Latin America Report

Miami's fixated on Biden's Cuba moves — but his Venezuela move matters, too. May 24, 2022

President Biden's Cuba policy changes got wall-to-wall South Florida coverage last week. His Venezuela move, not so much — but it could be just as consequential.

Bitcoin boosters see Latin America as 'cryptopia.' Does the idea have any currency? May 03, 2022

El Salvador wants to build Bitcoin City; Cuba hopes to skirt the U.S. trade embargo. But so far Latin America looks like anything but a cryptocurrency utopia.

The controversial sale of Miami's Radio Caracol halts — but the controversy doesn't Apr 26, 2022

Cuban and Latino Democrats scored a rare victory in their effort to counter right-wing Spanish-language radio in Miami. But is it really the win they hope for?

Iguanacorn Dreams: Miami's upstart tech joins Latin America's tech startups Apr 12, 2022

Tech startups are helping Latin America's battered economy recover from the pandemic — and Miami's aspiring tech economy is helping them get that done.

Miami's International Queer Tango Festival invites LGBTQ dancers to the milonga Apr 05, 2022

After years of feeling excluded from the elegant Argentine dance, gay and trans partners are bringing more creativity to its traditionally male and female roles.

Being a republic would be symbolism for Jamaica — but powerful enough to change it? Mar 29, 2022

Britain's queen is a figurehead in Jamaica, but could the psychological effect of dumping her as the Caribbean island's head of state put it on a more developed path?

New year, new elections in Latin America and the Caribbean. Will the left roll on in 2022? Jan 04, 2022

In 2021, leftists won presidencies in every Latin American election but one, including Peru and Chile. In 2022, they could take Brazil and Colombia too. Why?

Protest, pandemic, Haitian tailspin: a look at 2021 in Latin America and the Caribbean Dec 28, 2021

The good news in Latin America and the Caribbean: much of the region turned vaccination tragedy into triumph. The bad news? Just about everything else.

Las Posadas tradition returns to Homestead as a community rises from the pandemic Dec 14, 2021

The traditional Christmas procession festival, cancelled last year by COVID-19, is an expression of Mexican and Latino identity — and, lately, an immigration statement.

FARC Fight: Biden learns — again — that South Florida is a Latin America policy minefield Dec 07, 2021

Biden's decision to remove Colombian guerrillas from the U.S. terrorist list sparks a new disinformation spree in Florida — and more Latino lessons for Democrats.

Honduras looks set for its first woman president. What could it mean for immigration? Nov 30, 2021

Leftist Xiomara Castro is routing her conservative rival in the vote tally for Sunday's election. Can she improve Hondurans' lives — and stem migration to the U.S.?

U.S. diplomat helping Haiti rebuild its police: elites tied to gangs are 'on notice' Nov 23, 2021

Assistant Secretary of State Todd Robinson has the daunting task of helping Haitians restore their collapsed security — so they can restore their collapsed country.

Feid-ing in: Colombia, Latin America are riding a wave of protests — and protest music Nov 19, 2021

This is the second of two reports on a potent new synergy between protests and protest music in Latin America, from Cuba to Colombia, San Juan to Santiago.

'Patria y Vida,' up for a Latin Grammy, leads a protest music boom in Latin America Nov 16, 2021

This is the first of two reports on a potent new synergy between protests and protest music in Latin America — from Cuba to Colombia, from San Juan to Santiago.

Cubanía Calling: 'Picturing Cuba' is a thorough look at Cuban art — and identity Nov 12, 2021

Florida International University Cuban Research Institute head Jorge Duany has put together one of the few (if only) comprehensive Cuban art histories. It will be featured at the Miami Book Fair.

Abortion-rights advocates hope a video campaign can help tip Colombia's court Oct 26, 2021

Colombia's Constitutional Court is expected to rule in the coming weeks on whether to legalize abortion. Can social media sway justices, as well as public opinion?

Why Alex Saab's extradition to Miami threatens Venezuela's kleptocracy in Caracas Oct 19, 2021

Alex Saab — Venezuela's alleged money-laundering master — could turn up the heat on Nicolás Maduro's authoritarian regime if he sings to U.S. officials.

