READOUT: Torres and Central America Caucus Meeting with President Morales of Guatemala

WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Rep. Norma J. Torres (D-CA) and members of the newly-formed Central America Caucus met with Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales.  Prior to the Caucus meeting, Morales and Torres, Chairwoman of the Caucus and a native of Guatemala, met separately.

During their meeting President Morales and Rep. Torres talked about the challenges facing repatriated Guatemalans and initiatives to improve the conditions they face when they return, and Morales renewed his call for Temporary Protected Status for Guatemalans in the United States.  Rep. Torres also commended the work of the CICIG and Attorney General Thelma Aldana which has led to a series of high-level corruption and human rights investigations and the removal of several public officials, including the previous President.  Torres urged Morales to support these efforts and fulfill his commitment to greater government transparency and accountability.

Once joined by Caucus members, Morales provided an update of his first 40 days in office.  Members asked Morales how U.S. assistance can best help Guatemalan communities to which Morales stressed the need to address the root causes of the problems the country faces, such as chronic childhood malnutrition, lack of education and job training, and infrastructure challenges that have crippled the economy.  He specifically commented on a recently restarted infrastructure project that had been fully funded but lay dormant because of government inefficiency.  Other members addressed issues of gender-based violence, migration and the need to create an environment that provides hope for youth within Guatemala, and U.S. food assistance.

Today’s meeting took place shortly after Morales and the Presidents of El Salvador and Honduras met with Vice President Biden to discuss the implementation of the Alliance for Prosperity.