In recent years, the United States has seen an undeniable crisis take shape on its southern border. The thousands that regularly cross it have left resources strained, especially since congressional Democrats have refused to adequately fund detention centers.
The Trump administration has pushed ahead with using funds from the Department of Defense to build a border barrier. It has also turned to several other countries for assistance.
On Wednesday, the Department of Homeland Security announced a new agreement with Honduras which will permit the U.S. to send asylum seekers from third countries who passed through Honduras on the way to the U.S. back to that nation to seek protected status there.
“Once the agreement enters into force, it will further enhance asylum and protection capacity in Honduras,” the announcement promised.
Working together
“Using best practices developed by the United States and the international community, the two countries will collaborate to increase protection options for vulnerable populations. The United States and Honduras will work together to ensure that these vulnerable populations are not victimized by smugglers,” the statement added.
Similar asylum deals have also been reached with El Salvador and Guatemala.
“El Salvador is a critical partner for the United States in promoting the security and prosperity of Central America, and has been a reliable partner in the Northern Triangle,” Acting Homeland Security Kevin McAleenan said when discussing the pact with that nation at a press conference last week. “This agreement today is one significant step forward.”
The deal with Guatemala notably also included an offer for that country’s citizens to apply for temporary visas for employment in the American agricultural sector.
Critical cooperation
At the time of the agreement with El Salvador, Minister of Foreign Affairs Alexandra Hill Tinoco declared, “My president, President Bukele, since day one changed this policy 180-degreees,” he insisted. “We are now allied with the United States after a more than a decade of a government that was pro-Chavez, and we are working every single day to try to solve this issue of people who, by various reasons, reasons of insecurity or reasons of death threats, are forced to leave our country.”
This isn’t the first time that other nations have been recruited to stem the flow of migrants.
In May, President Trump threatened Mexico with increased tariffs unless that country strengthened its own southern border, a strategy that seems to have produced results.
The Guardian reports that illegal crossings of migrants through Mexico have since dropped by more than half.
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