expected to follow suit in coming weeks.

US President Donald Trump will sign the new North American trade pact with Mexico and Canada next week, a White House official said Thursday. The USMCA, the fruit of years of negotiation between the three key trading partners, is billed as an update to the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement, which Trump had long thrashed as a job killer and threatened to scrap outright.

US President Donald Trump will sign the new North American trade pact with Mexico and Canada next week, a White House official said Thursday. The USMCA, the fruit of years of negotiation between the three key trading partners, is billed as an update to the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement, which Trump had long thrashed as a job killer and threatened to scrap outright. [Flags of all three nations involved in the agreement (Courtesy: Reuters) ] The US Senate approved the pact last week and White House officials said Trump will sign it Wednesday. The earlier NAFTA created a vast free-trade zone across North America, leading to radical shifts in the makeup of industries in the three countries and vastly increasing cross-border exchanges in goods, services and people. Also Read: United States, Mexico, Canada sign deal finalizing USMCA trade pact While the agreement produced winners and losers in some areas, economists say overall it increased growth and raised the standard of living in North America. The new deal changes content rules on auto manufacturing and requires higher salaries for some Mexican auto workers. It also makes changes to e-commerce, intellectual property protection and dispute settlement for investors, as well as tougher labour provisions that require reforms to Mexico's labour laws. Mexico ratified the new agreement December 10, and Canada is expected to follow suit in coming weeks.

Donald Trump to sign trade accord with Mexico, Canada next week

Immigration officials and National Guard officers on January 20 rounded up dozens of migrants who crossed the border from Guatemala to Mexico, in a new challenge for President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador's efforts to contain migration at the bidding of the United States. The mostly Honduran migrants appeared to grow impatient on the bridge over the Suchiate River that connects the two countries after some were denied permission to cross by assembled Mexican migration officials.

Migrants scuffle with Mexican troops while trying to cross river into Mexico

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/mexico-warns-will-not-allow-us-military-operations-against-cartels-265319">Mexico</a>&nbsp;suffered its worst year for homicides in 2019, with a&nbsp;record&nbsp;34,582 victims, official data showed on Monday, underscoring the challenge President Andres Manuel&nbsp;Lopez&nbsp;Obrador&nbsp;faces while waging war on drug cartels.

Lopez&nbsp;Obrador&nbsp;assumed the presidency in December 2018 pledging to pacify the country with a less confrontational approach to security, but violence has continued rising, with the number of homicide victims 2.5 per cent&nbsp;higher in 2019 than a year earlier, according to the security ministry data.

<img alt="Mexico Police " data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="5d443d6b-7f0c-4413-bc9b-9a98c20247a9" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%2829%29_3.jpg" />

Separate security ministry figures using an older methodology that refers to the number of homicide investigations showed an increase to 29,401 last year from 29,100 in 2018.

Mexico&nbsp;has used its military in a war on drug cartels since late 2006. But, despite the arrest or killing of leading capos, the campaign has not succeeded in reducing drug violence and has led to more killings as criminal groups fight among themselves.

To tackle the problem, Mexican officials last week presented lawmakers a proposal to overhaul the criminal&nbsp;justice&nbsp;system, paving the way for the Senate to take up the plan next month that could ease security cooperation with the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/united-states-china-trade-deal-may-not-be-signed-this-year-263497">United States</a>.

Concern has grown over the president's strategy, which he says still needs time, after two major crises in recent months.

Critics blasted the government as weak in October when it ordered security forces to release the captured son of convicted kingpin Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman under pressure from marauding cartel henchmen in the northern city of Culiacan.

Then, in early November, three mothers and six children were massacred by suspected cartel gunmen in northern&nbsp;Mexico, sparking outrage and revulsion at home and abroad.

According to a draft of the criminal&nbsp;justice&nbsp;reform&nbsp;reviewed by Reuters, the plan would allow private communications to be used as evidence and limit legal challenges to avoid extradition delays for criminal suspects, many of whom are US.-bound.

Mexican Attorney General Alejandro Gertz told senators the plan would attack entrenched corruption and impunity as well as the roots of criminal activity.

Mexico suffered its worst year for homicides in 2019, with a record 34,582 victims, official data showed on Monday, underscoring the challenge President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador faces while waging war on drug cartels.

Mexico suffered its worst year for homicides in 2019, with a record 34,582 victims, official data showed on Monday, underscoring the challenge President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador faces while waging war on drug cartels. Lopez Obrador assumed the presidency in December 2018 pledging to pacify the country with a less confrontational approach to security, but violence has continued rising, with the number of homicide victims 2.5 per cent higher in 2019 than a year earlier, according to the security ministry data. Separate security ministry figures using an older methodology that refers to the number of homicide investigations showed an increase to 29,401 last year from 29,100 in 2018. Mexico has used its military in a war on drug cartels since late 2006. But, despite the arrest or killing of leading capos, the campaign has not succeeded in reducing drug violence and has led to more killings as criminal groups fight among themselves. To tackle the problem, Mexican officials last week presented lawmakers a proposal to overhaul the criminal justice system, paving the way for the Senate to take up the plan next month that could ease security cooperation with the United States. Concern has grown over the president's strategy, which he says still needs time, after two major crises in recent months. Critics blasted the government as weak in October when it ordered security forces to release the captured son of convicted kingpin Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman under pressure from marauding cartel henchmen in the northern city of Culiacan. Then, in early November, three mothers and six children were massacred by suspected cartel gunmen in northern Mexico, sparking outrage and revulsion at home and abroad. According to a draft of the criminal justice reform reviewed by Reuters, the plan would allow private communications to be used as evidence and limit legal challenges to avoid extradition delays for criminal suspects, many of whom are US.-bound. Mexican Attorney General Alejandro Gertz told senators the plan would attack entrenched corruption and impunity as well as the roots of criminal activity.

