RSS - PostsJanuary 12, 2023
Western Hemisphere Regional
– Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana), “Cassidy, Salazar Release Draft Legislation to Counter China, Build Stronger Western Hemisphere” (U.S. Senate, January 12, 2023).
Republican-led draft legislation would seek to build a hemispheric economic bloc to resist Chinese influence
– “World Report 2023” (Human Rights Watch, January 12, 2023).
Human Rights Watch’s annual report has chapters on most Latin American countries
– “Riesgo Politico America Latina 2023” (Centro de Estudios Internacionales UC, January 12, 2023).
From a Chilean think tank, a largely pessimistic political risk overview for 2023, which a few hopeful spots, mostly economic
Brazil
– Ana Ionova, Andre Spigariol, Flavia Milhorance, Jack Nicas, “The Moment the Brazil Rioters Broke Through: Exclusive Video” (The New York Times, January 12, 2023).
Video shows security forces’ “relaxed,” insufficient response to the January 8 pro-Bolsonaro riots in Brasilia
– “Meeks, Castro, Gallego, Garcia, Wild Lead 46 Members Calling on Biden to Revoke Bolsonaro’s U.S. Visa, Investigate U.S.-Based Instigators of Brazilian Insurrection” (U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs Democratic Office, January 12, 2023).
Strong letter from House Democrats calls for kicking Bolsonaro out of Florida and investigating anyone in the United States who backed the January 8 Brasilia riot
Colombia
– “¿Como Cumplir Con los Protocolos del Cese al Fuego?” (Revista Cambio (Colombia), January 12, 2023).
The military wrestles with how to honor a ceasefire with some armed groups, but not others
– Sebastian Forero Rueda, “Reducir Erradicacion Forzada de Coca: Asi Aterriza la Politica de Drogas de Petro” (El Espectador (Colombia), January 12, 2023).
The National Police announces a sharply reduced coca eradication goal, after years of record eradication yielding almost no cultivation reductions
– “Mision de la Onu Aclara por Que No Ha Empezado a Verificar Ceses al Fuego” (El Espectador (Colombia), January 12, 2023).
Though the Colombian government named the UN verification mission as an observer of a ceasefire with armed groups, it never received a government request to play this role
– “Combates Entre Disidencias y Eln en Arauca: ¿Quienes Son y por Que se Enfrentan?” (El Espectador (Colombia), January 12, 2023).
At least 10 dead in another wave of fighting between the ELN and ex-FARC dissidents in Arauca, Colombia
Ecuador
– Julieta Pelcastre, “Narcotrafficking Increases Violence in Ecuador” (Dialogo (U.S. Southern Command), January 12, 2023).
Contends that Ecuador’s sharp increase in violent crime owes to shifts in the cocaine trade toward Ecuadorian routes
El Salvador
– Ioan Grillo, “Inside el Salvador’s Brutal Gang Crackdown” (UnHerd, January 12, 2023).
1 percent of El Salvador’s population has been jailed since March
Guatemala
– Claudia Mendez Arriaza, “Zury Rios Campaigns to Lead Guatemala’s Faltering Democracy” (Americas Quarterly, January 12, 2023).
Watch for former Guatemalan dictator Efraín Ríos Montt’s daughter, whose presidential campaign is starting strong
Honduras
– Nina Lakhani, “Honduran Environmental Defenders Shot Dead in Broad Daylight” (The Guardian (Uk), January 12, 2023).
Two leaders of the Guapinol miners’ resistance movement were shot dead over the weekend
– Eva Galeas, “Alertan Que el 60% de las Detenciones Durante el Estado de Excepcion se Presentan Fuera de los Sitios Intervenidos” (Criterio (Honduras), January 12, 2023).
Human rights ombudsman finds that most security “successes” are happening in zones where the Honduran government hadn’t declared a state of emergency
– Jennifer Ávila, “«los Estados de Excepcion Son Dificiles de Sostener»: Uzra Zeya, Subsecretaria de Estado de ee.uu.” (Contra Corriente, January 12, 2023).
A top State Department official, in Honduras for a “strategic dialogue,” distances from President Castro’s anti-crime state of emergency
Peru
– Simeon Tegel, “Discontent, Death Toll Rise as Peru’s Poor Demand Change” (The Washington Post, January 12, 2023).
Peru’s rural-urban and racial divide continues to boil over as protests continue, facing a lethal response
U.S.-Mexico Border
– Philip Bump, “Has Biden Actually Not Built ‘One Meter’ of Border Wall?” (The Washington Post, January 12, 2023).
A small but not insignificant amount of border barrier has been built during the Biden administration
– “Cbp Updates Emergency Driving and Vehicular Pursuits Directive” (U.S. Customs and Border Protection, January 12, 2023).
“The policy clarifies the ‘reasonableness’ standard that is familiar to most in law enforcement as they attempt any detention or seizure”
– “Letter to Congress From Numerous U.S. Non-Governmental Organizations” (Bloomberg Government, January 12, 2023).
Opposes the House Republicans’ “Border Safety and Security Act”
– Nick Miroff, “Cbp Directive Sets Tighter Rules for High-Speed Chases Along Border” (The Washington Post, January 12, 2023).
“The policy change does not prohibit high-speed chases but will increase oversight of agents who engage in vehicle pursuits and require them to submit written justifications”
– Christian Betancourt, “Border Cities Along Us-Mexico Border Prepare for Next Influx of Migrants” (El Paso Matters, January 12, 2023).
Reports about how El Paso, Yuma, and Nogales are preparing for an eventual end to Title 42
– Daina Solomon, Ted Hesson, “Migrants Can Now Use Mobile App to Request Entry at U.S. Border” (Reuters, Reuters, January 12, 2023).
Migrants can now use the “CBP One” app to seek asylum via Title 42 exemptions for the most vulnerable
– Kate Morrissey, “Cbp to Begin Requiring Mobile App for Asylum Seekers to Request Protection at Ports of Entry” (The San Diego Union-Tribune, January 12, 2023).
The Title 42 exemptions process has moved to a smartphone app