Opening Moves
When you see a good move, look for a better one
ANTONIO HOLGUIN ACOSTA VICE PRESIDENT OF INSTITUTIONAL RELATIONS FRANCO CARREÑO OSORIO GENERAL DIRECTOR
ALFREDO GONZÁLEZ CASTRO EDITORIAL DIRECTOR
ALEJANDRA ICELA MARTÍNEZ RODRÍGUEZ COORDINATOR, HERALDO USA alejandra.martinezr @elheraldodemexico.com
ADRIÁN
adrian@elheraldodemexico.com DANIEL
daniel.benet@elheraldodemexico.com
ANGÉLICA SIMÓN UGALDE EDITOR, HERALDO USA angelica.simon@elheraldodemexico.com
PATRICIA TEPOZTECO ROMERO EDITOR, HERALDO USA patriciatepozteco @elheraldodemexico.com
ISMAEL ESPINOZA SUÁREZ, OMAR MÁRQUEZ GRAJALES DESIGN
ALEJANDRO OYERVIDES INFOGRAPHICS
Periódico El Heraldo de México. Editor Responsable: Alfredo González Castro, Número de Certificado de Reserva otorgado por el Instituto Nacional del Derecho de Autor: 04-2009-060419022100-101.
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Daniel Benet, Alejandra Icela Martínez
‘I was saved by God to
MAGA!
’
Trump’s inauguration and first days in office
DONALD TRUMP WAS SWORN IN AS
THE 47TH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES AGAINST A DISTINCT BACKDROP, DIFFERENT FROM RECENT PRESIDENTIAL INAUGURATIONS. FOR DECADES THE CEREMONY HAD BEEN HELD OUTSIDE, WHERE CROWDS GATHERED AT THE
This time, freezing temperatures in Washington D.C. forced the organizers to move it indoors. Not only the stage gathered attention. Inside the United States Capitol rotunda, the richest men in the world, founders and CEOs of the biggest tech corporations, held prime seats right behind the president’s family. Mark Zuckerberg, Sundar Pichai, Jeff Bezos, Tim Cook and, of course, Elon Musk smiled and cheered. The message was clear and, to some, worrisome. This came after Biden’s farewell speech to the nation, in which he warned of “an oligarchy taking shape in America”.
During his speech, President Trump described a grim state of the country. With former President Biden sitting a couple of feet behind him,
PUBLIC EVENT.
the now president repeated some of his 2024 campaign assessments of the causes of inflation, crime and other maladies of American society. Critiquing the federal health and education system, declaring a state of emergency at the southern border, pulling back from environmental regulations and chanting again “Drill, baby, drill!”. Trump also went after his narrative enemies: migrants; foreign countries, with his threat of tariffs and taking back the Panama Canal; and the gender diverse community.
Lastly, he invoked the 19th-century manifest destiny doctrine, acknowledging there would be an effort to expand U.S. territory, including taking the Stars and Stripes to Mars. Musk appeared ecstatic.
The next hours saw Trump signing a flurry of executive actions and other government directives. He started by rolling back some of the previous
administration’s initiatives, 78 to begin with, on the aforementioned issues. The revoked executive actions aimed to increase diversity and inclusion and combat discrimination, this includes President Biden’s order that repealed Trump’s ban on transgender personnel serving in the U.S. military; address climate change and limit offshore drilling; regulate migration and lowering the cost of prescription drugs.There were also other executive actions and orders to deliver on the promises President Trump made on his path to reclaim the White House.
IMMIGRATION AND THE SOUTHERN BORDER.
Trump has declared a national emergency on the U.S.-Mexico border, characterizing the situation as an invasion. The recent orders he signed include increasing support of the armed forces to “seal the borders”, sending in troops to aid migration officers as well as providing materials, like transportation and detention space. Refugee admissions will be paused for at least four months and there will be a reinstatement of the “Remain in Mexico policy, in which migrants requesting asylum in the U.S. must wait for their hearings in Mexico.
The president has additionally designated cartels as foreign terrorist
MONDAY / 01 / 27 / 2025
organizations and answered a reporter’s question about the possibility of sending U.S. special forces to Mexico to engage with cartels with: “Could happen, stranger things have happened”. Also, the government will no longer recognize the right to U.S. citizenship of children born in the country to immigrant parents with no legal status, or those with tourist, temporary work or student visas. This right is enshrined in the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, so Trump’s order is expected to face legal challenges, and some experts agree it will not be upheld in courts. Still, what will happen between now and a final court decision remains to be seen.
