The Americas Project

Americas Project Events

Colombia: Hostage Rescue & What Lies Ahead

July 23, 2008, 9:00am – 10:00am

On July 2, Colombian military intelligence and Special Forces liberated 3 U.S. hostages, former Colombian presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt, and 11 Colombian police and soldiers who had been held by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia for as many as 11 years. Please join The Americas Project at the Center for American Progress as it hosts Colombian Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos for a discussion of the hostage rescue mission and other recent severe blows against the FARC and their implications for efforts to bring Colombia's long history of illegal armed conflict to a close.

Colombia & the United States at a Crossroads: A Conversation with President Alvaro Uribe

May 2, 2007, 1:00pm – 2:30pm

In the coming weeks and months, the United States Congress faces decisions on the U.S.-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement and the future of support for the fifth largest recipient of U.S. assistance in the world. Recent developments in Colombia, one of the longest-standing allies of the United States in the Americas, including the on-going investigation into ties between paramilitary organizations and sectors of Colombia's governing class have raised questions regarding the future direction of U.S. policy toward Colombia. In a spirit of open communication, The Americas Project at the Center for American Progress is pleased to host a conversation with His Excellency Alvaro Uribe, President of Colombia, about these and other issues that shape the relationship between two of the most closely interconnected countries in the Americas.

Comprehensive Immigration Reform

March 12, 2007, 9:00am – 10:30am

One year after historic marches put a human face on the issue of immigration reform, our country’s immigration system remains fundamentally broken. Faith communities across the country are on the front lines in dealing with the daily consequences of an unjust system that causes undue suffering and hardship to the people they serve. Because of their experience and moral commitment, many faith communities are working for comprehensive immigration reform. As the issue returns to the forefront of the congressional agenda, the Center for American Progress has gathered faith leaders from diverse communities to discuss their work and the moral imperative that fuels their mission. Together, they are committed to a just and comprehensive solution to immigration reform.

Latinos & the Progressive Movement

October 12, 2006, 9:00am – 10:30am

As this year’s immigration debate has unfolded in Washington, D.C. and across the country, many have become aware of the increasing civic engagement of our burgeoning Latino communities. That civic engagement, however, transcends the immigration issue and presents opportunities as well as challenges not only for Latinos and the progressive movement, but also for the advancement of a progressive policy agenda. What animates Latino civic engagement and how does that compare to other elements of the progressive movement? What are the points of convergence or dissonance between the Latino communities and the broader progressive movement? What does the diversity of the Latino communities mean for their ability to influence the progressive policy agenda? What are the policy agenda implications of the demographic differences between the Latino communities and the broader population? To address these and other timely questions, The Americas Project at the Center for American Project will convene a distinguished group of experts and practitioners to discuss the dynamics of the Latino communities’ civic engagement in the context of the broader progressive movement.

Screening of Crossing Arizona

September 25, 2006, 7:00pm – 9:00pm

Crossing Arizona examines the crisis through the eyes of those directly affected by it. Frustrated ranchers go out day after day to repair cut fences and pick up the trash that endangers their livestock and livelihoods. Humanitarian groups place water stations in the desert in an attempt to save lives. Political activists rally against anti-migrant ballot initiatives and try to counter rampant fear mongering. Farmers who depend on the illegal work force face each day with the fear that they may lose their workers to a border patrol sweep. And now there are the Minutemen, an armed citizen patrol group taking border security into their own hands. As up-to-date as the nightly news, but far more in-depth, Crossing Arizona reveals the surprising political stances people take when immigration and border policy fails everyone.

The United States & Colombia: What comes next?

July 18, 2006, 12:00pm – 2:00pm

The United States and Colombia are inextricably tied together by a set of complex and evolving relationships and issues. On the eve of the second term in office for Colombian President Alvaro Uribe, the Center for American Progress will convene a distinguished group of U.S.-Colombia experts to delve into the current state of the relationship and what lies ahead. Each has been an active participant in helping shape U.S.-Colombia relations and embodies the interconnections that mark the relationship between the two countries and what should help guide it forward.

Mexico's Presidential Election Results: What do they mean for the United States?

July 7, 2006, 12:00pm – 1:30pm

The close and contentious results of Mexico’s recent presidential election should help cast a spotlight on the importance of the United States’ relationship with its southern neighbor. The Americas Project at the Center for American Progress convened a panel of experts to discuss its impact and implications for U.S.-Mexico relations.