President Trump said Friday that the U.S. would cut off aid to three Central American countries that are “doing nothing for the United States but taking our money.”
“Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador are doing nothing for the United States but taking our money. Word is that a new Caravan is forming in Honduras and they are doing nothing about it. We will be cutting off all aid to these 3 countries – taking advantage of U.S. for years!” Trump said in a tweet.
…..Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador are doing nothing for the United States but taking our money. Word is that a new Caravan is forming in Honduras and they are doing nothing about it. We will be cutting off all aid to these 3 countries – taking advantage of U.S. for years!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 28, 2018
It does not appear that any action has been taken on ending aid to Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador.
For fiscal year 2019, which began Oct. 1, the State Department designated $65.7 million in foreign aid to Honduras, $69.4 million for Guatemala, and $45.7 million for El Salvador.
Trump has in the past threatened to cut aid and funding to Honduras, most recently in October as a caravan of thousands of migrants traveled from the country to the U.S.-Mexico border.
The president claimed then that the caravan was an “invasion” and accused Democrats of “encouraging millions of illegal immigrants” to “overwhelm” the country.
As a result of the caravan, Trump attempted to implement a policy effectively prohibiting asylum for migrants who illegally cross the southern border. Federal courts, however, have blocked the policy from taking effect.
According to reports, another migrant caravan is set to depart Honduras in mid-January, with people from El Salvador and Guatemala expected to join. That caravan, however, is not planning on traveling to the U.S.-Mexico border, but is instead intending to remain in Mexico to find work.
