US VP Harris hosts Guatemala's Arevalo for White House meeting on migration

Source: Reuters

March 25, 2024 6:11 AM EDT


WASHINGTON, March 25 (Reuters) - U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris hosts Guatemala's new liberal president, Bernardo Arevalo, at the White House on Monday to bolster his fledgling government and discuss how to reduce migration from Central America.

Harris's meeting, which was first reported by Reuters last week, is designed to underscore U.S. support for the new reform-minded president, whose inauguration was delayed in January by opponents seeking to weaken his authority.

Immigration has become a hot button issue in President Joe Biden's and Harris's 2024 re-election campaign, with Republicans charging the administration with mishandling spikes in numbers of new immigrants crossing the U.S. border. The White House accuses Republicans, led by Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, with torpedoing a bipartisan bill that would have tightened border enforcement.

Republicans labeled Harris a failed "border czar" after Biden charged her with spearheading efforts to address the causes of migration from countries in Central America that have contributed to the increase in immigrant inflows.
Harris and Arevalo plan to discuss how the United States can support the new president to fight corruption, strengthen human rights, boost the economy, fight "gender-based violence," and improve security, a White House official said.

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/us-vp-harris-hosts-guatemalas-arevalo-white-house-meeting-migration-2024-03-25/