INTERNACIONAL
Democrats demanding ICE reforms lose airport escorts in shutdown they triggered
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The Trump administration is escalating pressure on Senate Democrats as negotiations to end the partial government shutdown remain at a standstill.
The partial government shutdown, which is only affecting the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), entered its second week on Monday. So far, the impacts of the shutdown have been minimal, but the pain could be coming soon as the agency activates «emergency measures» while the shutdown drags on.
DHS announced over the weekend it would be making tweaks to some Transportation Security Administration (TSA) functions that could lead to longer wait times for passengers and lawmakers alike.
The Department of Homeland Security enacted emergency measures over the weekend, tweaking some TSA functions as Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Democrats remained dug in on their positions. (Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images; Robert Alexander/Getty Images)
«Shutdowns have real-world consequences, not just for the men and women of DHS and their families who go without a paycheck, but it endangers our national security,» DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said in a statement. «The American people depend on this department every day, and we are making tough but necessary workforce and resource decisions to mitigate the damage inflicted by these politicians.»
The agency announced that, for now, TSA PreCheck would stay operational after a back-and-forth over whether to continue the program during the shutdown. The program is used by more than 20 million people to speed up wait times at airports across the country, according to the agency. However, courtesy escorts for members of Congress have been suspended.
«At this time, TSA PreCheck remains operational with no change for the traveling public,» a spokesperson for the agency told Fox News Digital. «As staffing constraints arise, TSA will evaluate on a case-by-case basis and adjust operations accordingly.»
DHS SHUTDOWN EXPLAINED: WHO WORKS WITHOUT PAY, WHAT HAPPENS TO AIRPORTS AND DISASTER RESPONSE
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem announced that the agency would begin emergency measures over the weekend as the government shutdown dragged into its second week. (Ash Ponders/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Much of the real pain that could come from a prolonged shutdown will have to do with TSA agents missing paychecks. That became a major factor during the historic 43-day shutdown last fall that saw wait times skyrocket and flight cancellations compound by the day.
Some Republicans believe it will take that kind of disruption to get Democrats to reverse course on their current position.
«Nothing’s going to happen here until flights get shut down, right? When TSA workers stop showing up,» Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., told Fox News Digital. «When the Democrats, you know, can’t fly, then they’ll give in. I mean, they don’t care, because they’re being paid.»
Senate Democrats, led by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and the White House are gridlocked in their ongoing back-and-forth over a compromise to fund the agency.
DEMOCRATS RISK FEMA DISASTER FUNDING COLLAPSE AS DHS SHUTDOWN HITS DAY 5
Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., said Senate Democrats wouldn’t take the shutdown seriously until flight delays and cancellations started to stack up. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call, Inc. via Getty Images)
Schumer and his caucus want more stringent reforms to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), following deadly shootings in Minnesota amid immigration operations. The White House has so far been willing to entertain some of the changes they’ve proposed, but Republicans have drawn red lines on imposing judicial warrant requirements and unmasking agents, among other provisions.
That means a bulk of the agency is going without funding as both sides continue to butt heads, given that ICE and some immigration enforcement functions are flush with funding from the «big, beautiful bill.»
The tweaks to TSA are not the only steps DHS has taken to implement emergency measures during the shutdown.
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Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has halted Global Entry at airports and diverted agents to instead help process travelers.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has also stopped all public assistance for ongoing disasters, paused non-emergency work, halted non-disaster-related activities and restricted personnel travel to activities «strictly necessary to respond to active disasters and life-safety emergencies,» according to the agency.
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INTERNACIONAL
Iran president vows defiance as protests build against regime amid US military build up
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Anti-government protests are resurging across Iran, with videos showing students chanting slogans against the regime as nuclear negotiations with the United States are set to resume on Thursday.
A video translated by Reuters showed demonstrators shouting «We’ll fight, we’ll die, we’ll reclaim Iran,» reflecting growing anger towards the country’s leadership.
The renewed unrest follows months of frustration over economic hardship, repression and previous crackdowns, placing additional domestic pressure on the regime as talks unfold. Analysts say the convergence of protests at home, military pressure abroad and a stalled diplomatic track has hardened rhetoric on both sides rather than pushing them toward compromise.
Military members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in western Tehran, Iran. (Morteza Nikoubazl/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
The Iranian regime, meanwhile, is striking a defiant tone. President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tehran would «not bow down» to pressure tied to nuclear negotiations, warning that external coercion would not change Iran’s stance, according to Al Jazeera.
His remarks come ahead of a new round of U.S.–Iran talks set for Thursday in Geneva, confirmed by Oman, which is mediating the discussions. The negotiations aim to address Tehran’s nuclear program amid rising regional tensions, though major disputes remain over enrichment limits, sanctions relief and the scope of any deal.
In a February speech analyzed by the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei ruled out abandoning uranium enrichment and rejected U.S. demands to include Iran’s ballistic missile program and regional proxy activity in negotiations.
