EDITOR'S NOTE: This story has been updated throughout The body of an 18-year-old from Matamoros was found on Sunday morning near Santa Maria according to Cameron County Sheriff Manuel Trevino The body was found along the bank of the Rio Grande Trevino said the death is being treated as an accidental drowning Trevino said the victim was identified by his family as an 18-year-old from Matamoros and his name is being withheld from the public out of respect for his family.  An official website of the United States government A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website Share sensitive information only on official Emergency Information for American Citizens expect increased security personnel presence and potential delays on all bridges connecting Matamoros including Gateway International Bridge (Puente Nuevo) Consulate has advised employees to avoid travel on Gateway International Bridge and allow extra time for all border crossings The State Department’s Travel Advisory for Tamaulipas is Level 4 – Do Not Travel Due to Crime and Kidnapping Contact Form U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Mexico Department of State – Consular Affairs:  +1-888-407-4747 or +1-201-501-4444 Mexico International Travel Information U.S. Citizens in Mexico WhatsApp Channel U.S. Passports Traveler’s Checklist Department of State on Facebook and X U.S. Embassy Mexico on Facebook and X An immigrant visa is a document issued by a U.S consular officer abroad that allows you to travel to the United States and apply for admission as a legal permanent resident (LPR) Customs and Border Protection of the Department of Homeland Security makes the final decision as to whether or not to admit you as an LPR you generally have the right to live and work in the United States permanently Citizenship and Immigration Services of the Department of Homeland Security will mail your permanent resident card (often called a “green card”) to your new address in the United States usually within three months of your entry into the United States Please see 9 FAM 502.1-3 for a list of classification symbols and a brief description of each Getting an immigrant visa usually means that you will be able to live and work in the United States for as long as you want is generally for short-term visitors to the United States You cannot stay in the United States permanently on a nonimmigrant visa A nonimmigrant visa is sometimes informally called a “tourist visa” but can be issued for reasons other than tourism Please see our nonimmigrant visa page for more information There are three basic methods for obtaining an immigrant visa: 1.through a family relationship with a U.S citizen or legal permanent resident 2.through employment 3.through the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program (the visa lottery) Most applicants in Mexico obtain their immigrant visas via family relationships The first step in obtaining a family-based immigrant visa is for your relative (the petitioner) to file a Form I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative) by mail with U.S Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) of the Department of Homeland Security Once your relative has filed a petition for you you may check its status by accessing the USCIS Case Status Search Page You may obtain an immigrant visa through employment rather than through a family member More information on obtaining an immigrant visa through employment rather than through a family member is available on USCIS’s Green Card through a Job page Please see the Fiscal Year 2016 Diversity Visa Entry Instructions Note that the registration period for 2015 has closed You may check this page for the Fiscal Year 2016 Diversity Visa Entry instructions in approximately September 2014 Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) of the Department of Homeland Security approves an immigrant visa petition USCIS sends the approved petition to the Department of State’s National Visa Center in Portsmouth The Department of State’s National Visa Center (NVC) retains the approved petition until the case is ready for adjudication by a consular officer abroad Petitions may remain at NVC for several months or for many years depending on the visa category and country of birth of the visa applicant When a beneficiary’s (the beneficiary is the person on whose behalf the petition was filed) priority date appears about to become current NVC sends the petitioner a bill for processing Form I-864 (Affidavit of Support Under Section 213A of the Act) and sends the beneficiary a Form DS-261 (Choice of Address and Agent) Once the Form I-864 processing fee is paid NVC sends the Form I-864 and related instructions to the petitioner Once NVC receives the completed Form DS-261 from the applicant NVC mails a bill for the immigrant visa fee to the agent designated on the Form DS-261 NVC sends the Instruction Package for Immigrant Visa Applicants to the agent You or your agent must follow the directions in the Instruction Package for Immigrant Visa Applicants exactly Failure to do so could result in a delay in your case and could even cause you to lose your chance to live and work in the United States Once NVC completes its administrative processing of your case the case file is sent to the Immigrant Visa Unit of the U.S NVC will notify you by mail when this occurs in the case of a family-based immigrant visa petition is the date your petition was filed (not the date it was approved) Family-based immigrant visas are divided into two broad groups immediate relative cases and preference cases An immediate relative family-based petition is filed by a U.S A preference family-based petition is filed by a U.S or sibling; or by a legal permanent resident on behalf of a spouse Because the law does not limit the number of immediate relative visas the priority date is normally irrelevant in such cases (please see the 9 FAM 502.1-1(d)(1) for the notable exception related to 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from GTM template to set callback to be executed when user consent is provided window.addConsentUpdateListener = (callback) => { document.addEventListener("cmplz_fire_categories" var consentedCategories = e.detail.categories; 'personalization_storage': cmplz_in_array( 'preferences' 'analytics_storage': cmplz_in_array( 'statistics' 'ad_user_data': cmplz_in_array( 'marketing' 'ad_personalization': cmplz_in_array( 'marketing' as the TM template needs to be sure it's cmplz_ Matamoros was a bustling port in the 1820s—a key stopping point between New Orleans and Havana with the United States having the only consulate in the city Matamoros also hosted diplomats from the United Kingdom he and his brother were instrumental in establishing a U.S They partnered with prominent families from the state of Tamaulipas and south Texas to develop the local economy Matamoros was home to the first cafes and hotels in Tamaulipas City plazas were lined with restaurants and shops in the Parisian style and food was served in elegant dishes by trained waiters and huge personalities seeking fortune fostered growth Smith’s dispatches provided crucial insights into the political climate the consul helped serve as a bridge between U.S The oldest existing record of consulate activities in Matamoros is a local court’s warning to Smith that U.S Smith’s cook apparently did not take that warning seriously drunkenly stabbing his boss in the chest with a dagger but his penchant for drinking and illness led Secretary of State Henry Clay to appoint Richard Pearse in his place but he was not the last consul in Matamoros wounded in the line of duty Consul James Wadell was shot in the cheek during a siege on the city ordered by General Jose Maria Carvajal almost three decades after the Mexican-American War Mexicans and Texans still harbored residual animosity Grant ordered the gunboat USS Rio Bravo to patrol the border the ship’s captain conspired with the army commander in Brownsville and the Texas Rangers to launch a raid into Mexico Consul Thomas Wilson learned of the conspiracy and viewed the Rio Grande Valley as a powder keg ready to explode at the slightest whiff of conflict Wilson launched an investigation to confirm his suspicions and then informed Secretary of State Hamilton Fish of the scheme Army and Navy to refrain from entering Mexico and sent investigators to the border per the consul’s request After a finding of conspiracy to perpetrate attacks against Mexico the commanding military officers were court-martialed This story came to be known as the Rio Bravo Affair.  and a barbecue area on its 7.3-acre campus The Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations has recognized the facilities team in Matamoros as one of the highest performing worldwide Business leaders tour the consulate to learn about sustainable design and energy practices ConGen Matamoros is a 20-minute walk from downtown Brownsville by either the Gateway or Brownsville-Matamoros bridges Veteran’s International Bridge is a 15-minute drive and is used frequently by post personnel because Global Entry permit holders enjoy shorter wait times there.  Protecting and serving the American people is the core mission of ConGen Matamoros citizens live in Tamaulipas. In order to strengthen the American border and improve the flow of legitimate travel to and from the United States the consulate general engages Tamaulipas state officials and residents to identify and register U.S citizens living in Tamaulipas without a U.S Through a campaign of radio and televised interviews Powers promoted the importance of registering for a U.S American citizen travelers in Tamaulipas are at risk of kidnapping and extortion—the consular team assists them around the clock by reaching out to their families providing support to law enforcement officials and advocating with local authorities for services federal law enforcement personnel at post also work to make America safer Homeland Security Investigations and the Drug Enforcement Administration partner with Mexican law enforcement to fight the influence of transnational criminal organizations and facilitate the extradition of wanted criminals the Matamoros team works hard to make the United States and its citizens safer each day.  Matamoros plays a key role in ensuring the smooth flow of commerce into and out of the United States Matamoros benefits from a strong manufacturing and logistics sector Tamaulipas’ budding development of the port of Matamoros will elevate the region’s role in global trade by providing efficient access to U.S as well as other international destinations.  Regional initiatives supported by ConGen Matamoros aim to boost collaboration between Texas and Tamaulipas by highlighting the Rio Grande Valley’s competitive advantages to attract investment and foster growth launched by local governments and business communities seeks to re-brand cities on both sides of the border and promote infrastructure RioPlex coincides with several large developments: Texas LNG is constructing a liquefied natural gas export facility at the port of Brownsville Woodside Energy is developing offshore deepwater oil fields and SpaceX plans to dramatically increase space-industry operations at its nearby Starbase facility Matamoros-Brownsville is one of only five rail freight ports of entry between the United States and Mexico. The port of entry at Brownsville is the world’s most complex; it is the sole facilitator of all five forms of traffic into the United States: pedestrian U.S.-Mexico relations in Matamoros have a promising future driven by deep familial and commercial ties ConGen Matamoros’ adjudication of temporary work visas satiates America’s increasing labor demand and ensures that crops are harvested on time Key infrastructure projects along the border such as the expansion of the World Trade and Pharr International Bridges is undergoing a $130 million modernization project that will improve border security ConGen Matamoros is at the forefront of these efforts to shape the region’s future into a modern vision of excellence.  ConGen Matamoros’ engagement in educational exchanges through the International Visitor Leadership Program and Fulbright and García Robles Scholarships further exemplifies its commitment to promoting instructional and professional leadership The consulate also engages with the community by participating in Charro Days celebrations which honor the shared Mexican cowboy heritage of the region Brownsville and Matamoros come together to celebrate their longstanding relationship As ConGen Matamoros prepares to celebrate 200 years of service and advocacy for American citizens these initiatives foster partnership and collaboration on our most important border.  