Trump threatens to cut aid to Central America over 1,200-person migrant caravan
The US President threatened to cut off funding to Honduras and other Central American countries if they do not stop the migrant caravan reaching their borders.
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US President Donald Trump. Photo:Reuters. |
"The large caravan from Honduras is moving through Mexico and heading to our border, and it should be stopped before it reaches the United States. NAFTA, as well as aid to Honduras and the countries that allow this to happen, is under review. Congress must act now,"Reutersquoted a statement by US President Donald Trump written on Twitter today.
Images of more than 1,200 Central Americans traveling through Mexico in hopes of crossing into the United States have angered the White House chief. President Trump on April 1 set a condition for Mexico to stop the caravan.This person or face the risk of the North American Free Trade Agreement(NAFTA)between the three countries of the United States, Mexico and Canada was canceled.
Mr. Trump's latest statement came after a series of tough statements on immigration, while the US government also increased measures to handle illegal border crossings into the US.
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A caravan of migrants passes through the city of Tapachula, Mexico on March 25. Photo:Reuters. |
The caravan will travel 2,000 miles (3,200 km) from the Mexico-Guatemala border to the United States. The Mexican government says it is made up mainly of Central American migrants, many of whom are fleeing violence that has raged in Honduras since 2010.
Trump is pressing Congress to pass legislation to build a wall along the US-Mexico border. Despite repeated efforts, no deal has been reached between Republicans and Democrats. US lawmakers are not expected to pass major legislation before the midterm congressional elections in November.