AMERICA/GUATEMALA - The US Vice President Kamala Harris advises against emigration: Bishops are calling for solutions to structural causes

Wednesday, 9 June 2021 emigration human rights episcopal conferences

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Guatemala City (Agenzia Fides) - "Don't come, don't come!" was the unequivocal invitation from Vice President of the United States of America, Kamala Harris, at the conclusion of her visit to Guatemala.
Following her meeting with Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei on Monday June 7th, Harris promised better cooperation with Guatemala in order to jointly manage migration to the United States, but warned against organizing further caravans to the United States.
At the press conference following the private meeting with the Guatemalan President, Kamala Harris stressed the challenge remains and pledged to initiate substantive talks with the Presidents of Guatemala and Mexico during her three-day visit to the region. "I would like to emphasize that the goal of our work is to help Guatemalans to find promising prospects in their homeland", said Harris
"At the same time, I would like to make it clear to the people in this region who are planning the dangerous journey to the American-Mexican border: Don't come, don't come".
The Human Mobility Commission of the Guatemalan Bishops' Conference, meanwhile, wrote to the United States in an open letter, also addressed to the Vice President: "Irregular migration is the product of a failed economic and political system, which has not given the priority to the solution of the structural causes that originate these migrations", says the text of the Bishops.
"Guatemala lacks an immigration policy", stressed the Guatemala Bishops' Conference (CEG) in various circumstances, repeatedly pointing out that "corruption, impunity, exclusion, injustice, neglect and a lack of opportunities are the main obstacles to development". "We demand - said the Bishops - that political leaders as well as national and transnational companies meet their responsibilities. This is the only way to tackle the migration problem based on the causes of forced migration".
The fight against corruption, crime and violence were the other topics discussed in the meeting with President Alejandro Giammattei. Before going to Mexico, the US vice president also met with the leaders of the agricultural and business community for some investment and development initiatives. (CE) (Agenzia Fides, 9/6/2021)