Joe Biden stated in his inaugural address at the Summit of the Americas in Los Angeles that “safe and orderly migration is good for all of our economies, including that of the United States.”
From June 6th to the 10th, the Summit of the Americas takes place, a meeting place for several leaders of the region to address different common problems.
Migration was supposedly not on the official agenda, but it was a recurring topic at the summit. President Joe Biden clarified his position on the matter: “Safe and orderly migration is good for all our economies, including the United States” and can be a catalyst for sustainable growth, but illegal migration is not acceptable.“ He added, ”We will strengthen our borders, including through innovative and coordinated action with our regional partners.”
What exactly is being referred to is still unknown, but what is certain are the various demonstrations that have taken place at this gathering. Hundreds of migrants are marching without much impact, due to the heavy military and police presence around the event sites. The demonstration aims to call for solutions to: immigration regulations, asylum seekers, and even those who have been in the United States for years with Temporary Protected Status (TPS) or in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken added that the U.S. is working with countries at the summit to try to reach «specific actions» they can take to address the problem, and he referred to a new migration document, called the Los Angeles Declaration, which the United States and other countries are expected to sign this week. Its aim is to explain how countries in the region and around the world should share the responsibility of hosting migrants.
Finally, US Vice President Kamala Harris announced two updates on Tuesday regarding her work to address the root causes of migration at the southern border. She spoke of economic opportunities, jobs, and investments in sectors such as agriculture and textiles, as well as empowering, training, and protecting women in these areas. The expectation is that these entities will take action and that their efforts will go beyond mere words and proposals.
Information from: CNN, EFE and La Opinión.