Murders in Mexico hit record as Lopez Obrador seeks justice system reform

Central American migrants entered Mexico from Guatemala in small groups on Saturday after brief clashes earlier in the day when dozens of people tried to force their way across the border and were pushed back by Mexican security forces.President Donald Trump has threatened to hurt Mexico and Central American countries economically if they allow <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/mexican-troops-block-us-bound-caravan-travelers-275151">large groups</a> to reach the US&nbsp;border. The latest exodus from Honduras has been accompanied by US&nbsp;border agents.

<img alt="Closed border" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="dc668e25-1fc6-48c7-9e5f-72757fc1b663" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design_46.jpg" /> 
[ Closed points of entry at the Mexican border cause great distress (Courtesy: Reuters) ]

Mexican security officials closed the border at the crossing between Tecun Uman, Guatemala and Ciudad Hidalgo, Mexico, after the morning scuffles. But once order was restored, Mexico began letting in groups of around 20 at a time.

Mexico has offered migrants work in the south, but those who do not accept it or seek asylum <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/at-the-us-mexican-border-migrants-give-up-hope-of-crossing-269434">will not be issued safe conduct</a> passes to the United States, the interior ministry said.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-migrant-policy-sends-thousands-of-children-including-hundreds-of-babies-back-to-mexico-255315">US migrant policy sends thousands of children including hundreds of babies back to Mexico</a>

<img alt="Crowd of migrants gather at the border" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="cc8f451b-02e1-4f94-8e01-0d19c5014f8c" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%281%29_53.jpg" /> 
[Migrants at the Guatemala-Mexico&nbsp;border seeking asylum (Courtesy: Reuters) ]

Guatemalan authorities say some 4,000 people have entered the country since Wednesday, the biggest surge since Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador signed accords with the United States that increase pressure on them to deal with migrants.

Many of the migrants are seeking to escape poverty, violence or other social problems in Central America. However, while a few have expressed an interest in staying in Mexico, most are eager to take their chances in the United States.

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has launched a series of initiatives to create jobs in the poorer south. Still, under his rule, Mexico's economy has significantly under-performed the United States, stagnating through 2019.

Television footage from the morning showed a group of migrants jostling and clashing with members of Mexico's National Guard on the bridge separating Guatemala from Mexico.

Women carrying small children could be seen at the front of the group on the bridge. Guatemala's government later issued a statement saying some people were using children to try to secure entry and offered to repatriate migrants who failed.

Mexican officials have so far controlled the situation more successfully than when a large caravan sought to force its way through at the same crossing in October 2018.

After being kept out, most migrants withdrew to Tecun Uman to await the arrival of the main caravan behind them. About 400 of the migrants who entered Guatemala this week have been sent home, its government said.

Central American migrants entered Mexico from Guatemala in small groups on Saturday after brief clashes earlier in the day when dozens of people tried to force their way across the border and were pushed back by Mexican security forces.

Central American migrants entered Mexico from Guatemala in small groups on Saturday after brief clashes earlier in the day when dozens of people tried to force their way across the border and were pushed back by Mexican security forces.President Donald Trump has threatened to hurt Mexico and Central American countries economically if they allow large groups to reach the US border. The latest exodus from Honduras has been accompanied by US border agents. [ Closed points of entry at the Mexican border cause great distress (Courtesy: Reuters) ] Mexican security officials closed the border at the crossing between Tecun Uman, Guatemala and Ciudad Hidalgo, Mexico, after the morning scuffles. But once order was restored, Mexico began letting in groups of around 20 at a time. Mexico has offered migrants work in the south, but those who do not accept it or seek asylum will not be issued safe conduct passes to the United States, the interior ministry said. Also Read: US migrant policy sends thousands of children including hundreds of babies back to Mexico [Migrants at the Guatemala-Mexico border seeking asylum (Courtesy: Reuters) ] Guatemalan authorities say some 4,000 people have entered the country since Wednesday, the biggest surge since Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador signed accords with the United States that increase pressure on them to deal with migrants. Many of the migrants are seeking to escape poverty, violence or other social problems in Central America. However, while a few have expressed an interest in staying in Mexico, most are eager to take their chances in the United States. Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has launched a series of initiatives to create jobs in the poorer south. Still, under his rule, Mexico's economy has significantly under-performed the United States, stagnating through 2019. Television footage from the morning showed a group of migrants jostling and clashing with members of Mexico's National Guard on the bridge separating Guatemala from Mexico. Women carrying small children could be seen at the front of the group on the bridge. Guatemala's government later issued a statement saying some people were using children to try to secure entry and offered to repatriate migrants who failed. Mexican officials have so far controlled the situation more successfully than when a large caravan sought to force its way through at the same crossing in October 2018. After being kept out, most migrants withdrew to Tecun Uman to await the arrival of the main caravan behind them. About 400 of the migrants who entered Guatemala this week have been sent home, its government said.