Talita Leal is a vice consul at ConGen Matamoros Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application age 70 passed away in Aurora Colorado on December 15 She was a graduate of Bishop Machebeuf High School and went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts-teaching certificate from the University of Phoenix Mary worked for many years for Mountain Bell ending her career as a Human Resource Administrator of 25 years with US West Mary's second career was teaching; she worked at Mrachek Middle School and Hinkley High School as a math teacher Mary also worked as a substitute teacher at other schools including Regis Jesuit High School Mary is preceded in death by her parents William M 1995 and were happily married until Gil's death on August 15 Mary is survived by Stepmother; Kathleen Quinn Dea They honeymooned in Ireland and they took yearly summer trips in their RV to destinations all over the country Mary continued traveling extensively with her other family and friends and she loved sharing her passion for all things art and crafts with her nieces and nephews and her grandson Joshua Mary made beautiful wedding cakes for many of her family and friends She was the go to person for cakes for any event in the family her cakes always had a personal and original touch that made them unique The holidays were always a chance for Mary to host parties or bring her supplies over for holiday crafting From pumpkin carving at Halloween to gingerbread houses during Christmas Mary never missed the chance to make the holidays a little more special Mary’s most cherished holiday tradition was “Aunt Mary’s Winter Wonderland Christmas Sleepover” beginning in 1989 with her oldest nieces and nephews Mary started the tradition as a way to gift her siblings a yearly child-free weekend Gil joined in hosting the sleepover when he married Mary in 1995 The sleepover continued annually for 34 years and included all of her nieces nephews and eventually their spouses and children.  They had a crafting group once a month and made beautiful treasures and learned many different types of crafting She also was part of a dinner and card game playing group Mary’s love and care for children of all ages extended to her second career as a teacher and tutor and she was so good at helping others understand complex subjects and helping them with the confidence they needed to know they could do anything Mary loved her weekend outings with her stepdaughter Sheila She cherished spending time with her family whenever she could Funeral services will take place on January 31st A reception is to follow the service at Wellshire Event Center Please consider sharing your memories and condolences with Mary's family on her guestbook below Horan & McConaty Funeral Service and Cremation - Southeast Denver/Aurora Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors Sign up for TPR Today Texas Public Radio's newsletter that brings our top stories to your inbox each morning The impacts of President Donald Trump’s executive orders on immigration were immediately felt on the Mexican side of the border who is in charge of the diocese of Reynosa-Matamoros has cared for migrants in Matamoros for the past two decades He said the end of a legal pathway for migrants will leave them in a more vulnerable position “Organized crime gets stronger with these actions He also warned that Mexico is not prepared to keep the new influx of migrants “The biggest issue is that smugglers are going to take advantage of this situation.” The Trump administration has swiftly dismantled immigration policies established under the Biden administration beginning with the suspension of the CBP One app’s appointment scheduling feature An announcement on the CBP One website on Monday declared that the app would no longer function and that all existing appointments had been canceled Approximately 30,000 migrants with pending appointments were left in limbo while an estimated 270,000 migrants currently waiting in Mexico for appointments now face an uncertain future The CBP One app had been a cornerstone of the Biden administration’s immigration strategy Designed to provide an “orderly process” for asylum seekers it enabled 1,450 migrants daily to present themselves at eight designated ports of entry for processing nearly 919,000 migrants entered the United States through the app argued that the program allowed migrants to remain in the country for extended periods while their cases moved slowly through an overburdened immigration court system Gallardo has also reached out to migrants on the U.S side of the border to understand their situation Many of them haven’t been to work,” he said Trump has already issued a series of executive orders aimed at drastically reducing the number of migrants entering the country I will declare a national emergency at our southern border,” Trump said shortly after taking the oath of office “All illegal entry will immediately be halted and we will begin the process of returning millions and millions of criminal aliens back to the places from which they came.” Trump’s broader agenda includes ending birthright citizenship a centuries-old practice that grants citizenship to anyone born on U.S soil and creating an “immediate removal process without the possibility of asylum,” according to White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly The administration has also signaled plans to terminate other Biden-era initiatives, such as the CHNV program Mexican nationals won’t take the biggest hit many are already stranded at the border where in the last couple of days deportations have already doubled “Mexico also needs to provide legal pathways if Remain in Mexico is reinstated,” he said He also acknowledged that one of the biggest issues is that migrants don’t want to stay in Mexico He explained that while deported Mexicans can return to their homes non-Mexican migrants face even harsher challenges without much help from the Mexican government the northern state of Tamaulipas is assisting migrants who were unable to cross to the U.S President Claudia Sheinbaum asked Mexicans to stay calm She announced the “Mexico Hugs You” strategy (“México te abraza”) aimed at supporting Mexican nationals affected by the changes and that’s something the Trump administration acknowledges,” Sheinbaum stated She vowed to advocate for the reinstatement of CBP One or a similar program “Rest assured that Mexico has not forgotten about you.” The strategy includes the ConsulApp which was developed to bring legal assistance to Mexicans in the U.S Gallardo’s main concern revolves around deportations and migrants being stranded at the border He expressed dismay at the lack of humanity shown by both the U.S “We need to understand that migrants are not just a number they are human beings that have to be treated as such,” he said Rodrygo and Coto Matamoros | Real Madrid Confidencial FIRST TEAM Coto Matamoros Crushes Rodrygo After His K.O Against Celta: Playing with Him...The panelist from Defensa Central believes that 'playing with the Brazilian now is playing with 10' due to his poor performance04/05/2025 18:40:00h by Alex Moreno Rodrygo is once again at the center of controversy who didn't hesitate to deliver a harsh message against the Brazilian Matamoros dropped a devastating line: “Playing with Rodrygo is like playing with 10.” A direct attack that has caused immediate reactions on social media It's important to note that Rodrygo wasn't even in the squad against Celta The Brazilian player has been going through a cold over the past few days although that hasn't prevented the criticism Arda Güler was chosen by Ancelotti to occupy the right wing He played 83 minutes and was one of the standout players of the match.He scored a stunning goal from outside the box and provided an assist His connection with Mbappé was notable and made it clear that he wants a spot in the starting eleven Güler's great performance has reignited the debate Many on social media took the opportunity to compare his performance with Rodrygo's recent lackluster matches Arda Güler celebrating his goal | LaLiga“With Arda there's magic with Rodrygo there are doubts,” commented a user on X Matamoros's words reinforce the feeling that the Brazilian has lost prominence Although he didn't play for medical reasons The competition for a spot in Real Madrid's attack is fierce his absence is explained by health reasons But the environment is already demanding more from him Phrases like Coto Matamoros's only increase the pressure information in some news releases may be out of date or not reflect current policies and Mexican governments have announced the successful resolution to a Rapid Response Labor Mechanism petition that alleged workers’ rights were denied at Vidrio Decorativo Occidental The result follows a Nov. 8, 2024, request by the U.S for Mexico to review the VDO case under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement’s Rapid Response Labor Mechanism.  The Mexican government facilitated an agreement in which the manufacturer will pay bonuses owed and back wages for salary increases to affected workers and rehire two fired workers The company also posted a neutrality statement agreed to follow guidelines on freedom of association and collective bargaining and allowed Mexico’s Ministry of Labor to provide training to company employees.  “We appreciate the collaboration between the Mexican government and Vidrio Decorativo Occidental to safeguard freedom of association,” said Deputy Undersecretary for International Affairs Thea Lee “The company has committed to fair treatment by providing bonuses owed to workers and rehiring workers who were fired after supporting a union of their choice.”  “Our administration put the RRM front and center as a trade tool to positively impact the lives of thousands of workers and hold accountable corporations profiting from exploitation This is another example of how our worker-centered approach to trade is driving a race to the top for working people everywhere,” said Ambassador Katherine Tai. “We commend the government of Mexico and the company for their swift action to remediate the denials of labor rights that occurred at this facility With the successful resolution of this case the RRM has now directly benefitted over 42,000 workers.” Vidrio Decorativo Occidental manufactures decorative door glass for sale in the U.S  Learn more about the department’s international work. Last summer as I stood on a ferry deck cutting around the Hudson River I saw the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island come into view—symbols of hope refuge and opportunity for newcomer families arriving in the United States This experience marked the beginning of a trip that I took to New York City as part of the Monitoring & Evaluation team in the CWS Home Study & Post-Release Services (HSPRS) program for unaccompanied children eager to see these historic monuments and gain a small glimpse into the experience of millions of migrants as they first stepped foot into our nation in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.  Intricately woven into the fibers of our DNA it is an integral part of our public identity and a reflection of our national values of community generosity and compassion for the struggling sojourner Walking through the center I was filled with curiosity and renewed hope for the work of those seeking to welcome new arrivals A deep sense of purpose and connectedness overcame me as I noticed the strong traces of support from immigrant aid societies and community allies recognized throughout the museum displays The realization that organizations like Church World Service are a modern-day extension of this support was a reminder of our society’s commitment to welcoming the stranger throughout history.  recent visits to *Stewart Detention Center in Lumpkin Georgia and two points of entry at the U.S.