Adam Isacson

(Even more here)

July 16, 2019

Western Hemisphere Regional

• Nick Miroff, Arelis R. Hernandez, Kevin Sieff, “Trump Administration Moves to Restrict Asylum Access, Aiming to Curb Central American Migration” (The Washington Post, July 16, 2019).

The move brought immediate threats of legal challenge; the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) contains broad provisions that allow foreigners who reach U.S. soil to apply for asylum if they claim a fear of persecution in their native countries

• Ginger Thompson, “A Border Patrol Agent Reveals What It’s Really Like to Guard Migrant Children” (ProPublica, July 16, 2019).

Most of his colleagues, he said, fall into one of two camps. There are the “law-and-order types” who see the immigrants in their custody, as, first and foremost, criminals. Then, he said, there are those who are “just tired of all the chaos” of a broken immigration system and “see no end in sight”

• Alexandra Mendoza, “Group of Activists Proposes ‘a New Vision for the Border’” (The San Diego Union-Tribune, July 16, 2019).

The proposal of the Southern Border Communities Coalition (SBCC), which represents 60 organizations from California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas, seeks to expand public safety, protect human rights and welcome newcomers and border residents

• Garrett M. Graff, “The Border Patrol Hits a Breaking Point” (Politico, July 16, 2019).

Behind this week’s migrant-center horrors lies an agency plagued by years of dysfunction—and Trump is only its latest problem

• “Unhcr Deeply Concerned About New U.S. Asylum Restrictions” (UN High Commissioner for Refugees, July 16, 2019).

UNHCR believes the rule excessively curtails the right to apply for asylum, jeopardizes the right to protection from refoulement, significantly raises the burden of proof on asylum seekers beyond the international legal standard, sharply curtails basic rights and freedoms of those who manage to meet it, and is not in line with international obligations

Mexico, Western Hemisphere Regional

• Michael D. Shear, Zolan Kanno-Youngs, “Most Migrants at Border With Mexico Would Be Denied Asylum Protections Under New Trump Rule” (The New York Times, July 16, 2019).

The rule would effectively limit asylum protections to Mexicans and those who cross the United States’ southwestern border by sea

Central America Regional

• “Engel, Mccaul Bill to Address Root Causes of Migration From Central America Passes House” (U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs Democratic Office, July 16, 2019).

Authorizes $577 million in foreign assistance to Central America to address the root causes of migration in Fiscal Year 2020

Guatemala

• Jonathan Blitzer, “How Trump’s Safe-Third-Country Agreement With Guatemala Fell Apart” (The New Yorker, July 16, 2019).

“The Guatemalans did not know what they were getting into,” a Trump Administration official said

Honduras

• Carlos Dada, “Un Pato Llamado Honduras” (El Pais (Spain), July 16, 2019).

Es uno de los países más pobres de América y un lugar estratégico para el narcotráfico, que ha secuestrado la institucionalidad y pervertido la economía y los equilibrios del poder

Guatemala, Mexico

• Santiago Perez, “New U.S. Asylum Rule Strands Thousands at Southern Border” (The Wall Street Journal, July 16, 2019).

The rule, announced Monday by the Trump administration, requires asylum seekers who pass through a third country to first apply for refugee status from that country rather than from the U.S.

Mexico

• Debbie Nathan, “Trump’s “Remain in Mexico” Policy Exposes Migrants to Rape, Kidnapping, and Murder in Dangerous Border Cities” (The Intercept, July 16, 2019).

The MPP, rather than protect migrants, puts them in grave danger. It mandates that they remain in crime-ridden Mexican border cities for months, even years

Venezuela

• “A Glimmer of Light in Venezuela’s Gloom” (International Crisis Group, July 16, 2019).

A discreet Norwegian diplomatic effort represents the best hope for breaking Venezuela’s political deadlock. To stop the country’s slide into humanitarian and economic catastrophe, pragmatic backers of both government and opposition should put aside empty hopes of outright victory and support a negotiated settlement

(Even more here)

July 11, 2019

Western Hemisphere Regional

• Maria Sacchetti, “‘Kids in Cages’: House Hearing Examines Immigration Detention as Democrats Push for More Information” (The Washington Post, July 11, 2019).

“There is no excuse for our government being so unprepared and indifferent to refugee flows that have been steadily mounting for months,” Raskin said

• Geneva Sands, Priscilla Alvarez, “Exclusive: John Sanders on Why He Left After Two and a Half Months as Acting Cbp Commissioner” (CNN, July 11, 2019).

“Why ever people come, they are here. I think that compassion and empathy is important to ensure they are treated humanely with dignity with respect,” Sanders told CNN

• Caitlin Dickerson, Zolan Kanno-Youngs, “U.S. Prepares to Arrest Thousands of Immigrant Family Members” (The New York Times, July 11, 2019).

