‘Increase relief to the region..’, vows US VP Kamala Harris to Guatemala

US Vice President Kamala Harris on Monday spoke to Alejandro Giammattei, President of Guatemala, and pledged further support from the US as Central America attempts to mitigate the outflow of northbound migrants. 

Harris is scheduled to meet Giammattei in June, however, in the video meeting, she said, “The United States plans to increase relief to the region, strengthen our cooperation to manage migration in an effective, secure and humane manner,” she promised Giammattei.

Biden asked Congress for $861 million to address the causes that drive irregular immigration from Central America, within the framework of his $4 billion plan for the region.

His proposal is included in the budget project for next year that has yet to be discussed and approved by legislators, reported AFP.

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“We want to work with you to address both the acute causes as well as the root causes in a way that will bring hope to the people of Guatemala that there will be an opportunity for them if they stay at home,” Harris stressed to Giammattei.

More than 172,000 undocumented immigrants, including nearly 19,000 unaccompanied minors, were detained in March at the southern border of the United States, a rise of 71% in a month and the highest level in 15 years.

Most of the migrants come from the three countries of the Central American Northern Triangle. That area, vulnerable to natural disasters, was hit by two devastating hurricanes in November and is struggling with the COVID-19 pandemic and a prolonged drought.

The US vice president, whose parents came to the United States from Jamaica and India, added that she understood the multiple concurrent issues in play, from climate change to poverty, “and the lack therefore of economic opportunities; the issue of extreme weather conditions and the lack of climate adaptation, as well as corruption and the lack of good governance, and violence against women, indigenous people, LBGTQ people and Afro-descendants.”

“We want to work with you to address both the acute causes and the root causes (of migration) in a way that gives hope to the people of Guatemala that there will be an opportunity for them if they stay home,” Harris also told Giammattei at the virtual date, reported AFP.

Giammattei agreed on the need to “create hope” in Guatemala.

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

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

“I believe that we must build a roadmap between governments so that we can reach an agreement … to guarantee peace, progress and development, and also so that we can ensure the cooperation we need from you,” she said.

After Biden took office in January 2021, he signed a flurry of executive orders reversing many decisions taken by former US President Donald Trump, including granting permission to unaccompanied minors to continue staying with their relatives in the US. The new immigration policy adopted by the US has garnered the support of migrants bound northwards.