No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeTopicsCrimeUS expands refugee program for El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras

US expands refugee program for El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras

WASHINGTON D.C. — The United States is to expand its refugee resettlement program to cover citizens of El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras, Secretary of State John Kerry said Wednesday.

These three Central American countries are suffering from drought and an intense crime wave, pushing thousands to seek a better life by heading north and crossing the U.S. border illegally.

Kerry, in a speech at the National Defense University laying out U.S. foreign policy priorities for 2016, said allowing people from these countries to apply for asylum as refugees would offer a safer option for the most vulnerable migrants.

The U.S. Refugee Admissions Program would, he said, “offer them a safe and legal alternative to the dangerous journey many are currently tempted to begin, making them easy prey for human smugglers who have no interest but their own profits.”

“Global efforts also need to focus on ways to better integrate refugees into foreign communities, to help them regain their dignity after the turmoil they’ve endured,” he said.

“That’s why measures to help refugees build self-reliance through education and opportunities for legal employment are so important, so that the men, women and children who come to our nations are better equipped to contribute to the communities that welcome them.”

The United States plans to admit 85,000 refugees from around the world during the 2016 fiscal year, but had previously planned on welcoming only 3,000 from Latin America and the Caribbean.

Kerry did not say how many more from El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras might be accepted under the new policy, but the refugee program has a reserve of 6,000 places not allocated to regions to provide flexibility.

Refugees have long been seen primarily as fleeing war or political persecution, but the gravest problem now driving thousands from Central America is gang violence linked to trafficking and extortion rackets.

In Guatemala, there were 5,924 homicides in 2014 while Honduras saw 5,936. El Salvador experienced more than 6,000 last year — with reportedly the highest per-capita rate in the world — including massacres targeting employees and passengers on public transport, which is subject to gang extortion.

The State Department said it would work with the U.N. refugee agency (UNHCR) and others on the ground to identify at-risk families and individuals and bring them to the United States for resettlement as permanent residents.

“We will collaborate with UNHCR and its NGO partners to identify persons in need of refugee protection: people targeted by criminal gangs, human rights defenders who have been targeted, and others,” it said in a fact sheet issued after Kerry had spoken.

“We also continue to explore additional options, including for those who may be at imminent risk of harm.”

The Obama administration has faced sharp criticism from Democratic politicians this year for its recent raids targeting scores of recently arrived undocumented immigrants.

Trending Now

Nicaragua Hosts Historic 2025 AmeriCup Basketball Tournament

The 2025 AmeriCup, the men’s basketball Copa América, tips off this Friday in Nicaragua, marking the most significant international sporting event in the country’s...

Fan Violence in Latin American Football Spurs Debate on Security and Culture

Images of a fan jumping from the stands to escape a beating as bottles, rocks and seats fly through the air at a game...

Air Canada Strike Extends Flight Cancellations to Costa Rica

Air Canada has backtracked on plans to restart flights after its flight attendants chose to continue striking, leaving travelers — including those heading to...

Costa Rica Drivers Face Yearlong Delays as Tárcoles Bridge Undergoes Repairs

Those who frequently use the South Coast Highway, near the Tárcoles river, will have to be more patient.  Repair works have started on the...

Route 32 Reopens Following Preventive Closure Over Landslide Risk

Route 32, which connects San José with Limón, was reopened this morning after being closed for nearly 12 hours as a preventive measure due...

Earthquake Shakes Costa Rica’s Central Valley

An earthquake shook Costa Rica early Friday morning. The tremor occurred at 12:45 a.m. with a magnitude of 4.4. Its epicenter was located 1...
spot_img
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Rocking Chait
Costa Rica Travel

Latest News from Costa Rica