Trump again threatens to cut off aid to trio of Central American countries that he fumes are ‘taking our money’
Trump also threatened to end U.S. support during the campaign
They collectively got $539 million from USAID last year
Funds meant to establish good governance and stop corruption
Made the same threat right before the mid-terms
The assistance has been appropriated by Congress
Trump fumed they were ‘taking our money’ and ‘doing nothing’ about caravans
By GEOFF EARLE
DAILYMAIL.COM
28 December 2018
President Donald Trump returned to his pre-election threat to end all aid to three Central American countries whose citizens have helped make up migrant caravans – although funds have been appropriated by Congress.
The president went after Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador, which all have struggled economically and suffered turbulent politics that have been linked to U.S. interventions.
The countries have also been the origins of migrant ‘caravans’ that Trump blasted during the campaign, and brought up once again in the midst of a partial government shutdown that could now run through the new year.
The three countries ‘are doing nothing for the United States but taking our money,’ Trump railed on Friday.
‘Word is that a new Caravan is forming in Honduras and they are doing nothing about it. We will be cutting off all aid to these 3 countries – taking advantage of U.S. for years!’ the president tweeted, after earlier railing about a border wall with Mexico that is the source of the standoff with congressional Democrats.
The countries get funds through USAID, a development agency that is one of many programs under the auspices of the State Department.
According to a Bloomberg News report from October, the U.S. gave $175 million in foreign aid to Honduras last year, with another $249 million going to Guatemala and $115 million to El Salvador.
The U.S. aid is meant to bolster strong governance and fight corruption – in part to improve the region’s economy and also to discourage some of the mass migrations that have inundated border checkpoints.
Under current law, there is a mechanism for the State Department to hold back a quarter of funds if the secretary doesn’t certify progress in lowering illegal immigration. Up to half of all funds can be held back if the administration determines they are violating anti-corruption practices.
Earlier Friday, Trump returned to a threat to close the nation’s southern border if he doesn’t get his wall money from Congress.
The federal government is partially shut down in Washington and remain that way until next week at least. Lawmakers have avoided the capital since Christmas in recognition of the reality that they are nowhere ending the fight with Trump with a spending deal.
Trump warned as the weekend began that he’ll close every port of entry if he doesn’t see progress not only on his wall but on a total immigration overhaul as he claimed once more that the dispute is totally political in nature and has nothing to do with their claims that his desired border barrier would be impractical.
‘We will be forced to close the Southern Border entirely if the Obstructionist Democrats do not give us the money to finish the Wall & also change the ridiculous immigration laws that our Country is saddled with,’ he said in a long tweet. ‘Hard to believe there was a Congress & President who would approve!’
The Rest…HERE
