WASHINGTON — Vice President Kamala Harris plans to meet on Monday with President Bernardo Arévalo of Guatemala as the U.S. grapples with an influx of migrants to its southern border, thousands from that Central American nation.
The two leaders are expected to discuss the Biden administration’s use of so-called “safe mobility offices,” which were set up in Guatemala, Colombia, Costa Rica and Ecuador in the fall, among other immigration matters. The safe mobility offices are designed to streamline the U.S. refugee process so migrants apply where they are and avoid paying smugglers to make the journey north.
As the 2024 election heats up, immigration has become a rising bipartisan concern. Both Democrats and Republicans in Congress say the system is broken, but efforts by lawmakers to address the problems have failed. Meanwhile, President Joe Biden has tasked Harris with working to address the reasons people choose to leave their homelands to migrate to the U.S.
Harris and Arévalo will also discuss Arévalo’s anti-corruption agenda and how the U.S. can support the effort, according to a White House official, previewing the talks on the condition of anonymity.
Arévalo won the presidency in August, beating the establishment candidate by a comfortable margin. He is the son of a former president credited with implementing some of Guatemala’s key labor protections, but his strong showing in a crowded field was still a shock.
The politician with a background in academia and conflict resolution caught fire with a message of challenging the country’s entrenched power structure and resuming the fight against corruption.
The Democratic vice president is also expected to announce $5.2 billion in investments in Central America.
While still among the lowest monthly tallies in Biden’s presidency, the number of arrests for illegally crossing the U.S.-Mexico border nudged upward in February over the previous month to 189,922. Of those, 23,780 were Guatemalan.
Vice President Kamala Harris recently met with Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei to discuss the ongoing immigration crisis at the southern border of the United States. The meeting, which took place in Guatemala City, was a crucial step in addressing the root causes of migration from Central America to the United States.
During the meeting, Harris and Giammattei discussed a range of issues related to immigration, including economic development, security, and governance. The two leaders also announced a series of initiatives aimed at addressing the underlying factors driving migration from Guatemala to the United States.
One of the key initiatives announced during the meeting was a new task force focused on combating human trafficking and smuggling networks in the region. The task force will work to disrupt these criminal organizations and provide support to victims of trafficking and smuggling.
Harris and Giammattei also discussed the importance of promoting economic development and creating opportunities for Guatemalan citizens to thrive in their own country. The United States has committed to investing in programs that will create jobs and improve living conditions in Guatemala, with the goal of reducing the need for people to migrate to the United States in search of a better life.
Additionally, Harris and Giammattei discussed the importance of strengthening democratic institutions and promoting good governance in Guatemala. The two leaders agreed to work together to address corruption and strengthen the rule of law in order to create a more stable and prosperous society.
Overall, the meeting between Vice President Harris and President Giammattei was a positive step towards addressing the root causes of migration from Central America to the United States. By working together to address issues such as economic development, security, and governance, the two countries hope to create a more sustainable solution to the ongoing immigration crisis.
