At her Monday morning press conference, President Claudia Sheinbaum spoke about the death of another Mexican in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (SRE), 18 Mexicans have now died in ICE custody or during immigration operations carried out since Jan. 20, 2025, the date U.S. President Donald Trump began his second term. The deaths have occurred amid the Trump administration’s illegal immigration crackdown.

The Mexican government has condemned the crackdown and taken legal action aimed at holding accountable anyone who contributed to the deaths of Mexicans in ICE custody or during ICE operations.

Sheinbaum is a staunch advocate for Mexicans in the United States and their rights. At today’s mañanera, she spoke glowingly about a group of like-minded individuals — the Sinaloa-founded, California-based norteño band Los Tigres del Norte. Her remarks about the Grammy Award-winning band on Monday came just over a month after she met with its Mexican-born members at the National Palace.

Another Mexican dies in ICE custody

Sheinbaum acknowledged that another Mexican had died while being held in an immigration detention center in the United States.

Emiliano Andrade Covarrubias, 56, was found unresponsive by staff at the Rio Grande Processing Center in Laredo, Texas, during a security check at around 10 a.m. Saturday, according to The Texas Tribune.

Andrade Covarrubias is the seventh person to die while detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Texas this year, the Austin-based news outlet reported.

Sheinbaum said that Foreign Affairs Minister Roberto Velasco contacted the family of the deceased man on Sunday, and noted that the SRE issued a statement regarding the death.

“We’re also going to file a complaint in the United States because there should be protection of human rights,” she said.

“This compatriot was detained in June. His family told us that he had diabetes and high blood pressure and he probably didn’t have all his medications,” Sheinbaum said.

“… As we have always said, [migrants] are heroes and heroines for us because they left their towns and cities to seek a better life and support their families,” she said.

“And they help the United States economy a lot,” Sheinbaum added.

In its statement, the SRE said that the Consulate General of Mexico in Laredo had “asked U.S. authorities for a prompt, thorough, and transparent investigation to clarify the circumstances of the death and determine whether anyone bears responsibility.”

“The Government of Mexico expresses its deep concern over the repeated deaths of Mexican nationals in custody or during immigration operations in the United States,” the ministry said.

“This case brings to 18 the number of Mexican nationals who have died in these circumstances since January 20, 2025. The situation demands an effective response from U.S. authorities to safeguard the lives, physical integrity, and human rights of migrants,” the SRE said.

The ministry noted that it has already taken diplomatic and legal action over the deaths of Mexicans in ICE custody, including by “sending diplomatic notes to the State Department, filing complaints with the appropriate authorities, and working to help families obtain legal representation.”

The SRE said it has also “strengthened consular protection and its monitoring of detention conditions for Mexican nationals.”

“The Foreign Ministry will continue to use every diplomatic and legal avenue available to it. That includes a complaint it will send to the Webb County district attorney asking that the facts of the case [involving Andrade Covarrubias] be clarified,” the SRE statement said.

Sheinbaum praises Los Tigres del Norte after pro-immigrant NPR performance

A reporter asked the president about Los Tigres del Norte’s NPR Tiny Desk performance last week as well as NPR host Felix Contreras’ emotional message before the concert.

“Our community is under attack,” said Contreras, a Mexican American.

“And it’s not the first time. You can go back to 1848 when they changed the border. You can go back to after the Second World War during the so-called Operation Wetback. It takes away our humanity,” he said.

Sheinbaum said that Los Tigres del Norte and “many other musical groups” that play “Mexican music genres” represent “cultural identity” for “Mexicans who live abroad.”

“And in this, Los Tigres del Norte have had a very important role,” she said.

“Not just because of the quality of their music but also because they represent a symbol. They have songs that in a few words and verses say a lot,” Sheinbaum said.

“They have this song [Somos más Americanos] that says, ‘Yo no crucé la frontera, la frontera me cruzó [I didn’t cross the border, the border crossed me],’” she noted.

“… They’re very respectful of politics in the United States,” Sheinbaum added.

