(Even more here)

February 24, 2021

Western Hemisphere Regional

• Monique O. Madan, Alex Daugherty, “Exclusive: Homestead Detention Center for Unaccompanied Migrant Teens to Reopen Under Biden” (The Miami Herald, February 24, 2021).

The center— now known as the Biscayne Influx Care Facility — is preparing to house migrant teens ages 13 to 17

Chile

• “Macrozona Sur: Carabineros, Pdi y Ejercito Preparan Ineditos “Patrullajes Mixtos” para Perseguir Violencia Rural” (La Tercera (Chile), February 24, 2021).

El objetivo es atacar organizaciones dedicadas al narcotráfico que, a juicio del gobierno y las policías, estarían detrás de gran parte de los atentados

Colombia

• Sebastian Forero Rueda, ““el Enfasis Debe Ser en una Politica para Desmantelar Grupos Armados”: Onu dd.hh” (El Espectador (Colombia), February 24, 2021).

Según dijo, adoptar una política pública para desmantelar los grupos herederos del paramilitarismo es fundamental para mejorar las garantías de seguridad de líderes, defensores y comunidades en Colombia

• “Este Es el Plan para Reanudar Aspersion Aerea de Cultivos Ilicitos en Colombia” (RCN (Colombia), February 24, 2021).

Son ocho modernas aeronaves con dos equipos de 16 pilotos, las principales herramientas para comenzar la aspersión en el país, tarea que espera el día D para comenzar

• “Comision de la Verdad Le Pide al Gobierno Negociar Con Grupos Armados Ilegales” (El Espectador (Colombia), February 24, 2021).

La comisionada Patricia Tobón y el comisionado Leyner Palacios denunciaron públicamente la intensificación de acciones armadas sobre los pueblos étnicos del Pacífico colombiano

• “Masacres: Una Agonica Espiral de Violencia Sin Salida a la Vista” (Verdad Abierta (Colombia), February 24, 2021).

Lo ocurrido en Tumaco en los últimos días es el fiel reflejo de lo que ocurre en diferentes latitudes del país: matanzas en zonas disputadas por grupos armados ilegales de diferentes extracciones

Ecuador

• Jose Maria Leon Cabrera, Anatoly Kurmanaev, “Blood Bath at Ecuador Prisons as Drug Gangs Battle for Control” (The New York Times, February 24, 2021).

“Two armed groups tried to seize the criminal leadership of the detention centers”

Guatemala

• Luisa Paredes, ““Vamos a Sacar a los Magistrados Como Antorchas Humanas”, Dice un Militar Retirado” (ElPeriodico (Guatemala), February 24, 2021).

Un grupo de exmilitares realizó una marcha en el centro histórico para exigir una indemnización por su participación en el conflicto armado interno

Guatemala, Mexico

• Emily Green, David Mora, “An Immigration Raid Sent Him to Guatemala. He Was Murdered at the Border Trying to Get Home.” (VICE, February 24, 2021).

Nearly 700 were arrested at seven chicken plants across Mississippi that August 2019 morning, in one of the largest workplace immigration stings in U.S. history. A year and a half later, on January 22, López ended up shot

Haiti

• Farah Stockman, “Did a Coup Attempt Really Happen Two Weeks Ago in Haiti?” (The New York Times, February 24, 2021).

Many people in Haiti believe that the Trump administration made a deal with Mr. Moïse: If he supported the U.S. case against Venezuela, then Washington would look the other way when it came to human rights abuses in Haiti

Honduras

• Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon), “Merkley, Leahy, Durbin, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Tackle Corruption, Human Rights Violations in Honduras” (U.S. Senate, February 24, 2021).

The United States cannot remain silent in the face of deeply alarming corruption and human rights abuses being committed at the highest levels of the Honduran government

Mexico

• “Prosecutors Target Mexican Border State Governor” (Associated Press, ABC News, February 24, 2021).

The petition submitted to Congress against Gov. Francisco Cabeza de Vaca is supposed to be ratified by prosecutors on Thursday

• Kate Linthicum, “Mexico’s Ruling Party Is Divided as President Stands by a Candidate Accused of Rape” (The Los Angeles Times, February 24, 2021).

Salgado’s candidacy has become a major political liability for President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, who has stood by his longtime friend and political ally

• Kate Linthicum, “Mexico’s Ruling Party Is Divided as President Stands by a Candidate Accused of Rape” (The Los Angeles Times, February 24, 2021).