Migrants enter slowly at Guatemala-Mexico border after scuffles

Mexican troops blocked some 1,500 Central American migrants from entering the country from Guatemala, scuffling with them and thwarting their hoped-for trek to the US and a better life.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-deports-mexicans-far-from-border-may-send-others-to-guatemala-269267">US deports Mexicans far from border, may send others to Guatemala</a>

One National Guard soldier standing guard at a bridge that is a major crossing point and speaking over a bullhorn told the travellers they could not enter without a visa or migration document, and that sneaking in was dangerous.

"Do not expose yourself to people traffickers. Your life is in danger," said this agent, who also told them the idea that the United States will grant them asylum is false.

Most of the migrants left last Tuesday from Honduras and had arrived Saturday morning at the bridge over the Suchiate River, which forms the border between Guatemala and Mexico to the north.

Some of the migrants insisted on getting in but others in groups of 20 or so turned around and headed back to migration holding facilities on the Guatemalan side of the frontier.

Watch:&nbsp;More than 60,000 people are missing amid Mexico's drug war

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/more-than-60000-people-are-missing-amid-mexicos-drug-war-272711/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo">Mexico had beefed up its forces at the border crossing as it anticipated the arrival of a caravan of some 3,000 people mainly from Honduras and El Salvador.</div>

On Friday, Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador offered 4,000 jobs to members of the caravan in an attempt to dissuade them from travelling on to the United States.

Mexico has come under pressure from US President Donald Trump to slow a surge of undocumented migrants who arrived at the US-Mexican border last year.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/honduran-migrants-prepare-new-us-bound-caravan-274465">Honduran migrants prepare new US-bound caravan</a>

Trump threatened in May to impose tariffs on Mexico if the government did not do more to stop them.

Cornered, Lopez Obrador's administration deployed 27,000 National Guardsmen to tighten its borders.

He has also allowed the United States to send more than 40,000 asylum-seekers back to Mexico while their cases are processed, under the so-called "Remain in Mexico" policy.

Human Rights Watch accused Mexico Tuesday of violating migrants' rights by failing to guarantee the security of those returned by the United States and detaining others in "inhumane conditions."

Tens of thousands of Central American migrants crossed Mexico toward the US last year in large caravans, fleeing chronic poverty and brutal gang violence and seeking safety in numbers from the dangers of the journey.

That prompted Trump to warn of an "invasion" and deploy nearly 6,000 US troops to the border.

Mexican troops blocked some 1,500 Central American migrants from entering the country from Guatemala, scuffling with them and thwarting their hoped-for trek to the US and a better life.

Mexican troops blocked some 1,500 Central American migrants from entering the country from Guatemala, scuffling with them and thwarting their hoped-for trek to the US and a better life. Also read: US deports Mexicans far from border, may send others to Guatemala One National Guard soldier standing guard at a bridge that is a major crossing point and speaking over a bullhorn told the travellers they could not enter without a visa or migration document, and that sneaking in was dangerous. "Do not expose yourself to people traffickers. Your life is in danger," said this agent, who also told them the idea that the United States will grant them asylum is false. Most of the migrants left last Tuesday from Honduras and had arrived Saturday morning at the bridge over the Suchiate River, which forms the border between Guatemala and Mexico to the north. Some of the migrants insisted on getting in but others in groups of 20 or so turned around and headed back to migration holding facilities on the Guatemalan side of the frontier. Watch: More than 60,000 people are missing amid Mexico's drug war Mexico had beefed up its forces at the border crossing as it anticipated the arrival of a caravan of some 3,000 people mainly from Honduras and El Salvador. On Friday, Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador offered 4,000 jobs to members of the caravan in an attempt to dissuade them from travelling on to the United States. Mexico has come under pressure from US President Donald Trump to slow a surge of undocumented migrants who arrived at the US-Mexican border last year. Also read: Honduran migrants prepare new US-bound caravan Trump threatened in May to impose tariffs on Mexico if the government did not do more to stop them. Cornered, Lopez Obrador's administration deployed 27,000 National Guardsmen to tighten its borders. He has also allowed the United States to send more than 40,000 asylum-seekers back to Mexico while their cases are processed, under the so-called "Remain in Mexico" policy. Human Rights Watch accused Mexico Tuesday of violating migrants' rights by failing to guarantee the security of those returned by the United States and detaining others in "inhumane conditions." Tens of thousands of Central American migrants crossed Mexico toward the US last year in large caravans, fleeing chronic poverty and brutal gang violence and seeking safety in numbers from the dangers of the journey. That prompted Trump to warn of an "invasion" and deploy nearly 6,000 US troops to the border.