-Mexico border (Reynosa and Matamoros Mexico) painted a more disturbing picture of the current realities and challenges of immigration processing Walking over the bridge to the Mexican side of the border I was in disbelief at the sheer number of individuals waiting to have their asylum appointments Dozens of people were sitting in line against a concrete wall to ensure that they held their place and hundreds were living in tents in informal camps with little access to services I noticed deflated rafts along the riverbanks and was eerily reminded of images of migrant deaths that have appeared in news reports over the last several years Visiting the detention center I experienced another troubling side of U.S The six-hour drive set an uneasy tone for the trip: dark winding roads through isolated parts of rural areas My sense of unease melted as I arrived at the organization’s volunteer house that night but resurfaced at different times throughout the weekend as I entered and left the facility Set up as a medium-security prison situated inside multiple layers of security and immensely high barbed-wire fences Stewart Detention Center requires that visitors enter without their belongings where they are in the hands of immigration officials the center uses check-in paperwork that requests immigration status As detainees are forced to reside deep inside the interiors of these checkpoints they sometimes live out extremely long detentions with no end in sight some reporting being there for up to 18 months Though many are unaware of exactly when they will have their hearings an immigration courtroom sits on site to determine final fates nearly 80% of cases heard result in deportation lack of proper access to mental health services and being required to wear color-coded jumpsuits to group them by the severity of their alleged offense These hostile conditions are not only a jarring reminder of a continued need for advocacy within the U.S prison system in general but also a clear indication of the value that our current approach to immigration processing is placing on migrants.  Although it is difficult to describe the complexity and weight of these experiences they portray a clear decline in our country’s representation as a land of hope and inspiration The days of quick processing and warm welcomes on Ellis Island no longer exist and immigration continues to be a tense topic during this election cycle as many newly arrived migrants have been unfairly vilified in the media I propose that we focus our attention instead on the intended message of Lady Liberty—the Mother of Exiles—and restore the legacy of welcome on which our country stands *Note: the detention centers mentioned in this blog are adult detention centers and are not funded by ORR.  Julia Poppell is CWS’ Senior Officer for Client Services in the Home Study & Post-Release Services for unaccompanied children in Children’s Services.   Learn how you can participate in your community and advocate for meaningful change here Church World Service is a faith-based organization transforming communities around the globe through just and sustainable responses to hunger For the Press Church World Service • 1.800.297.1516 • info@cwsglobal.org For concerns and complaints, please contact compliancehotline@cwsglobal.org A family is mourning the death of a loved one after his body was found Monday at a beach in Matamoros The man was identified as Moises Herrera Salas said he was from Rio Bravo but was living in McAllen “We are very sad about this," Rubi said I think it's something that no one expects Rubi spoke to Channel 5 News over the phone as her family plans funeral arrangements for her younger brother.  Rubi said she and her brother regularly spoke on the phone Moises was found dead in Playa Bagdad on Monday Authorities in Matamoros didn't have a missing person's report so they reached out across the border to the Cameron County Sheriff's Office PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Hidalgo County man found dead at Matamoros beach “We made contact with an individual that was his roommate and he said that Moises frequents South Padre Island,” Cameron County Sheriff Manuel Treviño said during a Wednesday press conference Treviño said the roommate hadn’t seen Moises since Sunday The sheriff said that Moises’ death is not a criminal investigation at this point and Mexican authorities said he died of an accidental drowning.   The sheriff’s office is currently focusing on a video posted on social media that shows two men at the jetties at South Padre Island “We would like to speak to that person and maybe he can tell us Moises’ state of mind when this happened and if it was an accident,” Treviño said The sheriff's office is also concerned there could be a second drowning victim.  they said he inspired many people and moved to the U.S The family wants to know what led to his death.  “We don't know anything,” Rubi said Those with any information are urged to contact the Cameron County Sheriff’s Office at 956-554-6700 Watch the video above for the full story.  Each passing day brings with it new threats of trade war by the Trump administration against not only “enemies” like China but also against Mexico and Canada promoted by union bureaucrats like United Auto Workers president Shawn Fain that tariffs will save “American” jobs is a lie The truth is that the most powerful weapon workers have is their unity across national lines The potential for a movement uniting workers across North America was shown six years ago when 70,000 maquiladora factory workers conducted a wave of explosive wildcat strikes in Matamoros located across the Rio Grande from Brownsville electrical and appliance factories owned by US and other transnational corporations began on January 12 and evolved into a mass movement that lasted into late February and early March 2019 The World Socialist Web Site was the only news outlet that covered the strike extensively and advanced a program to unite US and Canadian workers with their brothers and sisters in Mexico for a common fight against the transnational corporations In light of the constant threat of trade war measures and denunciations of Mexican autoworkers by both Trump and the UAW it is critical that workers study in detail the Matamoros rebellion of 2019 [Links to the WSWS coverage can be found at the bottom of this article] The militant strikes were fueled by brutal conditions and poverty wages including workweeks of sixty hours or more and pay as little as 75 cents an hour The strikers’ main demand was “20-32,” i.e. a 20 percent wage increase and a 32,000-peso ($1,700) bonus The strike took the form of an open revolt against the corrupt unions affiliated with the Confederation of Mexican Workers or CTM marching workers held a banner during one demonstration “The union and company kill the working class.”  strikers held popular assemblies attracting hundreds if not thousands of workers passed resolutions calling for a general strike in the city and marched to other factories to spread the strike expressing the desire of Mexican workers to unite with their class brothers in the United States The strikes hit auto suppliers Fisher Dynamics Fiat Chrysler and Nissan plants in the US and Canada and production slowdowns The strike coincided with the announcement by General Motors that it was shutting down four plants in the United States and Canada which was threatening to wipe out as many 15,000 jobs Far from proposing a united struggle by autoworkers across North America in defense of the jobs the United Auto Workers and Unifor bureaucracies did everything to conceal news of the Matamoros strike from their members the World Socialist Web Site did everything possible to break the news blackout by the union bureaucracy and corporate media and the Steering Committee of the Autoworkers Rank-and-File Committees established direct lines of communication between the Matamoros and US and Canadian autoworkers the committee held a demonstration in front of GM’s headquarters in Detroit Mexican and Canadian workers to fight the plant closures Strikers at the Fisher Dynamics plant sent a video message to workers and young people participating in the demonstration “We are here to support our friends in Michigan for you to continue your struggle just like we are here in Matamoros…The workers of Matamoros Tamaulipas show our solidarity with our brothers in Detroit in their struggle against mass layoffs Stand firm and we will continue to stand together Matamoros and the workers are united in support of the workers of the United States.” a young Ford worker in the Detroit area told the WSWS and it is good they are fighting back…All over the world workers working for these transnational companies are saying they are not going to take it anymore You have seen strikes in Europe and the yellow vest protests in France I support everyone who wants a better life.” The US and other foreign-owned corporations responded to the Matamoros strike with a campaign of collective punishment subjecting the courageous workers to mass layoffs By mid-March at least 4,000 workers were fired and another 50,000 layoffs had been threatened by Mexico’s main business organization On March 12, the WSWS Autoworker Newsletter, published a statement Defend the Matamoros workers!” The statement warned if the reprisals were not stopped tens of thousands of workers and their families would be “hurled into destitution and raw material for super-exploitation for years to come.” It called for workers across the US and Canada to demand an end to the reprisals in Mexico and the rehiring of all victimized workers It further urged them to inform their co-workers about the situation in Matamoros popularize their struggle widely on social media and reach out to their brothers and sisters across the border “Preparations should be made for strike action and mass demonstrations including at the US and Canadian locations of the companies which are exploiting and victimizing the Matamoros workers.” the WSWS Autoworker Newsletter pointed to the strategic character of the strike and its global significance:   While workers have become increasingly connected with each other across national borders the gulf between their interests and those of the global corporations and the super-rich has reached unprecedented proportions the same ruthless enemy—the capitalist ruling class—seeks to squeeze every ounce of profit from workers and then shutter plants and throw tens of thousands into joblessness as it continually searches for cheaper labor and better rates of return The transnational corporations have for decades relied on the trade unions in order to maintain “labor peace”—that is the suppression of strikes and any other forms of struggle by workers The unions’ corrupt “labor-management partnerships” have gone hand-in-hand with their endless promotion of nationalism a poisonous divide-and-conquer strategy used to block an internationally unified struggle of workers By rebelling against the unions and beginning to form new organizations of the rank and file the Matamoros workers provided a demonstration of the colossal power workers have when they begin to take independent action through the expansion of rank-and-file committees across North America The months-long strike movement was only wound down through corporate and state repression and the collusion of the new “independent unions,” which were brought in to replace the discredited CTM these unions and their supporters in the pseudo-left Morena Party acted quickly to shut down the strikes and promote illusions in the “labor reforms” by Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO) But the strike wave in the global auto industry that began in Mexico in 2019 would soon spread to the United States later that year 48,000 General Motors workers began what would be a 40-day strike the longest national auto walkout in half a century The US strike led to production slowdowns and layoffs in Canada and Mexico demonstrating the interconnectedness of the global industry and international working class this time against the corporatist UAW bureaucracy that had been colluding with corporate management and successive capitalist governments for decades to slash the jobs living standards and work conditions of autoworkers The “culture of corruption” in the UAW apparatus would soon come to light with the arrest of a near dozen top UAW officials for embezzling union dues and accepting corporate bribes for signing sweetheart contracts which halved the wages of new hires and eliminated pensions and other hard-fought gains the workers in Mexico strove to unite with their co-workers north of the border In the days before the expiration of the