US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is poised to embark on a trip to Guatemala this week to engage in discussions concerning regional migration, announced the State Department on Sunday. Blinken will lead the US delegation for the regional meeting of the 2022 Los Angeles Declaration on Migration and Protection.
The visit underscores the Biden administration’s commitment to addressing migration issues, which have emerged as a critical bilateral concern. Previously, US President Joe Biden and Guatemalan President Bernardo Arevalo convened in March, announcing $170 million in US aid aimed at addressing migration challenges.
Highlighting the significance of the upcoming discussions, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller emphasized that Secretary Blinken will reflect on progress made in the past two years and outline future joint initiatives to enhance migration management, enforcement, and access to protection in the Americas. Blinken is slated to meet with President Arevalo and other regional leaders during his visit.
Migration has increasingly dominated political discourse in the US, with nearly 130,000 Guatemalans illegally crossing the US-Mexico border from October to February, according to the US Border Patrol. This surge in border crossings has fueled debates and heightened scrutiny, particularly among Republicans, including former President Donald Trump, who characterize the influx of immigrants as a national security threat.
The Biden administration faces mounting pressure to address the situation at the border, with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) grappling with operational challenges amid calls for increased border security funding. Against this backdrop, Blinken’s visit to Guatemala assumes significance as efforts to manage migration and bolster cooperation in the region intensify.