CLIMATE CHANGE AND ENVIRONMENT
As he did in his first stint at the White House, Trump again withdrew the United States from the Patis climate agreement, Biden later rejoined during his time in office. Trump has now declared another national emergency, now in relation to energy, in a bid to push fossil fuels extraction and production. This includes cancelling restrictions on the export of liquefied natural gas, removing rules seeking to hasten the transition to electric vehicles, and pausing wind energy projects permits and leases.
In relation to the L.A. fires and Trump’s recent sparring with Governor Newsom, the president signed a memo intended “to route more water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to other parts of the state for use by the people there who desperately need a reliable water supply”. Donald Trump has labeled climate change as a hoax, while the scientific community warns that fires like the ones in California will only increase as climate change impacts intensify. More actions of the Trump administration are expected that could thwart the accomplishment of national and international climate change and environmental goals and objectives.
UPROOTING THE “DEEP STATE”
to immigration enforcement, national security, or public safety.”. He also directed barring the censorship of American citizen’s protected speech by the federal government, accusing the federal government of interfering with protected speech “under the guise of combating ‘misinformation.’” Another order eliminated diversity, equity and inclusion programs in the federal government.
JANUARY 6 CAPITOL ATTACK
The president issued a presidential proclamation in which he commutes the sentences of 14 individuals charged with crimes in relation to the storming of the U.S. capitol by a mob on January 6, 2021, which resulted in fatalities, hundreds injured and millions of dollars worth of damages.
The proclamation likewise grants pardon to “to all other individuals convicted of offenses related to events that occurred at or near the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021.”
DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION
The next hours saw Trump signing a flurry of executive actions and other government directives
As he stated during his inauguration on Monday, the U.S. government’s official policy will only recognize two genders, male and female. The directive he signed requires government documents to show people’s sex at conception. Trump additionally declared he would ban transgender athletes from participating in women sports. These actions could impact integration of transgender people in schools that recognize gender identity, by limiting their access to restrooms, locker rooms and sports teams, or the use by teachers of the pronouns they choose.
OTHER DIRECTIVES
One of Trump’s and his supporters’ most pervasive narratives is that the United States’ government is corrupt and in cahoots with the media. As he stated in his inaugural speech, he has blamed the federal government of persecuting him politically in reference to the judicial investigations directed at him, though these stemmed from local prosecutors and there has been no evidence of Biden ordering the investigations.
Trump terminated remote work arrangements for federal workers and required they return to work in person at their respective duty stations. Hiring will also be halted for the moment, with exception of military personnel and those “related
One of the main concerns of U.S. voters being the state of the country’s economy, Trump directed members of his administration to evaluate U.S. trade with other nations, specifically Mexico, China and Canada, expecting them to identify unfair practices which will be used as basis for imposing tariffs on imports from these countries. Furthermore, he withdrew the United States from the World Health Organization and stopped U.S. foreign aid for 90 days while an assessment of the alignment of these assists to his agenda is carried out.
The president also reverted the name of Mount Denali, and Obama era initiative recognizing the Koyukon Athabascans’ name for the mountain, to Mount McKinley, and started the process to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the “Gulf of America”
Finally, President Donald Trump established the “Department of Government Efficiency” by renaming and reorganizing the United States Digital Service as the United States DOGE Service. This is where Elon Musk is anticipated to have free rein to advice on federal regulations.
ANTI-ESTABLISHMENT
Driven by disillusionment with the political elite, anti-establishment libertarians see the tus quo and challenge entrenched political interests. They advocate for a more populist agenda that prioritizes the needs of ordinary ty leadership for being out of touch with the electorate. Examples are the comedian and
CONSERVATIVES
This group focuses on preserving what view as traditional moral and cultural lues in American society. Social conservati ves often oppose progressive social changes and advocate for policies aligned with religious beliefs. Key issues for this faction include restricting abortion rights, sing LGBTQ+ rights, and promoting family values, which they believe are essential maintaining the social fabric of the nation. Examples include venture capitalist Thiel, far-right billionaire Elon Musk, black conservative pundit Candace Owens.
what they cultural va conservati changes with their faction oppo family essential to nation. Peter Musk, and Owens.
This
SINCE DECEMBER
2023
Irregular migratory flows at the Mexico–United States border have been reduced by more than 75% 2024 IN NOVEMBER
11% fewer encounters than in October.
MEXICO’S STRATEGY has included investing $95
million in addressing the root causes of migration in Central America.