Mexican troops block US-bound caravan travellers

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/mexico-and-pemex-facing-downgrading-risks-in-2020-as-economic-growth-halts-271933">Mexican government</a> on Monday revised upward by as much as 50 per cent&nbsp;the number of citizens classified as missing to more than 61,000, the vast majority of them victims of the country's grinding war with powerful drug gangs that have grown more violent.

The new figure from the one-year-old administration of leftist President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador compares to about 40,000 missing cited by the government as recently as June.

"The official data of missing persons is 61,637," Karla Quintana, head of the National Registry of Missing or Missing Persons (RNPED), told a news conference. She said 25.7 per cent&nbsp;of them were women.

<img alt="Moscow" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="bbeeee61-bceb-441b-836a-1edb1bedf1ac" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%2814%29_2.jpg" /> 
Image: Members of the Mexican National Guard stand guard as they keep watch outside the prison after sixteen inmates were killed and five were wounded in a prison fight at the Regional Center for Social Reintegration in the town of Cieneguillas, located on the western flank of state capital Zacatecas,&nbsp;Mexico&nbsp;December 31, 2019 | Reuters

More than 97.4 per cent&nbsp;of the total have gone missing since 2006, when then-President Felipe Calderon sent the army to the streets to fight drug traffickers, fragmenting the cartels, which made combating them more difficult.

President&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-administration-begins-formal-exit-from-paris-climate-pact-259963">Donald&nbsp;Trump</a>&nbsp;offered&nbsp; to help&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/mexico-accuses-bolivia-of-intimidating-its-diplomats-in-la-paz-269871">Mexico</a>&nbsp;hunt the killers of nine Mormon women and children shot dead in a lawless border area&nbsp;and said the United States stood ready to back its southern neighbour in a "war"&nbsp;on&nbsp;the drug&nbsp;cartels.

Gunmen ambushed the members of the LeBaron family,&nbsp;a large clan of&nbsp;Mormons&nbsp;who emigrated to&nbsp;Mexico&nbsp;in the late 19th century,&nbsp;on&nbsp;a rural road Monday between the states of Sonora and Chihuahua, which border the United States.

<img alt="Mexico" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="84775359-5788-4f50-ad82-3664d8f1d5b3" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%2815%29_7.jpg" /> 
Image: Police officers stand atop a vehicle as they keep watch outside the prison after sixteen inmates were killed and five were wounded in a prison fight at the Regional Center for Social Reintegration in the town of Cieneguillas, located on the western flank of state capital Zacatecas,&nbsp;Mexico&nbsp;December 31, 2019 | Reuters

Earlier, The United States announced that it&nbsp;will expand the scope of a program that returns non-Mexican migrants crossing Mexico's border to that country to await their US&nbsp;court hearings, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/immigration-hawk-promoted-to-us-homeland-security-acting-deputy-262013">Department of Homeland Security</a>.

Washington already has sent more than 56,000 migrants to Mexico under the programme, known as the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP). The majority have been Central Americans applying for US asylum.

The Mexican government on Monday revised upward by as much as 50 per cent the number of citizens classified as missing to more than 61,000, the vast majority of them victims of the country's grinding war with powerful drug gangs that have grown more violent.

The Mexican government on Monday revised upward by as much as 50 per cent the number of citizens classified as missing to more than 61,000, the vast majority of them victims of the country's grinding war with powerful drug gangs that have grown more violent. The new figure from the one-year-old administration of leftist President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador compares to about 40,000 missing cited by the government as recently as June. "The official data of missing persons is 61,637," Karla Quintana, head of the National Registry of Missing or Missing Persons (RNPED), told a news conference. She said 25.7 per cent of them were women. Image: Members of the Mexican National Guard stand guard as they keep watch outside the prison after sixteen inmates were killed and five were wounded in a prison fight at the Regional Center for Social Reintegration in the town of Cieneguillas, located on the western flank of state capital Zacatecas, Mexico December 31, 2019 | Reuters More than 97.4 per cent of the total have gone missing since 2006, when then-President Felipe Calderon sent the army to the streets to fight drug traffickers, fragmenting the cartels, which made combating them more difficult. President Donald Trump offered to help Mexico hunt the killers of nine Mormon women and children shot dead in a lawless border area and said the United States stood ready to back its southern neighbour in a "war" on the drug cartels. Gunmen ambushed the members of the LeBaron family, a large clan of Mormons who emigrated to Mexico in the late 19th century, on a rural road Monday between the states of Sonora and Chihuahua, which border the United States. Image: Police officers stand atop a vehicle as they keep watch outside the prison after sixteen inmates were killed and five were wounded in a prison fight at the Regional Center for Social Reintegration in the town of Cieneguillas, located on the western flank of state capital Zacatecas, Mexico December 31, 2019 | Reuters Earlier, The United States announced that it will expand the scope of a program that returns non-Mexican migrants crossing Mexico's border to that country to await their US court hearings, the Department of Homeland Security. Washington already has sent more than 56,000 migrants to Mexico under the programme, known as the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP). The majority have been Central Americans applying for US asylum.

