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August 17, 2018
Western Hemisphere Regional
- Chris Rickerd, “Border Officials Are Still Defending Family Separations” (American Civil Liberties Union, August 17, 2018).
Yes, CBP considers that it acted “to protect families and children” by separating families who turned themselves in to Border Patrol agents to seek protection in the United States
- David Yaffe-Bellany, Jay Root, Juan Luis Garcia Hernandez, “Asylum-Seekers Say They Cross the Border Illegally Because They Don’t Think They Have Other Options” (The Texas Tribune, August 17, 2018).
Crossing the Rio Grande has had certain procedural advantages. Immigrants who enter the country illegally are generally eligible to be released on bond, while those who present themselves at the bridges stay in detention
- Robert Burns, “Mattis Aide to Be Nominated to Head Us Southern Command” (Associated Press, The Washington Post, August 17, 2018).
Ashore, his past positions include commander of Navy Recruiting Command and director of operations, U.S. Central Command. He has been senior military assistant to the defense secretary since January 2017
Argentina
- Robert Burns, “Mattis Says Us Will Work More Closely With Argentina” (Associated Press, ABC News, August 17, 2018).
The last U.S. secretary of defense to visit Argentina was Donald H. Rumsfeld in 2005
Brazil
- Gabriel Stargardter, “Murders, Killings by Cops Rise in Rio de Janeiro, Six Months Into Intervention” (Reuters **, August 17, 2018).
There were 3,479 murders in the state, up nearly 5 percent compared with the same period last year
Colombia
- “Tras Investigacion de Semana, Procuraduria Llama a Juicio a General y Coroneles de Inteligencia Militar” (Semana (Colombia), August 17, 2018).
En una decisión sin precedentes, Fernando Carrillo decidió abrir procesos contra tres altos oficiales, en medio del escándalo de desvío de fondos reservados y el presunto espionaje ilegal al interior del Comando de las Fuerzas Militares
- “A Debate de Control Politico Uso de Drones para la Fumigacion de Cultivos Ilicitos” (El Espectador (Colombia), August 17, 2018).
Desde abril de este año, la Dirección Antinarcóticos de la Policía abrió un proceso para contratar la prestación de servicios de aspersión de cultivos ilícitos, en desarrollo de una prueba piloto, a través de equipos teledirigidos a baja altura
- “Ivan Marquez y Alias ‘el Paisa’ Salieron de la Zona de Reincorporacion de Miravalle” (El Espectador (Colombia), August 17, 2018).
“En estos momentos ellos no se encuentran allí y en mi caso personal no sé dónde se encuentran”
- “Luz Verde de la Corte Constitucional a la Estatutaria de la Jep” (El Espectador (Colombia), August 17, 2018).
Tumbó las inhabilidades pactadas a última hora para ser magistrado de esta justicia e hizo precisiones sobre terceros y la participación en política
Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela
- Alexandra Valencia, Mitra Taj, “Ecuador, Peru Tighten Entry Requirements for Venezuelans as Influx Swells” (Reuters **, August 17, 2018).
Venezuelans entering Ecuador and Peru will soon be required to show their passports, rather than national identity cards
Guatemala
- Hector Silva Avalos, “New Guatemala Ag Puts Jimmy Morales in Her Crosshairs” (InsightCrime, August 17, 2018).
The move has quelled doubts about Porras’ independence and further isolated Guatemala’s embattled president
- Felipe Puerta, Steven Dudley, “Guatemala Politics and the Patriotic Party’s Theory of ‘Eternal Return’” (InsightCrime, August 17, 2018).
The Pérez Molina and Baldetti government clearly understood that in order to be in politics and make money in Guatemala, corrupt politicians and businessmen use what they call “quotas of power,” or favors, which open doors to contracts and government benefits
Haiti
- Jacqueline Charles, Jay Weaver, “How the Dea Let One of Haiti’s Biggest Drug Busts Slip Through Its Fingers” (The Miami Herald, August 17, 2018).
The bungling of the investigation in Haiti didn’t even come to light until two veteran DEA agents filed whistleblower complaints that have triggered a U.S. Justice Department investigation into the effectiveness of the DEA’s drug-fighting efforts
Mexico
- Arturo Angel, “La Cero Efectividad de Pgr para Esclarecer Homicidios: En 8 Anos Obtuvo Dos Sentencias” (Animal Politico (Mexico), August 17, 2018).
En los últimos ocho años, la dependencia inició o atrajo la investigación de más de 400 homicidios en el país, pero en ese mismo plazo solo cerró dos casos con sentencias condenatorias
Venezuela
- Andrew Rosati, Ethan Bronner, “Inside the Coup Plotting Before the Venezuela Drone Assassination Attempt” (Bloomberg, August 17, 2018).
The military dissidents declined to participate. They found the civilians unprofessional and weren’t interested in killing Maduro. Their goal was to capture him and put him on trial