Statement from Reps. García, Omar, Bush and Bowman Following Congressional Delegation Trip to Central America

Statement

Congressmembers Jesús "Chuy" García (IL-04), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Cori Bush (MO-01), and Jamaal Bowman (NY-16), as well as staff representing the office of Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), recently traveled on a delegation trip to Honduras and Guatemala. They met with newly elected Honduran President Xiomara Castro, engaged with elected officials leading rights-based, anti-corruption agendas, and visited Indigenous, environmental, and human rights defenders from both countries. The Members of Congress issued the following statement upon their return:

"We traveled to Central America to investigate the root causes of migration from Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador, and the U.S.' role in those causes. What we found is a resilient region where corporate interests, international development institutions, and the U.S. government have played a profoundly destabilizing role.

"In Honduras, we witnessed cautious optimism as newly elected President Castro and her administration work to uproot corruption and defend human rights. In Guatemala, however, we saw dangerous signs of regression toward authoritarian rule as civil society is persecuted and principled judges are forcibly removed from office. El Salvador is showing similarly worrisome trends. But the one constant we witnessed, no matter the political context, was the tireless work of organizers and dissidents defending Indigenous, environmental, and human rights.

"While we were overcome by people's experiences of repression, disenfranchisement, and persecution, we were also struck by the parallels between their struggles and those our own communities face. We return from our trip determined and energized to advocate for a rights-based U.S. policy at home and abroad."

Delegation participants met with Honduran President Xiomara Castro, Honduran legislators including Congressional President Luis Redondo, Guatemalan legislators, and numerous grassroots social movements, human rights defenders, and reformers.