US to provide $170 million to Guatemala to prevent irregular migration

Bernardo Arévalo and Kamala Harris, at the White House.

The U.S. government announced on Tuesday that it intends to provide $170 million in assistance to Guatemala to tackle the root causes of migration. The announcement was made during Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo’s four-day visit to Washington, which concluded on Wednesday. The funding — subject to Congressional notification — will go towards development, economic, health and security assistance.

Arévalo met U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris on Tuesday to discuss migration, cooperation and foreign investment. Later that day, he sat down with U.S. President Joe Biden to go over issues such as the fight against corruption, defending democracy and migration. “Today, I welcomed President Arévalo to the White House to congratulate him in person on his inauguration, and to reiterate our commitment to a strong partnership between the United States and Guatemala,” Biden posted on his official X account.

Around noon, Arévalo and Harris held a press conference in which the vice president reiterated her government’s support for Guatemala. “Your election has brought a sense of optimism to the people of America and around the world. […] As you hold corrupt actors accountable and promote good governance, we support you,” Harris told the Guatemalan president.

Harris stressed the importance of the fight against corruption, both in mitigating irregular migration and in attracting economic investment to Guatemala. “Corruption empowers criminal organizations and perpetuates violence. All factors that drive people to leave their home country,” she added.

For his part, Arévalo thanked the U.S. government for its support during the “difficult electoral process and presidential transition,” and reiterated his commitment to fighting corruption. “We will maintain our commitment as governments to foster engagement across sectors to build a new, democratic, and more prosperous Guatemala,” said the president.

The $170 million in assistance was announced in a press release prior to the official meeting on Tuesday. According to Harris, this is part of the roadmap that the United States has implemented in the last three years to address the root causes of irregular migration from Central America.

Arévalo asks the OAS for help

As part of his tour in Washington, which began on Sunday, President Arévalo attended a protocolary meeting at the Organization of American States (OAS) on Tuesday. At the meeting, Arévalo expressed his gratitude for the OAS’ support during the presidential transition and called on the organization to oversee the election of judges to the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals.

“Guatemala requests the Organization of American States to follow the selection of justice system authorities through an observation mission of this process,” he said.

The Congress of Guatemala must choose the magistrates who will direct the two courts in the 2024-2029 period, a process that will be carried out in the next five months. Arévalo said a legal and political “battle” is on the brink of breaking out between different groups to control the courts, which is the OAS observation mission is needed.

In the Central American nation, the election of judges for both courts has been a flawed process, with lawyers, magistrates, former public officials and businessmen sent to prison for influence peddling and illegal management. These crimes were discovered and investigated by the now-defunct International Commission against Corruption in Guatemala (CICIG). This year’s election of judges is one of the most anticipated and complex processes that Congress has faced for more than four years.

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