The Secretary of State also noted the deterioration of the situation with democracy and human rights “in many parts of the region.”
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called on Central American countries to take additional measures to curb illegal immigration and during a visit to the region expressed concern about the local situation with democracy and human rights.
Speaking at a joint news conference with Costa Rican President Carlos Alvarado, Blinken said the United States wants to hear from its partners in the region about their shared commitment to managing migration.
“Effective public administration is critical to meeting the challenges and taking advantage of the opportunities available at the moment. At the same time, we are meeting at a time when democracy and human rights are being undermined in many parts of the region,” Blinken told reporters.
As an example, Blinken cited the undermining of the independence of the judiciary, the crackdown on independent media and non-governmental organizations, as well as the suppression of anti-corruption efforts, noting that there were also problems in the United States. US President Joe Biden is being asked to take action in response to a sharp increase in illegal immigration at the US-Mexico border, which occurred after he took office in January.
