(Even more here)

March 29, 2019

Western Hemisphere Regional

• D. Parvaz, “Pentagon Officials Struggle to Explain Diverted Funding for Trump’s Border Wall” (ThinkProgress, March 29, 2019).

The Pentagon notified Congress Monday night that it authorized the reallocation of $1 billion in department funding to be used for new wall construction — but at the same time, it is seeking additional funding from Congress for what it calls “underfunded priorities”

• w.j. Hennigan, “Why Spending $1 Billion on a Border Wall Is Risky for the Military” (Time, March 29, 2019).

It’s an unprecedented tactic to notify Congress about moving the money around, rather than request the transfer. The decision will likely cost the Pentagon its ability to “reprogram” money in the years ahead

• Geneva Sands, Priscilla Alvarez, “Federal Government Preparing for Unaccompanied Minors in Its Care to Double” (CNN, March 29, 2019).

If current trends hold, referrals of unaccompanied children to HHS could surpass the record 2016 figures, when 59,171 minors were referred for care

• Amna Nawaz, “Why Current U.S. Immigration Challenge Reflects ‘Complete Political Failure’” (Newshour, PBS, March 29, 2019).

The commissioner mentioned yesterday that 100,000 people had been taken into custody this month. I could easily see that doubling or tripling in coming months

• “2019 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report” (U.S. Department of State, March 29, 2019).

The 2019 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report (INCSR) is an annual report by the Department of State to Congress prepared in accordance with the Foreign Assistance Act

Brazil

• Julia Dias Carneiro, “Violence in Rio: Public Security Expert Warns of a ‘Retreat From Rights,’ Return to Old Policies of Confrontation” (RioOnWatch (Rio de Janeiro Brazil), March 29, 2019).

Cano highlighted the fact that the violence in Rio in the 1990s was still seen as a vestige of Brazil’s military dictatorship. The recent surge in violence in the city is all the more discouraging given the reversal of the progress that had been made

Central America Regional

• Julia Ainsley, “Dhs Will Ask for Sweeping Authority to Deport Unaccompanied Children” (NBC News, March 29, 2019).

Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen’s proposal will also include more money for detention beds and the ability to hold families in detention longer than currently permitted

Colombia

• Olga Patricia Rendon M., “La Jep No Es un Camino Facil para Evitar la Extradicion” (El Colombiano (Medellin Colombia), March 29, 2019).

40 de las 57 solicitudes de aplicación de la garantía de no extradición han sido rechazadas por la JEP y ninguna ha sido aprobada, lo que muestra que este no es un camino para evitarla.

• “Asi Seria la Votacion Contra las Objeciones de Duque” (La Silla Vacia (Colombia), March 29, 2019).

La Corte Constitucional ya dijo que si no hay una votación mayoritaria de acá al 20 de junio, el Congreso le debe mandar el proyecto de ley estatutaria y será ella quien decida. La decisión de Cambio de hoy hace probable que eso sea lo que pase

• “El Planton de los Congresistas para Hablar Con el Presidente Duque” (Semana (Colombia), March 29, 2019).

El propósito de la iniciativa era hacerse escuchar por el mandatario y proponerle ideas que permitan destrabar la mesa de conversaciones y suavizar las posturas en torno a las condiciones que exigen ambas partes

Guatemala

• “Can Thelma Aldana, Guatemala’s Corruption Fighter, Win the Presidency?” (The Economist (Uk), March 29, 2019).

It pits her promise to renew Guatemala’s democracy against efforts by a worried ruling class to entrench its power. Much depends on whether Ms Aldana stays on the ballot

• Cat Rainsford, “Guatemala Dismantles Ring of Police Moonlighting as Hitmen” (InsightCrime, March 29, 2019).

The alarming incidence of police criminality in Guatemala reflects structural failures within the PNC that appear to have worsened over the last year

Honduras

• “Allanan Radio Globo y Capturan a David Romero” (Criterio (Honduras), March 29, 2019).

Ratificó la sentencia emitida en marzo de 2016, de 10 años de reclusión, por la comisión de seis delitos de difamación constitutivos de injurias

• , Rep. Hank Johnson (D-Georgia), “Rep. Johnson Reintroduces the “Berta Caceres Human Rights in Honduras Act”” (U.S. House of Representatives, March 29, 2019).

This bill will work to ensure that the Honduran government, military, and police cannot commit crimes or act of violence against the Honduran people with impunity

Mexico

• Arturo Angel, “Ejercito Iniciara el Reclutamiento para la Guardia Sin la Ley Que Define los Requisitos” (Animal Politico (Mexico), March 29, 2019).

La Sedena buscará 21 mil nuevos elementos este año; expertos dudan de meta de reclutamiento y de capacidad de aplicar controles de confianza

Venezuela

• Joe Parkin Daniels, Tom Phillips, “Maduro Blames Blackout on Sniper and Tells People to Pray” (The Guardian (Uk), March 29, 2019).

“This is a total war,” Venezuela’s authoritarian leader added. “Since they can’t invade the country … they have decided to damage, damage, damage”

• Marjuli Matheus, “Grupos Violentos Atacan Caravana de Juan Guaido” (Proceso (Mexico), March 29, 2019).

Unas 30 personas identificadas con Nicolás Maduro gritaban improperios y atacaban a la prensa, diputados y demás personas que salían del Palacio Federal Legislativo