News Analysis

Why is Brazil’s Highway Police Suddenly Killing So Many People?

Under President Jair Bolsonaro, Brazil's highway police seems to have become a brutal instrument of death.

Memo Fantasma Freed from Colombian Prison

Guillermo León Acevedo Giraldo, alias "Memo Fantasma," has been granted his liberty from a maximum-security prison in Bogotá.

United States Suddenly Keen to See Guatemala Extradite Human Smugglers

A US request has led Guatemala to dismantle a prolific human smuggling ring that smuggled migrants to the United States.

Human Trafficking Victims Grow as Mexico Government Strategy Falters

Human trafficking appears on the rise in Mexico, with the government struggling to find a strategy forward.

How Colombia's Conflict Intensified Violence Against Women and the LGBTQI+ Community

Alejandra Miller of Colombia’s Truth Commission explained why women and LGBTIQ+ persons were disproportionately affected by the armed conflict.

Gang Killings of Bus Drivers Paralyzes Colombia’s Fourth City

A local gang targeted bus drivers in Barranquilla, Colombia, to gain attention ahead of the country's change in government.

The Rise of Haiti's Violent Rural Gangs

A rural gang is causing mayhem in northern Haiti, displaying tactics more commonly used by urban armed groups concentrated in…

‘Forgiveness’ and the Sticky Question of Justice in Mexico

Cartels like the Chapitos have asked for forgiveness from the Mexican people. Will it ever be given?…

Lobster Fishermen in Mexico's Yucatán Organize to Protect Their Catch

A Yucatán community has formed a defense group to protect its local lobster population as illegal fishing causes numbers to…

Police Murdered and Burning Courthouses: Haiti’s Judiciary Under Assault

The burning of a courthouse and murder of a police detective by one of Haiti's largest criminal gangs is furthering…

How COVID-19 Reshaped Cocaine and Marijuana Trafficking in Brazil 

Brazil’s cocaine and marijuana markets were affected very differently by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Brokers and US Banks: How Honduras’ Atlantic Cartel Laundered Millions

The case of a Honduran broker who laundered cartel money has shed light on the importance of US banks.