Tegucigalpa, Honduras.
Honduran Chancellor Lisandro Rosales said on Friday that human traffickers have used President Joe Biden’s immigration policy to boost the influx of undocumented people into the United States.
He also indicated that it “affects a lot” the Government of Honduras that President Joan Orlando Hernandez has been singled out for drug trafficking in a New York court, when “all he has done” is fight “frontally.” against organized crime.
Below is a summary of the interview with AFP following a bilateral dialogue in Washington between high-level delegations from both countries on migration, anti-corruption and reconstruction after Hurricanes Eta and Iota.
Undocumented arrests skyrocketed on the southern U.S. border, did traffickers take advantage of Joe Biden’s coming to power to propel migrants?
Unfortunately, the figures show that yes. In November there were 10,000 Hondurans detained on the South American border and in March there were 41,000, with an increase following the assumption of President Biden (January 20). The coyotes have taken advantage of the message that the issue of migration was to be addressed in a comprehensive way and this has led them to use children as a human shield.
How many Honduran minors have crossed the United States illegally?
We have an unofficial preliminary figure of about 4,000 in the last two months, but it is increasing every day.
What do you attribute this new wave of migration?
What we are seeing is that 98% of those detained on the southern border are from the areas impacted by Eta and Iota (last November), which in Honduras left about $ 2 billion in losses.
What did you talk to Ricardo Zúñiga, Biden’s envoy for the Central American North Triangle?
Showing a special interest in the issue of migration, obviously, but also in the reconstruction plan and how the United States can help. I think we need to take advantage of reconstruction to generate opportunities that are rooted in the citizens of Honduras.
U.S. Congresswoman Norma Torres urged Biden not to divert funds to Central America due to “corruption” and “bad governance.”
31 years ago, the United States decided to channel its resources through oenages and agencies it has in the country, we don’t get a five from the U.S. Government directly. What we do want is for 100% or 98% to reach those who need it. There is a need to reduce bureaucracy and make them projects in line with the needs of the host countries.
President Hernandez was charged with drug trafficking in a New York court in which his brother and former deputy was sentenced to life in prison for this crime, how does this affect the Government of Honduras?
It affects a lot, because this gives a bad reputation to institutions that have completely proven otherwise. In 2011, 87% of drugs entering the United States went through Honduras and now only 3%, then obviously someone has had their business damaged and wants revenge. The problem is that credibility is given to confessed killers in a U.S. court and that allows them to say whatever they want against a president that all he has done is directly and frontally fight organized crime.
Is the president’s brother not responsible for drug trafficking?
I may not know the ins and outs, but President Hernandez has done the opposite of what has been said in the trials. Since 2014 there are 41 Hondurans for drug trafficking in U.S. prisons as a result of the extradition law that was passed when he was president of Congress.
Zúñiga is the son of a Honduran military man and diplomat and the grandson of a former Honduran presidential candidate, did you know him?
Yes, of course, very well. His father worked very closely with my father, who was a general in the Armed Forces. I met him as a child. I consider him very capable, very prepared and very aware of the situation in Honduras.
And why didn’t Zúñiga travel to Honduras like he did to Guatemala and El Salvador?
Because we had already scheduled these meetings in Washington since February 4th.
Doesn’t it have to do with the president’s brother’s drug trafficking sentence?
It has absolutely nothing to do with it.
You asked the United States to grant a new Temporary Protection Statute (TPS) for Hondurans, in addition to the one in place since 1999, is there any progress?
Secretary (of U.S. Homeland Security Alexander) Mayorkas told me this week that they are analyzing the dates for granting a new TPS to Honduras due to the storms. He didn’t give us a date, but hopefully it will be soon.