G’mala prez: Gotta get tougher, Joe
The president of Guatemala places the blame for the US-border crisis squarely on President Biden and the Democrats’ “lukewarm” rhetoric on illegal immigration — adding that he urged Vice President Kamala Harris during their meeting to impose harsher penalties on human smuggling.
President Alejandro Giammattei made the comments in an interview Wednesday with Fox News after his summit with Harris, who visited his Central American nation as part of her first foreign visit in office.
“Well, humanitarian messages were used here by the coyotes in a distorted manner because what they said over there was that they will promote family reunification,” Giammattei explained, appearing to refer to Biden’s messaging on immigration during the campaign.
“So the coyotes came and took the children and the teenagers to the United States and the borders were full, not only with people from Guatemala, but with a lot of people from all over,” he continued. “Which is why our proposal is that messages should be clear.
“The vice president sent a clear message yesterday of ‘Do not come because we will not let you in.’ That’s a clear message — but if you have a lukewarm message, it only creates the opportunity to misinterpret.”
Giammattei’s remarks came as US Customs and Border Protection announced Wednesday that 180,034 migrants were encountered while trying to cross the border with Mexico in May.
The figure marked an increase over the 178,000 counted in April and 173,000 in March — all of which are among the highest numbers in years.
During a Monday press conference with Giammattei, Harris said, “I want to be clear to folks in this region who are thinking about making that dangerous trek to the United States-Mexico border: Do not come, do not come.”
“The United States will continue to enforce our laws, and secure our border. There are legal methods by which migration can and should occur, but we, as one of our priorities, will discourage illegal migration,” she continued. “And I believe if you come to our border, you will be turned back.”
Journalist Sara Carter, who conducted the interview with Giammattei, told Fox host Sean Hannity that the president told her he wanted bilateral cooperation with the US on immigration-related matters.
Specifically, according to Carter, Giammattei said he suggested to Harris that the US include stronger federal charges against traffickers and coyotes.
Reps for the White House and Harris did not immediately respond to The Post’s request for comment on Giammattei’s remarks.
The Biden administration’s undoing of former President Donald Trump’s border policies has prompted a flood of Central American and Mexican illegal migrants at the US border, including thousands of unescorted children.
As the crisis heated up, Biden tapped Harris to address the diplomatic measures related to the “root causes” of migration. However, despite intense pressure, she has still refused to visit the border months later to surveil the situation for herself.