(29 Aug 2019) The acting U.S. homeland security secretary has held talks with El Salvador's president over regional security and irregular migration. Kevin McAleenan met privately with diplomats and DHS officials on Wednesday before meeting Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele and his foreign and justice ministers.
"The United States has already seen significant progress from your efforts. Since your inauguration just three months ago, CBP (U.S. Customs and Border Protection) has observed a 60 percent decrease in crossings at the US southwest border from individuals from El Salvador, demonstrating the success of your initiative on both security and economic opportunity," said McAleenan to Bukele at a joint news conference.
Bukele in turn said Salvadorans would not "feel the need" to migrate to another country.
The Trump administration has been pressuring Central American nations and Mexico to stem the flow of migrants and asylum seekers toward the US border.
Migrants' rights advocates in El Salvador have criticised the talks as lacking transparency.
The visit was the third by high-level US officials to El Salvador in a little over a month. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo came on July 21 and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited in early August.
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