The Trump administration entered into an “asylum cooperation agreement” with El Salvador on Friday. The agreement will require asylum seekers who enter El Salvador to first request protective status there and will pave the way for American assistance in El Salvador’s efforts to grow the capacity of its own asylum system.
Acting Department of Homeland Security Secretary McAleenan described the agreement as an extension of the successful efforts the administration has already made with Guatemala with regard to asylum-seeking migrants. The idea behind the pact is to “try to further our efforts to provide opportunities to seek protection for political, racial, religious or social group persecution as close as possible to the origin of individuals that need it,” McAleenan said.
While the earlier agreement with Guatemala was more in line with a “safe third country” scenario meant to compel immigrants to seek asylum there rather than passing through to Mexico en route to the U.S. border, McAleenan said that the El Salvador deal has more to do with helping get El Salvador ready to provide necessary protections and resources for asylum seekers.
“The core of [the agreement] is recognizing El Salvador’s development of their own asylum system and a commitment to help them build that capacity,” McAleenan said.
El Salvador’s role in crisis
El Salvadorean officials recognize that the epidemic of gang violence plaguing the country makes it a place many people are clamoring to leave rather than a place of refuge. This agreement is designed to help alleviate that situation and foster more hospitable circumstances for migrants.
At present, more than four people a day on average are killed by gun violence in El Salvador, but that represents a decline from last year’s daily average of nine victims. It is hoped that continued improvement on this front may lead to fewer people attempting to leave the country and head toward the U.S. border.
El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele, who took office in June, acknowledged that his country bears some responsibility for the immigration nightmare plaguing the U.S., including tragedies such as that of the El Salvadoran father and daughter who drowned in the Rio Grande trying to cross the U.S. southern border illegally, a story which grabbed international headlines in June.
“We can blame any other country but what about our blame?” he asked. “What country did they flee? Did they flee the United States? They fled El Salvador, they fled our country. It is our fault.”
Details remain unclear
“Irregular immigration has been an issue in El Salvador for the last 30-odd years, now we’ve reached levels where it is extremely, extremely important that both the United States and El Salvador deal with this issue conjointly,” El Salvadoran Foreign Minister Alexandra Hill told reporters.
Hill views the agreement with the U.S. as a strategy to get better control over the factors driving immigration. If fewer people feel threatened by gang violence or oppressed by extreme poverty, they will be less inclined to flee to America or another country.
While the agreement sounds encouraging at first glance, it is worth noting that few specifics have been released thus far about what McAleenan touted as bilateral initiatives to combat drug trafficking, organized crime, human smuggling and a lack of economic opportunity in El Salvador.
Without many details about precisely the sort of assistance the U.S. will be offering, skeptics wonder whether this agreement will have a significant impact. Hopefully, America’s outreach to El Salvador will be in the vein of “teach a man to fish,” rather than the “eat for a day” variety.
1,335 Responses
After looking at a handful of the blog articles on your web site, I really appreciate your way of blogging. I book-marked it to my bookmark site list and will be checking back in the near future. Take a look at my web site too and tell me what you think.
Hello gentleman do you’ve got new links ? I enjoy article evolve for my friend ‘ ..
May I just say what a relief to find somebody who genuinely understands what they’re talking about online. You definitely understand how to bring a problem to light and make it important. More and more people must look at this and understand this side of the story. I can’t believe you’re not more popular because you most certainly possess the gift.
This is really appealing, You’re an incredibly effective writer. I’ve registered with your feed and furthermore , look forward to viewing all of your incredibly good write-ups. In addition, We have shared your web page throughout our social networking sites.
When I originally commented I clicked the -Notify me when new comments are added- checkbox and already when a comment is added I receive four emails with similar comment. Perhaps there is in whatever way it is possible to get rid of me from that service? Thanks!
Hello there! This post couldn’t be written any better! Reading this post reminds me of my previous room mate! He always kept talking about this. I will forward this post to him. Fairly certain he will have a good read. Many thanks for sharing!
