Mexico to Receive BILLIONS in Aid From U.S. to Help Solve Immigration Issues
Mexico to Receive Billions in Aid From U.S. to Help Solve Immigration Issues
By Jose Antonio Mendiola (staff@latinpost.com)
First Posted: Nov 21, 2019 10:20 AM EST
Mexico and Central America will receive a multi-billion dollar aid package from the United States government in attempts to help solve the immigration issue, as well as boost their economies.
Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador is fresh from election victory and vows to improve his country during his term and put an end to corruption. According to The Independent, López Obrador's goal is for his countrymen to not have to leave the country to find good paying jobs elsewhere. "I have a dream that I want to see become a reality [...] that nobody will want to go work in the United States anymore," part of his statement reads.
While it may be ambitious, the aid from the US will certainly fast track his wishes. The pledge, worth 5.8 billion dollars, will be used to boost Central America's economy and another pledge, worth 4.8 billion dollars, will be given for the benefit of southern Mexico. Chiapas and Oaxaca are two of the poorest areas in the region. Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador are also expected to gain from the pledge.
The move is expected to improve the ties between the US and Mexico which has been strained after years and years of illegal drugs, undocumented workers and other criminal activity has poured in to the states via Mexico.
President Trump has been adamant in his wish to stop illegal immigrants from entering the US. The ongoing construction of the border wall has been subject to intense discussions and talks, but can be seen as a step in the right direction. However, the economic aid is seen as a bridge that could help solve many of the countries' issues.
Many are curious to see if López-Obrador can indeed turn things around, or what the country has to sacrifice in return for the financial aid. The US wants Mexicans to stay in their country while the application to seek asylum is being processed. The former mayor believes he has what it takes, and has vowed to not follow what Venezeluan leaders tried to do, which ended up failing miserably.
His interest lies in strengthening agricultural, forestry, tourism projects, scholarships and social welfare programs. On the other hand, he is still unsure how to tackle the war on drugs, but insisted he will move away from what his predecessors President Enrique Peña Nieto and Felipe Calderón started, per BBC News.
The promises of a better future enabled the new president to enjoy high popularity levels. In addition the president enjoys the support of the majority in both the Houses and Congress. López-Obrador is also popular in most all Mexican states, a report from AS COA claims.
This is actually the third time that Andrés Manuel ran for presidency. In his previous two attempts he lost first to Felipe Calderón and then later to Enrique Peña Nieto. This time, he got what he wished for.
López-Obrador is seen as a common man who is different from the country's former leaders. He rides the economy class when he travels and always holds press conferences in the morning. TIME reports that critics fear that he has the makings of an authoritarian populist. If change truly happens in Mexico, the new president must realize it is not dependent on the work of one man alone.
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