Leonardo Rocha
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Podcast Appearances
Apparently, the poorest are the ones suffering. They are also forced to pay extortion. The richest, they don't suffer in the same extent. I mean, it's a measure to put troopers out and to show people that the security will be enforced, but I don't know how effective that will be.
Apparently, the poorest are the ones suffering. They are also forced to pay extortion. The richest, they don't suffer in the same extent. I mean, it's a measure to put troopers out and to show people that the security will be enforced, but I don't know how effective that will be.
President Trump is determined to go ahead with his policies. All the measures that he has signed into law or some special decrees that he signed have been challenged in court and he's going ahead with them. I think he's very defiant and very determined here.
President Trump is determined to go ahead with his policies. All the measures that he has signed into law or some special decrees that he signed have been challenged in court and he's going ahead with them. I think he's very defiant and very determined here.
He's using a law from, I believe, from the 18th century about invasion of American borders to say that these foreign gangs are a threat to America in the same way that the foreign army was. He's gone ahead with it. And from day one, he's very determined about to, as he put it, stop the flow of mass migration.
He's using a law from, I believe, from the 18th century about invasion of American borders to say that these foreign gangs are a threat to America in the same way that the foreign army was. He's gone ahead with it. And from day one, he's very determined about to, as he put it, stop the flow of mass migration.
Have to bear in mind also that his Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, is of a Cuban family from Florida. And he not only speaks Spanish fluently, but he's very aware of the situation in Latin America. And I think that's a priority of the Trump administration there.
Have to bear in mind also that his Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, is of a Cuban family from Florida. And he not only speaks Spanish fluently, but he's very aware of the situation in Latin America. And I think that's a priority of the Trump administration there.
It's for a couple of reasons. First, the president of El Salvador, Naibe Bukele, is a young right-wing politician, enthusiastic, very supportive of the Trump policies. He said he was willing to take them. The United States apparently agreed to pay $20,000 per prisoner per year for him to house them in El Salvador. And there's also another reason, is the fact that Venezuela has
It's for a couple of reasons. First, the president of El Salvador, Naibe Bukele, is a young right-wing politician, enthusiastic, very supportive of the Trump policies. He said he was willing to take them. The United States apparently agreed to pay $20,000 per prisoner per year for him to house them in El Salvador. And there's also another reason, is the fact that Venezuela has
has a socialist, a left-wing government that's been subjected to sanctions by the United States. So they're refusing to take their parties from the United States. There was a sort of good start between President Maduro and the Trump administration. But since then, the Trump administration has issued new sanctions against the Venezuelan government that they have stopped.
has a socialist, a left-wing government that's been subjected to sanctions by the United States. So they're refusing to take their parties from the United States. There was a sort of good start between President Maduro and the Trump administration. But since then, the Trump administration has issued new sanctions against the Venezuelan government that they have stopped.
So what I see here is President Trump imposing his policies. He needs third countries to accept these migrants. And El Salvador is the only country that has agreed to accept convicted criminals or people accused of belonging to criminal gangs.
So what I see here is President Trump imposing his policies. He needs third countries to accept these migrants. And El Salvador is the only country that has agreed to accept convicted criminals or people accused of belonging to criminal gangs.
According to reports from Venezuela, some of them are members of a criminal gang, the most powerful criminal gang in Venezuela, Tren de Aragua, which was mentioned by President Trump. But others are just migrants who entered the country illegally or working there without the proper documentation. So they were being deported anyway.
According to reports from Venezuela, some of them are members of a criminal gang, the most powerful criminal gang in Venezuela, Tren de Aragua, which was mentioned by President Trump. But others are just migrants who entered the country illegally or working there without the proper documentation. So they were being deported anyway.
I mean, it's part of the Trump administration mass migration program they've created. been arresting people, thousands of people, even a day, and deporting them. And the interesting situation is because over the past decade or so, you have almost 8 million Venezuelans left the country. Most of them went to neighboring countries, to Colombia, but many ended up in the United States.
I mean, it's part of the Trump administration mass migration program they've created. been arresting people, thousands of people, even a day, and deporting them. And the interesting situation is because over the past decade or so, you have almost 8 million Venezuelans left the country. Most of them went to neighboring countries, to Colombia, but many ended up in the United States.
But because Venezuela and the U.S., they don't have diplomatic relations yet, Venezuela refused so far to accept repatriation flights. So these Venezuelan migrants will probably be sent to a third country. It could be Mexico or El Salvador, a different country. And now, to the surprise of many people, they are going back to Venezuela.
But because Venezuela and the U.S., they don't have diplomatic relations yet, Venezuela refused so far to accept repatriation flights. So these Venezuelan migrants will probably be sent to a third country. It could be Mexico or El Salvador, a different country. And now, to the surprise of many people, they are going back to Venezuela.