“What they do is play music and defend Mexicans abroad,” she said.

In an article headlined “Los Tigres Del Norte take over Tiny Desk with classic songs and a pro-immigrant message,” The Los Angeles Times reported that the theme of “immigrant struggle within the U.S. was top of mind when the group performed at NPR’s Washington, D.C., offices.”

“… Opening with the 2001 track [Somos más Americanos] was notable as the song flips jingoist U.S. narratives about who can call themselves American,” the Times reported.

“The lyrics assert that Mexicans are more American than ‘gringos’ and highlight how a large swath of the U.S. once belonged to Mexico.”

There’s a $11.25 billion housing bond on the ballot this November. Here’s what you should know

October 23, 2026

frontpg_HousingBondPro1_10.23.26 — Trabajadores construyen un complejo de apartamentos en California, mientras los votantes consideran un bono de $11,250 millones para viviendas asequibles. Workers build an apartment complex in California as voters consider an $11.25 billion affordable housing bond. Ilustración generada con inteligencia artificial / AI-generated illustration.

by Marisa Kendall

CalMatters

For years, California has grappled with a problem that has affected nearly every aspect of our society: The state doesn’t have enough homes that people can afford to live in. Proposition 1 aims to address that crisis.

It’s estimated that more than 180,000 Californians are homeless. Rents are so high that a minimum wage worker would need to work 102 hours a week to afford a typical one-bedroom apartment, according to the National Low Income Housing Coalition.

A big piece of that problem is construction: Not enough homes are being built. Fewer than a third of California cities and counties are on track to permit enough market-rate housing to hit their state-mandated targets, and fewer than 6% are on track for very low-income housing. Those targets are based on the state’s assumption that we need nearly 2.5 million more homes.

Legislators have passed multiple laws trying to address that by making it easier, faster and cheaper to get projects permitted and built. Prop. 1 is supposed to supply the money.

A recent report estimated nearly 40,000 affordable units throughout California have been designed, permitted and partially funded and are sitting stalled because developers just can’t quite get enough money to build them.

What would Prop. 1 do?

If it passes, Prop. 1 would allow the state to sell $11.25 billion in general obligation bonds to fund various types of housing, including homes for veterans, homeless Californians, renters, homeowners, farmworkers, students and tribes.

Where would the money go?

Prop. 1 would fund a variety of programs. Here’s how it breaks down:

$7.2 billion to buy, build or renovate apartment buildings, generally through low-interest loans to developers. Projects funded this way would have to reserve a certain number of units for low-income households. Some would be used for “supportive housing,” homeless housing that includes additional services. This, in combination with other funding sources, would help support up to 40,000 rental units, according to the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office.
$1.25 billion to help veterans secure loans to buy homes.
$1.1 billion to help low and moderate-income households buy homes.
$500 million for the infrastructure that supports new housing construction, such as water, sewage, parks and transportation improvements.
$450 million to build or renovate an estimated 2,500 units of farmworker housing.
$350 million to fund affordable homes for an estimated 1,200 University of California and California State University students.
$200 million in housing grants to tribes, which could fund both home construction and renovation.
$200 million up for grabs to cities, counties and other groups that pitch pilot projects to develop low-cost housing.

How would California pay for it?

It would cost the state between $500 million and $600 million each year for about 25 years to repay the cost of the general housing bond, according to the legislative analyst. That money would come from the state’s general fund, and factors in interest. The $1.25 billion for veterans housing would not cost the state anything, as participating vets would pay it off through monthly loan payments.

Have we done anything like this before?

California voters approved (by the slimmest of margins) another bond in 2024 that provided $2 billion to fund homes for people who need mental health and addiction services and veterans. That 2024 bond also was dubbed Prop. 1.

What do supporters say?

Supporters include housing developers and advocates, veterans groups, the California State University and University of California boards, groups representing California’s cities and counties, Democratic legislators and Gov. Gavin Newsom.

Donors backing Prop. 1 also reflect some who would benefit. The campaign has received more than $12 million, including about $2 million from carpenters’ unions, $1 million from Airbnb and $1 million from Building a Better California, a PAC funded by Google founder Sergey Brin and other Silicon Valley billionaires.