GM contract in the United States workers at GM’s plant in Silao—who produce GM’s top-selling pickup trucks for less than $3 an hour on 12-hour shifts—held a popular assembly and voted to reject management demands to increase their output to make up for the company’s lost production due to the US strike GM responded by firing five militants The WSWS and the autoworker rank-and-file committees immediately launched a campaign to inform striking GM workers of the victimizations and to add the demand for their rehiring the UAW bureaucracy sought to impose a blackout on any news about the Silao workers That is because the heroic stand taken by the Silao workers cut across their lying narrative that Mexican workers are the enemies of workers in the US and Canada who are only too happy to work for poverty wages in order to “steal” the jobs of American and Canadian workers On the picket lines in Flint and Detroit, Michigan, however, GM workers who learned about the stand of the Silao workers denounced the firings and expressed solidarity with their Mexican brothers The UAW bureaucracy never raised the issue of the Mexican workers and after forty days pushed through another sellout deal which sanctioned the closure of the Lordstown the continuation of the hated two-tier wage and benefit system and expansion of low-paid temporary positions which relentlessly promoted racist slanders against Mexican workers gave up remaining defined benefit and hybrid pensions in exchange for GM’s promise to restart operations in the Oshawa plant albeit with a workforce of largely low-paid second- and third-tier workers This struggle took place during the first Trump administration the UAW promoted his trade war policies and kept silent on his vicious attacks on immigrant workers the UAW and other unions hailed Trump’s new US-Mexico-Canada-Trade Agreement was aimed at strengthening the position of American corporations Recognizing the importance of the “independent unions” to contain the opposition of Mexican workers to US-based transnational corporations Trump agreed to include in the USMCA pact $240 million in funding for US Department of Labor to “support the implementation of Mexico’s labor reform” and for “educating and training Mexican workers.” But the new unions the Democratic Socialists of America and other pseudo-left outfits have proven to be just another chain around the necks of Mexican workers In a similar fashion, Washington engineered a facelift of the UAW bureaucracy. In 2023, Shawn Fain, a long time cog in the union’s bureaucratic machine, was installed as UAW president in a rigged election in which the union apparatus disenfranchised 90 percent of the membership by refusing to adequately publicize the vote or update members’ mailing addresses so they could receive ballots Despite this, socialist Mack Trucks worker Will Lehman won the votes of nearly 5,000 workers running on the program of transferring power from the UAW apparatus to workers on the shop floor and unifying workers across borders under the direction of the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees (IWA-RFC) Fain sold out the 2023 contract battle by 150,000 GM giving the global automakers the green light to destroy thousands of jobs After his failed attempt to get Harris and the pro-corporate and pro-war Democrats elected he quickly switched sides and is now colluding with the fascist president against workers in the US and internationally “The UAW supports aggressive tariff action to protect American manufacturing jobs as a good first step to undoing decades of anti-worker trade policy.” Fain urged Trump not to frame his trade war as a “fight over immigrant and drug policy.” Instead “We are willing to support the Trump Administration’s use of tariffs to stop plant closures and curb the power of corporations that pit US workers against workers in other countries.”   Trump’s mass deportations of immigrants and trade wars measures are cut out of the same reactionary political cloth Both are aimed at dividing the working class strengthening the position of US-based capitalists against their global competitors How can American workers win the support of Mexican and Canadian workers for a fight against the transnational corporations if they support trade tariffs that would toss thousands of these workers onto the unemployment lines The reality is workers in North and South America Europe and Africa are connected in a single process of world production most of which crisscross the borders of the US Analysts from Barclays say the 25 percent tariffs on imported parts and assembled vehicles “could effectively wipe out all profits” of the Detroit Three automakers would be passed onto consumers and lead to a wave of plant closures and mass layoffs This would mean the loss of hundreds of thousands of jobs in Mexico and Canada American-First nationalism is based on the reactionary fantasy that the global economy supply chains and production facilities developed over decades can be stuffed back within the confines of the national economy from the Nazi’s program of national autarchy to the passage of the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act by the US Congress in 1930 has proven that trade war is the first step towards world war This is why Trump’s trade war measures go hand-in-hand with his pledges to seize the Panama Canal and annex Greenland The watchword of autoworkers must not be America First The International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees is fighting to unify the working class throughout North America and the world to defend the jobs living standards and working conditions of all workers The IWA-RFC urges workers in the US to expand the network of autoworker rank-and-file committees into every factory and establish lines of communication and coordinated action with their brothers and sisters in Mexico Canada and other countries to fight the global attack on jobs and conditions by the transnational corporations The IWA-RFC has proven to be the only means through which workers can oppose the sabotage of the union bureaucracies coordinate their struggles across national boundaries and connect the fight against capitalist exploitation with the fight against Trump’s attack on immigrants and the destruction of the social and democratic rights of the entire working class A study of the lessons of the Matamoros struggle is critical for an understanding of the global character of the class struggle and the development of a politically conscious movement of the working class to put an end to the rule of the capitalist oligarchy and reorganize the global economy under the control of the working class to meet human needs and put an end to poverty By Cheryl HallBusiness columnist The 46-year-old founder and CEO of Dallas-based De Leon Capital is proof positive that it’s alive and well citizen grew up as a poor kid in Matamoros “The border was not an easy place to grow up It was not Highland Park,” De Leon said recently in his high-rise office on Maple Avenue Business BriefingBecome a business insider with the latest news GoogleFacebookBy signing up you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy Since starting his fledgling real estate company with $80,000 nearly 20 years ago De Leon has quietly amassed a family-owned private investment empire with $10 billion in directly held assets His holding company owns and operates 12 companies — six in health care three in real estate and three in financial services — with a combined payroll of 4,000 people “I’m a zealot about how extraordinary this country is and the greatest believer in the American Dream,” De Leon said. “There’s never been a system of social mobility that has allowed people to improve their lives the way the United States allows people to do today.” Friends, family and colleagues say De Leon is charismatic, focused, hard-charging, kind, humble and private, dispenses praise freely and facilitates career advancement, but expects accountability. Earlier this month, the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans Inc. inducted De Leon into its prestigious “rags-to-riches” class of 2025 in three-day ceremonies in Washington, D.C. It’s the only organization that De Leon has ever joined. “Being part of a group-think just wasn’t my thing,” he said. “I wanted to be a contrarian and think for myself. I was never an easy, natural fit for large groups, but I love the Horatio and what it does.” Horatio Alger is the largest needs-based scholarship organization in the United States. This year, it will award $17.4 million for higher education, military or technical training to disadvantaged U.S. and Canadian students who endured extreme hardships growing up. De Leon has never openly shared his personal story before, preferring to listen to his grandmother’s admonition — issued in Spanish — that: “Spouting whales get harpooned.” “The scholarship recipients help me reconnect with my young self,” he said last week. “The reason I decided to get involved with the Horatio Alger was the hope that I could be an emissary to young people.” One scholar came up to De Leon after the ceremony to say that she was inspired that someone like him with a similar hardship story could be so successful. “This young lady had an incredible story,” De Leon said. “Her parents were drug addicts. She had grown up homeless, left to sleep in other people’s homes on a couch or a floor.” This fall, she will be an entering freshman at Stanford University on a full-ride scholarship to study aeronautics. “I told her, ‘You’re the only person I know who can beat me at having grown up in more adversity.’ This young one had a solid stability about her that was unbelievable. “These young people see themselves in me, and I see a little bit of me in them. It gives us both hope.” Young Fernando was the family’s “oops baby” — the youngest of his five siblings by at least 10 years and the only one to be born in the U.S. He crossed the Mexico-Texas border twice each day. He attended Russell Elementary in his birth town of Brownsville as an English as a second language (ESL) student in the daytime and returned home to Matamoros for an afternoon school with kids who worked in the fields in the mornings. Fernando’s father was a lawyer in Matamoros who owned a junkyard to make ends meet. He died when Fernando was 12, leaving the family in serious financial straits. There were times when they had no electricity. “It was difficult, and it wasn’t pretty, but it was workable. We were never without love.” As a teenager, Fernando used his translation skills and friends-and-family network to help U.S. real estate developers get building permits and to hire locals as part of the newly adopted North American Free Trade Agreement rush. At 15, he bartered that expertise to gain equity stakes in various development projects in lieu of payment. Three years later, he’d saved enough money to buy his mother a house in Brownsville — still a highlight of his life. He went to Harvard College on a merit-based, full-ride scholarship having scored a combined perfect SATs of 1600 and graduated cum laude in 2001. Dallas developer Craig Hall, a 2007 recipient of the Horatio Alger award, nominated De Leon for this year’s class. “I found his story fascinating, remarkable and what makes America unique,” Hall said. “It’s more than just a financial thing. It’s the social, economic and whole experience of life.” There’s a table-sized chessboard in De Leon’s office that reinforces the game’s strategic prowess taught by his father and his older brother Luis De Leon. “Chess has been very important in setting goals and strategy,” De Leon said. The board is still played by a half-dozen fellow chess nerds, who drop in and try to best their boss. Half of the time they do. His 24-year-old nephew, a highly ranked chessman, comes in on Friday afternoons. De Leon can’t remember ever beating him. But De Leon’s success really is a testament to winning spelling bees and the power of words. Fernando’s principal at Russell Elementary allowed the fifth grader to compete in the school’s spelling bee, even though he was an ESL student. His ailing father helped him memorize a 400,000-word Merriman-Webster English dictionary. “My dad dissected words in terms of etymology,” De Leon said, i.e. the origin of a word and the historical development of its meaning. The carrot for his quest was prize money at the National Spelling Bee. “My family was always pushing