'Sea of dreams.' Guyana's prime minister addresses its oil boom — and its Venezuela crisis Oct 12, 2021

Prime Minister Mark Phillips sees no contradiction in Guyana being both a fossil-fuel leader and a climate-change mitigator. But will Venezuela try to grab its oil?

Cuba's exporting vaccines, but will countries import them without WHO approval? Oct 05, 2021

Cuba has started selling its COVID-19 vaccines abroad. It insists its trials show they're safe and effective — so why hasn't the World Health Organization said so too?

Civil Society Solution: Can Non-Governmental Groups Fix Haiti's Governmental Crisis? Oct 04, 2021

With Haiti's government, economy and public security in collapse, "civil society" organizations propose a reboot of their democracy. Will the U.S. buy into it?

Venezuelans Say Most Of Guyana Is Theirs. Guyanese Call That A 'Jumbie' Story Sep 14, 2021

Venezuela's regime and opposition are repeating a century-old claim that three-fourths of Guyana belongs to their country. Is it valid — or nationalist nonsense?

Photographic Memory: Gentile's 'Wait For Me' Recalls 1980s Central America Conflicts Sep 07, 2021

In an interview about his memoir, acclaimed photojournalist Bill Gentile discusses how aggressively but sensitively war and conflict need to be covered.

'We Have Nothing.' Earthquake Aid Arriving — Slowly — In Haiti's Desperate Communities Aug 31, 2021

The remoteness of Haiti's southwest peninsula has made humanitarian aid delivery difficult, after the Aug. 14 earthquake. Is a new approach helping?

'We Know Haiti.' After 2010 Debacle, Diaspora Wants Bigger Earthquake Aid Role Aug 24, 2021

After Haiti's epic 2010 earthquake, Haitians were largely shut out of the international relief effort. Haitian-Americans want to change that in 2021.

Vaccine Tourist Season: How South Florida Became A Shot In The Arm For Colombia Aug 10, 2021

Last winter, vaccine tourism was frowned on — but this summer developing countries like Colombia realize it actually aided their own fledgling vaccination efforts.

Why The Cuban Regime's Post-Protest Crackdown Isn't Surprising — And Yet It Is Aug 03, 2021

Cuba's dictatorship always claimed anti-regime protesters weren't "the Cuban people." This time it can't, which makes its harsh response look more deplorable to Cubans and the international community.

Change In The Caribbean: A New PM In Haiti — And A New Protest Paradigm In Cuba? Jul 20, 2021

Haiti's prime minister says he'll step down to make way for a new post-assassination government — and Cuban dissidents insist anti-regime protests are far from over.

Moïse Assassination Leads Diaspora To Question Its Involvement In Haitian Politics Jul 13, 2021

Many expats feel their economic contribution to Haiti merits political clout, too. But the murder of Haiti's president may prompt a reality check for the diaspora.

Elsa Not As Destructive To Caribbean As Feared — But Raises Specter Of Earlier Hurricanes Jul 06, 2021

As Tropical Storm Elsa churns out of the Caribbean toward Florida, it leaves the realization that earlier and later storm activity may be the trend.

Rage And Reggaetón In Colombia: J Balvin Documentary Ponders An Artist's Duty Jun 22, 2021

In "The Boy From Medellín," superstar J Balvin must find his social voice as Colombian street protests erupt before the biggest show of his life — in his hometown.

Report Spotlights 'Under-the-Radar' Spanish-Language Radio Disinformation In Miami Jun 08, 2021

An examination of falsehoods aired by Miami's Spanish-language stations after January's Capitol riot raises larger questions about their corrosive effects.

Growing Desperation Forces Record Number Of Venezuelans To Cross U.S. Border Jun 03, 2021

As doors close to them in South America – and as they misconstrue TPS in the U.S. – Venezuelan refugees are flocking to the U.S.-Mexico border and South Florida.

