Harris Blames The Border Crisis On Climate But Guatemalan President Knows The Truth

Vice President Kamala Harris’ staff would argue that the “main drivers” in the surge of incoming migrants to the southern border are climate change and the economy but the president of Guatemala would beg to differ.

After Harris spokesperson Symone Sanders pointed to these two factors as the cause of over 178,000 migrants flooding the border in April, and even more in the following months,  Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei blamed President Joe Biden and the U.S. administration for the crisis.

Critics emphasized the role corruption plays in forcing migrants to make their way north of the border.

“We see corruption as one of the most important root causes to be dealt with,” special envoy Richard Zuniga said.

Critics have blamed the Biden administration’s rollback of Trump-era border restrictions and interior enforcement policies that they say have sent the signal to migrants that the border is open. The Biden administration has denied that, saying that the border is closed. Instead, it has emphasized the “root causes” of the crisis – focusing on climate, poverty, crime and corruption in Central America.

Harris, who was put in charge of diplomatic outreach to solve the crisis in March, has also emphasized the “root causes.”

“I’m thinking of corruption, violence and poverty, the lack of economic opportunity, the lack of climate adaptation and climate resilience, the lack of good governance,” she said last month.

Harris flew to Guatemala on a two-day trip to the region where she will meet with President Alejandro Giammattei. According to her office, she will consider increasing economic opportunities and strengthening the rule of law, and deeper bilateral law enforcement cooperation, among other pressing issues that are way past due for resolution. After that meeting and several others scheduled with local community leaders and business owners, Harris will travel to Mexico.