Blinken called for speaking with “one voice” in the face of the threat of Russian aggression. Photo: Johanna Geron/ EFE/ Pool
The United States is seeking a “firm” deal on migration with Latin American countries ahead of the next Americas Summit in Los Angeles in June, the US Secretary of State said on Wednesday. Anton Blinken.
Blinken, along with Minister of Internal Security Alejandro Mayorkas, attended a meeting in Panama with ministers from twenty Latin American countries to reach agreements to solve the problem of irregular migration in the region.
“Work will continue at the Summit of the Americas in June, where we hope leaders across the region will establish common principles for a common response to the issue of regional migration and displacement,” Blinken said before speaking to Ciudad of Panama left , at a press conference.
Blinken pointed out that the United States, along with Latin American governments, is trying to “lay the groundwork for a firm declaration” at the next Summit of the Americas that will envisage a “collaborative and coordinated response” to protect migrants.
During the meeting in Panama, Mayorkas said, “We demonstrated our nations’ commitment to solving and addressing the common challenge facing our region” to counter irregular migration.
“Permanent Strategies”
US President Joe Biden convened the June 6-10 Summit of the Americas in Los Angeles to promote democracy and isolate authoritarian governments in the region.
The record number of people around the world, often at the root of armed conflict, economic crises, climate change and poverty, are causing humanitarian crises that are causing growing concern in Washington.
During the Panama meeting, Blinken called for tackling the root causes of irregular migration and supporting countries like Colombia, Mexico, Panama and Costa Rica that are helping migrants.
The United States and Latin American governments are also trying to create legal avenues for migrants and, through international organizations, economic opportunities that create jobs and discourage irregular migration.
“We can make a profound difference in the lives of our most vulnerable fellow citizens and in the future of our region,” Blinken said.
For her part, Panamanian Foreign Minister Erika Mouynes took the view that the migratory phenomenon will increase due to the effects of climate change and the invasion of Ukraine.
“We cannot falter because reality triumphs. The strategies must be permanent and we must continue the work that has started,” said Mouynes.
avoid despair
US authorities arrested more than 221,000 people at the border with Mexico in March, the highest number in a single month in more than two decades.
Citizens of El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti and Honduras are fleeing extreme poverty, violence and natural disasters made worse by climate change.
In addition, the inhospitable Darién Jungle on the Panama-Colombia border is also a corridor for irregular migration.
In 2021, more than 133,000 people passed through this jungle of Panama on their way from South America to the United States
So far, 13,000 migrants have already passed it in 2022, more than twice as many as in the same period last year. They are mainly Venezuelans, Haitians, Senegalese and Cubans.
Mayorkas announced on the eve of a high-level meeting between Washington and Havana that the United States will seek to reactivate migration deals with Cuba that have been suspended.
“We will focus on how to avoid despair affecting these people and their families,” but tackling irregular migration is a “complex” problem that requires a “creative and unified” solution, Mayorkas said.
“The task is more difficult and urgent given the pandemic (of Covid-19) we are facing, natural disasters and climate change,” he added.
While almost 100 million people have fled their homes worldwide as part of the migration crisis. Attention is also turning to Ukraine, where 4.9 million people have fled since Russia invaded Ukraine in February.
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