El Pulso: Weekly News from EL CENTRAL

In this week’s edition of EL PULSO, ICE arrests reach record levels nationwide as legal support for unaccompanied immigrant children shrinks. In Michigan, more than 500 children could lose legal representation after federal funding for the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center ended August 1.

We also report on Detroit Recharged, a $112 million freight terminal project in Southwest Detroit that promises cleaner equipment and changes to truck routes while raising concerns among nearby residents about pollution, traffic, and trust.

Plus, Detroit announces nearly $20 million in improvements across 11 neighborhood parks, including projects at Patton Park and Cass Park.

We also highlight Ines de Jesus, a longtime bilingual educator and one of this year’s Skillman Visionary Award recipients, for her decades of work supporting Latino students and bilingual education in Detroit.

And in sports, Detroit City FC earns an important 1-0 road win over FC Tulsa, while the new Regal Eagle Soccer Pub opens on West Vernor with hopes of becoming part of Southwest Detroit’s growing match-day culture.

The stories featured in this episode are published throughout the week at ELCENTRALmedia.com.

🎧 New episodes every Thursday on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Hosted by Michael D. Gutierrez.

In this week’s edition of EL PULSO, Michigan’s primary election sets the stage for November. Abdul El-Sayed wins the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate, Jocelyn Benson advances in the governor’s race, and Donavan McKinney defeats incumbent Shri Thanedar in Detroit’s 13th Congressional District.

Detroit voters also approve an operating millage expected to provide more than $110 million annually for Detroit Public Schools Community District, while Wayne County voters pass a countywide transit millage supporting expanded regional service.

We also report on the expiration of federal contracts that provided legal services to unaccompanied migrant children, potentially leaving an estimated 26,000 young people to face immigration court without an attorney.

Plus, Detroit promises changes after emergency alerts about extreme heat and hazardous smoke were published mostly in English, despite a city ordinance requiring language access during emergencies.

And Wayne State University names Dr. Nathalia Jaramillo as the next director of its Center for Latino/a and Latin American Studies, one of the country’s oldest academic programs focused on Latino and Latin American communities.

We close with Detroit City FC’s 2-2 draw in Miami after a missed stoppage-time penalty denied Le Rouge a road victory.

The stories featured in this episode are published throughout the week at ELCENTRALmedia.com.

🎧 New episodes every Thursday on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Hosted by Michael D. Gutierrez.

In this week’s edition of EL PULSO, Detroit voters prepare to decide an operating millage that could generate approximately $112 million a year for Detroit Public Schools Community District and help fund classroom programming, staff salaries, and other day-to-day school operations.

We also report on Livingston County’s new 287(g) agreement with ICE, which allows designated officers to execute federal immigration warrants on people already held in county custody, while immigrant-rights advocates warn that such partnerships can weaken trust in local law enforcement.

Plus, the Gordie Howe International Bridge officially opens after years of planning and construction, creating a new highway-to-highway connection between Detroit and Windsor and supporting one of North America’s busiest trade corridors.

We also cover the second annual No Se Puede, Sin Nosotros gathering, where Latino leaders from across Michigan discussed education, healthcare, economic mobility, and civic participation.

And we preview Fantástico, a new Midtown exhibition featuring original Mexican movie posters and lobby cards from the Golden Age of cinema.

The stories featured in this episode are published throughout the week at ELCENTRALmedia.com.

🎧 New episodes every Thursday on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Hosted by Michael D. Gutierrez.

In this week's edition of EL PULSO, immigrant-rights advocates across Michigan condemn recent ICE-related deaths and renew calls for greater oversight of immigration enforcement after two men were killed during separate encounters with federal agents.

We also break down the Wayne County transit millage on the August 4 ballot, a proposal that would expand SMART bus routes, microtransit services, and regional transit access for thousands of residents.

Plus, Detroit health officials warn of rising cyclospora cases across Michigan, while MANA de Metro Detroit celebrates Latina leadership by awarding scholarships to 20 students and honoring community leaders during its annual Brindis Luncheon.

We also remind listeners about early voting ahead of Michigan's August primary election and the importance of relying on trusted local election officials for accurate voting information.

And we wrap up with the latest from the soccer world as Spain captures its second FIFA Men's World Cup title, while Detroit City FC announces the largest investment in club history and officially breaks ground on its future stadium in Southwest Detroit.

🎧 New episodes every Thursday on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Hosted by Michael D. Gutierrez

In this week's edition of EL PULSO, immigrant-rights advocates raise new concerns after two immigrants were killed during encounters involving ICE agents, including a Detroit vigil honoring Lorenzo Salgado Araujo and renewed calls to end immigration-related vehicle pursuits in residential neighborhoods.

We also report on the groundbreaking of the historic La Norteña building in Mexicantown, where a long-vacant Latino-owned property will be transformed into a mixed-use development designed with community input and neighborhood preservation in mind.

Plus, District 6 Business Liaison Raquel Figueroa shares how her own migration story shapes the way she helps Southwest Detroit entrepreneurs navigate city resources and grow their businesses.

We also highlight the premiere of A Happy World, filmmaker Sebastian Rivera-Mendoza's new short film shot in Southwest Detroit, and examine the uncertain future of a proposed federal workplace heat standard designed to protect workers during extreme temperatures.

🎧 New episodes every Thursday on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Hosted by Michael D. Gutierrez

In this week's edition of EL PULSO, advocates in Pontiac estimate that more than 400 Latino residents have been arrested since immigration enforcement intensified in 2025, prompting community volunteers to organize legal support, food assistance, and Know Your Rights trainings.

