Letter To President-Elect Biden on Central America Policy – The Americas Program

MORE THAN 70 ORGANIZATIONS CALL FOR BIDEN TO OVERHAUL U.S. POLICIES TOWARDS CENTRAL AMERICA THAT FORCE PEOPLE TO LEAVE THE REGION AND RESPECT THE HUMAN RIGHTS OF MIGRANTS

“Citing the “widespread devastation caused by hurricanes Eta and Iota” as well as the COVID-19 pandemic, faith-based organizations, immigrants rights organizations, and groups focused on US-Latin America policy are telling Biden: “We support and will hold you to your commitment to reverse the Trump administration’s draconian immigration policies and respect the human rights of migrants,” warning also that his plan for the region will continue policies “that have contributed to poverty, inequality and violence” in the region.”

In addition to raising concerns about Biden’s “Plan to Build Security and Prosperity in Partnership with the People of Central America,” their letter to the incoming Biden administration traces some inhumane immigration and border militarization policies, including separation of parents from children, and the promotion of Plan Frontera Sur, back to the Obama administration, making it clear that simply reversing Trump’s agenda will simply not be enough.

The organizations propose specific policy changes, calling on Biden to also re-think US security policy in the region, end support for extractive and exploitative development models, and to adopt a non-ideological approach, given that the persistent “backing and protection of corrupt right-wing actors with questionable democratic credentials has contributed to human rights abuses and inequality in the region.”

Letter To President-Elect Biden on Central America Policy – The Americas Program