White House press secretary Jen Psaki admitted on Friday that the Biden government had not secured any ‘formal’ agreements with Central American countries to restrict migration to the US.
President Biden has proposed a $ 4 billion plan for countries in Central American countries, including Mexico, Guatemala and Honduras, to invest in dealing with what he calls the ’causes’ of the migration crisis, such as gang violence and economic instability.
Psaki presented the agreements on Monday, but Ricardo Zúñiga, special delegate for the Northern Triangle, testified before the Foreign Affairs Committee on Wednesday that no such agreements had been ‘concluded’.
HARRIS TO TRAVEL TO GUATEMALA, MEXICO TO MIDDLE CRITICISM ON BORDER CRISIS
“Whether it was a formal agreement, what not, and I never communicated it, these were steps that these countries indicated they were planning to take to increase staff and security to increase the number of migrants coming across the border. , ‘Psaki said during a press conference on Friday.
Migrants wanting to reach the U.S. are walking along a highway as they leave San Pedro Sula, Honduras, before dawn on Tuesday. (AP Photo / Delmer Martinez)
Psaki added that the White House had never described a ‘formal agreement’.
The press secretary said on Monday that the purpose of such agreements was to make it ‘more difficult’ for migrants to make the journey and cross the borders more difficult. ‘
She said it was’ reasonable to say ‘the White House concluded’ agreements’ with Mexico, Guatemala and Honduras in response to a question from a reporter who asked to specify terminology, but added that ‘these talks over a period of time takes place at various levels of government, both here and within these countries. ‘
EL SALVADOR PRESIDENT REFUSES TO MEET OFFERING MONEY ON IMMIGRATION CRISIS
Reuters reported Friday that the U.S. is considering a “conditional cash transfer program” to address what the White House believes is the economic woes that are causing migrants to undertake the trip to the U.S. southern border. The plan also involves sending COVID-19 vaccines to countries in Central America.
Roberta Jacobson, the White House’s outgoing southern border coordinator, told Reuters about the proposal, saying it would target Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador – three Northern Triangle countries that are the source of most of the current wave of migration across the country. US crashes. border.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
“We are looking at all the productive options to address both the economic reasons why people may migrate and the protection and security reasons,” Jacobson said.
Meanwhile, the US International Development Agency (USAID) told Reuters that it already uses cash transfers in Central America “to help people meet their basic needs” after recent hurricanes, and is considering extending such measures.
Adam Shaw of Fox News contributed to this report.