February 9, 2021
Western Hemisphere Regional
- “The Cocaine Pipeline to Europe” (InsightCrime, February 9, 2021).
This series, which is the product of field work and investigations over two years in more than 10 countries in Latin America, the Caribbean and Europe, traces the evolution of the European cocaine trade and the Latin American and European criminal networks
Brazil
- “Brazilian, U.S. Military Leaders Emphasize Partnerships at Jrtc” (U.S. Army, February 9, 2021).
The Brazilian Army, or Exército Brasileiro (EB), participation in JRTC is the culminating event of a five-year plan developed between the EB and U.S. Army South during the Army-to-Army Staff Talks
- Andrea Shalal, “White House Says It Aims to Strengthen Ties With Brazil, but Will Speak Out on Concerns” (Reuters, Reuters, February 9, 2021).
Asked about calls by human rights groups and Democrats to halt trade talks with Brazil over concerns about human rights and the environment, Psaki said the Biden administration would not refrain from raising concerns
Chile, Venezuela
- Carlos Reyes P., “Crisis Migratoria: Gobierno Anuncia “Plan Colchane” y Campana en el Extranjero Con Advertencia de Expulsion para Quienes Ingresen por Pasos No Habilitados” (La Tercera (Chile), February 9, 2021).
En el marco de ese proceso de expulsión, según la autoridad, mañana un vuelo de la Fach saldrá del país con cien personas
- “Chile Expulsara 100 Migrantes Ante Crisis Humanitaria” (Associated Press, The Houston Chronicle, February 9, 2021).
Los migrantes tomarán un vuelo de las Fuerzas Aérea de Chile (FACH) que parará en Colombia y Venezuela
Colombia
- Sally Palomino, “Francia Marquez: “Colombia Es un Pais Que Condena y Extermina a Quienes Piensan Diferente”” (El Pais (Spain), February 9, 2021).
La ambientalista colombiana, víctima constante de amenazas, reclama atención del Estado y señala al modelo económico como detonador de la violencia que vive su país
Colombia, Cuba
- “Los Datos Ocultos del Posible Atentado del Eln Que Cuba Revelo” (El Tiempo (Colombia), February 9, 2021).
Tomaron la decisión de enviarle una carta-memorando a Colombia para advertirle que habían recibido una información, “cuya verosimilitud no podían confirmar”, sobre un posible ataque militar del Eln en Bogotá
- Laura Cano, “«Cuba Hizo Bien al Informar Sobre Planes del Eln»” (Fundación Paz y Reconciliación (Colombia), February 9, 2021).
Pares habló con Luis Eduardo Celis, analista del conflicto armado, quien también es asesor de la Redprodepaz y columnista de la Fundación Paz y Reconciliación
- Nicole Bravo, “En Buenaventura los Jovenes se Toman la Voceria Que Antes Tenia el Comite del Paro” (La Silla Vacia (Colombia), February 9, 2021).
El Comité del Paro Cívico de Buenaventura, que antes lideró las protestas masivas por los problemas recurrentes de la ciudad, en esta ocasión no se pronunció de forma contundente
Colombia, Venezuela
- Julie Turkewitz, “Colombia Makes ‘Historic’ Decision to Grant Legal Status to 1.7 Million Venezuelan Migrants” (The New York Times, February 9, 2021).
The decision was hailed by the head of the U.N. Refugee Agency, Filippo Grandi, as “historic” and “the most important humanitarian gesture” in the region in decades
- “Duque Presenta Proyecto para Regularizar a los Migrantes Venezolanos, ¿de Que Trata?” (El Espectador (Colombia), February 9, 2021).
Con el ETPV, los migrantes podrán permanecer en Colombia en condiciones de regularidad migratoria especiales por un término de vigencia de 10 años, que podría extenderse
Ecuador
- Mat Youkee, “Squawking Bird Blows the Whistle on Fake Video Trying to Tilt Ecuador Election” (The Guardian, February 9, 2021).
An attempt to influence the Ecuadorian elections with a fake video purportedly showing leftwing guerrillas endorsing one of the candidates was thwarted by a ground-dwelling bird and a keen-eared ornithologist
El Salvador
- Noah Bullock, Charles T. Call, “Surprise: El Salvador’s Anti-Corruption Commission Is Alive. But Can It Succeed?” (Cristosal, American University, Americas Quarterly, February 9, 2021).