According to the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), THE INTENTION TO MIGRATE HAS DECREASED BY AN ESTIMATED
61%
Source: Secretariat of Economy, 2025
BY JUAN ANTONIO “OSO” OSEGUERA PHOTOART: ALEJANDRO OYERVIDES
In recent years, Mexico has stepped up its efforts to manage and reduce the influx of migrants seeking to enter the United States. These measures have led to a notable decrease in irregular crossings at the northern border and an uptick in the detention and registration of migrants within Mexican territory.
Decrease in irregular crossings into the United States: As of September 2024, irregular crossings at the Mexico–United States border hit their lowest level during Joe Biden’s presidency. The U.S. Border Patrol reported 58,858 incidents related to attempted irregular crossings that month, representing a significant decline from the peak of 250,000 incidents recorded in December 2023. Recent data from the Secretariat of Economy reveals that irregular migratory flows at the Mexico–United States border have fallen by over 75% since December 2023.
The main nationalities of migrants at the border are from Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador. In contrast, crossings from Venezuela have significantly decreased, showing a 99% drop since the beginning of the year.
The Migration Policy Unit of the Interior Secretariat reported in the Monthly Bulletin of Migration Statistics that from January to November 2024, there were 190,491 repatriation events (previously known as deportations) involving Mexican nationals from the United States. Notably, the state of Sonora accounted for 34% of these events at its various reception points, totaling 65,240 individuals, followed by Tamaulipas at 24% and Baja California at 21%.
Increase in detentions and registrations of migrants in Mexico: While crossings into the United States have decreased, Mexico has seen a rise in
In recent years, Mexico has stepped up its efforts to manage and reduce the influx of migrants seeking to enter the United States. These measures have led to a notable decrease in irregular crossings at the northern border and an uptick in the detention and registration of migrants within Mexican territory.
Number of crossings
JANUARY 250,000
Number of crossings
FEBRUARY 224,000
Number of crossings
MARCH 200,000
APRIL 180,000
Number of crossings
MAY 160,000
Number of crossings JUNE 140,000
Number of crossings AUGUST 100,000
Number of crossings
JULY 120,000
Number of crossings
Number of crossings
SEPTEMBER 60,000
MEXICO ACHIEVES IN THE NUMBER OF
Migrant detentions
50,000
JANUARY
Migrant detentions
FEBRUARY 55,000
Migrant detentions
MARCH 60,000
Migrant detentions
APRIL 65,000
Migrant detentions
MAY 70,000
Migrant detentions
JUNE 75,000
Migrant detentions
JULY 80,000
Migrant detentions
AUGUST 85,000
Migrant detentions
SEPTEMBER 90,000
the registration of irregular migrants within its borders. During the first ten months of 2024, Mexican authorities reported an increase of over 100% in incidents related to migrants compared to the previous two years. This surge is partly due to the suspension of assisted returns and deportations triggered by budget constraints, which have left thousands of migrants stranded in the country. In November 2024, there were 11% fewer encounters than in October (Secretariat of Economy). In December 2024, Mexican authorities intercepted more than 5,200 migrants in just one day, responding to pressure from then-U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, who had threatened to impose 25% tariffs on Mexican goods if the flow of migrants into the United States was not curtailed.
To address the increasing number of migrants, Mexico has implemented several strategies, including dismantling migrant caravans. In November 2024, groups of migrants heading to the northern border were transported by bus to various states within the country, such as Michoacán and Guerrero. In exchange for disbanding the caravans, the Mexican government offered humanitarian visas for transit throughout the country, aiming to redirect migrants away from Mexico City and the U.S. border.
Furthermore, Mexico has established comprehensive care centers for migrants in the southern part of the country. In September 2024, the construction of two centers in Chiapas was announced: one in Tapachula and the other in Huixtla. This initiative aims to reduce pressure on migration authorities and provide essential services to migrants in transit. Data from the Secretariat of Economy indicates that Mexico’s strategy includes a $95 million investment to address the root causes of migration in Central America.
The impact on Mexico–United States relations has been significant, as Mexico’s efforts to manage migration have garnered positive responses from U.S. authorities, especially in light of the 2024 presidential campaigns where migration is a key topic. Both Donald Trump and Kamala Harris have pledged to implement strict measures to limit immigration, making Mexico’s cooperation essential in averting the enforcement of more severe policies by the United States. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) reports that the desire to migrate has diminished by an estimated 61%.