me saying, ‘Hey, you’ve got to go live this American life — this American Dream. You’ve got a little bit of accountability and a little bit of opportunity. You kind of owe it to the family to do well, come back and help us out.’” He didn’t win in the national competition, but placed high enough to take home $10,000. “Also at the national, I met a lot of really interesting young people who at 12 or 13 were already talking about college and going to great schools,” De Leon recalled. “That started infiltrating my mind to rethink my objectives in life.” Last month, Southwest Airlines and Leon Capital sponsored the 67th Dallas Regional Spelling Bee where students from 35 counties vied to represent North Texas at the Scripps National Spelling Bee during an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C. in May. “The spelling bee was such a transformative part of my life,” he said. “It gave me a window into how people thought. Today, I can still go from speaking to my Harvard economics professor or Clark Hunt [owner of the Kansas City Chiefs] or or go back home and speak to a person on a construction crew. I can see the bookends of humanity, and I can speak to it through language.” As a kid, he also used his love of words to travel the world vicariously. His favorite word was streuselkuchen (German crumb cake). “I had no idea what it meant, but I loved the way it sounded,” he said with a laugh. “I’m an 11-year-old kid in Matamoros, Mexico, oscillating between two cultures. But I got to go all the way to Munich and learn about its cuisine because I was learning a word that was funny to me. “What a great, inexpensive way to travel.” Fresh out of college, De Leon went to work for Goldman Sachs as a financial analyst. He didn’t last long. “This was part of the civil disobedience period of my life. My boss said something to the effect of: ‘I have no doubt that you will be a wealthy client of this firm one day, but today you’re a pretty poor employee.’ “I almost took that as a badge of honor. Goldman Sachs was like boot camp for Navy SEALs.” And it turns out, his former boss was spot on. De Leon is now an uber Goldman Sachs client. And he’s never worn a pinstripe suit since leaving his job there. In 2004, Dallas developer Harold Pollman took a chance on a 25-year-old, cash-strapped De Leon by partnering with him to build a subdivision in Pleasant Grove. Pollman, who was six decades older, provided capital and the land. De Leon provided sweat equity. Pollman, now deceased, had to leave the subdivision’s grand opening because his wife was gravely ill. After he left, De Leon choked up as he emotionally thanked his business partner. Ironically, that’s how De Leon met his future wife, Patricia. She was at the event doing freelance PR work for the subdivision. Her day job was working in the human resources department, recruiting bilingual teachers for the Dallas Independent School District. “Patricia came up to me afterward and said simply, ‘I thought it was very nice what you did for Mr. Pollman.’ I said, ‘OK, well maybe we should talk more about this over dinner.’ And the rest is history.” Fernando and Patricia were married three years later. “I always talk about building a multigenerational legacy of wealth,” De Leon said. “I tell Patricia, ‘I’ll be responsible for the wealth. You’ll be responsible for the multigenerational part. What I mean by that is the beauty of her soul. She is a better manifestation of humanity than me.” So how does she feel about being married to a whirlwind wordsmith? “It’s an adventure, an adventure for sure. He’s really a very thoughtful and empathetic person,” she said. “I don’t know what it says about him, but I’m literally the exact opposite of someone who would excel in a spelling bee.” De Leon’s closest buddy is Michael Mallick, the 62-year-old founder of Fort Worth-based Mallick Group Inc., a real estate, energy and technology infrastructure investment firm. They met by chance at a Dallas Cowboys’ game almost 20 years ago. As luck would have it, they bonded and developed an affordable housing project in Fort Worth together. In 2008, during the subprime meltdown, Mallick gave his friend the best advice De Leon says he’s ever gotten. Mallick saw his friend spinning his wheels, working 18-hour days looking all over D-FW and around the state for any real estate opportunity — just like everyone else with a college degree and getting the same mediocre results. “One day, I said, ‘What the hell are you doing?’ ” Mallick recalled. “And he said, ‘What do you mean?’ In frustration, I said something like, ‘You did not get this far by going to Harvard. Be less of a guy who went to Harvard, and more of a street guy from Matamoros!’ “I think his survival-or-else upbringing, readopting that Matamoros mantra and then using his Harvard education has played a significant role in his success.” Craig Hall and De Leon got to know each other in 2016, when De Leon bought a tract on Custer Road and the President George Bush Turnpike from Hall and built apartments on it. Others had approached Hall about buying the land, but he wouldn’t sell. “I didn’t know Craig, but I asked Ross Perot [Jr.] to introduce us, and he did,” De Leon said. “Craig and I hit it off quickly.” Despite their 29-year age difference, the two are simpatico as watchful, self-made contrarians and disruptors. “When you build something from nothing,” De Leon said, “you have this vulnerability that exposes you to the elements, but it also endows you with a sensibility to understand human nature and develop good judgment. “I don’t think you can develop that unless you do it from the ground up like Craig and I did.” Looking out through his panoramic office windows near Uptown, De Leon pointed to numerous high-rises and pieces of property snapped up by large institutions or international players. “Individual developers have a hard time competing with this onslaught of capital coming in from all over the world — particularly coming into Dallas in the last 10 years,” he said. “But when you do it right and create value, like Craig and I do, you’re rewarded very well for it because it’s so difficult to do.” De Leon prefers functional luxury to private jets and flashy cars. The company is a shareholder in an aircraft trading business that he and other top executives use for business purposes. “We fly commercial plenty also,” he said. He drives a 3-year-old GMC Denali that’s large enough for his family of six. “I generally detest depreciating assets,” De Leon said. “I built my business with $80K of savings, so spending on low utility objects comes with great opportunity cost. I tell my children that a $20 haircut will cost you $10,000 in the future if you invest it wisely today.” Roughly 10 people show up for Sunday dinner at his home in North Dallas including his brother Luis, who is 14 years older. “Before I was born, when Luis was between 10 and 12, he fell off the house, hit his head and was very seriously injured. My mother promised God that if Luis survived, she would take a vow of poverty forever," De Leon said. “Whenever things were difficult and dire at the house, we’d sit around and say, ‘Luis, why did you have to fall off the roof?’ To this day, even now that things are good, we still throw that at him.” Hall says De Leon is a thought leader. “He’s clearly able to see things that other people don’t see, and make things happen that many people don’t think to do.” Since its inception, Leon Capital has pumped money into 800 investments in a dozen industries — some more successful than others. In 2014, De Leon saw that his Dallas-based tenant had tapped into the growing popularity of pet ownership with five upscale veterinarian clinics in convenient locations. But it needed more capital and a better understanding of real estate to expand beyond Texas. Leon Capital and CityVet formed a private equity partnership to do just that. Eight years later, when Leon Capital sold its interests back to CityVet for undisclosed terms, the chain had 25 clinics in four markets. De Leon says he uses such lessons — good and bad — as “muscle memory” to replicate or avoid. Organized stacks of manila files cover his desk — one stack for each line of businesses that needs his direct attention. At front-and-center is the folder for the holding company that oversees all of the businesses. It’s about 12 inches tall. “Building a business is chewing glass and staring into the abyss,” De Leon said. “It is a tough, tough go. I love it. I do it all the time. But it’s solitary confinement. It is rough.” Among the stacks are folders for the largest operator of U.S. medical spas, an office salon suite company with 1.5 million annual customers, one of the largest dental implant providers in North America, a company that owns and leases health care properties to hospitals and another that offers cardiac care to underserved Texas markets. Leon Capital has a current inventory of about 6,500 apartment units concentrated in Dallas, Austin, Phoenix, Charlotte, N.C., and Raleigh, N.C. “I love the convergence of profitability and a strong social impact,” he said, patting the stack that includes a company that finances medical bills that aren’t covered by insurance. “We were really, really clever about that. We started creating lending programs that helped people access cataract surgery or laser surgery or braces for the children or whatever,” he said. “We built it because we needed to support our health care business and, at the same time, we could offer something that people wanted.” There’s a folder for Turnwell Mental Health Network, which provides outpatient psychiatry for tens of thousands of patients every year, including work with the Veterans Administration and the Department of Defense. “We’re opening a couple of clinics a month right now. So I’m very excited about it,” De Leon said. “I think it has a very long runway, but it also has a huge social impact. There is sort of a Cambrian explosion of mental health conditions happening in this moment because we live in such a complex society.” I nod as if I understand this. An internet search tells me that the original Cambrian explosion happened approximately 540 million years ago when the planet’s life forms dramatically changed to more complex animals. “This one is for deals we’re doing with others,” he said. It contains an alliance with Ross Perot Jr. that has developed 60 million square feet of industrial space in the European Union. Another large stack lies close by on the floor. “This is my homework. I look at resumes every weekend for recruiting strategies to staff our growth,” he said. “It’s recruiting, but it’s basically finding human capital that helps us scale our businesses. I build a team around a problem I want to solve.” “Stamina. You can learn technical elements of the business, but I need people who can deal with adversity in the trenches.” As for making America great again, De Leon says it’s never lost its luster. “Today, we have a $30-trillion GDP economy that serves 340 million Americans,” he said. “It is the most prosperous society. It is the most productive society. People can move up and down in social hierarchies. “There is nothing that we celebrate more than somebody who came from nothing and built something. What does that tell you? It tells you that we have a philosophy that embraces this ethos, this can-do spirit. No other place has it at our level and our quantity.” Is he worried about today’s current political climate? “I don’t worry about four-year time spans,” he said, referring to the current administration of President Donald Trump. “Administrations are like internships. They come and go. Our society ebbs and flows in what it values. But Americans continue to have these major pillars that drive us forward: innovation, productive output, family and household formation. “You go to Richardson or Plano on a Saturday morning, and you see thousands of families at soccer games. The civic engagement of American families is still an extraordinary force. “Are there things that we disagree with, absolutely. But I don’t think that they are determinative of the entire future of our society.” Grew up: Both sides of the border — Brownsville and Matamoros, Mexico Education: St. Joseph Academy, Brownsville, 1997; Bachelor of Arts on a full scholarship, Harvard College, cum laude, 2001 Personal: Married to Patricia for nearly 18 years. They have a daughter, 15, and sons 13, 9 and 7. What it does: Owns and operates 12 companies — six in health care, three in real estate and three in financial services. Employees: 100 in the family headquarters; 4,000 systemwide, including 200 financial and investment professionals around the globe Thank you for reading. We welcome your thoughts on this topic. Comments are moderated for adherence to our Community Guidelines Please read the guidelines before participating There was a lot of enthusiasm for what’s happening at SpaceX south of the border A crowd of spectators gathered Thursday in the city of Matamoros along the beach of Playa Bagdad about five miles from the launch site in Boca Chica The crowd was witnessing SpaceX’s seventh launch of their Starship vehicle READ MORE: SpaceX loses spacecraft after catching rocket booster at the launch pad in latest Starship test The far north point of Playa Bagdad has one of the closest and clearest views of the launch pad Mexican authorities closed down access to the beach as far as a mile and half Channel 5 News got access to go past the civilian checkpoint and past the iconic “Faro Bagdad” lighthouse on the beach and the mouth of the Rio Grande that separates the two countries.  