Acting Homeland Security Secretary Kevin McAleenan signed last week a Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) with the Guatemalan Ministry of Government to address factors driving irregular migration from Guatemala and combat human smuggling.
The MOC is an agreement between the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Guatemala that pledges to enhance law enforcement cooperation between them. High rates of migration from the region have prompted concern from DHS, which wants to create targeted measures of combating them. DHS reports that more than 109,000 immigrants were arrested in April alone. DHS will have to approach the issue in a variety of areas, from attacking crime to addressing stunted economics, to deal with such numbers.
“I am proud to sign this agreement with Minister Enrique Antonio Degenhart,” McAleenan said. “Through our continued collaboration and partnership, the U.S. and Guatemala are formalizing a number of initiatives to improve the lives and security of our respective citizens by combating human trafficking and the smuggling of illegal goods, helping to limit ‘push’ factors that encourage dangerous irregular migration to the United States, perpetuating the ongoing crisis at our border.”
The agreement will see improved training for local law enforcement, focusing on criminal investigations related to human trafficking and smuggling networks. While in the region, McAleenan also stressed the importance of small business and public-private partnerships in countering the economic challenges to the region.
McAleenan’s trip to Guatemala comes as the migrant crisis at the U.S. Southwest Border intensifies and worsens. April saw over 109,000 migrants apprehended, the highest amount in one month in over a decade. McAleenan’s meetings in Guatemala reflect the Department-wide, “whole-of-government” approach DHS is taking to confront the ongoing border crisis so that the Department is able to fulfill its humanitarian and security mission.