Trump’s threats against the migrant caravan from Central America are unacceptable, say S&Ds
Date
25 Oct 2018
Sections
Security
Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament today expressed their solidarity with the caravan of Central American migrants going to the United States, and have asked for fair treatment.
S&Ds have also requested a plenary debate and resolution in the parliamentary session in November to ask for the respect of human rights and international conventions.
Francisco Assis, the S&D spokesperson in the EU-Latin America Parliamentary Assembly (Eurolat), said:
“Thousands of people from Central America are fleeing misery and violence and are heading towards Mexico and the United States; they deserve to be treated with humanity and according to international norms. These persons, many of whom are children, need help and protection, not threats and deportations.
“The time has come for the world to pay due attention to this migratory crisis that already affects thousands of people, and which has been dragging on for many years.
“President Trump is trying to make political gain out of this migratory drama because he knows that jolting migration can gain him some votes and advantages in his struggle to control the Congress.
“Blackmailing Mexico and removing the financial aid to the countries affected can only worsen the situation. On the contrary, tackling the structural causes of this exodus is urgent, and this can only be done with development aid and democratic consolidation.
“The S&D Group welcomes the proposals made by President López Obrador to grant working visas to those migrants, and praises his will to find solutions that will avoid deportations and the use of force.”
The S&D MEP Ramón Jáuregui, who co-chairs the Eurolat Parliamentary Assembly, added:
"Thousands of people from Honduras and Central America are walking through Mexico, asking only to be able to live. They are escaping misery, hunger and violence, and it is up to Mexico and the United States to establish a humanitarian channel to regularise these forced migrations. We don’t want walls but agreements that will respect international law, and in particular the rules on refugees and asylum.
“The Honduran government cannot be left aside in this deplorable show. It is this government’s responsibility to grant security to its own people and offer them a dignified human development.”