(Reuters) – U.S. President is set to host a summit at the White House on November 3, where he will meet with leaders from South American nations. The purpose of this summit is to strengthen cooperation on economic growth and address the issue of irregular migration. The White House made this announcement on Friday.
During the inaugural Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity Leaders’ Summit, President Biden will not only reaffirm the United States’ commitment to cooperation but also outline new commitments to enhance and expand efforts in driving regional economic growth, according to a statement from Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre.
This gathering of leaders comes more than a year after Biden endorsed a non-binding resolution during a previous meeting referred to as the “Summit of the Americas.” During this meeting, representatives from 20 countries in the region agreed to a set of measures to tackle the migration crisis.
In recent years, a significant number of migrants have crossed the U.S.-Mexico border illegally, with many traveling from Colombia to Panama through a dangerous region known as the Darien Gap. This trend has been fueled, in part, by the economic and political instability in Venezuela which has led to a surge in Venezuelans fleeing their home country.
The announcement of this upcoming summit follows the Biden administration’s decision earlier this week to ease sanctions on Venezuela’s oil sector. This move was in response to an election agreement reached between the Venezuelan government and opposition parties. Additionally, the U.S. has resumed deportations to Venezuela which had been on hold for an extended period of time.
Since assuming office in 2021, President Biden, a member of the Democratic Party, has implemented various measures to provide legal pathways for migrants while also adopting some border policies similar to those pursued by his Republican predecessor, Donald Trump.
Donald Trump, known for his strict stance on immigration during his term as president, is currently leading the race as the Republican candidate for the upcoming presidential election in 2023.
As part of efforts to promote legal migration, the Biden administration has established “Safe Mobility Offices” in Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, and recently in Ecuador. These offices aim to expedite refugee processing and provide humanitarian and employment permits.
Biden’s approach to border control has faced criticism from Republicans and even some Democrats in cities dealing with a high number of asylum seekers who arrive with limited support, straining local resources.
In the previous summit held in Los Angeles in June 2022, Mexico’s president chose not to attend as the governments of Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua were excluded from participation.
(Reporting by Mica Rosenberg, Trevor Hunnicutt, and Costas Pitas; Editing by Paul Grant and Daniel Wallis)
