President Trump is still threatening to cut off foreign aid to the Central American nations, whose citizens have become involved in caravans headed to the U.S. border.
During a rally Sunday, the president claimed the leaders of Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala may have stolen millions of dollars worth of U.S. aid.
According to reports, the U.S. donated more than $100 million to El Salvador and Honduras in 2017 as well as about $250 million to Guatemala.
This comes just weeks after the president blasted those nations for not stopping their people from migrating north.
“I can only tell you this. We give them hundreds of millions of dollars. They do nothing for us. You know what? Maybe it will and maybe it won’t, but it certainly has an effect. They could do a lot better job. You look at the three countries in particular, and I don’t know what’s going on with Mexico, I guess it looks like the people are walking right through the middle of Mexico, so I’m not exactly thrilled there either.” — President Donald Trump
During his speech, President Trump said he has advised Vice President Mike Pence to inform the leader of Honduras the U.S. will be cutting off aid.
Central American migrants pack into the back of a trailer truck as they begin their morning trek as part of a thousands-strong caravan hoping to reach the U.S. border, in Isla, Veracruz state, Mexico, Sunday, Nov. 4, 2018. Thousands of wary Central American migrants resumed their push toward the United States on Sunday, a day after arguments over the path ahead saw some travelers splinter away from the main caravan, which is entering a treacherous part of its journey through Mexico. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)
Meanwhile, the migrant caravan recently voted to try and reach Mexico City by Monday. In a voice vote of over 1,000 migrants, the group decided to make their longest single-day trek yet with a 178-mile goal.
On Sunday, the largest remaining group walked and hitch-hiked over 100-miles through Veracruz, which is considered the most dangerous region for migrants as hundreds have disappeared in recent years and kidnappers seek ransom payments.
Despite the dangers, many are still planning to press on to Mexico City and seek asylum in the U.S.
“I’m happy to go to Mexico City because we are advancing and we, all the migrants, are closer of our dream — it’s our goal to enter to the U.S. to improve the future of our children,” said Betsy Jaqueline Martinez, migrant from Honduras.
Though the caravan is still hundreds of miles away, President Trump is preparing for the migrants by deploying thousands of U.S. troops to the southern border.
OAN Newsroom
UPDATED 6:28 AM PT – Mon. Nov. 5, 2018
