(Even more here)

May 2, 2018

Central America Regional

• Eli Hager, “Trump’s Quiet War on Migrant Kids” (The Marshall Project, May 2, 2018).

The refugee agency acknowledged in its August memo to the White House that only 1.6 percent of all children in its care have any gang history

• “Editorial: The Truth Trump Doesn’t Want You to Know About the Caravan” (The New York Times, May 2, 2018).

The vetting of the caravan, in fact, shows that the immigration laws are quite strict, and that they work

Colombia

• “Alias ‘Guacho’ Pidio Corredor Humanitario en la Frontera Sur” (El Tiempo (Colombia), May 2, 2018).

La solicitud también se hizo con el objetivo de dejar en libertad a dos comerciantes que mantiene secuestrados desde hace 15 días en el mismo territorio

• “Investigan en Eeuu a Alto Funcionario Venezolano y a Exlider de las Farc por Narcotrafico” (Univision, May 2, 2018).

Aparece el número dos de la desmovilizada guerrilla colombiana conversando con quien se presenta como un capo mexicano

Guatemala

• Anita Isaacs, “Cold-War Echoes in Central America” (The New York Times, May 2, 2018).

President Morales and his cronies are now counting on the Trump administration to save their skin

• Hector Silva Avalos, “Us Congressional Hearing Is Latest Play Against Cicig in Guatemala” (InsightCrime, May 2, 2018).

Browder’s report, to which InSight Crime had access, provided no proof of either Browder’s or O’Grady’s claims. In fact, Browder already admitted that he had no evidence of any relationship between Russia and the CICIG

Honduras

• Nina Lakhani, “Honduran Dam Protesters Face Trial in Ongoing Crackdown Against Defenders” (The Guardian (Uk), May 2, 2018).

The ‘Jilamito Five’ are the latest to be caught up in battles over land and natural resources, that have seen more than 130 defenders killed since 2009

Mexico

• “Rights Group: 11,232 Displaced in Mexico by Violence” (Associated Press, WTOP, May 2, 2018).

The Mexican Commission for the Defense and Promotion of Human Rights says residents in six states fled because of “organized armed groups,” including cartels, local gangs and vigilantes

• Elliot Spagat, “Tensions Simmer in Mexico as Asylum Seekers Wait at Border” (Associated Press, ABC News, May 2, 2018).

U.S. Customs and Border Protection had accepted 28 caravan members for processing at San Diego’s San Ysidro crossing by late Tuesday, leaving about 100 to wait

• Ismael Bojorquez, “Javier Valdez: Tu Muerte se Ordeno en Eldorado” (Rio Doce (Sinaloa Mexico), Proceso (Mexico), May 2, 2018).

Lo habían mandado matar porque no les gustaron algunas notas que Javier publicó. Y que el pago por hacerlo fue una pistola plateada con las imágenes de los Dámaso en las cachas

Nicaragua

• Arlen Cerda, “Masacre Orteguista Suma Ya 43 Muertos” (Confidencial (Nicaragua), May 2, 2018).

Jóvenes que pagaron con su vida sus anhelos de libertad. Dolor, rabia e indignación entre familiares y amigos de fallecidos. “¡No eran delincuentes!”

Western Hemisphere Regional

• Kate Brannen, “So Far, Trump’s Border Guard Deployment Expected to Cost $180 Million” (Just Security, May 2, 2018).

The Pentagon has received a formal request from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to provide support, which will require almost 2,100 of the 4,000 troops that Defense Secretary Jim Mattis initially authorized

• Sarah Macaraeg, “Fatal Encounters: 97 Deaths Point to Pattern of Border Agent Violence Across America” (The Guardian (Uk), May 2, 2018).

Here, the Guardian looks at eight fatal encounters with CBP agents that happened inside the United States and the larger patterns of incidents to which they relate