Those in the crowd said Thursday’s successful takeoff was an inspiration.  it’s incredible,” Moises Correa said in Spanish “Matamoros is a privileged site to have a front row to see this.” The rocket’s booster returned to the launch pad and with it two sonic booms that startled even those who expected it in the area SpaceX later said that the Starship vehicle broke apart following the launch Presented by T-Mobile – August 14 – 25 falling only to Cotaxtla Little League in its final pool play game Making its last trip to Williamsport in 2022 where it finished with a 2-2 record, Matamoros Little League will return to the biggest stage in youth sports for the seventh time in the league’s history to make the country’s 36th appearance since 1957 second most among international teams only behind Canada Matamoros Little League had its best finish in the 2008 LLBWS winning five straight games on the way to a runner-up finish in the championship game The first-round matchups for the 2024 LLBWS were announced on June 12 just one week after the anniversary of the first-ever Little League game and in the heart of the 65th National Little League® Week Celebrations where it was shared that Mexico will open the tournament against the Caribbean Region in Game 1 of the World Series on Wednesday wecare@gardenofmemoriesmetairie.com504-833-3786    wecare@gardenofmemoriesmetairie.com  504-833-3786    wecare@gardenofmemoriesmetairie.com  504-833-3786     Garden of Memories Funeral Home and Cemetery 4900 Airline DriveMetairie, LA 70001Tel: 504-833-3786 Garden Of Memories Funeral Home & Cemetery Advanced Planning3850 North Causeway Blvd Suite 119Metairie Families in Matamoros noticed a change recently but they had an appointment for an asylum interview to start crossing the border Those appointments went away last week after the CBP One app shut down we didn't get a response,” Venezuelan migrant Luis Naranjo said Naranjo is staying at a Catholic run migrant camp at the former Alfredo Pumarejo Hospital Channel 5 News was told that number is lower than usual Camp director Jose Luis Elias said many migrants at the camp decided to stay and hope for things to improve.  A few blocks away from the camp is the city stadium where the Mexican government is building a temporary tent city that has the capacity to house 3,000 people Matamoros Mayor Alberto Granados says they're getting ready While Matamoros is currently not on the receiving end of a massive deportation effort officials said they’re expecting more migrants to come Water pumps have been set up across the city of Matamoros to move water out of the streets Nearly 30 neighborhoods were impacted by flooding south of Brownsville in Matamoros due to activity from Tropical Storm Francine The pumps were set up by Matamoros’ Water and Drainage Board since noon on Monday Officials say the concern is that continued rainfall will keep the flooding risk Videos and photos provided by AG Noticias shows streets fully covered in water and some people using paddle boats to get around.  Back in her hometown in the state of Portuguesa Magnaly Márquez had to make a choice: Buy her 3-year-old son a pair of shoes She didn’t have enough money for both—despite having studied business administration sitting in a charity hospital-turned-migrant shelter in Matamoros Márquez’s eyes welled with tears as she recounted her story In November, the 30-year-old single mother decided to leave for the United States with her son, Milands, in tow. They trekked across the Darién Gap a treacherous stretch of jungle at the Panama-Colombia border Migrants frequently run out of food and water relying on untreated streams at the risk of illness or severe dehydration When I met her in mid-June, Márquez had been waiting in northern Mexico, just across the river from Brownsville, since February. She hopes to seek asylum, which will ultimately require her to prove she faced a form of persecution beyond financial deprivation. Her home country is engulfed in a long-running crisis that is both political and economic sitting on a metal bench in the sweltering summer heat We are warriors who just want a better life—to work—for our children.” In his most dramatic action yet, Biden issued an executive order earlier this month that suspends asylum access between ports of entry when daily crossings exceed a certain threshold. Traditionally, as codified in U.S. law migrants may request asylum “whether or not at a designated port of arrival.” This order already challenged by the American Civil Liberties Union she and her toddler-aged son stopped so she could work They needed more money to continue their journey north she sold arepas and worked in a grocery store and at a printing press the state that borders South Texas from Brownsville to Laredo She said she knows from personal experience: Márquez told me she and her son were grabbed on a bus earlier this year and kidnapped by cartel members in Reynosa for extortion Such incidents are commonplace in northern Mexico border towns cautioning against travel in nearby Reynosa but asylum-seekers are specifically targeted for extortion As of mid-June, there are around 2,000 asylum-seekers stuck in Reynosa waiting to cross into Texas and an additional 2,000 in Matamoros, according to an estimate from the Sidewalk School a humanitarian nonprofit that works with asylum-seekers in both cities I requested estimates from Customs and Border Protection and Mexico’s Instituto Nacional de Migración but have not received responses.  In the Matamoros hospital-turned-refuge, known as the Pumarejo shelter, asylum-seekers wait in limbo for their CBPOne appointments—wait times average several months—spending the day helping run the facility or lying in their tents Children have the option of attending English and art classes held by the Sidewalk School but they do not attend local government schools The adults are often unable to get jobs off-site to earn money; the cartel kidnappings have made it dangerous for migrants to leave the shelter asylum-seekers sought safety there instead but around a couple dozen migrants remain in the camp The Kaleo International Shelter, a partnership between a Christian missionary organization and the Sidewalk School tucked away in a sparsely populated Reynosa neighborhood beside a park that’s home to mesquite The property is surrounded by concrete walls and enclosed behind a corrugated metal door 39-year-old Jorel Bien Aimé was sitting inside waiting to see a doctor He was suffering from chronic neck and back pain He’d traveled a long road to Reynosa from his hometown in Haiti working various jobs to send remittances back to his family He cleaned streets and plazas and picked blueberries and apples but his wages often weren’t enough to actually send money home covering his face as his hands began to tremble He said he’s been waiting on his CBPOne appointment The Kaleo Shelter mostly houses Haitian migrants a former police officer in the Legislative Palace in Haiti’s capital Port-au-Prince spent months in Reynosa but did not stay at Kaleo He told me he never wanted to leave his home country he said he started receiving threats to his family His wife and son fled to the Dominican Republic where Haitians face widespread discrimination and deportation One evening as he was leaving work in Haiti Ostin said members of a criminal gang tried to kill him Ostin said he waited close to a year for a CBPOne appointment he checked his phone to see if he was selected he finally had his appointment and was allowed to enter the United States he sent me a picture of himself inside a car Ostin said he was enjoying the most peace he had felt in his life I could hear his toddler son watching cartoons on a tablet sleepy city on the Arkansas-Oklahoma border he sees neighbors chatting and kids playing soccer outside well into the evening—simple pleasures that aren’t safe when it’s dark out in Port-au-Prince or Reynosa Francesca D'Annunzio is the Texas Observer's 2025 David McHam investigative reporting fellow D’Annunzio has reported on topics ranging from deportations in the Dominican Republic Her work has been published or syndicated in The Guardian US The Global Investigative Journalism Network She received her master’s in investigative journalism from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University and is an alumna of the Arabic Flagship and Humanities programs at The University of Texas at Austin All of the Texas Observer’s articles are available for free syndication for news sources under the following conditions: You can chip in for as little as $3 a month Get our latest in-depth reporting straight to your inbox © 2021 The Texas Observer. All rights reserved. Site made in collaboration with CMYK The Mexican city of Matamoros announced on Tuesday they are preparing a temporary migrant shelter in case people are deported from the United States The shelter is being built in the Pedro Salazar Maldonado Stadium “This space will provide safety and comfort ensuring visitors' well-being during their stay,” the city said in a social media post “A joint effort to provide them with the necessary support on their return.” A completion date on the shelter was not immediately available.  Dozens of streets in the city of Matamoros were flooded on Tuesday leading to soldiers with the Mexican army performing water rescues Photos provided by AG Noticias shows rescue crews going around town in high water trucks to help get people out of their flooded homes Matamoros’ Water and Drainage Board set up pumps across the city to help alleviate the flooding in nearly 30 neighborhoods.  