On Monday, the House of Representatives Appropriations Commission approved its Foreign State Operations Appropriations (SFOPS) bill for fiscal year 2022 and it contemplates new accountability measures that condition 75% of economic assistance. Destined to the countries of the Northern Triangle of Central America.
The money is conditional on countries cooperating and implementing actions “against corruption and impunity”, two of the main causes that drive irregular migration.
The Biden Administration has prioritized the situation in Central America as the axis of its foreign policy strategies and has insisted on the need for cooperation with all the countries of the southern hemisphere to achieve a more productive, secure and prosperous region.
According to the document issued by the SFOPS, up to 861 million dollars could be approved for assistance to the Northern Triangle of Central America.
Legal security and the fight against corruption are key to the Northern Triangle’s commercial agenda
Increasing trade becomes vital on the Central American agenda to achieve the development and growth necessary for the United States’ foreign assistance efforts. Experts consider it crucial to review several lines and solve endemic problems of the isthmus.
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The priority for this money is to support programs that address the structural causes contributing to irregular migration to the United States, “Particularly that of unaccompanied minors”.
But for the funds to arrive, countries are required to meet specific requirements such as “supporting the independence of the judiciary and the Public Ministry, including in matters related to the defense of the rule of law and the guarantee of due process in the adjudication of tax matters ”.
To assist the work of these entities, the document explains that at least $ 60 million must be available.
It also refers to the fact that El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras must guarantee the protection of the aforementioned entity so that they operate independently and without “interference”.
Norma Torres, a Democratic congresswoman with Guatemalan roots, confirmed the approval on her Twitter account, as well as the importance of the requirements.
“75% of our aid to the governments of #CentralAmerica is conditional on complying with anti-corruption measures; my amendment to the bill requires that the Attorneys General meet those same conditions, ”the congresswoman wrote.
For both El Salvador and Guatemala, for now, the United States has withdrawn aid that was destined for key institutions such as units that fought corruption.
In the case of El Salvador, financial assistance to the police and the transparency agency of that country was withdrawn. due to the decision of the Legislative to dismiss the magistrates of the Supreme Court of Justice.
Guatemala for its part temporarily lost the aid destined for the Public Ministry after the head of this institution made the decision to dismiss the main prosecutor at the head of the Special Prosecutor against Impunity (FECI).
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