CICIES, with its strong team of national and international judges, investigators and auditors, has shown it has teeth
- Anna-Cat Brigida , “Political Tensions Mount in el Salvador Before Legislative Vote” (Al Jazeera, February 9, 2021).
For survivors of the country’s 12-year civil war that ended nearly three decades ago, the political violence has also stirred up painful memories – and fuelled concerns the country is ushering in a new era of political violence and intolerance
- Joshua Goodman, “Sources: Biden Officials Snub Salvadoran Leader in Dc Trip” (Associated Press, Associated Press, February 9, 2021).
The three people didn’t say how the request for a meeting was made. But they said the decision not to meet with Bukele was deliberate
Haiti
- Ed Pilkington, “Outcry as More Than 20 Babies and Children Deported by Us to Haiti” (The Guardian, February 9, 2021).
The children were deported to Haiti on Monday on two flights chartered by Ice from Laredo, Texas to the Haitian capital Port-au-Prince
- Jacqueline Charles, Michael Wilner, Monique O. Madan, “Biden Team Under Fire for Deportation Uptick, Backing Moise as Haiti Tensions Multiply” (The Miami Herald, February 9, 2021).
In addition to the deportations and the expulsion to Juárez, about two dozen Haitians were also expelled to Tijuana
Honduras
- Jose De Cordoba, “U.S. Prosecutors Investigate Honduras President for Taking Drug-Related Bribes” (The Wall Street Journal, February 9, 2021).
While the Honduran leader has been implicated in several drug trials in the U.S., the filing marks the first time American prosecutors have made public that they are investigating the president
Mexico
- Yessica Morales, “Programa de Vacunacion Excluye a Migrantes” (Chiapas Paralelo (Chiapas), February 9, 2021).
El gobierno mexicano habilitó la vacunación de las personas mayores de 60 años, sin embargo, excluye a aquellos que no cuenta con la Clave Única de Registro de Población
- Juan Montes, Jose De Cordoba, “Biden and Mexico to Cooperate on Migration Despite Tension” (The Wall Street Journal, February 9, 2021).
The shift in policy, which the administration says will result in a more humane migration system, has a potential downside: If done too hastily, it could spark a surge in migrants
U.S.-Mexico Border
- “Cbp Announces Opening of Temporary Processing Facility in Donna, Texas” (U.S. Customs and Border Protection, February 9, 2021).
The 160,000 square foot facility sits on 45 acres. The temporary facility was built to provide processing capacity for Border Patrol’s Rio Grande Valley Sector while the permanent Centralized Processing Center in McAllen is undergoing renovation
- “Letter to Biden Administration Welcoming Asylum Executive Order, Urging Swift Rescission of Harmful Policies” (Numerous organizations, Human Rights First, February 9, 2021).
Every day that holdover Trump administration policies remain in effect, people seeking U.S. humanitarian protections are being turned away or expelled to places where their lives are at risk
Venezuela
- Luisa Quintero, “Raul Isaias Baduel: Mas de Ocho Meses Aislado y Cuatro Anos Esperando por un Juicio” (Tal Cual (Venezuela), February 9, 2021).
Ahora, mientras es sometido a tratos crueles, el militar enfrenta una acusación de supuesta conspiración por la que ni siquiera tiene una audiencia preliminar
- “Eeuu Condena “Persistente Acoso de Maduro” Contra Ong en Venezuela” (Efecto Cocuyo (Venezuela), February 9, 2021).
La subsecretaria interina de Estado para el Hemisferio Occidental, Julie Chung, calificó como un acoso medidas contra las ONG venezolanas
- Ana Vanessa Herrero, Anthony Faiola, “Maduro Touts Miracle Cure to Mask Massive Problem: Venezuela Can’t (or Won’t) Get Vaccines” (The Washington Post, February 9, 2021).
Venezuela is so far behind in sourcing vaccines that analysts say it could be 2023 or later before it acquires enough to achieve herd immunity
- “Venezuela: Additional Tracking Could Aid Treasury’s Efforts to Mitigate Any Adverse Impacts U.S. Sanctions Might Have on Humanitarian Assistance” (U.S. Government Accountability Office, February 9, 2021).
The sanctions, particularly on the state oil company in 2019, likely contributed to the steeper decline of the Venezuelan economy, primarily by limiting revenue from oil production