Council of Councils
Think Global Health
The U.S. military has launched a campaign that it says targets illegal drug trafficking in the Caribbean, but the reported capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro has intensified scrutiny over the operation’s true aim.
Diana Roy covers Latin America and immigration for CFR.org. She has previously written on hemispheric affairs for the Center for International Policy and the Inter-American Dialogue. She holds a bachelor’s degree in international relations from American University, where she also studied Spanish.
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The second Trump administration has significantly ramped up immigration enforcement, putting pressure on federal, state, and local agencies to meet the president’s deportation goals.
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The H-1B visa program has helped fill gaps in critical sectors like health care and technology, though it has faced criticism that it adversely affects American workers. The Trump administration’s move to sharply increase the fee for new H-1B petitions has raised concerns about its potential effects on the U.S. economy.
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Amid mounting global challenges, government and organizational leaders speaking at CFR during the UN General Assembly emphasized that the world is undergoing a profound transformation in areas like energy, trade, and security.
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Over the two centuries since Colombia’s independence, the relationship between Washington and Bogotá has evolved into a close economic and security partnership. But it has at times been strained by U.S. intervention, Cold War geopolitics, and the war on drugs.
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Since the end of World War II, the United Nations has served as the world’s leading international body dedicated to promoting peace, security, and cooperation. From conflict resolution to climate action, it has played an evolving role over the past eight decades in attempting to address global challenges.
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As the UN General Assembly convenes for its eightieth session, one major topic of debate is the secretary-general’s internal reform plan, which proposes significant budget cuts and agency consolidations. What could these changes mean for the United Nations’ future?
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Palestinians have pursued statehood for over a century. As the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip continues, several countries have recognized the Palestinian territories as a sovereign nation—but many hurdles stand in the way of full independence and UN membership.
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Critical minerals play an essential role in security and technological competitiveness, but the United States relies heavily on imports from China and other foreign sources. The Trump administration is trying to change that.
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Israel’s large-scale attack on Iran’s nuclear and military structures threatens to further escalate Mideast tensions while weakening Iran and its proxy network.
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Immigration has been an important element of U.S. economic and cultural vitality since the country’s founding. This interactive timeline outlines the evolution of U.S. immigration policy after World War II.
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International students contribute tens of billions of dollars to the U.S. economy and have helped make the United States a top research destination. But the Trump administration has taken steps to exert greater influence over colleges and universities to align them with the president’s political agenda.
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The Trump administration’s efforts to nullify birthright citizenship for millions of U.S.-born children could overturn a nearly 160-year legal precedent.
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For more than a century, the United States and Canada have forged a strong partnership built on shared geography and economic and security cooperation. But while the two countries have traditionally had one of the closest bilateral ties in the world, relations have come under strain in recent years.
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The Trump administration’s deportations of undocumented immigrants are accelerating as part of a broader crackdown on unauthorized immigration. The focus so far has been on immigration raids across the country and hundreds of deportation flights, mainly to Latin American countries.
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CFR experts weigh in on President Trump’s raft of new tariffs, including their legality, justification, and effect on U.S. consumers.
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The island’s residents have voted in favor of a party that seeks gradual independence from Denmark. But Greenland has attracted significant attention from President Trump, who sees the island’s considerable mineral wealth and location in the Arctic as necessary for U.S. national security.
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United States Agency for International Development (USAID)
USAID is a foremost tool of U.S. soft power, administering what experts say is vital humanitarian aid worldwide each year. The Trump administration says the agency is not aligned with its priorities, putting USAID’s future in doubt. -
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Panama has owned and administered the Panama Canal for nearly three decades. President Trump wants to change that to counter growing Chinese influence in Latin America.
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Over the course of two hundred years, the United States and Mexico have developed rich diplomatic, economic, and cultural ties but at times clashed over borders, migration, trade, and an escalating drug war.
