AP PHOTOS: Editor selections from Latin America

Thousands of people began preparing for possible deportation from the Dominican Republic last week after failing to obtain legal residency as part of a government crackdown on migrants, most of them from neighboring Haiti or of Haitian descent. An estimated 460,000 Haitians live in the Dominican Republic, which shares the Caribbean island of Hispaniola with Haiti.

The Paraguayan town of Ciudad del Este, which sits on the Parana River across from Brazil and a stone’s throw from Argentina, has long been a smuggling hub. But Paraguay now has one of Latin America’s fastest growing economies, and the government is cracking down on black market trading to spur legitimate growth and modernize economy, threatening the livelihoods of many in Ciudad del Este.

Susana Delahante, an internationally known artist in Havana, transformed a cultural center in Cuba’s capital into a stage for a black hairstyle competition, making a rare public commentary on racial beauty standards in a country where prejudice remains widespread and largely undiscussed. People of predominantly Afro-Cuban descent are underrepresented on Cuban television and in much of the contemporary music world, leaving many black Cubans feeling that they have to straighten their hair to be considered beautiful.

In Chile, excitement at the Copa America soccer tournament does not just happen on the field. Chilean midfielder Arturo Vidal was driving under the influence when he crashed a Ferrari with his wife on a highway south of the Chilean capital. Brazilian star Neymar was banned from the rest of the tournament after the disciplinary panel of the South American confederation ruled he must sit out four games for bad conduct at a match with Colombia, when he was sent off after the final whistle.

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This gallery was curated by photo editor Moses Castillo in Mexico City.

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