Guatemala President Bernardo Arevalo: US Needs To Invest More to Deter Immigration
As more and more migrants flood the border, the US is running out of options. However, new Guatemala President Bernardo Arevalo, who recently met with Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, has a solution, and that is for the US to invest more in the countries where these migrants are coming from and not just send governments money.
The Guatemalan president recently sat down with CBS News and talked about his trip to the US, including his two separate talks with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. He stated that the president was "enchanting" and "very warm" during their brief meeting.
As for his meeting with Harris, Arevalo stated that he told her that "Guatemala needs more US economic investment-not just taxpayer-funded American relief" so that Guatemalans are incentivized to stay in the country rather than try their luck at the US-Mexico Border.
"Cooperation is not sending money. Cooperation can be by creating conditions in which we can invite you to invest in Guatemala and establish factories, work that can begin to produce and create jobs. That's fundamentally what we are most interested in," he said in the CBS News interview.
"We have to work to allow people, what we call, 'The right to stay.' People have a right to remain in their places. People need to find opportunities," the Guatemalan president added. He then addressed the upcoming US election, saying, "We are looking forward to working with whoever wins in the next election to support and work so that our citizens that are residents in the United States enjoy full rights."
He also talked about the rampant corruption that Guatemala is facing, telling the network, "We believe that corruption is the most urgent problem, but the most important problem is development. But if we do not fight corruption, we are not going to be able to get the development that we need so that people can flourish and stay."
US Government To Give $170 Million Assistance to Guatemala To Help Prevent Migration
Despite Bernardo Arevalo's recommendation that just outright giving countries money to fight immigration would not be enough, the US has now pledged that it will give Guatemala $170 million in migration prevention assistance.
Vice President Harris, however, clarified that this is just "part of the roadmap that the United States has implemented in the last three years to address the root causes of irregular migration from Central America."
US Leaders Discussed Migration Issues With Guatemala President Bernardo Arevalo
During their meeting, Harris was all praises for Arevalo, telling him, "Your leadership can help rebuild the Guatemalan people's trust in their institutions, and give them a sense of hope and opportunity."
Shortly after his meeting with Harris, Arevalo then met privately with President Biden at the Oval Office. According to the Associated Press, they "discussed good governance, effective migration management, the importance of upholding democracy, and other issues."
In addition, the Biden administration also announced that thanks to private sector commitments, the economic opportunity in the region has improved and has already generated $5.2 billion.
READ MORE: Who Is New Guatemala President Bernardo Arevalo and Why Are Traditional Politicians Going After Him?
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Written by: Rick Martin
WATCH: Vice President Harris Meets with President Bernardo Arévalo of Guatemala - The White House