The analysis, authored by FDD research analyst Janatan Sayeh and Iran Program Senior Director Behnam Ben Taleblu, noted that Khamenei has escalated attacks on Washington’s leadership, calling President Donald Trump a «criminal» for backing Iranian protests and circulating rhetoric likening him to a tyrant.
US POSITIONS AIRCRAFT CARRIERS, STRIKE PLATFORMS ACROSS MIDDLE EAST AS IRAN TALKS SHIFT TO OMAN
An exercise aimed at assessing readiness and rehearsing responses to security threats comes during a second round of talks. ( Press Office of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps / Handout/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Meanwhile, the United States has expanded its military presence in the Middle East while signaling force remains an option. The deployments have shaped both the tone and urgency of the negotiations, reinforcing that diplomacy is unfolding under the shadow of potential escalation.
Special envoy Steve Witkoff warned Saturday that Iran could be «a week away» from having «industrial-grade bomb-making material,» citing enrichment levels he said are approaching weapons capability.
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Iran Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei addresses the public on the occasion of the 47th anniversary of the Iranian Revolution, according to Iranian state television in Tehran, Iran, on February 9, 2026. (Iranian Leader Press Office/Anadolu via Getty Images)
«It’s up to 60%,» Witkoff said. «They’re probably a week away from having industrial-grade bomb-making material.» He made the remarks on «My View with Lara Trump,» describing the situation as dangerous and accusing Iran of violating President Trump’s «zero enrichment» red line.
U.S. officials have warned that failure to reach an agreement could trigger serious consequences, while Tehran has signaled readiness to retaliate if attacked, reinforcing the sense that negotiations are taking place under intense pressure.
Reuters contributed to this report.
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Tras la muerte de “El Mencho“, el líder del Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generación, la presidenta de México, Claudia Sheinbaum, tomó una profunda bocanada de aire fresco frente a la persistente intimidación de Donald Trump y alejó el fantasma de una intervención estadounidense contra el narcotráfico.
El mensaje que subió desde Ciudad de México a Washington es fuerte. La mandataria izquierdista se alejó de la política conocida como “Abrazos, no balazos” llevada adelante por su mentor y antecesor, Andrés Manuel López Obrador.
Leé también: Así fue la caída de “El Mencho”, el capo narco mexicano: el seguimiento a una de sus amantes, la pista clave
Ahora, la lucha es frontal desde el poder federal, en un giro total de la política de seguridad del país, tras un año de fuertes presiones de Trump que llegaron no solo a la aplicación de aranceles, sino hasta amenazas de una intervención militar contra los distintos carteles del narcotráfico.
“El abatimiento de El Mencho es un hecho histórico que marca un precedente de seguridad en México, en la política de seguridad de Sheinbaum y también en la de Estados Unidos”, dijo a TN el analista mexicano y director de El Medio Importa, Mauricio González.
Aumento de la cooperación y adiestramiento a cargo de marines
La muerte de Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, alias “El Mencho”, se produjo en un contexto de fuerte aumento de la cooperación bilateral en materia de seguridad que incluyó la presencia de marines estadounidenses en el terreno.
El Senado mexicano autorizó el 11 de este mes la entrada de 19 efectivos del cuerpo de los Navy Seals que participaron cuatro días después en actividades militares conjuntas de adiestramiento con las Fuerzas Armadas mexicanas. La presidenta de México, Claudia Sheinbaum (Foto: REUTERS/Raquel Cunha)
El objetivo apuntó a “mejorar las capacidades de las Fuerzas de Operaciones Especiales” que combaten al narcotráfico en el terreno.
Pero el éxito del operativo que acabó con el reinado de El Mencho se vio opacado por la ola de violencia desatada por el cartel en varios estados del país. Ahora, el gobierno de Sheinbaum deberá demostrar capacidad de gestión para evitar una nueva oleada de violencia como la que sacudió el domingo vastas zonas de Jalisco y otras regiones.
“Para Estados Unidos, la captura de “El Mencho” es un éxito en sí mismo, algo que Trump podrá cacarear a sus votantes. Para México, la captura solo será un éxito si mejora la percepción de seguridad de los mexicanos”, dijo la politóloga mexicana Viri Ríos en el diario Milenio de Jalisco.
Para la analista, “lo más relevante del abatimiento (…) no es el operativo en sí mismo, sino si el gobierno está preparado para contener la violencia que podría detonarse luego de la muerte de El Mencho”.
Leé también: Ante la ola de violencia en México, la Cancillería argentina recomienda no viajar a Jalisco
El director editorial del periódico, Oscar Cedillo, destacó el giro estratégico de la política del gobierno federal contra el narcotráfico.
