(Even more here)

May 26, 2022

Brazil

• Lisandra Paraguassu, Matt Spetalnick, “Biden, Brazil’s Bolsonaro Set to Meet in June at U.S. Summit, Sources Say” (Reuters, Reuters, May 26, 2022).

The far-right Brazilian leader, an admirer of former U.S. President Donald Trump, has not yet spoken with Biden, whose election victory he was slow to recognize

Colombia

• Gimena Sanchez-Garzoli, “Colombia’s High-Stakes Presidential Elections: What You Need to Know” (Washington Office on Latin America, May 26, 2022).

Colombia’s upcoming presidential elections on May 29 are taking place at a time of great tension, rising insecurity, economic challenges, polarization, and distrust in government

• Julie Turkewitz, “Will Colombia Elect Its First Leftist Leader?” (The New York Times, May 26, 2022).

A large and loud youth electorate hungry to transform one of Latin America’s most unequal societies could propel Gustavo Petro, a former rebel, to the presidency

• Javier Patino C., “¿Quien Es Alias Jhon Mechas?” (Cambio (Colombia), May 26, 2022).

El reemplazo de Gentil Duarte comanda el frente 33 de las disidencias de las Farc, y es el autor intelectual de los ataques contra la brigada 30 del Ejército y el helicóptero del presidente Iván Duque

• Francisco Daza, “Abatido Alias “Gentil Duarte”” (Fundación Paz y Reconciliación (Colombia), May 26, 2022).

Desde Pares no consideramos que se vaya a presentar una desarticulación de la estructura, ya que actualmente hay una consolidación de su presencia a nivel nacional

• Rep. Jesus Chuy Garcia (D-Illinois), Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Washington), “Reps. Garcia, Jayapal Lead Letter Urging Free and Fair Elections in Colombia” (U.S. House of Representatives, May 26, 2022).

As the first round of voting approaches on May 29, these shared democratic values have come increasingly under threat

Caribbean Regional, Cuba, Haiti

• Muzaffar Chishti, Jessica Bolter, “Rise in Maritime Migration to the United States Is a Reminder of Chapters Past” (Migration Policy Institute, May 26, 2022).

A recent uptick in the number of unauthorized migrants attempting to reach the United States by sea has been largely overshadowed by tensions on the southwest border but serves as an echo of eras past. This article explains why migrant interdictions have risen to recent highs, especially among Cubans and Haitians

Cuba, Haiti

• Milexsy Duran, Andrea Rodriguez, “Boat With 842 Haitians Headed for Us Winds Up in Cuba” (Associated Press, Associated Press, May 26, 2022).

While the number of migrants on this single vessel seemed unprecedented, the U.S. Coast Guard and other nations have reported intercepting several boats carrying well over 100 Haitians in recent months

Guatemala

• Ricardo Barrientos, “U.S.-Guatemala: What Does Washington Really Want?” (Central American Institute for Fiscal Studies (ICEFI), AULA Blog (American University), May 26, 2022).

A passive, laissez faire stand on Guatemala is not the proper way to address complex issues like the cartels, corruption, poverty, violence, and the other “root causes” of migration that Vice President Kamala Harris pledged to combat

Mexico

• Alejandro Monjardin, “Fentanilo Empieza a Causar Muertes en Sinaloa” (Riodoce (Sinaloa Mexico), May 26, 2022).

Las autoridades estatales no habían detectado muertes por sobredosis hasta abril pasado, cuando ocurrieron las primeras dos y la semana pasada confirmaron la tercera

• Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Illinois), Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), “Judiciary Committee Leaders Press Justice Department for Overdue Answers on Dea Foreign Operations” (Senate Judiciary Committee, U.S. Senate, May 26, 2022).

The senators voice serious concerns about the DEA’s lack of engagement with its committee of jurisdiction and outline concerns stemming from the Mexican president’s announcement that a DEA sensitive investigative unit operating in Mexico was closed last year

U.S.-Mexico Border

• “Statement-Use of Force Incident-Douglas, Az” (U.S. Customs and Border Protection, May 26, 2022).

A U.S. Border Patrol agent working near Pan-American Avenue and 5th Street in Douglas, Arizona, was involved in a use of force incident which resulted in the death of an individual in Border Patrol custody

• Rachel Monroe, “Will an Emergency Law Used to Keep Out Migrants Become Permanent?” (The New Yorker, May 26, 2022).

At the start of the pandemic, the Trump Administration invoked an obscure provision called Title 42 to effectively stop migration. Even as other COVID restrictions are lifted, anti-immigration politicians insist that it remain in place