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President-elect Trump has promised to commence his new term with an expansive array of executive actions, some of which could have immediate effects on U.S. foreign policy.
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The U.S. immigration system is complex, consisting of various laws, policies, and programs. Here’s what to know about immigration under a second Trump administration.
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Globally, more people than ever before voted in national elections in 2024. How did democracy fare?
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On November 5, U.S. voters will choose new leadership, with ramifications for China, immigration, the Middle East, and many other national security issues. CFR experts weigh in.
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Immigrants have long played a critical role in the U.S. economy, filling labor gaps, driving innovation, and exercising consumer spending power. But political debate over their economic contributions has ramped up under the second Trump administration.
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Programs that allow foreign investors to buy residency or citizenship in another country are growing in popularity, but some carry economic and security risks.
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The fracking boom has transformed the United States into the world’s leading producer of oil and gas. With presidential candidates Harris and Trump clashing on climate and energy policy, the practice is once again in the spotlight.
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The CHIPS and Science Act seeks to revitalize the U.S. semiconductor industry amid growing fears of a China-Taiwan conflict. Where is the money going, and how is the effort playing out?
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Presidential nominees Kamala Harris and Donald Trump are set to debate for the first time. These resources offer background and analysis on the foreign policy issues facing the candidates.
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The island’s proximity to Asia makes it a critical outpost for the U.S. military and a potential hub in the event of regional conflict.
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Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is the Democratic vice-presidential nominee. This primer provides some background on his foreign policy views.
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The United States maintains an extensive military footprint in the Middle East, including a number of naval assets and permanent U.S. bases. Washington’s presence has allowed it to respond to regional threats, including the Yemen-based Houthi rebels and escalating Israel-Iran tensions.
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An impending Israeli ground invasion of Rafah could threaten more than a million civilians seeking refuge in the city and further restrict humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip.
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Overdoses involving fentanyl and other synthetic opioids are the leading cause of death among young Americans and a threat to U.S. public health, the economy, and national security. Combating the epidemic requires addressing China’s and Mexico’s roles in the global fentanyl supply chain.
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The United Nations’ ambitious development agenda aims to protect people and the planet via seventeen goals. But experts say governments aren’t doing enough to implement them.
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The Inter-American Development Bank aims to bolster economic and social development in Latin America and the Caribbean, but critics say reforms are needed.
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International calls for a cease-fire are mounting as the humanitarian situation in Gaza deteriorates rapidly amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas.
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Low water levels have led to a traffic jam at one of the world’s busiest maritime passages. The bottleneck demonstrates how accelerating climate change is threatening global supply chains.
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The Caribbean is bearing the brunt of climate change. Governments in the region are taking steps to combat it, but are they enough?
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More than two years into the civil war in Sudan, about twelve million people have been forcibly displaced. Yet experts say the country’s devastating humanitarian crisis is still not getting the international attention it deserves.
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Asylum has become a central part of the U.S. immigration debate in recent years after border crossings reached a record high in fiscal year 2023. Here’s how the asylum process works.
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The Biden administration’s proposed immigration policy aims to curb migrant flows to the United States amid record border crossings. What will it do, and how does it compare to the Trump years?
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The Amazon Rainforest plays a critical role in global climate health, but accelerating deforestation continues to raise alarm. How are the region’s governments responding?
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President-Elect Lula will soon take office in Brazil, more than a decade after his second term ended. What’s in store for this third Lula administration?
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The impeachment of President Pedro Castillo Terrones marks Peru’s latest political crisis. As violent protests extend into their second week, what’s in store for the Andean nation?
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Spurred on by worsening economic and political crises across Latin America, migration to the United States reached record levels in 2022. Here’s a look at the year’s major immigration stories.
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Given Venezuela’s urgent humanitarian needs and the global energy crunch, Washington is considering easing sanctions on Caracas in exchange for democratic reforms.
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Brazil’s presidential election is down to two polarizing candidates, and experts say the runoff will be a major test for one of the world’s largest democracies.
