Republic in Central America, scene of civil conflict and reform
Guatemala has formally requested US cooperation—including access to equipment, training and personnel—to assist Guatemalan security forces in countering drug trafficking. The government says no foreign military operations on Guatemalan soil are authorized, and any action would occur within existing bilateral agreements. Officials have said the agreement would expand on a 2024 strategy, while the president emphasized that Congress must authorize any on-ground operations.
An Associated Press investigation has found that dozens of children have been re-separated from their families under the current administration, despite a landmark settlement meant to keep families together. Some parents have been detained, and others deported, after being taken from their communities during interior arrests. The plight echoes earlier border separations and follows a federal judge’s ruling that earlier actions were illegal.
Cristina has formed in the Eastern Pacific with 45 mph winds, guiding heavy rainfall across Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala. Boris is approaching Mexico’s Pacific coast with 40 mph winds, threatening flash floods and mudslides in Guerrero and Oaxaca. Forecasters warn landfalls and life-threatening weather this week.
The Justice Department has highlighted cases against Guatemalan nationals who allegedly exploited a U.S. sponsorship program by fraudulently caring for unaccompanied migrant children. Officials say dozens of similar “super-sponsor” schemes are being investigated as concerns grow over vetting and child protection under ongoing border policy debates.
The UN Secretary-General has visited Port-au-Prince amid gang violence, with UN figures showing 2,300 killed, 1.5 million displaced, and 300,000 in Port-au-Prince. The new Gang Suppression Force is to start operations with multinational troops to support Haiti’s police and armed forces. Prime Minister Didier-Fils-Aimé emphasizes elections and republican rule as security remains paramount.
The collaboration between the Middle East Forum and the Israeli INSS has leaked plans to weaken Iran’s regime through intelligence research and pressure points, amid Operation Epic Fury and ongoing regional tensions. Ahmadinejad’s fate remains unclear as reports describe his capture by IRGC and shifting positions within Iran’s power structure.
A 28-year-old man, part of a group stopped by ICE and Homeland Security Investigations, has died after fleeing on foot and crossing a busy road into the path of a tractor-trailer in St. Augustine, Florida. The incident occurred before 7 a.m. at a local gas station. Multiple sources report the ongoing investigation by DHS, ICE, and HSI into the death.
A major earthquake near Chiapas, Mexico has prompted tsunami warnings for nearby coasts. Authorities report no confirmed deaths, but injuries and evacuations are taking place across southern Mexico, Guatemala, and El Salvador. Aftershocks of magnitudes up to 6 follow the initial tremor.
Nicaragua’s government has announced the cancellation of elections scheduled for November 2027 as Congress extends the presidential term by one year. Ortega, governing with Rosario Murillo, has tightened control since 2007, jailing opponents and reshaping institutions. Rights groups warn of a deeper crackdown, while international actors condemn the move.
The Department of Homeland Security’s account of the July 7 shooting by ICE has faced pushback from witnesses and the victim’s family at a Houston hearing. His sons say he was a hardworking, legal-status immigrant who was killed in front of his crew; prosecutors question DHS details amid calls for independent scrutiny.
The latest data from multiple outlets shows a nationwide trend of falling homicide rates in 2026, with significant declines in many cities and pockets of increases in a few, including San Francisco and Norfolk. Experts say factors are widespread and not tied to one policy or leadership style, while some cities dispute the official tallies.
The United States has set new tariffs on imports tied to forced labor, with 10% duties on partners that have begun enforcing bans and 12.5% for those that have not. The changes take effect at 12:01 a.m. on July 24, as part of a broad push to enforce labor standards in global supply chains.
Diplomatic rift between Brazil and Argentina escalates as Lula denounces external meddling amid Milei’s harsh rhetoric. Brazil downgrades ties with Argentina; US visa tensions surface in parallel disputes ahead of Brazil’s October elections.
Petro claims thousands of tally sheets were manipulated after counts were transmitted, a charge rejected by electoral authorities and international observers as Colombia prepares to inaugurate the new president after a tightly contested election.
Guatemala’s Fuego volcano has erupted since Monday, spewing lava, ash and pyroclastic flows that have forced about 1,700 people from at least 18 communities and closed a major highway. Authorities have raised orange and red alerts in nearby departments, suspended some classes and warned that rain could trigger deadly lahars.