On May 6-7, Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Deputy Secretary Kristie Canegallo joined Secretary of State Antony Blinken, White House National Security Council’s Marcela Escobari, and USAID Acting Assistant Administrator for Latin America and the Caribbean Michael Camilleri in Guatemala City, Guatemala. They represented the United States Government at the third Los Angeles Declaration on Migration and Protection Ministerial. Over the past two years, this declaration has served as a framework for its signatories throughout the Americas to take action on shared goals including strengthening border enforcement, expanding lawful pathways, and addressing root causes of migration.
During this ministerial event, Canegallo participated in bilateral and trilateral meetings with counterparts from several countries such as Guatemala, Costa Rica, Belize, Ecuador, and Mexico. The aim was to enhance hemispheric cooperation across various areas including information sharing, coordinating enforcement measures, and combating transnational criminal organizations. In a bilateral meeting with Costa Rican Foreign Affairs Minister Arnoldo André, an agreement was signed establishing a Biometric Data Sharing Partnership between the Department of Homeland Security and Costa Rica. A separate agreement on countering human trafficking was also signed by the Department of State.
Canegallo also took part in a Labor Mobility event where she underscored this Administration’s efforts to increase temporary worker visas. She noted that in 2023 alone, the United States issued a record number of H-2B visas to workers from Central and South America. She emphasized that the United States will continue working with foreign partners to expand labor opportunities, safeguard human rights, and bolster both national and regional economies.
The following is a detailed fact sheet outlining achievements of the Los Angeles Declaration:
Fact Sheet: Third Ministerial Meeting on the Los Angeles Declaration On Migration and Protection in Guatemala
Nearly two years ago President Biden launched the Los Angeles Declaration on Migration and Protection in response to migration challenges and forced displacement issues. This first-of-its-kind framework was designed to promote coordinated action under three core pillars: addressing root causes and supporting the integration of migrants for long-term stabilization; expanding lawful pathways; and strengthening humane enforcement.
On May 7, 2024, Guatemala hosted the third Los Angeles Declaration Ministerial with foreign ministers and senior representatives from 21 endorsing countries. Secretary of State Antony Blinken led the U.S. delegation. The United States expressed gratitude for President Arévalo’s leadership in hosting the Ministerial.
Secretary Blinken announced on behalf of the United States a $578 million package in humanitarian, development, and economic assistance to support partner countries and host communities in responding to urgent humanitarian needs, expanding lawful pathways, and supporting regularization and integration of migrants. The U.S. Government also reiterated its commitment to work alongside partners to establish a permanent, regionally-driven Secretariat to ensure that coordinated progress is sustained under the Los Angeles Declaration.
The endorsing countries presented progress toward their commitments under the Los Angeles Declaration and announced several new initiatives. These included steps taken by the United States on May 6 to impose visa restrictions on executives of several Colombian maritime transportation companies for facilitating irregular migration to the United States.
The International Air Transport Association along with several member airlines committed to concerted action to limit commercial flights used for irregular migration. The United States and Costa Rica announced a new Biometric Data Sharing Partnership aimed at enhancing Costa Rica’s biometric collection and matching capabilities as well as strengthening its border management.
USAID announced plans to launch a new regional labor mobility initiative — “Alianza de Movilidad Laboral para las Américas” or “Labor Neighbors” — aiming at increasing access to lawful temporary labor pathways for new migrant-source and destination countries.
Mexico reported that since 2022 it has issued over 17,500 temporary visas to individuals seeking international protection in order to address labor shortages in the country. Costa Rica committed to continue modernizing its asylum system through digitalization, data-driven solutions, and adopting practices to streamline refugee status determination with support from UNHCR and the international community.
The United States reaffirmed its commitment to addressing the root causes of irregular migration. The U.S. International Development Finance Corporation announced the approval of a $20 million direct loan to Cosami, a savings and loan cooperative, for low-income mortgages in rural Guatemala.
On May 6, 2024, Canegallo signed an agreement for a Biometric Data Sharing Partnership with Costa Rica on the margins of the 3rd Los Angeles Declaration on Migration and Protection ministerial in Guatemala City, Guatemala. On May 7, 2024, she represented the U.S. government at the same ministerial event alongside Secretary of State Antony Blinken, White House National Security Council's Marcela Escobari, and U.S. Ambassador to Guatemala Tobin Bradley.
