Guatemala City
The world leader who most often spoke to Vice President Kamala Harris about U.S. immigration policy sees her as a straight-talking, detail-oriented leader paying close attention to the long-standing reasons people leave his nation.
Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei, who is scheduled to host Harris here on Monday during her first international visit as Vice President, also says that the change of administration in Washington was exploited by human traffickers, known as "coyotes," who flew thousands of children to the U.S.-Mexico border within days of President Biden formally rescinding the Trump-era family separation poles. Giammattei wants American lawmakers toughen federal laws against traffickers, and is willing to extradite them for prosecution.
Harris, he added, is open to the concept and is also likely to reveal measures to collaborate with Guatemalan officials to prosecute drug traffickers and other international crimes. The White House wouldn't comment on those apparent intentions before the Vice President's trip on Friday.
Guatemala CityImmigration
CityImmigrationGuatemala During a bilingual interview with CBS News at the presidential mansion on Friday, he was asked if Guatemalans are abandoning their country now that Mr. Biden is president and Donald Trump is out of office.
He claimed the change in government led to a shift in message: "The message changed to, 'We're going to reunite families and we're going to reunite kids.'"
"The very next day, the coyotes here were establishing children's organisations to transport them to the United States.
"We asked the U.S. government to convey a clear message to prevent other people from fleeing," Giammattei said.
But U.S. and Central American leaders agree that other issues are also at stake. Two severe hurricanes devastated Guatemala last year, and climate change continues to bleed other regions of the country dry, making once-fertile soil unfit for families hoping to cultivate commodities to feed or sell and export. Illegal drug trafficking continues to flourish in the region, and domestic violence is a frequent push for women and children. Moreover, the COVID-19 epidemic made unstable economies more vulnerable.
"Most people stay in Guatemala. They want to be at home. They don't desire an extremely expensive vacation to the U.S. They try to relocate inside in the country, seeking jobs, "Mary McInerney, Children Save Country Director, told CBS News.
McInerney noted that a domestic travel ban to curb the spread of the virus has made it difficult for poor rural farm workers to travel from the northern highlands to the Pacific coast to help harvest sugar cane or to help harvest the nation's most lucrative coffee fields.
"More than anything, it's fundamentals, not food," she remarked. "I'd travel anywhere I had to go as a mother to make sure my kids had food to eat."
Giammattei described himself as "frustrated" by the sights of thousands of unaccompanied youngsters being detained after crossing the southern border at U.S. facilities. But he left his way to detail how his government, in charge since January 2019, has redoubled efforts to work with American authorities to curb the influx.
He highlighted several times that the biggest reason his compatriots chose to emigrate is lack of economic opportunity. That distinguishes his country from neighbouring El Salvador and Honduras, where he claimed violence, fuelled by illegal drug trafficking, is a main push factor.
As for discrepancies with Harris about how to respond to the causes of the immigration crisis, Giammattei stressed that they are fundamental, not personal. When discussing what he believes is a mistaken focus on government corruption, he became very passionate. In recent weeks, Harris has visited with former Guatemalan prosecutors and judges dismissed from office or not reappointed by the national assembly. Giammattei and his political allies have questioned some of those previous judicial officials' political leanings and the effectiveness of their function, but their dismissal comes with other threats to judicial independence around Latin America, notably El Salvador.
But Giammattei believes corruption affects all parts of society, including corporate and non-governmental organisations, whose leaders he said earn heavy wages.
"Who's the biggest corrupter on corruption? There's someone else more corrupt than a government like ours, "He's claimed. "Traffickers Narco."
For years, Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras have been referred to as the Northern Triangle, a triumvirate of Central America's western portion. In the past, some regional leaders have tried using the divide to negotiate regional trade or security accords.
But in the interview, Giammattei branded the word "an insult" and is actively seeking distance between his country and his two eastern neighbours as political events deteriorate. El Salvador is governed by Nayib Bukele, an outspoken leader who actively consolidates power, attacks critics through social media, including American congressmen, and has a hot-and-cold relationship with Biden administration officials. Honduras is led by Juan Orlando Hernández, whose brother was convicted to life imprisonment in U.S. drug trafficking charges in March.
Privately, Biden administration officials admit that, given the region's political instability, Guatemala is the worst option for an immigration partner. Giammattei seems satisfied the primary partner.
"There's a mistake in the United States. They looked at us like their garden. That's the error. We're the front-yard, "He's said. "And if the front yard is awful, how's the house? If you're all looking after your front yard, how's your house?"
Asked if he had discussed his concerns with Harris about the Northern Triangle distinction, he responded on Monday.
Fin Gómez, Alex Pena and Tim Perry contributed.
Guatemala City is the site of the Mayan city of Kaminaljuyu, established in 1500 BC.
[citation needed] Following the Spanish invasion, a new town was established, and in 1776 it was designated capital of the Kingdom of Guatemala. In 1821, Guatemala City was the location of the proclamation of independence of Central America from Spain, following which it became the capital of the newly founded United Provinces of Central America (later the Federal Republic of Central America) (later the Federal Republic of Central America). [citation needed] In 1847, Guatemala declared itself an independent republic, with Guatemala City as its capital. The city was initially located in what is now Antigua Guatemala, and was transferred to its current position in 1777. [7] Guatemala City and the original location in Antigua Guatemala were nearly completely devastated by the 1917–18 earthquakes. Reconstructions following the earthquakes have resulted in a more modern architectural landscape. [citation needed]
Today, Guatemala City is the political, cultural, and economic heart of Guatemala. It is served by La Aurora International Airport.
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