(Even more here)

April 20, 2022

Western Hemisphere Regional

• Nora Gamez Torres, “Summit of the Americas to Tackle Migration, Threats to Democracy, Miami Advisor Says” (The Miami Herald, April 20, 2022).

Migration will likely dominate the summit’s agenda

Colombia

• Julian Rios Monroy, “Exclusivo: ‘Otoniel’ Prende el Ventilador en Jep y Salpica a Mario Montoya” (El Tiempo (Colombia), April 20, 2022).

Señaló que el general, procesado por falsos positivos, recibió dinero de ‘paras’. Habló de masacres

• Sebastian Forero Rueda, “Pobladores de la Sierra Nevada, Acorralados por Guerra Entre Paramilitares” (El Espectador (Colombia), April 20, 2022).

Las Agc o Clan del Golfo emprendieron una disputa directa por el territorio contra las Autodefensas Conquistadoras o Pachencas

• Julie Turkewitz, “Deep in Colombia, Rebels and Soldiers Fight for the Same Prize: Drugs” (The New York Times, April 20, 2022).

Thousands of FARC fighters laid down their arms. But in many places, the government never arrived

• “Continua Visita de Incidencia por ee.uu. De los Ganadores del Premio de Derechos Humanos 2020” (Premio Defensores Colombia, April 20, 2022).

El lunes la gira de incidencia comenzó en el Consejo de seguridad Nacional, específicamente con la directora de asuntos Andinos

• Cecilia Orozco Tascón, “¿la Dea Mete Sus Narices en las Elecciones?” (El Espectador (Colombia), April 20, 2022).

Se dice que ahí estaban los ‘mexicanos’ —que terminan siendo de la DEA—, que tenían dineros en efectivo, y bastante; que me estaban buscando bajo la idea de que iban a hacer un aporte a la campaña

Guatemala

• Sonia Perez D., “Guatemala’s Much-Criticized Top Prosecutor Seeks 2nd Term” (Associated Press, Associated Press, April 20, 2022).

Her path to a second term is not completely clear despite her friendship with Giammattei

• Jody Garcia, “Los Casos Sensibles Que Dejo Aifan Han Pasado por Dos Jueces Sin Experiencia, Uno Denunciado por Prevaricato” (Plaza Publica (Guatemala), April 20, 2022).

Dos jueces de paz dieron ese salto al ser nombrados como sustitutos de Erika Aifán. Con eso tuvieron acceso a casos de corrupción que involucran a los tres poderes del Estado

Mexico

• Tom Phillips, “‘Threats and Bullets’: Wave of Killings Highlights Perils of Journalism in Mexico” (The Guardian (Uk), April 20, 2022).

Media ‘caught in crossfire’ between criminal gangs and government, say journalists after latest murder

• Laura Gottesdiener, “In Northern Mexico, Authorities Search for Missing Women Amid Spate of Disappearances” (Reuters, Reuters, April 20, 2022).

Nuevo Leon Governor Samuel Garcia said that 26 women and girls have disappeared since the beginning of the year and five more have been found dead after being reported missing

Nicaragua

• “Asi Documentan los Defensores de Derechos Humanos Exiliados los Abusos en Nicaragua” (Nicaragua Investiga, April 20, 2022).

Defensores de derechos humanos explican cómo siguen documentando los abusos que ocurren en Nicaragua, pese a las dificultades que hay para ejercer su labor

Panama, Western Hemisphere Regional

• “Panama y ee.uu Examinan Planes de Refuerzo de las Fronteras Panamenas” (EFE, El Universo (Ecuador), April 20, 2022).

La reunión continental es además una cita preparatoria de la Cumbre de Las Américas

U.S.-Mexico Border

• Sandra Sanchez, “$1b Lost Due to South Texas Bridge Closure, Truck Inspections, City Officials Say” (Border Report, April 20, 2022).

Economic losses were estimated at $202 million per day

• Jay Root, Jasper Scherer, “Abbott’s Border Operation Has Led to $88m in Contracts With Little Oversight. Some Say He’s Abusing His Powers” (The Houston Chronicle, April 20, 2022).

None of the contractors are going through a formal solicitation process, potentially raising costs for a border security program that is already eating up more tax dollars than advertised

• Molly Hennessy-Fiske, “Can Texas Declare a Border ‘Invasion’ and Return Migrants to Mexico?” (The Los Angeles Times, April 20, 2022).

Officials have reached out to Arizona and Texas leaders, arguing that under the Constitution’s “invasion clause” and “states self-defense clause,” states are entitled to define what they consider an invasion and defend themselves by expelling migrants

• Hans Nichols, Jonathan Swan, “Biden Considers Delaying Pandemic Border Policy Repeal” (Axios, April 20, 2022).

The White House is looking for ways to buy time to avoid a massive influx of migrants that would add to already-historic border numbers

• Ryan Devereaux, “Border Aid Groups Fear Supreme Court Will Entrench a Humanitarian Disaster” (The Intercept, April 20, 2022).

With support for advocates on the ground flagging, a new poll shows record lows for Democratic interest in immigration

• Camilo Montoya-Galvez, “Record Arrivals of Cubans, Nicaraguans and Colombians Fuel 22-Year High in U.S. Border Arrests” (CBS News, April 20, 2022).

The spike in migrant arrivals was also partly driven by a 33% increase in apprehensions of single adults

• Priscilla Alvarez, “Mayorkas Says Dhs Has ‘Plans’ in Response to Bipartisan Criticism of Border Move” (CNN, April 20, 2022).

Asked about the pushback from both parties, Mayorkas told CNN: “I say, number one, that we have plans. We are executing on those plans.”

Venezuela

• “‘Worse to Be Gay Than Corrupt’ in Venezuela’s Military” (Agence France Presse, France 24 (France), April 20, 2022).

Jose, an army captain, deserted after years of pressure. Rafael, a lieutenant, was prosecuted and expelled