Nationwide raids to arrest thousands of members of undocumented families have been scheduled to begin Sunday, according to two current and one former homeland security officials, moving forward with a rapidly changing operation

Mexico, Western Hemisphere Regional

• Miriam Jordan, Kirk Semple, “A Sharp Drop in Migrant Arrivals on the Border: What’s Happening?” (The New York Times, July 11, 2019).

A migrant shelter in San Diego that a month ago was crowded with arrivals was nearly empty this week as migrant apprehensions have dropped sharply

El Salvador, Western Hemisphere Regional

• Teju Cole, “A Crime Scene at the Border” (The New York Times, July 11, 2019).

What sort of person needs to see such photographs in order to know what they should already know?

Brazil

• Dom Phillips, “New Generation of Political Exiles Leave Bolsonaro’s Brazil ‘to Stay Alive’” (The Guardian (Uk), July 11, 2019).

Politicians, academics and writers have fled a climate of death threats and hostility reminiscent of the military dictatorship

Colombia, Venezuela

• “De Choco a Venezuela, la Peligrosa Expansion del Eln” (Verdad Abierta (Colombia), July 11, 2019).

La más reciente Alerta Temprana de la Defensoría del Pueblo, en la que se reseñan 24 alertas más emitidas entre enero de 2018 y junio de 2019, detalla el corredor que esa guerrilla está creando entre cinco departamentos

Colombia

• Cecilia Orozco Tascón, “El Sucesor del Das, ¿Tambien “Chuza”?” (El Espectador (Colombia), July 11, 2019).

En la mente enferma de los obsesos persecutores, no es posible vivir sin enemigos grandes. Desarmadas las Farc, había que crear otro monstruo que les diera una razón para odiar: el Acuerdo de Paz

El Salvador

• “Nayib Bukele’s Territorial Control Plan” (El Salvador Perspectives, July 11, 2019).

There have been arrests of more than 4200 persons in the first four weeks of the Territorial Control Plan

Mexico

• Kevin Sieff, “U.S. Begins Returning Asylum Seekers to One of Mexico’s Most Dangerous States” (The Washington Post, July 11, 2019).

The State Department warns against all travel to Tamaulipas — the same risk level it has assigned Syria and Afghanistan

• Parker Asmann, “Migrants Easy Prey Under Us ‘Remain in Mexico’ Program” (InsightCrime, July 11, 2019).

InSight Crime looks at the criminal dynamics in these four border states

Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela

• Javier Corrales, “Responses to the Venezuelan Migration Crisis: A Scorecard” (Americas Quarterly, July 11, 2019).

Nativism is on the rise. International norms and responsible politicians are helping to contain it, for now

Venezuela

• Javier Lafuente, ““las Torturas en Venezuela Son Sistematicas”” (El Pais (Spain), July 11, 2019).

El exjefe del Sebin se muestra calmado en la mayor parte de la charla, pero no puede evitar la incomodidad que le genera hablar de las torturas o las persecuciones del régimen

• Francisco Rodriguez, “Trump Doesn’t Have Time for Starving Venezuelans” (The New York Times, July 11, 2019).

United States oil sanctions have only made the country’s people poorer and their plight more desperate

(Even more here)

July 10, 2019

Western Hemisphere Regional

• Robert Muggah, “Violent Crime Has Undermined Democracy in Latin America” (Igarape Institute, The Financial Times (UK), July 10, 2019).

Last year, a mere 13 per cent of them expressed confidence in their national political parties, compared with 44 per cent who supported the armed forces

• Alan Gomez, Lauren Villagran, “Border Patrol Apprehensions Along Southern Border Fall for First Time in 2019” (USA Today, July 10, 2019).

Homeland Security said the slowdown in migrants entering the country should help the department get a better handle on “capacity challenges” it has experienced in recent months

• Jacob Soboroff, Julia Ainsley, “Migrant Kids in Yuma Report Sex Assault, Retaliation From U.S. Agents” (NBC News, July 10, 2019).

The reports from the Yuma CBP sector describe similar unsanitary and crowded conditions but go further by alleging abuse and other misconduct by CBP officers

Colombia

• Dylan Baddour, “Coca, the Illicit Plant That Funded Colombia’s Civil War, Is Flourishing Again. Duque’s Plan to Destroy It Is Drawing Opposition.” (The Washington Post, July 10, 2019).

His administration is challenging a 2015 court ruling that ended 25 years of U.S.-led flights; a decision is expected as early as this month

• Isabella Gomez, “La Carta Con la Que el Gobierno Notifica a Jep de Reduccion de Presupuesto para 2020” (Blu Radio (Colombia), July 10, 2019).

“Para este año, para inversión nosotros asignado $90.000 billones, para el 2020 nos anuncian $67.000 mil millones. Lo que nos implica una reducción de aproximadamente el 30%”

• “General Jorge Romero Sale del Ejercito Tras las Investigaciones de Semana” (Semana (Colombia), July 10, 2019).