Vivian Wan, chief executive of affordable housing provider Abode, says her organization has four projects with a planned total of about 230 units in the works that she hopes Prop. 1 will fund. Three are in the Bay Area and one is in Yolo County. Without that cash infusion, all four projects are stalled, she said. Projects for homeless and low-income residents need large subsidies since their tenants don’t pay enough in rent to offset the cost of building. They often also have to fund additional services, such as case managers to help residents navigate their physical and mental health, addictions, finances and more. City and county dollars can pay for some but not all of that.

Prop. 1 would be “huge,” Wan said. But it wouldn’t magically solve the housing crisis.

“Is it enough? Absolutely not,” she said. “We are lightyears behind in terms of production to meet the need. We have underinvested in housing for decades. This is going to help, for sure, but we really need a permanent source.”

What do opponents say?

When this measure came up for a floor vote before the Legislature, two Republican senators voted no, as well as seven Republican assemblymembers.

Sen. Tony Strickland, a Republican from Huntington Beach who opposed the bill, said calling it “The Veterans and Affordable Housing Bond Act of 2026” amounted to a bait-and-switch maneuver, as only a small fraction of the total funds go to vets.

“It really just says that you’re using veterans to pass your $10 billion general obligation bond,” he said during a June hearing.

And, he said, there are better ways to get families into housing than using a bond to “borrow money against the future.” The strong revenues California experienced this year won’t continue, making it risky to push the state deeper into debt, he said.

Opponents have not reported receiving any contributions.

– This story was originally published by CalMatters

Guadalajara unrest over water crisis intensifies as alleged infiltrators provoke violence

October 23, 2026

latinbriefs2_palacio_10.23.26 — Presuntos infiltrados causaron destrozos y rompieron ventanas del Palacio de Gobierno de Jalisco durante las protestas por agua limpia en Guadalajara. Alleged infiltrators vandalized property and shattered windows at Jalisco’s Government Palace during Guadalajara’s clean water protests. (video photo).

by the El Reportero staff

A second major protest in Guadalajara drew approximately 10,000 people demanding clean water, but the largely peaceful demonstration turned violent after masked individuals allegedly infiltrated the march, vandalizing businesses and attacking the Jalisco state Congress building.

The protest, held Sunday, followed weeks of growing frustration over contaminated water in the Guadalajara metropolitan area. Demonstrators demanded government accountability and solutions to the unresolved crisis.

Masked individuals reportedly hurled Molotov cocktails at Congress, prompting authorities to deploy riot police and emergency personnel to extinguish flames and protect legislators and government employees.

Protesters insisted the vandals were outsiders attempting to discredit their movement. Some accused provocateurs linked to the ruling Citizens’ Movement party (MC), while others suspected involvement by Morena, the national governing party. Neither allegation has been substantiated.

According to La Jornada, demonstrators expelled at least 30 masked individuals before the march began, confiscating firecrackers, clubs and Molotov cocktails. Organizers delayed the demonstration by two hours to prevent further infiltration.

Nevertheless, masked groups followed protesters through Guadalajara’s Historic Center, damaging storefronts, breaking windows and looting businesses.

State officials reported damage to at least six commercial establishments, five arrests and eight people requiring medical attention.

By early afternoon, thousands of peaceful demonstrators filled Plaza de Armas, chanting “Resign, Lemus” and demanding a recall referendum against Governor Pablo Lemus, who assumed office in December 2024.

The demonstration followed another massive protest a week earlier, when police used pepper spray and high-pressure water hoses against crowds. Dozens were reportedly injured or arrested.

Lemus subsequently apologized for the excessive police response, ordered an investigation and released detained protesters.

Unlike the previous demonstration, Sunday’s march initially encountered minimal police presence until violence erupted near Congress.

The growing unrest reflects mounting public dissatisfaction with authorities’ handling of water contamination, an issue affecting residents throughout Guadalajara’s metropolitan region.