Guaidó Gambit 2.0: Exiles Wrestle With Venezuelan Leader's Negotiation Tack May 25, 2021

Expats have long insisted negotiating with Venezuela's dictatorial regime is tantamount to surrender. Reality is forcing a growing number of them to reconsider it.

In South Florida, Colombia's Turmoil Morphs (Again) Into 'Socialismo' Scare May 18, 2021

Colombia's social unrest is rooted in Latin America's crushing economic inequality — but in Florida, the GOP scores bigger points by falsely blaming it on Marxism.

Rise In Deportations Spawns Effort To Aid Deportees Struggling In Haiti May 05, 2021

For an increasing number of Haitian deportees, Haiti is actually an unfamiliar — and seemingly unfriendly — country. A group called DipsOrg hopes to change that.

Why The Sale Of A Miami Radio Station Has Set Off A National Alarm For Democrats Apr 27, 2021

Radio Caracol is one of Miami's rare moderate Spanish-language stations. Democrats fear a new owner will use it to broadcast more right-wing disinformation.

Communist Congress Leaves Cuba Castro-less At The Top. Little Else Changes Apr 26, 2021

Raúl Castro has stepped down as Cuba's communist boss — but the regime's old guard's still making sure the new guard keeps its rigid system intact.

Why Florida's Republican Power Grabs Remind Some Critics Of Venezuela's Socialist Regime Apr 12, 2021

Some political experts say Florida's efforts to usurp local government authority are uncomfortably reminiscent of the late strongman Hugo Chávez's playbook.

A Brutal Story We Missed? New Film Recalls Obscure Chapter Of Guatemala Genocide Mar 22, 2021

The Guatemalan film "1991," which just premiered in Miami, recalls horrific — but lesser known — racist violence that stalked the country's streets during its civil war.

There's A New Push To Make Puerto Rico A State. Thanks To The State Of Florida's Pull? Mar 10, 2021

Florida's large and more recently arrived diaspora is a key force driving the new — and potentially successful — Puerto Rican statehood effort in Washington.

Why Biden Granted Venezuelans TPS — And What It Means For South Florida Mar 09, 2021

On Monday, because of the terrible humanitarian crisis in Venezuela, President Biden granted Venezuelans currently living in the U.S. Temporary Protected Status, or TPS. It means more than 300,000 eligible Venezuelans, most of whom are here in South Florida, can live and work legally in the U.S. for 18 months. After that time, TPS can and likely will be renewed.

Moïse Refusal to Exit Locks Haiti – And Haiti's Diaspora – In Constitutional Crisis Mar 01, 2021

With Haiti in economic and security collapse, President Jovenel Moïse's increasingly authoritarian rule is a point of bitter debate in the country – and South Florida.

America's Vaccine Rollout May Be Dysfunctional, But Latin America's Is Disastrous Feb 22, 2021

Due to limited resources, delayed start-ups, chronic shortages — and official scandals — only a fraction of Latin America and the Caribbean has been inoculated.

Mardi Gras Mix: Documentary Trumpets New Orleans' — And America's — Debt To Haiti Feb 16, 2021

On Mardi Gras, 'Kanaval' host Leyla McCalla talks about the rich cultural connection between New Orleans music — meaning, really, American music — and Haiti.

Vaccine Race: COVAX Launching Millions Of Doses For Latin America And Caribbean Feb 09, 2021

A leader of the global COVID vaccine procurement mission acknowledges the pandemic disaster in Latin America and the Caribbean is its "greatest priority."

Venezuela Crisis Not Going Away — But What Can Biden (And Exiles) Do Now? Feb 01, 2021

President Trump built diplomatic leverage on Venezuela, then lost it. President Biden can get it back — but Venezuelan exiles need to adjust expectations.

Trump's Deportation Suspension Both Gratifies And Galls South Florida Venezuelans Jan 26, 2021

Venezuelan exiles were happy to see President Trump finally grant their community relief from deportation — but many are angry he didn't order it years ago.

