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September 19, 2018
Western Hemisphere Regional
- Jean Guerrero, “Government Report Shows Border Wall Designs Can Be Broken” (KPBS (Los Angeles), September 19, 2018).
A U.S. Customs and Border Protection report obtained by KPBS through a Freedom of Information Act request reveals mock-ups of all eight border wall prototypes were found vulnerable to at least one breaching technique
- Daniel Gonzalez, “Cbp Head: Border Patrol Holding Cells Not Kept Freezing Cold, Despite Renewed Complaints” (The Arizona Republic, September 19, 2018).
The facilities only feel cold because migrants are coming from hot conditions or climates and are not accustomed to air conditioning, said Kevin McAleenan
- Cade Metz, “Parts of a ‘Virtual’ Border Wall, Built With the Tech Behind Driverless Cars” (The New York Times, September 19, 2018).
In a rural Texas county, lidar sensor technology is being tested as a way to spot illegal intruders from Mexico. That use could divide workers in Silicon Valley
- Erica Werner, “Senate Passes Defense and Health Spending Bill, Tries to Delay Border-Wall Fight to After Midterms” (The Washington Post, September 19, 2018).
The House is expected to take up the bill next week, but it remains uncertain whether Trump would sign the measure
- Samuel Oakford, “Trump Administration Plans u.n. Meeting to Ramp Up the International Drug War” (The Intercept, September 19, 2018).
The document circulated by the U.S. calls on the states to pledge to develop national “action plans” based on a “four-pronged strategy” — demand reduction; treatment; international cooperation; and cutting the supply of illicit drugs
Brazil
- Federico Finchelstein, “Trumpism Is Spreading in Latin America” (The Washington Post, September 19, 2018).
Last month, one of Bolsonaro’s sons announced that Bannon was becoming an informal adviser to Bolsonaro’s presidential campaign
Central America Regional, Mexico
- Stephanie Leutert, “Trump Has It Backward: Many Migrants Are Victims of Crime” (The New York Times, September 19, 2018).
Ramped-up enforcement by the United States and Mexico has pushed migrants onto more invisible, risky paths and put them at greater danger
Colombia
- Pedro Arenas, “La Sustitucion Voluntaria en Briceno Es Posible” (Observatorio de Cultivos y Cultivadores declarados Ílícitos, El Espectador (Colombia), September 19, 2018).
La erradicación voluntaria de coca en este municipio de Antioquia va lenta pero funciona
- “Coca Aumento en 17% y la Produccion de Cocaina en 31%, Segun Naciones Unidas” (Semana (Colombia), September 19, 2018).
De 146.000 hectáreas cultivadas en 2016, se pasó a 171.000 en 2017, lo que representa un incremento del 17%. Entre tanto, la capacidad de conversión de la hoja en cocaína también se habría disparado en un 31%
El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras
- Liz Entman, “Crime, Not Money, Drives Migration From el Salvador and Honduras” (Vanderbilt University, September 19, 2018).
Migrants who have been repeatedly victimized are likely so desperate to leave that they are willing to take their chances in the U.S., no matter how hard it seems. These are not the kind of migrants who are likely to respond to measures designed to stem economic migrants
Guatemala
- Jody Garcia, “El Cacif Invirtio q1 Millon en Lobby en Washington; Asegura Que No Es Contra la Cicig” (Nomada (Guatemala), September 19, 2018).
El Cacif pagó US$135 mil (Q1 millón) a dos lobistas en Washington para tener acceso e influenciar acciones del Gobierno de los Estados Unidos. Está en duda si ha sido para desprestigiar a la CICIG
Honduras
- “El 98 por Ciento de Narcoavionetas Estan Llegando por Gracias a Dios” (El Heraldo (Honduras), September 19, 2018).
Así lo revelan informes de las Fuerzas Armadas (FF AA) a los que tuvo acceso EL HERALDO, que demuestran que la narcoactividad sigue utilizando los recursos que sean necesarios para trasegar cocaína
- Charlotte Tobitt, “Guardian Stringer Covering Notorious Honduras Murder Trial Shares Safety Fears Amid Online Smear Campaign” (Press Gazette (UK), September 19, 2018).
Yesterday a press release, seen by Press Gazette, began circulating linking Lakhani with various violent activities in the Bajo Aguan region of Honduras
Mexico
- Luciano Campos Garza, “Reinan Incredulidad y Reclamos de Familiares de Victimas en Foro de Pacificacion en Nuevo Leon” (Proceso (Mexico), September 19, 2018).
El Foro por la Pacificación organizado por el próximo gobierno de la República, se convirtió en ocasión para reclamos de las víctimas y sus allegados, hacia las autoridades y expresiones recurrentes de incredulidad hacia los organizadores
- Kirk Semple, “In Mexico, a Truck Full of Corpses Takes a Mystery Road Trip” (The New York Times, September 19, 2018).
The stopgap measure seemed to be working fine — until the truck, with some 170 corpses on board, was driven off the lot on Sept. 7 and began a strange journey around the Guadalajara area
Venezuela
- “Venezuela Doubles Down on Chinese Money to Reverse Crisis” (Associated Press, ABC News, September 19, 2018).
Maduro says under the deal, Venezuela will increase production and the daily export of oil to China to 1 million barrels a day
- “Venezuela Nicolas Maduro Afirma Que “Habra un Golpe de Estado en Octubre”” (La Republica (Peru), September 19, 2018).
“Un general de apellido Báez (…) dice que va a dar un golpe de Estado en octubre. Lo grita a los cuatro vientos (…). Francisco Báez, borrachón, muy borrachón él, está metido en todas las conspiraciones”, declaró Maduro