For several articles, I’ve talked about how immigration into the United States by Central America refugees is a regional problem that requires a regional solution. An attempt was made earlier this year to provide such a solution, but it received less than stellar support from the United States.
In June 2019, the head of the UN Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean unveiled a plan in Mexico City for development in southeast Mexico and the Northern Triangle countries of Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala. The intent of the plan was to address the root cause of immigration by fostering economic opportunity in these countries. The president of Mexico and representatives from the three Northern Triangle countries attended the unveiling. The United States, however, was absent.
The week before the presentation, Mexico sent its Foreign Minister, Marcello Ebrard, to Washington to speak with US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, about the forthcoming plan and to secure US support. At the last minute, Pompeo cancelled the meeting. While the minister still met with Jared Kushner and acting Secretary of Homeland Security, Kevin McAleenan, no commitments were made. The Trump administration’s position has been that enforcement is the exclusive answer to the immigration problem. It refused six months of pleas from Mexico to increase investment in Central America, favoring foreign aid cuts instead.
Regional problems have to be handled regionally, by regional players working together—the problems are just too big for one party to handle alone. This is the case with Central American immigration. While both development and enforcement are vital components of any regional solution, the real underlying cause also involves strengthening the rule-of-law. When development doesn’t exist, gangs terrorize cities, and people are fleeing by the thousands, then institutions aren’t functioning. Clearly these nations cannot solve their problems alone. Why should America help? Because their problems have become our problems, and that gives us both the reason and the incentive to get involved.
References:
Leon Krauze, “The regional immigration solution Trump is thwarting,” Washington Post op-ed, 2 Jun 2019, A23.