
Mexican Influencer Shot Dead During TikTok Livestream
A Mexican social media influencer was shot dead while live-streaming on TikTok. Valeria Marquez, 23, was murdered by a man who entered her beauty salon in Guadalajara city of Mexico's Jalisco, on the pretext of delivering a gift before opening fire at her, the state prosecutor's office said. Marquez was mid-livestream from her Blossom the Beauty Lounge salon when the incident occurred. Seconds before the incident, she was heard saying, "They're coming," before a voice in the background asked, "Hey, Vale?" "Yes," Marquez replied, just before muting the sound on the live stream. Moments later, shots are heard in the background as Marquez clutched her ribcage before collapsing on the table.
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Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Supreme Court Ruling On Gun Companies: Supreme Court Blocks Mexico's Gun Lawsuit Against US Companies, ET LegalWorld
The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday spared two American gun companies from a lawsuit by Mexico's government accusing them of aiding illegal firearms trafficking to drug cartels and fueling gun violence in the southern neighbor of the United States. The justices in a 9-0 ruling authored by liberal Justice Elena Kagan overturned a lower court's ruling that had allowed the lawsuit to proceed against firearms maker Smith & Wesson and distributor Interstate Arms. The lower court had found that Mexico plausibly alleged that the companies aided and abetted unlawful sales routing guns to Mexican drug cartels, harming its government. Advt Advt Join the community of 2M+ industry professionals Subscribe to our newsletter to get latest insights & analysis. Download ETLegalWorld App Get Realtime updates Save your favourite articles Scan to download App The justices embraced the argument made by the companies for dismissal of Mexico's suit under a 2005 U.S. law called the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act that broadly shields gun companies from liability for crimes committed with their products. The Boston-based 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals had decided in 2024 that the alleged conduct by the companies fell outside these Supreme Court decided that while it has little doubt that U.S. companies are aware of some unlawful sales to Mexican gun traffickers, Mexico's lawsuit failed to allege that the companies had aided and abetted such illegal firearms sales by deliberately helping to bring about the transactions."Mexico's plausible allegations are of 'indifference' rather than assistance," Kagan wrote. "They are of the manufacturers merely allowing some unidentified 'bad actors' to make illegal use of their wares." The case came to the Supreme Court at a complicated time for U.S.-Mexican relations as President Donald Trump pursues on-again, off-again tariffs on Mexican goods. Trump has also accused Mexico of doing too little to stop the flow of synthetic drugs such as fentanyl and migrant arrivals at the lawsuit, filed in Boston in 2021, accused the two companies of violating various U.S. and Mexican laws. Mexico claims that the companies have deliberately maintained a distribution system that included firearms dealers who knowingly sell weapons to third-party, or "straw," purchasers who then traffic guns to cartels in suit also accused the companies of unlawfully designing and marketing their guns as military-grade weapons to drive up demand among the cartels, including by associating their products with the American military and law enforcement. The gun companies said they make and sell lawful avoid its lawsuit being dismissed under the 2005 law, Mexico was required to plausibly allege that the companies aided and abetted illegal gun sales and that such conduct was the "proximate cause" - a legal principle involving who is responsible for causing an injury - of the harms claimed by Mexico. The Supreme Court, which heard arguments in the case on March 4, declined to resolve the proximate cause question after finding that Mexico's suit failed to adequately allege aiding and Arrocha Olabuenaga, the legal adviser for Mexico's Foreign Ministry, vowed that Mexico will continue pursuing its legal fight."While we are disappointed with the decision from this Supreme Court, we are convinced of the strength of our arguments and the evidence that upholds them, and we are encouraged by the support at home and abroad for Mexico's actions," he in the lawsuit had sought monetary damages of an unspecified amount and a court order requiring Smith & Wesson and Interstate Arms to take steps to "abate and remedy the public nuisance they have created in Mexico."The Second Amendment Foundation, a gun rights group that backed the U.S. gun companies in the case, welcomed Thursday's ruling."The lawsuit, dreamt up by multiple gun control groups, had one goal - bankrupt the American firearms market by allowing civil liability to apply for the criminal misuse of its products," the group said in a social media post. "Thankfully the Supreme Court stepped in and squashed it."Gun violence fueled by trafficked U.S.-made firearms has contributed to a decline in business investment and economic activity in Mexico and forced its government to incur unusually high costs on services including healthcare, law enforcement and the military, according to the a country with strict firearms laws, has said most of its gun homicides are committed with weapons trafficked from the United States and valued at more than $250 million Perez Ricart, an international affairs researcher at Mexico's Center for Economic Research and Teaching (CIDE), criticized the ruling."Once again, the industry is shielded. It doesn't matter how many bullets cross the border or how many people are killed on the Mexican side. Bullets are not the only things that kill; so does the legal impunity guaranteed by Washington," Ricart said in a social media post.
