Los Angeles Summit: US promotes immigration issue, but it could be a failure

The White House has proposed an ambitious agenda of issues for the region for the Summit of the Americas, including post-pandemic economic recovery, democratic governance, digital transfer, among others. But there is one issue off this list that is a priority for the United States and that the Joe Biden government seeks to promote at this continental meeting: migration.

However, as far as you know Clarione of the sources who participated in these summit negotiations, at the initiative of the United States on this issue meets with resistance from some key countries and could be doomed to failure.

The United States seeks to control undocumented migrants who arrive by land across the border with Mexico and who also come from other countries such as Nicaragua, Guatemala and Honduras, where they flee situations of extreme poverty or gang violence.

Biden demands that countries sign the so-called “Los Angeles Declaration” at the Summit, which is negotiated outside the meeting’s objectives and which seeks to be a kind of guide so that countries can welcome people fleeing violence and seeking economic stability.

Responsibility

Although the United States is the destination for most migrants, especially from Central America, there are many other refugee situations in the hemisphere. Colombia, Ecuador, Aruba and Argentina are hosting millions of refugees who have fled Venezuela. Mexico and Chile they also receive Haitians. Costa Rica is home to Nicaraguans.

as far as he could tell Clarione From sources with access to documentation, the intention of the United States is to distribute Washington’s weight or responsibility on this issue: migrants fleeing dramatic situations It is a problem for the whole region.

One idea is that the White House and even international organizations can do it help with financial support to countries that welcome migrants so much that many give up on a long and dangerous journey north and stay in neighboring countries, such as Costa Rica or Panama.

The deal could require more ways to legalize them, mechanisms to reunite families, make border controls more humane and efficient, and improve the way information is shared.

absences

The initiative itself is complicated by the absences from the Summit of the presidents of Mexico, Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala, who have sent lower-ranking representatives. Clarin has learned that some countries such as Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Ecuador would support the initiative But the US plan encounters resistance in Costa Rica, Panama and the Dominican Republic, which would be the main recipients of migrants.

Argentina has not yet taken a position on the issue, which will continue to be discussed until Friday.

The issue is important to Biden. In an election year (there are legislative elections in November) he is under pressure from Republicans and the more right-wing sectors of the country who consider migrants a threat. But also it is crushed by the more liberal groups and the left of his party who are pushing for a comprehensive immigration reform that accelerates asylum and regularizes the situation of undocumented immigrants who have lived in the country for a long time.

They criticize Biden because they claim that Donald Trump’s policy hasn’t changed one iota.

Vice President Kamala Harris, who has been designated by Biden as the special envoy of the “Northern Triangle”, has already announced on Tuesday about $ 2 trillion in private investments for Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras, to stimulate the economy of those countries and prevent people want to escape. A little bit of conditioner, in the long run, in the midst of an emergency situation.

PB