PRESIDENT HARRIS TOLD
REPORTERS SHE WILL GO.
I SAT DOWN WITH HER REPORTERS SHE WILL GO.
I SAT DOWN WITH HER
LAST EVENING IN I SAT DOWN WITH HER
LAST EVENING IN
GUATEMALA CITY. LAST EVENING IN
GUATEMALA CITY.
TONIGHT VICE PRESIDENT GUATEMALA CITY.
TONIGHT VICE PRESIDENT
HARRIS IN MEXICO, TONIGHT VICE PRESIDENT
HARRIS IN MEXICO,
MEETING WITH THE HARRIS IN MEXICO,
MEETING WITH THE
MEXICAN PRESIDENT. MEETING WITH THE
MEXICAN PRESIDENT.
>> YOU CANT SAY YOU MEXICAN PRESIDENT.
>> YOU CANT SAY YOU
CARE ABOUT THE BORDER >> YOU CANT SAY YOU
CARE ABOUT THE BORDER
WITHOUT CARING ABOUT CARE ABOUT THE BORDER
WITHOUT CARING ABOUT
THE ROOT CAUSES. WITHOUT CARING ABOUT
THE ROOT CAUSES.
>> PART OF HER FIRST THE ROOT CAUSES.
>> PART OF HER FIRST
FOREIGN TRIP TARGETING >> PART OF HER FIRST
FOREIGN TRIP TARGETING
THE ROOT CAUSES OF THE FOREIGN TRIP TARGETING
THE ROOT CAUSES OF THE
RECORD MY GRANT SURGE. THE ROOT CAUSES OF THE
RECORD MY GRANT SURGE.
I SPOKE TO HER LAST RECORD MY GRANT SURGE.
I SPOKE TO HER LAST
NIGHT IN GUATEMALA. I SPOKE TO HER LAST
NIGHT IN GUATEMALA.
YOU HAD A MESSAGE FOR NIGHT IN GUATEMALA.
YOU HAD A MESSAGE FOR
WOULD OF BE MIGRANTS. YOU HAD A MESSAGE FOR
WOULD OF BE MIGRANTS.
DONT COME. WOULD OF BE MIGRANTS.
DONT COME.
>> DO NOT COME. DONT COME.
>> DO NOT COME.
DO NOT COME. >> DO NOT COME.
DO NOT COME.
>> THE NOTION THAT THE DO NOT COME.
>> THE NOTION THAT THE
BORDER IS CLOSED. >> THE NOTION THAT THE
BORDER IS CLOSED.
WHY SHOULD THEY BORDER IS CLOSED.
WHY SHOULD THEY
BELIEVE YOU WHEN THEY WHY SHOULD THEY
BELIEVE YOU WHEN THEY
KNOW THAT PEOPLE ARE BELIEVE YOU WHEN THEY
KNOW THAT PEOPLE ARE
GETTING IN? KNOW THAT PEOPLE ARE
GETTING IN?
>> WELL, LESTER, GETTING IN?
>> WELL, LESTER,
HERES THE THING. >> WELL, LESTER,
HERES THE THING.
IVE BEEN WORKING ON HERES THE THING.
IVE BEEN WORKING ON
THIS ISSUE FOR A VERY IVE BEEN WORKING ON
THIS ISSUE FOR A VERY
LONG TIME, AND THE THIS ISSUE FOR A VERY
LONG TIME, AND THE
KIND OF VIOLENCE AND LONG TIME, AND THE
KIND OF VIOLENCE AND
DANGER THAT IS KIND OF VIOLENCE AND
DANGER THAT IS
ASSOCIATED WITH THAT DANGER THAT IS
ASSOCIATED WITH THAT
TREK, ESPECIALLY WHEN ASSOCIATED WITH THAT
TREK, ESPECIALLY WHEN
WERE TALKING ABOUT TREK, ESPECIALLY WHEN
WERE TALKING ABOUT
FROM GUATEMALA THROUGH WERE TALKING ABOUT
FROM GUATEMALA THROUGH
MEXICO TO THE UNITED FROM GUATEMALA THROUGH
MEXICO TO THE UNITED
STATES, ITS EXTREMELY MEXICO TO THE UNITED
STATES, ITS EXTREMELY
DANGEROUS. STATES, ITS EXTREMELY
DANGEROUS.
