Right-wing populists have been making headway in some of Latin America’s biggest economies, promising a strong-arm approach to combatting crime and illegal immigration as an answer to the left-wing populism that took hold in the region just a few years ago.
Judge upholds the conviction of former Wisconsin judge Hannah Dugan for helping immigrant evade ICEWhite House talking points claim victories in initial Iran deal but often don't meet realityFormer NHL player Kyle Calder dies at 47 after an illnessMcDonald's is serving fried apple pie again for America's 250th birthdayRaccoon goes on drunken rampage in Virginia liquor store and passes out on bathroom floorFatou, the world's oldest gorilla living in captivity, celebrates her 69th birthday at Berlin ZooWhat to know about alpha-gal syndrome, the life-threatening meat allergy caused by tick bitesAt the Kaaba during Hajj, a photographer captures sense of unity and devotionLawmakers fight to stop the Trump administration's dismantling of a $386M ocean observatory projectRFK Jr. overrules experts to keep hantavirus cruise ship passenger in quarantineOB-GYN group makes vaccine recommendations for the first timeAds in New York must now label AI-generated 'synthetic performers'Pope Leo XIV’s flight home from Spain was grounded so the king came to his aidIncluso si reabre el estrecho de Ormuz, el petróleo tardaría semanas o meses en fluir plenamenteTrump and other world leaders discuss Iran and Ukraine wars at G7 summitJudge upholds the conviction of former Wisconsin judge Hannah Dugan for helping immigrant evade ICEWhite House talking points claim victories in initial Iran deal but often don't meet realityFormer NHL player Kyle Calder dies at 47 after an illnessMcDonald's is serving fried apple pie again for America's 250th birthdayRaccoon goes on drunken rampage in Virginia liquor store and passes out on bathroom floorFatou, the world's oldest gorilla living in captivity, celebrates her 69th birthday at Berlin ZooWhat to know about alpha-gal syndrome, the life-threatening meat allergy caused by tick bitesAt the Kaaba during Hajj, a photographer captures sense of unity and devotionLawmakers fight to stop the Trump administration's dismantling of a $386M ocean observatory projectRFK Jr. overrules experts to keep hantavirus cruise ship passenger in quarantineOB-GYN group makes vaccine recommendations for the first timeAds in New York must now label AI-generated 'synthetic performers'Pope Leo XIV’s flight home from Spain was grounded so the king came to his aidIncluso si reabre el estrecho de Ormuz, el petróleo tardaría semanas o meses en fluir plenamente World News Presidential candidate Abelardo de la Espriella addresses supporters from inside a bulletproof booth aboard a barge on the Magdalena River after leading the first round of the presidential election and advancing to a runoff in Barranquilla, Colombia , May 31, 2026.
Prisoners look out from their cell as the Costa Rica Justice and Peace minister tours the Terrorism Confinement Center in Tecoluca, El Salvador, April 4, 2025. President of El Salvador Nayib Bukele greets President Donald Trump at the Shield of the Americas Summit at Trump National Doral Miami in Doral, Fla.
, March 7, 2026, An unidentified man is detained by soldiers during a military operation in Guayaquil, Ecuador, Jan. 18, 2024. Presidential candidate Keiko Fujimori, of the Popular Force party, waves after voting during the presidential runoff election in Lima, Peru, June 7, 2026.
Presidential candidate Abelardo de la Espriella addresses supporters from inside a bulletproof booth aboard a barge on the Magdalena River after leading the first round of the presidential election and advancing to a runoff in Barranquilla, Colombia, May 31, 2026. Presidential candidate Abelardo de la Espriella addresses supporters from inside a bulletproof booth aboard a barge on the Magdalena River after leading the first round of the presidential election and advancing to a runoff in Barranquilla, Colombia, May 31, 2026.
Prisoners look out from their cell as the Costa Rica Justice and Peace minister tours the Terrorism Confinement Center in Tecoluca, El Salvador, April 4, 2025. Prisoners look out from their cell as the Costa Rica Justice and Peace minister tours the Terrorism Confinement Center in Tecoluca, El Salvador, April 4, 2025.
President of El Salvador Nayib Bukele greets President Donald Trump at the Shield of the Americas Summit at Trump National Doral Miami in Doral, Fla. , March 7, 2026, President of El Salvador Nayib Bukele greets President Donald Trump at the Shield of the Americas Summit at Trump National Doral Miami in Doral, Fla.
, March 7, 2026, An unidentified man is detained by soldiers during a military operation in Guayaquil, Ecuador, Jan. 18, 2024. An unidentified man is detained by soldiers during a military operation in Guayaquil, Ecuador, Jan. 18, 2024. Presidential candidate Keiko Fujimori, of the Popular Force party, waves after voting during the presidential runoff election in Lima, Peru, June 7, 2026.
Presidential candidate Keiko Fujimori, of the Popular Force party, waves after voting during the presidential runoff election in Lima, Peru, June 7, 2026. BOGOTA, Colombia — Right-wing populists have been making headway in some of Latin America’s biggest economies, promising a strong-arm approach to combatting crime and illegal immigration Although homicide rates have broadly declined across Latin America compared to a decade ago, spikes in some countries and a regionwide rise in other crimes have made conditions ripe for conservative populists to blame migrants and pitch heavy-handed strategies popularized by El Salvador’s president, Nayib Bukele.
Latin America and the Caribbean last year saw their combined average homicide rate drop by more than 5% compared to 2024, with the median rate reaching about 17.6 per 100,000 people, according to InSight Crime, a think tank focused on organized crime in the Americas. Last year, authorities tallied 2,400 homicides in Peru and 14,780 in Colombia, which were the most in each country since at least 2020. Killings rose a remarkable 31% in Ecuador year-on-year, to 9,216.
Although populist politics across the political spectrum have done well, only the right has offered short-term security solutions that will make voters feel safe withing months even if it comes at the expense of “democracy and human rights,” said Adam Isacson, director for defense oversight at the Washington Office on Latin America organization. Proposals offered by the left, such as community violence prevention programs, better police training, and judicial and prison reforms, take more time to bear fruit, he said.
“It’s absolutely what you’re supposed to be doing, but people’s patience runs out,” Isacson said of long-term proposals. “So, there come the Bukeles of the world saying, ‘You want to feel better? We got this. ’”on a law-and-order platform, vowing to deploy the military in prisons and along borders as she leans on the authoritarian legacy of herDeBre writes about Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay for The Associated Press, based in Buenos Aires.
Before moving to South America in 2024, she covered the Middle East reporting from Jerusalem, Cairo and Dubai.
Please follow us on Google to support us South America El Salvador Immigration General News Latin America Central America Adam Isacson Human Rights Voting World News Colombia Politics Alberto Fujimori Conservatism Keiko Fujimori Peru Democracy Donald Trump
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Albert Breer’s Takeaways: Rising QB Salaries Has Forced NFL Teams To Be Creative With ContractsPatrick Mahomes's record-breaking deal underscores the importance of the first four years of a deal. Plus, a Myles Garrett trait the Rams liked and more.
Read more »
The ‘America First’ foreign policy puts America lastAn America that does not counter threats to freedom on the world stage is an irresponsible America that does not understand its interests.
Read more »
Biggest Takeaways From Day 1 of Detroit Lions 2026 Mandatory MinicampTakeaways from first day of Detroit Lions mandatory minicamp.
Read more »
Latin America Shifts Right as Conservative Populists Gain Ground on Crime and ImmigrationA political backlash is sweeping Latin America as rising crime and extortion fuel support for conservative populists adopting strong-arm tactics, marked by a recent summit with President Trump and regional leaders.
Read more »