Trump to block federal aid to El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras

The Trump administration lately blames El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras for their failed efforts in restricting flow of migrants to the United States and hence all federal aid to the three nations is announced to be blocked.

President Trump lately said the three nations have been behind migrant caravans and warned to be shutting down southern border if Mexico too fails in pushing back the migrants.

Trump added, “We were giving them $500 million. We were paying them tremendous amounts of money, and we’re not paying them anymore because they haven’t done a thing for us.”

State Department said aid threat is not idle and president’s direction will be followed by ending 2017 and 2018 foreign assistance programs for the countries.

Spokesperson of the department said, “We will be engaging Congress as part of this process.”

El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras are referred as Northern Triangle and the region was to get around $500 million in aid in the fiscal year 2018 apart from millions more from the leftover of fiscal year 2017.

Waves of criticisms have come across immediately after the announcement and new Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez called it a reckless announcement.

Trump added, “We were giving them $500 million. We were paying them tremendous amounts of money, and we’re not paying them anymore because they haven’t done a thing for us.”

Bob is the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and he urged his colleagues to reject the initiative.

In a statement he said, “US foreign assistance is not charity; it advances our strategic interests and funds initiatives that protect American citizens.”

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Paul Linus

Paul Linus is a professional writer associated with several online news media houses. He writes on international politics and business. He can be reached here - knowledgeherald@gmail.com