AND THE REASON THAT I DANGEROUS.
AND THE REASON THAT I
AM IN GUATEMALA IS TO AND THE REASON THAT I
AM IN GUATEMALA IS TO
ADDRESS THE REASONS AM IN GUATEMALA IS TO
ADDRESS THE REASONS
PEOPLE LEAVE HOME, ADDRESS THE REASONS
PEOPLE LEAVE HOME,
FLEE, KNOWING THAT THE PEOPLE LEAVE HOME,
FLEE, KNOWING THAT THE
PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE FLEE, KNOWING THAT THE
PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE
FOR GENERATIONS, OR WE PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE
FOR GENERATIONS, OR WE
KNOW THAT THE HISTORY FOR GENERATIONS, OR WE
KNOW THAT THE HISTORY
OF GUATEMALA FOR KNOW THAT THE HISTORY
OF GUATEMALA FOR
CENTURIES, THEY WANT OF GUATEMALA FOR
CENTURIES, THEY WANT
TO STAY. CENTURIES, THEY WANT
TO STAY.
THEY DONT WANT TO TO STAY.
THEY DONT WANT TO
LEAVE. THEY DONT WANT TO
LEAVE.
BUT THEY NEED LEAVE.
BUT THEY NEED
OPPORTUNITY. BUT THEY NEED
OPPORTUNITY.
THEY NEED ASSISTANCE. OPPORTUNITY.
THEY NEED ASSISTANCE.
THEY NEED SUPPORT. THEY NEED ASSISTANCE.
THEY NEED SUPPORT.
>> BUT AMERICANS THEY NEED SUPPORT.
>> BUT AMERICANS
DONT -- >> BUT AMERICANS
DONT --
>> AND WE HAVE THE DONT --
>> AND WE HAVE THE
ABILITY TO GIVE THEM >> AND WE HAVE THE
ABILITY TO GIVE THEM
THAT. ABILITY TO GIVE THEM
THAT.
>> AMERICANS DONT SEE THAT.
>> AMERICANS DONT SEE
THAT ON A DAILY BASIS. >> AMERICANS DONT SEE
THAT ON A DAILY BASIS.
WHAT THEY DO SEE AT THAT ON A DAILY BASIS.
WHAT THEY DO SEE AT
THEIR OWN BORDER, WHAT THEY DO SEE AT
THEIR OWN BORDER,
CHILDREN BEING LOWERED THEIR OWN BORDER,
CHILDREN BEING LOWERED
OVER FENCES. CHILDREN BEING LOWERED
OVER FENCES.
CHILDREN COMING IN OVER FENCES.
CHILDREN COMING IN
WITH PHONE NUMBERS CHILDREN COMING IN
WITH PHONE NUMBERS
STENCILED ON THEIR WITH PHONE NUMBERS
STENCILED ON THEIR
HAND. STENCILED ON THEIR
HAND.
>> YEAH. HAND.
>> YEAH.
>> SO THE QUESTION HAS >> YEAH.
>> SO THE QUESTION HAS
COME UP. >> SO THE QUESTION HAS
COME UP.
YOU HEARD IT HERE. COME UP.
YOU HEARD IT HERE.
YOULL HEAR IT AGAIN, YOU HEARD IT HERE.
YOULL HEAR IT AGAIN,
IM SURE. YOULL HEAR IT AGAIN,
IM SURE.
WHY NOT VISIT THE IM SURE.
WHY NOT VISIT THE
BORDER? WHY NOT VISIT THE
BORDER?
WHY NOT SEE WHAT BORDER?
WHY NOT SEE WHAT
AMERICANS ARE SEEING WHY NOT SEE WHAT
AMERICANS ARE SEEING
IN THIS CRISIS? AMERICANS ARE SEEING
IN THIS CRISIS?
>> WELL, WE ARE GOING IN THIS CRISIS?
>> WELL, WE ARE GOING
TO THE BORDER. >> WELL, WE ARE GOING
TO THE BORDER.
WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH TO THE BORDER.
WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH
WHATS HAPPENING AT WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH
WHATS HAPPENING AT
THE BORDER. WHATS HAPPENING AT
THE BORDER.
THERES NO QUESTION THE BORDER.
THERES NO QUESTION
ABOUT THAT. THERES NO QUESTION
ABOUT THAT.
THATS NOT A DEBATABLE ABOUT THAT.
THATS NOT A DEBATABLE
POINT. THATS NOT A DEBATABLE
POINT.
BUT WE HAVE TO POINT.
BUT WE HAVE TO
UNDERSTAND THAT BUT WE HAVE TO
UNDERSTAND THAT
THERES A REASON UNDERSTAND THAT
THERES A REASON
PEOPLE ARE ARRIVING AT THERES A REASON
PEOPLE ARE ARRIVING AT
OUR BORDER AND ASK, PEOPLE ARE ARRIVING AT
OUR BORDER AND ASK,
WHAT IS THAT REASON? OUR BORDER AND ASK,
WHAT IS THAT REASON?
AND THEN IDENTIFY THE WHAT IS THAT REASON?
AND THEN IDENTIFY THE
PROBLEM SO WE CAN FIX AND THEN IDENTIFY THE
PROBLEM SO WE CAN FIX
IT. PROBLEM SO WE CAN FIX IT. >> WHAT DO YOU TELL A IT. >> WHAT DO YOU TELL A GUATEMALAN FAMILY WHO >> WHAT DO YOU TELL A GUATEMALAN FAMILY WHO HEARD YOU SAY "DONT GUATEMALAN FAMILY WHO HEARD YOU SAY "DONT COME," BUT, YOU KNOW, HEARD YOU SAY "DONT COME," BUT, YOU KNOW, THEYRE FACING THE COME," BUT, YOU KNOW, THEYRE FACING THE END. THEYRE FACING THE END. THERES POVERTY, END. THERES POVERTY, DISEASE, ALL THESE THERES POVERTY, DISEASE, ALL THESE THINGS HAPPENING AT DISEASE, ALL THESE THINGS HAPPENING AT ONCE. THINGS HAPPENING AT ONCE. YOU TELL THEM DONT ONCE. YOU TELL THEM DONT COME? YOU TELL THEM DONT COME? >> WE DONT WANT -- COME? >> WE DONT WANT -- LISTEN, I DONT THINK >> WE DONT WANT -- LISTEN, I DONT THINK THAT AMERICANS WANT LISTEN, I DONT THINK THAT AMERICANS WANT PEOPLE TO BE EXPOSED THAT AMERICANS WANT PEOPLE TO BE EXPOSED TO HARM IF THEY CAN PEOPLE TO BE EXPOSED TO HARM IF THEY CAN AVOID IT. TO HARM IF THEY CAN AVOID IT. THEYRE TAKING THE AVOID IT. THEYRE TAKING THE TREK FROM THE PLACE THEYRE TAKING THE TREK FROM THE PLACE THAT THEY KNOW, THAT TREK FROM THE PLACE THAT THEY KNOW, THAT THEY WANT TO STAY. THAT THEY KNOW, THAT THEY WANT TO STAY. SO IM HERE IN THEY WANT TO STAY. SO IM HERE IN GUATEMALA TO SAY, WHAT SO IM HERE IN GUATEMALA TO SAY, WHAT CAN WE DO TO SUPPORT GUATEMALA TO SAY, WHAT CAN WE DO TO SUPPORT PEOPLE AND TO GIVE CAN WE DO TO SUPPORT PEOPLE AND TO GIVE THEM A SENSE OF HOPE PEOPLE AND TO GIVE THEM A SENSE OF HOPE THAT HELP IS ON THE THEM A SENSE OF HOPE THAT HELP IS ON THE WAY? THAT HELP IS ON THE WAY? >> THE ADMINISTRATION WAY? >> THE ADMINISTRATION LOOKING TO INJECT >> THE ADMINISTRATION LOOKING TO INJECT BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN LOOKING TO INJECT BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN AID TO THIS REGION TO BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN AID TO THIS REGION TO HELP REDUCE THAT AID TO THIS REGION TO HELP REDUCE THAT MIGRANT SURGE. HELP REDUCE THAT MIGRANT SURGE. IN APRIL, NEARLY MIGRANT SURGE. IN APRIL, NEARLY 180,000 MIGRANTS WERE IN APRIL, NEARLY 180,000 MIGRANTS WERE APPREHENDED BY U.S. 180,000 MIGRANTS WERE APPREHENDED BY U.S. BORDER PATROL, THE APPREHENDED BY U.S. BORDER PATROL, THE HIGHEST NUMBER IN 20 BORDER PATROL, THE HIGHEST NUMBER IN 20 YEARS. HIGHEST NUMBER IN 20 YEARS. AND MORE UNACCOMPANIED YEARS. AND MORE UNACCOMPANIED MIGRANT CHILDREN COME AND MORE UNACCOMPANIED MIGRANT CHILDREN COME FROM GUATEMALA THAN MIGRANT CHILDREN COME FROM GUATEMALA THAN ANYWHERE ELSE. FROM GUATEMALA THAN ANYWHERE ELSE. OVER 16,000 ANYWHERE ELSE. OVER 16,000 UNACCOMPANIED CHILDREN OVER 16,000 UNACCOMPANIED CHILDREN TONIGHT IN CUSTODY. UNACCOMPANIED CHILDREN TONIGHT IN CUSTODY. WHAT IS YOUR -- WHATS TONIGHT IN CUSTODY. WHAT IS YOUR -- WHATS VICTORY LOOK LIKE IN WHAT IS YOUR -- WHATS VICTORY LOOK LIKE IN THIS, OR WHAT DOES VICTORY LOOK LIKE IN THIS, OR WHAT DOES IMPROVEMENT LOOK LIKE? THIS, OR WHAT DOES IMPROVEMENT LOOK LIKE? >> YEAH, NO, THATS A IMPROVEMENT LOOK LIKE? >> YEAH, NO, THATS A GREAT POINT. >> YEAH, NO, THATS A GREAT POINT. I WOULD SUGGEST TO YOU GREAT POINT. I WOULD SUGGEST TO YOU THAT WE HAVE SEEN I WOULD SUGGEST TO YOU THAT WE HAVE SEEN PROGRESS ALREADY. THAT WE HAVE SEEN PROGRESS ALREADY. WHEN WE HAVE 12 OF THE PROGRESS ALREADY. WHEN WE HAVE 12 OF THE BIGGEST CORPORATIONS WHEN WE HAVE 12 OF THE BIGGEST CORPORATIONS OF AMERICA WHO HAVE -- BIGGEST CORPORATIONS OF AMERICA WHO HAVE -- I CONVENED THEM IN MY OF AMERICA WHO HAVE -- I CONVENED THEM IN MY OFFICE, AND THEY HAVE I CONVENED THEM IN MY OFFICE, AND THEY HAVE AGREED TO HELP US WORK OFFICE, AND THEY HAVE AGREED TO HELP US WORK ON THIS ISSUE. AGREED TO HELP US WORK ON THIS ISSUE. SUCCESS SO FAR IS THE ON THIS ISSUE. SUCCESS SO FAR IS THE BRINGING TOGETHER OF SUCCESS SO FAR IS THE BRINGING TOGETHER OF COMMUNITY-BASED BRINGING TOGETHER OF COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS NOT ONLY COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS NOT ONLY THE UNITED STATES, BUT ORGANIZATIONS NOT ONLY THE UNITED STATES, BUT HERE IN GUATEMALA. THE UNITED STATES, BUT HERE IN GUATEMALA. TODAY THAT WAS ONE OF HERE IN GUATEMALA. TODAY THAT WAS ONE OF MY MEETINGS WITH CIVIL TODAY THAT WAS ONE OF MY MEETINGS WITH CIVIL SOCIETY LEADERS, TO MY MEETINGS WITH CIVIL SOCIETY LEADERS, TO LET THEM KNOW WE SEE SOCIETY LEADERS, TO LET THEM