Trump threatens to cut Central America aid over migrant caravan

"Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador were not able to do the job of stopping people from leaving their country and coming illegally to the U.S. . . ," Trump wrote in a series of Twitter posts.

Free countries do not prevent their citizens from leaving unless there are highly exceptional circumstances. Trump is advocating totalitarianism along the lines of the DPRK.

They didn't stop them the first time. I've seen interviews with those who have been deported previous.....talking about missing their Playstations and Buffalo Wings. lol At least it is preferable to those who are burning American flags over the issue.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday vowed to begin curtailing millions of dollars in American aid

It would be interesting to hear what all that 'aid' is used for.

Knowing that international relationships are based on Realpolitik and/or a pagan ethos (Kaplan), some form of quid pro quo, I have to think many US corporations and their local supporters in whichever country are the beneficiaries of America's 'aid'.

'Curtailing aid' sounds like it could become another easy to remember and easy to repeat meme for Trump's base.

Empty words for the true believers to shout together, like chants at a sporting match.

Free countries do not prevent their citizens from leaving unless there are highly exceptional circumstances. 

Have you ever been to the border ? These Honduran nationals can travel around Central American with a state ID. Mexico, though, requires a passport.

Cutting aid - which is really a pittance - to these countries as a way to stem their emigration is stupid beyond belief.

Speaking to reporters, Trump stepped up his criticism, saying that despite getting a "tremendous amount of money" in U.S. foreign aid, Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador "like a lot of others, do nothing for our country."   Trump also said, without providing evidence, that "Criminals and unknown Middle Easterners" are mixed in with the caravan, a claim immigration advocates disputed.

And this is what we get when we elect an "Apprentice" to the highest office in our country - insane, unhinged racially-tinged rants, rather than effective leadership and policy making.  Middle Easterners - what absolute BS - who's next North Koreans?  Then maybe Martians? 

Who can believe anything that comes out of his tanning bed addled brain - the sooner Mueller can finish and we can impeach this clown the better - send him back to his reality TV show gig where he belongs.

Say "Central America" and "migrant" and you get two kinds of responses:

Repubs think of the caravan. Everyone else thinks of the separated children from their families. We shall soon see which side is more motivated to on this issue.

What an utter dope. Cutting all or "substantial" aid to the three Central American countries would plunge them further into chaos and would increase the desperation of people to flee. You'd think even the dimmest bulbs can see that. Trump has no real plans other than the useless wall and is flying by the seat of his prejudices. This is so obvious.

Crazy

Its like with recognizing Jerusalem, Russian interference, the current travesty with the Saudi journalist: its about Trump, not about US interests.

Traitor.

@burningushAnd make sure the pictures are plastered all over the nightly news.

Modern totalitarian states have done just that.

Advocating for the already fearful to become more fearful by appealing to their base emotions.

Advocating for the already fearful to be further manipulated by the 'media'.

Interesting that the 'media' are the enemies of rightists when they question the rightists' leader.

The reality is despots like Trump and Putin use the media as another tool to maintain their control. Just like other despots before them did.

I wish I owned some stock in companies that make razor wire...

"millions of dollars in American aid to three Central American nations"

"It would be interesting to hear what all that 'aid' is used for."

"7,000 to 10,000 Central Americans fleeing violence and poverty in their homelands"

Looks like the money was wasted.

 "Cutting aid - which is really a pittance"

"In 2016, the United States provided some $131 million in aid to Guatemala, $98 million to Honduras, and $68 million to El Salvador"

A pittance?

Legal immigrant calls caravan an 'act of war' against the US

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jeN1NSKrLxM

There will be a bloodbath in the US-Mexican border as Uncle Trump is getting 'Nasty' everyday!

If these Central Americans are indeed fleeing their destitute countries, why not "caravan" to closer nations like Costa Rica (about 400 miles) or Panama (550 miles) from their points of origin instead of trekking more than 2,000 miles only to be turned away at our southern border? It makes zero sense.

This caravan is going to galvanize the Republicans into the election. Couldn't be better timing for Trump.

Fleeing poverty isn't grounds for asylum. Get a job in Mexico.

Also, international law says that people seeking asylum need to file for the first country they enter. Clearly, since they hopped the border to enter Mexico, that is where they all need to request asylum. For that reason alone, they should be refused entry into the USA.

Brave, strong, determined people. As immigrants have always been, the backbone of many a country, no more so than the USA.

At least it is preferable to those who are burning American flags over the issue.

