WHAT’S DRIVING THE MIGRANT
CRISIS AT THE SOUTHERN BORDER
OF THE U.S. EVEN WORST CRISES
IN CENTRAL AMERICA. THOUSANDS
OF MIGRANTS ARE FLEEING THE
SO-CALLED NORTHERN TRIANGLE.
THAT’S GUATEMALA. EL SALVADOR
AND HONDURAS. MSNBC ANCHOR.
WHILE THE HAS A LOT OF ALLAH
CITY. GUATEMALA TO SHOW US
WHAT MANY MIGRANTS AT OUR
SOUTHERN BORDER ARE TRYING TO
ESCAPE A MIN. GREAT TO SEE
YOU. THANKS SO MUCH FOR
REPORTING FOR US FROM
GUATEMALA. I KNOW YOU’VE SPENT
THE LAST FEW DAYS IN A RURAL
PART OF THAT COUNTRY. WHAT’S
GOING ON THERE?
>> AND WHAT IS DRIVING PEOPLE
LEAVE THEIR HOMES AND MAKE A
JOURNEY TO THE U.S. WE KNOW IS
JUST SO, SO DANGEROUS.
>> YES, SO DANGEROUS. AND IT
IS REALLY A MATTER OF LIFE AND
DEATH. WHEN YOU SPEAK TO THE
FOLKS THERE. AND THAT’S WHAT
WE’VE BEEN SEEING. WE’VE BEEN
SEEING CS FOR IN DIRE
CONDITIONS BOTH IN GUATEMALA
CITY AS WELL AS IN THE RURAL
PARTS IN SOME OF THAT IS AS A
RESULT OF NATURAL DISASTERS.
CERTAINLY THE GLOBAL BROUGHT
ON BY THE CORONAVIRUS HAS
IMPACTED THERE ARE ALSO
STRUCTURAL ISSUES AS WELL.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT HAS
HAPPENED IN THE SHORT TERM YET
TO NATURAL DISASTERS TO
HURRICANES IN RECENT YEARS.
COUPLE YOU KNOW, DRY
CONDITIONS ACCESS. HE ALSO
EXCESS RAINFALL THAT HAVE
RUINED A LOT OF AGRICULTURAL
BASE OF THE FARMERS IN THIS
COUNTRY THAT RELY ON THAT LAND
FOR FOOD AND BEING ABLE TO
TAKE CARE OF THEIR FAMILIES
AND EARNING A SOURCE OF
INCOME. BUT WE’RE ALSO TALKING
ABOUT THE PANDEMIC’S AND THE
PANDEMIC HAS IMPACTED PEOPLE
HERE IN A PLACE LIKE GUATEMALA
CITY. WE SPOKE TO LADY WHO IS
A MOTHER OF 3. SHE WORKS AT A
SCHOOL WHERE HER CHILDREN WENT
TO SCHOOL WHEN THAT SCHOOL
SHUT DOWN BECAUSE OF THE
CORONAVIRUS. SHE LOST HER JOB
AND THEREFORE LOST A SOURCE OF
INCOME LOST HER ABILITY TO
FIGHT FOOD HAS BEEN SPENDING
MOST OF HER TIME GOING FROM
SOUP KITCHEN TO SOUP KITCHEN
JUST TO HAVE FOOD FOR HER KIDS
AND SELLING CANDY ON THE
STREET ONLY TALK ABOUT THE
STRUCTURAL PROBLEM THAT BIG
PICTURE PROBLEMS, THE
GENERATIONAL PROBLEMS THAT
EXIST THAT HAS A LOT TO DO
WITH THE GOVERNANCE OF THIS
COUNTRY. YOU HAVE VERY ROLE.
PARTS OF THE COUNTRY THAT HAS
NO INFRASTRUCTURE, NO ROADS,
NO BASIC SERVICES LIKE
EDUCATION, CLINICS,
ELECTRICITY, RUNNING WATER.
THERE’S JUST AN ABSENCE OF THE
GOVERNMENT. THERE IS NO
SECURITY IN THESE AREAS. AND
THAT HAS GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY
FOR ORGANIZED CRIME TO MOVE IN
AND FILL THAT POWER VACUUM.
