Category: South America

By José Carlos Llerena Robles

News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Thurs. May 21, 2026: For some time now, we have maintained that there are three fundamental categories for understanding the Peruvian situation, especially following the popular victory of rural teacher Pedro Castillo Terrones in the presidential elections of 2021. Now, in 2026, in light of the still-unresolved Peruvian electoral process held on 12 April, we can confirm that the categories of crisis, coup, and social conflict remain relevant for understanding the national situation.

Convergence of Crises

Any interpretation of the Peruvian reality that fails to address the convergence of crises Peru has been experiencing for several years is doomed to fail. This convergence of crises consists of the simultaneous occurrence – with varying intensities depending on the moment – of a political crisis (hence the fact that the winner of the first round of the presidential election secured the position with just 17 percent of the vote), an economic and social crisis (exacerbated by the impact of COVID-19 in Peru, a country that had the highest mortality rate globally), an environmental crisis (oil spills along the Peruvian coast, the environmental impact of extractive industries in the Amazon, and the El Niño phenomenon), and a cultural crisis (the blatant racism that has become visible since President Castillo’s victory in 2021).

The recent elections not only confirm the persistence of the crises but also its deepening in certain areas. The political crisis has worsened not only due to the unprecedented number of presidential candidates (35) listed on the ballot, but also because the crisis has now taken root in specific institutions, such as the National Office of Electoral Processes (ONPE). The resignation of the president of that electoral body, Piero Corvetto – despite the fact that the position is legally non-resignable – due to harassment by the forces of the ‘new right’ led by candidate Rafael López Aliaga, presents a new scenario ahead of the second round of voting. What was once a battle between the popular camp represented by Roberto Sánchez to defend the will of the people – especially in so-called ‘deep Peru’ – is now shaping up as a dispute that unites progressive and ‘centrist’ forces seeking to defend the institutional system in crisis.

Finally, the recent purchase by the Peruvian Air Force of 24 F-16 fighter jets from the U.S. company Lockheed Martin for $3.5 billion, despite the opposition expressed by Peru’s current president, José María Balcázar – who argued that such a transaction should be finalized by the president-elect of the 2026 elections – has exacerbated the political crisis. In full view of all Peruvians, it was made clear that in Peru, it is not the president who is in charge, but the U.S. Embassy and its technical and political staff – in this case, officials from the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF).

Coup

Faced with the structural crisis described above, the response of the ruling elites since 2021 has been the same: a coup d’état. Following the parliamentary coup of 7 December 2022, against President Pedro Castillo, the coup strategy has continued.

This year, following the initial results of the presidential election, the claim of electoral fraud has once again been raised by the Popular Renewal Party, led by candidate Rafael López Aliaga, given that he would be left out of the runoff by tens of thousands of votes, trailing behind presidential candidate Roberto Sánchez of the Together for Peru party. To date, the positive outcome for the coup strategy is the resignation of Piero Corvetto, president of the ONPE, while the negative outcome is the refusal by the highest electoral authority to hold additional elections, as demanded by Peru’s ‘new right.’

The coup, from this proposed analytical model, consists of identifying a concrete action resulting from the class struggle in Peru: the selective invalidation of the popular will of a massive group of Peruvians, mainly located in Andean and Amazonian territories, by another concentrated group of Peruvians in the Lima metropolitan area.

In this case, it is worth highlighting two aspects of the coup strategy. First, this time the strategy began with the organized and biased intervention of a powerful television network (América, whose main shareholder is the El Comercio group) and the polling firm DATUM, which, disregarding the recommendations of the electoral authorities, released a poll—using the quick-count methodology—placing López Aliaga in 2nd place and Roberto Sánchez in 5th place. Second, building on the previous point, Rafael López Aliaga called on his supporters to mobilize and denounce “electoral fraud.” Clearly, the goal of canceling the elections or calling for new ones serves as a pretext to maintain a mobilized base through racist, servile, and violent slogans, while also paving the way for the judicialization of politics.

Social Conflict

Just as the ruling classes respond to the crisis through a coup d’état, the working people of Peru respond to it primarily in its social dimension – the aspect they face in their daily lives. The electoral situation unfolds around several critical points of the social crisis that are worth highlighting to explain, in part, certain voting patterns.

On the one hand, the global geopolitical context and rising fuel prices have impacted millions of Peruvians through increased food and transportation costs; this is why the university student movement is beginning to reorganize and mobilize in different parts of Peru, protesting the increase in student transit fares. Likewise, this global context has led to a 100 percent increase in fertilizer prices, directly affecting more than 2 million Peruvian small-scale farmers engaged in family farming. These issues are the ones showing the strongest signs of organization and mobilization among various trade union, social, and political sectors.

