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1 1 (March 28, 2019)

handle is hein.crs/govxzk0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Congressional Research Service Informing the legislative debate since 1914 Updated March 28, 2019 Latin America and the Caribbean: U.S. Policy Overview U.S. interests in Latin America and the Caribbean are diverse and include economic, political, security, and humanitarian concerns. Geographic proximity has ensured strong economic linkages between the United States and the region, with the United States being a major trading partner and source of foreign investment for many Latin American and Caribbean countries. Free-trade agreements (FTAs) have augmented U.S. economic relations with 11 countries in the region. The Western Hemisphere is a large source of U.S. immigration, both legal and illegal; geographic proximity and economic and security conditions are major factors driving migration trends. Curbing the flow of illicit drugs from Latin America and the Caribbean has been a key component of U.S. relations with the region and a major interest of Congress for more than three decades. The flow of illicit drugs, including heroin, methamphetamine, and fentanyl from Mexico and cocaine from Colombia, poses risks to U.S. public health and safety. Colombia has received long-standing support through Plan Colombia and its successor programs. For over a decade, the United States has engaged in close partnerships to combat drug trafficking and related violence and advance citizen security: the M6rida Initiative began in 2007 to support Mexico; the Central America Regional Security Initiative (CARSI) began in 2008; and the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI) began in 2009. Although many countries in the region have made enormous strides in terms of democratic political development since the 1980s, several face considerable challenges. In Venezuela, undemocratic practices have risen significantly over the past several years under the authoritarian regime of Nicohis Maduro; the political and humanitarian crisis in the country has resulted in mass migration to neighboring countries. In Nicaragua, long- ruling President Daniel Ortega responded to protests and social unrest in 2018 with violent repression. Cuba remains under authoritarian rule, although the government transitioned to a new president, Miguel Dfaz-Canel, in 2018. High rates of crime and violence afflict a number of countries; in some, journalists and human rights and environmental activists have been targeted. High-profile corruption scandals have stirred strong anti-corruption sentiment throughout the region and helped to fuel the election of populist presidents from the left and right, respectively, in Mexico (Andr6s Manuel L6pez Obrador) and Brazil (Jair Bolsonaro). Trump Administration Policy Under the Trump Administration, the outlook for U.S. relations with Latin America and the Caribbean has changed. In February 2018, the State Department set forth a framework for U.S. policy toward the region focused on three pillars for engagement-economic growth and prosperity, security, and democratic governance. Although the framework reflects continuity with long-standing U.S. policy priorities for the region, it also appears to be at odds with the Administration's actions, sometimes accompanied by tough rhetoric, on foreign aid, trade, and immigration. The Administration's proposed foreign aid budgets for FY2018 and FY2019 would have significantly cut assistance to the region by more than a third; the FY2020 proposed budget request also would cut funding to the region by about 30%. Negative views of U.S. leadership in the region have increased markedly since 2017, influenced by disparaging political rhetoric and certain actions on immigration and trade. Such views could affect the willingness of some countries to cooperate with the United States on regional and global challenges, although some observers believe the election of conservative governments in several Latin American countries could lead to increased cooperation. On trade, in 2017, President Trump ordered U.S. withdrawal from the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) free trade agreement that had been negotiated in 2015; the TPP would have increased U.S. economic linkages with three Latin American countries that were parties to the agreement-Chile, Mexico, and Peru. The President strongly criticized the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) with Mexico and Canada, warned that the United States might withdraw from it, and initiated renegotiations in 2017; ultimately the three countries agreed in September 2018 to a new United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which leaves NAFTA largely intact but includes some modernizing updates and changes, especially regarding the dairy and auto industries. Beyond trade, relations with Mexico have been tested because of inflammatory anti-immigrant rhetoric and immigration actions. In September 2017, the Administration announced that it would end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program (DACA); begun in 2012 by the Obama Administration, the program provides relief from deportation for certain immigrants who arrived as children. The future of the initiative remains uncertain given challenges in federal court; if ended, some 550,000 Mexicans and more than 100,000 migrants from other countries in the region could be affected. Despite tensions, U.S.-Mexican relations remain strong, especially energy ties and security cooperation related to drug interdiction. Other Administration actions on immigration have caused concern in the region. The Administration announced the termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designations for Nicaragua, Haiti, El Salvador, and Honduras. Other immigration actions, such as the implementation of a zero tolerance policy toward illegal border crossings, could restrict the ability of Central American migrants to receive asylum. ,ongress.go

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