Both Sides In Cuba Debate Agree: Biden's Engagement With The Island Won't Be Obama's Jan 19, 2021

When Joe Biden becomes president this week, Florida politics will compel him to engage both sides of the Cuban-American street before he engages Cuba.

Cuba's Fledgling Entrepreneurs Are Determined To Survive The Island's Currency Chaos Jan 12, 2021

Cuentapropistas, or private Cuban business owners like Marta Deus are under threat but "getting strategic." They're convinced they're the island's economic future.

Cuba Starts 'Monetary Ordering.' But Will Cubans See More Economic Chaos? Jan 04, 2021

As Cuba unifies its two currencies, ordinary Cubans brace for skyrocketing prices — with still no structural reform of the island's failed economic system.

Latin America And The Caribbean 2020: From COVID-19 Devastation To Cuban Artist Defiance Dec 28, 2020

As if the region's coronavirus catastrophe wasn't enough, 2020 heaped human rights crises and historic hurricanes on Latin America and the Caribbean too.

Cuban Artists Are Captivating The World. But Can They Challenge The Regime? Dec 07, 2020

Artists' sudden, stunning push for free speech and expression in Cuba is resonating with ordinary citizens in ways authorities have rarely seen.

Venezuela's Holding Elections Sunday — Most Of The World's Dismissing Them Nov 30, 2020

Venezuelan exile journalist Francisco Poleo explains why his country's political opposition — and most of the world — refuse to legitimize this Sunday's vote.

What Eta and Iota Tell Us About The Hurricane Future In Latin America And The Caribbean Nov 23, 2020

The strongest storms ever to form so late, and so far south, in the Caribbean could force us to revise our expectations about hurricanes in this part of the world.

'Black Superhero': Toussaint Louverture Biography An 'Opening' To Historic Haiti Revolt Nov 16, 2020

Sudhir Hazareesingh's "Black Spartacus" illuminates the remarkable Haitian liberator Toussaint Louverture — and the universal importance of the revolution he led.

To Reclaim Florida, Democrats Must Reimagine Who Florida Latinos Are Nov 10, 2020

Joe Biden's decisive defeat in Florida reflected a big underperformance with Latino voters — whom critics say Democrats still take for granted and misread.

Trump And Haitians: He Said He'd Be Their Champ. Many Now Feel Like Chumps. Oct 27, 2020

Donald Trump won a surprising number of Haitian-American votes in 2016. But since then he's burned a lot of bridges to Little Haiti. Will it burn him next week?

Toro Time: Did 'Bidenistas' Take The 'Socialista' Bull By The Horns In Florida? Oct 12, 2020

Biden and his campaign didn't take the GOP's "socialista" attacks seriously enough. On-the-ground Latino activists did. It may help him win Florida.

Why Are So Many Latinos Obsessed With Demonizing Black Lives Matter? It's Complicated. Oct 05, 2020

Many Latinos who back President Trump bring the racial — and racist — complexities of Latin America to their attacks on the racial justice movement.

Is Colombia Interfering In The U.S. Election In Florida – With Tactics It Exported To Florida? Sep 28, 2020

Critics say Colombian elected officials are increasingly involved in — and helped create — President Trump's 'socialismo' scare campaign against Joe Biden.

Venezuelan Medical Workers Dying Of COVID-19 At Alarming Rate. How Can The World Get PPE To Them? Sep 14, 2020

A third of Venezuela's reported COVID deaths are frontline healthcare workers. Efforts are underway to protect them – but the regime may block the help.

Is The Western Hemisphere's Most Important Development Bank Headed For A Radical Change? Sep 07, 2020

As the Inter-American Development Bank prepares to help Latin America rebuild post-COVID, will an American take over, breaking one of its core traditions?

Why A Proposal To Rename A Miami Street For A Former Colombian President Is So Controversial Aug 31, 2020

Supporters of former Colombian President Alvaro Uribe want Miami-Dade County to honor him. Critics say it would honor a human rights violator.

Calling Colombians: With Florida In Play, Trump And Biden Reach Out To A Latino 'Sleeping Elephant' Aug 24, 2020

Florida's large Colombian community never got much attention from U.S. presidential candidates. Until now.

