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1 1 (May 17, 2021)

handle is hein.crs/govedij0001 and id is 1 raw text is: C ss. a) rc$erv ~ inc~h h~p~ I Updated May 17,2021 Latin America and the Caribbean: U.S. Policy Overview U.S. interests in Latin America and the Caribbean are diverse and includeeconomic, political, security, and humanitarian concerns. Geographic proximity has ensured strong economic linkages between the United States and the region, with the United States a major trading partner and source of foreign investmentformany countries. Free-trade agreements (FTAs) have augmented U.S. economic relations with 11 countries in the region. The region also is a large source of U.S. immigration, both authorized and unauthorized, with economic and security conditions being major factors driving migration trends. Curbing the flow of illicit drugs fromLatin America and the Caribbean has been a key component of U.S. relations with the region for decades. The flow of illicit drugs- including heroin, methamphetamine, and fentanyl from Mexico and cocaine fromColombia-poses risks to U.S. public health and safety. Since 2000, Colombia has received support through Plan Colombia and its successor programs. The United States also has sought to forge partnerships with other countries to combat drug trafficking and related violence and to advance citizen security, including through the Mdrida Initiative, begun in 2007 to support Mexico; the Central America Regional Security Initiative (CARSI), begun in 2008; and the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI), begun in 2009. Another long-standing component of U.S. policy has been support for strengthened democratic governance and the rule of law, including initiatives to strengthen civil society and promote human rights. Although many countries in the region have made strides in democratic political development, several face considerable challenges. Increasing Challenges in the Region Over the past several years, the quality of democracy has eroded in a number of countries, along with public s atis faction with how democracy is working. In addition to Venezuela, Cuba, and Nicaragua-allruled by authoritarian governments repressing the political oppo sition-human rights groups have expres sed concerns about democratic backsliding in severalcountries, including Brazil, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, and Peru. Many countries in the region experienced socialunrest in 2019 fueled by political factors, such as weak democratic institutions, politicized judicial systems, corruption scandals, andhigh levels of crime and violence. Economic factors, such as declining or stagnant growthrates and high levels of income inequality andpoverty, also increased social pressure. Since 2020, the Coronavirus Dis ease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has had widespread public health, economic, and political effects in the region. As of May 16, 2021, according to Johns Hopkins University, the region reported almost 982,000 deaths (29% of deaths worldwide), and https://crs repo vaccination rates remain low for many countries in the region. The InternationalMonetary Fund estimates a regional economic decline of 7% in 2020, with almost every country in reces sion. As a result, poverty and inequality have increased throughout the region, and many countries may struggle with protracted economic recoveries. The economic setback as sociated with the pandemic contributed to increased protests in the regionin late 2020 and early 2021. Beginning in late April2021, mass protests in Colombia against a pandemic-related tax reform turned into broader anti-government protests. Trump Administration Policy Under the Trump Administration, U.S. relations with Latin America and the Caribbean generally movedtoward amore confrontational approach, especially regarding efforts to curb irregular immigration from the region, compared with past Administrations' emphasis on partnership. From FY2018 to FY2021, the Trump Administration's proposed foreign aid budget requests would have cut as sistance to the region considerably, but Congress generally rejected those requests by providing significantly more assistance than requested. To deter increased unauthorized migration from Central America, the Adminis tration used a variety of immigration policy tools, as well as aid cuts and threats of increased U.S. tariffs and taxes on remittances. The Administration also imposed broad economic sanctions on Venezuela, which generally were supportedby Congress, and significantly increased s anctions on Cuba. According to Gallup and Pew Research Centerpolls, negativeviews of U.S. leadership in the region increased markedly during the Trump Administration. Biden Administration Policy Thus far, much ofthe Biden Administration's focus in the region has been on immigration and Central America. President Joe Biden has ended many of the previous Administration's restrictive immigration policies, while contending with a large increase in the number of undocumented Central American and Mexican migrants seeking to enterthe United States. TheAdministrationis preparing strategies to address therootcauses of Central American migration and has indicated that it intends to request $4 billion in as sistance to Central America over a four-yearperiod, including $861 million as part ofthe FY2022 foreign assistancebudget request. In March2021, President Biden tasked Vice President Kamala Harris with overseeing efforts with Central America and Mexico. On Venezuela, the Administration continues to pressure the government of Nicolas Maduro through sanctions but maintains that the United States is committed to working multilaterally to bring about areturnto democracy. In a shift from the previous Administration, the Secretary of

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