Oscar-winning filmmaker Guillermo del Toro, a Guadalajara native, publicly expressed solidarity with protesters during an appearance Sunday at the Morelia International Film Festival.

Despite the violence, demonstrators maintained that their central demand remains unchanged: access to safe, clean water and meaningful government action.

Sources: Mexico News Daily, La Jornada, Reporte Índigo and UDG-TV.

Bay Area Social Security recipients to receive 3.6 percent increase in 2027

October 23, 2026

Higher payments will begin in January, but rising living costs and Medicare premiums could limit their impact

by El Reportero staff

Hundreds of thousands of Social Security recipients across the San Francisco Bay Area will receive a 3.6 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) in 2027, providing modest financial relief to retirees, people with disabilities and surviving family members struggling with the region’s high living costs.

The Social Security Administration announced the increase on Oct. 14, affecting approximately 76 million Americans receiving Social Security or Supplemental Security Income (SSI).

According to the agency, the average retired worker will receive approximately $75 more per month, or about $900 annually. However, individual increases will vary depending on current benefit amounts and applicable deductions.

The adjustment will affect a substantial portion of the Bay Area population. Federal statistics from December 2025 show that San Francisco had 137,535 Social Security beneficiaries, while neighboring Alameda County had 248,405. Thousands more receive benefits in Contra Costa, San Mateo, Santa Clara and surrounding counties.

For residents living on fixed incomes, the additional money could help cover groceries, utilities, transportation and prescription medications. Nevertheless, the increase may provide limited relief in one of the nation’s most expensive metropolitan regions, where housing and healthcare costs consume significant portions of household budgets.

A retiree currently receiving $2,000 monthly, for example, would see a $72 increase before deductions, bringing the monthly benefit to $2,072.

Another concern involves Medicare premiums, which are often deducted directly from Social Security payments. Any increase in those premiums could reduce the amount beneficiaries actually receive.

The higher Social Security payments will begin in January 2027. SSI recipients will receive their adjusted January payments on Dec. 31, 2026, because of the New Year’s holiday.

Beneficiaries do not need to apply for the increase. Adjustments will be calculated automatically.

Starting in late November, recipients can review their personalized COLA notices through their online my Social Security accounts. Those receiving paper notices should expect them during December.

The notices will explain the new monthly benefit amounts, payment dates and applicable deductions.

Residents can access their accounts or obtain additional information at www.ssa.gov.

Although the 3.6 percent adjustment exceeds the 2.8 percent increase granted for 2026, its actual value to Bay Area households will depend on whether the additional income keeps pace with everyday expenses.

Study finds lower magnesium levels in adults with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes

October 23, 2026

by Coco Somers

A study of 68 adults with type 2 diabetes in India found that blood magnesium levels were lower among participants with poorly controlled blood sugar, adding to growing research on the mineral’s role in metabolic health.

Researchers reported median magnesium levels of approximately 2.1 mg/dL among participants with higher HbA1c, compared with 2.3 mg/dL in those with better blood sugar control. HbA1c measures average blood sugar over the previous two to three months.

Five participants in the higher HbA1c group had hypomagnesemia, a condition characterized by abnormally low magnesium levels. However, researchers could not determine whether magnesium deficiency contributes to elevated blood sugar or results from it.

Study findings

Researchers divided participants into two groups based on HbA1c levels and compared magnesium concentrations with other metabolic indicators.

Lower magnesium levels were associated with higher triglycerides, suggesting a possible connection between magnesium status and broader metabolic health.

Although researchers observed a trend toward declining magnesium levels as HbA1c increased, the relationship within the higher HbA1c group was not statistically significant.

Magnesium participates in more than 300 enzymatic reactions, including processes involved in glucose metabolism, insulin function and energy production.

Previous research

Earlier studies have linked magnesium to insulin signaling and the movement of glucose into cells. Elevated blood sugar may also increase magnesium loss through urine, potentially contributing to deficiencies.

Observational research has associated insufficient dietary magnesium with increased risks of type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome.

