Homeland Security Announced Plan to Aid Police in Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala

By Julian Hayda
Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez and Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen attend a meeting in Tegucigalpa, Honduras Wednesday, March 27, 2019. The Secretary of National Security of the United States will discuss with his colleagues from the Northern Triangle a series of actions to counter organized crime and illegal trafficking of migrants and drugs to his country from Central America.
Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez and Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen attend a meeting in Tegucigalpa, Honduras Wednesday, March 27, 2019. The Secretary of National Security of the United States will discuss with his colleagues from the Northern Triangle a series of actions to counter organized crime and illegal trafficking of migrants and drugs to his country from Central America. Fernando Antonio / AP Photo
Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez and Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen attend a meeting in Tegucigalpa, Honduras Wednesday, March 27, 2019. The Secretary of National Security of the United States will discuss with his colleagues from the Northern Triangle a series of actions to counter organized crime and illegal trafficking of migrants and drugs to his country from Central America.
Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez and Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen attend a meeting in Tegucigalpa, Honduras Wednesday, March 27, 2019. The Secretary of National Security of the United States will discuss with his colleagues from the Northern Triangle a series of actions to counter organized crime and illegal trafficking of migrants and drugs to his country from Central America. Fernando Antonio / AP Photo

Homeland Security Announced Plan to Aid Police in Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala

By Julian Hayda
WBEZ brings you fact-based news and information. Sign up for our newsletters to stay up to date on the stories that matter.

Among the factors driving Central America migrants to the United States are widespread poverty and violence in their home countries. In an attempt to address the root causes of emigration from Central America, the United States has committed to investing billions of dollars to development and police training in the region. The money comes in the form of support for Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s “Marshall Plan,” which he introduced last week with the aim of investing $30 billion in Central America and welcoming migrants to Mexico with visas, health care and employment. The announcement of U.S. support comes even as Central American governments face serious allegations that they collude with violent gangs to remain in power.


In an acknowledgment of those accusations, the Berta Caceres Human Rights in Honduras act was re-introduced into Congress yesterday. The bill would suspend military aid to Honduras until that country’s government investigated allegations of human rights violations by Honduran government, military and police officials. Joining Worldview to discuss U.S.-Central American relations is Matt Ginsberg-Jaeckle. He is a professional interpreter and translator, community organizer and member of the Chicago-based human rights group La Voz de Los de Abajo.