We also preview the 35th anniversary of Detroit's Concert of Colors, featuring artists from around the world, a tribute to founder Ismael Ahmed, and a new collaboration with the Smithsonian that will preserve Detroiters' stories as part of a national archive.

Detroit's Latino arts community also remembers sculptor Alvaro Jurado, whose work and mentorship helped shape generations of artists in Southwest Detroit.

Plus, nominations open for the Michigan Lottery's Excellence in Education Awards, recognizing educators across the state.

And we wrap up with the latest from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where Mexico, Canada, and the United States all exit in the Round of 16, while a look back at Detroit's World Cup history reminds us of the city's lasting place in the sport.

🎧 New episodes every Thursday on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Hosted by Michael D. Gutierrez

In this week's edition of EL PULSO, the Southwest Detroit Business Association honors neighborhood leaders during its annual Community Investment Breakfast, recognizing decades of investment, advocacy, and leadership as the community prepares for its next chapter of growth.

We also report on Strangers No Longer's Assembly for Hope, where immigrant advocates, faith leaders, and elected officials ratified the organization's first statewide policy platform ahead of the 2026 election season, outlining priorities for immigration reform and voter education.

A new Michigan Historical Marker is unveiled in Southwest Detroit honoring Dr. Lucile "Luci" Cruz Gajec, whose work preserving Mexican, Indigenous, and Indo-Hispanic history helped shape the community's historical record for future generations.

Plus, Concert of Colors returns to Mexicantown in honor of founder Ismael Ahmed, Detroit opens cooling centers during a stretch of dangerous heat, and families in Michigan respond to the humanitarian crises unfolding in Venezuela and Cuba.

We also recap the latest from the 2026 FIFA World Cup as Mexico advances to face England in the Round of 16, Canada reaches the knockout stage, and EL CENTRAL's David Levine reports from inside the tournament in Houston.

🎧 New episodes every Thursday on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Hosted by Michael D. Gutierrez

In this week's edition of EL PULSO, E&L Supermercado reopens after a May arson fire temporarily closed one of Southwest Detroit's most relied-on grocery stores, bringing back a neighborhood staple after weeks of repairs.

We also report on the expansion of Medicina Scarlett, a bilingual healthcare clinic on West Vernor that plans to open a larger facility with additional exam rooms, imaging services, an infusion center, and a compounding pharmacy after rapid growth since opening in 2024.

Detroit releases its first comprehensive Community Health Assessment since 2018, using feedback from more than 6,000 residents to identify priorities including maternal health, chronic disease, food access, and access to healthcare.

Plus, Detroit developers share lessons from the field on avoiding costly construction mistakes, a regional housing summit prepares to tackle affordability challenges, and ICE signals it will abandon plans for a proposed detention center in Romulus following months of legal challenges and community opposition.

We also recap Detroit City FC's USL Cup draw and the latest results from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where Mexico, Canada, and the United States continue advancing through the tournament.

🎧 New episodes every Thursday on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Hosted by Michael D. Gutierrez.

In this week’s edition of EL PULSO, the Basilica of Ste. Anne de Detroit begins a $55 million restoration project aimed at preserving Detroit’s oldest parish while continuing its role as a spiritual and cultural center for the city’s Latino community.

We also report on a June 30 deadline for Wayne County homeowners with delinquent property taxes to enroll in a payment plan that reduces interest from 18 percent to 6 percent.

Detroit City FC opens a new stadium preview center at the Mexicantown Mercado, giving supporters an early look at AlumniFi Field as the club prepares for its planned 2028 opening.

Plus, Mayor Mary Sheffield releases results from the Rise Higher Detroit survey, the city’s largest community engagement effort to date, gathering feedback from more than 8,000 residents across all 39 Detroit ZIP codes.

We also preview the return of Concert of Colors to Mexicantown and look at a new Michigan Historical Marker honoring Dr. Lucile Cruz Gajec, the educator, historian, and founder of Museo Indigenista whose work helped preserve Mexican and Indigenous history in Southwest Detroit.

Finally, Detroit City FC earns a historic road victory behind a five-goal performance from Darren Smith, while Mexico, Canada, and the United States open the 2026 FIFA World Cup with positive results.

🎧 New episodes every Thursday on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Hosted by Michael D. Gutierrez

In this week’s edition of EL PULSO, two Detroit-area immigrants are seriously injured after encounters involving ICE agents, raising questions about enforcement tactics, vehicle pursuits, and the treatment of asylum seekers in custody.

We also follow the story of a Venezuelan father who returned home to Detroit after nearly two months inside the North Lake Processing Center, where detainees have raised concerns about medical care and living conditions.

As debates over detention centers continue in Michigan, a similar controversy unfolds in New Jersey, where protests, hunger strikes, and allegations of neglect have placed another privately operated ICE facility under national scrutiny.

Plus, Southwest Detroit native Esther Guerrero prepares to graduate from the University of Michigan with a focus on health equity and communications, turning her experiences growing up near industrial pollution into a career in public health.

We also cover free technology training opportunities for Detroit residents, updates on soil testing at demolition sites, and the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, hosted by Mexico, Canada, and the United States.

The stories featured in this episode are published throughout the week at ELCENTRALmedia.com.

🎧 New episodes every Thursday on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Hosted by Michael D. Gutierrez