From October 2019 to May 2024, the United States issued 2.4 million visas for temporary workers and their families, representing 49% of all labor visas granted during that timeframe. The majority of visa recipients were 80% Mexican, followed by 3% Jamaican, 3% Brazilian, 3% Guatemalan, and 1% Colombian, with others comprising about 10%. According to the U.S. Department of State, as of June 2024, the main employment sectors are temporary agricultural workers and non-agricultural programs.
Ongoing cooperation between the two countries will be crucial for effectively managing migratory flows in the region.
ACHIEVES A REDUCTION OF MIGRANTS
KNOWING WHERE THE FIREARMS IN MEXICO COME FROM
Firearms in Mexico are not spontaneously generated; they are mostly trafficked from the United States.
BY ALEJANDRO CELORIO
PHOTOART: JORGE PEÑALOZA
Sadly, it is very common to see firearms in the hands of criminals in Mexico. We see them in videos being transmitted on digital platforms, in the news, in government reports or even in movies and television series. We have normalized their presence and there is little question as to where they come from. However, firearms in Mexico do not arise spontaneously; they are mostly trafficked from the United States.
The increase in gun violence in Mexico came to a head when criminal organizations acquired more firearms, mainly military-style weapons, around 2005. That same year, a law prohibiting the manufacture and sale of military-style firearms in the United States expired. This led to a flow of hundreds of thousands of firearms trafficked from U.S. territory that has continued for nearly twenty years. As a result, criminal groups in Mexico have disproportionate and ever-increasing firepower, which has triggered an upward spiral of violence in the country
In the United States, gun sales are very lax, with thousands of points of sale located -intentionally- in its southern border. In Mexico, the trade is highly restricted - it is administered by the Ministry of Defense and only smaller caliber weapons are sold to private individuals.
Similar to the precursor chemicals from which fentanyl is produced, there is a legal framework for the arms trade in both countries.
In the United States, gun sales are very lax, with thousands of points of sale located -intentionally- in its southern border. In Mexico, the trade is highly restricted - it is administered by the Ministry of Defense and only smaller caliber weapons are sold to private individuals.’
What is illegal is for arms to be trafficked, that is, sold and exported from one country to another without the required licenses. In this sense, the U.S. government’s demand to establish greater controls on the transit of precursor chemicals is identical to the Mexican government’s demand that the trade of firearms in its northern neighbor not facilitate their trafficking to empower criminal organizations.
Some may wonder what gun manufacturers and sellers can do to prevent their products from getting into criminal hands, and how can they know that their products are leaving the U.S. market where they are legally traded? That is perhaps the key to dealing with gun trafficking: traceability.
Since their manufacture, firearms have been engraved with a serial number. This “fingerprint” is used for tracking through an Internet-based system called eTrace , which is administered by the U.S. Arms, Tobacco and Explosives Federal Agency (ATF). This system tracks guns when they are recovered by the authorities, from the time of initial sale by the manufacturer or importer, through distribution and back to the initial purchaser. Thanks to this system, it is known that more than 74% of the firearms recovered at crime scenes in Mexico were sold in the United States and then trafficked.
If the general public could see the traceability of guns, as they can see the routes of airplanes, it would be a different conversation about the need for greater care in the sale of firearms. People on both sides of the border would know the names of the brands trafficked into Mexico and the locations where they were sold. More importantly, companies that market guns might wonder what to do to keep their products out of the hands of criminals outside the United States. Unfortunately, the U.S. legal framework states that this type of traceability information cannot be made public.
However, there has been progress on the issue. The Mexican government has insisted that more actions are needed to prevent arms trafficking. It does not seek to attack the trade but only asks that it be done in a responsible manner and with the necessary care to prevent a person from pretending to buy a gun for personal use, when in reality he or she is acting as a front man or trafficker for criminal groups. Thanks to recent demands by the Mexican government and two civil lawsuits filed against gun companies and sellers, in the summer of 2022, for the first time in U.S. history, gun trafficking and straw purchases were codified as crimes. In addition, new tools were created to provide more detail in the traceability information issued by ATF.
The latest volume of the National Firearms Commerce and Trafficking Assessment (NFCTA) published in January by ATF states that 74% of the firearms recovered in Mexico were sold in the United States; that there are five corridors through which 32% of the firearms traced from Mexico are trafficked; and that 82% of the firearms traced from Mexico were recovered in states with a high presence of organized crime. The report also identifies the name and model of the traced weapons, as well as the state of origin of their purchase.
