by Jenn Carter
This year has witnessed an unprecedented invasion of foreigners across the U.S. Southern border, as caravans of migrants and illegal aliens, mainly from Central America have flooded through Mexico en route to a wide-open American border, and totally understaffed and unprepared Border Patrol.
The numbers have been an absolute nightmare for the United States, blowing past any prior year on record:
On May 31st, President Trump threatened Mexico with massive tariffs on their goods unless they immediately took major actions to stop this invasion.
And just 8 days later, Mexico capitulated, agreeing to a broad swath of measures — from troops to detentions to holding tens of thousands of asylum-seekers in Mexico while their (mostly dubious) claims were settled.
Now the Trump Administration is punishing the nations from where most of these invaders came for doing next to nothing to prevent or curtail the flood.
The U.S. State Department on Monday announced it was suspending $200 million in aid to Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala — and possibly even diverting the funds to border projects — until those countries also take major steps to stop the caravans of illegals.
DoS Spokesperson Morgan Ortagus announced this to a stunned media throng :
“I have a quick update for you on U.S. foreign assistance to the Northern Triangle countries of El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras. As you know, in March, the President concluded these countries have not effectively prevented illegal migrants from coming to the United States.
”AdvertisementWe will not provide new funds for programs in those countries until we are satisfied the Northern Triangle governments are taking concrete actions to reduce the number of illegal migrants coming to the U.S. border.
Working with Congress, we will reprogram those funds to other priorities as appropriate. This is consistent with the President’s direction and with the recognition that it is critical that there be sufficient political will in these countries to address the problem at its source. As Secretary Pompeo has said, these nations have the responsibility to take care of the immigration problems in their home country.”
Democrats in Congress are going to lose their minds over the “reprogram” of funds directive, but there is little they can do to stop it, short of a lawsuit.
As with Mexico, Trump has shown he is willing to upend decades of inaction by prior presidents, in order to force our “neighbors” to do the right thing and stop this destructive invasion of our border.
If they don’t they will pay…BIG time.
