"President [Nayib] Bukele has been clear from the very beginning. This is not a problem of the United States only: This is our problem," Ulloa asserted, delineating the country's firm stance on immigration.
Ulloa underlined El Salvador's commitment to tackling the issue head-on without attempting to shroud the severity of the situation. "We don't want to hide the problem," he emphasized. "This is a problem that has been created for and by the social, economic exclusion and boosted by the violence in the community. So we have to deal with that."
Labeling immigration as a perennial concern, Ulloa made a compelling plea for the U.S. to devise a comprehensive, bipartisan plan to manage the issue. He also revealed that El Salvador had proposed a dialogue with U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, envisioning a potential $4 billion investment in the region to foster job creation and improve living standards, thereby mitigating emigration.
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However, Ulloa's disappointment was palpable as he disclosed that Harris had not responded to their letter. Despite multiple contact attempts by Fox News Digital, this silence from Harris' office underscores the urgency of addressing the issues plaguing the countries from which migrants hail.
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It is noteworthy that Harris has been spearheading the Biden administration's efforts to tackle the root causes of migration from several Central American nations, including El Salvador, as per a White House fact sheet.
As part of this strategy, the administration unveiled a roughly $1 billion investment plan in February, targeting communities in these nations via multinational corporations like Nestle, Target, and Columbia Sportswear to support farmers, generate textile jobs, and stimulate various industries.
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The Salvadoran Vice President argued that his country's positive turn in controlling crime and decreasing migration could serve as a model for other countries in the region.
However, this requires persistent efforts and constructive collaboration with the U.S., notwithstanding the occasional strains in their bilateral relations. Ulloa affirmed El Salvador's commitment to maintaining harmonious ties with the U.S. government, irrespective of party lines, while expressing his country's readiness to preserve all diplomatic relations.
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An exciting dimension to their relations was the alleged cold-shouldering of U.S. diplomat Ricardo Zuniga by President Nayib Bukele in 2021, which led to the Biden administration declining a meeting request with Bukele. Brushing off these rumors of discord, Ulloa said, "It's a misunderstanding with some of the envoys that came in the past, but now the relationship has been improved, and we have excellent relations with the ambassador."
The Vice President also urged Alejandro Mayorkas, Secretary of Homeland Security, to revamp and streamline the immigration process, enhancing its management efficiency. However, a request for comment from Fox News Digital was redirected from the Department of Homeland Security to the State Department.
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Responding to Fox News Digital, a State Department spokesperson reiterated the U.S.'s dedication to expanding access to "lawful pathways." The spokesperson added, "The United States is also making lawful pathways for migration more accessible from within South and Central America. In April, Secretary Blinken and Secretary Mayorkas announced sweeping new measures to address the irregular migration flows at the U.S. southwest border by expanding lawful pathways to the United States including for protection, certain parole programs, family reunification, and labor pathways."
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Another milestone in El Salvador's journey toward progress is the construction of the mega-prison "Terrorism Confinement Center," which Vice President Ulloa attributed to a 40% decrease in emigration from the country, as per U.S. Ambassador to El Salvador William H. Duncan. The prison, capable of housing 40,000 inmates, was constructed in response to El Salvador's overwhelming criticism for its failure to control crime.
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Ulloa explained that its overcrowding and frequent jailbreaks evidenced the traditional penal system's inadequacy. He pointed out that the prison infrastructure had not been updated since colonial times, making building the mega-prison imperative. This modern facility was erected in a secluded area, away from cities, in "record time."
The mega-prison, equipped with advanced technology and amenities for inmates to learn trades and potentially cultivate their food, has piqued the interest of other countries. "It has been a model for other countries, who have come to visit and check to see how [it] was and how [it] is working now," Ulloa revealed. He also expressed El Salvador's willingness to extend technical training and assistance to nations eager to emulate its example.
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Ulloa's statements reiterate El Salvador's strides in combating crime and decreasing migration. Despite its challenges, the country seems to be making considerable progress. It will collaborate with the United States and other regional countries to address these complex issues.
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