(Even more here)

July 28, 2020

Western Hemisphere Regional

• Juan S. Gonzalez, “Joe Biden and the Future of the Americas” (Americas Quarterly, July 28, 2020).

US policy towards Latin America should prioritize cooperation, rule of law and climate change, among other considerations, writes a former Biden advisor

• “Ice Has to Release Kids From Detention. It Refuses to Let Their Parents Join Them.” (Mother Jones, July 28, 2020).

Detained families might once again be faced with the “binary choice” of releasing children to a sponsor and facing indefinite separation, or staying together inside

Brazil

• Eliana Souza Silva, “Brazil Halts Police Raids in Favelas” (Foreign Policy, July 28, 2020).

It is only temporary—and poorly enforced—but the move does represent a first step in overcoming decades of brutality

• Philip Reeves, “Brazil’s Bolsonaro Is Accused of Crime Against Humanity Over Coronavirus ‘Neglect’” (National Public Radio, July 28, 2020).

An umbrella group of unions and social organizations representing more than 1 million Brazilian medical professionals have filed a complaint to the International Criminal Court in The Hague

Central America Regional, Nicaragua

• Roy Moncada, “Fuerzas Armadas de la Region se Coordinan en la Vigilancia de Fronteras y Combate al Crimen Organizado” (La Prensa (Nicaragua), July 28, 2020).

Esto fue abordado en la reunión ordinaria del Consejo Superior de la Conferencia de las Fuerzas Armadas Centroamericanas (CFAC), realizada de forma virtual

Colombia

• “Los Crudos Relatos Sobre Reclutamiento de Menores en las Farc” (El Espectador (Colombia), July 28, 2020).

Un detallado informe de la Fiscalía revela la atroz radiografía de este delito. El documento cobra relevancia hoy, a propósito de la postura de algunos líderes

• “Las Guerras del Eln por Dominar la Frontera Venezolana en Norte de Santander” (Verdad Abierta (Colombia), July 28, 2020).

Tres frentes de batalla tiene abiertos esa antigua guerrilla: contra el Estado, ‘Los Rastrojos’ y ‘Los Pelusos’

• Manuela Suarez Rueda, “Colombia: Un Gran Mercado de Armas Sin Incentivos para Reducirlo” (Fundacion Ideas por la Paz (Colombia), July 28, 2020).

La FIP revela en este informe los vacíos regulatorios y las fallas en los mecanismos de control de un mercado que sigue siendo muy dinámico

• Christopher Woody, “In Latest $740 Billion Defense Bill, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and a Progressive Ally Send a Warning to One of the Us’s Closest Allies” (Business Insider, July 28, 2020).

Two amendments to the annual US defense-spending bill rein in the use of aerial fumigation to eradicate cocaine and require reporting on allegations of abuses by Colombia’s military

• “Capturan a Lider de los “Urabenos” Cuando Regresaba al Pais” (El Espectador (Colombia), July 28, 2020).

Se trata de Arley Antonio Úsuga Torres, alias “07”, quien también es sobrino del narcotraficante Dairo Antonio Úsuga alias “Otoniel”

Mexico

• Alberto Pradilla, “Denuncian Impunidad y Simulacion por Caso de 27 Desapariciones en Nuevo Laredo” (Animal Politico (Mexico), July 28, 2020).

La CNDH señaló a la Semar por la desaparición de 27 personas en Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, en 2018. Las familias siguen sin tener pistas y no hay ni una sola persona acusada formalmente

• Andrea Tanco, Ariel Ruiz, “Spotlight | Mexico Explores Legal Migration Pathways” (Migration Policy Institute, Mexico Today, July 28, 2020).

Mexican policymakers can find ways for the country to benefit from migrants’ social and economic contributions by taking into account their target populations and tailoring legal pathways to their specific needs and skills

• “Un Refugee Agency to Install Housing Units in Mexico” (Associated Press, Associated Press, July 28, 2020).

The U.N. refugee agency said Monday it is setting up 48 temporary pre-fab housing units for refugees and asylum seekers in Mexico

• Manuel Espino, ““el Mencho” Construyo su Propio Hospital en Jalisco” (El Universal (Mexico), July 28, 2020).

El inmueble se encuentra en la comunidad jalisciense de El Alcíhuatl; por órdenes del capo, la atención médica sólo es para él, su equipo de seguridad y los habitantes locales

U.S.-Mexico Border

• Erica Werner, Karoun Demirjian, “GOP coronavirus bill replaces money for Pentagon projects Trump raided for border wall” (The Washington Post, July 28, 2020).

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• Siobhan Eagen, “Kumeyaay Nation Protests Border Wall Construction” (Golden Gate Express, July 28, 2020).

The Kumeyaay people are organizing themselves and outside volunteers in order to slow construction until their demands for adequate cultural protections are met, including soil testing

• Ed Pilkington, “‘These Are His People’: Inside the Elite Border Patrol Unit Trump Sent to Portland” (The Guardian, July 28, 2020).

Bortac, a quasi-militarised outfit equivalent to the Navy Seals, has been deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan

• Adolfo Flores, Hamed Aleaziz, “The Trump Administration Said It’s Not Expelling a Group of Immigrant Children Held in a Hotel” (BuzzFeed, July 28, 2020).

A group of 17 unaccompanied children will be allowed to make their cases in the US instead of being quickly expelled like thousands of immigrants have under a coronavirus policy

Venezuela

• Geoff Ramsey, “Did Maduro Sideline Diosdado Cabello?” (Washington Office on Latin America, July 28, 2020).

Maduro allowed the entire “promocion” of 1987, the cohort of military officers which graduated from training that year, to retire

• “Venezuela: Denuncian Que Dos Diputados Presos Son Victimas de Tortura” (EFE, El Comercio (Peru), July 28, 2020).

La Asamblea Nacional informó que los diputados Gilber Caro y Renzo Prieto son víctimas de tortura en la sede de las Fuerzas de Acciones Especiales (FAES) de la Policía Nacional en Caracas

• “Gobierno de Noruega Tantea Nuevo Dialogo en Venezuela Antes de Elecciones en ee.uu.” (Voice of America, July 28, 2020).

Delegados noruegos valoran que la campaña electoral en Estados Unidos rezagará cualquier solución a la crisis política venezolana, dicen fuentes familiarizadas con la visita

• “Menendez, Durbin, Schumer Lead Democrats in Again Calling on Trump to Grant Tps for Venezuelans” (U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, July 28, 2020).

The Senators’ letter follows a years-long campaign pushing President Trump to use his executive authorities to designate Venezuela for TPS