On the other hand, in the national context, public safety remains one of the main demands, as do health issues linked to the crisis in the healthcare system and outbreaks of diseases such as pneumonia, measles, and leptospirosis. Unfortunately, these unmet demands, to date, show no signs of organization or mobilization, except within the transportation sector – the primary victims of organized crime – though these efforts have not had a significant impact.

At this point, national sovereignty – called into question by attempts to privatize PetroPerú, the state-owned hydrocarbons company, and the purchase of F-16 fighter jets – presents a significant disruptive element in the collective consciousness, potentially triggering a shift from social protest or dissatisfaction to political contention ahead of the second round of the presidential election, scheduled for June of this year between Keiko Fujimori and Roberto Sánchez.

EDITOR’S NOTE: José Carlos Llerena Robles is a lawyer, professor, and researcher.

SOURCE: Globetrotter

Now accessible to millions of PayPal consumers and merchants, PayPal USD helps provide stable purchasing power and enable lower-cost global commerce

May Zabaneh, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Crypto PayPal

PayPal USD (PYUSD)

PayPal USD (PYUSD)

News Americas, SAN JOSE, Calif., May 20, 2026: PayPal today announced it is making PayPal USD (PYUSD) available in 70 markets worldwide in the PayPal account. This dollar-backed stablecoin enables users to send funds globally, with faster settlement and lower cost than traditional payment methods.

As global commerce becomes increasingly digital, individuals and businesses are looking for faster and more seamless ways to transact across borders. Stablecoins like PYUSD help power an inclusive, fast, lower cost,global commerce system.

“Consumers and businesses around the world are looking for faster, more seamless ways to transact globally and the current system still charges too much, takes too long, and settles on timelines that were designed for a different era,” said May Zabaneh, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Crypto, PayPal. “We are working to change that. Enabling PYUSD in users accounts across 70 markets gives people faster access to their funds, lower-cost ways to send money across borders, and a more direct path to participating in the global economy and that is what drives commerce forward for everyone.”

Users in newly supported markets can buy, hold, send, and receive PYUSD directly from their PayPal account.¹ Additionally, eligible users can earn rewards on their PYUSD holdings², can instantly transfer funds to friends and family, whether on PayPal or to third-party digital wallets, and convert PYUSD to local currency when withdrawing funds³ for everyday spending.

Businesses that accept PYUSD can use proceeds in minutes rather than days or weeks, improving liquidity and reducing reliance on traditional settlement cycles. Faster access to funds can help businesses manage working capital, support cross-border operations, and participate in global commerce.

Following the launch of PYUSD in the United States in 2023, this expansion is another critical step in creating the liquidity, utility, and ubiquity of PYUSD necessary to create a more inclusive, global commerce ecosystem. By making it available in more places through PayPal, PYUSD helps consumers send funds internationally at lower cost, while enabling businesses to settle faster, reduce foreign payment fees, and access proceeds more quickly.

PYUSD, a US federally regulated stablecoin, is now available to users in their PayPal accounts across multiple global regions, including Asia-Pacific, Europe, Latin America, and North America¹. This includes Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Faroe Islands, Greenland, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, Peru, Singapore⁴, the United Kingdom, and the United States. PayPal users in the remaining markets will have access to PYUSD in the coming weeks.

For more information about PYUSD, please visit www.paypal.com/pyusd.

¹ User experience may vary based on local regulations and PayPal experience.

² Rewards are not available to Singapore or United Kingdom-based users. Rewards rate will be determined at all times in PayPal’s sole discretion, is not guaranteed, and is subject to change. Terms Apply.

³ Terms and conditions apply.

⁴ PYUSD will only be available to PayPal business account holders in Singapore. PYUSD will not be available to Singapore based consumers.

About PayPal USD (PYUSD)

PayPal USD is issued by Paxos Trust Company, N.A., a fully-chartered trust company regulated by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC). Reserves for PayPal USD are fully backed by U.S. dollar deposits, U.S. Treasuries and similar cash equivalents, and PayPal USD can be bought or sold through PayPal and Venmo at a rate of $1.00 per PayPal USD.

PayPal, Inc. (NMLS ID #: 910457) is licensed to engage in Virtual Currency Business Activity by the New York State Department of Financial Services.

