Guatemala and the US need to “work together” to tackle migration: Harris | Migration News

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris is on a three-day trip to Central America with the goal of stopping the flow of migrants to the U.S.

US Vice President Kamala Harris kicks off a three-day diplomatic trip to the North Triangle on Monday migration to the US.

In a press conference with Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei, Harris stressed that the people of Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras – most of the migrants from the next three countries – need to regain hope in order to cope with the rising numbers.

“Hope does not exist by itself, it must be linked to relationships and trust,” Harris said in a joint press conference with Giammattei. “The tangible results must be matched by what we do as leaders to convince people that there is reason to be confident in their future and the future of their children,” he said.

The administration of U.S. President Joe Biden, who took office in January, is under pressure the influx of migrants increased Fleeing poverty and corruption in Central America.

During the trip, officials are expected to announce steps against human trafficking, smuggling and corruption in Guatemala. Harris will also meet with civil society leaders and activists and then travel to Mexico on Tuesday with President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.

Non-governmental organizations placed the widespread corruption of Guatemala at the top of the list of concerns before Harris’s visit. Last month, two lawyers who are sharply critical of Giammattei’s administration were arrested on suspicion of intensive charges aimed at silencing them.

William Lawrence, a professor of international relations at the American University of Washington DC, said the U.S. hopes to find ways to halt migration in the short term as well as help people who want to migrate to the U.S. address structural issues.

“You have to deal with border issues at the same time (although there have been some improvements) and the systemic issues that send so many migrants to the border,” Lawrence told Al Jazeera TV.

In an effort to address the “root causes” of migration, the Biden administration has pledged a $ 4 billion plan to boost development in the region and $ 310 million in humanitarian aid.

Manuel Rapalo of Al Jazeera, Tecun Uman’s report with Guatemala on the Mexican border, said US support and funding for regional programs Guatemala in particular, they are not new. And making significant progress on corruption will be the responsibility of the nation.

Military police continue to guard the perimeter of the National Palace of Culture where US Vice President Kamala Harris was meeting with Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei [Sandra Sebastian/Reuters]

“Ultimately, it is up to the Guatemalan government not to lose foreign aid as a result of corruption,” Rapalo said, adding that without structural changes “the amount of foreign aid will not prevent people from fleeing north.”

Harris is also expected to discuss sharing COVID-19 vaccines with Guatemala, within a range 25 million surplus vaccines with other countries.

Last week, Giammattai said the U.S. would supply half a million doses of COVID-19 to Guatemala.

Shortly after Giammattei Harris met, the trip to the country proved that the Biden administration has proved to be a focal point for regaining ties with allies around the world and was “a reflection of President Biden’s priority for this region.”

“It’s our collective interest to work together,” Harris said.