El hasta ahora jefe del Comando de Apoyo Integral y Desarrollo fue llamado a calificar servicios. Varios testimonios lo involucran en una especie de cartel para la venta de salvoconductos de armas, entre otras conductas irregulares

• “Dinamicas de la Confrontacion Armada y Afectacion Humanitaria” (Fundacion Ideas por la Paz (Colombia), July 10, 2019).

En el primer semestre de 2019 tanto los combates de la Fuerza Pública, como los enfrentamientos entre grupos armados ilegales tuvieron incrementos. El actor armado más activo fue el ELN, seguido por las disidencias de las FARC

El Salvador

• Melissa del Bosque, “Immigration Officials Use Secretive Gang Databases to Deny Migrant Asylum Claims” (ProPublica, July 10, 2019).

The information is being provided through a new “fusion” intelligence-gathering center in El Salvador that is funded by the State Department and works in tandem with the Department of Homeland Security

Guatemala

• “Guatemala: Red Alert for Threats to Justice and Human Rights” (Amnesty International, July 10, 2019).

In Last Chance for Justice, the organization exposes the serious setbacks and imminent risks to human rights in Guatemala as a result of measures taken by the Jimmy Morales administration, the Public Prosecutor’s Office led by Consuelo Porras, the judiciary, and the national Congress

Mexico

• Nick Miroff, “Border Arrests Drop as Mexico’s Migration Crackdown Appears to Cut Crossings” (The Washington Post, July 10, 2019).

The number of people taken into custody along the U.S. southern border fell 28 percent in June, a drop that U.S. authorities say reflects the early impact of Mexico’s crackdown on Central American migration

• “Us Returns First Asylum Seekers to Violent Nuevo Laredo” (Associated Press, The New York Times, July 10, 2019).

The 10 migrants crossed the border to seek U.S. asylum Monday and will now have to wait in Mexico as their applications are processed

• Kate Morrissey, “Tijuana Asylum Line Reaches Highest Count on Record as Migrants Protest Long Waits” (The San Diego Union-Tribune, July 10, 2019).

An estimated 9,150 people are now waiting in the Mexican border city to request asylum in the United States

• Andrew Selee, “Mexico’s Migration Dilemmas” (Migration Policy Institute, Foreign Affairs, July 10, 2019).

The López Obrador administration has adopted an enforcement-first approach to migration, just as previous Mexican administrations have done when faced with pressure from Washington

Nicaragua

• “Daniel Ortega’s Most Wanted: Nicaragua’s Exiles in Costa Rica” (The Guardian (Uk), July 10, 2019).

Costa Rica has become a precarious refuge for thousands of Nicaraguan exiles. In the streets of San José, they continue to feel President Ortega’s reach

Venezuela

• Abraham Lowenthal, David Smilde, “Venezuela: Is There a Way Out of Its Tragic Impasse?” (Woodrow Wilson Center, July 10, 2019).

Lowenthal and Smilde offer insights about the ways that transitions have worked in the past, with reference to specific aspects of the Venezuelan case

• Francesco Manetto, “Guaido Retoma la Negociacion Con el Chavismo Pese a las Criticas de Parte de la Oposicion” (El Pais (Spain), July 10, 2019).

Mientras el ala radical de la oposición le demanda mayor dureza con el chavismo, el presidente de la Asamblea Nacional tampoco se atreve a eludir el intento de una negociación

(Even more here)

July 8, 2019

Western Hemisphere Regional

• Simon Romero, Zolan Kanno-Youngs, Manny Fernandez, Daniel Borunda, Aaron Montes, Caitlin Dickerson, “Hungry, Scared and Sick: Inside the Migrant Detention Center in Clint, Tex.” (The New York Times, July 8, 2019).

An out-of-the-way border station in the desert outside of El Paso has become the epicenter of outrage over the Trump administration’s policies on the southwest border

Colombia

• “Las Ovejas Negras en el Ejercito” (Semana (Colombia), July 8, 2019).

SEMANA revela audios y videos, con algunas de las pruebas de las investigaciones que se adelantan en Fiscalía y Procuraduría, en contra de generales del Ejército que terminaron desencadenando una cacería entre militares

• “Los Formatos de la Discordia para Duplicar las Afectaciones del Ejercito” (Semana (Colombia), July 8, 2019).

SEMANA revela los polémicos formatos firmados por altos oficiales del Ejército en las que se comprometían a duplicar los resultados, incluidas las bajas

• Natalia Tamayo Gaviria, “La Iglesia Catolica Le Dice No al Glifosato” (El Espectador (Colombia), July 8, 2019).