About PayPal

PayPal has been revolutionizing commerce globally for more than 25 years. Creating innovative experiences that make moving money, selling, and shopping simple, personalized, and secure, PayPal empowers consumers and businesses in approximately 200 markets to join and thrive in the global economy. For more information, visit https://www.paypal.com, https://about.pypl.com/ and https://investor.pypl.com/.

By NAN Editorial Board | NewsAmericasNow.com

News Americas, WASHINGTON, D..C., Weds. May 20, 2026: Sixty-five years after one of America’s most humiliating foreign policy failures, a chilling pattern of escalation between Washington and Havana is raising an uncomfortable question across the Caribbean and Latin America: Is the United States preparing another Bay of Pigs?

The question is no longer being whispered. Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel is saying it openly. “The threats of military aggression against Cuba by the world’s greatest power are well known,” Díaz-Canel wrote on his X account on Monday. “The threat itself constitutes an international crime. If it materializes, it will provoke a bloodbath with incalculable consequences, in addition to the destructive impact on regional peace and stability.”

The Escalation Timeline

The current crisis has been building rapidly and the pattern mirrors – with uncomfortable precision – the sequence of events that preceded the April 1961 Bay of Pigs Invasion.

On January 29, 2026, the Trump administration declared a national emergency citing Cuba as an “unusual and extraordinary threat” to US national security – language that echoed the Cold War framing used by President Eisenhower in the late 1950s as he began planning covert operations against Fidel Castro’s government.

On May 1, 2026, a new executive order dramatically expanded the extraterritorial reach of the US blockade, authorizing secondary sanctions against non-US individuals and entities – including foreign banks – operating in key sectors of the Cuban economy including energy, defense, mining, financial services, and security. The Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs described it as “an act of ruthless economic aggression.”

And on May 18, 2026 – just this week – the US State Department sanctioned 11 Cuban regime-aligned officials and three Cuban government entities in what Washington described as part of its “comprehensive campaign to address the pressing national security threats posed by Cuba’s communist regime.”

Among those sanctioned were Cuba’s Ministry of Interior, the national revolutionary police force, and the Directorate of Intelligence – the island’s primary intelligence agency. Eleven named Cuban officials, including military commanders, intelligence chiefs, and cabinet ministers, were also designated, with all their US-held property blocked.

Cuba Fires Back

Díaz-Canel did not mince words in his response, delivered directly to his X account on Monday – the same day the sanctions were announced. “The collective punishment to which the Cuban people are being subjected is an act of genocide that must be condemned by international organizations and its promoters prosecuted,” the Cuban president wrote.

He described the executive order expanding secondary sanctions as “immoral, illegal, and criminal,” and pushed back directly against US claims that Cuba poses a national security threat. “Cuba does not represent a threat, nor does it have any aggressive plans or intentions against any country,” Díaz-Canel wrote. “Cuba, which already suffers multidimensional aggression from the United States, does have the absolute and legitimate right to defend itself against a military onslaught.”

The Cuban president also addressed the sanctions targeting regime officials directly, saying: “In the leadership of our Party, State, Government, and its military institutions, no one has any assets or property to protect under US jurisdiction. The US government knows this perfectly well, so much so that there isn’t even any evidence to present.”

The Bay Of Pigs Parallel

The historical echoes are impossible to ignore for anyone familiar with the events of 1961. The Bay of Pigs Invasion – a failed US military landing operation on Cuba’s southwestern coast in April 1961 – followed a strikingly similar escalation sequence. The US imposed an embargo on Cuba. Washington severed diplomatic relations. The CIA trained and funded a paramilitary force of Cuban exiles. Military threats escalated. And then, on April 17, 1961, over 1,400 CIA-backed paramilitaries launched an invasion that was defeated within three days by Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces – becoming one of the most catastrophic foreign policy failures in American history.

As documented in historical records, the failure solidified Castro’s role as a national hero, widened the political divide between the two nations, emboldened other Latin American groups to undermine US influence in the region, and pushed Cuba closer to the Soviet Union – directly setting the stage for the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962.

Today’s escalation follows the same arc: embargo tightened, secondary sanctions expanded, military threats issued, Cuban government officials designated and sanctioned, and a Cuban president warning publicly of war.

What It Means For The Caribbean

For the broader Caribbean – which has consistently called for an end to the US embargo on Cuba through CARICOM resolutions – the escalating confrontation carries serious regional implications. Any military confrontation between the United States and Cuba would have immediate consequences for Caribbean tourism, trade, migration patterns, and regional stability. Cuba sits at the geographic heart of the Caribbean Sea – a military conflict there would be felt from Jamaica to Trinidad to the Bahamas.

