Alleged USAID Whistleblower Shares Insights on Migration Initiatives
Mark Moyar, an alleged USAID whistleblower, discusses the agency's initiatives addressing migration root causes and the scrutiny it faced under the Biden administration.
Alleged USAID whistleblower Mark Moyar revealed his experiences inside the agency during an appearance on 'Hannity,' discussing the impact of USAID under the Biden administration.
When President Biden launched a strategy to address the "root causes" of migration at the southern border amid increasing illegal immigration, USAID played a significant role. The strategy, aimed at issues such as gang violence, climate change, and poverty, involved both government initiatives and private funding.
Vice President Kamala Harris was appointed to lead diplomatic efforts in Latin America to combat these root causes. However, USAID recently faced scrutiny leading to a freeze on its operations due to concerns about potential misspending.
In 2021, USAID initiated Centroamérica Local, a five-year, $300 million project designed to fund organizations across El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras to tackle migration drivers.
USAID stated, "Under this new initiative, Centroamérica Local, USAID intends to invest up to $300 million, subject to the availability of funds... to advance sustainable and equitable economic growth, improve governance, fight corruption, protect human rights, and combat sexual and gender-based violence."
Further developments included announcements in 2022 for programs to end gender-based violence, with a $6.5 million initiative in Guatemala and a $2.7 million program in Honduras.
In March 2022, Harris met with Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo to unveil a $135 million investment in USAID funding, as well as $170 million for development and security assistance.
This included expanding the Central American Service Corps, aiming to address migration by engaging individuals with volunteer work and training opportunities.
USAID also announced a "Feed the Future" program to bolster agricultural research and support sustainable practices, alongside a biodiversity conservation initiative in Guatemala.
With an additional funding of $10.75 million announced in September 2022, USAID reported investments exceeding $153 million in Guatemala to strengthen democracy and economic opportunities throughout 2023.
Trump's administration had expressed skepticism toward the root causes strategy, emphasizing border security which led to cuts in foreign funding and significant policy reversals, including the rescission of Biden's orders aimed at managing migration comprehensively.
