Vice President Kamala Harris confirmed this week that fundamental issues at the heart of North America’s immigration crisis were “not discussed” with Mexican officials during her trip south of the border.
“Vice President Kamala Harris on Tuesday said that Mexico’s refusal to take back some migrant families turned away from the U.S. was not even discussed in her meetings with Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador – as she unveiled a number of U.S. investments in Mexico and the Northern Triangle,” reports Fox News.
“While she said she had discussions about the need ‘to re-examine travel restrictions’ and Mexico issuing work visas for people entering its southern border, she did not mention the vexing issue of Title 42 returnees until the reporter followed up,” adds Fox.
“I want to be clear to folks in this region who are thinking about making that dangerous trek to the United States-Mexico border: Do not come. Do not come.”
— VP Kamala Harris during news conference with Guatemalan president Alejandro Giammattei pic.twitter.com/dYNwu7STbS
— The Recount (@therecount) June 7, 2021
“We did not discuss Title 42,” Harris then responded.
“Do I declare this trip a success?” Harris said. “Yes, I do.”
Read the full report at Fox News.
BUSY SCHEDULE: Joe Biden Hits the Beach as Kamala Heads to Central America
Joe Biden flew to his beach retreat in Delaware Wednesday to celebrate First Lady Jill Biden’s 70th birthday, according to The Hill.
“President Biden arrives to Rehoboth Beach, DE, spending a few days at home to celebrate first lady Jill Biden’s 70th birthday,” writes the Hill on social media.
YESTERDAY: President Biden arrives to Rehoboth Beach, DE, spending a few days at home to celebrate first lady Jill Biden's 70th birthday pic.twitter.com/7lE6oRODEm
— The Hill (@thehill) June 3, 2021
Biden’s beach vacation comes as Kamala Harris plans to visit Guatemala and Mexico early next week to discuss the escalating humanitarian and legal crisis taking place along the US-Mexico Border.
Watch Biden arrive in Delaware above.
DIPLOMATIC DISASTER: Harris Blames Migrant Surge on Climate, Guatemalan Pres Says It’s Biden’s Fault
From Fox News:
Vice President Kamala Harris’ staff on Sunday insisted that the “main drivers” of the migrant surge to the southern border are climate and the economy – as Harris arrived in Guatemala and after the Guatemalan president blamed the change in U.S. administrations for the crisis.
Harris spokesperson Symone Sanders told reporters that climate and the economy were among the “main drivers” of the surge in migrants that saw more than 178,000 migrants hit the border in April alone – a number that continued a spike in February and March.
Officials also emphasized the role corruption plays in forcing migrants to make the journey north.
“We see corruption as one of the most important root causes to be dealt with,” special envoy Richard Zuniga said.
Critics have blamed the Biden administration’s rollback of Trump-era border restrictions and interior enforcement policies that they say have sent the signal to migrants that the border is open. The Biden administration has denied that, saying that the border is closed. Instead, it has emphasized the “root causes” of the crisis – focusing on climate, poverty, crime and corruption in Central America.
Harris, who was put in charge of diplomatic outreach to solve the crisis in March, has also emphasized the “root causes.”
“I’m thinking of corruption, violence and poverty, the lack of economic opportunity, the lack of climate adaptation and climate resilience, the lack of good governance,” she said last month.
Read the full report here.