It's not a crime to burn the American flag. All flags should be burnt, imho. And if it raises the profile of the families seeking better lives, all well and good.

It's not a crime to burn the American flag. All flags should be burnt, imho.

The U.S. Flag code states that, “the flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning.”

Ref section 176. Respect for flag.

The more this news is publicised in America the more likely people will vote Republican in the Mid Terms, its actually goods news.

The more this news is publicised in America the more likely people will vote Republican in the Mid Terms, its actually goods news.

= The more Trump's GOP vilifies people they don't like (i.e. immigrants of color, minorities who protest against discrimination, journalists who don't work for Fox, liberals, Democrats, etc) the more Cult 45ers feel good about themselves.

The same technique was used in certain places in the 1930s and 40s, and it was effective.

"Cutting funding would make the problem worse, not better," Lowey added in a statement

It can get worse?

...and the plastic monkey wins the "Godwin's Law" award for this discussion.

ALL political parties vilify people they don't like. Democrats don't like white men, white women, successful business owners, gun owners, etc.

As for the migrant caravan, I just heard that they are now 7,000 strong. More pressure on the limited infrastructure of Mexico. Let's say they are about 2000km from the US border. Best case scenario, they can walk 20km per day. So, 100 days of walking. ETA: late January 2019. An environmental disaster for Mexico. Not to mention that a large part of the journey will be through unpopulated desert regions, so little chance to rely at all on local charity. Again, who is organizing/funding this group?

ALL political parties vilify people they don't like. Democrats don't like white men, white women, successful business owners, gun owners, etc.

Nonsense. The Democratic Party has a tradition since at least the 1960s of speaking against the abuse of power by those who have too much against those who have too little. That is not the equivalent of calling Mexicans rapists, kneeling black football players SOBs, journalists enemies of the people, or the Democratic Party (not 'Democrat Party') radical Marxists who believe in open borders.

The Democratic Party has a tradition since at least the 1960s of speaking against the abuse of power by those who have too much against those who have too little. 

Oh, gosh. Thank you so much for that. I was need of a laugh today.

Donald Trump can say what he wants. At the end of the day, he knows he's not the king of the world," Ramirez told Reuters.

He's certainly not the king of the world but he's still the president of the country you're trying to enter illegally so...

They are painting swastikas on American flags and burning them and giving the middle finger to the American Press.

One must ask - If they are doing this then why would they want to come to the US?

Have you ever been to the border ? These Honduran nationals can travel around Central American with a state ID. Mexico, though, requires a passport.

Yes, I have been to the border. None of this statement changes the fact that free countries don't restrict their citizens' ability to leave, which is what Trump was advocating.

Democrats don't like white men, white women, successful business owners, gun owners, etc.

This comment has no basis in reality.

They are painting swastikas on American flags and burning them and giving the middle finger to the American Press.

One must ask - If they are doing this then why would they want to come to the US?

Good question, these people think the have the right to enter our country when they don’t, it’s a privilege, not mandatory. Most people that live on the border do indeed want a wall and an end to this nonsense, this is just further proof that the both parties are out of step with the border States and the left for encouraging open borders. This might indeed be the lefts Achilles heel after all.

The left does bit encourage open borders. Why do rightists insist on pushing falsehoods?

Soros is not funding this caravan. Why do rightists insist on pushing conspiracy theories?

Most people that live along the border do not want Trump's wall. Why can't rightists be accurate?

https://www.google.com/amp/s/aplus.com/a/border-wall-mexico-texas-arizona-california-new-mexico.amp

The left does bit encourage open borders.

The left absolutely encouragings open borders, they’re not doing anything at all to stop it, they won’t stop chain migration, they don’t want an end to the Visa lottery program, they are indeed encouraging it, they don’t want a wall, they think everyone as the absolute right to enter the US.

Most people that live along the border do not want Trump's wall. Why can't rightists be accurate

There is always that misconception, that liberals think no one wants the wall and if you go by the one sided liberal driven media then it would appear that way, but it’s absolutely the opposite.

https://www.thedesertreview.com/news/americans-show-in-poll-they-want-border-fence-and-tightened/article_bd784152-3783-11e8-8d7a-47957adc9cb8.html

https://thehill.com/opinion/immigration/350217-americans-support-a-border-wall-more-than-the-media-wants-to-believe

Free countries do not prevent their citizens from leaving unless there are highly exceptional circumstances.

