As the United States faces a southern border invasion of thousands of migrants from Guatemala, Vice President Kamala Harris is to meet with President Bernardo Arévalo of Guatemala on Monday.
Among other immigration-related topics, the two heads of state will likely talk about the “safe mobility offices” that the Biden administration established in the autumn in Ecuador, Guatemala, Colombia, and Costa Rica. Safe mobility offices have been set up to help migrants register for refugee status in the United States without paying smugglers to transport them north.
Lawmakers from both parties in the U.S. Congress agree that something is wrong with the system, but thus far, their attempts to fix it have been fruitless. In the meantime, President Joe Biden has assigned Harris the responsibility of investigating and addressing the factors that motivate individuals to flee their home countries in search of a better life in the United States.
An anonymous White House official who was privy to the discussions said that during their meeting, Harris and Arévalo would discuss Arévalo’s anti-corruption strategy and how the United States can support it.
In August, Arévalo easily defeated the establishment’s choice for president. Surprisingly, he did so well in such a competitive race, even though he is the son of a president who is said to have instituted necessary labor safeguards in Guatemala.
The politician’s message of confronting the country’s powerful elite and winning the battle against corruption resonated with the electorate. He has experience in academics and dispute resolution.
Investments in Central America totaling $5.2 billion are also anticipated to be announced by the Democratic vice president.
Despite being one of the lowest monthly totals during Biden’s administration, the number of individuals apprehended for unlawfully crossing the U.S.-Mexico border increased slightly from January to February, reaching 189,922. A total of 23,780 belonged to Guatemala.
For a long time, people from the Northern Triangle—which includes Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador—have been making the trek north to the border between the United States and Mexico. This year’s election has presented President Joe Biden with the humanitarian and political dilemma of handling the influx of migrants, a problem that has persisted through previous administrations.
