Guadalajara, Mexico
Obama tells neighbors to wait: Immigration reform won’t be possible until next year, President Obama said this week at a summit with the leaders of Mexico and Canada. Mexican President Felipe Calderón has been pushing for a less restrictive policy toward illegal immigrants. Obama agreed that the U.S. must come up with “an orderly process for people to come in,” as well as “a pathway to citizenship” for those already in the country. But he said other big legislative endeavors, such as health-care reform and new financial regulations, would have to come first. “I’ve got a lot on my plate,” he said, “and it’s very important for us to sequence these big initiatives in a way where they don’t all just crash at the same time.”
Tegucigalpa, Honduras
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No visas for diplomats: The U.S. Embassy in Honduras has revoked the visas of four top Honduran officials, putting new pressure on the government to reinstate ousted President Manuel Zelaya. The embassy did not name the officials barred from traveling to the U.S. Zelaya, an ally of leftist Venezuelan leader Hugo Chávez, was deposed in a peaceful coup in late June. Since then, he has complained that the U.S. has not done enough to help restore him to power. But Zelaya’s supporters said revoking the officials’ visas would certainly get the new government’s attention. “To those far away, it might seem symbolic,” said Honduran diplomat Carlos Sosa. “But to the Honduran oligarchy, the focal point of their pilgrimage throughout the world is Miami.”
Quito, Ecuador
U.S. military base questioned: Leftist Latin American leaders are riled by a Colombian plan to allow U.S. troops access to military bases. At a meeting this week of the Union of South American Nations, or Unasur, Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez spoke out against the plan, saying it could “provoke a war in South America.” He warned that “in the future, from those bases in Colombia, any type of action will be able to be planned, including against Colombia itself.” Bolivian and Ecuadoran leaders indicated they shared Chávez’s concern. Colombia’s relations with Venezuela and Ecuador have soured recently over allegations that they support the FARC, a leftist rebel group that controls the Colombian drug trade.
São Paulo, Brazil
TV host charged in murders: The host of a popular, Cops-style TV crime show was arrested this week on charges of ordering killings that were then featured on his show. Wallace Souza, host of Canal Livre, is alleged to have arranged four murders to generate news for his program. Souza, a former police officer, allegedly conspired with police officers who wanted to be on TV. Fifteen other people, including Souza’s son, have also been arrested. Authorities became suspicious when Souza frequently showed up at crime scenes first and aired
exclusive footage.
