The evolving U.S. response to violence in the Northern Triangle
In December, the U.S. Congress approved a big increase in aid to Central America’s “Northern Triangle” countries – El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras. The US$750 million seeks to address the so-called “root causes” of violence that is now so severe that over 111,000 children from these three countries were apprehended in the United States or Mexico, while traveling unaccompanied, just between June 2014 and December 2015.
In this podcast, Adam and Sarah look at the causes of Central America’s insecurity crisis and how the United States has chosen to respond. They look at some of the concerns in Congress and elsewhere about political will, corruption, and human rights, and discuss strategies that can help Central Americans feel safer where they live—without repeating the ineffective and military-heavy approaches of the past.
They are joined by:
- Geoff Thale, WOLA’s Program Director;
- Adriana Beltrán, WOLA’s Senior Associate for Citizen Security;
- José Luis Sanz of El Salvador’s El Faro; and
- Héctor Silva Avalos of American University.
Download (19.9 MB)
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