This Sunday, Latin American leaders will convene in Mexico to address unauthorized migration to the United States.
Mexico’s President, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, is hosting the meeting. It will take place in Palenque, a city in the southern state of Chiapas.
Palenque is a starting point for many people trying to escape poverty. Reports indicate that 32.3% of Latin Americans live in poverty.
In 2023 alone, about 1.7 million people have arrived at the U.S. border through Mexico. Most of them pay large sums to human traffickers.
These traffickers often have connections to drug cartels. A U.S. government source points out that human trafficking involves significant money.
Obrador emphasizes the need for regional agreement. He also sees the possibility of collaborating with the U.S. government.
Various leaders will attend the summit. These include heads of state from Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Venezuela.
Migrants from these nations often traverse the dangerous Darién jungle, situated between Colombia and Panama.
Mexico’s Foreign Minister, Alicia Bárcena, explains the summit’s goals. The leaders aim to improve social conditions to lessen migration.
They will also discuss U.S. sanctions on countries like Venezuela and Cuba. Furthermore, they plan to explore options for labor movement to the U.S.
Much Money Needed
Meanwhile, U.S. President Joe Biden has requested $13.6 billion from Congress. This money aims to strengthen the U.S.-Mexico border and manage migration.
It will also be used to fight against the drug fentanyl. A White House source warns that increasing border security is not enough.
The root causes of migration must also be addressed. Amnesty International has made a plea regarding the summit.
The organization calls for the safeguarding of asylum rights. It also urges an end to discrimination against migrants.
Migration expert Dolores Pombol states that the issue often serves as political leverage.
Until recently, Mexico accepted migrants expelled by U.S. Border Patrol.
These migrants stayed in a city called Ciudad Juárez, which connects Mexico and the U.S. They often tried multiple times to cross into the United States.