Good morning and welcome to Nuestra America Online Radio
— your trusted source for in-depth news and perspectives from across the United
States, Mexico, Latin America, and around the world. Today is January 28, 2026.
Let’s begin with the latest U.S. headlines.
U.S. Domestic News
In the nation’s capital today, lawmakers are locked in
fierce debate as Democratic leaders issued an ultimatum to President Donald
Trump: dismiss Department of Homeland Security head Kristi Noem or face
impeachment proceedings. The controversy follows widespread public outrage over
federal immigration enforcement operations, including the fatal shooting of
Minneapolis resident Alex Pretti by federal agents, and other violent
encounters tied to enforcement actions in cities nationwide.
Congressional hearing testimony also highlighted plans from
Trump administration officials asserting that force remains on the table to
ensure cooperation from foreign governments like Venezuela in counter-narcotics
operations and broader security objectives—a stance that has drawn both
bipartisan scrutiny and international concern.
In Minnesota, tensions remain high. An ICE agent’s attempt
to enter the Ecuadorian consulate in Minneapolis was blocked by consulate
staff, prompting a formal diplomatic protest from Ecuador’s Foreign Ministry to
the United States Embassy in Quito.
Political violence also made headlines as Congresswoman
Ilhan Omar was sprayed with an unknown substance during a town hall event in
Minneapolis. While unharmed, the attack has intensified debate over political
rhetoric and public safety in an already fraught climate.
Meanwhile, a Border Patrol agent in southern Arizona shot
and wounded a human trafficking suspect following a vehicle pursuit that turned
violent, underscoring the ongoing challenges and dangers faced by agents and
suspects alike amid heightened border enforcement.
In Chicago’s suburbs, a deportation blitz has ripped
families apart, leaving school administrators scrambling to support affected
children and youth grappling with trauma and uncertainty after parents were
detained by federal agents.
Immigration Raids and Enforcement Nationwide
The country continues to see a series of coordinated
immigration enforcement operations under the Trump administration’s expanded
policies. In Minnesota, the operation known as Operation Metro Surge has
resulted in thousands of arrests and multiple controversial deaths—two U.S.
citizens among them—fueling nationwide protests and calls for accountability.
Organizers of federal enforcement efforts earlier this month
noted the intent to target undocumented immigrants with alleged criminal ties,
though independent reporting indicates the bulk of those detained lack violent
records, igniting debate about enforcement priorities and civil rights.
Advocates and civil liberties groups warn that aggressive
raids have had ripple effects, from canceled Hispanic heritage events in major
cities to rising fears among immigrant communities about everyday activities
and public participation.
Opposition to the federal crackdown has sparked plans for
future coordinated protests nationwide, with activist groups calling for mass
demonstrations later in the spring, framing the effort as a defense of
constitutional freedoms and due process rights.
U.S. Economy and Social Issues
New population estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau reveal
a slowdown in national growth, with the rate dropping significantly in 2025
compared to the previous year—a shift partially attributed to decreases in
immigration. Analysts say the shift in growth dynamics could have far-reaching
social and economic implications.
Mexico and Latin America
In Mexico, legal challenges are underway as a group of
lawyers and relatives of alleged cartel members accused the Mexican government
of bypassing established extradition laws by transferring nearly 100 cartel
affiliates to U.S. authorities without court-approved orders. Critics argue the
controversial transfers undermine legal norms, even as officials defend the
moves as necessary for security cooperation.
Recent multinational cooperation also led to the arrest of a
former Olympic athlete turned drug kingpin connected to a major transnational
trafficking network. The suspect now faces trial in the United States, marking
a significant blow to organized drug operations spanning the Western
Hemisphere.
International News
On the global stage, U.S. military actions against alleged
drug smuggling vessels have drawn intense international attention, with the
U.S. military confirming that more than 100 people have died following strikes
against suspected drug boats in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific. Critics,
including human rights advocates and foreign governments, question both the
legality and human cost of these operations.
As Italy prepares to host the Winter Olympics, U.S.
immigration enforcement agents are slated to assist with diplomatic security
efforts—sparking backlash from local officials who fear this signals a broader,
more assertive posture by U.S. security services abroad.
Regional Spotlight: Latin America Politics and Security
In Venezuela, ongoing political turmoil continues to shape
regional relations after the capture of President Nicolás Maduro in early
January. The situation has raised questions about national sovereignty and
geopolitical strategy as governments across Latin America react to shifts in
U.S. foreign policy. Multiple nations, including Mexico and Colombia, have
reiterated their commitment to regional stability and legal norms in response
to recent events.
Health and Environment
Turning to science and public health, new research
highlights critical challenges facing public health systems across the
Americas. Experts point to rising chronic disease rates and the need for
strengthened cooperation among countries to address cross-border health threats
effectively.