CARICOM nations have for decades maintained diplomatic and trade relationships with Cuba that put them at odds with US policy. The expansion of secondary sanctions to foreign entities doing business with Cuba now puts Caribbean businesses and banks operating in sectors like energy and financial services at potential risk of US sanctions exposure.

History’s Warning

As Chester Bowles, a senior US official at the time of the Bay of Pigs, wrote in his memoir: “The humiliating failure of the invasion shattered the myth of a New Frontier run by a new breed of incisive, fault-free supermen. However costly, it may have been a necessary lesson.”

The question in 2026 is whether Washington has learned that lesson – or whether the Caribbean is about to watch history rhyme again?

RELATED: King Kong And The Island: America’s Moral Collapse And Cuba

By Staff Reporter | NewsAmericasNow.com

News Americas, WASHINGTON, D.,C, Tues. May 19, 2026: A quiet but consequential USCIS new signature rule change from the Department of Homeland Security is setting a new trap for immigration applicants across the United States, the Caribbean, and other immigrant communities who file benefit requests regularly, and need to pay close attention before their next submission.

The DHS has issued an interim final rule clarifying how US Citizenship and Immigration Services will handle immigration benefit requests that contain invalid signatures – and the consequences are severe. As reported by Erickson Immigration Group, USCIS now has the authority to deny a filing even after it has already been accepted for processing, retain the filing fee in full, and treat the case as fully adjudicated – with no opportunity to fix the signature error.

For Caribbean immigrants navigating an already complex and increasingly hostile immigration environment, this rule represents a significant new risk that could cost hundreds or thousands of dollars in non-refundable fees – and potentially derail years of work toward legal status.

What Changed And Why It Matters

Previously, as Erickson Immigration Group reported, applicants could reasonably assume that once a filing was accepted by USCIS, signature issues were unlikely to result in rejection. That assumption is now gone.

Under the updated rule, if USCIS determines after intake that a filing does not contain a valid signature, adjudicating officers may reject the filing outright or deny the request after full adjudication – at their discretion. The filing fee may be retained regardless of the outcome.

Critically, as the Erickson Immigration Group noted, the rule confirms that USCIS does not permit applicants to fix an invalid signature after submission. The filing is considered improperly completed at the time of filing – full stop.

Why DHS Issued This Rule

DHS cited a sharp and growing number of filings with deficient or fraudulent signatures as the driving force behind the rule change. As Erickson Immigration Group reported, the types of signature issues flagged include copy-and-paste signatures used across multiple filings, signatures created with software or stamps, and forms signed by unauthorized individuals.

The data behind the rule is striking. As Erickson Immigration Group noted, recent adjudication data shows denials based on signature issues jumped from just 300 cases in fiscal year 2021 to nearly 3,000 in fiscal year 2025 –  a tenfold increase in four years.

USCIS acknowledged that its intake systems – designed to process millions of filings annually – can detect only basic signature issues such as missing or typed signatures but cannot reliably identify copied or duplicated signatures, unauthorized signatories, or fraudulent and digitally manipulated signatures. As a result, as Erickson Immigration Group reported, many defects are identified only during adjudication after significant agency resources have already been spent reviewing the application.

What This Means For Immigrants Specifically

For Caribbean nationals filing immigration benefits in the United States – a community that includes Jamaicans, Trinidadians, Haitians, Guyanese, Barbadians, and other immigrants across the diaspora – the practical impact of this rule is immediate and serious.

Your filing can be denied after acceptance.

Being told your application was received is no longer a guarantee that a signature issue won’t later sink your case.

You will likely lose your filing fee.

USCIS filing fees range from hundreds to thousands of dollars depending on the benefit type. Under the new rule those fees may not be refunded if a signature deficiency is identified during adjudication.

There is no second chance to fix it.

Unlike some other deficiencies where USCIS may issue a Request for Evidence giving applicants time to respond, an invalid signature cannot be cured after submission.

Using an immigration consultant or notario instead of a licensed attorney increases your risk dramatically.

Unauthorized practitioners are more likely to use improper signature methods – including digital stamps and copy-paste signatures – that could trigger a denial under the new rule.

