(Even more here)

June 28, 2019

Western Hemisphere Regional

• “Two Soldiers Died by Suicide Along the Mexico Border, Me Says” (Associated Press, Military Times, June 28, 2019).

A medical examiner says two soldiers helping secure the Mexico border in Arizona died by suicide

• Julie Hirschfeld Davis, Emily Cochrane, “House Passes Senate Border Bill in Striking Defeat for Pelosi” (The New York Times, June 28, 2019).

Speaker Nancy Pelosi capitulated to Republicans and Democratic moderates and dropped her insistence on stronger protections for migrant children in overcrowded border shelters

• Riane Roldan, “June Has Been a Deadly Month for Migrants Crossing the Border Into Texas” (The Texas Tribune, June 28, 2019).

As migrants continue arriving at the Texas-Mexico border, drownings have spiked in recent weeks, with nine people drowning in El Paso-area canals this month alone. Border Patrol and soldiers have rescued others

Brazil

• Terrence Mccoy, “Cocaine, Leaks and Opposition: Brazil’s Bolsonaro Challenged by Scandal, Defeats” (The Washington Post, June 28, 2019).

Another week in Brazil, another scandal consuming the young presidency of Jair Bolsonaro

Colombia

• “Gobierno de Colombia Dara Mas Proteccion a Exguerrilleros de las Farc Tras Asesinatos” (Associated Press, El Universo (Ecuador), June 28, 2019).

Duque señaló a la prensa desde Medellín que “a los criminales que están detrás de asesinatos de líderes sociales, excombatientes de las FARC y cualquier colombiano, los vamos a enfrentar”

• Tatiana Duque, “Los Asesinatos de Exfarc Ponen en Vilo la Verdad Que Busca la Jep” (La Silla Vacia (Colombia), June 28, 2019).

Durante las últimas dos semanas, dos excombatientes de las Farc fueron asesinados en Cauca y tres en Nariño, todos de la misma forma: a disparos y por sicarios

Guatemala, Mexico

• “Chairman Engel, Nadler, and Thompson Call on Trump to End Unlawful Safe Third Country Negotiations” (U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs Democratic Office, June 28, 2019).

The State Department’s most recent Human Rights Reports on Guatemala and Mexico make it clear that these countries do not meet the legal standards required for safe third country agreements

Honduras

• Carlos Dada, “Los Ninos Con Piedras se Unen a las Protestas en Honduras” (El Faro (El Salvador), June 28, 2019).

Estudiantes con edades que van de los 11 a los 18 años se han unido a las protestas en un país militarizado, en el que se respira gas lacrimógeno

Mexico

• Alberto Pradilla, “Casa del Migrante en Sonora Acusa Que Guardia Nacional Intento Irrumpir en Albergue” (Animal Politico (Mexico), June 28, 2019).

Los albergues de la zona norte denuncian que elementos de la Guardia Nacional quisieron entrar a las instalaciones de Agua Prieta. El gobierno no ofrece explicaciones

• Ángeles Mariscal, “Cierran el Paso a Migrantes Que Suben al Tren” (Aristegui Noticias, June 28, 2019).

‘¡Ejército! ¡Están rodeados! ¡Están rodeados!’, gritan a migrantes durante operativo de detención en Palenque, Chiapas

• Arturo Angel, “Guardia Nacional Iniciara Sin Reglamento, Con Dudas Sobre su Estado de Fuerza y Capacitacion” (Animal Politico (Mexico), June 28, 2019).

Las autoridades no han transparentado los detalles sobre los cursos de capacitación y procesos de evaluación de los elementos de la Guardia Nacional

• Stephania Taladrid, “The Violence Beat” (Columbia Journalism Review, June 28, 2019).

Since Turati began chronicling the conflict, it has claimed almost 250,000 lives. More than 40,000 people are missing

• Joel Rose, “Trump Administration’s ‘Remain in Mexico’ Policy Leaves Migrants Confused, Scared” (National Public Radio, June 28, 2019).

More than 6,000 migrants have been returned to Juarez so far. Most of them are poor, are staying in shelters run by churches in town, waiting for their days in court

• Cedar Attanasio, “‘It’s Not Safe Here.’ Migrants Detail Violence They Face as U.S. Makes Them Wait in Mexico” (Associated Press, Time, June 28, 2019).

Cartel violence in Juarez is down from its height five years ago, but it is still one of the most dangerous cities in the world

Venezuela

• Brian Ellsworth, Mayela Armas, “Special Report: Why the Military Still Stands by Venezuela’s Beleaguered President” (Reuters, Reuters, June 28, 2019).

In a series of actions that began in 1999, the former lieutenant colonel and one-time coup leader began taming the military by bloating it, buying it off, politicizing it, intimidating the rank and file, and fragmenting the overall command

• “Jefe del Comando Sur Asegura Que Venezuela Requiere de “Paciencia Estrategica”” (EFE, El Estimulo (Venezuela), June 28, 2019).

“La jefatura ha sido clara, todas las opciones están sobre la mesa. Y estas opciones incluyen un amplio abanico de herramientas y políticas. Ya veremos cómo se desarrollan, pero -como militar- mi trabajo es estar preparado”