Guatemala’s state of emergency, declared by President
Bernardo Arévalo earlier this month in response to a spate of prison mutinies
and police killings, should not be understood as a Bukele-lite move argues
Orlando Pérez in Americas Quarterly. “Guatemala’s measures are time-bound on
paper, Congress has limited its scope, and the political coalition behind
Arévalo is not a personalist security machine. Even critics of Arévalo inside
Guatemala have emphasized that the operational reality so far looks nothing
like El Salvador’s.”
Nonetheless, the situation is a test for a democracy squeezed between citizen demands for greater security and a systematically corrupt justice system controlled by Arévalo’s opponents. “The concern is not that Arévalo is secretly an authoritarian, but that this would push Guatemala toward “permanent temporariness”—a situation in which emergency coercive powers gradually expand in a system already lacking proper oversight. Right now, the country is still closer to a fragile democracy under siege than an elected autocracy in the making.”
Brazil
Leading British and European retailers are trying to salvage
the core elements of a 20-year-old Amazon soy moratorium after the world’s most
successful forest protection agreement was wrecked by Brazilian lawmakers and
abandoned by international traders, reports the Guardian.
Mexico
A group of lawyers and family members of important cartel
figures accused Mexico’s government of breaking the law by sending nearly a
hundred Mexican citizens to the United States without an extradition order,
reports the Associated Press.
Venezuela
Venezuela’s government has released 266 prisoners since Jan.
8, including about 100 over the weekend, according to Foro Penal. However, at
least 600 dissidents remain detained in Venezuela, according to Foro Penal,
including several members of the Vente Venezuela party, led by opposition
leader María Corina Machado, reports the Associated Press.
Both the U.S. and the Venezuelan government are committed to
stabilization and economic recovery in the post-Maduro phase — but while the
former claims to be moving towards democratic transition, eventually, acting
president Delcy Rodríguez is interested in consolidated dictatorship, writes
James Bosworth in Latin America Risk Report. “The collaboration between Trump
and Delcy has created a bind for Venezuela’s democratic forces. To work with
Trump right now means they are helping Delcy implement the first two stages of
her plan (because Delcy’s and Trump’s first two stages are the same!). But to
break from Trump and demand swifter change risks being locked out of the
process by the US.”
Argentina
Argentina’s Peronist opposition criticized a visit by US
lawmakers to the country’s southernmost city of Ushuaia, seeing it as a sign of
Washington’s potential geostrategic interest in the region, reports the Buenos Aires Times.
Since 5 January, more than 36,000 hectares of native
forests, grasslands, villages and tourist resorts in Patagonia have been
ravaged by wildfires, mainly in the southern Argentine province of Chubut.
Climate factors play a role, as does President Javier Milei’s government
systematic defunding the National Fire Management Service, resulting in a
reduction of 81% on last year’s budget, reports the Guardian.
The Milei government has added a bill to lower the age of
criminal responsibility to the agenda for the extraordinary sessions that will
begin next week. It’s not the first time Milei has sought the reform, but with
a strengthened Congress after the ruling party’s landslide victory in the
legislative elections las year, his La Libertad Avanza will now insist on the
proposal, reports the Buenos Aires Herald.
Guyana
Guyanese businessman Azruddin Mohamed, who faces extradition
to the US on gold-smuggling and money-laundering charges, has been elected as
the country’s opposition leader, six months after he formed WIN, a political
party that quickly became the second largest in the country, reports the Guardian.
Nicaragua
Spain ordered the expulsion of Nicaragua’s ambassador and
another Nicaraguan diplomat, after Nicaragua expelled Spain’s ambassador and
his deputy from Managua - Reuters
Migration
A five-year-old girl born in the U.S. is the latest citizen
deported, with her Honduran mother. “Activists and analysts point to a string
of procedural violations in the case and note similarities with other recent
detentions of children … they see it as a chilling indication of what may lie
ahead as Donald Trump’s administration continues with mass deportations,”
reports the Guardian.
In international sports, preparations for the 2026 FIFA
World Cup continue as hosts finalize security and logistics plans. Organizers
are working with global partners to ensure safe operations, even as broader
socio-political tensions add complexity to large-scale event management.
Closing Summary
Before we sign off, here’s a brief recap of today’s most
impactful stories: intense political confrontation in Washington over
immigration enforcement leadership; ongoing nationwide immigration raids with
growing public resistance; legal controversy in Mexico over extraditions; the
humanitarian and political fallout from U.S.–led military and security
operations; and major societal issues from demographic trends to public health
concerns.
Stay tuned to Nuestra America Online Radio for
continuous updates and thoughtful perspectives on the stories that shape our
region and the world.
Thank you for joining us. We’ll be back with more news soon.
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