Updated April 29, 2022
Latin America and the Caribbean: U.S. Policy Overview
The United States and neighboring Latin America and the
migration. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is likely to affect
Caribbean (LAC) maintain strong linkages based on
LAC countries due to increased energy and food costs.
geographic proximity and diverse U.S. interests, including
The region faces numerous political challenges. In
economic, political, and security concerns. The United
Venezuela, the ongoing political and humanitarian crisis
States is a major trading partner and source of foreign
under the government of Nicolás Maduro has resulted in an
investment for many of the 33 countries in LAC, with free-
estimated 6 million migrants and is a challenge for the
trade agreements enhancing economic linkages with 11
entire hemisphere. Haiti remains in turmoil after the July
countries. The region is a large source of U.S. immigration,
2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse, contending
both authorized and irregular; major factors driving
with uncertainty over future elections, a surge in gang
migration include proximity, economic and security
violence, and the aftermath of a severe earthquake that
conditions, natural disasters, and familial ties. Curbing the
struck in August. In Nicaragua, President Daniel Ortega’s
flow of illicit drugs has been a long-standing component of
government escalated repression ahead of the country’s
relations, involving close cooperation with Mexico,
2021 elections, in which Ortega claimed victory, and has
Colombia, Central America, and the Caribbean. U.S.
continued repressing political opponents. In Cuba, the
Administrations have long supported democracy and human
government’s responded to widespread anti-government
rights in the region, with a current focus on Cuba,
protests in July 2021 with mass arrests and detentions, and
Nicaragua, and Venezuela, as well as on democratic
harsh sentences for hundreds of protestors.
backsliding and corruption in other countries.
Increasing Challenges in the Region
Biden Administration Policy
In its initial months, the Biden Administration focused
Over the past several years, the quality of democracy has
extensively on addressing the root causes of Central
eroded in a number of countries in LAC, along with public
American migration. President Biden ended some of the
satisfaction with how democracy is working. In addition to
Trump Administration’s restrictive immigration policies,
Venezuela, Cuba, and Nicaragua—all ruled by authoritarian
while contending with a large increase in the number of
governments repressing the political opposition—human
undocumented Central American and other migrants
rights groups have expressed concerns about democratic
seeking to enter the United States. In July 2021, the
backsliding in several other countries. Many countries in
Administration released two new strategies to address the
LAC experienced social unrest in 2019, fueled by such
underlying causes that push Central Americans to migrate
political factors as weak democratic institutions, politicized
and to manage migration in the region collaboratively. The
judicial systems, corruption scandals, and high levels of
Administration also has imposed targeted sanctions for
crime and violence and by such economic factors as
corruption against dozens of current and former officials of
declining or stagnant economic growth and high levels of
the governments of Central America’s Northern Triangle
income inequality and poverty.
countries (El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras).
Since 2020, the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
The Administration also has fleshed out its broader
pandemic has had widespread public health, economic, and
approach toward the region. Its priorities include efforts to
political effects in LAC. As of late April 2022, the region
promote public health and economic recovery from the
reported nearly 1.7 million deaths (over 27% of deaths
pandemic; to work with partners to promote inclusive
worldwide). According to the Pan American Health
democracy throughout the region; to provide support to
Organization, more than 66% of the region’s population
address Haiti’s humanitarian, security, and political
was fully vaccinated as of April 20, 2022. Nevertheless, in
challenges; and to engage more broadly with the region to
four Caribbean countries, less than 30% of the population
address migration challenges as the Administration prepares
was fully vaccinated and in eight other LAC countries, less
to lift public health-related immigration restrictions
than half was fully vaccinated.
imposed pursuant to Title 42 of the U.S. Code.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) reported a 7.0%
To advance these and other initiatives, the Administration’s
regional economic decline in 2020; as a result, poverty and
budget requests for foreign assistance to LAC amounted to
inequality increased. Most LAC countries began to recover
almost $2.1 billion for FY2022 and $2.4 billion for
economically in 2021, with the IMF estimating a regional
FY2023, respectively nearly 16% and 33% over the
growth rate of 6.8% and projecting more modest growth of
FY2021 enacted level. The Administration also is providing
2.5% in 2022. Nevertheless, many countries may struggle
significant pandemic-related assistance to the region. As of
with protracted recoveries. The pandemic-related economic
late April 2022, the United States had donated over 66
setback contributed to increased protests in LAC in 2020
million vaccine doses to 29 LAC countries. As of
and 2021. The region’s economic decline, along with
November 2021, the State Department and the U.S. Agency
difficult security and political conditions, also has fueled
for International Development reported providing more
than $614 million in aid to support the pandemic response.
https://crsreports.congress.gov
Latin America and the Caribbean: U.S. Policy Overview
On Venezuela, the Biden Administration continues to
Caribbean and Central America. P.L. 117-103 also
pressure the Maduro government through sanctions and has
included, as Division V, the Haiti Development,
stated its commitment to working multilaterally to press for
Accountability, and Institutional Transparency Initiative
a return to democracy. In 2021, the Secretary of Homeland
Act, to promote the sustainable rebuilding and development
Security granted temporary protected status (TPS) to
of Haiti and the prioritization of U.S. support for anti-
Venezuelans in the United States. The Administration
corruption efforts and human rights.