Mexican drug war: More than 61,000 classified as missing

More than 60,000 people have disappeared in Mexico since the start of the country's war on drugs in 1964. #Mexico #MexicoDrugwar

More than 60,000 people are missing amid Mexico's drug war

The United States will expand the scope of a program that returns non-Mexican migrants crossing Mexico's border to that country to await their US&nbsp;court hearings, the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/immigration-hawk-promoted-to-us-homeland-security-acting-deputy-262013">Department of Homeland Security</a> said on Thursday.

Washington already has sent more than 56,000 migrants to Mexico under the program, known as the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP). The majority have been Central Americans applying for US asylum.

The effort — which had been implemented over the past year at ports of entry in Texas and California — will be applied at a port of entry south of Tucson, Ariz. Previously, migrants encountered in that area had been sent to El Paso, Texas, to process their return to Mexico.

US&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/kim-a-man-of-his-word-on-denuclearization-donald-trump-271377">President Donald Trump</a> has made immigration enforcement a major focus of his first term in office and has continued to press the issue in the run-up to the 2020 presidential election.

Acting DHS Secretary Chad Wolf said in a written statement on Thursday that the MPP program has been "an extremely effective tool" for the United States.

Advocates counter that the initiative exposes migrants to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/after-cabinet-opposed-mexican-cartel-policy-trump-forged-ahead-270508">violence in Mexico</a> and restricts their ability to seek protection in the United States. The US&nbsp;consulate in Mexico’s border city of Nuevo Laredo issued a security alert on Wednesday, warning against gun battles and urging government employees to take precautions.

Mexico’s asylum agency, known as COMAR, said on Wednesday that it had received 66,915 applications for asylum in 2019, up nearly 126 per cent&nbsp;from the previous year.

The agency has struggled to process the crush of applications with limited resources. COMAR received 20 million pesos ($1.05 million) in funding from the Mexican government in 2019, the lowest sum in seven years.

In December, US&nbsp;border authorities expanded a separate program to process asylum cases rapidly to the Rio Grande Valley in Texas, according to CBS News. The programme, known as Prompt Asylum Claim Review (PACR), had been launched months earlier as a pilot in the El Paso area.

US&nbsp;authorities have not specified the criteria to place migrants in a growing array of border programs, which include MPP, PACR and another initiative that sends asylum seekers from Honduras and El Salvador to request protection in Guatemala.

Rodney Scott, acting deputy chief of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/french-citizen-dead-in-us-custody-ice-271529">US&nbsp;Border Patrol</a>, told reporters in December that the factors "change on a daily basis" but are determined in coordination with the receiving countries.

The United States will expand the scope of a program that returns non-Mexican migrants crossing Mexico's border to that country to await their US court hearings, the Department of Homeland Security said on Thursday.

The United States will expand the scope of a program that returns non-Mexican migrants crossing Mexico's border to that country to await their US court hearings, the Department of Homeland Security said on Thursday. Washington already has sent more than 56,000 migrants to Mexico under the program, known as the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP). The majority have been Central Americans applying for US asylum. The effort — which had been implemented over the past year at ports of entry in Texas and California — will be applied at a port of entry south of Tucson, Ariz. Previously, migrants encountered in that area had been sent to El Paso, Texas, to process their return to Mexico. US President Donald Trump has made immigration enforcement a major focus of his first term in office and has continued to press the issue in the run-up to the 2020 presidential election. Acting DHS Secretary Chad Wolf said in a written statement on Thursday that the MPP program has been "an extremely effective tool" for the United States. Advocates counter that the initiative exposes migrants to violence in Mexico and restricts their ability to seek protection in the United States. The US consulate in Mexico’s border city of Nuevo Laredo issued a security alert on Wednesday, warning against gun battles and urging government employees to take precautions. Mexico’s asylum agency, known as COMAR, said on Wednesday that it had received 66,915 applications for asylum in 2019, up nearly 126 per cent from the previous year. The agency has struggled to process the crush of applications with limited resources. COMAR received 20 million pesos ($1.05 million) in funding from the Mexican government in 2019, the lowest sum in seven years. In December, US border authorities expanded a separate program to process asylum cases rapidly to the Rio Grande Valley in Texas, according to CBS News. The programme, known as Prompt Asylum Claim Review (PACR), had been launched months earlier as a pilot in the El Paso area. US authorities have not specified the criteria to place migrants in a growing array of border programs, which include MPP, PACR and another initiative that sends asylum seekers from Honduras and El Salvador to request protection in Guatemala. Rodney Scott, acting deputy chief of the US Border Patrol, told reporters in December that the factors "change on a daily basis" but are determined in coordination with the receiving countries.

US to expand scope of program to return migrants to Mexico: Department of Homeland Security

As&nbsp;Mexico threw troubled state oil company <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hackers-demand-5-million-from-mexicos-pemex-in-cyberattack-261778">Pemex</a> a lifeline in 2019 to stop $80 billion in bonds the&nbsp;investors began to worry that the state itself is a risk for Pemex bonds which is&nbsp;held by investors worldwide being labelled as junk by major credit rating agencies.

