In March 2021, President Joe Biden assigned Vice President Kamala Harris to address the root causes of migration, particularly from Central American countries like Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras. Despite this, Harris’ public-facing work on immigration seemed to diminish within months. While she made a significant trip to Mexico in June 2021, signing an agreement that led to a commitment of billions of dollars in assistance and investment, she has not visited the southern border or the countries in the region since January 2022.
Critics have accused Harris of not delivering on her immigration-related responsibilities, particularly as the number of migrants crossing the border reached record levels under Biden. The Border Patrol union has expressed disappointment in her efforts, with some claiming that her work on addressing root causes of migration has not produced tangible results.
While the administration has defended Harris’ record, pointing to the investments made in the region and efforts to combat corruption and violence, some think tanks and experts are skeptical of the impact of her work. Migration from Central American countries has decreased since 2021, but other factors such as U.S. asylum policies and Mexican interdictions of migrants may have played a larger role in this decline.
Overall, while some progress has been made in addressing the root causes of migration in Central America, questions remain about the effectiveness of Harris’ initiatives and whether they have led to real change on the ground.
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