Richard Enzer, The Economist's Mexico City Bureau Chief, illustrates Latin America's struggles during the pandemic, spotlighting soaring infection rates and inconsistent lockdowns. Adam Roberts, the Midwest correspondent, discusses the intersection of Trump's immigration policies with tech industry demands and the humanitarian crises at the U.S. southern border. The conversation also touches on the dire impact of tourism loss in Southern France, revealing how local economies are grappling with the absence of visitors.
After scattershot enforcement of lockdowns, the region has become the pandemic’s new focal point. But many countries are opening up anyway. America’s latest choke on immigration is aligned with the president’s politics—but not with the tech industry’s needs. And southern France faces a tourist season sans tourists.