Mexico's creditworthiness came under increasing scrutiny in 2019, with two rating agencies flipping their sovereign outlook for the country to negative and one downgrading its rating.

Economic growth has ground to a halt during Mexico's first year under leftist President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/mexico-accuses-bolivia-of-intimidating-its-diplomats-in-la-paz-269871">Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador</a>, hitting income and sales tax receipts. Meanwhile, a fall in oil output has cut Pemex's tax payout to the federal government.

The fates of Mexico and Pemex are intertwined,&nbsp;a Mexico downgrade would almost certainly trigger one for Pemex.

"The base case is Moody's downgrades the sovereign by one notch in Q2 2020 because of the need to continue to bail out Pemex as well as an erosion of savings used to meet fiscal targets," said Aaron Gifford, an analyst at asset manager T. Rowe Price, one of the largest holders of Pemex bonds.

"That would probably lead to an automatic one-notch downgrade of Pemex as well into junk territory."

Pemex is a major contributor to the budget and has long borrowed on bond markets to meet its tax obligations. In turn, the government has acted as an implicit guarantor for the company.

Rating agencies say Pemex's needs and uncertainty over Lopez Obrador's decision-making have hurt investor confidence - even as his spending cuts have helped improve market perceptions of the risk of a Mexican sovereign default.

Rating agencies referred to their latest reports when asked for comment. <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/after-cabinet-opposed-mexican-cartel-policy-trump-forged-ahead-270508">Lopez Obrador</a> has said that while he respects the opinion of rating agencies, he feels "they weren't professional, they weren't objective."

Lopez Obrador has also eased Pemex's huge debt burden, providing $9.5 billion in support via capital injections, tax breaks and debt refinancing - in effect, transferring some of the company's risk to the federal government.

But a Mexico downgrade could drive up borrowing costs and trigger a fire sale of Pemex bonds.

Moody's and Standard &amp; Poor's have Mexico's debt on negative outlook, implying a greater than one-in-three downgrade risk in the coming year. Fitch downgraded Mexico in June and labelled Pemex's $80 billion worth of dollar-denominated bonds junk.

Moody's rates the company's bonds one notch above junk. All three major agencies have Pemex's bonds on negative outlook, and&nbsp;if two of them classify them as junk, many institutional investors would have to sell.

Rating agencies and bond investors have criticized the nationalist energy agenda of Lopez Obrador, who inherited Pemex with $105.8 billion in financial debt. By end-September, he had cut Pemex's financial debt to $99.6 billion.

Armando Armenta, a senior economist at AllianceBernstein, another large bondholder, said even though the government had reined in spending, the future looked uncertain. "2020 will be challenging as we expect growth - and government tax revenues - to disappoint," Armenta said.

There is also scepticism about Pemex's plans to lift output.

"They have a history of missing their production guidance," said Patti McConachie, an analyst at Columbia Threadneedle. "Over the last years, they have never guided production declines and it has been declining for over a decade."

Not everyone is downbeat.

"We have had a more fiscally disciplined Lopez Obrador than the market feared," said Omotunde Lawal, head of emerging markets corporate debt at Barings.

"The aid the government has provided to Pemex in 2019 has also been quite measured, and the government has been very effective in generating the most impact it can from the limited financial resources it had to spend on Pemex."

As Mexico threw troubled state oil company Pemex a lifeline in 2019 to stop $80 billion in bonds the investors began to worry that the state itself is a risk for Pemex bonds which is held by investors worldwide being labelled as junk by major credit rating agencies.

