Torres Reaction to State Department Announcement on Mexico and the Northern Triangle of Central America
WASHINGTON, DC — Today, U.S. Representative Norma J. Torres (D-CA) released the following statement in response to the U.S. State Department's Strategy for Central America and Southern Mexico:
"Today's agreement with Mexico does not make sense. Is President Trump's master plan to get Mexico to build the wall with U.S. taxpayer dollars?
"We would see much better results if we focused on ensuring that the successor to the NAFTA agreement has strong and enforceable provisions to prevent labor abuses, increase wages, protect the environment, and address the infrastructure needs of both countries. These goals cannot be achieved through an immigration and development agreement.
"Weak judicial systems and rampant public corruption in the Northern Triangle, combined with the growing power of Latin American drug cartels, are having a devastating impact on our southern border. Today's announcement does not appear to include any actual new funding for the Northern Triangle. It is just a repackaging of current assistance. In any case, simply spending more American taxpayer money is not a realistic solution. We must demand more.
"We need to combine effective foreign assistance with the right kinds of pressure, including tough conditions on spending and targeted sanctions on corrupt and criminal government officials. Sadly, the Trump Administration has failed to stand up for the rule of law in the region, abandoning longstanding U.S. support for civil society and successful initiatives such as the International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG). That is why I have introduced the Guatemala Rule of Law Accountability Act, which will apply financial and visa sanctions to government officials that undermine the rule of law. If the Trump administration will not advance real proposals for Central America, then Congress must."
Torres is a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee and the Rules Committee. On December 13, 2018, Rep. Torres introduced H.R. 7314, the Guatemala Rule of Law Accountability Act. If enacted, the bill would require visa and travel sanctions against Guatemalan government officials who engage in corruption and undermine the rule of law. Examples of covered offenses are disobeying rulings of Guatemala's highest court and interfering with the work of U.S.-supported institutions, including the International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG).
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