The information exists and with it, the U.S. authorities and the companies that market weapons could establish measures to prevent a product destined for the U.S. market from continuing to appear and cause harm in Mexico
It should not be so difficult for the firearms trade, like any other industry, to identify the risks involved in the use of its products and to collaborate with the corresponding authorities to prevent them from causing public harm. The companies that commercialize firearms in the United States know that they are trafficked to Mexico; a first step to avoid this would be to monitor their commercial chain and stop distributing their products to points where they
sold to
Trump’s and Sheinbaum’s cabinet members
BY: DANIEL BENET AND ALEJANDRA ICELA
MARTÍNEZ
ILUSTRATION: ALEJANDRO OYERVIDES
His threats on the migrant community and on imposing tariffs were somewhat dodged by the southern neighbor, in part due to what seemed to be a mutual appreciation between Trump and then President Andrés Manuel López Obrador. Now, though, Mexico has a new president, Claudia Sheinbaum.
The Mexican cabinet has been working with President Claudia Sheinbaum for a couple of
months, while some of President Trump’s team are still awaiting confirmation by the U.S. Senate. Trump had high level members of cabinet dismissed or quit during his first term at the White House. Some of Sheinbaum’s cabinet members were part of López Obrador’s government and have already delt with these matters with both Trump’s and Biden’s administrations.
MIGRATION AND BORDER CONTROL
This issue has been at the forefront of Trump’s attacks on the former government’s management of the economy and crime. The President blamed migrant communities for much of the
troubles American communities are facing.
In his first hours as president, Donald Trump signed a series of executive orders addressing immigration. For the U.S. president, Mexico must act as a third country, where asylum seekers must await their hearings for their applications or be deported back to their countries of origin.
Trump also declared a national emergency at the southern border, with some of his first directives ordering the armed forces to provide support to immigration officers, with troops, transport and detention space.
The president has also signed an executive order to end birthright citizenship for children
IT HAS BEEN A COUPLE SINCE THE WORLD DONALD TRUMP’S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION UNITED STATES. MEXICO SOME TIME TO PREPARE, IS NOT THE FIRST TIME HAS HAD TO DEAL 47TH, PRESIDENT
members to deal with pressing issues
COUPLE OF MONTHS
WORLD LEARNED OF
TRUMP’S VICTORY IN THE ELECTION OF THE MEXICO HAS HAD PREPARE, SINCE THIS TIME THE COUNTRY
DEAL WITH THE, NOW PRESIDENT OF THE U.S.
of undocumented migrants, though this action has already been blocked by a Seattle judge, as it is considered wildly unconstitutional. Through coordination among its cabinet members and the northern border states, the Mexican government has implemented the México Te Abraza program to receive the thousands of people expected to be removed from the United States.
DRUGS AND ARMS TRAFFICKING
In various speeches before and during his inauguration, Donald Trump pledged to declare drug cartels terrorist organizations and to send troops to the southern border. This
promise has also been addressed by some of the executive actions President Trump signed during his first days in office. Mexico, in response, has asserted that fentanyl consumption and production are not occurring within its borders. The Mexican government has also filed lawsuits against weapons manufacturers, citing data that these companies are the primary suppliers of arms to the cartels.
ECONOMY: TARIFFS AND THE USMCA
High inflation has brought domestic economic issues to the forefront of U.S. voters’ concerns. Trump has accused other countries of taking advantage of the U.S. in trade and has vowed
to impose tariffs on imports, targeting Mexico, Canada, and China. Specialists warn that it will ultimately be U.S. consumers who bear the cost through higher prices. The review of the USMCA will be critical, as the three involved countries will enter negotiations that extend beyond economic matters. Trump is expected to exert pressure to ensure his conditions prevail.
OTHER IMPORTANT ACTORS
Because of their role in Mexico, and their previous experience, these people will be involved in all matters of the U.S. – Mexico relation. Their public statements will be an important gauge of how thigs are progressing..
ART BEYOND BORDERS: Four Perspectives on Migration
Judithe Hernández, Patssi Valdez, Patrick Martínez,
and
Elton
Monroy Durán have each captured the complexities of migration through their unique artistic visions.
BY: OLIVIA TOLEDO ILUSTRATION: ALEJANDRO OYERVIDES
These Mexican artists, whose careers have transcended borders, use their art to explore identity, belonging, and resilience themes.