Some clinical trials have suggested that magnesium supplementation may improve fasting blood sugar and HbA1c levels in people with diabetes. However, researchers emphasize that increasing magnesium intake does not necessarily produce immediate improvements in blood sugar control.

A separate analysis of 11 clinical trials examining omega-3 supplementation found improvements in fasting insulin and insulin resistance measurements, but no significant changes in HbA1c or fasting blood sugar.

Magnesium intake and dietary sources

Magnesium is an essential mineral that the body cannot produce independently and must obtain through food or supplements.

Approximately 43 percent of American adults fail to consume sufficient magnesium through their diets, according to previous reporting. Another 2026 report estimated that roughly half of U.S. adults consume less than recommended amounts.

Foods rich in magnesium include pumpkin seeds, chia seeds, leafy green vegetables and beans.

According to National Institutes of Health recommendations cited in the report, adult men generally need 400 to 420 milligrams daily, while adult women require 310 to 320 milligrams.

Magnesium also supports muscle and nerve function, bone development and normal blood sugar regulation.

Conclusion

The findings strengthen existing evidence linking magnesium levels with blood sugar management in adults with type 2 diabetes, although they do not establish a cause-and-effect relationship.

Adequate magnesium intake, particularly through nutritious foods, may support overall metabolic health. Dietary improvements and regular physical activity remain important components of managing type 2 diabetes.

(Originally written by Coco Somers. Edited and condensed for publication in El Reportero).

New Chiapas lab repairs and protects Indigenous clothing, helping to preserve a valued tradition

October 23, 2026

arts2_textilesMaya_10.23.26 — El Centro de Textiles del Mundo Maya en San Cristóbal inauguró un laboratorio de conservación para restaurar y proteger vestimenta tradicional de Chiapas y Guatemala. The Center for Textiles of the Mayan World in San Cristóbal has opened a conservation laboratory to restore and protect traditional clothing from Chiapas and Guatemala.

by MND staff

A museum in southern Mexico devoted to Maya textiles has opened a conservation laboratory to help preserve its 3,400-piece collection.

The Maya World Textile Center — located in a former convent in the colonial city of San Cristóbal de las Casas, Chiapas — houses collections of traditional clothing and other textiles from the region, including Chiapas and Guatemala.

Artesanos se reúnen en el Centro de Textiles del Mundo Maya, en Chiapas. Artisans gather at the Maya World Textile Center in Chiapas. (Centro de Textiles Mundo Maya)

Its new lab, which opened last week, includes equipment to repair damaged pieces and combat the insects and fungi that threaten them.

Specialists can wash textiles, remove stains, reinforce damaged areas, and identify materials and techniques.

The collections include everyday and ceremonial garments, with pieces mostly covering the last century. Pre-Hispanic, colonial and 19th-century artifacts are housed in the same building at the Museum of the Chiapas Highlands.

The goal is to extend the pieces’ lives so they remain available for research and exhibition in the Maya World Textile Center, described as the largest textile collection of the Maya world when it opened in 2012. It has received more than 342,000 visitors since then, according to figures reported by Diario de Chiapas.

Fomento Cultural Banamex — the Mexican bank’s nonprofit that supports arts, traditional crafts, exhibitions and heritage conservation — helped equip the center. Financial support from Fundación Diez Morodo, established by longtime Grupo Modelo executive Valentín Diez Morodo, helped fund staff and additional equipment.

Two apprentices who speak the Indigenous languages Tsotsil and Tseltal are training in handling, assessing, documenting and conserving the collections.

The opening comes as Indigenous communities pursue separate efforts to preserve the knowledge behind their crafts and defend designs against unauthorized copying.

Artisans from San Andrés Larrainzar — a Tsotsil Maya municipality located in the highlands of Chiapas — have documented 208 textile symbols through the Jolom Mayaetik cooperative. The catalog includes names and meanings passed down through generations; however, its copyright protection covers the research, not necessarily the designs, cooperative members said.

