January 5, 2023
Bolivia
– Mauricio Quiroz Teran, “Hay Senales de ‘Malestar’ en las Ffaa y Piden Ordenes Escritas para Salir a las Calles” (El Deber (Bolivia), January 5, 2023).
Evidence that the military is uncomfortable with being put in a crowd-control role amid protests following the arrest of a conservative opposition leader
Colombia
– Felipe Garcia Altamar, “La Complejidad de los Ceses Bilaterales: ¿el Gobierno Quiso Cenar al Desayuno?” (El Espectador (Colombia), January 5, 2023).
Analysis finds that the Colombian government moved in haste by declaring a premature ceasefire
– Gloria Castrillon Pulido, “No Hay Cese al Fuego Bilateral Con el Eln; Se Discutira en la Mesa de Negociacion” (El Espectador (Colombia), January 5, 2023).
The government’s push for a ceasefire now appears to be the main upcoming agenda item for talks with the ELN
– Camilo Alzate Gonzalez, “Crisis Humanitaria en el Choco Revelaria Fisuras en el Eln” (El Espectador (Colombia), January 5, 2023).
The ELN in southern Chocó appears to be ignoring calls from the negotiating table for a humanitarian pilot program in that part of the country
– “El Ministerio de la Igualdad Ya Es una Realidad” (Revista Cambio (Colombia), January 5, 2023).
A law creates a “Ministry of Equality,” with Vice President Francia Márquez the first minister
Mexico
– Diana Lastiri, “Reves a la Sedena: Juez Mantiene Suspension Indefinida a la Militarizacion de la Guardia Nacional” (Proceso (Mexico), January 5, 2023).
A judge keeps on hold the AMLO government’s effort to make Mexico’s new National Guard a branch of the military
– “Migrants Crowd Mexico’s Refugee Offices Amid Fears of Us Policy Change” (Voice of America, January 5, 2023).
5,000 migrants showed up at COMAR’s Tapachula offices in 2 days
U.S.-Mexico Border
– Nick Miroff, Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, “Transcript: Cartel Rx: The Fentanyl Epidemic With Dhs Secretary Mayorkas” (The Washington Post, January 5, 2023).
Amid many careful responses on the border/fentanyl issue, Secretary Mayorkas hints at turf issues between ICE/HSI and DEA
– Camilo Montoya-Galvez, “Biden Expands Title 42 Expulsions While Opening Legal Path for Some Migrants” (CBS News, January 5, 2023).
An overview of what CBS calls the Biden administration’s “carrots and sticks approach” to protection-seeking migration
– Cindy Ramirez, “Tensions Rise, Hope Falls: Border Patrol Detains Migrants Near Sacred Heart” (El Paso Matters, January 5, 2023).
Venezuelan migrants crossed into El Paso, either thinking that Title 42 was over or out of desperation because it isn’t. Now Border Patrol is rounding them up
– Dave Graham, Steve Holland, Ted Hesson, “U.S. Would Accept Up to 30,000 Migrants a Month in Expanded Program -Sources” (Reuters, Reuters, January 5, 2023).
“The United States plans to accept up to 30,000 migrants per month from Cuba, Nicaragua, Haiti and Venezuela under a program paired with expulsions of people from those countries caught at the U.S.-Mexico border, U.S. and Mexican officials said”