What  Immigrants Must Do Right Now

Immigration attorneys and advocates are urging applicants to take the following steps immediately:

• Never use a digital stamp, copied signature, or typed signature on any USCIS filing – always sign in ink with your original, physical signature
• Never allow anyone other than yourself to sign your immigration forms – even if an attorney or consultant prepared the forms, you must sign them personally
• Work only with licensed immigration attorneys – not notarios, immigration consultants, or unauthorized practitioners
• Review every form carefully before submission – check that your original signature appears on every page that requires one
• Keep copies of everything you submit – including the signed originals

One Exception

As Erickson Immigration Group noted, the rule provides a limited exception for certain citizenship applications – specifically Forms N-600 and N-600K – which may only be rejected, not denied, if the sole issue is an invalid signature.

When Does This Take Effect?

As reported by Erickson Immigration Group, the rule will take effect 60 days after publication in the Federal Register, with a public comment period running concurrently. Caribbean immigrants and their attorneys should treat this rule as effective immediately given the processing timelines involved in most benefit requests.

RELATED: DHS Proposes Massive Immigration Fee Hike For Deportation Delays

NASSAU, Bahamas, April 20, 2026 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Bahamas Grid Company (BGC) today announced the appointment of Dareo McKenzie as Chief Executive Officer and Gladys Fernander, CPA as Chief Financial Officer, marking the company’s transition to a fully independent, all-Bahamian-led operating model.

This leadership transition follows the conclusion of Island Grid Solutions’ (IGS) management role on April 20, 2026, and the stepping down of Eric Pike and Mei Shibata from their positions at BGC.

“We are honored to have had the opportunity to set up BGC and conduct the biggest grid upgrade project for New Providence, over the past two years,” said Eric Pike, Former Chairman of BGC. “I would like to recognize the dedicated employees of IGS, Pike, and BGC, whose hard work and commitment were instrumental to this achievement, and extend our best wishes for BGC’s continued success.”

“On behalf of the Board, I want to thank Eric, Mei, and the entire IGS team for their leadership and expertise in building BGC into a fully operational utility and strengthening New Providence’s transmission and distribution system,” said Anthony Ferguson, Chairman of BGC. “We now move forward as a fully Bahamian-led organization, focused on delivering long-term performance for our country, our children, and our grandchildren.”

Mr. McKenzie brings more than 30 years of leadership experience across the energy and infrastructure sectors, including senior operational roles at GE Vernova and Consolidated Edison of New York. He has led large-scale grid modernization and construction programs, managed billion-dollar capital portfolios, and delivered complex energy projects focused on reliability, resilience, and operational performance.

Ms. Fernander is a Certified Public Accountant with more than two decades of executive financial leadership in regulated environments. As former Chief Financial Officer of Commonwealth Bank, she oversaw enterprise-wide financial strategy, capital planning, treasury, and regulatory compliance, and brings deep expertise in governance, financial discipline, and institutional accountability.

“Together, Dareo and Gladys bring the operational and financial leadership required to grow a resilient, high-performing utility,” Ferguson added. “Just as importantly, this transition reflects the strength and capability of Bahamian leadership at every level of the organization.”

Over the past two years, BGC has made meaningful progress in strengthening New Providence’s electricity network, improving reliability by almost 50% and updating its critical infrastructure through a $130M grid upgrade project. With the transition to full independence, the company will now be focused on the disciplined management of the system to ensure its long-term system performance.

About Bahamas Grid Company

Bahamas Grid Company (BGC) is a utility company in New Providence that is responsible for upgrading, maintaining, and operating New Providence’s transmission and distribution infrastructure, with the goal of delivering reliable, resilient, and sustainable power to all residents and businesses.

News Americas, PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, Mon. April 20, 2026: The United States has renewed its travel advisory for Trinidad and Tobago, urging travelers to reconsider travel due to ongoing concerns about crime and public safety.

The updated advisory, issued April 13th, comes amid heightened security measures in the twin-island nation following recent violent incidents, including the killing of a municipal police officer in San Fernando.

In response, the Ministry of Defence confirmed that the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force has moved to an “elevated operational posture” to support ongoing investigations and national security efforts.

The US State Department advisory also follows the government’s declaration of a nationwide State of Emergency on March 2nd, aimed at addressing a spike in violent criminal activity that authorities say could threaten public safety. Under the State of Emergency, law enforcement agencies have been granted expanded powers, including the ability to arrest individuals on suspicion, conduct searches of properties, and suspend bail for certain offenses.

