Date: Apr 04, 2019
Contact:
Lily Folkerts, Program Associate
(202) 546 – 7010 | lfolkerts@lawg.org
April 4, 2019
Press Release: LAWG Joins Over 40 U.S. NGOs to Express Deep Concern over the Trump Administration’s Latest Actions on Central America that Will Fuel Migration, Not Address It
Washington D.C.–The Latin America Working Group (LAWG) joins over 40 U.S.-based faith, human rights, foreign policy, humanitarian, immigrant rights and border-based civil society organizations in a statement to express deep concern over the Trump Administration’s latest actions on Central America including the wholesale cutoffs of assistance to Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador.
The statement reads, “The administration’s proposal to cut off programming that specifically addresses the root causes of migration—much of which is implemented via international organizations, humanitarian aid organizations, local governments, and civil society organizations—is counterproductive and misguided. It does not reflect the ongoing humanitarian crisis on the ground and will further increase forced migration. Cutting off assistance also sends the message that the governments of the region should prevent their citizens from leaving, even when they are fleeing danger and seeking international protection. Under international law, every individual has the right to freedom of movement and the right to leave their home country to seek protection from persecution.”
The statement also expresses concern over of a new regional compact between the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the three Central American governments, particularly regarding the absence of the State Department at this meeting and in the future implementation of this agreement and the security-only approach the compact seems to promote.
Signatories to the statement urge the administration to reconsider its proposal to cut anti-corruption, anti-poverty, and anti-violence assistance to Central America and urge members of Congress to ensure that this assistance is fully implemented according to law.
Full statement and list of signatories here.
