Las Notis is a daily news column that gets you up to speed on the political, media + other going ons in Latin America and the diaspora—all in one quick digest.
- Here’s your glimpse at what’s going on today:
- Donald Trump’s second impeachment trial starts today (Feb. 9). Trump’s lawyers plan to argue that it is unconstitutional to impeach a former president and that his words firing about supporters over false claims about the election are protected under the First Amendment. The Senate needs a two-thirds majority to convict Trump, and many experts are skeptical that enough Republicans will side with Democrats. [CNN]
- The Biden administration is addressing Trump-era immigration policies and reportedly will issue new guidelines to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement that could sharply curb arrests and deportations. Internal memos and emails obtained by the Washington Post point to shifts in enforcement: Agents will no longer seek out deportations for crimes such as driving under the influence and assault and will instead focus on national security threats, aggravated felony convictions, and recent border crossers. [WaPo]
- Doctors in Chicago have said they’ve noticed low vaccine rates among Latino communities. While some experts have chalked this up to hesitancy communities might have about the vaccine, doctors point out that there are several logistical and access challenges barring Latinos for inculcation. [CNN]
- Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez have teamed up to introduce $2 billion in special FEMA funds for families who couldn’t afford funeral costs after a loved one passed away from Covid. Under their plan, families can get reimbursed for up to $7,000 for funeral expenses and $260 million of those funds to be directly allocated to people in New York. [NBC]
- Colombia has passed a historic decision to provide temporary legal status to more than 1.7 million Venezuelan migrants who have come to Colombia in recent years. The move is intended to allow migrants to work legally and establish lives without fear of their status. [NYT]
- The Latin American Music Awards are returning on April 15 after taking a hiatus in 2020 because of the pandemic. The event’s performers haven’t been announced yet, but the event will be hosted by Mexican actress Jacqueline Bracamontes. [Billboard]