Marriage Punishment: U.S. Citizens Wed To Immigrants Fight For Federal Benefits Trump Denied Them Aug 17, 2020

The White House created a rule that denies pandemic economic relief to U.S. citizens married to non-citizens. They're now hoping Sen. Marco Rubio can break it.

As COVID-19 Ravages Latin America, Expat Families Confront 'Appalling' Tragedies Aug 10, 2020

Controversial coronavirus deaths like Carlos Henríquez's in El Salvador leave Latin American relatives in the U.S. feeling increasingly helpless.

Venezuela's Health System Was Already Destroyed. Now Comes The COVID Calamity? Jul 27, 2020

(This story was updated July 28 at 3:30 pm)

Cuban Sandwich Saga: Hialeah Native Stars In Popular 'Hamilton' Parody 'Jamónton' Jul 20, 2020

You've no doubt heard of the smash-hit Broadway musical “Hamilton.” But you probably don't know the saga of Alejandro Jamónton – the founding father who brought the Cuban sandwich to America:

Expats Ask: Is Trump's Venezuela Campaign 'Under Control' Or Under Chaos? Jul 13, 2020

Last Friday President Trump flew in for a visit to Doral.

Small Uruguay Is Big Proof That Committing To Public Health Can Contain COVID-19 Jul 06, 2020

Uruguay has recorded the lowest number of COVID-19 cases and deaths per capita in South America, if not the entire western hemisphere. The small but progressive country has done that despite sitting right next door to Brazil – which has the world’s second-highest number of COVID-19 infections and fatalities behind the U.S.

Mora Stepping Down As FIU's Latin America Director; Bridged Academia, Policy Jun 29, 2020

Seven years ago, Miami native Frank Mora left the Pentagon and came home to take over Florida International University’s Kimberly Green Latin American and Caribbean Center, or LACC. Since then, Mora has turned the center into a more nationally important forum of conversation on Latin America.

Venezuela's Dark Laundering Loop: Saab Nabbed, Bagley Pleads Guilty, Maduro Sweats Jun 22, 2020

Ten days ago, Colombian businessman Alex Saab was arrested in Cape Verde, an island republic off Africa’s west coast, as his private jet was refueling. Saab is wanted in the U.S. on money-laundering charges involving hundreds of millions of dollars – but his detention in Cape Verde and his possible extradition to Miami carry big political stakes in Venezuela.

Do Latin American Expats Consider Trump A Democracy Crusader Or Dictatorial Caudillo? Jun 15, 2020

In one of the most controversial moments of one of America’s most controversial presidencies, Donald Trump this month sent National Guard troops to Washington's D.C.'s Lafayette Square, near the White House. Pepper spray was fired to disperse what videos show were largely peaceful protesters demonstrating against police brutality and racism.

Aid In The Time Of COVID: Young Latino, Caribbean Expats Help Their Native Countries Jun 08, 2020

Col5Vid – a Spanish pun that stands for Colombia Sin COVID, or Colombia Without COVID-19 – is one of Colombia’s most dynamic new charity groups. But Col5Vid's founder admits the idea wasn’t born at a board room table – but on a bedroom sofa.

Carmen Question: A Politically Correct Venezuelan Exile – Or A Chavista Fraud? Jun 01, 2020

They're a familiar sight and sound in South Florida’s Venezuelan community: videos of exiles defending themselves against accusations that they’re “Chavistas," or sympathizers of Venezuela’s authoritarian socialist regime, a government despised by almost every expat here.

Cocaine Comeback: New Book Warns Drug Is More Plentiful – And Destructive – Than Ever May 26, 2020

In South Florida we tend to think of the golden age of cocaine (if it can be called that) as the 1980s – iconic Colombian drug lords like Pablo Escobar and cocaine cowboys marauding through Miami. But according to British-American journalist Toby Muse, cocaine's real golden age is…today.