As Mexico threw troubled state oil company Pemex a lifeline in 2019 to stop $80 billion in bonds the investors began to worry that the state itself is a risk for Pemex bonds which is held by investors worldwide being labelled as junk by major credit rating agencies. Mexico's creditworthiness came under increasing scrutiny in 2019, with two rating agencies flipping their sovereign outlook for the country to negative and one downgrading its rating. Economic growth has ground to a halt during Mexico's first year under leftist President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, hitting income and sales tax receipts. Meanwhile, a fall in oil output has cut Pemex's tax payout to the federal government. The fates of Mexico and Pemex are intertwined, a Mexico downgrade would almost certainly trigger one for Pemex. "The base case is Moody's downgrades the sovereign by one notch in Q2 2020 because of the need to continue to bail out Pemex as well as an erosion of savings used to meet fiscal targets," said Aaron Gifford, an analyst at asset manager T. Rowe Price, one of the largest holders of Pemex bonds. "That would probably lead to an automatic one-notch downgrade of Pemex as well into junk territory." Pemex is a major contributor to the budget and has long borrowed on bond markets to meet its tax obligations. In turn, the government has acted as an implicit guarantor for the company. Rating agencies say Pemex's needs and uncertainty over Lopez Obrador's decision-making have hurt investor confidence - even as his spending cuts have helped improve market perceptions of the risk of a Mexican sovereign default. Rating agencies referred to their latest reports when asked for comment. Lopez Obrador has said that while he respects the opinion of rating agencies, he feels "they weren't professional, they weren't objective." Lopez Obrador has also eased Pemex's huge debt burden, providing $9.5 billion in support via capital injections, tax breaks and debt refinancing - in effect, transferring some of the company's risk to the federal government. But a Mexico downgrade could drive up borrowing costs and trigger a fire sale of Pemex bonds. Moody's and Standard & Poor's have Mexico's debt on negative outlook, implying a greater than one-in-three downgrade risk in the coming year. Fitch downgraded Mexico in June and labelled Pemex's $80 billion worth of dollar-denominated bonds junk. Moody's rates the company's bonds one notch above junk. All three major agencies have Pemex's bonds on negative outlook, and if two of them classify them as junk, many institutional investors would have to sell. Rating agencies and bond investors have criticized the nationalist energy agenda of Lopez Obrador, who inherited Pemex with $105.8 billion in financial debt. By end-September, he had cut Pemex's financial debt to $99.6 billion. Armando Armenta, a senior economist at AllianceBernstein, another large bondholder, said even though the government had reined in spending, the future looked uncertain. "2020 will be challenging as we expect growth - and government tax revenues - to disappoint," Armenta said. There is also scepticism about Pemex's plans to lift output. "They have a history of missing their production guidance," said Patti McConachie, an analyst at Columbia Threadneedle. "Over the last years, they have never guided production declines and it has been declining for over a decade." Not everyone is downbeat. "We have had a more fiscally disciplined Lopez Obrador than the market feared," said Omotunde Lawal, head of emerging markets corporate debt at Barings. "The aid the government has provided to Pemex in 2019 has also been quite measured, and the government has been very effective in generating the most impact it can from the limited financial resources it had to spend on Pemex."

Mexico and Pemex face downgrading risks in 2020 as economic growth halts

Sixteen inmates were killed and five were wounded in a prison fight in the northern Mexican state of Zacatecas, authorities said, in one of the worst outbreaks of violence in the country's troubled penal system since President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador took power.

The fight broke out around 2:30 pm on Tuesday afternoon at the Regional Center for Social Reintegration in the town of Cieneguillas, located on the western flank of state capital Zacatecas, the state government said in a statement issued on Tuesday evening.

An inmate was arrested with a firearm, and three more guns were found in the prison, as well as various knives.

The government has launched an investigation to determine those responsible for the fight and how the weapons entered the prison, according to the statement.

Security will be boosted at prisons in the state after the fight, the government said.

The incident marks the latest blow to the security track record of Lopez Obrador, who took power in December 2018 pledging to reduce record levels of violence. Instead, Mexico was in 2019 on track to surpass the previous year’s total of homicides, according to latest data.

Mexican prisons have long been plagued by violence. In 2017, at least 28 inmates were killed when a brutal fight broke out in a prison in the Mexican Pacific resort of Acapulco.

Sixteen inmates were killed and five were wounded in a prison fight in the northern Mexican state of Zacatecas, authorities said, in one of the worst outbreaks of violence in the country's troubled penal system since President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador took power.

Sixteen inmates were killed and five were wounded in a prison fight in the northern Mexican state of Zacatecas, authorities said, in one of the worst outbreaks of violence in the country's troubled penal system since President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador took power. The fight broke out around 2:30 pm on Tuesday afternoon at the Regional Center for Social Reintegration in the town of Cieneguillas, located on the western flank of state capital Zacatecas, the state government said in a statement issued on Tuesday evening. An inmate was arrested with a firearm, and three more guns were found in the prison, as well as various knives. The government has launched an investigation to determine those responsible for the fight and how the weapons entered the prison, according to the statement. Security will be boosted at prisons in the state after the fight, the government said. The incident marks the latest blow to the security track record of Lopez Obrador, who took power in December 2018 pledging to reduce record levels of violence. Instead, Mexico was in 2019 on track to surpass the previous year’s total of homicides, according to latest data. Mexican prisons have long been plagued by violence. In 2017, at least 28 inmates were killed when a brutal fight broke out in a prison in the Mexican Pacific resort of Acapulco.

Sixteen inmates killed in Mexican prison brawl

At least&nbsp;11&nbsp;people died and seven were injured on Sunday when a car and a van carrying&nbsp;tourists&nbsp;crashed on a highway in&nbsp;Mexico's&nbsp;southern&nbsp;Chiapas state, local prosecutors said.

"Eleven people were killed and seven more were injured," the prosecutor's office said in a statement, adding an investigation had been opened into the accident's cause.&nbsp;

According to reports from local authorities, the victims included&nbsp;tourists&nbsp;traveling in the van to San Cristobal de las Casas, one of the most visited cities in Chiapas state.

During the Christmas and New Year's holiday season, traffic is heavier on&nbsp;Mexico's roads and accidents occur more frequently.

At least 11 people died and seven were injured on Sunday when a car and a van carrying tourists crashed on a highway in Mexico's southern Chiapas state, local prosecutors said.

