US praises LA countries for curbing migration

United States (USA) he congratulated Latin American countries on their efforts to curb irregular migration this Friday, on the first anniversary of the Los Angeles Declaration, in which some twenty governments in the region pledged to stop migration flows.

He United States Secretary of State Antony Blinkenand National Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas received representatives of all these countries at a ministerial meeting in Washington held on the sidelines of the annual General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS).

“I saw inside person’s work that they make public and privately create conditions for safer, more orderly and more humane migration. I am extremely proud of the progress we are making together,” said Mayorkas.

for his part, blink He assured that all policies implemented as a result of the Los Angeles Declaration “work” and cited as an example that crossings have fallen by 50% in Darién, a dangerous jungle that separates Colombia and Panama.

Two high officials Joe Biden’s government They also highlighted the plan to Washington through which Colombia, Guatemala and Costa Rica they will house migrant case processing offices to help people find regular migration routes, including the possibility of going to work in Canada and Spain.

This initiative, which NOW announced in style in April, it has raised doubts as many details are still not closed and the deadlines for scheduling appointments have been pushed back.

Since the beginning of this year, NOW it grants humanitarian permits to Venezuelans, Cubans, Haitians and Nicaraguans who have sponsors in the North American country, but deports those who cross the border irregularly to Mexico.

Deportations continued after the end of last May Title 42a policy that allowed the deportation of undocumented immigrants without the ability to seek asylum under pretext covid-19 pandemic.

By contrast, Blinken said yes this Friday Washington works with El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras offer skilled workers temporary work opportunities in the United States, while temporary work visas for Mexican workers are increasing.

In addition, US officials highlighted a coordinated campaign with Panama and Colombia to combat human smuggling networks, which help migrants cross borders in exchange for money.

Minister of Belize Foreign Affairs, Eamon Courtenay, He reminded that migration movements are carried out by “people with rights, aspirations and dreams”.

“Respect them human rights It is an obligation,” he said.

The meeting was attended by Argentina, Barbados, Brazil, Belize, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, United States, Guyana, Jamaica, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, PanamaParaguay, Peru and Uruguay.