February 16, 2021
Western Hemisphere Regional
- Geoff Bennett, Julia Ainsley, Jacob Soboroff, “Biden, Hill Democrats Plan to Unveil Immigration Reform Bill This Week” (NBC News, February 16, 2021).
While previous attempts at massive immigration reform have failed under both Republican and Democratic administrations, the Biden White House has signaled support for breaking the legislation into pieces
Brazil
- Tom Phillips, “Anger as Bolsonaro Moves to Make Guns Easier to Access: ‘A Threat to Democracy’” (The Guardian, February 16, 2021).
Brazil’s pro-gun president announced four presidential decrees designed to facilitate legal access to weapons on Saturday morning, as the country’s coronavirus death toll swelled
- “Kc-390 Drops Paratroopers in Training With Us Air Force C-17 and C-130 Aircraft” (Brazilian Air Force, Dialogo (U.S. Southern Command), February 16, 2021).
In the early hours of February 2, the Brazilian Air Force (FAB, in Portuguese) multi-mission KC-390 aircraft dropped paratroopers in joint flights with U.S. Air Force C-17 and C-130 aircraft during Operation Culminating, in Alexandria, Louisiana
Brazil, Haiti, Peru
- “Militares Peruanos Impiden Ingreso de Migrantes Haitianos Desde Brasil” (Agence France Presse, La Tercera (Chile), February 16, 2021).
Militares y policías peruanos han impedido el ingreso desde Brasil de unos 380 migrantes, en su mayoría haitianos, a través de un puente binacional en la Amazonía, informó el lunes el Comando Conjunto de las Fuerzas Armadas
Central America Regional
- Hector Silva Avalos, “Biden and Central America’s Anti-Corruption Crusade” (InsightCrime, February 16, 2021).
Multiple sources consulted by InSight Crime in Washington DC and Central America say that creating an institution similar to the CICIG will be complicated and believe that the Biden administration will first resort to other strategies
Chile
- Juan Delgado, “Chilean Armed Forces Support the Fight Against Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling” (Dialogo (U.S. Southern Command), February 16, 2021).
On January 12, Chilean President Sebastián Piñera signed a decree that enables support of the Armed Forces in border control to combat illegal migration
Colombia
- “Octavo Informe de Verificacio?N de la Implementacio?N del Acuerdo Final de Paz en Colombia” (Secretaría Técnica del Componente Internacional de Verificación CINEP/PPP-CERAC, February 16, 2021).
Un hecho que sigue ocupando un lugar de primer orden en las preocupaciones, es la persistente amenaza y el recurrente asesinato de li?deres sociales, defensores de derechos humanos y de excombatientes de las FARC
- “Gobierno Entrega a la Jep y a la Fiscalia Informe Sobre Recepcion de Bienes de las Farc” (El Espectador (Colombia), February 16, 2021).
Deja en manos de la justicia establecer si hay lugar a sanciones para los exmiembros de la guerrilla al no haber entregado la totalidad del inventario en el plazo establecido
- “El Poder Simbolico de Hernan Giraldo Sigue Latente en la Sierra Nevada” (La Silla Vacia (Colombia), February 16, 2021).
En la Sierra Nevada y en la Troncal del Caribe del Magdalena, donde operó su Bloque Resistencia Tayrona, muchos lo ven todavía como ‘El patrón’
Cuba
- Nora Gamez Torres, “Cuban American Group Advises Biden to Re-Engage With Cuba, Build Support in Miami” (The Miami Herald, February 16, 2021).
The Cuba Study Group document, obtained by the Herald ahead of its public release on Tuesday, encourages the new administration to abandon the “centerpiece policy of regime change” for an incremental approach
El Salvador
- Samuel Amaya, “Presidente Anuncia Que 1,042 Nuevos Soldados Reforzaran Plan Control Territorial” (Diario Co Latino (El Salvador), February 16, 2021).
Bukele puso a manera de ejemplo que “antes quién iba a pensar en sacar un celular en el Centro Histórico (de San Salvador), eso era impensable. Gracias al esfuerzo de la Fuerza Armada hemos dados fuertes golpes al tráfico de drogas”
Mexico, U.S.-Mexico Border
- Alberto Pradilla, “Mexico Prometio Empleo a Solicitantes de Asilo; En 2 Anos Registro a 64” (Animal Politico (Mexico), February 16, 2021).
Únicamente 64 solicitantes de asilo recibieron un empleo a través de la secretaría de Trabajo. De ellos, 63 se encontraban en Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, y uno solo en Tijuana
U.S.-Mexico Border
- Matt Stieb, “What Happens to Trump’s Wall Now?” (New York, February 16, 2021).
Installing a hodgepodge of “smart security” technology paid for with reallocated wall cash, together with limited barrier removal in sensitive areas, appears to be the most likely outcome
- Dianne Solis, “Freezing Weather Hits Matamoros Migrant Camp Where Asylum-Seekers Are Days Away From U.S. Entry” (The Dallas Morning News, February 16, 2021).
With people anticipating that Friday is going to open to MPP crossings, people don’t want to move to a shelter with a roof. They are afraid they will lose their spot in the MPP line
- “Metering Update: February 2021” (University of Texas Strauss Center, February 16, 2021).
This report provides an update on metering lists, asylum seekers, and migrant shelters along the U.S.-Mexico border amid CBP’s asylum processing suspension. It documents approximately 16,250 asylum seekers on waitlists in 9 Mexican border cities
Venezuela
- Rodrigo Cabezas Morales, “Venezuela: El Sonido del Silencio de las Victimas o la Coartada Antiimperialista de los Victimarios” (RunRun.es (Venezuela), February 16, 2021).
Siete años han transcurrido sin un especialista del área en la conducción del gabinete económico ministerial y del Banco Central. La industria petrolera, las empresas básicas de Guayana, la petroquímica y el sistema eléctrico nacional han tenido a militares totalmente inexpertos