PRESS STATEMENT
MICHAEL R. POMPEO, SECRETARY OF STATE
Today the Department informed Congress of my intent to resume targeted U.S. foreign assistance funding for El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras. Earlier this year, pursuant to my authority over foreign assistance funds and the direction given to me by President Trump, I directed the Department of State and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to temporarily cease providing assistance to these countries until the governments of these countries took sufficient action to reduce the overwhelming number of migrants coming to the U.S. border. Thanks to the President’s policy and to the response from these countries, we are seeing great progress. Recently signed Asylum Cooperation Agreements (ACAs) are but one example.
To enable further progress in these countries’ efforts, some targeted Department of State and USAID funding will resume at this time. This funding will support programs that are advancing our joint efforts to mitigate illegal immigration from El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras. These programs will complement our joint security plans for each government; augment private sector efforts to create economic opportunity; promote rule of law, institution building, and good governance; and help these countries develop their capacities to implement the recently signed agreements to build stronger local asylum systems.
The United States commends the creative thinking and commitment of the governments of El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras to reaching our shared goal of reduced outward migration from these countries to the United States. We look forward to continuing this important work with our dedicated partners in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras.