At least 11 people died and seven were injured on Sunday when a car and a van carrying tourists crashed on a highway in Mexico's southern Chiapas state, local prosecutors said. "Eleven people were killed and seven more were injured," the prosecutor's office said in a statement, adding an investigation had been opened into the accident's cause. According to reports from local authorities, the victims included tourists traveling in the van to San Cristobal de las Casas, one of the most visited cities in Chiapas state. During the Christmas and New Year's holiday season, traffic is heavier on Mexico's roads and accidents occur more frequently.

Tourists among 11 dead in southern Mexico road accident

Bolivia on Friday slammed its former colonial ruler Spain for allegedly "trampling" its sovereignty in a deepening diplomatic row.

The two countries have been in a spiraling spat since <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/mexico-accuses-bolivia-of-intimidating-its-diplomats-in-la-paz-269871">Mexico </a>granted asylum to Bolivian ex-president <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/bolivias-morales-arrives-in-argentina-to-get-refugee-status-268008">Evo Morales</a>, who resigned on November 10 in the face of mass protests, and granted refuge to top officials from his leftist government at its embassy.

Police on Thursday stopped the entry of vehicles carrying hooded Spanish personnel from entering the embassy in La Paz, which has become the center of a diplomatic row after the embassy sheltered some 20 officials from the former government, Foreign Minister Karen Longaric said.

She did not say if Bolivia had derailed what could have been an attempted breakout of the Bolivian officials.

"Spanish embassy diplomatic and security staff in Bolivia are not authorized to carry firearms or wear attire that conceals their identity," she said, stressing "these acts contravene diplomatic practices."

Since Spain "abused the (diplomatic) privileges it has" under the Vienna Convention, Bolivia sent a letter to the Spanish Foreign Ministry to report the "serious trampling of Bolivia's sovereignty."

The diplomatic letter would be sent to the European Union, Organization of American States and United Nations, Longaric said.

Mexico accuses Bolivia's new interim government of responding with a campaign of "harassment and intimidation" by deploying a large contingent of police and intelligence officers outside the embassy. That move, according to Mexico, violates the 1961 Vienna Convention on the protected status of diplomatic missions.

Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard has said his staff would file a complaint with the International Court of Justice in the Hague.

Since right-wing interim president Jeanine Anez took over from Morales, the Bolivian authorities have issued arrest warrants for four of the ex-officials inside the Mexican embassy, accusing them of "sedition" and "terrorism" in connection with protest violence that killed 36 people.

Bolivia has been in turmoil since Morales, who had been in power since 2006, declared he won re-election to a controversial fourth term in a vote that was marred by accusations of fraud.

Morales, Bolivia's first indigenous president, resigned after losing the army's backing and fled to Mexico, then Argentina.

Bolivia on Friday slammed its former colonial ruler Spain for allegedly "trampling" its sovereignty in a deepening diplomatic row. The two countries have been in a spiraling spat since Mexico granted asylum to Bolivian ex-president Evo Morales, who resigned on November 10 in the face of mass protests, and granted refuge to top officials from his leftist government at its embassy.

Bolivia on Friday slammed its former colonial ruler Spain for allegedly "trampling" its sovereignty in a deepening diplomatic row. The two countries have been in a spiraling spat since Mexico granted asylum to Bolivian ex-president Evo Morales, who resigned on November 10 in the face of mass protests, and granted refuge to top officials from his leftist government at its embassy. Police on Thursday stopped the entry of vehicles carrying hooded Spanish personnel from entering the embassy in La Paz, which has become the center of a diplomatic row after the embassy sheltered some 20 officials from the former government, Foreign Minister Karen Longaric said. She did not say if Bolivia had derailed what could have been an attempted breakout of the Bolivian officials. "Spanish embassy diplomatic and security staff in Bolivia are not authorized to carry firearms or wear attire that conceals their identity," she said, stressing "these acts contravene diplomatic practices." Since Spain "abused the (diplomatic) privileges it has" under the Vienna Convention, Bolivia sent a letter to the Spanish Foreign Ministry to report the "serious trampling of Bolivia's sovereignty." The diplomatic letter would be sent to the European Union, Organization of American States and United Nations, Longaric said. Mexico accuses Bolivia's new interim government of responding with a campaign of "harassment and intimidation" by deploying a large contingent of police and intelligence officers outside the embassy. That move, according to Mexico, violates the 1961 Vienna Convention on the protected status of diplomatic missions. Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard has said his staff would file a complaint with the International Court of Justice in the Hague. Since right-wing interim president Jeanine Anez took over from Morales, the Bolivian authorities have issued arrest warrants for four of the ex-officials inside the Mexican embassy, accusing them of "sedition" and "terrorism" in connection with protest violence that killed 36 people. Bolivia has been in turmoil since Morales, who had been in power since 2006, declared he won re-election to a controversial fourth term in a vote that was marred by accusations of fraud. Morales, Bolivia's first indigenous president, resigned after losing the army's backing and fled to Mexico, then Argentina.

Bolivia slams Spain's bid to use arms in diplomatic row

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