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First Post
12 hours ago
- First Post
Swiping is risky? Why Americans have been warned against using dating apps in Mexico
The US Consulate General in Guadalajara has issued a warning to Americans about the risks of using dating apps in Mexico. According to the advisory, some American tourists were abducted after meeting individuals through these platforms. The incidents took place in Puerto Vallarta in Jalisco and Nuevo Nayarit in Nayarit, both popular beach destinations. Notably, travellers have been urged to stay cautious when meeting new people and to avoid private spaces such as homes or hotel rooms read more The alert has come from the US Consulate General based in Guadalajara. Pixabay/Representational Image A warning has been issued for Americans over the dangers linked to dating apps in Mexico. The alert has come from the US Consulate General in Guadalajara. As per the Pew Research Center, around three in ten Americans have used a dating app. These platforms have quickly turned into a popular way for people to find partners. ALSO READ | Who was Valeria Marquez, Mexican influencer shot dead during TikTok livestream? Why has the US Embassy in Mexico warned American tourists about using dating apps there? What exactly did the embassy say in its warning? STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Let's get you the answers to these questions and more. Why American travellers have been warned against using dating apps in Mexico American travellers have been advised against using dating apps in Mexico following a series of recent kidnappings. The warning came from the US Consulate General in Guadalajara, which said that some American visitors had been abducted by individuals they met through dating apps. The incidents took place in Puerto Vallarta in Jalisco and Nuevo Nayarit in Nayarit, both popular beach destinations. 'Victims and their family members in the United States have at times been extorted for large sums of money to secure their release,' the consulate said. It also said that such violence is not limited to a geographic region. Tourists have been urged to be cautious when meeting new people. Officials advised arranging meetings in public places and avoiding private spaces like homes or hotel rooms. In case of a security threat, visitors are encouraged to contact local police by dialling 911. Reuters/Representational Image The warning follows a broader travel advisory from the US State Department. Jalisco has been placed under 'Level 3: Reconsider Travel' due to crime and kidnappings, while Nayarit falls under 'Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution'. 'Travellers should use caution when meeting strangers; meet only in public places and avoid isolated locations, such as residences or hotel rooms, where crimes are most likely to occur,' the consulate said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In case of a security threat, visitors are encouraged to contact local police by dialling 911. 'US citizens in need of emergency consular services should contact their nearest US embassy or consulate.' Figures from the Pew Research Center show that around three in ten Americans have used a dating app. While these platforms have become a common way to meet partners, they have also seen a rise in related scams and crimes. US Embassy's safety tips for Mexico In its press release, the US Embassy shared several safety tips for those using dating apps in Mexico: Be careful when using dating apps while in the country. Arrange to meet only in public areas and steer clear of isolated spots. Inform a friend or family member about your plans, including details such as your destination, the person you are meeting, and the app used. Trust your instincts. If something feels off, leave the situation immediately. In an emergency, dial 911. A drop in border crossings has led certain Mexican cartels to shift to kidnapping instead.. Reuters/File Photo How Americans are being kidnapped by Mexican cartels According to a News Nation report last month, a drop in border crossings has led certain Mexican cartels to shift to kidnapping instead. Reuters reported in February that illegal crossings at the US-Mexico border were expected to hit a record monthly low. One such case took place in April, when two American citizens were abducted outside a restaurant in Juarez. They were held for around three days in a house before being rescued by the FBI and a local anti-kidnapping unit. During the rescue, authorities recovered three guns and a sum of cash. The captors had been demanding money in exchange for the victims' release.


Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Hindustan Times
What to know about Ramón Morales Reyes, a Wisconsin man falsely accused of threatening Trump's life
CHICAGO — A man falsely accused of threatening President Donald Trump's life faces deportation even as Wisconsin authorities say the Mexican immigrant was framed and is a victim of a violent 2023 attack. Ramón Morales Reyes was thrust into the national spotlight last week when Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem accused him of writing letters threatening Trump. Agency officials quietly acknowledged Wednesday that Morales Reyes is no longer a suspect in that threat, a day after another man was charged in Wisconsin for forging the letters. But Trump administration social media posts blasting Morales Reyes as a potential presidential assassin remained online. Attorneys for Morales Reyes say he isn't a danger to the public, and activists believe he's a scapegoat in an increasing hostile environment for immigrants. Meanwhile, federal authorities say they're pushing ahead with deportation in part because the 54-year-old doesn't have legal permission to live in the country. Here are things to know about the case: Morales Reyes immigrated from Mexico in the 1980s, according to his attorney. A married man with three U.S. citizen children, he worked as a dishwasher in Milwaukee. Federal immigration agents took him into custody last month after he dropped his daughter at school. Days later Noem blasted his photo on social media, along with an excerpt of a letter he purportedly wrote in English calling for Trump to be shot at a rally. The arrest was held up by the White House and Trump supporters as a success in the administration's aggressive crackdown on immigration. But the details quickly unraveled, including the fact that Morales Reyes doesn't speak English well and can't write in the language. On Tuesday, authorities in Wisconsin charged Demetric D. Scott of forging the letter in an effort to blame Morales Reyes, a potential witness against him in a 2023 attack. Scott is accused of knocking Morales Reyes off his bicycle, injuring him with a box cutter and then taking the bike, according to court records. Court documents said law enforcement officials listened to calls Scott made about the letters and a plot to have someone picked up by immigration agents, all aiming to have the armed robbery and aggravated battery charges dismissed. He also admitted to police that he wrote the letters, documents said. Scott, who is in the Milwaukee County Jail, is awaiting a July trial. He's due in court on Tuesday on the newer charges, including felony witness intimidation and identity theft. A message left Tuesday for the state public defender's office wasn't immediately returned. Scott's attorneys have previously declined comment. Earlier this year, Morales Reyes applied for a U visa, which is for people in the country illegally who become victims of serious crimes. The application was pending, according to his attorneys. Morales Reyes has been detained at Dodge Detention Center in Juneau, which is about 70 miles north of Milwaukee. Homeland Security officials have not publicly corrected the information on the presidential threat. Instead they've doubled down on pursuing an immigration case against him. They allege Morales Reyes entered the country illegally at least nine times between 1998 and 2005 and that he has a criminal background. 'This criminal illegal alien is no longer under investigation for threats against the President, but will remain in ICE custody pending removal proceedings,' DHS said in a statement Wednesday. Morales Reyes is accused of two incidents in 1996, according to his attorneys. In one he was arrested for damaging property in a hit-and-run but not charged. In another he was ticketed for disorderly conduct and criminal damage after a dispute with his wife. No one was injured, according to his attorney. Attorneys for Morales Reyes said the information on the threat should be corrected quickly as their client and his family are facing harassment and threats. 'This administration has jumped quickly to make announcements that they think will play well to their narrative of immigrants being dangerous,' said attorney Cain Oulahan. Immigrant rights advocates have rallied around Morales Reyes, including a group who stood outside a downtown Chicago immigration court Wednesday ahead of a brief hearing in the deportation case. Several held a large banner that read, 'Stop Scapegoating Immigrants.' Morales Reyes, wearing a green jail jumpsuit, appeared via livestream. He spoke through a Spanish interpreter, saying he understood the case. Oulahan told the judge that he was hoping for a quick resolution, considering the public accusations made against Morales Reyes. He's seeking for Morales Reyes to be released on bond. A government attorney told the judge she didn't have any information about the threat accusation. Immigration Judge Carla Espinoza said more time was needed to review documents. She set another hearing for June 10. The situation has been difficult for Morales Reyes and his relatives. 'He's a family man. This has been extremely stressful on him,' said Oulahan. 'He's very worried."