JUDITHE HERNÁNDEZ
The story of 77-year-old artist Judithe Hernández reflects the daily reality faced by many Mexican women whose parents migrated to the United States. She had to search deeply within herself to reconnect with her roots and carve a path in a male-dominated industry. Hernández is recognized as one of the founders of Chicano art and the Los Angeles muralist movement. Her signature style emerged from her decision to make Mexican and Latina women—often marginalized in the 1970s—her greatest muses. She was the fifth and only
female member of the acclaimed artist collective Los Four, which was celebrated for breaking barriers in traditional museums. Her career began as a muralist, collaborating with Carlos Almaraz on murals for César Chávez and the United Farm Workers.
Unintentionally, Hernández became one of the most influential artists of our time, addressing beauty and feminism from the perspective of Mexican-American culture and reshaping the course of art.
PATSSI VALDEZ
Patssi Valdez developed political and cultural awareness from a young age, growing up in a Hispanic urban culture shaped by fashion, music, and film.
Valdez’s artistic journey began during high school. Alongside friends like Gronk, Harry Gamboa Jr., and Willie Herrón, she co-founded the influential experimental group ASCO in 1974. This collective used conceptual art to spotlight the socioeconomic conditions
Judithe Hernández
Patssi Valdez
Judithe Hernández’s mentor was the legendary African American artist Charles White, who deeply loved Mexican art. He helped her understand that her creations should belong to all humanity, not just one group.
After the ASCO collective dissolved in 1978, Patssi Valdez built a successful solo career. She focused on creating photographs and paintings with a somber tone and a unique, highly saturated color palette.
MONDAY / 01 / 27 / 2025 HERALDOUSA.COM/
of East Los Angeles and challenge negative media portrayals of Chicanos. Her work reflects the daily impact of being part of an ethnic minority subjected to racism, police abuse, and other injustices.
PATRICK MARTÍNEZ
Patrick Martínez’s creations reflect the realities of millions of second—and third-generation Mexican migrants living in the United States. His work confronts common stigmas about migrants, such as associations with crime and unemployment.
Inspired by the signs and signal systems found in communities across the U.S., Martínez incorporates the aesthetic of neon storefront signs often seen in liquor stores and markets to announce products and services. Through his vibrant multidisciplinary practice, this artist of Mexican descent explores Los Angeles’s evolving landscape, reflecting on the passage of time and its impact on the environment and the multicultural
communities that call it home.
ELTON MONROY DURÁN
When Elton Monroy Durán migrated from Hidalgo, Mexico, to Detroit, U.S., with just $50 his mother gave him, he began pursuing his dream of becoming a visual artist. He never imagined this journey would later inspire his work.
In Detroit’s southwest, Monroy Durán discovered a Mexican community with deep cultural and historical roots, which became a source of inspiration. His art now plays a vital role in transforming, redefining, and reimagining the migration phenomenon. Through creations ranging from retro-futuristic sculptures to colorful murals, Monroy Durán not only tells the stories of thousands of migrants but also illustrates the human struggle. His work draws audiences together, encouraging coexistence in a world where differences and shared humanity are celebrated.
Patrick Martínez
Elton Monroy Durán
Patrick Martínez’s works are significant for their simple yet profound portrayal of the rich cultural exchange driven by migration. Many critics have described his approach as a new form of historical painting, as it serves as a metaphorical cultural map.
In 2023, Elton Monroy Durán, an artist from Hidalgo, Mexico, received the Kresge Artist Fellowship. This award honors emerging and established Detroit artists for their creative vision and commitment to excellence.
Barranquilla, known as the Golden Gate of Colombia and “La Currambera,” beats to the rhythm of lively drums and Afro-Caribbean sounds like champeta, mapalé, and cumbia.
BY PATRICIA TEPOZTECO ROMERO
This city, home to iconic figures like Shakira, Sofía Vergara, and Edgar Rentería, has also shaped the cultural and athletic legacy that José “Cheo” Gómez carries with him as he brings the spirit and energy of his hometown to international stages.
A DREAM BORN IN “LA ARENOSA” Cheo exemplifies how culture can thrive and persist even far from home when combined with effort and discipline. Born and raised in vibrant Barranquilla, he discovered early on that hard work was the key to fulfilling his dreams. By selling sweets in the streets and at school, he funded his studies while nurturing his three passions: music, dance, and sports.
The “picós” — towering, colorful sound systems that fill the streets with African and Caribbean music — sparked a lifelong passion in him. “Across from my house, a neighbor had a picó called Ady Estéreo, and I would dance to the African music. The moves flowed naturally, and I’d always win against kids from other neighborhoods,” Cheo shared in an exclusive interview with Heraldo USA.