Tico Triumph? How Little Costa Rica Beat Back A Giant Coronavirus Pandemic May 11, 2020

Like so many doctors around the world, pediatric surgeon Roberto Herrera was exposed to the new coronavirus back in early March.

Expats: Ecuador's COVID-19 Meltdown Is A Warning For Americans Too Apr 28, 2020

No country in Latin America and the Caribbean has been hit as hard by the new coronavirus as Ecuador. Brazil, a far larger country, may have more COVID-19 cases; but Ecuador’s death toll is thought to be twice as high as Brazil’s. And no place in Ecuador has suffered as terribly as the port city of Guayaquil.

COVID Cold War: Trump And Cuba Tout Their Coronavirus Meds. But Do Scientists? Apr 20, 2020

In Washington this month, President Trump announced the U.S. had just “bought a tremendous amount of hydroxychloroquine.” That’s the anti-malaria drug he insists is the most promising treatment for the new coronavirus, or COVID-19. "A game-changer,” the conservative leader likes to say.

No Longer Immune? Latin America & Caribbean See Significant Rise In COVID-19 Cases Apr 13, 2020

Until this month, it looked like Latin America and the Caribbean might be spared the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Then the world saw the tragic images from Ecuador of a sudden and overwhelming number of deaths from the new coronavirus – of corpses lining the sidewalks in the port city of Guayaquil. Meanwhile, the number of cases in Brazil is doubling or tripling every week – and so are the number of deaths.

Undocumented Migrants: If We're 'Essential' Workers During COVID-19, Why Detain Us? Apr 07, 2020

The federal government has designated farm workers as "essential" to the U.S. food supply chain during the COVID-19 crisis. Ironically, about two-thirds of U.S. farm workers are undocumented immigrants from Latin America. Either way, they do most of our food picking and processing, especially in Florida.

U.S. Sanctions And Coronavirus: Why Aid Offers To North Korea, But Not To Cuba? Mar 31, 2020

Last week, we asked if the U.S. should loosen economic sanctions against countries during grave crises like the new coronavirus. We considered Venezuela; this week we look at Cuba — and U.S. sanctions against its communist regime.

In Crises Like COVID-19, Should U.S. Ease Sanctions On Countries Like Venezuela? Mar 23, 2020

Since COVID-19 is a global pandemic, more Americans are asking a relevant question: In life-and-death emergencies like this, should the U.S. loosen economic sanctions against countries like Cuba, Iran – and especially Venezuela?

In Coronavirus Storm, Latin America & Caribbean A Sea Of Relative Calm. Will It Last? Mar 10, 2020

When São Paulo, Brazil, reported Latin America’s first case of the new coronavirus last month, South Florida had reason to worry.

Trump SuperPAC: President Confronts LatAm Dictators; Sanders 'Underwater' In Florida Mar 02, 2020

Since taking office, President Trump has worked to gain more Latino support in Florida by casting his rival Democrats as socialists – like the regimes in Cuba and Venezuela. Last week, WLRN talked to the Democratic SuperPAC Priorities U.S.A. about the Trump's strategy. They claim it’s the President who resembles Latin American dictators.

Florida #CaudilloDay Creator Defends Trump-Dictator Comparisons, But Quiet On Sanders? Feb 24, 2020

Last week, the Democratic Super PAC Priorities U.S.A. launched a social media ad campaign that's created a lot of buzz in South Florida.

Colombia's Upcoming Abortion Ruling Could Have A Big Impact On Latin America Feb 17, 2020

Colombia’s highest court is about to issue a ruling that could return the country to a total ban on abortion – or bring it in line with Roe v. Wade, the decision that legalized abortion in the U.S. Either way, because Colombia is one of the region's largest and more culturally influential countries, the decision could have a profound effect on abortion rights in Latin America.

Award-Winning LGBTQ Film From Guatemala Here This Week. Why Its Star Isn't Feb 10, 2020

“José” is an award winning film from Guatemala about a young gay man’s struggles to find love in a socially conservative, homophobic society. “José” opens this Friday in South Florida theaters. But its star, Guatemalan actor Enrique Salanic, won't be here for the film's American premiere, as he'd hoped. That's because the U.S. has denied Salanic a visa to enter the country.

