Summit of the Americas: US vows more visas for Cubans, Haitians

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U.S. President Joe Biden speaks while hosting a dinner at the Getty Villa for leaders and their spouses at the Summit of the Americas, in Los Angeles, California, U.S., June 9, 2022. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque     

U.S. agencies said on Friday that the Biden administration would spend $314 million to support Venezuelan migrants throughout the Western Hemisphere and to restart programs allowing some Cubans and Haitians to reunite with family members in the United States.

The declaration was made as part of a push at the Summit of the Americas in Los Angeles to address migration issues, especially in the United States, where the number of migrants coming at the U.S.-Mexico border has reached historic highs.

On Friday, U.S. Vice President Joe Biden and other summit participants will release a proclamation promising a more cooperative approach to migration.

The Democratic president has attempted to portray migration as a problem affecting the entire hemisphere, not just the border with Mexico.

Republicans, who seek to win control of the U.S. Congress in the November midterm elections, have harshly criticized Biden for undoing some of the stringent measures of his Republican predecessor, Donald Trump, and have attempted to portray the border situation as a crisis.

At the meeting, the Biden administration urged states in the Americas to increase protections for migrants while simultaneously enforcing borders and deporting individuals who do not qualify for asylum.

Late Thursday night, a senior U.S. official told reporters that the United States and other nations will outline "concrete commitments" and "expect that all countries do their part."

In conjunction with the proclamation, the United States announced several measures to expand legal migration paths and assist migrants abroad. The assurances included an increase in temporary Central American employees hired by the United States.

ON FRIDAY, the U.S. State Department announced that the U.S. financing commitment to support Venezuelan migrants would include $171 million in humanitarian aid and emergency food for Venezuelan migrants and refugees in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.

According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the Biden administration would also reinstate programs that allow certain U.S. citizens and permanent residents to petition to bring relatives from Cuba and Haiti to the United States on humanitarian parole.

Friday, the Biden administration emphasized "unprecedented" efforts initiated in April to dismantle people-smuggling networks and a law implemented at the end of May to expedite the processing of asylum claimants at the U.S.-Mexico border.

Concurrently, Biden requests that other governments enhance their asylum systems and expel those who do not qualify.

Under the condition of anonymity, a U.S. official briefing reporters on the summit declaration stated, "We will continue to provide support to countries that are really making a strong effort to build their asylum capacity,"

The United States desires measures to reduce illegal immigration and alleviate labor shortages in the United States.

While the Biden administration hailed this week's gathering as a significant opportunity to negotiate regional agreements on migration, leaders from Mexico and other nations that send large numbers of migrants north did not attend, casting doubt on the efficacy of any mutual declaration. The Biden administration rejected this plan.

Publish : 2022-06-10 21:04:00

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