(Even more here)

Colombia

• Samantha Schmidt, “Colombia is responsible in kidnapping and rape of female journalist, rights court says” (The Washington Post, October 19, 2021).

In 2000, Colombian journalist Jineth Bedoya was kidnapped, beaten and gang-raped while reporting on paramilitaries during the country’s armed conflict

Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela

• Nike Ching, “Venezuela Looms Large as Blinken Heads to Ecuador, Colombia” (Voice of America, October 19, 2021).

US calls for clashing factions in Venezuela to resume talks ahead of US secretary of state’s first visit to South America

U.S.-Mexico Border

• Geneva Sands, Priscilla Alvarez, “Key Biden Immigration Nominee to Testify Amid Busiest Us-Mexico Border in Two Decades” (CNN, October 19, 2021).

The hearing comes as the border agency, already strained from months of increasing arrests, faces scrutiny over its handling of the sudden arrival of thousands migrants in Del Rio, Texas

Honduras, U.S.-Mexico Border

• Sandra Cuffe, “Biden Has Outpaced Trump’s Use of Title 42 to Expel Asylum Seekers” (Truthout.org, October 19, 2021).

Cinthia and other Hondurans expelled by the U.S. with whom Truthout spoke as they walked over the border from Mexico into Guatemala said they were not told where they going until they landed in Villahermosa, Mexico

Venezuela

• Joshua Goodman, “Maduro Ally Appears in Court to Face Corruption Charges” (Associated Press, Associated Press, October 19, 2021).

Saab’s extradition to the U.S. from Cape Verde, where he was arrested 16 months ago, has already ricocheted far and wide