AND THAT’S REALLY WHERE THE
CONCERN IS. HOW DO YOU BEGIN
TO CHANGE BOTH THE IMMEDIATE
SHORT-TERM CRISES AS A RESULT
OF NATURAL DISASTERS IN THE
PANDEMIC AND THEN HOW DO YOU
REFORM THE COUNTRY TO ADDRESS
THE LONG-TERM STRUCTURAL
GENERATIONAL PROBLEMS.
>> I IN THEIR HUGE PROBLEMS
YOU’RE TALKING ABOUT HERE. I
MEAN, PEOPLE STARVING AND AN
ABSENCE OF GOVERNMENT. WHEN
YOU SPOKE TO THE GUATEMALAN
PRESIDENT ABOUT WHAT’S GOING
ON THERE. WHAT DID HE TELL YOU
AND WHAT THE GOVERNMENT, WHAT
IS THEY’RE TRYING TO DO TO
HELP ITS PEOPLE.
>> YES. SO, YOU KNOW, THEY’RE
TRYING TO MAKE A STARK
DEPARTURE FROM THE PRESIDENT.
TRUMP ERA. NOT YET PRESIDENT
BIDEN. THEY’RE TRYING TO SAY
YOU DON’T NEED WALLS. YOU
CAN’T STOP THIS OR SAW THIS
WITH WAS WHAT YOU NEED IS A
WALL OF PROSPERITY. HE WANTS
TO SEE MORE FOREIGN INVESTMENT
IN HIS COUNTRY WANTS TO SEE
MORE ASSISTANCE FROM THE
UNITED STATES. NOT NECESSARILY
IN DIRECT MONEY TO HIS
GOVERNMENT. BUT MORE MONEY IN
INVESTING IN PROGRAMS THAT
WILL HELP ALLEVIATE SOME OF
THE SUFFERING THAT TAKES PLACE
IN THIS COUNTRY. SO HE WANTS
TO MAKE ONE OF MY A SOURCE OF
PROSPERITY THAT WOULD STOP
MIGRANTS FROM LEAVING THIS
COUNTRY WANTING TO STAY OR HIS
ARGUMENT IS VERY SIMPLE. IF
PEOPLE HAVE EDUCATION, IF THEY
HAVE HEALTH CARE, IF THEY HAVE
JOBS AND ARE HAPPY TO LIVE
HERE. THEY’RE NOT GOING TO
WANT TO GO ANYWHERE ELSE. AND
SPOKE TO HIM TODAY. THAT’S
WHAT HE EMPHASIZED FOR US. BUT
YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU SPEAK TO
ORDINARY GUATEMALANS WILL TELL
YOU THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS
ABSENT. THEY’RE LIKE YOU DON’T
GET ANY ASSISTANCE OR SUPPORT
FROM THEM. AND THAT HAS BEEN A
MAJOR COMPLAINT. WE SPOKE TO
ONE YOUNG MAN EARLIER AND OUR
TRIP HERE TOLD US ABOUT HOW
THE PANDEMIC HAS IMPACTED HIS
LIFE HERE BUT ALSO IMPACTED
HIS FAMILY IN THE UNITED
STATES WHO SENDS BACK REMAINS
IS TO SUPPORT HIM AND HIS
FAMILY. TAKE A LISTEN TO WHAT
HE SAID.
>> I MEAN, BY THIS PICK, GOT TO IN FULL.
TO IN FULL.
>> THIS IS THE OTHER GUYS
>> SO ALLISON, LET ME TELL YOU
WHAT THE PRESIDENT TOLD US AS
WELL, WHICH IS NOT ONLY IS IT
THAT HE WANTS TO BUILD THE
PROSPERITY WHILE HE DID ALSO
HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF CRITICISM
FOR THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION
WITH THE COMPASSIONATE
MESSAGING THAT HAS BEEN COMING
OUT. WHY WE SAY THAT BECAUSE
HE BELIEVES THAT MESSAGE OF
COMPASSION COMING OUT OF
PRESIDENT BIDEN’S WAS
INTERPRETED HERE AS A SIGN
THAT IT WAS OK TO IMMIGRATE
FOR MIGRATE TO THE UNITED
STATES. IT’S CERTAINLY BEING
USED BY THE HUMAN TRAFFICKERS
TO EXPLOIT MIGRANTS. HERE’S A
PART OF THAT INTERVIEW WITH
THE PRESIDENT OF GUATEMALA.