True, but most 'free countries' do also understand that they have a responsibility to their citizens I.e safety, respect of human rights etc. Many governments in Latin America and Africa have taken a far too passive role on emigration; they no longer care who's leaving, how & where to.

I don't believe that cutting aid is the solution (would only make things worse) but any $ given should come with obligations, programs to deter illegal migration being one of them. Not much is being done right now and we all know that African govts in particular have been using $ aid to buy weapons.

Nobody wants a wall.

We just want illegal entry into the USA to be stopped.

Suggestions for making that stop from the left hasn't happened. Their solution is to allow everyone in, so it isn't possible to have any illegal immigrants.

How do Democrats suggest we end 95% of the illegal immigration? I have yet to see any viable proposal.

Republicans and some middle-liberals have proposed reasonable solutions, but the far-left Democrats have blocked those efforts at every turn. Better to destroy the country than try a solution.

Democrats tend to be in the lower economic groups, so they won't have to pay the taxes to support unskilled adults coming to the USA, having "anchor babies", then paying to school them.

Legal immigrants are different. They were invited. Their children are welcome. Not that it matters, but both neighbors of mine are legal immigrants - one family is even "brown!" They are nice people and welcome to get all they can from the USA by working hard and following our laws.

> We just want illegal entry into the USA to be stopped.

Suggestions for making that stop from the left hasn't happened. Their solution is to allow everyone in, so it isn't possible to have any illegal immigrants. 

Democrats for the most part have been for open borders in California Jerry Brown has allowed illegals to obtain drivers licenses and to pay into the pension system, this is just crazy and these are some of the reason so many people are leaving the State, a large portion of them don’t even trying to integrate Into our society which is another problem.

How do Democrats suggest we end 95% of the illegal immigration? I have yet to see any viable proposal.

Agreed.

Republicans and some middle-liberals have proposed reasonable solutions, but the far-left Democrats have blocked those efforts at every turn. Better to destroy the country than try a solution.

The main problem is Latinos are essentially to the Democrat vote and from various polls there aren’t enough of them that are interested in this midterm and if you shave off 30% of that voti;g block, the left is toast, this is one reason the timing is very suspicious. Democrats say they’re not for open borders and yet, they don’t want to end the Visa lottery program, they don’t want an end to chain migration, they are content with catch and release, they are against voter ID even though for everything else you need an ID , but vehemently oppose voter ID.

Democrats tend to be in the lower economic groups, so they won't have to pay the taxes to support unskilled adults coming to the USA, having "anchor babies", then paying to school them. 

The GOP always prefer the cheap labor that’s also why SOME in his party aren’t in a rush to see a wall go up.

Legal immigrants are different. They were invited. Their children are welcome. Not that it matters, but both neighbors of mine are legal immigrants - one family is even "brown!" They are nice people and welcome to get all they can from the USA by working hard and following our laws.

Exactly.

Democrats just want to pretend there is no caravan. Because they have no answer as to what to do about illegal immigration while still claiming to not be for open borders.

Democrats just want to pretend there is no caravan. Because they have no answer as to what to do about illegal immigration while still claiming to not be for open borders.

They want this, but their focused more on the collusion and Russian narrative first and foremost.

Creepy porn lawyer Avenatti is claiming the caravan is a “set up” by Trump. Whatever that might mean.

Creepy porn lawyer Avenatti is claiming the caravan is a “set up” by Trump. Whatever that might mean.

It might be conspiracy theory trash.

I thought you’d be able to recognize it given the constant stream of insane, rancid, unfounded garbage coming out of the president.

Others are allowed one, aren’t they? Do you think it is a monopoly?

It might be conspiracy theory trash.

Not when it comes from the left and particularly Avenatti.

I thought you’d be able to recognize it given the constant stream of insane, rancid, unfounded garbage coming out of the president. 

Considering the other Presidents talked a lot of garbage as well, not that easy to spot.

@Bass

Which other presidents spouted conspiracy theory trash gleaned from sources like the National Enquirer and the likes of Alex Jones?

Is conspiracy theory trash acceptable on the lunatic fringe?

Not "migrants." "Asylum seekers."

Not "migrants." "Asylum seekers."

The country where they file for asylum isn't under and legal requirement to accept the asylum seekers via the refugee convention. They can be relocated elsewhere. I'm thinking Mexico would be good for this group.

If not Mexico, I'm thinking this would be a great opportunity for Japan to step up. Wonder how many of the central Americans would accept that offer?

How do Democrats suggest we end 95% of the illegal immigration? I have yet to see any viable proposal.

Still waiting.