White House officials revealed that in order to curb Central American migrants north to the United States, the Biden administration is considering a cash transfer program.
A senior White House official told Reuters on Sept. 9 that the United States is considering implementing a conditional cash transfer program to help some Central American countries fight economic problems and distribute new vaccines to avoid a massive influx of people from these countries north to the southern border of the United States.
According to the report, White House Southern Border Coordinator Roberta Jacobson said in an interview that the potential program would target Central America’s Northern Triangle countries, namely Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador, but he did not disclose who would receive the cash.
The U.S. Border Patrol picked up about 168,000 people from the U.S.-Mexico border this March, the highest monthly tally since March 2001.
Jacobson said, “We are evaluating all viable options to address the economic factors that may be driving people to migrate, along with protection and security shortfalls.” She did not, however, explain in detail how the cash transfer program might work.
“What I can assure you is that the U.S. government will not be sending money or checks directly to the people,” Jacobson said.
Jacobson noted that the U.S. has not yet decided whether to prioritize vaccines to the three Central American countries, but that the Biden administration will consider ways to help the economic situation of those countries through vaccines.
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