WATCH.
>> THE FORMER BECAUSE THE
LONGER HER IDEA WAS RECEIVED
WELL BY THE WHITE HOUSE ON
WHAT ALLOWING ME TO A PURSE
BID YET THAT WE CONVERT
QUANTUM ALL INTO A PROSPERITY.
WILL PHYSICAL WALL AND DON’TS,
NOT PEOPLE. A BUSY MOTHER, A
LITTLE BIT OF PRETTY ACTUALLY
WITNESSED INTO PLAY PROSPERITY
LOWS. YOU IN A SALUTE TO THE
PEOPLE HAVE JOBS HEALTH
EDUCATION. THE HOUSING THIS
AND SECURITY KNOW THEY DON’T
LEAVE.
>> THAT WAS PRESIDENT 100 JIM
MCKAY TALLYING GUYS ABOUT THAT
PROSPERITY. WHILE THAT HE
WANTS TO TRY TO BUILD HE
BUILT. HE KNOWS HE WON’T BE
ABLE TO DO IT ALONE. HE WILL
NEED THE HELP OF THE UNITED
STATES AND OTHER INTERNATIONAL
PARTNERS, PARTICULARLY MEXICO
WHERE MIGRANTS GO 2 AFTER THEY
LEAVE GUATEMALA HOUSING.
>> SO A MAN HE CRITICIZED THE
BIDEN ADMINISTRATION. WE KNOW
THE ADMINISTRATION PUT VICE
PRESIDENT HARRIS IN CHARGE OF
TRYING TO STEM THIS FLOW OF
MIGRANTS. DO WE KNOW SHE’S
PLANNING TO VISIT GUATEMALA OR
ANY OTHER PARTS OF THE
NORTHERN TRIANGLE TO SEE
WHAT’S GOING ON WHERE YOU ARE.
>> WE POSE THAT QUESTION TO
THE GUATEMALAN PRESIDENT. HE
CONFIRMED THAT HE DID IN FACT
SEND HER AN INVITE. HE DID SAY
THAT SHE HAS ACCEPTED THAT
INVITATION TO COME HERE AND
SEE FIRSTHAND THE CONDITIONS
ON THE GROUND. HE SAID THAT
SHOULD BE TAKING PLACE IN THE
COMING DAYS. WE’VE REACHED OUT
TO THE WHITE HOUSE AND STILL
WAITING CONFIRMATION ON HER
TRAVEL PLANS. IT WOULD BE VERY
SIGNIFICANT FOR HER IF SHE
CAME HERE BECAUSE THE
CHALLENGE THAT THE AMERICAN
GOVERNMENT HAS NOW IS TO MAKE
SURE THAT THE MONEY THAT IS
BEING SPENT IS NOT BEING
SQUANDERED. LOOK, THE U.S. HAS
SPENT BILLIONS OF DOLLARS OVER
THE COURSE OF THE LAST 10
YEARS IN TRYING TO PROP UP
WATER ME. YOU LOOK AROUND. YOU
DON’T SEE A GOOD RETURN ON
INVESTMENT. IN NOT DOLLAR
VALUE. SO I THINK A LOT OF
PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED.
CERTAINLY AMERICAN LAWMAKERS
ARE CONCERNED THAT THIS TIME
AROUND. THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE
THE MONEY HAS A POSITIVE
IMPACT ON THE QUALITY OF THE
LIFE OF THE PEOPLE HERE. I’M
NOT LOST IN THE SYSTEM OF
CORRUPTION AND BAD GOVERNANCE
THAT HAS CRIPPLED GUATEMALA
AND QUITE FRANKLY, A LOT OF
THE COUNTRIES OF CENTRAL
AMERICA.
>> YEAH. AMEN, THANK YOU SO
MUCH FOR YOUR REPORTING. WE
HAVE TALKED SO MUCH ABOUT
WHAT’S GOING ON AT OUR
SOUTHERN BORDER. THANKS FOR
SHOWING US WHAT’S DRIVING
FOLKS THERE AS WE GET A BETTER
UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT’S