‘Exodus must end’ vice-president says
Central American leaders told to do more to keep illegal migrants from U.S.
GUATEMALA CITY— U.S. VicePresident Mike Pence had a blunt message for three Central American governments: You must do more to stop migrants who enter the United States illegally. “This exodus must end,” Pence told the leaders of Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador late Thursday in a meeting in Guatemala City.
Pence said U.S. officials were working to keep families together and welcomed legal immigration from their countries, but he urged the presidents to “tell your people that coming to the United States illegally will only result in a hard journey and a harder life.” He made the comments to Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales, Salvadoran President Salvador Sanchez Ceren and Honduran President Juan Or- lando Hernandez, leaders of countries where economic struggles and violent crime have pushed many people to try to sneak into the U.S. in hopes of finding better lives.
The U.S. vice-president said the Trump administration “will always welcome” immigrants who follow the rules in getting permission to enter the U.S.
But, he added, the U.S. is determined to act strongly against those who don’t.
“It is a threat to the security of she United States, and just as we respect your borders and your sovereignty, we insist that you respect ours,” he said.
The three Central American countries are the home nations of most of the migrants detained and separated in recent weeks amid Trump administration policies that led to the separations of more than 2,000 children. Pence noted the White House’s decision to reverse the policies.
Sanchez Ceren of El Salvador said one of his ministers had confirmed the minors in the shelters had their basic needs covered, but emphasized that “it’s vital for their psychological health and their emotional health to reunite them immediately with their families.”
Honduras’ president said it is essential for his government to tackle the roots of migration and insecurity in a way that is not only good for the U.S. but good for the people of the Central American countries.
Earlier in the day, Pence was in Ecuador, whose leader he praised for improving relations with the U.S. He also urged President Lenin Moreno to hold a firm line against neighbouring Venezuela, which has been crumbling in economic and political crisis.