Donald Trump Says Migrant Caravan Will Cause Him To Cut Central America Aid
President Donald Trump posted a tweet this morning threatening to cut off, or reduce, foreign aid to Central American countries over the migrant caravan. According to Business Insider, the President plans to eliminate or reduce funding to Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras because the countries did not stop people from leaving in order to migrate to the United States.
“Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador were not able to do the job of stopping people from leaving their country and coming illegally to the U.S. We will now begin cutting off, or substantially reducing, the massive foreign aid routinely given to them,” he wrote.
The three Central American countries have received $500 million in combined aid from the United States throughout the 2017 fiscal year. Now, Trump plans to change that. The latest tweet is one in a series aimed at criticizing the migrants fleeing to the U.S. — and the countries who have aided, or at least failed to stop, the so-called “caravan” of people.
In addition to criticizing the three countries, Trump also called out Mexico for not stopping the train of people, which he claims contains “criminals and unknown Middle Easterners.”
“Sadly, it looks like Mexico’s Police and Military are unable to stop the Caravan heading to the Southern Border of the United States. Criminals and unknown Middle Easterners are mixed in. I have alerted Border Patrol and Military that this is a National Emergy [sic]. Must change laws!” Trump tweeted on Monday.
Sadly, it looks like Mexico’s Police and Military are unable to stop the Caravan heading to the Southern Border of the United States. Criminals and unknown Middle Easterners are mixed in. I have alerted Border Patrol and Military that this is a National Emergy. Must change laws!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 22, 2018
Trump also took to Twitter to blame the Democrats for the migrant caravan, and for not backing harsher legislation to deter illegal immigration.
“Every time you see a Caravan, or people illegally coming, or attempting to come, into our Country illegally, think of and blame the Democrats for not giving us the votes to change our pathetic Immigration Laws! Remember the Midterms! So unfair to those who come in legally,” he said.
Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador were not able to do the job of stopping people from leaving their country and coming illegally to the U.S. We will now begin cutting off, or substantially reducing, the massive foreign aid routinely given to them.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 22, 2018
Trump’s claims about Middle Easterners being present in the caravan comes after the notion was raised on Fox & Friends. According to guest Peter Hegseth, ISIS fighters are attempting to cross the border along with Central American citizens. The claim has not been verified.
The president has also claimed that Democrats have worked with caravan organizers to bring criminals into the U.S. This claim has also not been verified.
The group of migrants, composed of approximately 5,000 individuals, are hoping to gain asylum inside of the United States.
Trump has previously threatened to cut off aid to the three Central American countries if they did not stop their citizens from leaving. So far, the White House has not offered any particulars as to how these cuts might proceed.
