Social Security for Journalists/US-Mexico Meeting

Independent journalists will get access to social security. The General Coordinator of Social Communication of the Presidency Jesús Ramírez announced that the Mexican government has approved approximately 400 requests from independent journalists to access social security. “So far, 471 journalists have applied to this program and have met the requirements. Our approval committee, made up of five distinguished journalists, have approved 386 requests. As of August 1, these journalists will be able to access the benefits of the Social Security Institute (IMSS).”

Self-employed journalists face a very challenging situation, since they are considered a highly vulnerable group in the country. Mexico is the deadliest country for journalists, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists. So far this year, 12 journalists have been killed. Other journalists continue to face daily threats linked both to organized crime groups and to government officials. In the wake of protests, calls to action and complaints, the government recently launched a proposal to regularize the employment of Mexico’s over 6,000 independent journalists who do not have access to minimum healthcare, occupational risk or retirement services. Recently, President Andrés Manuel López Obrador announced that  approximately MX$750 million (US$37 million) will be destined to social security for journalists that do not receive these benefits.

López Obrador to Meet Biden. López Obrador announced that in his meeting with US President Joe Biden, he will present a plan to legalize the hiring of Mexican workers in the US. “We are going to put order and legalize the hiring of Mexican workers so that they are not exposed to traffickers who take advantage of them. I want migration and hiring to be an exclusive matter for governments so that they are protected.”

On July 12, López Obrador will meet with Biden to discuss immigration, investment, economy issues, which were discussed at the Summit of the Americas. However, since López Obrador did not attend, the new meeting is to discuss on key agreements.  

Last week, the US Supreme Court issued a ruling, allowing US President Joe Biden to remove the Remain in Mexico policy. The ruling is considered a victory for migrants, NGOs and civil organizations, since the policy was accused of violating human rights. However, others fear that the arrival of migrants will increase, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis at the US-Mexico border.

The case of aggression against an Otomi child will be investigated. López Obrador will request to review the investigation of the Otomí boy who was burned by classmates in Querétaro and assured that if there is no progress, the case will be handed over to the Attorney General's Office (FGR).  “Before requesting that the case be taken to the FGR, Security Minister Rosa Icela Rodríguez will speak with Querétaro’s government regarding new developments in the investigation. If we noticed that there are no new developments, then, we will proceed to turn the case to the FGR.”

On June 6, two students from the Telesecundaria Josefa Vergara school doused Juan Pablo with alcohol and set him on fire, causing him second- and third-degree burns. According to the victim's parents, the boy suffered discrimination and harassment from his classmates and teachers for being Otomí. The family has claimed that after he was set on fire, school authorities failed to provide adequate care as an ambulance was not called and the parents were not immediately informed.