Former NFL Star Brewer and His Foundation Aid Guatemalan Migrants
Guatemala City, Guatemala – Retired New York Giants safety Jack Brewer and his Jack Brewer Foundation are lending a helping hand to migrant families deported from the United States in Guatemala City. As these families navigate the challenges of starting life anew, Brewer and his team are providing essential support, nourishment, and spiritual guidance.
Brewer, known for his years of humanitarian efforts in impoverished regions worldwide, emphasizes the devastating impact of "broken" immigration policies under former President Joe Biden. He attributes the surge in illegal immigration and the resulting family separations to a lack of enforcement and an influx of misinformation.
"Three years ago, I started to follow the fatherlessness crisis that is happening right here in Guatemala, where a lot of men were leaving their households and coming to Joe Biden’s open borders – and just seeing it literally devastate families," Brewer stated.
Guatemala has witnessed a significant loss in its workforce due to illegal immigration, he added. Many families attempting to reach the U.S. lack awareness of legal immigration pathways and rely on cartels and traffickers, spending thousands of dollars on treacherous journeys.
"They’ve been told by coyotes and different people that you can just come [to the U.S.], and if you come here, if you bring your child, they’ll just let you in," Brewer explained. "And so, you know, there’s a huge education gap there on the ground."
Brewer met with officials from the National Council for Attention to Migrants of Guatemala (CONAMIGUA) and the Guatemala Penitentiary Department to establish an effective system for assisting returning migrants. The focus lies on differentiating innocent families from those with criminal backgrounds or other concerns requiring government attention.
Meeting Migrants at the Tarmac
Upon the arrival of a U.S. military plane carrying deported migrants, Brewer was present on the tarmac. He and his team distributed food and, crucially, Bibles, sharing the message of hope and redemption.
"We were able to provide them with food and, most importantly, with Bibles, and we preached the Gospel of Jesus Christ," Brewer recounted.
Addressing the Root Causes
Brewer acknowledges the complex root causes of illegal migration, including corruption, climate resiliency, and economic inequality. However, he asserts that the Biden administration’s policies exacerbated these issues by empowering human traffickers.
"When you look at the root causes, we’re also looking at issues of corruption. Again, we’re looking at the issue of climate resiliency and then the concern about a lack of economic opportunity," Vice President Kamala Harris stated during her visit to Guatemala City in 2021.
Brewer contends that Harris’s efforts have fallen short, leaving 50% of Guatemala’s population in extreme poverty with limited educational opportunities. He criticizes the State Department’s previous allocation of resources through USAID, which he believes has been misguided and ineffective.
"We need to first put our resources into addressing the issues that are fueling a multibillion-dollar human trafficking industry. Walls, deportations, and enforcement are a must, but educating indigenous populations on the truths of coyotes will deliver a devastating blow to the modern human slave trade," Brewer emphasized.
Overcrowded Prisons and Lack of Enforcement
Brewer also highlights the challenges faced by Guatemala in enforcing immigration laws. Despite warnings to Haitians and Venezuelans about the dangers of illegal migration, there is insufficient enforcement at the borders.
"Guatemala is not enforcing their migration issue in the country. Haitians and Venezuelans are warned of the dangers of migrating, but there is no enforcement at the time," Brewer said. "There needs to be arrest and enforcement, but they require resources. Guatemala prisons are already overcrowded, and they don’t have immigration beds available for enforcement."
Brewer’s firsthand account of conditions in Guatemalan prisons further underscores the need for international collaboration and support to address the humanitarian crisis caused by illegal migration.