Salgado’s candidacy has become a major political liability for President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, who has stood by his longtime friend and political ally

• Andres Martinez-Fernandez, “Money Laundering and Corruption in Mexico: Confronting Threats to Prosperity, Security, and the Us-Mexico Relationship” (American Enterprise Institute, February 24, 2021).

Corruption in Mexico’s security forces is a key contributor to the sharp rise of organized criminal violence and severely handicaps US-Mexico security cooperation against drug cartels

Peru

• “Allanan las Oficinas y Domicilio del Jefe del Comando Conjunto de las Fuerzas Armadas del Peru” (Defensa.com (Spain), February 24, 2021).

De acuerdo al Ministerio Publico, la diligencia judicial fue ordenada debido a “la eexistencia de una presunta Organización Criminal denominada Los Mercenarios, la cual se encontraría enquistada en el Ejército Peruano operando desde el año 2013”

U.S.-Mexico Border

• “Southwest Border Security: Actions Are Needed to Address the Cost and Readiness Implications of Continued Dod Support to U.S. Customs and Border Protection” (U.S. Government Accountability Office, February 24, 2021).

DOD estimated that it would incur nearly $1 billion in unreimbursed costs by supporting DHS’s border security mission from fiscal year 2018 through fiscal year 2020.

• Silvia Foster-Frau, “First Migrant Facility for Children Opens Under Biden” (The Washington Post, February 24, 2021).

The majority of child migrant facilities are subject to state licensing requirements; temporary influx centers like Carrizo are not

• Zolan Kanno-Youngs, “Biden Takes on Trump’s Migrant Policies and Confusion Reigns at the Border” (The New York Times, February 24, 2021).

Biden Takes On Trump’s Migrant Policies and Confusion Reigns at the Border

• Nina Lakhani, “Eight-Year-Old Boy Dies as Migrants Risk Arctic Conditions to Cross River Into Us” (The Guardian, February 24, 2021).

The family was attempting to cross the river from Piedras Negras in the Mexican state of Coahuila to reach Eagle Pass, Texas, in frigid conditions

• “Un Agencies Begin Processing at Matamoros” (UN High Commissioner for Refugees, February 24, 2021).

Both governments have prioritized the Matamoros camp due to the difficult humanitarian conditions there. Other individuals with active MPP cases residing outside the Matamoros camp will also be processed

• Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-New York), “Wilson, Meeks, Jayapal, and Thompson Lead More Than 60 Members of Congress Calling for an End to Title 42 Expulsions” (U.S. House of Representatives, February 24, 2021).

The Biden administration need not and should not leave this to the courts. You have the power to halt these expulsions by repealing the Title 42 order, and you should use it as soon as practicable

• Priscilla Alvarez, Geneva Sands, “Biden Administration Is Relying on a Trump-Era Policy to Turn Away Migrants at Border” (CNN, February 24, 2021).

A pandemic-related order put in place by former President Donald Trump remains in effect, allowing officials to continue to turn away thousands of migrants

Venezuela

• “An del 6dic Pide Declarar Persona Non Grata a Embajadora de la Ue en Venezuela y Expulsarla del Pais” (Efecto Cocuyo (Venezuela), February 24, 2021).

El bloque comunitario europeo dio a conocer este 22 de febrero, nuevas medidas restrictivas

• Roison Figuera, “Defensores de Ddhh Registraron 99 Ataques en Enero de 2021” (Tal Cual (Venezuela), February 24, 2021).

De acuerdo a un reporte divulgado por el Centro para los Defensores y la Justicia los principales responsables de las agresiones contra ONG y defensores de DDHH fueron funcionarios públicos (40%), medios de comunicación oficialistas (29%), organismos de seguridad (19%) e instituciones públicas (7%)

• “Eeuu Cree Prioritario Fomentar Dialogo en Venezuela Que Levantar Sanciones” (Tal Cual (Venezuela), February 24, 2021).

Juan González, director senior de asuntos del Hemisferio Occidental y que forma parte del consejo de seguridad de la Casa Blanca, aseguró que la prioridad de EEUU no es el levantamiento de las sanciones a la administración de Nicolás Maduro sino de fomentar el diálogo

• Howard Lafranchi, “To Help Venezuela, Biden Is Urged to Put People Before Politics” (The Christian Science Monitor, February 24, 2021).

Mr. Reyna is part of a growing chorus of Venezuelan voices and regional experts calling on the United States to redirect its focus from pressing for a quick return to democratic rule to addressing a humanitarian crisis