US pledges $ 310 million in aid to Central America to tackle migration News

The most recent immigrants to the U.S. are from Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador, after two hurricanes, the COVID pandemic and the drought.

The United States will provide $ 310 million in humanitarian aid to Central America, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris told Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei at a virtual meeting in his office that the region will face a wave of migration from the north.

Harris, President Joe Biden, is leading efforts to address the arrival of migrants from Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador from Mexico to the U.S. border, who had a virtual meeting Monday with Giammattei. He plans to visit Central America in June.

“Given the plight and suffering of millions of people in El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras, Vice President Harris announced an additional $ 310 million to help the U.S. government provide humanitarian assistance and address food insecurity,” his statement said. the office said after the meeting.

The two governments will coordinate law enforcement efforts to combat criminal organizations that promote migration and also establish open migration centers for migrants.

“The United States intends to increase support for the region, strengthen our cooperation in managing migration in an efficient, safe and humane manner,” Harris promised Giammatt.

According to the White House press office, the aid will be $ 125 million to “help alleviate the impact of the repeated drought, food shortages and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.”

The U.S. State Department will also provide $ 104 million in aid to “the immediate security and protection needs of refugees, asylum seekers,” as well as people displaced within the region.

Specifically, for Guatemala, the U.S. will provide $ 25 million to farmers, while another $ 30 million will go to Guatemala and Honduras for daily meals and literacy programs for school students.

Biden has asked Congress for $ 861 million to address the reasons for encouraging irregular immigration from Central America, as part of a $ 4 billion plan for the region.

The proposal is included in next year’s draft budget, which has not yet been discussed and approved by lawmakers.

Abundance of migration

More than 172,000 undocumented immigrants, including nearly 19,000 unaccompanied minors, were arrested in March in the southern U.S. border, 71 percent more per month and the highest level in 15 years.

Most migrants are from three countries in the North American Triangle of Central America.

The area is vulnerable to natural disasters caused by two devastating hurricanes on the surface and is struggling with the COVID-19 pandemic and prolonged drought.

“We want to work with you to address the serious causes and root causes (reasons for migration) so that if the Guatemalan population stays at home there will be an opportunity to give them hope,” Harris told Giammatte during the virtual meeting.

Giammattei agreed with Guatemala’s need to “create hope”.

“The Guatemalan government wants to be a partner (in the United States) in tackling … not only poverty, but also the many evils that affect us all,” he said.

In addition, the president said he is looking forward to Harris’ visit in June.

Many migrants have said that Biden’s tough immigration policies for former President Donald Trump have given them new hope.

Among the changes are allowing unaccompanied children to stay and reunite with relatives living in the U.S.

According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the number of undetected children doubled from February to 18,890 after crossing the border illegally or attempting to enter official ports of entry.