The United States is seeking to reach a "firm" agreement on migration with Latin American countries ahead of the upcoming Summit of the Americas in Los Angeles in June, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday.
«The work will continue at the Summit of the Americas, where we hope that leaders from across the region will establish shared principles for a joint response to the issue of regional migration and displacement,» Blinken said at a press conference before leaving Panama City. The summit, convened by U.S. President Joe Biden, is scheduled to take place in Los Angeles from June 6 to 10 and will focus on the idea of “building a sustainable, resilient, and equitable future” for the Americas.
The meeting of foreign ministers from the region, held in Panama, focused on the theme of "shared responsibility" in addressing the thousands of migrants who irregularly attempt to reach the United States each year.
The number of people displaced around the world is increasing, some of the reasons being: armed conflicts, economic crises, climate change and poverty, thus causing humanitarian crises.
During the meeting in Panama, a call was made to combat the root causes of irregular migration and to support countries such as Colombia, Mexico, Panama, and Costa Rica, which are assisting migrants.
The United States and Latin American governments are also seeking to create legal routes for migrants and offer economic opportunities, with the help of international organizations, that generate employment and reduce migration.
Speaking about the U.S. strategy, Blinken said that part of the plan is to address the root causes of irregular immigration: “What drives people to make the decision to leave their homes, their families, their country, everything they know, to undertake an extremely dangerous journey?” However, he insisted that this problem must be addressed in a “sustainable” way.
For her part, Panamanian Foreign Minister Erika Mouynes believes that the migratory phenomenon will increase, driven by the effects of climate change and the invasion of Ukraine.
«"We cannot falter because reality prevails. Strategies must be permanent, and we must continue the work we have begun," he said.
In this regard, US authorities detained more than 221,000 people at the border with Mexico in March, the highest number in a single month since February 2000. These detainees are citizens of El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, and Honduras, who are fleeing extreme poverty, violence, and natural disasters exacerbated by climate change.
In his remarks, U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas said, «We need to think regionally about how to stem the flow of migrants,» and emphasized that the U.S. has several programs for immigrants who arrive legally. “Those who do not meet the requirements will continue to be repatriated,” he stated. Mayorkas described the U.S. strategy as a multi-component plan, creating “orderly and safe routes so that people don’t have to risk their lives.”.
Although the main theme of the meeting, which was attended by ministries from 22 countries across the continent, was the search for mechanisms to reduce irregular migration, issues such as the fight against corruption and the rule of law in the region were also addressed.
News report based on information from France 24 and Voice of America.