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1 1 (April 29, 2022)

handle is hein.crs/govehkp0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Con gre WionaI Research Sern/ce informing Ih leislaive deb)ate sne 1914 Updated April 29, 2022 Latin America and the Caribbean: U.S. Policy Overview The United States and neighboring Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) maintain strong linkages based on geographic proximity and diverse U.S. interests, including economic, political, and security concerns. The United States is a major trading partner and source of foreign investment for many of the 33 countries in LAC, with free- trade agreements enhancing economic linkages with 11 countries. The region is a large source of U.S. immigration, both authorized and irregular; major factors driving migration include proximity, economic and security conditions, natural disasters, and familial ties. Curbing the flow of illicit drugs has been a long-standing component of relations, involving close cooperation with Mexico, Colombia, Central America, and the Caribbean. U.S. Administrations have long supported democracy and human rights in the region, with a current focus on Cuba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela, as well as on democratic backsliding and corruption in other countries. Increasing Challenges in the Region Over the past several years, the quality of democracy has eroded in a number of countries in LAC, along with public satisfaction with how democracy is working. In addition to Venezuela, Cuba, and Nicaragua-all ruled by authoritarian governments repressing the political opposition-human rights groups have expressed concerns about democratic backsliding in several other countries. Many countries in LAC experienced social unrest in 2019, fueled by such political factors as weak democratic institutions, politicized judicial systems, corruption scandals, and high levels of crime and violence and by such economic factors as declining or stagnant economic growth and high levels of income inequality and poverty. Since 2020, the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has had widespread public health, economic, and political effects in LAC. As of late April 2022, the region reported nearly 1.7 million deaths (over 27% of deaths worldwide). According to the Pan American Health Organization, more than 66% of the region's population was fully vaccinated as of April 20, 2022. Nevertheless, in four Caribbean countries, less than 30% of the population was fully vaccinated and in eight other LAC countries, less than half was fully vaccinated. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) reported a 7.0% regional economic decline in 2020; as a result, poverty and inequality increased. Most LAC countries began to recover economically in 2021, with the IMF estimating a regional growth rate of 6.8% and projecting more modest growth of 2.5% in 2022. Nevertheless, many countries may struggle with protracted recoveries. The pandemic-related economic setback contributed to increased protests in LAC in 2020 and 2021. The region's economic decline, along with difficult security and political conditions, also has fueled migration. Russia's invasion of Ukraine is likely to affect LAC countries due to increased energy and food costs. The region faces numerous political challenges. In Venezuela, the ongoing political and humanitarian crisis under the government of Nicolis Maduro has resulted in an estimated 6 million migrants and is a challenge for the entire hemisphere. Haiti remains in turmoil after the July 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moise, contending with uncertainty over future elections, a surge in gang violence, and the aftermath of a severe earthquake that struck in August. In Nicaragua, President Daniel Ortega's government escalated repression ahead of the country's 2021 elections, in which Ortega claimed victory, and has continued repressing political opponents. In Cuba, the government's responded to widespread anti-government protests in July 2021 with mass arrests and detentions, and harsh sentences for hundreds of protestors. Biden Adminstration Policy In its initial months, the Biden Administration focused extensively on addressing the root causes of Central American migration. President Biden ended some of the Trump Administration's restrictive immigration policies, while contending with a large increase in the number of undocumented Central American and other migrants seeking to enter the United States. In July 2021, the Administration released two new strategies to address the underlying causes that push Central Americans to migrate and to manage migration in the region collaboratively. The Administration also has imposed targeted sanctions for corruption against dozens of current and former officials of the governments of Central America's Northern Triangle countries (El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras). The Administration also has fleshed out its broader approach toward the region. Its priorities include efforts to promote public health and economic recovery from the pandemic; to work with partners to promote inclusive democracy throughout the region; to provide support to address Haiti's humanitarian, security, and political challenges; and to engage more broadly with the region to address migration challenges as the Administration prepares to lift public health-related immigration restrictions imposed pursuant to Title 42 of the U.S. Code. To advance these and other initiatives, the Administration's budget requests for foreign assistance to LAC amounted to almost $2.1 billion for FY2022 and $2.4 billion for FY2023, respectively nearly 16% and 33% over the FY2021 enacted level. The Administration also is providing significant pandemic-related assistance to the region. As of late April 2022, the United States had donated over 66 million vaccine doses to 29 LAC countries. As of November 2021, the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development reported providing more than $614 million in aid to support the pandemic response.

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