The Consular Newsletter (January 27 – February 02, 2025)

Every Monday, the consular newsletter compiles the latest major news on consular affairs and diplomatic networks.

[Consular affairs]

Americas

• Gunfight erupts on the border as Mexican drug cartels smuggling migrants across open fire on US Border Patrol agents Daily Mail
• How the Laken Riley Act changes US immigration law under Trump. Straight Arrow News
• Hundreds of U.S. visa appointments canceled in Colombia after spat over deportations. Time
• Man Flees To US Without Passport, Supreme Court Says "We Are Amazed". NDTV
• Migrants on edge as Trump administration ramps up raids and arrests. BBC
• Quakers sue to keep US immigration agents out of houses of worship. Hindustan Times
• Role of Religious NGOs in Facilitating Mass Unlawful Migration Draws Fresh Scrutiny. The Daily Signal
• The State Department is blocking new passports for trans Americans. The 19th News
• Trump’s swift moves rattle some immigration lawyers. The Indiana Lawyer
• Who is ICE targeting in Chicago? What to know amid ‘enhanced' operations. NBC 5 Chicago
• Why the ‘X’ on my passport matters. The Washington Post

Asia

• China’s inbound Lunar New Year travel surges over 200% as visa-free policies pay off. South China Morning Post
• Protesters pelt Malaysian embassy with eggs over Indonesian migrant worker shooting. ABC News

Multiple geographical areas

• Cuban activist tries to resign from the consulate in Madrid and ends up on the street with the police. CiberCuba
• E-passport contract dispute under CIAA’s radar. Nepal Republic Media
• Israeli doctors say five released Thai hostages in 'fair' health after 15 months of captivity. Times Union

Africa, Europe, Middle East, Oceania, and Pacific Islands

• Stay tuned for next week's newsletter.

[The Diplomatic and Consular Networks Database and Rankings]

In Africa

• Armed protesters set fire to US and French embassies in Congo. Leading Britain's Conversation
• Congo's M23 rebels take control of Goma airport, embassies attacked in capital. Reuters
• EU, France Condemn Embassy Attacks in DR Congo Conflict. IAfrica
• Sa’ar announces Israel will open embassy in Zambia. The Times of Israel
• Taiwan says South Africa gives March deadline to move office from Pretoria. Reuters
• US Embassy in Kinshasa reduces staff, urges citizens to leave DRC Immediately. The Eastleigh Voice
• US embassy in Republic of the Congo 'on fire' after protesters set tires alight. The Mirror

In Americas

• Chile Says Venezuela Orders Consulates to Close as Spat Worsens. Bloomberg

In Asia

• Canada to establish full embassy in Phnom Penh this year. Khmer Times

In Europe

• Foreign Minister Sa’ar departs for Moldova to open Israeli embassy. Jewish News Syndicate
• Greek Consulate General in Manchester officially opens, strengthening ties with the UK. Greek Travel Pages
• Has Starmer struck a murky deal with the Chinese to let them build a ￡750million mega-embassy MI5 says is a security risk? Daily Mail
• The ‘David and Goliath’ fight over China’s London mega-embassy. Financial Times
• UAC-0063 expands cyber attacks to European embassies using stolen documents. The Hacker News

In Middle East

• Chechnya’s unofficial embassy in the UAE. Important Stories
• Oman to open consulate in Kurdistan Region. Shafaq
• Russia wants to reopen its embassy in Syria. Middle East Eye

In Oceania and Pacific Islands

• Stay tuned for next week's newsletter.

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