Meanwhile, in neighboring Oaxaca, officials have begun a process to register and protect Villa Hidalgo Yalálag’s traditional huarache designs after the controversy over Adidas’ Oaxaca Slip-On shoe in 2025. Adidas and designer Willy Chavarria apologized for developing the sandal-inspired shoe without the community’s involvement.

Preservation efforts also face economic pressures. Female textile artisans in Mexico earned an average of 3,699 pesos (about US $200) monthly, compared with 7,399 pesos (about US $400) for men, the news source Animal Político reported in August, citing national employment data.

Only 2.4% of female textile artisans in Mexico had social security coverage, compared with 12.4% of their male counterparts, it reported. Mexico’s social security system provides protections that include medical care, disability benefits and maternity leave, in addition to retirement benefits.

With reports from Diario de Chiapas, La Jornada, La Crónica, Clarín and Animal Político

The never-ending ballot propositions: Are we solving problems or creating new ones?

October 23, 2026

by Marvin Ramírez

Every two years, Americans return to the polls, and another collection of ballot propositions awaits voters in states like California. Whether during midterm or presidential elections, citizens are repeatedly asked to approve new laws, authorize spending, raise taxes, or change existing policies.

But why do we constantly need new propositions when so many previous measures were supposed to solve problems that remain unresolved?

For many immigrants from Latin America, California’s proposition system can be confusing. In their countries of origin, elections often focus primarily on choosing presidents, mayors, legislators, and other representatives, although referendums also exist in some nations.

In California, however, voters can decide directly on proposed laws, constitutional amendments, taxes, and public spending measures. These are called ballot propositions. Some reach the ballot through citizen signatures, while others are placed there by the Legislature.

A “Yes” vote generally approves the proposed measure, while a “No” vote rejects it. But understanding the consequences is not always easy.

One campaign promises better schools, housing, transportation, or public services. Another warns that the same proposition will increase taxes, create debt, or benefit special interests.

Who should voters believe?

Government exists to protect citizens’ rights, freedoms, and well-being. Yet every election seems to introduce additional regulations, financial obligations, or government programs.

Does more legislation necessarily mean better government? Or have we created a political system that depends on continuously proposing solutions without adequately evaluating previous results?

Consider the financial implications. The federal government carries enormous debt, while many state and local governments face continuing fiscal pressures.

Nevertheless, voters repeatedly encounter proposals requesting additional public resources.

Some propositions authorize bonds that must eventually be repaid, often with interest. Others establish taxes, redirect revenues, or finance programs whose long-term costs may receive insufficient scrutiny.

Ultimately, taxpayers bear much of that responsibility.

Behind many campaigns stand political consultants, lobbying organizations, contractors, unions, corporations, and other interest groups investing substantial resources to influence public decisions.

For some participants, ballot propositions represent economic opportunities. Campaigns generate advertising expenditures, consulting contracts, and political influence. Approved measures may create administrative positions, government programs, and lucrative contracts.

This does not mean every proposition is unnecessary or dishonest. Some address genuine public needs, protect rights, or correct outdated laws.

But shouldn’t government first demonstrate that existing programs are working before asking citizens for additional money?

Imagine an America where lawmakers concentrated on evaluating existing legislation rather than continually introducing new measures.

Imagine requiring independent audits, transparent accounting, and measurable results before approving additional expenditures.

What if every proposition requesting public money had to explain why previous funding failed to achieve its promised objectives?

Democracy should not be measured by the number of laws enacted or propositions approved. Its success should be measured by the freedom, prosperity, security, and opportunities citizens actually experience.

Perhaps the most troubling aspect is how normal this endless cycle has become.

We approve one proposition, wait for results, and encounter another promising to correct what remains unresolved.

And when the next election arrives, another campaign will undoubtedly tell us something is missing, something is broken, and another proposition is urgently necessary.

But when will we finally ask whether the problem is the absence of another law—or the failure of government to deliver on the laws we already have?

Border security must not come at the expense of human dignity

October 23, 2026

by El Reportero Editorial Board

Recent violence and tensions in Europe, particularly France, have intensified fears about immigration. But events abroad should not become an excuse to treat immigrant communities in the United States as a collective threat.