What i don’t understood is actually how you are no longer actually much more smartly-preferred than you may be right now. You are so intelligent. You recognize thus significantly in relation to this subject, produced me in my opinion imagine it from so many varied angles. Its like men and women aren’t fascinated unless it is one thing to accomplish with Woman gaga! Your individual stuffs nice. All the time take care of it up!
Wow, superb blog layout! How long have you been blogging for? you made blogging look easy. The overall look of your web site is wonderful, let alone the content!
hello!,I really like your writing so so much! percentage we keep up a correspondence more approximately your article on AOL? I require an expert on this house to resolve my problem. May be that’s you! Taking a look ahead to see you.
excellent points altogether, you simply gained a emblem new reader. What may you suggest in regards to your publish that you simply made some days ago? Any certain?
Aw, this was an extremely good post. Taking a few minutes and actual effort to produce a really good article… but what can I say… I procrastinate a lot and never manage to get anything done.
Magnificent beat ! I would like to apprentice while you amend your site, how could i subscribe for a blog site? The account aided me a acceptable deal. I had been tiny bit acquainted of this your broadcast offered bright clear idea
Next time I read a blog, Hopefully it does not disappoint me just as much as this particular one. I mean, I know it was my choice to read, nonetheless I genuinely thought you would probably have something interesting to talk about. All I hear is a bunch of moaning about something you could possibly fix if you weren’t too busy looking for attention.
Nice post. I was checking constantly this blog and I am impressed! Very helpful information specifically the last part 🙂 I care for such info a lot. I was seeking this certain info for a long time. Thank you and best of luck.
I was able to find good advice from your blog posts.
This is a topic which is near to my heart… Take care! Exactly where are your contact details though?
Great info. Lucky me I ran across your website by chance (stumbleupon). I’ve book-marked it for later!
Hello! I just would like to give you a big thumbs up for your excellent info you have right here on this post. I’ll be returning to your website for more soon.
Hello there, I discovered your blog via Google even as looking for a comparable matter, your web site got here up, it appears good. I have bookmarked it in my google bookmarks.
Saved as a favorite, I really like your website!
My partner and I absolutely love your blog and find many of your post’s to be precisely what I’m looking for. Would you offer guest writers to write content available for you? I wouldn’t mind writing a post or elaborating on a lot of the subjects you write about here. Again, awesome site!
I needed to thank you for this very good read!! I absolutely enjoyed every little bit of it. I’ve got you saved as a favorite to check out new stuff you post…
Good day! I just wish to offer you a big thumbs up for the excellent information you have right here on this post. I’ll be returning to your blog for more soon.
I’m really enjoying the theme/design of your website. Do you ever run into any browser compatibility problems? A number of my blog visitors have complained about my site not working correctly in Explorer but looks great in Firefox. Do you have any solutions to help fix this issue?
Hi there! I just would like to give you a huge thumbs up for your great information you have got right here on this post. I’ll be coming back to your web site for more soon.
I will immediately take hold of your rss as I can not in finding your email subscription link or e-newsletter service. Do you’ve any? Please permit me understand in order that I may just subscribe. Thanks.
I like what you guys are up too. Such smart work and reporting! Carry on the superb works guys I’ve incorporated you guys to my blogroll. I think it will improve the value of my web site 🙂
It’s hard to come by knowledgeable people on this subject, however, you sound like you know what you’re talking about! Thanks
Aw, this was a really good post. Spending some time and actual effort to make a top notch article… but what can I say… I procrastinate a whole lot and never manage to get nearly anything done.
This is a very good tip particularly to those fresh to the blogosphere. Brief but very accurate info… Thank you for sharing this one. A must read article!
Fantastic website. Plenty of useful information here. I’m sending it to a few friends ans also sharing in delicious. And obviously, thanks for your sweat!
This is a topic which is near to my heart… Many thanks! Exactly where are your contact details though?