As the Supreme Court prepares to take on Arizona's controversial immigration law and the Obama administration carries out nationwide sweeps, CFR's Edward Alden says that comprehensive reform remains less attainable than narrower, more targeted legislation.

As the world's oldest regional body, the Organization of American States has served as a platform for cooperation, but ideological polarization among its members and criticisms of the organization's institutional weakness have raised doubts about its ability to remain relevant.

Under President Raul Castro, Cuba has begun economic and political reforms while bolstering ties with Brazil and the Vatican. But Washington has failed to seize on opportunities for expanding relations, says CFR's Julia E. Sweig.