The government of Biden announced on Monday that it had reached agreements with the governments of Mexico, Honduras and Guatemala that these countries should step up the enforcement of migration against the border with the United States.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the three countries had increased their numbers of police officers and troops to deter migrants, including families with children, from making a dangerous journey north.
Mexico has told the United States that it will maintain 10,000 soldiers on its own southern border to double the number of migrants preventing it from traveling north, Ms Psaki said. Guatemala has added 1,500 soldiers to its border with Honduras and has set up a series of a dozen checkpoints along the route that many migrants take on their way to the United States.
She also said that Honduras recently “increased” 7,000 police and troops to disperse a contingent of migrants who had gathered to travel north in search of refuge.
“The aim is to make the journey more difficult and to make it more difficult to cross the border,” said Ms. Psaki.
The announcement of the agreements reflected several made by the Trump administration. In the summer of 2019, President Donald J. Trump agreed to drop his threat to impose tariffs on Mexico after the country agreed to send thousands of troops to intercept migrants making their way north to the United States border Find.
Ms. Psaki recognized the work of Roberta Jacobson, a former US ambassador to Mexico who served as senior border advisor on the National Security Council. Ms. Jacobson said last week that she intended to leave the administration by the end of the month as originally planned.
The Biden government has repeatedly stated that part of combating illegal immigration from Central American countries is to work diplomatically to reduce the crime, corruption and poverty that often drive people to leave their homes, to seek refuge.
President Biden last month appointed Vice President Kamala Harris with long-term efforts to improve conditions in the region. The agreements with the countries are an early test of the cooperation Ms. Harris needs to carry out this mission.
“These discussions last for a period of time and take place at different levels of government both here and in these countries,” Ms Psaki said.
