Government will publish the “Engel List”, which will prevent the entry of corrupt politicians or those who undermine democracy.
The U.S. Congress passed the Enhanced Commitment Act of the Northern Triangle, which includes the so-called “Engel List,” a publication of corrupt and undemocratic politicians in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras to deny entry to northern territory. American.
The legislation, which has yet to be sanctioned by the president, was introduced by Eliot Engel, head of the U.S. House of Representatives, and who has a strong commitment to strengthening democracy in Central America.
In addition to the publication of this list of corrupt actors to be stipulated by the United States Government, the new law includes a five-year strategy to be coordinated by the United States Department of State for the strengthening institutionalization, governance, and democracy in these Central American countries.
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“My legislation will support the incoming Biden-Harris administration as it redoubles its efforts to support a safer, more democratic and more prosperous Central America,” Congressman Engel said.
For the prominent official, the prosperity and development of the northern triangle of Central America will not be possible “without a commitment on the part of the leaders to the fight against corruption and the democratic setback.”
What is the so-called “Engel List”
The so-called “Engel List” of corrupt and undemocratic actors in the Northern Triangle is an initiative of the US Congress to investigate and punish those who have committed certain crimes such as acts of violence, intimidation, threats to people investigating the corruption, money laundering, extortion or for being involved in these wrongdoings, has indicated a publication of the news portal lahora.gt.
“The most important actors to do this research are the State Department, the White House and the Treasury Department in the US country, while in Guatemala it will be the Embassy, because they are there in the country and they are the Department of state there in Guatemala “, detailed a congressional adviser to the Guatemalan environment.
How will the “Engel List” be applied?
The source told the digital newspaper that the President of the United States will have to send to Congress a report identifying people he believes participated in actions that undermined democratic processes or institutions, corruption or the obstruction of investigations of corruption in El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras. The suspects will later be sanctioned by the Northern Nation Government.
The adviser clarified to the Guatemalan environment that the approval of this law “was not a question neither republican nor democratic”, since it was counted on a bipartisan consensus to fight these scourges in the region.
To make the decision on visa withdrawal there will be no investigative process as such, but “the administration – of President Joe – Biden had the discretion to include in the list those it considers,” the official said.
Read more: Acting US Undersecretary of State. UU. He highlights the work of congressmen to support the fight against corruption in El Salvador