Dr. William Marcy, a lecturer at Buffalo State University, has authored two books: “The Politics of Cocaine,” and his most recent “Narcostates.” He highlights the scope of the Narcostates and the significance of the Central American crisis in expanding the cocaine trade in North America. Mexico’s permanent campaign against narcotics trafficking on Mexican cartels was directly affected after the Mexican economic crisis, the Zapatista Rebellion, and the Salinas administration’s corruption, all which worsened the situation in Mexico. Also discussed are details of various programs such as the War on Drugs, the Merida Initiative, Kingpin Strategy and CARSI. Cryptocurrency is a popular way to launder money through false invoicing, money transfers and others. America has apparently lost interest in Latin America and is mostly known for decades of benign neglect and gunboat diplomacy. Recommendations to Trump and Scheinbaum Administrations is cooperate, root out corruption, develop infrastructure and education, and curtail recidivism.

Dr. Michael Cairo is a Professor of Political Science and the Program Director of International Affairs at Transylvania University, Lexington, Kentucky His most recent book is “American Presidents and Israeli Settlements since 1967.”

Since the October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas on Israel, 90% of Gaza has been destroyed, 46,000 Palestinians were killed and 100,000 wounded. Given the continued development of many illegal settlements, it will be even more difficult for the US to be a neutral broker. UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency) has 13,000 employees, but only 5 have been accused of collaborating with Hamas. UNRWA is critical to providing educational, nutritional and medical assistance to the Palestinians. Without a two-state solution, it will be difficult not to have an official Apartheid System. Emphasis should focus on humanitarianism to get more aid and revitalize UN operations on the ground such as UNRWA and the World Food Program.

Luis Argueta, a Guatemalan film director and producer, founded Morningside Movies and is world-renowned for his movies that tend to depict Guatemalan - Latin American culture and the struggle for peace through understanding. The Guardian listed Mr. Argueta as one of Guatemala’s National Living Icons, alongside Nobel Laureate Rigoberta Menchu and Singer/Songwriter Ricardo Arjona. Through his artistic productions, he views Immigration seen from both sides of the border vividly depicted in his first three immigration documentaries: abUSed, The Postville Raid, ABRAZOS and THE U TURN which told the stories of Guatemalan immigrant families living in the Midwest. Immigrants are often misunderstood and demonized, but they play a vital role in the development and prosperity of a country that is suffering depopulation, plus they work at unfilled menial jobs not pursued by most Americans. Many Guatemalans leave their home countries and migrate elsewhere due to crime, climate crisis and political uncertainty.