(Even more here)

March 21, 2019

Western Hemisphere Regional

• Amanda Holpuch, Lauren Aratani, “Alarm Over Leaked Us Database Targeting Journalists and Immigration Activists” (The Guardian (Uk), March 21, 2019).

The debate about immigrants’ rights, about the treatment of immigrants, about the treatment of asylum seekers, is going to be suppressed or censored

• Elliot Spagat, “New Us Asylum Policy Dealt Setback in Immigration Court” (Associated Press, Associated Press, March 21, 2019).

The judge’s refusal was a setback for the administration’s highly touted initiative to make asylum seekers wait in Mexico while their cases wind through U.S. immigration courts

• Robert Moore, “Controversial Trump Administration Protocol for Asylum Seekers Will Begin in el Paso” (Texas Monthly, March 21, 2019).

The Trump administration this week will begin implementing its “Migrant Protection Protocols” in El Paso, requiring some migrants to return to neighboring Ciudad Juárez, Mexico

Brazil

• Brian Winter, “The Tropical Trump? If He’s Lucky” (Americas Quarterly, March 21, 2019).

The true path to success (and popularity) would be to put the culture wars aside – and focus on turning the economy around and reducing crime in a sustainable, legal way. But don’t count on it

Brazil, Venezuela

• “What to Make of the Trump-Bolsonaro Meeting” (WOLA and Conectas, Washington Office on Latin America, March 21, 2019).

That yesterday Bolsonaro did not unambiguously reiterate Brazil’s official position with regards to military intervention in Venezuela creates concerning levels of uncertainty

Brazil

• Anthony Boadle, Lisandra Paraguassu, “Bolsonaro Gets Trump’s Praise but Few Concessions, Riling Brazilians” (Reuters, Reuters, March 21, 2019).

“If this is the way forward, we might as well stay put,” said a Brazilian official directly involved in the negotiations, who requested anonymity to speak freely

Colombia

• , Julia Symmes Cobb, Luis Jaime Acosta, “Colombia Court Says Cannot Yet Rule on Possible Changes to Peace Law” (Reuters, Reuters, March 21, 2019).

Colombia’s constitutional court said on Wednesday it cannot rule on whether potential changes to legislation that implements a peace deal with Marxist rebels are constitutional until after they are approved by congress

• Gideon Long, “Colombia’s Peace Deal Comes Under Strain” (The Financial Times (UK), March 21, 2019).

Since the whole package has already been approved by the constitutional court, his veto could trigger a clash between the executive and judiciary, throwing the whole peace process into the air

• Tatiana Duque, “Coca y Minas, el Coctel de la Guerra Olvidada de Choco” (La Silla Vacia (Colombia), March 21, 2019).

No llegó el Estado y las comunidades quedaron a merced del ELN y el Clan del Golfo -o Autodefensas Gaitanistas ó paramilitares como son conocidas en la zona

Colombia, Venezuela

• Kyle Rempfer, Todd South, “There Are Mounting Signs of Military Planning for Venezuela” (Military Times, March 21, 2019).

One such speculation is that the administration will try to create a “humanitarian corridor” that would let U.S. troops enter a small area of Venezuela, possibly along the border with Columbia

Costa Rica

• “Indigenous Land Activist Shot Dead in Costa Rica” (Reuters, Voice of America, March 21, 2019).

Rojas had survived at least one previous assassination attempt. In 2015, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights ordered the government to provide Bribri and Teribe people with protection

Guatemala

• MartÍn RodrÍguez Pellecer, “Si los Opositores No Participan en las Elecciones, se Acaba la Democracia en Guatemala” (Nomada (Guatemala), March 21, 2019).

No importa si gana la aliada del sistema, Sandra Torres; la opositora Thelma Aldana; o cualquier otro candidato. Lo importante es que puedan participar opositores para que las elecciones tengan oxígeno y sean una competencia real

Haiti

• Kim Ives, Matthew Cole, “U.S. Mercenaries Arrested in Haiti Were Part of a Half-Baked Scheme to Move $80 Million for Embattled President” (The Intercept, March 21, 2019).

What at first resembled a comedic plot about a group of ex-soldiers looking for a quick and easy mercenary score was in fact a poorly executed but serious effort by Moïse to consolidate his political power with American muscle

Mexico

• Jorge Valencia, “Will Mexico’s New National Guard Dissuade Crime or Escalate the War?” (Fronteras Desk, March 21, 2019).

The National Guard could be the beginning of the demilitarization of Mexico’s more than decade-long war on organized crime, or it could escalate it

• Bahr Abdul-Razzak, Bill Marczak, John Scott-Railton, Masashi Crete-Nishihata, Ron Deibert, Siena Anstis, “Reckless Vii” (Citizen Lab (Canada), March 21, 2019).

Griselda Triana, journalist and the wife of slain journalist Javier Valdez Cárdenas, was targeted with NSO Group’s Pegasus spyware in the days after his killing

• Elliot Spagat, “Asylum Seekers Forced to Wait in Mexico Say They Fear for Their Safety” (Associated Press, PBS NewsHour, March 21, 2019).

The seven cases being heard in a downtown San Diego courtroom are among the first to advance under the Trump administration policy that calls for people seeking asylum in the U.S. to be held in Mexico

Nicaragua

• Wilfredo Miranda Aburto, “Ortega Acepta Liberar a Todos los Presos Politicos en 90 Dias” (Confidencial (Nicaragua), March 21, 2019).

El gobierno los “liberará” en un plazo no mayor a 90 días como parte del acuerdo suscrito con la Alianza Cívica, con la OEA y el Vaticano como testigos, para volver a reactivar el diálogo en el INCAE

Venezuela

• “Tortura en Venezuela: General Miguel Rodriguez Torres Esta Grave de Salud” (El Nacional (Venezuela), El Comercio (Peru), March 21, 2019).

El teniente Dugarte ofreció declaraciones sobre lo que sucede en las sede del cuerpo de inteligencia en Boleita, donde se han registrado numerosos casos de tortura en los detenidos

• “Venezuelan Opposition Makes New Offer to the Military Hoping They Will Switch Sides” (MercoPress, March 21, 2019).

Members of the Venezuelan armed forces that abandon President Nicolas Maduro will keep their rank and be reinstated once a new government is in place, the opposition-controlled legislature said