PREVIOUS STORY: Flooding reported in several Matamoros neighborhoods The murder of a business association leader in Matamoros prompted another business group to call on authorities to “intensify” security efforts across Mexico president of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce (Fecanaco) in Tamaulipas and a former candidate for governor in the state was shot and killed outside the National Chamber of Commerce building in the northern border city who was in his car at the time of the attack was reportedly shot as many as nine times by assailants who fled the scene on a motorbike The 55-year-old business leader had spoken out about widespread crime, including extortion, which caused the convenience store chain Oxxo to temporarily close all 191 of its stores in Nuevo Laredo Almanza told the news station Milenio Televisión that Tamaulipas was being held “hostage” by organized crime groups and called on authorities to guarantee security in the state On Tuesday, the influential Business Coordinating Council (CCE) issued a statement expressing “profound regret” over Almanza’s murder saying that “this terrible occurrence represents a great loss for the business community and all those who worked with him on the promotion of economic development in the region.” the CCE expressed its “most profound anger” over “the growing insecurity affecting Mexico especially businesses and the families that depend on them.” “… We make an emphatic call to authorities … [to not allow] this act to go unpunished and to intensify the efforts of all three levels of government to guarantee the safety and peace our families deserve,” it said “We reaffirm that the development and prosperity of Mexico depends to a large extent on a safe environment which is essential for economic dynamism and the attraction of new investment,” the CCE said “It is imperative that urgent and effective measures are taken to protect all citizens and guarantee a safer and more prosperous future,” it added Governor Américo Villareal condemned the “cowardly murder” of Almanza and said his government was committed to working “arduously so that security and justice authorities carry out an exhaustive investigation.” In a post to X on Tuesday he described the Fecanaco chief as “a brave voice who always stood up against injustices.” His murder “profoundly affects us as a society and government,” Villareal said En #LaMañanera | “Me duele mucho”, dijo el presidente López Obrador sobre el asesinato de Julio César Almanza Armas, presidente de la Fecanaco en Tamaulipas. Dijo que lo “más difícil” cuando se gobierna, es recibir el informe de la muerte de gente inocente, “no tenemos de piedra… pic.twitter.com/nfnCDDQgkh — Azucena Uresti (@azucenau) July 31, 2024 President Andrés Manuel López Obrador told reporters at his Wednesday morning press conference that “all murders hurt,” and even more so when the victim is “innocent.” “… We don’t have hearts of stone López Obrador noted that an investigation into the murder of the Fecanaco leader is underway No arrests in connection with the crime were reported on Tuesday “I send my condolences to the family,” López Obrador said We didn’t want this to happen.” López Obrador’s six-year term in office will go down as the most violent in Mexican history in terms of total homicides, with more than 193,000 recorded since he took office in December 2018 However, homicide numbers have trended down during López Obrador’s administration, and last year reached their lowest level since 2016 ADVERTISE WITH MND COMMUNITY GUIDELINES Subscription FAQ's Privacy Policy Mexico News Daily - Property of Tavana LLC Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obradordrew a huge crowd to the Mexican side of the Gateway International Bridge in Matamoros located in the Mexican state of Tamaulipas López Obrador visited the area Monday to unveil a statue near the bridge The statue is of 19th century figure Catarino Garza a former Brownsville resident who was born in Matamoros.  Garza led a band of fighters from South Texas across the border to try and overthrow dictator Porfirio Díaz between 1891-1893 López Obrador was joined by Mexico's President-elect the bridge has been closed to the public on both sides as Mexican officials prepare for López Obrador’s visit.  The Gateway International Bridge is expected to reopen to the public on Tuesday Get the best experience and stay connected to your community with our Spectrum News app. Learn More CIUDAD VICTORIA, Mexico (AP) — Even Mexico’s largest corporations are now being hit by demands from drug cartels, and gangs are increasingly trying to control the sale, distribution and pricing of certain goods high-ranking business leaders aren’t even safe the head of the business chambers’ federation in Tamaulipas state gave television interviews complaining about drug cartel extortion in the state Julio Almanza was shot to death outside his offices in the city of Matamoros we are hostages of criminal groups,” Almanza said in one of his last interviews “Charging extortion payments has practically become the national sport in Tamaulipas.” The problem came to a head when the FEMSA corporation Mexico’s largest chain of convenience stores announced late last week that it was closing all of its 191 stores and seven gas stations in another border city The company said it had long had to deal with cartel demands that its gas stations buy their fuel from certain distributors But the straw that broke the camel’s back came in recent weeks when gang members abducted two store employees demanding they act as lookouts or provide information to the gang Since convenience stores are used by most people in Mexico the gangs see them as good points to keep tabs on the movements of police “We had incidents in stores that consisted of them (gangs) demanding we give them certain information and they even abducted two colleagues to enforce this demand,” said Roberto Campa FEMSA said its stores in Nuevo Laredo remain closed this week “due to acts of violence that put our colleagues’ safety at risk.” Cartel violence in Mexico has long been focused on smaller businesses where owners often visit their shops and are easily abducted or approached by gang members to demand extortion payments But FEMSA is the largest soft drink bottler in Latin America and is listed on the Mexican stock exchange released a survey of its members in which 12% of respondents said that “organized crime has taken partial control of the sales distribution and/or pricing of their goods.” That means drug cartels are distorting parts of Mexico’s economy deciding who gets to sell a product and at what price — and in return they are apparently demanding sellers pass a percentage of sales revenue back to the cartel arson and even killings of those found selling goods that had not been “authorized” by them or bought from distributors they control About half of the 218 companies in the American Chamber survey said that trucks carrying their products had suffered attacks and 45% of the companies said they had received extortion demands for protection payments Of the companies that reported how much they had to spend on security measures 58% said they spent between 2% and 10% of their total budgets on security; 4% spent at least a tenth of their total outlays on security measures Femsa said in a statement that it was making progress in talks with authorities that might provide guarantees for the safety of its employees and allow the chain to reopen its stores in Nuevo Laredo Mexico’s powerful drug cartels have expanded their income sources by both extorting money from companies and even taking over legitimate businesses In 2014, authorities confirmed the Knights Templar cartel had essentially taken over exports of iron ore from the western state of Michoacan and the ore trade with China had become perhaps its biggest single sources of income Cartels have also been accused of controlling production and manipulating domestic prices for crops like avocados and limes And late last year, authorities in Michoacan confirmed one cartel had set up its own makeshift internet system and told locals they had to pay to use its Wi-Fi service or they would be killed the cartel’s system involved internet antennas set up in various towns built with stolen equipment The group charged approximately 5,000 people elevated prices between 400 and 500 pesos ($25 to $30) a month Heavy smoke from a landfill fire in the Mexican city of Matamoros is affecting Cameron County residents Heavy smoke from the landfill fire has been affecting Cameron County residents since Wednesday night The Office of Cameron County Judge Eddie Treviño and the Cameron County Office of Emergency Management department are monitoring the situation “Those who are sensitive to air quality issues or have pre-existing conditions such as asthma lung disease or related conditions should exercise additional measures of caution,” the release stated Residents are urged to remain indoors whenever possible wear an “approved” mask while outdoors The play is effectively an 80-minute spar between a boomer therapist played by Charlotte Dennis.Elana Emer/Supplied Actors: Charlotte Dennis and Diego Matamoros Nobody fully understands what the internet is doing to us And there’s no reason to assume its effect is uniform One person’s daily digital dip will be another’s isolating disassociating addiction – the impact on our brains relationships and well-being is surely as diverse as we are You will watch Max Wolf Friedlich’s play Job through the lens of your own screen habits I mean something more philosophical than how often you pick up your phone to scroll this taut two-hander will be a conceptual drama that interrogates the relationship between human nature and the tools we build Is Twitter the culprit or the conduit?) For others the play will be more personal and painful a brief but brutal plunge into darkness they feel every day The play is effectively an 80-minute spar between a boomer man and a Gen-Z woman Jane (Charlotte Dennis) has been put on mandatory leave by her big-tech employer after suffering a very public breakdown at work The video of her screaming at her co-workers went viral; she got “memed” at least a dozen times Managing the PR crisis amid the threat of litigation the company kept up appearances by firing everyone who filmed the moment or shared the clip Albeit with one stipulation: she needs a check-mark of psychological fitness from a company-assigned therapist (Diego Matamoros) Matamoros is tender and compelling as Loyd a therapist trained at Berkeley and raised on the tropes of psychoanalysis.Elana Emer/Supplied the ensuing confrontation – sixtysomething Californian hippie counsels twentysomething Bay Area-techie – could be two-dimensional But Friedlich’s writing is the opposite of flat; it’s textured Jane is one the most complex and convincing characters I’ve seen on stage in a while she is a classic tech-optimist who loves her smartphone and the endless supply of alkaline water at work fiercely ethical and emotionally sensitive She is exhausted by the defeatism in progressive worldviews but too self-aware to think she’s found a solution seeing right through the ubiquitous criticism of young women and social media she’s ‘vain,’ she’s ‘self-obsessed,’”she says I found her absolutely heartbreaking as Jane overwhelmed and often paralyzed young woman to vivid life while still delivering clever comebacks and self-deprecating quips a therapist trained at Berkeley and raised on the tropes of psychoanalysis; he senses the rawness and suffering beneath his patient’s aggressive front But it’s Jane who gets the cartwheels and backflips completely eclipse the performance of a veteran theatre star As the play ventures into darker and more violent territory director David Ferry sculpts the tension into something thick enough to cut Light and sound cues (designed by Wesley Babcock and Michael Wanless respectively) externalize Jane’s psychological state A panic attack finds Jane pacing back and forth before a sinister figure (Matamoros in a very creepy theatre mask) is breathing down her neck and Ferry’s decision to wrap the audience around the stage cleverly mirrors implicit questions of sympathy and point of view The lighting made it possible to see the expressions of audience members across the room which made me hyper-conscious of how differently this play can be experienced and understood both Jane and Loyd are self-important; at different times they each reveal delusions of professional grandeur rife with martyrdom Both think they are doing more than their fair share of humanity’s grunt work And while I had a tendency to see Loyd as out-of-touch and smug I’m sure there was a viewer across from me who found Jane strident and sanctimonious If we needed a clear sense of Friedlich’s sympathies he reveals them with a big twist near the end It’s a theatrical moment that goes too far in literalizing ideas we have been parsing all along and only serves to flatten the play’s complexity The revelation is gratuitously cruel to an audience who has already been on a bleak journey It’s too facile to say that your age will determine who you side with in Job and why As a “geriatric millennial,” I fall exactly between the two depicted generations one just beneath the surface of every discussion of power Report an editorial error Report a technical issue Editorial code of conduct Authors and topics you follow will be added to your personal news feed in Following Martha Schabas is a contributor to The Globe and Mail was shortlisted for an Evergreen Fiction Award and named a Book of the Year by The Globe and Mail arts criticism and short fiction have appeared in several Canadian journals and magazines Welcome to The Globe and Mail’s comment community. This is a space where subscribers can engage with each other and Globe staff. Non-subscribers can read and sort comments but will not be able to engage with them in any way. Click here to subscribe If you would like to write a letter to the editor, please forward it to letters@globeandmail.com. Readers can also interact with The Globe on Facebook and Twitter Welcome to