US reportedly cutting off aid to El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras after Trump claims countries 'set up' migrant caravans
- The US State Department is cutting funding to three South American countries - El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala - reports CNN.
- The move comes two months after President Trump threatened to cut funding to the three countries.
- "Honduras is doing nothing for us. Guatemala is doing nothing for us. El Salvador is doing nothing for us. And we pay them hundreds of millions of dollars a year, but we're going to be stopping pretty soon," Trump said in January.
- The State Department, in a statement to CNN, said it is ending aid to the three countries on behalf of Secretary of State Mike Pompeo "carrying out the President's direction."
According to a report from CNN quoting a State Department representative, The United States will no longer provide aid to three South American countries: El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala.
The move comes less than a day after President Trump proposed to cut funding on Twitter.
The State Department cutting aid to Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala is intended as punishment for what the US views as those countries not doing enough to stop illegal migration to the United States.
"Mexico is doing NOTHING to help stop the flow of illegal immigrants to our Country," Trump said on Friday. "They are all talk and no action. Likewise, Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador have taken our money for years, and do Nothing. The Dems don't care, such BAD laws. May close the Southern Border!"
A representative from the US State Department confirmed that the United States is ending aid to the so-called Northern Triangle countries in South America, according to a statement sent to CNN.
"At the Secretary's instruction, we are carrying out the President's direction and ending FY 2017 and FY 2018 foreign assistance programs for the Northern Triangle," the statement said.
The administration's proposed budget for fiscal year 2019 included $45.7 million for El Salvador, $69.4 million for Guatemala and $65.8 million for Honduras, according to the Congressional Research Service.
The move is in line with Trump's past statements on the three countries.
"Honduras is doing nothing for us. Guatemala is doing nothing for us. El Salvador is doing nothing for us. And we pay them hundreds of millions of dollars a year, but we're going to be stopping pretty soon," Trump said in January.
Moreover, Trump said he may close the US border with Mexico entirely in the coming week, "If Mexico doesn't immediately stop ALL illegal immigration coming into the United States through our Southern Border."
The US State Department didn't respond to a request for comment as of publishing.