The American immigration experience differs in important ways. Most unauthorized immigrants in the United States come from Latin America, a region with longstanding cultural, religious, political and economic ties to this country. Those connections do not eliminate cultural differences, nor do they guarantee social harmony. They do, however, caution against importing sweeping assumptions from European debates.

Migration Policy Institute estimates for 2024 indicate that roughly three quarters of unauthorized immigrants were born in Mexico, Central America or South America. This helps explain why immigration enforcement has such a visible impact on Latino communities. It does not establish that every enforcement operation is justified, or that discrimination cannot occur.

A citizen, legal resident and unauthorized immigrant may look alike, speak the same language and work in the same neighborhood. Immigration status cannot be determined from a face, an accent or a job. Nor should authorities treat day laborers or restaurant workers as presumptively undocumented.

The United States has a legitimate responsibility to secure its borders and enforce immigration law. That responsibility is compatible with restraint, due process and respect for human dignity.

For decades, immigrants without legal status have worked in agriculture, construction, food service and other industries. Many have raised children, paid taxes and built lives here. Their contributions do not automatically confer legal status, but they matter when considering the human consequences of enforcement.

Imagine a parent detained while returning from work. Children wait at home. Relatives cannot immediately reach their loved one. A vehicle may be left behind, and the family suddenly faces fear and financial uncertainty.

Officers sometimes confront resistance and genuine safety risks. Still, any force used during an arrest must be lawful, necessary and proportionate. People in custody should be treated respectfully and given appropriate opportunities to contact family and obtain legal assistance.

Congress can debate whether longtime residents should have a lawful path to regularize their status. Meanwhile, federal authorities can insist on professional, humane enforcement without abandoning border security.

Fear inspired by events overseas must never substitute for individual evidence. A nation’s strength lies not only in enforcing its laws, but in the dignity with which it treats people subject to them. That principle must apply to every immigrant, regardless of nationality, appearance, religion or immigration status.

Bay Area celebrates music, film and community traditions

October 23, 2026

Six Bay Area events highlight music, film, art and Día de los Muertos traditions

by the El Reportero staff

Oakland salsa block party

DJ WaltDigz brings dancing to Preservation Park

Salsa enthusiasts can enjoy an afternoon of Latin rhythms with DJ WaltDigz at a block party in downtown Oakland. Everyone is welcome.

Saturday, Oct. 24, 1–5 p.m. Preservation Park, 1233 Preservation Way, Oakland.

El Rio closes Salsa Sundays

Orquesta Borinquen performs at season finale

El Rio concludes its 2026 Salsa Sundays season with live music by Orquesta Borinquen and guest DJs. All dancing levels are welcome. Admission is $10 before 4 p.m. and $20 afterward; ages 21 and older.

Sunday, Oct. 25, 3–8 p.m. El Rio, San Francisco.

Families create Día de los Muertos art

Berkeley workshop features alebrijes

The Lawrence Hall of Science invites families to create paper-mâché alebrijes using recycled materials during a bilingual workshop. The activity contributes to a community ofrenda developed with Tierra Rituals. A second workshop on October 31 will focus on seed-decorated calaveras. Admission is $27 for visitors ages three and older; children under two enter free.

Sunday, Oct. 25, 1–3 p.m. Lawrence Hall of Science, 1 Centennial Drive, Berkeley.

The Eternal Song screens in Berkeley

Filmmakers discuss Indigenous ancestral wisdom

The Native Voices Film Series presents The Eternal Song, exploring Indigenous cultures, ancestral knowledge and healing from colonial trauma. Directors Zaya and Maurizio Benazzo join a discussion moderated by Sacred Land Film Project director Toby McLeod. The film highlights cultural memory.

Monday, Oct. 26, 7 p.m. David Brower Center, 2150 Allston Way, Berkeley. Tickets required.

Taste of Mission Bernal supports art

Neighborhood tasting benefits public mosaic

A neighborhood food tasting at The Front Porch raises support for a public mosaic mural along Cortland Avenue. Tickets cost $65 for adults ages 18–60, with limited $40 admission for younger and older guests. The gathering celebrates community creativity.

