A Powerful Earthquake in Southern Mexico Shakes Neighboring Countries A significant earthquake measuring 7.3 on the Richter scale struck southern Mexico on Friday, sending tremors across Guatemala and El Salvador. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) reported that the quake’s epicenter was located 48 kilometers southwest of Aquiles Serdán, a town in the Mexican state of Chiapas. The tremors caused moderate to severe shaking along the coastal regions, prompting the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) to issue a caution that hazardous tsunami waves could affect areas within 300 kilometers of the epicenter. Guatemala observed several small tsunami waves, with water levels rising less than one meter above the tide. However, authorities stated the threat was minimal, and the PTWC later confirmed the danger had subsided. Mexico’s Secretary of the Navy, Raymundo Pedro Morales Ángeles, assured that no major issues had arisen in the country following the quake. He noted that while some beaches experienced water levels rising by up to half a meter, the public was advised to avoid coastal areas temporarily. No fatalities have been reported in Mexico at this time, according to the government. However, at least four people were injured in Chiapas, where authorities addressed gas leaks, collapsed walls, detached ceiling panels, and minor structural damage. The state’s civil protection service confirmed these incidents. Salomón Jara Cruz, governor of Oaxaca, reported that the quake was felt with moderate intensity in the state’s capital but noted no significant damage. Guatemala’s President Bernardo Arévalo announced that no deaths had been confirmed yet, with emergency response teams actively deploying. At least one person was hospitalized, and several homes and buildings sustained damage.#usgs #mexico #el_salvador #guatemala #pacific_tsunami_warning_center
Attorney Claims Man Shot by ICE in Stanislaus County Not Gang Member An attorney representing Carlos Ivan Mendoza Hernandez, a man shot by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents during an arrest in Stanislaus County, California, has publicly disputed claims that his client is a gang member or possesses an outstanding arrest warrant in El Salvador. Patrick Kolasinski, Mendoza’s attorney, stated during a news conference that his client has no criminal record in the United States and was not subject to an arrest warrant in El Salvador, where he was acquitted of murder in 2019. Kolasinski emphasized that the allegations against Mendoza are either incorrect or fabricated, asserting that only the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has access to the evidence supporting these claims. According to DHS, ICE agents fired defensive shots at Mendoza after he attempted to drive into them during an enforcement stop in Patterson, California. The agency described Mendoza, 36, as a suspected gang member wanted in El Salvador for questioning in connection to a murder. However, Kolasinski refuted these claims, citing a court document from October 25, 2019, which details Mendoza’s acquittal in a murder case. The document, issued by a judge in El Salvador, states that Mendoza, then 29, was cleared of murder charges and immediately released. It also notes that 10 other individuals involved in the case were convicted of crimes ranging from aggravated robbery to murder, with at least one identified as a member of the 18th Street Gang. Notably, the document contains no mention of Mendoza’s gang affiliation or involvement in gang-related activities. Kolasinski further clarified that Mendoza has only been stopped for minor traffic infractions in the U.S.#el_salvador #attorney_patrick_kolasinski #us_immigration_and_customs_enforcement #carlos_ivan_mendoza_hernandez #stanislaus_county
Bukele alters Constitution to endorse life imprisonment in El Salvador El Salvador’s Legislative Assembly, controlled by the ruling party Nuevas Ideas (NI), approved a constitutional reform on Tuesday that permits life sentences for individuals convicted of murder, rape, and terrorism. The measure, introduced by President Nayib Bukele, was passed by 59 pro-government deputies, their allies, and two opposition members without prior debate or study. The reform modifies Article 27 of the Constitution, which previously prohibited life imprisonment, to allow it only for the specified crimes. Bukele announced the reform following the release of a report by international legal experts accusing his government of committing crimes against humanity during the state of emergency that has been in place since 2022. The president had previously warned that the reform would face opposition, stating, “We’ll see who supports this reform and who dares to defend the Constitution’s continued prohibition against murderers and rapists remaining in prison.” The revised Article 27 now explicitly states that life imprisonment shall only be imposed on murderers, rapists, and terrorists, while prohibiting other forms of indefinite detention, including imprisonment for debt or torture. This contradicts the current constitutional framework, which limits prison terms to a maximum of 60 years. However, in December 2025, the Attorney General’s Office secured sentences of up to 1,000 years for gang members, a move that has drawn criticism from legal experts. Justice and Security Minister Gustavo Villatoro defended the reform during a press conference, accusing human rights organizations of hypocrisy. He claimed that these groups had previously championed victims’ rights only to later label law enforcement officers as perpetrators.#el_salvador #nayib_bukele #nuevas_ideas #gustavo_villatoro #state_of_emergency
El Salvador reforms constitution to allow for life sentences El Salvador's Congress approved a constitutional amendment on Tuesday, enabling life sentences for crimes such as murder, rape, and terrorism. This reform, part of President Nayib Bukele's ongoing efforts to combat the country's criminal gangs, allows for sentences that could theoretically last a lifetime, though the law previously limited actual time served to 60 years for sentences exceeding 100 years. The amendment passed with the backing of 59 lawmakers, with one voting against the measure. Bukele expressed his support for the reform on social media, stating that the amendment would clarify the legal stance on punishing serious crimes, emphasizing that the constitution should not shield perpetrators of violence from prison. The reform comes amid heightened scrutiny of the government's actions, including a recent report by a group of international lawyers who claimed there are "reasonable grounds" to believe crimes against humanity occurred during the country's controversial state of exception, which Bukele's administration imposed four years ago. The state of exception, a period of heightened security measures, allowed authorities to detain over 90,000 individuals. Of these, approximately 500 have died in custody. The amendment is part of a broader crackdown on organized crime, which has been a persistent challenge for El Salvador, where gangs have long been a source of instability and violence. The law's expansion of sentencing options reflects the government's determination to address public safety concerns, though it has also drawn criticism from human rights advocates.#el_salvador #nayib_bukele #congress_el_salvador #state_of_exception #international_lawyers_group
El Salvador's Bukele Pushes Through Life Sentences in Nation with Over 1% Prison Population El Salvador’s Congress approved a constitutional amendment on Tuesday, enabling life sentences for criminals, as part of President Nayib Bukele’s sweeping reforms aimed at combating the country’s gang violence. The measure, backed by Bukele’s ruling party, allows for indefinite incarceration, a move critics argue undermines judicial safeguards and deepens concerns about the erosion of democratic norms. The amendment comes amid a national prison population exceeding 1% of the total population, a figure driven by Bukele’s aggressive crackdown on gangs since 2022. The reform was fast-tracked by Bukele’s security cabinet and passed with overwhelming support, securing approval from 59 of 60 lawmakers. It is set to be finalized next week, joining a series of constitutional changes that have drawn sharp criticism from legal experts and human rights advocates. These reforms, including the removal of presidential term limits in August 2025, have been labeled as efforts to consolidate power, with Bukele’s second term in office widely regarded as a constitutional violation. Bukele’s push for life sentences follows a prolonged state of emergency declared in March 2022, which has suspended key constitutional rights and led to the detention of approximately 91,300 individuals. The measure, initially intended as a temporary tool, has been extended for nearly four years, sparking allegations of arbitrary arrests. Human rights groups have documented widespread abuses, including mass trials, limited access to legal representation, and the detention of individuals without sufficient evidence. Bukele has dismissed these claims, asserting that 8,000 innocent people have been released from custody.#el_salvador #nayib_bukele #congress_el_salvador #state_of_emergency_2022 #human_rights_groups
