Internacionales
Latin America and the Caribbean continue to be regions with high homicide rates, according to UN study

December 8 |
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Global Homicide Survey has revealed that, in 2021, most of the countries with the highest homicide rates in the world are in Latin America and the Caribbean. Notable exceptions include South Africa, Myanmar and Iraq. Jamaica, in particular, stands out as the country with the highest homicide rate globally.
The Latin America and Caribbean region accounted for 27% of the 458,000 homicides recorded worldwide in 2021, consolidating its position as the most violent area on the planet, despite the overall downward trend. Countries such as Ecuador, Nicaragua and Panama are mentioned as exceptions to the general decline.
In 2021, eight of the ten countries with the highest homicide rates globally were in Latin America and the Caribbean, according to data compiled by UNODC. Not only does the region consistently maintain the highest homicide rate among all sub-regions, but it also led the world in the proportion of homicides related to organized crime.
Despite the high rates, the study indicates that the region has experienced a downward trend in homicide rates since 2017, especially due to the decline in Brazil. Between 2017 and 2021, the homicide rate in the region decreased by almost 14%. However, the evolution has been uneven, with some countries, such as Guatemala, experiencing increases in 2021 after years of decline.
Bolivia stands out as the country with the lowest homicide rate in the region, pointing to the diversity of situations in Latin America and the Caribbean in terms of security and crime.
Internacionales
The United States opens an investigation into Harvard for its sponsorship of international visas

The US Department of State announced on Wednesday that it opened an investigation at Harvard University for its admission and sponsorship of international visas to students and teachers as part of the Exchange Visitor Program.
According to the statement of the Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, the Government requires all sponsors of this program “full compliance with the regulations on exchange visitors, transparency in the presentation of reports and a demonstrated commitment to the promotion of the principles of cultural exchange and mutual understanding”.
In addition, he adds that its exchange programs must be carried out “in a way that does not undermine foreign policy objectives or compromise the interests of US national security,” so educational centers are expected to “defend national security, comply with the law and provide safe environments for all students.”
“The investigation will ensure that the State Department’s programs are not contrary to the interests of our nation,” he said.
This is the latest attack by President Donald Trump’s Administration on one of the most prestigious and oldest universities in the country, in a battle in which the tension between both parties has been escalating for months.
This Monday, the hearing on the legality of the Trump Administration’s funding blockade for Harvard took place, which was concluded in a Boston court without a ruling on the matter. However, the federal judge who took the case openly questioned the government measure.
Previously, Trump tried to ban the enrollment of foreign students in this educational center, a measure that this same federal judge blocked indefinitely.
Last June, the Republican said that “it was possible” that his government would announce an agreement with Harvard and assured that he was working closely with the institution, although there are still no details about these negotiations.
The US Government had previously announced the opening of an investigation against five universities in the country, including Miami, to determine whether they award their scholarships exclusively to undocumented young people or beneficiaries of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, known as ‘dreamers’.
Specifically, the Department of Education set the University of Miami, Louisville, Nebraska Omaha, Michigan and West Michigan in its sights.
Internacionales
U.S. plans five new ‘Alligator Alcatraz’-style migrant detention centers

The U.S. government announced plans to build five new mega detention centers for migrants, modeled after the controversial facility recently opened in Florida, nicknamed ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ by activists and opponents.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed that President Donald Trump’s administration is already in talks with five Republican-led states to replicate the model used in the wetlands of southern Florida. “We are working to expand this strategy to more territories with state governments committed to border security,” she said.
These statements follow remarks by Stephen Miller, Trump’s chief immigration advisor, who urged Republican governors in a Fox News interview to contact the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to facilitate the construction of new centers.
“Pick up the phone, call DHS, work with us to build facilities in your state so we can remove illegals and criminals,” Miller said.
The Florida detention center has faced strong criticism from Democratic lawmakers and human rights organizations due to the inhumane conditions faced by detained migrants. Located in a reptile-infested wetland reserve, the site has become highly controversial.
Last Saturday, a group of Florida federal and state legislators reported that about 750 migrants were “in cages” at the facility after inspecting the site. While Congress members were allowed access, the press remains banned.
Early reports from detainees at ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ describe extreme heat, high humidity, scarce potable water, spoiled food, and makeshift tents used as confinement areas. These conditions have been labeled “inhumane” by migrants themselves and civil organizations.
Internacionales
Jalisco’s grim discovery: drug cartel mass grave found in construction site

A mass grave was discovered in a residential area under construction in the municipality of Zapopan, part of the metropolitan area of Guadalajara, the capital of the Mexican state of Jalisco.
“After analyzing the recovered remains, they correspond to 34 individuals,” said a state official during a press conference. Jalisco has one of the highest numbers of missing persons in Mexico, largely due to the activity of drug cartels.
As of May 31, official data shows that Jalisco has recorded 15,683 missing persons, according to the state prosecutor’s office. Authorities attribute most of these cases to criminal organizations, which often bury or cremate their victims clandestinely.
“The construction company notified us at the end of February after discovering some remains,” explained the official, González, adding that excavation efforts have been ongoing since then.
The Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) operates in the region and was designated as a foreign terrorist organization earlier this year by the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump. Washington has accused CJNG and the Sinaloa cartel of being the main sources of fentanyl trafficking, a synthetic opioid responsible for tens of thousands of overdose deaths in the U.S.
Mexico has accumulated more than 127,000 missing persons, most of them since 2006, when the federal government launched a heavily criticized military-led anti-drug offensive.
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