The Globe and Mail’s comment community This is a space where subscribers can engage with each other and Globe staff We aim to create a safe and valuable space for discussion and debate If you do not see your comment posted immediately it is being reviewed by the moderation team and may appear shortly We aim to have all comments reviewed in a timely manner Comments that violate our community guidelines will not be posted UPDATED: Read our community guidelines here We have closed comments on this story for legal reasons or for abuse. For more information on our commenting policies and how our community-based moderation works, please read our Community Guidelines and our Terms and Conditions Coto Matamoros and Real Madrid | Real Madrid Confidencial FIRST TEAM Coto Matamoros Can't Believe It and Explodes After Getafe - Madrid: 'I Wonder...'The panelist from Defensa Central criticized the lack of playing time for Arda Güler after his great performance at the Coliseum24/04/2025 05:00:00h by Alex Moreno Real Madrid defeated Getafe at the Coliseum with a stellar performance by Arda Güler The young Turk scored a stunning goal with his weaker foot and dominated the game from the inside making it clear that he can contribute much more than he has been allowed this season one of the most forceful reactions came from the usual discussion on Defensa Central's YouTube channel Coto Matamoros didn't hold back and lashed out at Carlo Ancelotti Coto launched his unfiltered criticism: "Real Madrid has won in Getafe with a masterful Arda Güler What I wonder is: Where has this kid been all season?" Matamoros pointed directly at the Italian coach "It was said that he only served as an attacking midfielder and today he gave a lesson in a deeper position Not only did he score a stunning goal with his weaker foot but he also proved that he can be a real option for the midfield." he added: "With all the injuries that have occurred how is it possible that he hasn't had more minutes Ancelotti has been completely unfair to this kid all year The stubbornness of not playing him has deprived us of a spectacular player." Güler's performance against Getafe could mark a turning point He played with freedom but also with tactical responsibility Güler's Goal Celebration | LaLigaIn the first half He capped off his great performance with a powerful shot from outside the box that surprised David Soria Even Ancelotti praised the young Turk after the match but the quality he has in building play is phenomenal." Coto Matamoros isn't the only one who thinks this way but his words on Defensa Central have resonated strongly The debate is open: Did Güler deserve more prominence this season Real Madrid secured three key points in their visit to Vitoria after defeating Deportivo Alavés (0-1).A goal by Eduardo Camavinga in the first half sealed the victory for the team led today by Davide Ancelotti The white team showed solidity throughout the match despite playing more than 30 minutes with a numerical disadvantage Kylian Mbappé was sent off in the 38th minute for a harsh tackle on Antonio Blanco Manu Sánchez leveled the playing field again with his expulsion after a studs-up challenge on Vinícius The Action by Kylian Mbappé That Ended with a Red Card for the Frenchman | Real Madrid ConfidencialReal Madrid took advantage of this situation to bring more calm to the game Dani Ceballos appeared in the final stretch and will be available for the clash against Arsenal next Wednesday Coto Matamoros once again joined the live broadcast of 'Defensa Central' to analyze everything that happened at Mendizorroza The panelist was asked about Kylian Mbappé's action "A match that at one point had become excessively complicated with Mbappé's expulsion was brought forward I think that expulsion threatened to make the match 'extremely difficult' because it's an indisputable red card A player like Mbappé can't do what he did today," explained Coto Matamoros "It's almost unforgivable to leave the team stranded with the physical toll that implies for Wednesday's match," added the panelist Coto Matamoros was asked about the possible suspension for Kylian Mbappé as Real Madrid is very close to the Cup final Coto Matamoros did not hide his anger and disappointment with the Frenchman at any time "I don't understand how he did what he did but you're one of the highest-paid players in the world It's horrendous," concluded Coto Matamoros Department of State emitted a new travel advisory for the cities of Matamoros and Reynosa due to recent kidnappings for ransom targeting U.S The U.S. Consulate General in Matamoros continues to receive reports of organized kidnappings occurring on intercity buses departing Reynosa, Tamaulipas and this week, the U.S. Department of State reinstated the need for a Level 4 alert warning people to not travel due to the high crime rates in the area United States' authorities detailed that the majority of the kidnappings are taking place at night and intercity buses operated by the transportation company Omnibus are being targeted They also added that kidnappers are directing attacks to passengers with connections to the U.S. Victims of the attacks have reported their belongings and documents stolen bank accounts emptied as well as their families being extorted or forced to pay ransoms of thousands of dollars The U.S. Consulate advises travelers to be aware of their surroundings, notify friends and family of plans.. From 2013 to 2022 of the nine sectors into which Border Patrol divides the border saw more migrant crossings than any other sector The Tamaulipas border has become a very dangerous zone for migrants seeking asylum in the United States. Organizations such as Doctors Without Borders reported a 70% increase in sexual violence consultations with migrants in the last three months of 2023 and Crimes such as kidnappings have ramped up in recent years, In 2021 and 2022 Mexican officials recorded just 55 cases of migrant kidnappings nationwide although they reportedly "rescued" more than 2,000 migrants from human smugglers in 2022 a non-governmental human rights organization reported thousands of kidnappings or attempted kidnappings but they were not as normal as they are now," a religious worker told WOLA a non-governmental organization that promotes human rights democracy and social and economic justice in Latin America and the Caribbean "They're dragging people out of their tents at night six Mexican states are currently labelled in the Level 4 - Do Not Travel list (Colima The alert for Tamaulipas was made official last month as kidnappings were already being reported to the U.S Customs and Border Protection officers working at the Brownsville Port of Entry seized $159,531 in bulk “Our officers continue to conduct their inspections with diligence and their hard work led to this significant currency and ammunition seizure,” said Port Director Tater Ortiz CBP officers discovered bulk currency and ammunition hidden within the vehicle currency totaling $159,531 hidden within the vehicle and 200 rounds of .380 ammunition CBP officers seized the currency and the ammunition along with the vehicle Homeland Security Investigations special agents arrested the driver and the passenger and initiated a criminal investigation It is not a crime to carry more than $10,000 but it is a federal offense not to declare currency or monetary instruments totaling $10,000 or more to a CBP officer upon entry or exit from the U.S or to conceal it with intent to evade reporting requirements Failure to declare may result in seizure of the currency and/or arrest An individual may petition for the return of currency seized by CBP officers but the petitioner must prove that the source and intended use of the currency was legitimate Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is America's frontline: the nation's largest law enforcement organization and the world's first unified border management agency The 65,000+ men and women of CBP protect America on the ground lawful travel and trade and ensure our country's economic prosperity We enhance the nation's security through innovation View a complete list of local and regional CBP social media accounts Coto Matamoros | Real Madrid Confidencial FIRST TEAM Coto Matamoros Highlights 2 Real Madrid Players in the Cup Final: 'The...'Coto Matamoros has emphasized the great performance of these two footballers in the Cup final: they were the best27/04/2025 06:30:00h by Alexis Rodríguez Coto Matamoros has been present in the Defensa Central discussion about the Copa del Rey final The popular television personality has stated that Real Madrid played a good match despite the defeat The panelist highlights the great performances of some players He emphasizes that these two are the most outstanding footballers of the match He believes that there is no one better than him in his position and the Frenchman's performance has improved significantly He has turned the boos at Bernabéu into applause Real Madrid's Starting Eleven in the Cup Final | Real Madrid ConfidencialHe also emphasizes the second half of the Madridist '5' The truth is that the Englishman played a truly colossal second forty-five minutes He was one of the most participative footballers it's time to turn the page and think about the last five league matches Real Madrid is four points below the blaugrana team although there is a Clásico in less than three weeks that could be decisive Coto Matamoros himself believes that Carlo Ancelotti's team has no option to overcome this difference the Italian coach's goal is to lift his players' spirits and fight until the end Ancelotti in the Copa del Rey Final | Real Madrid ConfidencialThis is the minimum that the fans ask of their footballers The institution's top officials expect and desire to end the season with honor There will be time to think about the future It is expected that there will be changes both in terms of arrivals and departures it will be time to look to the future with optimism and hope Ancelotti's project is showing signs of exhaustion will give the green light to hire a new coach but it is true that he wants a farewell for the man from Reggiolo Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Rebekah Matamoros I'm a wedding and event planner living in Houston with my husband Kenrick and I first met at my previous job in January 2014 "I'm going to marry that guy." Keep in mind that he barely knew I existed at that time I was at the company for around two years until I moved on to a new position It may have been just a standard greeting message Kenrick and I purchased a home together in October 2017 and he proposed to me on New Year's Eve at our home in front of family and friends — it was pretty intimate Growing up, my brother Andrew Matamoros and I were always very close. He's my best friend My parents made sure to instill a close relationship in us I had conversations with Andrew about popping the question to his then-girlfriend of seven years you need to pop the question at our wedding." The rest of my bridal party and the wedding videographer and photographer were in on it so they could capture the moment But when I say no one else knew what was to come Kenrick and I got married on September 15 But I was also so happy to share the day with my brother and his now-wife "Your brother seems off today." I told her instead of throwing the flowers to the general crowd The other bridesmaids made sure they were in front and then gave Jinnese the spotlight when the time came which allowed my brother to slide in and get down on one knee There was about five minutes of silence because Andrew was very nervous and struggling to find the words When Andrew did find the words and asked Jinnese to marry him did we really just get engaged at your wedding?" I said After he popped the question during the reception Andrew and Jinnese got married the following year The surprise proposal video gained much traction on TikTok but also received some negative comments I included text explaining that it was my brother So people were jumping to conclusions and asking "Why would you share your day with somebody That's stealing your thunder." I know some people didn't understand the overall context and just shrugged it off Kenrick and I wanted them to be a part of our special day I wouldn't have shared my wedding day with anyone else Have an interesting personal story about your marriage or relationship? Get in touch with cgriffin@businessinsider.com