“El contexto político también cuenta: el operativo ocurrió días después de que el Senado autorizara el ingreso de militares estadounidenses para capacitación y en el marco de la visita del secretario de Estado, Marco Rubio. La intervención directa de tropas extranjeras sigue descartada, pero el intercambio de inteligencia es una realidad operativa. Incluso el silencio inusual de Donald Trump sugiere coordinación previa. En seguridad, el silencio comunica“, afirmó.
Para Cedillo, esta fue una “victoria significativa que envía un mensaje hacia adentro y a Washington. ´Abrazos, no balazos´ fue una apuesta política para desescalar la violencia desde una lógica social; la detención y abatimiento de El Mencho representa una afirmación directa del poder estatal. Habrá que entender qué momento histórico exige qué instrumento. El país pasó del humanismo discursivo al realismo estratégico“. indicó.
Sin presencia militar estadounidense, pero con más cooperación de inteligencia
En su rueda de prensa matutina, la presidente Sheinbaum descartó la presencia de tropas estadounidenses en el operativo. “No hay participación en la operación de fuerzas de Estados Unidos, lo que hay es mucho intercambio de información”, dijo.
Para Mauricio González, “este tipo de golpes van a reforzar la participación y la coordinación” de Estados Unidos en la lucha contra el narco.
“Pero de ahora en adelante viene el reacomodo de fuerzas del Cartel y como se reestructura la sucesión. Cuando se atrapa o muere el líder de estos grupos, en tres segundos ya hay un sucesor”, dijo. Caso contrario, estalla la violencia por el control de la plaza.
México, Narcotráfico, Claudia Sheinbaum
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Mexico’s most-wanted fentanyl kingpin, «El Mencho,» was captured and killed Sunday after authorities tracked his romantic partner to a secret rendezvous location over the weekend, Mexican officials revealed Monday.
The operation reportedly began Feb. 20, targeting Jalisco New Generation Cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as «El Mencho.» He carried a $15 million U.S. bounty and rose to power following the arrest of Joaquín «El Chapo» Guzmán, the former head of the Sinaloa Cartel.
Defense Secretary Ricardo Trevilla Trejo said during a news conference that military intelligence identified and located a trusted courier or guard connected to one of Oseguera Cervantes’s romantic partners.
The associate then transported the partner to a designated cabin for an overnight meeting with «El Mencho.»
A mughsot of Ruben «Nemesio» Oseguera Cervantes, known as «El Mencho,» beside graffiti depicting the letters of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, covering the facade of an abandoned home in El Limoncito, in the Michoacan state of Mexico. (Eduardo Verdugo/AP Images; Drug Enforcement Administration)
«On February 20, through central military intelligence work, a man of trust of one of El Mencho’s romantic partners was located, who took her to a facility in the town of Tapalpa, Jalisco,» Trevilla Trejo said.
The following day, the partner left the property, but intelligence confirmed that Oseguera Cervantes remained behind with a small security detail, prompting authorities, including Army Special Forces and the National Guard’s Immediate Reaction Force, to carry out the operation.
Security forces reportedly raided the private property after aerial surveillance spotted Oseguera Cervantes’ inner circle openly carrying illegal high-caliber weapons, including rocket launchers and long guns.
A worker sorts freshly printed copies of the newspaper PM bearing the headline «U.S. mapped ‘El Mencho’ and Mexico delivered the final blow, Caught between two fires,» following the killing of drug lord Nemesio Oseguera, known as ‘El Mencho,’ in a military operation, Sunday, in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico,. (Jose Luis Gonzalez/Reuters)
During the confrontation, Oseguera Cervantes’ security detail reportedly fired «very violently» on military personnel, triggering Special Forces to engage the attackers. Officials said eight criminals were killed in the initial phase — correcting earlier reports of four — and two military personnel were also wounded.
CARTELS OUTGUN POLICE: ROCKET LAUNCHERS SEIZED IN EL MENCHO RAID SPOTLIGHT CJNG FIREPOWER
Smoke billows from burning vehicles amid a wave of violence, with torched vehicles and gunmen blocking highways in more than half a dozen states, following a military operation in which a government source said Mexican drug lord Nemesio Oseguera, known as «El Mencho,» was killed, Sundya, in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico. (@morelifediares via Instagram/YouTube/via Reuters)
Amid the chaos at the cabins, Oseguera Cervantes and his «close circle» fled into a nearby wooded area, officials said. After soldiers located them «hidden among the brush,» cartel suspects allegedly opened fire on the troops. Military personnel then wounded «El Mencho» and two of his escorts in the shootout, according to Trevilla Trejo.
Military medics determined that Oseguera Cervantes and his two escorts were in critical condition and required immediate evacuation by helicopter. Oseguera Cervantes and his two escorts ultimately died during transport, officials said.
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Authorities noted that 2,500 reinforcements were sent to join the 7,000 already in the state to prevent further violence in the cartel’s retaliation.
Oseguera Cervantes’ capture and subsequent death marks one of Mexico’s most significant blows to drug trafficking and organized crime since President Donald Trump called for intensified crackdowns on cartel violence.
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