• Ender Gonzales, a migrant from Venezuela, rests in a shelter in El Paso, Texas. Willy Lowry / The National
    Ender Gonzales, a migrant from Venezuela, rests in a shelter in El Paso, Texas. Willy Lowry / The National
  • A migrant waves an American flag during a protest against the Title 42 immigration policy in El Paso. Willy Lowry / The National
    A migrant waves an American flag during a protest against the Title 42 immigration policy in El Paso. Willy Lowry / The National
  • Children study inside a shelter for migrants in El Paso. Willy Lowry / The National
    Children study inside a shelter for migrants in El Paso. Willy Lowry / The National
  • A migrant cheers on protesters during a march against Title 42. Willy Lowry / The National
    A migrant cheers on protesters during a march against Title 42. Willy Lowry / The National
  • A group of migrants gather outside the Sacred Heart Church in El Paso to cheer on protesters. Willy Lowry / The National
    A group of migrants gather outside the Sacred Heart Church in El Paso to cheer on protesters. Willy Lowry / The National
  • A woman holds a sign calling for an end to to Title 42, a policy the Biden administration has been using to turn migrants away. Willy Lowry / The National
    A woman holds a sign calling for an end to to Title 42, a policy the Biden administration has been using to turn migrants away. Willy Lowry / The National
  • A migrant gives a thumbs up outside the Sacred Heart Church in downtown El Paso. Willy Lowry / The National
    A migrant gives a thumbs up outside the Sacred Heart Church in downtown El Paso. Willy Lowry / The National
  • Migrants hold up a Venezuelan flag during a march in El Paso. Willy Lowry / The National
    Migrants hold up a Venezuelan flag during a march in El Paso. Willy Lowry / The National
  • A pedestrian bridge connecting El Paso to Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. Willy Lowry / The National
    A pedestrian bridge connecting El Paso to Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. Willy Lowry / The National
  • Protesters march near Sacred Heart Church, where many undocumented Venezuelans have been staying. Reuters
    Protesters march near Sacred Heart Church, where many undocumented Venezuelans have been staying. Reuters
  • Venezuelan migrants hold their country's flag next to a replica of the Statue of Liberty. Reuters
    Venezuelan migrants hold their country's flag next to a replica of the Statue of Liberty. Reuters
  • Venezuelan migrants wave American flags during a protest to demand an end to the immigration policy called Title 42. Reuters
    Venezuelan migrants wave American flags during a protest to demand an end to the immigration policy called Title 42. Reuters

Biden’s El Paso visit leaves migrants wondering what comes next


Willy Lowry
  • English
  • Arabic

A small but determined group of protesters marched through downtown El Paso, Texas, on Saturday ahead of US President Joe Biden’s visit.

Chanting “we want immigration reform,” they filed from a small concrete park nestled in the shadow of the rust-coloured fence separating the US from Mexico to a church where hundreds of migrants — many of whom do not have permission to be in America — have camped out as they try to navigate the asylum process.

As the protesters approached the Sacred Heart Church, a group of migrants, many waving American flags and some with tears in their eyes, shouted and clapped in thanks.

Many were reluctant to stray more than a few metres from the church, where they had claimed sanctuary, for fear US immigration agents might arrest them.

Among the marchers was a county commissioner and members of the advocacy group Border Network for Human Rights. They are calling on Mr Biden to rescind his expansion of Title 42, a pandemic-era policy that lets the US Border Patrol turn asylum seekers away.

The programme was enacted as a health emergency policy under the Trump administration but has also been used by the Biden government to block asylum seekers hoping to enter the US.

Mr Biden announced a new, multifaceted approach to immigration along the southern border on Thursday, which in part would include an expansion of Title 42 measures.

Under the new guidelines, migrants from Nicaragua, Cuba, Venezuela and Haiti will have an expanded legal pathway to apply for entry into the US if they pass background checks and have a financial sponsor in America.

