US authorities recently arrested the brother of Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez. Juan Antonio “Tony” Hernandez was detained Friday on drug trafficking charges.
Last week, US authorities arrested two of former Panamanian president Ricardo Martinelli's sons, Ricardo Martinelli Linares and Luis Enrique Martinelli Linares, on immigration charges.The arrests would appear as a precursor to their deportation as the two men are wanted in Panama on corruption charges.
In order to better mange the movement of people throughout the hemisphere, the US and its partners need to move forward on drug reform and anti-corruption initiatives. Too many of the region's elites are tied up in the multi-billion dollar industry. Reforms are necessary to attack the root causes of violence in the region that are causing thousands to give up and leave.
As we learned over the weekend, the US does not need any more walls or troops on the border. Our southern border is more secure than ever. We need policies that work the reduce the number of people forced to migrate out of their communities and out of the region.
Category Archives: Panama
Family affairs in Panama and Honduras
US authorities recently arrested the brother of Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez. Juan Antonio “Tony” Hernandez was detained Friday on drug trafficking charges.
Last week, US authorities arrested two of former Panamanian president Ricardo Martinelli's sons, Ricardo Martinelli Linares and Luis Enrique Martinelli Linares, on immigration charges.The arrests would appear as a precursor to their deportation as the two men are wanted in Panama on corruption charges.
In order to better mange the movement of people throughout the hemisphere, the US and its partners need to move forward on drug reform and anti-corruption initiatives. Too many of the region's elites are tied up in the multi-billion dollar industry. Reforms are necessary to attack the root causes of violence in the region that are causing thousands to give up and leave.
As we learned over the weekend, the US does not need any more walls or troops on the border. Our southern border is more secure than ever. We need policies that work the reduce the number of people forced to migrate out of their communities and out of the region.
Last week, US authorities arrested two of former Panamanian president Ricardo Martinelli's sons, Ricardo Martinelli Linares and Luis Enrique Martinelli Linares, on immigration charges.The arrests would appear as a precursor to their deportation as the two men are wanted in Panama on corruption charges.
In order to better mange the movement of people throughout the hemisphere, the US and its partners need to move forward on drug reform and anti-corruption initiatives. Too many of the region's elites are tied up in the multi-billion dollar industry. Reforms are necessary to attack the root causes of violence in the region that are causing thousands to give up and leave.
As we learned over the weekend, the US does not need any more walls or troops on the border. Our southern border is more secure than ever. We need policies that work the reduce the number of people forced to migrate out of their communities and out of the region.
Cubans – lost in Panama
Mario Penton has an interesting story on what has happened to those Cubans stuck in Panama after the US and Cuba agreed to end the "wet foot, dry foot" policy. Once that policy ended, Cubans were no longer guaranteed entry and a path to citizenship should they make it to US shores.
And while Trump has undone some of Obama's deal with Cuba, he has not sought to reinstate "wet foot, dry foot" because that would
The Panamanian government offered to relocate 300 Cubans in the Cáritas shelter in Panama City to "a better place," a temporary shelter in Gualaca in western Panama. However, there was no promise what would happen to the Cubans once they moved to the new location. It was going to be a temporary move until the Panamanian government deported them, normalized their status in the country, or found a third country to accept them. Less than half took the government up on the offer and are instead now living in hiding throughout the country. The government has said they they will deport those who did not take them up on their offer to relocate.
The Panamanian government restricted immigration from Colombia, Venezuela, and Nicaragua after citizens complained that these migrants were responsible for increasing levels of crime. The May restrictions do not bode well for Cuban migrants.
Costa Rica 2007. Panama 2017. Who’s next in Taiwan-Beijing battle?
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| BBC |
Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen toured Central America earlier this year. She visited Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, and Nicaragua, four countries that still recognize the island.
The Guatemalan Foreign Minister had no comment on whether the country was considering making a change from Taiwan to Beijing - "We don't have an official position on this. It's a matter that concerns other countries." Honduras would not say anything publicly but, speaking on the condition of anonymity, a government source said that the country would maintain diplomatic and commercial ties with Taiwan.
It is somewhat surprising that the leftist governments in El Salvador and Nicaragua have yet to flip diplomatic recognition between Taiwan and Beijing. However, the region has been down this path before when Costa Rica switched its recognition in 2007.
For now, it looks as if Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador will continue to work with Taiwan through SICA (Taiwan is one of the largest financial contributors) and perhaps a new free trade agreement (not sure if there has been any movement since February).