Wednesday, Oct. 28, 5–8 p.m. The Front Porch, 65 29th St., San Francisco.

Patron Latin Rhythms honors remembrance

Livermore concert celebrates Día de los Muertos

Patron Latin Rhythms performs at Almost Famous Wine Company and celebrates the release of its single, Let’s Choose Unity. The concert honors Día de los Muertos through live music and community gathering. Admission is restricted to adults ages 21 and older.

Friday, Oct. 30, doors 6:30 p.m.; show 7:30 p.m. Almost Famous Wine Company, Livermore.

Casa Bandido: A living monument to San Francisco’s Latin rock

October 16, 2026

arts_CasaBandido_10.16.26 — Richard Segovia (sombrero rojo) con compañeros músicos de Puro Bandido en una fotografía de 2015. El mural de Casa Bandido honra a los pioneros del Latin rock, algunos ya fallecidos, cuyo legado Segovia se ha dedicado a preservar. -- Crédito de la fotografía original: El Reportero, 2015. Richard Segovia (red hat) with fellow Puro Bandido musicians in a 2015 photograph. Casa Bandido’s mural honors Latin rock pioneers, including artists no longer with us, whose musical legacy Segovia has worked to preserve.

Richard Segovia’s historic Mission District home preserves musical traditions while inspiring new generations

by the El Reportero staff

Carlos “Kookie” González, artista de la Misión que pintó el retrato de Carmelito Vélez en el histórico mural de Casa Bandido en 2026. Mission District artist Carlos “Kookie” González, who painted the portrait of Carmelito Vélez on Casa Bandido’s historic mural in 2026.

For more than six decades, Richard Segovia has dedicated his life to preserving Latin rock, a musical movement born in San Francisco’s Mission District that combines rock, blues and Afro-Cuban rhythms.

Today, the 73-year-old timbales player and leader of Puro Bandido celebrates another achievement: his colorful home, Casa Bandido, has officially become a San Francisco historic landmark.

Located at 2880 25th Street, near York Street, the house received landmark designation in July 2026, protecting its distinctive exterior and spectacular mural honoring generations of Latin rock musicians.

“Latin rock music is something that the Mission District can call our own,” Segovia told CBS News Bay Area.

Born in San Francisco in 1953, Segovia grew up surrounded by the emerging sounds of Santana, Malo and Azteca. He began playing timbales as a young musician, developing his trademark percussion style.

His career included performances with Mbuhai, a group associated with celebrated entertainers including Stevie Wonder, Minnie Riperton and Isaac Hayes. Since 1979, he has led Puro Bandido, helping preserve the Latin rock tradition.

Recalling how music transformed neighborhood life, Segovia once declared: “We went from the battle of the barrios to the battle of the bands.”

His commitment extends beyond performing. Inside Casa Bandido, Segovia maintains rehearsal and recording facilities where young musicians receive guidance, encouragement and opportunities to develop their talents.

“My job is to get them to come here after school to keep them off the streets,” he explained.

His wife, Tammy Segovia, helps maintain the home’s welcoming atmosphere, supporting musicians who gather there to practice and collaborate.

The exterior mural, originally created in 2017 through Precita Eyes’ youth arts program, honors musicians who shaped the Mission District’s identity. Its continuing evolution includes work by Mission muralist Carlos “Kookie” González, who painted a portrait of Puerto Rican musician Carmelito Vélez in 2026.

Rebecca Rodriguez, leader of the all-female salsa group Agua Pura, described the home as “a museum that’s still so alive.”

A cancer survivor, Segovia has demonstrated remarkable resilience. His continuing dedication to music and neighborhood youth reflects the spirit that made Casa Bandido a cultural institution.

Beyond its historic designation, Casa Bandido remains a gathering place for musicians, community celebrations and the preservation of Latino heritage.

For Segovia, the greatest legacy may be the generations of young musicians who will carry Latin rock into the

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