A Venezuelan sent back to Mexico by the US clings to the fence of the National Institute of Migration building in Ciudad Juarez. Reuters
A Venezuelan sent back to Mexico by the US clings to the fence of the National Institute of Migration building in Ciudad Juarez. Reuters

But to be eligible to apply, the migrants must do so from their home country.

Migrants caught trying to enter the US illegally will not be eligible for the new parole programme and will be deported to Mexico.

A similar framework already exists for migrants from Venezuela.

Many are fleeing economic hardship and political instability in their home countries.

“The actions we're announcing today will make things better … but will not fix the border problem completely,” Mr Biden said. “There's more that has to be done.”

Immigration advocates fear the new policy will only make things worse.

Texas National Guard vehicles along the US-Mexico border in downtown in El Paso. Reuters
Texas National Guard vehicles along the US-Mexico border in downtown in El Paso. Reuters

“The solutions that he put forward are not solutions,” said Fernando Garcia, executive director of Border Network for Human Rights. “The proposed online system didn't even work for the Venezuelans.”

A record 2.4 million migrants crossed into the US during the last fiscal year, which ended in September, overwhelming the Border Patrol.

El Paso, which neighbours the Mexican city of Ciudad Juarez, has received the bulk of recent migrants, forcing it to declare a state of emergency in December.

Shelters have been overflowing, with many migrants now sleeping on the streets.

Inside a welcome centre for the homeless just a few hundred metres from Mexico, Ender Gonzalez curls under an American Red Cross blanket.

Mr Gonzales, 28, walked for five months with his sister and her family to get here from his home in Venezuela, a journey that took them through the perilous jungles of the Darien Gap.

“It was really tough. There were kids crying, we were hungry,” he said.

It is unclear how Mr Biden’s new policies will affect migrants like Mr Gonzales, who are already in the US but still trying to seek asylum.

“All I can do is wait,” he tells The National.

Mr Garcia fears that many of the migrants in El Paso will eventually be deported.

“I'm afraid that based on the guidelines that were announced, the only future for them is expulsion,” he adds.

On Sunday, Mr Biden is due to spend several hours in this working-class city of nearly 700,000 people, nestled between the jagged peaks of the Franklin Mountains.

“It's great that he's coming,” says David Stout, an El Paso County commissioner.

Mr Stout says he is grateful for all of the federal assistance that El Paso received during the migrant crisis, but adds that it is time to end Title 42.

“Title 42, I feel, is a failed policy. It should not have been put in place in the first place,” he says.

Mr Biden has openly acknowledged that he does not like the policy either, but seems to have been unable to find a better solution.

A migrant seeking asylum in the US waits in Rio Bravo at the border fence between Mexico and America. Reuters
A migrant seeking asylum in the US waits in Rio Bravo at the border fence between Mexico and America. Reuters
The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm

Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm

Transmission: 9-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh117,059

While you're here
Skoda Superb Specs

Engine: 2-litre TSI petrol

Power: 190hp

Torque: 320Nm

Price: From Dh147,000

Available: Now

In the Restaurant: Society in Four Courses
Christoph Ribbat
Translated by Jamie Searle Romanelli
Pushkin Press 

THE SPECS

Engine: Four-cylinder 2.5-litre

Transmission: Seven-speed auto

Power: 165hp

Torque: 241Nm

Price: Dh99,900 to Dh134,000

On sale: now

Engine: 3.5-litre V6

Transmission: eight-speed automatic

Power: 290hp

Torque: 340Nm

Price: Dh155,800

On sale: now

Monday's results
  • UAE beat Bahrain by 51 runs
  • Qatar beat Maldives by 44 runs
  • Saudi Arabia beat Kuwait by seven wickets
Volunteers offer workers a lifeline

Community volunteers have swung into action delivering food packages and toiletries to the men.

When provisions are distributed, the men line up in long queues for packets of rice, flour, sugar, salt, pulses, milk, biscuits, shaving kits, soap and telecom cards.

Volunteers from St Mary’s Catholic Church said some workers came to the church to pray for their families and ask for assistance.