Later in his life, he studied dance and choreography at the Barranquilla District Art School (EDA) and represented his city on international stages in Cuba, Trinidad and Tobago. He also joined the Colombian national beach soccer team as a high-performance athlete, earning the nickname "The Machine" for his speed and style on the field.
At the same time, he learned percussion in school and cultural centers, mastering traditional Caribbean instruments like the Tambora, tambor alegre, llamador, guache, and maracas. These sounds now form part of the Caribbean culture Cheo shares in San Francisco, United States.
FROM ADVERSITY TO SUCCESS IN THE UNITED STATES
Economic hardships and violence drove Cheo to migrate to the United States in February 2022 for a better future for himself and his family. “Like many artists in Latin America, we’ve suffered violence that affects us deeply. That’s why I had to decide to leave,” he explained.
In San Francisco, he started from scratch, working in cleaning and construction while striving to break into the artistic world. Slowly but surely, he found support from
Reaching a dream is not enough; you must keep working and educating yourself to grow. Staying there is the key, and that's only achieved with education and discipline.’
CHEOGÓMEZ:
PHOTOART: ALEJANDRO OYERVIDES
Cheo is the first Colombian culture instructor at the Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts (MCCLA) in San Francisco.
In 2025, Cheo will again choreograph MCCLA's carnival group, merging Mexican, Cuban, and Latino cultures.
The San Francisco Carnival, dedicated to the African diaspora, will take place on May 25, 2025, featuring over 180 groups.
January 24 marks
groups like Cumbiamba Colombiana and Mi Tierra Colombiana, which allowed him to showcase his talent.
Follow Cheo:
Instagram: @zonacheo
Facebook: Zona Cheo
To those who want to achieve their dreams, I say the limits are in your mind. Your greatest motivation in life should be yourself.’
In May of that same year — just three months after arriving in the United States — he was crowned King of San Francisco’s Carnival. “I had costumes brought in from Barranquilla because they weren’t available here. I danced marimonda, mapalé, and Son de Negro, and those three dances won me the contest,” he recalled. Since then, Cheo has gained recognition as an ambassador of Colombian culture in the city.
Thanks to this victory and perseverance, Cheo joined the Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts (MCCLA), where he teaches Afro-Colombian rhythms, Cali-style salsa, champeta, and Zumba as a certified instructor. Along with the center’s director, Martina Ayala, he promotes the creation of the Colombian Folkloric Ballet for children, a pioneering project in the city that involves parents in the training process using a unique methodology.
“When I arrived here, the first thing was to work at whatever I could, but thank God I can now dedicate myself to what I love: culture and art,” he told Heraldo USA. For him, teaching is not just about transmitting movements or rhythms; it’s about connecting people to the essence of Afro-Caribbean culture to foster community and brotherhood.
He also teaches rhythm classes as part of the San Francisco Arts Education Project, where he visits schools to share his knowledge. “It’s exciting to see children from different countries learning cumbia and playing traditional instruments from the Caribbean Coast. I never imagined being in a U.S. school showcasing our roots.”
DREAMING WITHOUT LIMITS
For Cheo Gómez, nothing is impossible. “I removed the word ‘no’ from my dictionary: no and I can’t. Yes, I can. Yes, I will. It’s possible.” This enthusiasm has helped him build a solid reputation and friendships within San Francisco’s Latino community.
His achievements continue. As MCCLA’s choreographer, he recently secured second place in the Carnival of San Francisco’s parade competition, competing against 180 other groups. This year, preparations are underway for the 2025 carnival, scheduled for May 25.
Additionally, he received a proposal to form a children’s soccer team in the city while founding his micro-business, Zona Cheo Entertainment, with a vision to offer physical and mental health activities. However, since the start of his career, his ultimate dream has been to create a comprehensive center where art, sports, and health come together to improve people’s quality of life. “I want a space where people can find everything they need for physical and mental health; where they can dance cumbia, train for soccer, or learn about nutrition,” a dream he continues to build every day.
In response to the criminalization of migrant communities in the United States, Cheo believes that culture is key to changing narratives. “We need to recognize the efforts of the Latino and Afro-descendant communities and how they enrich this country. Our art and culture are our strength,” he said.
Cheo Gómez’s story is about a man seemingly destined to bring Colombia’s joy and rhythm to the world. With great pride in his Afro-Caribbean roots, he fosters identity and brotherhood within the community in the United States, proving that the Caribbean transcends borders and unites those who hear it.
