On Thursday, the vice-president held an event near the White House wherein she talked with philanthropic leaders about possible solutions to the border crisis.
On Thursday, the vice-president held an event near the White House wherein she talked with philanthropic leaders about possible solutions to the border crisis.
Harris took to the stage, delivering a speech wherein she described the factors that have lead to the current situation, as well as possible solutions.
The vice-president explained that "most people don’t want to leave home. They don’t want to leave their grandparents, they don’t want to leave the culture.” She went on to suggest that the main reason people do leave is because "they are either fleeing some harm, or they are unable to satisfy their basic needs and the needs of taking care of their family because the resources and opportunities are not there".
She then discussed a number of acute causes, one of which was "extensive storm damage because of extreme climate". Harris pointed out that "drought, in [The Northern Triangle] where agriculture is one of the most important basis for their economy". This she explains, is leading to food scarcity and insecurity.
"Corruption, climate resiliency, and lack of economic opportunity" were suggested to be the root causes of migration out of the region.
She pointed out that the United States has to give people hope that "help is on the way"; that "if they stay, things will get better". The New York Post reports that President Biden's recent federal budget proposal "seeks $861 million in aid for Central America", including the possibility of "direct cash payments".
Harris said that the U.S. government, organizations, and corporations can only do so much, and asked for assistance from "international friends". "This initiative", she argued, "must be effective and relevant to the underlying issue which is addressing the acute and root causes of migration away from that region; the reasons people flee".
President Biden tasked Harris with overseeing the border crisis earlier this year. According to the New York Post, many have criticized the vice-president, pointing out that while "many Republican congressmen have visited the border ... she has not".
Republicans have attributed the crisis at the southern border to Biden's policies, and say that the president is focusing too much on the root causes, and not enough on actively enforcing border control.
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