Boxes packed with essential food items were distributed to workers in the Dubai Investments Park and Ras Al Khaimah camps last week. Workers at the Sonapur camp asked for Dh1,600 towards their gas bill.

“Especially in this year of tolerance we consider ourselves privileged to be able to lend a helping hand to our needy brothers in the Actco camp," Father Lennie Connully, parish priest of St Mary’s.

Workers spoke of their helplessness, seeing children’s marriages cancelled because of lack of money going home. Others told of their misery of being unable to return home when a parent died.

“More than daily food, they are worried about not sending money home for their family,” said Kusum Dutta, a volunteer who works with the Indian consulate.

The Two Popes

Director: Fernando Meirelles

Stars: Anthony Hopkins, Jonathan Pryce 

Four out of five stars

Who's who in Yemen conflict

Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government

Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council

Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south

Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory

If you go

The flights
Return flights from Dubai to Santiago, via Sao Paolo cost from Dh5,295 with Emirates


The trip
A five-day trip (not including two days of flight travel) was split between Santiago and in Puerto Varas, with more time spent in the later where excursions were organised by TurisTour.
 

When to go
The summer months, from December to February are best though there is beauty in each season

Stage 2

1. Mathieu van der Poel (NED) Alpecin-Fenix 4:18:30

2. Tadej Pogacar (SLV) UAE Team Emirates 0:00:06

3.  Primoz Roglic (SLV) Jumbo-Visma 0:00:06

4. Wilco Kelderman (NED) Bora-Hansgrohe 0:00:06

5. Julian Alaphilippe (FRA) Deceuninck-QuickStep 0:00:08

BLACK%20ADAM
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Jaume%20Collet-Serra%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dwayne%20Johnson%2C%20Sarah%20Shahi%2C%20Viola%20Davis%2C%20Pierce%20Brosnan%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E3%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A

Best Academy: Ajax and Benfica

Best Agent: Jorge Mendes

Best Club : Liverpool   

 Best Coach: Jurgen Klopp (Liverpool)  

 Best Goalkeeper: Alisson Becker

 Best Men’s Player: Cristiano Ronaldo

 Best Partnership of the Year Award by SportBusiness: Manchester City and SAP

 Best Referee: Stephanie Frappart

Best Revelation Player: Joao Felix (Atletico Madrid and Portugal)

Best Sporting Director: Andrea Berta (Atletico Madrid)

Best Women's Player:  Lucy Bronze

Best Young Arab Player: Achraf Hakimi

 Kooora – Best Arab Club: Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia)

 Kooora – Best Arab Player: Abderrazak Hamdallah (Al-Nassr FC, Saudi Arabia)

 Player Career Award: Miralem Pjanic and Ryan Giggs

Top%2010%20most%20competitive%20economies
%3Cp%3E1.%20Singapore%0D%3Cbr%3E2.%20Switzerland%0D%3Cbr%3E3.%20Denmark%0D%3Cbr%3E4.%20Ireland%0D%3Cbr%3E5.%20Hong%20Kong%0D%3Cbr%3E6.%20Sweden%0D%3Cbr%3E7.%20UAE%0D%3Cbr%3E8.%20Taiwan%0D%3Cbr%3E9.%20Netherlands%0D%3Cbr%3E10.%20Norway%0D%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Timeline

2012-2015

The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East

May 2017

The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts

September 2021

Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act

October 2021

Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence 

December 2024

Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group

May 2025

The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan

July 2025

The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan

August 2025

Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision

October 2025

Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange

November 2025

180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE

Profile

Co-founders of the company: Vilhelm Hedberg and Ravi Bhusari

Launch year: In 2016 ekar launched and signed an agreement with Etihad Airways in Abu Dhabi. In January 2017 ekar launched in Dubai in a partnership with the RTA.

Number of employees: Over 50

Financing stage: Series B currently being finalised

Investors: Series A - Audacia Capital 

Sector of operation: Transport

Updated: January 13, 2023, 9:15 AM