A cambio de reactivar esta estrategia, suspendida desde 2015 por la administración de Juan Manuel Santos, la Iglesia pidió por el cumplimiento de los acuerdos de sustitución voluntaria

• “Vendettas en el Valle y Cauca” (Semana (Colombia), July 8, 2019).

La reaparición de cuerpos desmembrados en Buenaventura, decapitados en Tuluá y masacres en el Cauca hace temer que en esa región del país se reactivaron ajustes mafiosos de cuentas al peor estilo de los carteles mexicanos

• Yamid Amat, “‘Si No Existiera la Jep Habria Que Crearla’: Jefe de Mision de la Onu” (El Tiempo (Colombia), July 8, 2019).

Gobierno Duque sí está apoyando proceso de paz, e inclusive va más allá, dice Carlos Ruiz Massieu

El Salvador

• Anna-Catherine Brigida, “El Salvador’s Tough Policing Isn’t What It Looks Like” (Foreign Policy, July 8, 2019).

Shootings reported as enfrentamientos, or confrontations, often mask killings of civilians and other misconduct

Guatemala

• Patrick J. Mcdonnell, “Death at the Border: 4 From Guatemala, 3 of Them Children, Succumb to Heat in Texas” (The Los Angeles Times, July 8, 2019).

On June 23, Border Patrol agents found the bodies of Chicas Perez and her 18-month-old son, Denilson, along with the remains of two other children, in the brush just north of the Rio Grande outside McAllen, Texas

Honduras

• “Seis Manifestantes Muertos Por “Excesivo Uso de la Fuerza” en Honduras, Segun Amnistia Internacional” (El Heraldo (Honduras), July 8, 2019).

Al menos seis personas murieron en Honduras desde abril por el “excesivo uso de la fuerza” de militares contra manifestantes que exigen la renuncia del presidente Juan Orlando Hernández

Mexico

• Kirk Semple, “Mexican Opium Prices Plummet, Driving Poppy Farmers to Migrate” (The New York Times, July 8, 2019).

Some evidence is emerging that fentanyl, a powerful and highly addictive synthetic opiate, is replacing heroin and other drugs, particularly on the East Coast

• Mark Stevenson, “Mexican President Gets Little Backlash for Migrant Crackdown” (Associated Press, The Washington Post, July 8, 2019).

This sympathy has been eroded by the migrant caravans of late 2018 and early 2019, which left a bad taste in the mouth of Mexicans and caused deep divisions among pro-migrant groups

• Angela Kocherga, “On the Border: ‘It Was Hell’” (The Albuquerque Journal, July 8, 2019).

In the border city of Ciudad Juárez, where 200 to 300 migrants a day are returned to Mexico under the Migrant Protection Protocol, asylum-seekers say they feel anything but protected as drug violence escalates

• Anthony Esposito, “Mexico’s New National Guard Was Created to Fight Crime, but Now It’s in a Face-Off With Migrants” (Reuters, July 8, 2019).

Using almost a third of the National Guard’s total ranks for migration duties means fewer security forces to tackle one of Mexico’s most pressing issues, spiraling violence, which last year cost a record 33,000 lives

Venezuela

• Rocio San Miguel, “Analisis de Entorno Politico – Militar Con Ocasion de los Actos Oficiales del 5 de Julio en Venezuela” (Asociación Civil Control Ciudadano (Venezuela), July 8, 2019).

La Fuerza Armada Nacional, con un contenido cada vez mas radical, de carácter político partidista, en los discursos de sus mandos, se separa cada día mas de la posibilidad de establecer algún vaso comunicante con los principios de control democrático y retorno al carril constitucional

• Michael Stott, “Worries Mount Over Human Cost of Us Sanctions on Venezuela” (The Financial Times (UK), July 8, 2019).

Venezuelan economist Francisco Rodriguez at New York brokerage Torino Capital set out evidence that US financial sanctions are associated with a 797,000 b/d drop in oil production, worth about $16.9bn a year

• Juan Manuel Florez Arias, Richard Aguirre Fernandez, “Dialogo, ¿Salida a la Crisis u Oxigeno para Maduro?” (El Colombiano (Medellin Colombia), July 8, 2019).

El establecimiento de una nueva mesa de diálogo entre gobierno y oposición venezolanas en Barbados abre una posibilidad de salida de la crisis, pero también de división de la oposición

• Scott Smith, “Maduro Shows Military Might in Independence Day Celebration” (Associated Press, The Washington Post, July 8, 2019).

Maduro applauded and pumped his fist as soldiers marched past, tanks rolled by and fighter jets streaked overhead at a Caracas military base

• David Smilde, Abraham F. Lowenthal, “Venezuela Negotiations Deserve Strong International Support” (The Hill, July 8, 2019).

Solutions to bitter conflicts generally are possible when key actors on both sides are convinced that negotiating a change of regime on mutually acceptable terms is preferable to a prolonged and destructive stalemate, or the potential defeat of their side