While officials note that crime levels have declined compared to previous years, concerns remain, particularly in parts of Trinidad. Tobago continues to experience lower crime rates. As of early April 2026, Trinidad and Tobago is experiencing a high-stakes struggle with violent crime, including a reported 92 murders by April 4th, prompting a State of Emergency declared on March 2nd to combat escalating violence. Despite initial reports claiming a sharp decrease in the number, and conflicting reports suggesting a surge in January, the country faced 11 deaths in the first 24 hours of 2026

The U.S. advisory highlights specific areas in Port of Spain where government personnel are restricted from traveling, including Laventille, parts of Charlotte Street, Piccadilly Street, Besson Street, and communities such as Beetham and Sea Lots. Additional restrictions apply at night in areas including downtown Port of Spain, beaches, Fort George, and the Queen’s Park Savannah.

The advisory also warns of a potential risk of terrorist activity, as well as limited access to healthcare services in rural areas across both islands. Travelers are being urged to exercise increased caution, remain aware of their surroundings, avoid displaying signs of wealth, and take additional safety precautions, particularly at night.

Authorities in Trinidad and Tobago have emphasized that security operations remain ongoing, and the situation continues to be monitored closely, with the potential for changes to restrictions under the State of Emergency.

The renewed advisory underscores ongoing concerns about safety and security in the Caribbean nation, even as officials continue efforts to stabilize conditions and reduce crime.

The travel advisory comes also on the heels of Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar close alignment with U.S. President Donald Trump on security and anti-drug trafficking initiatives. She has supported U.S. military actions in the Caribbean and Venezuela, resulting in meetings, such as at the Shield of the Americas Summit.

By Felicia J. Persaud

News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Sun. 19, 2026: America’s immigration system is often described as “broken.” But that word does not quite capture what is happening inside U.S. immigration courts right now. Because what we are witnessing is not just dysfunction. It is delay – on a scale so large that it is quietly reshaping what justice even means.

According to new data from the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC), there are now more than 3.3 million cases pending in U.S. immigration courts as of February 2026.

Let that number sit for a moment.

More than three million people – families, workers, asylum seekers – are waiting for a decision that will determine whether they can stay in the United States or be forced to leave. And many of them will wait not months, but years. In fact, more than 2.3 million of those cases involve asylum seekers, people who have come to the United States seeking protection from violence, persecution, or instability in their home countries.

Yet, the narrative around immigration continues to focus on crime. But the data tells a very different story. Only 1.64% of new immigration court cases involve any alleged criminal activity, beyond possible illegal entry.

That means the overwhelming majority of people caught in this system are not criminals. They are waiting. Waiting for a hearing. Waiting for a decision. Waiting for a future that remains indefinitely on hold. And that waiting comes at a cost.

It means children growing up in uncertainty. Parents unable to plan their lives. Workers unsure if they will be allowed to remain in the country they are helping to sustain.

This is not just a legal backlog. It is a human one. Because justice delayed, as we have long been told, is justice denied.

But in immigration courts, delay has become the system itself. As TRAC noted: “The latest case-by-case Immigration Court records show that at the end of February 2026, the Immigration Court backlog stands at 3,318,099 active cases, a decrease from the 3,377,998 cases pending at the end of December 2025. The court has closed 333,957 cases so far in fiscal year 2026 as of February 2026, while receiving 201,878 new cases during the same period. This represents a case completion rate of approximately 1.65 times the rate of new case intake.”

And the consequences are not evenly felt.

Black and brown immigrants – including those from the Caribbean and across the African diaspora – are disproportionately caught in this limbo, navigating a process that is often complex, under-resourced, and increasingly politicized.

At the same time, enforcement continues. New cases are filed. Detentions increase. Deportation efforts expand. But the system tasked with deciding these cases cannot keep up.

The result is a growing gap between enforcement and resolution – a space where people exist not as citizens or non-citizens, but as something in between.

Waiting. Uncertain. Unresolved. And that raises a deeper question. What does justice look like when it takes years to arrive?

Because immigration policy is often framed around who should be allowed to stay and who should be removed. But far less attention is paid to what happens in between.

What happens when millions of people are left in legal limbo, neither accepted nor rejected?

What happens when a system meant to deliver decisions becomes a system defined by delay?

The answer is already unfolding. A generation of immigrants living in uncertainty. A court system under strain. And a definition of justice that is slowly being stretched beyond recognition.

Because when more than three million cases are waiting to be heard, the issue is no longer just immigration.

It is whether the system designed to deliver justice can still do so at all.

Felicia J. Persaud is the founder and publisher of  NewsAmericasNow.com, the only daily syndicated newswire and digital platform dedicated exclusively to Caribbean Diaspora and Black immigrant news across the Americas.