Republicans are reacting with anger and disbelief to a bid by the Biden government to send cash payments to Central America as a way to combat the migrant crisis – and describe the plan as ‘madness’.
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 shipping COVID-19 vaccines to countries in Central America.
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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.
“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.
But Jacobson did not say who would receive the cash or how it would work, but promised that the government “will not hand out money or checks to people”.
Biden has previously proposed major financial injections in Central American countries – pushing a $ 4 billion plan to invest in dealing with what he calls the “causes” of the crisis, such as gang violence and economic instability.
Meanwhile, the US International Development Agency (USAID) told Reuters it already uses cash transfers in Central America “to help people meet their basic needs” after recent hurricanes, and is considering extending such measures.
One option is to channel cash through non-governmental organizations that will “vet” them, a source said.
But at a time when many Americans are still struggling with the economic downturn associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, and the US spends millions every week to feed its own citizens in the Central American countries, Republicans were furious about the plan.
“President Biden wants to try to buy our way out of his border crisis with taxpayer money,” tweeted Kevin McCarthy, leader of the House. “The administration spends $ 60 million a week and now wants to launch a cash transfer program in Central America. It insults millions of unemployed Americans in our country.”
Republican whip Steve Scalise, R-La., Meanwhile, noted that the program is in addition to a New York program that was implemented this week to give $ 15,000 payments to some illegal immigrants.
“Let me correct this: real American citizens are struggling. But Dems wants to send cash payments to people in Central America. And if you’re an illegal immigrant in New York? NY Dems you want to give $ 15,600,” he tweeted. “This is madness.”
Donald Trump Jr., was more concise in his critique of the plan: “You can not make these bulls – up !!!”
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The controversy over the plan is the latest criticism of the Biden handling of the migration crisis at the southern border. More than 172,000 migrants were encountered at the border in March, including a record number of unaccompanied children – leading to scenes of full migrant shelters.
The Biden administration despised the boom as a ‘challenge’ and blamed the Trump administration for breaking down legal avenues for asylum and failing to prepare for the numbers that had been rising for months.