Biden Administration Continues To Grapple With Situation At Border
ROMA, TX - APRIL 22: Asylum-seeking migrants' families disembark from an inflatable raft after crossing the Rio Grande river into the United States from Mexico on April 22, 2021 in Roma, Texas. A surge of mostly Central American immigrants crossing into the United States, including record numbers of children, has challenged U.S. immigration agencies along the U.S. southern border. Photo by Go Nakamura/Getty Images

During the virtual meeting with Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris stated that the United States will be releasing $310 million in aid to Central America.

The funds will be allocated to help the region as it struggles to curb and address the huge waves of migration to the North.

A statement released by the Office of the Vice President after the meeting said that an additional $310 million worth of humanitarian relief will be given by the U.S. government to address food insecurity. This is to lighten the burden and suffering of millions in Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador.

Harris is currently leading the White House's efforts in addressing the sudden increase of migrants trying to cross the U.S.-Mexico Border.

According to The New York Post, the vice president convened with Giammattei in a virtual meeting on Monday where they discussed the efforts taken to mitigate the crisis, including the $310 million humanitarian relief.

Harris also stated that she is planning to visit the Central American region in June.

Additional $310 Million Aid

The White House press office stated that the $310 million aid will include $125 million for mitigating the impact of food shortages, the drought, and the COVID-19 pandemic. The said problems have also greatly affected the worsening migration issues, Al Jazeera reported.

The U.S. will also allocate $104 million in aid for the safety and protection of asylum seekers and refugees. It will also help those who are displaced internally in the region.

Also, the U.S. will be giving $25 million to farmers in Guatemala, and another $30 million will be allocated for literacy programs and daily meals of school children.

Aside from these, Biden has also asked Congress to reserve $861 million to help address the causes of the sudden immigration influx from Central America. This is also part of the $4 billion plan of the administration for the region.

Biden's proposal is part of the budget for next year, which still needs to be discussed and approved by lawmakers.

Meanwhile, it was also agreed that the two parties will work together to tackle criminal organization activities that also affect migration. They also discussed opening migrant resource centers to establish legal and safe migration, Stars and Stripes reported.

Harris also gave Giammattei her word that the U.S. is planning to increase the aid in the region and that the White House is looking to strengthen cooperation to manage the situation properly. This will ensure that migration happens in a secure, effective, and humane manner.

Giammattei also agreed that these steps taken by the government may address the need to create hope in Guatemala and other countries in the region. He added that Guatemala is ready to work with the government to address the problems in the country.

The Guatemalan president also mentioned that he is looking forward to Harris visiting the country in June.

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