USAID’s Role in the Biden Administration’s Root Causes Strategy
Introduction
In response to the surge in illegal immigration across the southern border, the Biden administration implemented a strategy to address the "root causes" of migration in Central America. This strategy tasked Vice President Kamala Harris with leading diplomatic efforts in the region and involved both government initiatives and private funding. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) played a pivotal role in distributing funds as part of this strategy.
USAID’s Programs and Initiatives
Centroamérica Local
In 2021, USAID launched Centroamérica Local, a five-year, $300 million initiative aimed at addressing the root causes of migration in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras. This program provided funding to local organizations working to advance economic growth, governance, human rights, citizen security, and combat gender-based violence.
Gender-Based Violence Prevention
USAID also implemented programs in Central America to end gender-based violence. In 2022, these included a $6.5 million program in Guatemala and a $2.7 million program in Honduras.
Guatemala Investment
In March 2022, Vice President Harris announced a $135 million investment in USAID funding for Guatemala, along with $170 million in other aid. This included expanding the Central American Service Corps to engage at-risk youth in volunteer work and training. USAID also supported research and education related to climate-smart agriculture and biodiversity conservation through the "Feed the Future" and "Guatemala Biodiversity Conservation" programs.
Additional Funding
In September 2022, USAID announced an additional $10.75 million in funding for Guatemala. This followed a $153 million investment in 2023 to support efforts to strengthen democracy and improve economic opportunities.
Funding Concerns and Trump’s Skepticism
In recent days, USAID has been frozen due to concerns about misspending. This has raised questions about the effectiveness of its funding distribution.
President Donald Trump’s administration has expressed skepticism about the root causes strategy, focusing instead on border security and interior enforcement. Trump rescinded Biden’s executive order on root causes and climate change impact on migration during his first week in office.
Harris’s Role and Recent Developments
Vice President Harris initially led the diplomatic efforts to tackle root causes, but she largely dropped this emphasis during her unsuccessful presidential bid, instead focusing on border security.
Conclusion
USAID played a significant role in the Biden administration’s root causes strategy through its funding and distribution of funds to Central American organizations. While the strategy has faced challenges and criticism, it remains a key part of the administration’s approach to addressing the surge in illegal immigration at the southern border. However, recent concerns about misspending have raised questions about the effectiveness of USAID’s operations.