KNOW WE SEE THEM, AND WE LET THEM KNOW WE SEE THEM, AND WE UNDERSTAND THEIR THEM, AND WE UNDERSTAND THEIR CONCERNS ABOUT UNDERSTAND THEIR CONCERNS ABOUT CORRUPTION, AND WE CONCERNS ABOUT CORRUPTION, AND WE ALSO UNDERSTAND THEIR CORRUPTION, AND WE ALSO UNDERSTAND THEIR ROLE OF LEADERSHIP TO ALSO UNDERSTAND THEIR ROLE OF LEADERSHIP TO HELP US IN TERMS OF ROLE OF LEADERSHIP TO HELP US IN TERMS OF HOW WE PRIORITIZE OUR HELP US IN TERMS OF HOW WE PRIORITIZE OUR WORK IN THIS REGION. HOW WE PRIORITIZE OUR WORK IN THIS REGION. >> SO HOW QUICKLY DOES WORK IN THIS REGION. >> SO HOW QUICKLY DOES THIS CHANGE WHAT WE >> SO HOW QUICKLY DOES THIS CHANGE WHAT WE SEE AT THE BORDER? THIS CHANGE WHAT WE SEE AT THE BORDER? >> I DONT KNOW THAT SEE AT THE BORDER? >> I DONT KNOW THAT WERE GOING TO SEE -- >> I DONT KNOW THAT WERE GOING TO SEE -- LISTEN, IVE BEEN VERY WERE GOING TO SEE -- LISTEN, IVE BEEN VERY CLEAR FROM THE LISTEN, IVE BEEN VERY CLEAR FROM THE BEGINNING. CLEAR FROM THE BEGINNING. THERES NOT GOING TO BEGINNING. THERES NOT GOING TO BE A QUICK FIX. THERES NOT GOING TO BE A QUICK FIX. WEVE SEEN PROGRESS, BE A QUICK FIX. WEVE SEEN PROGRESS, BUT THE REAL WORK IS WEVE SEEN PROGRESS, BUT THE REAL WORK IS GOING TO TAKE TIME TO BUT THE REAL WORK IS GOING TO TAKE TIME TO MANIFEST ITSELF. GOING TO TAKE TIME TO MANIFEST ITSELF. WILL IT BE WORTH IT? MANIFEST ITSELF. WILL IT BE WORTH IT? YES. WILL IT BE WORTH IT? YES. WILL IT TAKE SOME YES. WILL IT TAKE SOME TIME? WILL IT TAKE SOME TIME? YES. TIME? YES. >> THERES ONE OTHER YES. >> THERES ONE OTHER TOPIC I WANT TO TALK >> THERES ONE OTHER TOPIC I WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT. TOPIC I WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT. LET ME QUICKLY PUT A TO YOU ABOUT. LET ME QUICKLY PUT A BUTTON. LET ME QUICKLY PUT A BUTTON. >> OKAY. BUTTON. >> OKAY. >> DO YOU HAVE ANY >> OKAY. >> DO YOU HAVE ANY PLANS TO VISIT THE >> DO YOU HAVE ANY PLANS TO VISIT THE BORDER? PLANS TO VISIT THE BORDER? >> IM HERE IN BORDER? >> IM HERE IN GUATEMALA TODAY. >> IM HERE IN GUATEMALA TODAY. AT SOME POINT, YOU GUATEMALA TODAY. AT SOME POINT, YOU KNOW, IT -- WE ARE AT SOME POINT, YOU KNOW, IT -- WE ARE GOING TO THE BORDER. KNOW, IT -- WE ARE GOING TO THE BORDER. WEVE BEEN TO THE GOING TO THE BORDER. WEVE BEEN TO THE BORDER. WEVE BEEN TO THE BORDER. SO THIS WHOLE -- THIS BORDER. SO THIS WHOLE -- THIS WHOLE THING ABOUT THE SO THIS WHOLE -- THIS WHOLE THING ABOUT THE BORDER, WEVE BEEN TO WHOLE THING ABOUT THE BORDER, WEVE BEEN TO THE BORDER. BORDER, WEVE BEEN TO THE BORDER. WEVE BEEN TO THE THE BORDER. WEVE BEEN TO THE BORDER. WEVE BEEN TO THE