Today, the United States is launching a plan to address the root causes of irregular migration from Central America and to manage migration humanely throughout North and Central America. As President Biden announced shortly after taking office, the United States is committed to a multi-year, $4 billion, comprehensive, regional strategy to improve people's lives throughout the region. We are partnering with civil society, the private sector, labor unions, governments in the region, and international partners to carry out an effective strategy that achieves results. To address the root causes of irregular migration we are focusing our efforts on five areas:
(1) Address economic insecurity and inequality,
(2) Combat corruption, strengthen democratic governance, and advance the rule of law,
(3) Promote respect for human rights, labor rights, and a free press,
(4) Counter and prevent violence, extortion, and other crimes perpetrated by criminal gangs, trafficking networks, and other organized criminal organizations,
(5) Combat sexual, gender-based, and domestic violence.
The U.S. Government's complete Root Causes Strategy is available here: https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Root-Causes-Strategy.pdf
We are also pursuing a comprehensive approach to humanely manage migration and strengthen asylum processes throughout North and Central America. This collaborative focus will encourage greater responsibility sharing among regional governments and a broader range of international donors. It will also expand access to legal pathways to protection, family reunification, and temporary labor opportunities. The Collaborative Migration Management Strategy is the first U.S. government strategy to focus on strengthening cooperative efforts across North and Central America to humanely manage migration.
In working collaboratively with governments in the region, cooperation is centered on eight lines of action:
(1) Stabilize populations facing acute needs,
(2) Expand access to international protection,
(3) Expand access to protection in home countries,
(4) Expand access to temporary labor programs in the region while improving worker protections,
(5) Assist and reintegrate returned persons,
(6) Foster secure and humane border management,
(7) Strengthen regional public messaging on migration, and
(8) Support lawful pathways for protection and opportunity in the United States.
The U.S. Government's complete Collaborative Migration Management Strategy is available here: https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Collaborative-Migration-Management-Strategy.pdf
Our objective is to support people in Central America in their efforts to advance economically; live, work, and learn in safety and dignity; contribute to and benefit from the democratic process; reduce inequality; and create the futures they desire for themselves and their families. The success of these initiatives will strengthen U.S. national security and promote a more prosperous, democratic, and secure region.
