WORLD NEWS FEBRUARY 20, 2019 / 6:16 PM / UPDATED 2 HOURS AGO

U.S., Central America launch plan to crack down on people smugglers

Nelson Renteria
3 MIN READ

SAN SALVADOR (Reuters) - The United States and three Central American nations on Wednesday announced an effort to combat trafficking of people to the U.S.-Mexico border, days after U.S. President Donald Trump declared a national emergency, citing large-scale unlawful immigration.

U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen called immigration from the region a “humanitarian crisis” and said the regional security plan with El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras would secure the border and improve conditions in the countries.

The total number of people apprehended crossing illegally into the United States from the southwestern border is sharply down from a decade ago, but more families from Central America, citing poverty and violence, are making the journey, many seeking asylum.

Trump last week declared the situation at the border a “national emergency” to free up billions of dollars to fund a border wall, a decision that has been challenged in a lawsuit by 16 U.S. states and another by the American Civil Liberties Union.

In a statement, El Salvador’s government said the new initiative was aimed at attacking the finances, logistics and communication platforms of people-trafficking networks.

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