Trump confirms request to send U.S. troops into Mexico
May 5, 2025
On Sunday, U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed that a phone call on April 16 included a request to have Mexico allow U.S. troops to enter its territory to help fight drug cartels. The 45-minute long call, held on April 16, was focused mainly on border and security issues, with explicit attention paid to the powerful cartels that operate in Mexico. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum firmly rejected the request, claiming that “sovereignty is not for sale.” There has been increased U.S. military presence at the border over the past months, as part of a Trump administration effort to further halt drug trafficking primarily carried out by the cartels.
(Wall Street Journal, Reuters, AP News, New York Times)
Venezuela
The government of Venezuela “categorically” rejected a ruling from the UN’s International Court of Justice which ordered Venezuela to halt elections in the Essequibo region, a territory disputed by both Venezuela and Guyana, reports AP News. Venezuela plans to hold elections for a regional governor and other officials on May 25.
In Americas Quarterly, Brian Fonseca argues for continued and deepened engagement by the Trump administration in the U.S. with Maduro, claiming that “the U.S. currently lacks meaningful leverage to hold Maduro accountable—leverage that will more likely be gained through strategic engagement rather than continued isolation.”
Colombia
The withdrawal of U.S. support for Colombia, particularly in economic terms, threatens the fragile peace agreement signed between the government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), explains the New York Times. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) had been one of the major financial backers of the peace plan through related alternative economic development projects.
The 33rd Front, a dissident FARC faction, agreed to concentrate their fighters in a so-called Temporary-Location Zone (ZUT) as part of negotiation efforts with the Colombian government to halt the violence in the Catatumbo region, says Colombia Reports.
Nicaragua
Nicaragua will withdraw from the UN Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), reports AP News, following UNESCO awarding a press freedom prize to Nicaraguan news outlet La Prensa, which often criticizes the Ortega administration.
Migration
A New York Times article highlights the plight of Venezuelan migrants who are stuck in Mexico, unable to enter the United States nor return home. The nearly 3,000 Venezuelans in Tapachula lack passports and paperwork, leaving them stranded in the city without the means to work or travel.
According to UNHCR, “Mexico processed 40% more asylum applications in 2024 than the previous year, with nearly 80,000 received.” (EFE, via Americas Migration Brief)
El Salvador
In a New York Times op-ed, El Faro editor Nelson Rauda Zablah summarizes the dangers of Nayib Bukele’s presidency, emphasizing the suspension of human rights under the ongoing state of exception, Bukele’s control of the legislature and judiciary, and censorship of media outlets.
Argentina
The 2025 World Press Freedom Index, published by Reports without Borders, denotes deteriorating freedom of the press under President Javier Milei, whose administration has overseen “insults, defamation, and threats…toward journalists and media critical of his regime.” Argentina dropped 47 positions since Milei took office, and now ranks 87th out of 180 countries.
Brazil
As he left the hospital after a three-week stay for abdominal surgery, former President Jair Bolsonaro once again called for amnesty for his supporters who had been jailed for storming government buildings in January 2023 following Bolsonaro’s electoral loss, reports Reuters.
The Washington Post sat down with Bolsonaro for an exclusive interview, in which the former president discussed the potential of a years-long prison sentence and explained his support for Trump in the U.S., among other topics.
A Time article written by Justin Worland argues that Brazil’s electricity system, and particularly its clean energy infrastructure, makes the country especially attractive for artificial intelligence (AI) investors.
According to AP News, hours before a free Lady Gaga concert in Rio de Janeiro, Brazilian police arrested two suspects who allegedly planned to detonate explosives at the venue. Authorities indicated that the attack was hate-motivated and was intended to harm Brazil’s LGBTQ+ community.
Latin America
Financial Times makes note of the right-ward trend sweeping across Latin America, the only region where traditional right-wing political forces are increasing in popularity and in political representation.
Haiti
Weekend protests in Haiti called for the resignation of the country’s prime minister and transitional presidential council, claiming the government is not doing enough to end the gang violence plaguing the country, reports AP News.
Chile
There are 1.6 million migrants in Chile, according to the 2024 census (Americas Migration Brief). 42% of migrants are Venezuelan, 15% Peruvian, and 12% Colombian.