President Donald Trump on Tuesday accused Democrats of possibly funding the caravan of migrants from Central America that is currently making its way through Mexico, Fox News informed.
The President offered no proof to the reporters at the Oval Office that the Democrats stood behind the funding of the migrant caravan, but his reaction followed an announcement by the Vice President Mike Pence that the caravan was being supported by “leftist organizations” and “Venezuela.”
Trump’s remarks came after series of tweets that he would cut aid to three Central American countries he accused of failing to stop thousands of migrants heading for the U.S. border even as there was no indication of any other action within the administration.
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.” He added without evidence that “criminals and unknown Middle Easterners are mixed in.”
Trump continued, “Must change laws!”
Pence said on Tuesday that “it is inconceivable” that people from the Middle East are not in the caravan.
Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador received about $500 million from the U.S. in fiscal year 2017. That money funds programs that promote economic development and education, as well as supporting democracy and human rights, among other issues.
Paul O’Brien, the vice president for policy and advocacy at Oxfam America, said that any attempts to decrease aid to the Central American countries would be “devastating” since the U.S. is a key investor in the region, funding programs on issues ranging from workforce development to reducing violence and improving human rights. In addition, other investors look to the U.S. as a guide.
“If you take that money away or you make it unpredictable, you’re actually going to foster the very conditions that are driving people toward migration,” said O’Brien, who accused Trump of “essentially seeking to use migrants as a political chip.”
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