Cheo is the director of Chekumbé, a multicultural Colombian music and dance group he co-founded in San Francisco with María Paula Macías and Paola Galeano.
He studied with Ricardo Sierra, a renowned Colombian dance and theater director.
the World Day of African and Afro-descendant Culture, highlighting their contributions worldwide.
BY NAYELI RAMÍREZ MAYA PHOTOART: ALEJANDRO OYERVIDES
In an interview with El Heraldo, Karla Sofía commented, "Jacques wanted the character to be as far removed as possible from the beginning to the end. I told him we were risking it not being believable because a character so different couldn't possibly change that much. It was very challenging, but we had to work on it that way because he wanted the impact to be greater. We tried to find the common ground between Emilia and Manitas and incorporate those into the character, essentially tailoring it for me. That's why it's absurd to compare a fictional film to reality.
She added, "The character experiences different moments in the story so that you can perceive an alternate reality. That's why I believe if someone wants to watch a documentary, they know where to go. I think there are plenty of platforms to enjoy a story."
Gascón assured, "Anyone who watches this movie will simply see the best story in the history of world cinema since the Lumière brothers created the first moving images."
The film was presented a few months ago at the Morelia Film Festival with the cast in attendance.
"My visit to the festival was incredible. They had me running around like crazy from one place to another. We arrived in the morning on a private jet from New York, rushed to interviews, then to makeup, then straight to the red carpet, followed by the press conference, and the next day more interviews before flying off again, this time to Los Angeles."
Emilia Pérez, the controversial film directed by French filmmaker Jacques Audiard and starring Karla
Sofía Gascón, Selena Gomez, Zoë Saldaña, and Mexican actress Adriana Paz,
is coming to Mexican theaters. It arrives with thirteen Oscar nominations, eleven BAFTA nominations, and four Golden Globe wins.
She shared, "The most beautiful moment for me was when I arrived and felt my feet on Mexican soil because it had been such a long time since I had been there. Seeing everything in Morelia moved me deeply because I was sure everyone there would understand me, especially after we had just presented the film in San Sebastián."
Another cast member, Mexican actress Adriana Paz, spoke about her involvement in the project and the controversy it sparked after its screenings at international film festivals such as Cannes.
"It was a healthy process working with Karla and Zoë. I always thought the script was daring. Knowing it was a musical was another factor that drew me in because I love musicals. So working with Jacques and having the chance to do a musical were two very appealing elements for me," Paz shared.
The actress, who has a long career and is a three-time Ariel Award winner, defended the film following harsh criticism from national audiences about how its message was received.
"I was taken aback by everything that was said on social media because my experience with audiences who had seen the film at Cannes, in New York, San Francisco, London, and Morelia was entirely different," she said.
PLOT
Emilia Pérez tells an odyssey that defies genres and expectations. The story follows the journey of four extraordinary women in Mexico, each pursuing her happiness. Rita (Zoë Saldaña), a talented but underappreciated lawyer stuck in a dead-end job, is hired by the leader (Karla Sofía Gascón) of a fearsome cartel to help fake his death so he can live freely as the woman he has always dreamed of becoming.
BY ANGÉLICA SIMÓN UGALDE PHOTOART: ALEJANDRO OYERVIDES
According to data from Xpectus by Metrics, Trump's inauguration ceremony reached 70.7 million people globally and generated 1.4 million mentions.
The attention was focused on the U.S., which had 40 percent of the conversations. As expected, Mexico came in second with eight percent of the reaches, equivalent to 8 and a half million people.
The presidential inauguration event had a positive perception from 95 percent of the spectators, who applauded the sharing of the president's message, Donald Trump's statements on immigration issues and the first deportations, and his proposals, especially the recovery of the Panama Canal.
Donald Trump's proposal to rename the Gulf of Mexico was most criticized.
As for the reactions in Mexico, after the president, Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, issued a message in X on behalf of the Government congratulating her counterpart on the inauguration and pointing out that dialogue and respect frame the bilateral relationship, 68 percent of the perception regarding the message was favorable against 32 percent unfavorable.
On the issues that were part of the conversation in this regard, it was highlighted that Mexico would defend its citizens against U.S. immigration policies, and the Mexican right was criticized for supporting Donald Trump.
An January 20, 2025, Donald Trump took office for the second time as president of the United States amid great expectation from millions of people who were attentive to the speech of the Republican, the businessman, the tycoon, and the controversial president of the American Union.
PRESIDENTIALINAUGURATION
OF DONALD J. TRUMP