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Brazil has long sought a greater role on the world stage, but political upheaval and other enduring challenges have complicated its efforts.
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With the United States hosting the regional meeting for the first time since 1994, all eyes are on how President Biden will navigate growing divisions over democracy, migration, and other issues.
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Colombia’s election could deliver the country’s first left-wing president, an outcome with the potential to transform Bogota’s approaches to economic policy, peace negotiations, and foreign relations.
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El Salvador’s homicide rate plummeted in recent years, but a spate of killings has drawn attention to President Nayib Bukele’s controversial approach to tackling gang violence.
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For more than two decades, China has developed close economic and security ties with many Latin American countries, including Brazil, Peru, and Venezuela. But Beijing’s increasing sway in the region continues to raise concerns in Washington, prompting greater U.S. engagement.
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Scientists say the rain forest is approaching a critical tipping point at which the damage is irreversible.
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A year after Russia’s invasion, Ukraine is suffering a catastrophic humanitarian crisis. The outflow of millions of refugees has placed a strain on neighboring countries.
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Tens of thousands of migrants have been sent back to Mexico under the Trump-era program. President Biden calls it “inhumane” but has so far been unable to end it.
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Argentina has struggled with political dysfunction and financial crises for decades. How is the country faring under firebrand President Javier Milei?
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Temporary Protected Status has long been used as a humanitarian solution for migrants who are unable to return home safely. President Trump’s renewed efforts to scale back such programs have further fueled the debate over the immigration policy’s use and scope.
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The Obama-era policy protecting young undocumented immigrants from deportation has faced a raft of legal challenges. It could be up to the Supreme Court to decide the program’s fate.
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The National Guard is a special part of the U.S. military that answers to both state governors and the president. While it began as a “strategic reserve,” the guard has come to play an important role in domestic and overseas operations.
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The U.S. government responds to scores of disasters each year in coordination with foreign, state, and local partners, but more frequent and severe storms, fires, and floods are straining resources.
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With its relatively open and well-regulated immigration system, Canada remains a top destination for immigrants and refugees. Recently, however, the government has cut back on admissions over growing concerns about strains on housing, infrastructure, and social services.
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As the coronavirus pandemic increases the need for aid around the world, donors are facing tough choices over whether to continue helping vulnerable populations abroad or focus their attention at home.
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The Caribbean island, which shares a close yet fraught relationship with the U.S. mainland, faces a multilayered economic and social crisis rooted in long-standing policy and compounded by natural disasters, the COVID-19 pandemic, migration, and government mismanagement.
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Venezuela’s ongoing descent into economic and political chaos is a cautionary tale of the dangerous influence that resource wealth can have on developing countries.
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President Trump’s renewed focus on militarized enforcement of the southern U.S. border has recentered national security in the debate over U.S. asylum, border, and deportation policies.
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Hobbled by foreign interventions, political instability, and natural disasters, the former French colony remains paralyzed by multiple crises and a deepening humanitarian disaster.
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The United States has historically been the largest donor to the United Nations. However, during his second term, President Trump has reduced U.S. funding, withdrawn from major agencies, and scaled back the country’s involvement in UN initiatives.
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The United States accepts hundreds of thousands of foreign workers each year in a variety of industries. Persistent U.S. labor shortages and accusations of abuse have reenergized the debate over the scale of these programs.
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Refugees and Displaced Persons
The United States has long been considered a safe haven for refugees from around the world, but this could change in light of the Trump administration’s efforts to reshape the country’s decades-old refugee resettlement program. -
The United States continues to seek strategies for responding to the growing number of migrants fleeing poverty, violence, and other challenges in the Central American region.
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Tens of thousands of unaccompanied children have been arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border each year, sparking debate over how to respond. How is the Joe Biden administration handling it?
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Comprehensive immigration reform has eluded Congress for decades. Presidents have increasingly turned to executive action to reshape asylum and border policy.