Guaidó Game Plan: Did World Tour Revive Stalled Quest To Oust Venezuelan Regime? Feb 03, 2020

Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaidó rallied Venezuelan expats on Saturday at the Miami Airport Convention Center, an event that marked the end of a two-week world tour that included Europe and Canada. The aim was to rekindle international support for his campaign to oust authoritarian Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, which started a year ago.

How Venezuelan Exiles Helped Expose 'Perfect Example' Of Maduro Regime Corruption Jan 27, 2020

Early last year, Bulgarian officials discovered almost $70 million had been transferred from Venezuela to a bank in their capital, Sofia.

Could El Salvador's Draconian Abortion Ban Become Part Of Florida's Debate? Jan 20, 2020

Two months ago, Democratic state Rep. Cindy Polo of Miami Lakes visited a prison in El Salvador. Polo met an inmate named Berta Margarita Arana, a Salvadoran woman serving eight years for attempting an abortion.

Ghost Flights, Terror Frights: Why Iran, Hezbollah 'Footprint' In Venezuela Matters Jan 13, 2020

In 2012, the Presidents of Venezuela and Iran met at the Miraflores Palace in Caracas. The bromance between Hugo Chávez and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad alarmed Washington, since Venezuela and Iran were (and still are) sworn enemies of the U.S. So Chávez had fun joking that Ahmadinejad had come to help him “fire large missiles” at America.

Haiti 10 Years After The Earthquake: Why So Little Recovery Progress In A Decade? Jan 06, 2020

Port-au-Prince was a canyon of crushed concrete and horrified screams as Jean Samson Edouard ran panicked and barefoot through the capital’s Carrefour-Feuilles district.

Latin America And The Caribbean 2019: From Fire In The Streets To Ire In The Skies Dec 30, 2019

It's hard to wrap your arms around everything that happened 2019 in Latin America and the Caribbean. It's even harder to find any good news — from the violent political unrest that rocked capitals from La Paz to Port-au-Prince, to a record number of fires that ravaged the Amazon rainforest.

How A Miami Bank Became HQ For Efforts That Led To Panama Invasion 30 Years Ago Dec 16, 2019

Thirty years ago this Friday – Dec. 20, 1989 – the U.S. invaded Panama. The main objective was to capture the Panamanian dictator, General Manuel Noriega, who was wanted in the U.S. for drug trafficking. The invasion also restored democracy in Panama.

Back To The U.S.-Cuba Future? New Animosities Raise Fears Relations May Be Severed Again Dec 02, 2019

Last month a big anniversary in the western hemisphere went largely unnoticed in the U.S.

The Elián Drama 20 Years After: Miami Judge Remembers The 'Hardest Decision' Nov 25, 2019

Twenty years ago this week, on Thanksgiving Day, a 5-year-old Cuban boy named Elián González was found floating on an inner tube in the Atlantic off Fort Lauderdale. His mother had taken him with her fleeing communist Cuba. She drowned. For the next seven months, Elián was the focus of a bizarre tug-of -war between his father in Cuba and his Cuban exile relatives in Miami – who wanted to keep Elián in the U.S.

The Immigration Crisis Falls On Her Doorstep. 'Where We Come From' Explores What Happens Next. Nov 18, 2019

Few issues dominate our politics today more passionately than immigration, but we rarely see the crisis on the U.S.-Mexico border dramatized in fiction. Now Texas author and border native Oscar Cásares has written what one critic calls a “quietly suspenseful” novel titled “Where We Come From.”

Lawsuit Confronts Venezuelan Witch-Hunt Campaigns – And Social Media Sites Nov 11, 2019

Two years ago, Levin de Grazia told WLRN he was the victim of a malicious online defamation campaign.

Venezuelan Venture: Immigrant Women Learn To Be Entrepreneurs In South Florida Nov 04, 2019

Of all the problems immigrants need to solve when they settle in the U.S., Yllis Hernandez faced the kind that so often leads to a business.

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