Immigration
VP Harris to announce $540 million private investment to slow immigration from Central America
The private corporate investment is meant to improve living conditions in Central American countries
December 13, 2021 8:26am
Updated: December 13, 2021 10:01am
Vice President Kamala Harris is set on Monday to announce $540 million in private corporate investments in Central America's Northern Triangle – a facet of the Biden administration's plan to slow migration from the region by making it more livable.
The new funding is in addition to the $750 million in private sector dollars the vice president announced in May.
President Biden in the early months of his presidency tasked Harris with helping stem the flow of illegal migration across the U.S. southern border by addressing what the administration refers to as root causes including poverty, corruption, crime and natural disasters, prominent in the Northern Triangle, from which many of the migrants are now coming.
However, since being given the task, the wave of illegal migrants flowing across the border has hit record heights.
Harris' efforts to reduce corruption in Central American nations have also hit some major roadblocks as Guatemala's attorney general fired the country's head anti-corruption prosecutor just weeks after Harris visited the country over the summer to encourage preserving the rule of law.
The vice president, at the time, didn't speak with leaders in Honduras or El Salvador because of significant corruption in those governments. However, Honduras recently elected a new president – Xiomara Castro – who has promised to fight corruption, improve the economy, and protect women in the country. Harris spoke with Castro on Saturday, congratulating her for her victory, and discussing the road forward for Honduras.
Harris will reportedly announce the funding commitments on Monday at a business roundtable with corporate leaders representing companies like Microsoft, PepsiCo, Cargill, and Nespresso.
PepsiCo, Cargill, and Parkdale Mills have each promised roughly $150 million for various projects in Central America over the next several years. Microsoft has committed to providing three million people with internet access, and will raise that figure to four million while also teaching 100,000 people digital skills.