continues to provide humanitarian support to Venezuelans
inside and outside the country. In March 2022,
Both houses approved broad bills aimed at positioning the
Administration officials met with Maduro to discuss
United States to better compete with China that include
detained U.S. citizens (two were released), restarting
numerous provisions on LAC. In June 2021, the Senate
negotiations with the opposition, and energy issues.
approved S. 1260, the United States Innovation and
Competition Act of 2021, and in February 2022, the House
The Administration has imposed sanctions on Cuba and
approved H.R. 4521, the America Creating Opportunities
Nicaragua as their governments have become more
for Manufacturing, Pre-Eminence in Technology, and
repressive. As the human rights situation has deteriorated in
Economic Strength Act of 2022 (America COMPETES Act
Cuba, the Administration has imposed targeted sanctions
of 2022). The Senate approved H.R. 4521 in March 2022,
against security officials and entities involved in the
with an amendment substituting the language of S. 1260,
repression. In Nicaragua, the Administration has imposed
and the measure went to conference in April 2022. Both the
targeted sanctions on officials involved in undermining
House and Senate versions would require a strategy to
democracy, including a new round of sanctions in the wake
strengthen U.S. economic competitiveness and promote
of the country’s 2021 “sham election.”
good governance, human rights, and the rule of law in
On Haiti, the Administration is working to support
LAC. Both also would require a report assessing China’s
conditions for free and fair elections, including support to
engagement in international organizations and the defense
restore security and address gang violence. The United
sector in LAC; support U.S. defense cooperation in the
States remains Haiti’s largest donor of humanitarian aid.
region; and increase U.S. engagement with civil society
regarding accountability, human rights, and the risks of
Among other issues, the Biden Administration has
pervasive surveillance technologies. In addition, the Senate
reincorporated cooperation on climate change into the U.S.
version would require a strategy to increase exports of U.S.
policy approach toward LAC. The next Summit of the
goods and services to LAC and would authorize a capital
Americas, scheduled to be hosted by the United States on
increase for the Inter-American Development Bank. The
June 6-10, 2022, in Los Angeles, with the theme of
House version would also increase U.S. engagement with
“building a sustainable, resilient, and equitable future,”
the Caribbean, require a strategy to expand U.S. educational
could provide an opportunity for the Administration to
and cultural diplomacy and to report on China’s related
deepen U.S. engagement with hemispheric leaders.
activity in LAC, and require reports on multilateral efforts
Legislative Action in the 117th Congress
to address Latin American fentanyl trafficking and on major
Chinese infrastructure investments in LAC.
Congress traditionally has played an active role in policy
toward LAC in terms of both legislation and oversight.
The House and Senate approved several resolutions on U.S.
Since 2020, Congress has appropriated some $17 billion in
relations with LAC. On the human rights situation in Cuba,
international affairs funding to respond to COVID-19
the House approved H.Res. 760 in November 2021 and the
globally. In the 117th Congress, this funding included $10.8
Senate approved S.Res. 37, S.Res. 81, S.Res. 310, and
billion appropriated in the American Rescue Plan Act of
S.Res. 489 from April 2021 to January 2022. The Senate
2021 (P.L. 117-2), enacted in March 2021. The funding has
also approved S.Res. 22, on Ecuador, in April 2021 and
supported contributions to multilateral efforts and health
S.Res. 120, on the Summit of the Americas, in May 2021.
interventions, humanitarian assistance, and donation of
COVID-19 vaccine doses worldwide, including to LAC.
In other action, the House approved H.R. 6 in March 2021,
In November 2021, Congress approved the Reinforcing
which would provide a pathway to citizenship for those
Nicaragua’s Adherence to Conditions for Electoral Reform
brought to the United States as children and those from
Act of 2021 (RENACER Act; P.L. 117-54), which directs
countries with TPS designations. In July 2021, the Senate
the Administration to use diplomatic tools and targeted
approved S. 2045, which would rename the street in front of
sanctions against antidemocratic actions and corruption.
the Cuban Embassy after a Cuban democracy activist.
In December 2021, Congress approved the National
Also see CRS Report R46781, Latin America and the
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 (P.L. 117-
Caribbean: U.S. Policy and Key Issues in the 117th
81), which includes provisions on Colombia, Central
America, and China’s presence and influence in the region.
Congress; CRS Report R47028, U.S. Foreign Assistance to
Latin America and the Caribbean: FY2022 Appropriations;
In March 2022, Congress completed action on the FY2022
CRS In Focus IF11581, Latin America and the Caribbean:
foreign aid appropriations bill, included as Division K of
Impact of COVID-19; CRS In Focus IF10982, China’s
the Consolidated Appropriations Act (P.L. 117-103).
Engagement with Latin America and the Caribbean; and
Although the law and its explanatory statement do not
CRS In Focus IF12031, Anti-corruption Efforts in Latin
specify total LAC funding, they do include funding
America and the Caribbean.
directives for several key countries (Colombia, Haiti,
Mexico, Venezuela) and regional programs for the
Mark P. Sullivan, Specialist in Latin American Affairs
https://crsreports.congress.gov
Latin America and the Caribbean: U.S. Policy Overview
IF10460
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