Tim Steller photo at the Arizona Daily Star. Caption: “More than 100 people demonstrated on both sides of the border in Nogales on Wednesday, part of a coordinated group of pro-asylum events also taking place in Douglas-Agua Prieta and San Diego-Tijuana.”

(Even more here)

October 23, 2020

Western Hemisphere Regional

It is absolutely necessary to fully integrate women into defense and security forces to be successful in the 21st century–to be professional, ready for any mission, and legitimate in the eyes of the population

At least 19 women at a Georgia immigration facility are now alleging that a doctor performed, or pressured them to undergo, “overly aggressive” or “medically unnecessary” surgery without their consent

Bolivia

A landslide election victory brings peace to the country, at least for now

Bolivia, Paraguay

The cocaine is thought to have been purchased by Dutch criminals, possibly for distribution elsewhere in northern Europe

Brazil

Warming relations between the United States and Brazil received a boost this week with an update to an existing bilateral trade agreement, along with the commitment of billions of U.S. dollars to boost Brazilian industries

Chile

Any new constitution is likely to make Chile more social-democratic. Advocates of the new charter want to introduce the idea of “equality of opportunity”

Colombia

Después de este ejercicio de reportería de varias semanas y de depuración, logramos identificar a 222 líderes asesinados desde la posesión de Duque

Una docena de territorios fueron priorizados por la Fiscalía por concentrar mayor número de ataques contra excombatientes y líderes sociales

The protestors demands were myriad: killings of human rights activists and environmental defenders, police brutality and education and pension reforms were some of the issues

En su trayectoria se destaca haber sido presidente de la Corte Constitucional y defensor del Pueblo

Colombia, Mexico

Mexico’s Sinaloa, Jalisco Nueva Generacion, Zetas and Beltran Leyva drug cartels are the top buyers and traffickers of cocaine produced by criminal groups in Colombia

El Salvador

“Nunca hemos tenido un peligro tan agudo para la democracia a través del ataque de la libertad de expresión como lo tenemos ahorita en El Salvador”

Guatemala

At FECI’s request, a judge issued an arrest warrant for José Benito, Minister of Communications, Infrastructure and Housing during the Morales administration. He stands accused of money laundering

DHS treats the U.S border as if it extends south to Guatemala and that it has the authority to police and deport migrants on foreign soil. It is unconscionable

Honduras

l 22 de octubre estaba programada una audiencia de examinación de diligencias en el proceso contra David Castillo, ex gerente de la empresa Desarrollos Energéticos (DESA)

The so-called Operation Dominion (Operación Dominio), with Honduran and U.S. authorities participating, “has dealt heavy blows to narcotrafficking and organized crime,” the Honduran government said

Mexico

Más que nunca se hace relevante revisar los alcances de la militarización que, desde que estuvo coordinada por Cienfuegos no operaba solo en las calles en tareas de seguridad, sino también en otras instituciones

Entre 2005 y 2007 ya había comentarios de narcos y de autoridades en los que se señalaba que Salvador Cienfuegos Zepeda, Secretario de la Defensa Nacional durante el sexenio de Enrique Peña Nieto, se reunía con Arturo Beltrán Leyva

Los agentes del Ministerio Público les dieron carpetazo sin esclarecer lo sucedido, la mayor parte de ellas enviándolas a un archivo “temporal” hasta que pase algo que permita retomarlas

Parte de la disputa por el control de la venta y tráfico de droga entre grupos de la delincuencia organizada que antes eran aliados con el Cartel del Pacifico (o Sinaloa)

McCaffrey told me the arrest was “very odd.” “I would have assumed we would have gone to Mexican authorities before the arrest and say, ’Hey, here’s what we’re up to’”

U.S.-Mexico Border

In the central Mexico state of Guanajuato, the color of the meth or the markings on the package in an addict’s pocket may determine whether he lives or dies

President Trump set the goal about a year ago and, to fulfill it, contractors are building largely on land the federal government already owns, including in areas where illegal border crossings have been relatively low

Sasabe, Mexico, has a couple of convenience stores, but there are no taxis or buses, and most migrants who are dropped here have no money or means to get anywhere else

“It’s cruelty, and separating kids from parents goes against natural rights,” the pope says in the documentary “Francesco.” “It’s something a Christian cannot do. It’s cruelty of the highest form”

Venezuela

Diputados y familiares de presos políticos piden a la comunidad internacional hacer algo más para que delitos de lesa humanidad no sigan ocurriendo