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January 27, 2021
Western Hemisphere Regional
- Jose Miguel Cruz, Brian Fonseca, “How Transnational Crime Is Mutating in the Age of Covid-19 in Latin America” (Florida International University, Americas Quarterly, January 27, 2021).
The pandemic may ultimately be a turning point that saw unfortunate crime and security-related trends of the past three decades accelerate even faster. The question is what governments can do to stop it
- John Otis, “School’s Out in Most of Latin America. Gangs Are Thrilled.” (Americas Quarterly, January 27, 2021).
The percentage of Latin American students who complete high school may fall from 61% to 46% because of the pandemic
- Brendan o’boyle, “Under Biden, Big Changes on Drugs and Crime Seem Unlikely” (Americas Quarterly, January 27, 2021).
While some changes are possible, the realities of a split U.S. Congress and a crowded domestic agenda will probably prevent the kind of bold experiments such as drug legalization that some progressives support
- Ronald Brownstein, “On Immigration, Biden Seeks a New Approach to an Old Deadlock” (CNN, January 27, 2021).
Congressional Democrats and immigrant advocacy groups seem content deferring initially as Biden seeks Republican support for change. But it’s clear that both groups have only limited patience for that approach if Republicans don’t quickly show signs of interest
- Nick Miroff, “Trump-Appointed Federal Judge in Texas Blocks Biden’s Deportation ‘Pause’” (The Washington Post, January 27, 2021).
Judge Drew Tipton, a Trump appointee, granted a temporary restraining order sought by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, saying the state had demonstrated a likelihood of facing immediate harm from Biden’s pause
Brazil
- Cecilia Tornaghi, “Q&A: Brazil’s Pioneering Fight Against Gang Money Laundering” (Americas Quarterly, January 27, 2021).
Secco is attacking money laundering by criminal organizations at a national level, a strategy that isn’t frequently seen in Latin America
Chile
- Aaron Nelsen, “‘I Just Needed to Find My Family’: The Scandal of Chile’s Stolen Children” (The Guardian, January 27, 2021).
This news was devastating. Diemar felt she had accepted that her adoption was done in the proper manner because she couldn’t handle the emotional fallout
Colombia
- Juan Forero, “Colombia’s Defense Minister, a Presidential Hopeful, Dies of Covid-19” (The Wall Street Journal, January 27, 2021).
The death leaves a void for the ruling Democratic Center Party, which is trying to decide on a candidate who could win in next year’s presidential election
- “Jep Alerta Que el 2021 Ha Sido el Inicio de Ano Mas Violento Desde la Firma del Acuerdo de Paz” (Jurisdicción Especial para la Paz (Colombia), January 27, 2021).
En lo que va del 2021 se han presentado 14 enfrentamientos armados entre estructuras criminales y la Fuerza Pública, 13 eventos de amenazas de muertes a líderes sociales, 6 masacres y 5 asesinatos de excombatientes de las Farc-EP
Ecuador, Peru
- “Peru Despliega Militares en la Frontera Con Ecuador para Controlar Inmigracion Ilegal de Venezolanos” (EFE, El Universo (Ecuador), January 27, 2021).
Su objetivo será vigilar hasta 30 pasos fronterizos clandestinos que han sido identificados como los más frecuentes utilizados por la inmigración ilegal
El Salvador
- Oscar Martinez, “La Paz Fea de el Salvador” (The New York Times, January 27, 2021).
Bukele se vende como un mesías, como el parteaguas en la historia de este país y no pretende permitir que le compita ninguna guerra, con todos sus magnicidios y masacres; ni tampoco una paz, con todos sus logros e imperfecciones
Guatemala, Honduras
- Sandra Cuffe, “The ‘Spiralling Crisis’ Pushing Hondurans to Flee North” (Al Jazeera, January 27, 2021).
Thousands in US-bound migrant caravan were returned to Honduras this month, but many say they will try again. Here’s why
Guatemala, Mexico
- David Mora, Emily Green, “19 Burned Bodies Found Near the Us-Mexico Border May Include Teen Migrants” (VICE, January 27, 2021).
Family members of the missing Guatemalans said their loved ones — most of them in their late teens and early 20s — started heading North on January 12, departing from Comitancillo, Tuilelen, and Sipacapa, small towns and villages just south of the border with Mexico
Honduras
- “Interceptan Supuesta Narcoavioneta en la Mosquitia; Hay un Detenido” (El Heraldo (Honduras), January 27, 2021).
Las autoridades confirmaron que no se reportan personas heridas, pese al enfrentamiento y el siniestro de la avioneta que se quemó en un 90 por ciento
Mexico
- ““el Mayo” Envejece; “el Mencho”, Enfermo. Y la Pandemia. Hay un Nuevo Mapa del Narco en Mexico” (Revista Zeta (Tijuana Mexico), SinEmbargo (Mexico), January 27, 2021).
Dos grandes cárteles, siete u ocho organizaciones criminales de alto impacto y unos cien grupos menores de la delincuencia organizada, no menos peligrosos, conforman la geografía del narcotráfico en México
U.S.-Mexico Border
- Michael Balsamo, Colleen Long, “Doj Rescinds ‘Zero Tolerance’ Immigration Rule” (Associated Press, Associated Press, January 27, 2021).
Prosecutions had dropped sharply after the Trump administration declared a pandemic-related health emergency that allows them to immediately expel Mexicans and many Central Americans
Venezuela
- “Trabajadores de Azul Positivo Vuelven a Calabozos de Dgcim en Zulia” (Efecto Cocuyo (Venezuela), January 27, 2021).
Johan León, Yordy Bermúdez, Layners Gutiérrez Díaz, Alejandro Gómez y Luis Ferrebuz estuvieron tres días en una clínica del municipio San Francisco, por presentar síntomas asociados al COVID-19
- Scott Smith, Jorge Rueda, “Maduro’s ‘Miracle’ Treatment for Covid-19 Draws Skeptics” (Associated Press, Associated Press, January 27, 2021).
“Ten drops under the tongue every four hours and the miracle is done,” Maduro said in a televised appearance on Sunday. “It’s a powerful antiviral, very powerful, that neutralizes the coronavirus”
- Tim Padgett, “Trump’s Deportation Suspension Both Gratifies and Galls South Florida Venezuelans” (WLRN, January 27, 2021).
Talk to anyone in the Venezuelan community right now and you may hear really mixed feelings