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This report discusses the escape of Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman on July 11, 2015, from a maximum security federal prison near Mexico City.
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This report provides background information on the Zika virus, discusses challenges faced by governments and implementing partners in the Latin America and Caribbean region that are attempting to control the ongoing outbreak, and analyzes... more
This report provides background information on the Zika virus, discusses challenges faced by governments and implementing partners in the Latin America and Caribbean region that are attempting to control the ongoing outbreak, and analyzes these issues in the context of the U.S. Zika response.
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This report provides background on the Leahy laws, including a brief history of their legislative development; an overview guide to the standards and processes used to "vet"--that is, review and clear--foreign military and other... more
This report provides background on the Leahy laws, including a brief history of their legislative development; an overview guide to the standards and processes used to "vet"--that is, review and clear--foreign military and other security forces for gross violations of human rights; and a brief review of salient issues regarding the provisions of the laws and their implementation.
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This report briefly discusses Plan Colombia, a bilateral cooperation program aimed at improving Colombia's security and strengthening its democratic development.
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The United States has traditionally had close relations with Ecuador, yet tensions in the U.S.-Ecuador relationship have surfaced in recent years as the left leaning government of President Rafael Correa (2007-present) has objected to... more
The United States has traditionally had close relations with Ecuador, yet tensions in the U.S.-Ecuador relationship have surfaced in recent years as the left leaning government of President Rafael Correa (2007-present) has objected to U.S. influence in the region which it has labeled "imperialist." Nevertheless, the United States is Ecuador's largest trade partner and has extended trade preferences to Ecuador under the Andean Trade Preferences Act (ATPA) since the legislation's enactment in 1991. The ATPA provides unilateral preferential access to the U.S. market for certain products in order to reduce dependence on the illegal drug trade, although the Correa government in late June 2013 "renounced" its participation in the program. For additional information on the consideration of trade preferences for Ecuador under the Andean Trade Preferences Act by the 113th Congress, see CRS Report RS22548, ATPA Renewal: Background and Issues, by M. Angeles Villarre...
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Politics and government/International relations; Law and justice/International law; Law and justice/Law enforcement
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From the Document: The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is having widespread economic, social, and political effects on Latin America and the Caribbean, a region with strong congressional interest because of deep U S linkages... more
From the Document: The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is having widespread economic, social, and political effects on Latin America and the Caribbean, a region with strong congressional interest because of deep U S linkages As of June 18, 2020, the region has 1 8 million confirmed cases and over 86,000 deaths, with some countries experiencing a surge in deaths Brazil, Mexico, Peru, Ecuador, and Chile have the highest numbers of deaths in the region, and Brazil now has the highest number of deaths worldwide after the United States The rankings change in terms of per capita deaths--Ecuador has the highest number of recorded deaths per capita, followed by Peru, Brazil, Chile, and Mexico COVID-19 (Disease);Latin America;Caribbean;Epidemics
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This report discusses relations between the U.S. and Mexico following the escape and recapture of Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman from a maximum security federal prison near Mexico City in July 2015. One key concern for U.S.... more
This report discusses relations between the U.S. and Mexico following the escape and recapture of Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman from a maximum security federal prison near Mexico City in July 2015. One key concern for U.S. policymakers is whether the Mexican government will be able to hold Guzman securely in the same prison from which he escaped and then extradite him swiftly to the United States--a source of tension in U.S.-Mexican relations. Another is whether Guzman's recapture, which was supported by U.S. intelligence, will lead to closer security cooperation moving forward.
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This report examines the causes for the escalation of the violence in Mexico. It provides a brief overview of Mexico's counterdrug efforts, a description of the major drug trafficking organizations (DTOs), the causes and trends in the... more
This report examines the causes for the escalation of the violence in Mexico. It provides a brief overview of Mexico's counterdrug efforts, a description of the major drug trafficking organizations (DTOs), the causes and trends in the violence, the Calderon government's efforts to crackdown on the DTOs, and the objectives and implementation of the Merida Initiative and other measures the U.S. government has taken to support Mexico in its battle with the drug traffickers.
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This report discusses Ecuador's political and governmental structure (including the 2017 elections), economy, and their relationship with the U.S.
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This report provides background on drug trafficking in Mexico: it identifies the major drug trafficking organizations (DTOs); how the organized crime “landscape” has been altered by fragmentation; and analyzes the context, scope, and... more
This report provides background on drug trafficking in Mexico: it identifies the major drug trafficking organizations (DTOs); how the organized crime “landscape” has been altered by fragmentation; and analyzes the context, scope, and scale of the violence. It examines current trends of the violence, analyzes prospects for curbing violence in the future, and compares it with violence in Colombia.
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Politics and government/Foreign governments; Politics and government/International relations; Law and justice
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Borders and immigration/Border security; Law and justice/Law enforcement; Terrorism and threats/Narco-terrorism
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This report provides an overview of U.S. policy toward Latin America and the Caribbean, including the Obama Administration's priorities for U.S. policy and a brief comparison of policies under the Obama and Bush Administrations. It... more
This report provides an overview of U.S. policy toward Latin America and the Caribbean, including the Obama Administration's priorities for U.S. policy and a brief comparison of policies under the Obama and Bush Administrations. It then examines congressional interest in Latin America, first providing an overview, and then looking at selected countries and regional issues and identifying key policy issues facing Congress in 2012. The final section of the report analyzes several upcoming events in the region in 2012 that could have an impact on developments in several countries or on U.S. relations with the region.
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This report outlines Paraguay's governmental structure and leaders, economy, and relations between the United States and Paraguay.
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... The United States remains concerned about illegal activities in the loosely controlledtri-border region with neighboring Brazil and Argentina, such as money-laundering, drugs and arms trafficking, and trade in counterfeit and... more
... The United States remains concerned about illegal activities in the loosely controlledtri-border region with neighboring Brazil and Argentina, such as money-laundering, drugs and arms trafficking, and trade in counterfeit and contraband goods. ...
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... Times, August 22, 2008; Sibylla Brodzinsky, Is Colombia's Uribe pulling a Chavez on term limits?, Christian Science Monitor, September 2, 2009; Diana Delgado, Foreign ... In April 2007, Colombian police officer Jhon Frank... more
... Times, August 22, 2008; Sibylla Brodzinsky, Is Colombia's Uribe pulling a Chavez on term limits?, Christian Science Monitor, September 2, 2009; Diana Delgado, Foreign ... In April 2007, Colombian police officer Jhon Frank Pinchao escaped after eight years in FARC custody. ...
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... Times, August 22, 2008; Sibylla Brodzinsky, Is Colombia's Uribe pulling a Chavez on term limits?, Christian Science Monitor, September 2, 2009; Diana Delgado, Foreign ... In April 2007, Colombian police officer Jhon Frank... more
... Times, August 22, 2008; Sibylla Brodzinsky, Is Colombia's Uribe pulling a Chavez on term limits?, Christian Science Monitor, September 2, 2009; Diana Delgado, Foreign ... In April 2007, Colombian police officer Jhon Frank Pinchao escaped after eight years in FARC custody. ...