Latin America
El Salvador’s Newest Maximum Security Prison, The Latest in Bukele’s Gang War
On Friday, Feb. 24, 2023, El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele announced Salvador’s newest maximum security prison: The Center for Confinement on Terrorism.
UN Investigation Finds Evidence of Crimes Against Humanity in Nicaragua
The Group of Human Rights Experts on Nicaragua, a three-body group of independent rights investigators, gave their first report on Thursday.
Argentina Becomes the New 'Birth Tourism' Destination for Russian Women
Over 10,500 pregnant Russian women have arrived in Argentina within the first year of the Russian-Ukrainian War.
Mexico’s Congress Curtails Election Agency’s Authority
Mexico’s Congress approved a bill that will reform the Instituto Nacional Electoral (INE), the country’s election agency.
Amnesty International report urges government to cease excessive use of force
Amnesty International reports that the Army and National Policy of Peru have unlawfully utilized lethal force indiscriminately against the population.
Peru’s President Castillo Fails a Coup Attempt
Peru narrowly avoided a constitutional crisis on Wednesday after former President Pedro Castillo attempted to take unilateral control of the government.
Negotiations For Peace in Colombia Commence
On Nov 21, peace talks between the Colombian government and rebel group National Liberation Army (ELN) began in Caracas, the capital of Venezuela.
Chevron to Resume Oil Pumping in Venezuela after Humanitarian Agreement is Reached
On Nov. 26, Nicolas Maduro's government and domestic opposition leaders met in Mexico City to discuss solutions for Venezuela's political and economic crises.
Federal Judge Ends Title 42’s Migrant Expulsion of Asylum Seekers
On Tuesday, US District Court Judge Emmet Sullivan blocked Title 42, an emergency regulation that allowed the expulsion of migrants due to threats of COVID-19.
Lula at COP-27. Promises “Zero Deforestation” by 2030.
Brazilian President-Elect Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva announced Brazil's promise to reach "zero deforestation" by 2030 in his speech at the COP-27 Climate Summit hosted in Egypt.
Can Lula Reunite Brazil?
After a tense month of campaigning in Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva was elected President a third time with 50.9 percent of the votes.
Supporters of Brazil’s Bolsonaro Call for a Military Coup
Brazil held a second round of presidential elections after no candidate won an outright majority in the first round on Oct. 2. The runoff race was between the incumbent far-right Jair Bolsonaro and leftist Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
Mexico and US Meet to Discuss Joint Climate Efforts
Mexico's president, Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO) announced US support for advancing Mexico’s Sonora Plan on Monday. The latest of Mexico’s climate initiatives aims to capitalize on the potential of sustainable energy capacity in the coastal city of Puerto Peñasco, in the state of Sonora.
El Salvadoran Crackdown on Gang Violence Leads to Prison Overcrowding
El Salvador’s crackdown on gang violence has resulted in over 55,000 arrests since March. As the number of detentions surges, the prison population has more than doubled.
Santa Cruz Initiates Indefinite Strike Against Bolivian Government Over Census
The city of Santa Cruz, Bolivia leveraged an indefinite strike against the federal government’s decision to delay an overdue population and housing census on Saturday. It is challenging the Bolivian Movement for Socialism (MAS) government’s decision to postpone the census until 2024.
Mexico’s Militarization of Public Security Accelerates
Last Friday, Mexico’s Chamber of Deputies voted to keep the military on the streets until 2028.
Guarulhos Airport in São Paulo Becomes a Provisory Camp for Afghans Escaping the Taliban Regime
Early last week, 181 Afghan migrants escaping the Taliban regime were forced to camp in Guarulhos Airport in São Paulo upon their arrival in Brazil.
Chile Rejects Proposed Constitution as Too Progressive
Thirty-two years have passed since Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet left office, but the constitution established during his rule is still in place. The main objective of the current administration, under President Gabriel Boric, has been to write a new one—a task completed one month ago. However, a surprisingly high 62 percent of Chilean voters rejected the proposal.
Attorney General Files Constitutional Complaint Against Peruvian President, Alleges Corruption Within Government
A little more than a year after taking office, Pedro Castillo, Peru’s president, faces a constitutional complaint filed by the country’s attorney general against him on Tuesday. “We have found very serious indications of a criminal organization that has taken roots in the government,” said Patricia Benavides, Peru’s top prosecutor, in a statement to congress.
Energy Crises Across the World Bring Gaze Back to Venezuela’s Oil Reserves
Amidst one of its worst energy crises, the United States is considering resuming oil pumping in Venezuela after years of imposing intense economic sanctions on the South American country. Though the deal is not yet finalized, the Biden administration has already established that this will only happen if Nicolás Maduro, the incumbent head of state of Venezuela, engages in talks with opposition parties to determine the necessary conditions to hold fair presidential elections in 2024.