Clinton Presses Region to Recognize Honduras

MEXICO CITY — Secretary of State Hillary Clinton ended a five-day tour of Latin America Friday with a lightning trip to Guatemala, where she promised Central American presidents more help to fightdrug trafficking and repeated her call for more countries to recognize the new government of Honduras.

The new Honduran president, Porfirio Lobo, attended the meeting in Guatemala City, an appearance that signaled a step toward normalizing relations with neighbors El Salvador and Guatemala.

[Posted by Brenda Diaz]

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/06/world/americas/06clinton.html?ref=americas

Mexican authorities find tunnel at federal facility

TIJUANA — Images from a video surveillance camera led Mexican authorities to a suspected smuggling tunnel under construction in Tijuana inside a guarded federal customs facility at the Otay Mesa border crossing, authorities said yesterday.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/feb/12/tunnel-found-under-federally-guarded-area-in/

Posted by Alex Sobieski

Study: County’s immigrant Latinos have highest self-employment rate

Combined regional census and federal economic data show that in San Diego County, Latino immigrants have a higher rate of self-employment than that of nonimmigrant Latinos and even native-born U.S. citizens, according to a new report.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/jan/27/study-countys-immigrant-latinos-have-highest-self/

Posted by Alex Sobieski

Vehicle checks at border paying off Authorities seize cash, guns bound for Mexico

SOUTH COUNTY — Last spring, U.S. officials announced a $400 million effort to tighten border security, this time with an emphasis on southbound inspections of vehicles headed into Mexico to check for contraband cash and firearms.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/feb/07/vehicle-checks-at-border-paying-off/

Posted by Alex Sobieski

Drug smugglers’ creativity grows

Hidden among truckloads of peppers, bananas, toilet paper and medical supplies entering from Mexico, customs officers have been finding another type of import.

NELVIN C. CEPEDA / UNION-TRIBUNE

Driver Juan Madero looked on at the Otay Mesa Port of Entry last week as an agriculture specialist inspected a box of cilantro.

PHOTO BY NELVIN C. CEPEDA - UNION-TRIBUNE

At the Otay Mesa cargo port, U.S. Customs and Border Protection inspector Eiichiro Ninmiya checked loads of goods last week with his partner, Cora.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/feb/15/drug-smugglers-creativity-grows/

Posted by Alex Sobieski

Baja village has become smugglers’ launch point

PEGGY PEATTIE / UNION-TRIBUNE

Popotla’s activity and proximity to the border make it an attractive spot for smugglers to take to the sea with their human cargo, U.S. and Mexican officials say

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/mar/01/baja-village-has-become-smugglers-launch-point/

Posted by Alex Sobieski

Disminuyen las remesas

Washington/EFE — Las transferencias de dinero de inmigrantes de América Latina y el Caribe a sus países cayeron un 15% en 2009, hasta los 58,800 millones de dólares, debido a la crisis económica en países como EE.UU., España y Japón.

Según un informe publicado por el Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo (BID), la recuperación de estas transferencias durante el último trimestre de 2009 y las estadísticas de empleo y migración revelan una estabilización del envío de dinero.

[ Zelene Valencia]

http://www.impre.com/laopinion/inmigracion/2010/3/7/disminuyen-las-remesas-176864-1.html