BORDER. >> YOU HAVENT BEEN TO BORDER. >> YOU HAVENT BEEN TO THE BORDER. >> YOU HAVENT BEEN TO THE BORDER. >> AND I HAVENT BEEN THE BORDER. >> AND I HAVENT BEEN TO EUROPE. >> AND I HAVENT BEEN TO EUROPE. I MEAN I DONT -- I TO EUROPE. I MEAN I DONT -- I DONT UNDERSTAND THE I MEAN I DONT -- I DONT UNDERSTAND THE POINT THAT YOURE DONT UNDERSTAND THE POINT THAT YOURE MAKING. POINT THAT YOURE MAKING. IM NOT DISCOUNTING MAKING. IM NOT DISCOUNTING THE IMPORTANCE OF THE IM NOT DISCOUNTING THE IMPORTANCE OF THE BORDER. THE IMPORTANCE OF THE BORDER. >> I MENTION IT BORDER. >> I MENTION IT BECAUSE I KNOW >> I MENTION IT BECAUSE I KNOW REPUBLICANS HAVE BECAUSE I KNOW REPUBLICANS HAVE CERTAINLY COME AT YOU REPUBLICANS HAVE CERTAINLY COME AT YOU ON THIS. CERTAINLY COME AT YOU ON THIS. BUT DEMOCRATIC ON THIS. BUT DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSMAN CUELLAR BUT DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSMAN CUELLAR HAS SAID YOU AND THE CONGRESSMAN CUELLAR HAS SAID YOU AND THE PRESIDENT COME. HAS SAID YOU AND THE PRESIDENT COME. YOU NEED TO SEE THIS. PRESIDENT COME. YOU NEED TO SEE THIS. >> LISTEN, I CARE YOU NEED TO SEE THIS. >> LISTEN, I CARE ABOUT WHATS HAPPENING >> LISTEN, I CARE ABOUT WHATS HAPPENING AT THE BORDER. ABOUT WHATS HAPPENING AT THE BORDER. IM IN GUATEMALA AT THE BORDER. IM IN GUATEMALA BECAUSE MY FOCUS IS IM IN GUATEMALA BECAUSE MY FOCUS IS DEALING WITH THE ROOT BECAUSE MY FOCUS IS DEALING WITH THE ROOT CAUSES OF MIGRATION. DEALING WITH THE ROOT CAUSES OF MIGRATION. THERE MAY BE SOME WHO CAUSES OF MIGRATION. THERE MAY BE SOME WHO THINK THAT THAT IS NOT THERE MAY BE SOME WHO THINK THAT THAT IS NOT IMPORTANT, BUT IT IS THINK THAT THAT IS NOT IMPORTANT, BUT IT IS MY FIRM BELIEF THAT IF IMPORTANT, BUT IT IS MY FIRM BELIEF THAT IF WE CARE ABOUT WHATS MY FIRM BELIEF THAT IF WE CARE ABOUT WHATS HAPPENING AT THE WE CARE ABOUT WHATS HAPPENING AT THE BORDER, WE BETTER CARE HAPPENING AT THE BORDER, WE BETTER CARE ABOUT THE ROOT CAUSES BORDER, WE BETTER CARE ABOUT THE ROOT CAUSES AND ADDRESS THEM. ABOUT THE ROOT CAUSES AND ADDRESS THEM. SO THATS WHAT IM AND ADDRESS THEM. SO THATS WHAT IM DOING. SO THATS WHAT IM DOING. >> ITS NOT THE ONLY DOING. >> ITS NOT THE ONLY TOUGH ISSUE PRESIDENT >> ITS NOT THE ONLY TOUGH ISSUE PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS HANDED HIS TOUGH ISSUE PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS HANDED HIS VICE PRESIDENT. BIDEN HAS HANDED HIS VICE PRESIDENT. ALSO RECENTLY ASKING VICE PRESIDENT. ALSO RECENTLY ASKING HER TO OVERSEE THE ALSO RECENTLY ASKING HER TO OVERSEE THE EFFORT TO PASS THE HER TO OVERSEE THE
