Central America

People marching in street with a Panamanian flag

Copper mine protests roil in Panama

The government approved a new contract with the mine late last week. Since then, protests have rippled across Panama, and people are afraid they could bring the country to a standstill.

Copper mine protests roil in Panama
The cover to "Solito" by Javier Zamora.

New memoir speaks to the trauma of migration and the potential for healing

New memoir speaks to the trauma of migration and the potential for healing
Harris at the podium in Guatemala on a diplomatic visit

Addressing migration requires long-term commitment, says analyst on Harris visit to Guatemala

Addressing migration requires long-term commitment, says analyst on Harris visit to Guatemala
Sergio Armas, a Nicaraguan immigrant living in San Francisco, built an altar to the Virgin Mary in the corner of his yard after the coronavirus pandemic hit.

Pandemic disrupts remittances, leaving immigrants' families without lifelines

Pandemic disrupts remittances, leaving immigrants' families without lifelines
Protesters around a flower wreath

Workers' movements advocate for rights on May Day; Saudi activists allege man killed over megacity plans; Doctors wait hours as Venezuela faces fuel shortages

Workers' movements advocate for rights on May Day; Saudi activists allege man killed over megacity plans; Doctors wait hours as Venezuela faces fuel shortages
Migrants are seen at temporary shelter in the village of La Penita, Panama, on August 23, 2019.

'We're dead here': Migrants stranded in Panama rainforest amid coronavirus

With borders closed and entire countries on lockdown because of the coronavirus pandemic, some 2,000 migrants — many of them children under age 5 — have been detained for months in Panama, near the rainforest separating South and Central America.

'We're dead here': Migrants stranded in Panama rainforest amid coronavirus
A worker wears a protective face mask works while cleaning the interior of a public bus, amid concerns over the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Guatemala City, Guatemala, March 15, 2020.

In Central America, efforts to slow spread of coronavirus could lead to 'autocratic tendencies'

While public health and medical workers worldwide agree on the urgency of the pandemic, human rights observers say they are becoming increasingly concerned with how some political leaders in Central America may use their emergency powers.

In Central America, efforts to slow spread of coronavirus could lead to 'autocratic tendencies'
Rainforest biotic pump

Rainforests are 'worth more alive than dead,' according to science — and economics

Earth’s rainforests are astonishingly biodiverse ecosystems that can drive the climates of faraway continents, but they’re disappearing in the name of the kind of economic development that values rainforests more when logged, mined, or turned into farmland. A new book argues that the world’s rainforests are most valuable when kept intact.

Rainforests are 'worth more alive than dead,' according to science — and economics
A female protester raises her fist as she takes part in a march to protest against the decision of Guatemala President Jimmy Morales to end the mandate of the UN-backed anti-graft commission, the CICIG, in Guatemala City, Guatemala, January 12, 2019.

Guatemala shut down its anti-corruption commission. Now its people worry about impunity.

President Jimmy Morales, who is under investigation, shut down Guatemala's popular anti-corruption commission. Now the country is embroiled in a battle over its legacy.

Guatemala shut down its anti-corruption commission. Now its people worry about impunity.
A woman and a young girl stand together on the banks of a river.

How Trump’s bilateral deals with Central America undermine the US asylum system

For the US, the deals with Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador to take back migrants are like a fortification, shielding the country from taking responsibility for people seeking international protection. They add yet another line of defense to other drastic measures the US has recently taken to keep them out.

How Trump’s bilateral deals with Central America undermine the US asylum system
A girl and a woman carry bags and have their back turned to the camera on a city street

Why it's harder to win asylum, even in New York

New York has long had one of the most favorable immigration courts in the nation for asylum-seekers, but the number of immigrants who are denied asylum has nearly doubled, as compared to four years ago.

Why it's harder to win asylum, even in New York
A woman stands in front of a banner reading "End Family Detention"

As Trump eyes more family detention, experts say it puts kids at risk

Doctors inspecting detention centers found problems with recruiting and retaining qualified pediatricians and mental health care providers, and a lack of access to emergency and specialty care, given the remote locations of most of the facilities.

As Trump eyes more family detention, experts say it puts kids at risk
child protesting in nicaragua

One year after Nicaraguan uprising, Ortega is back in control

A massive protest movement exploded across Nicaragua in April 2018, threatening to topple the country's authoritarian regime. What happened to Central America's "tropical spring?"

One year after Nicaraguan uprising, Ortega is back in control
A green military truck drives on a road.

State Dept. list of corrupt Central American government officials is a ‘sham,’ rep. says

After asking the US State Department for a list of corrupt government officials in Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala, some lawmakers are unimpressed with what they were given.

State Dept. list of corrupt Central American government officials is a ‘sham,’ rep. says
A sign says "Welcome to the United States" as cars line up underneath it

Trump administration 'seems disinclined to cooperate,' says former US ambassador to Mexico

The former US ambassador to Mexico says the Trump administration is "an administration that seems disinclined to cooperate."

Trump administration 'seems disinclined to cooperate,' says former US ambassador to Mexico