Refugees seek asylum for two reasons, famine and fear. Families from Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador––the Central American Northern Triangle––are making heart-wrenching decisions to leave their native land due to both. Dire living conditions combined with today’s U.S. policy of not letting adults enter the country are forcing the unspeakable decision to break-up families and send children to safety. Persecuted Jewish families made similar devastating decisions to send their children, alone, out of Nazi occupied territory in the early 1940s. Like the Nazi terror in Europe, the current unrest in the Northern Triangle countries makes the chance to save kids a desperate last option.
Seeking asylum is a right under international law and U.S. treaty, however, the U.S., logically, can take only a certain number. We can’t sustain millions at the border requesting asylum every year. Solutions are few. The best ones include creating stability in their native lands, making staying home safe. The good news is that we don’t have to reinvent the wheel with all-new law. There is a template of successful intervention to follow from action taken in Columbia over the last 20 years. Applying similar strategies in the Triangle countries may be the best option to reduce refugee flight with the added benefit of creating a safe, productive environment for people to live.
Until a renegotiated peace with revolutionary guerilla groups in 2017, Columbia had been in civil war for 52 years. In 2000 the U.S. and Columbia began a joint, 15-year, $10 billion initiative to strengthen Columbia’s military and economy. By the time the 2017 peace had been achieved, 220,000 Columbians’ lives had been lost and millions displaced. U.S. support was vital in achieving peace and is vital to continued success in the region. A U.S. presence remains. The United States Agency for International Development is Columbia’s largest donor. Due to U.S. partnering with the Columbian government, private sector, and community organizations, transitions from war to peace and prosperity have been put into place. Economic aid and increased trade, plus efforts to reintegrate former combatants are critical to success and security.
Today, Columbia is Latin America’s fastest growing economy, a trade center, and the leading U.S. ally in South America. With the war over, Columbia has reduced military spending and increased resources to education, health services, and improved lifestyles for citizens.
The Columbian effort has spanned over 20 years, but today Columbia is stable enough to be a U.S. partner working to achieve the same sort of peace and prosperity in Venezuela, another war-torn, drug-controlled country in need of interventions.
Similar efforts can be made in the Central American Triangle countries. The problems in those countries are both climate related and criminal violence. The U.S. has done a lot to work within the global community to combat climate disaster by advocating pollution reductions and advancing better renewable energy options––much more needs to be done. Redeveloping struggling countries with green energy sources is a step in the right direction. If countries have enough food, conflict abates.
Equally critical is creating citizen safety from violent gangs intent on fomenting wars and enriching themselves by making and selling drugs––not only in the area but also into the U.S. It is important to offer teens relief from pressure and threats of death from noncompliance to join gangs. Opportunities for jobs and protection through military support are steps in the right direction.
One action plan includes public/private partnerships in which major corporations like Walmart, Target, Amazon, Kroger, and other capitalist companies, benefiting from an expanded clientele, would be recruited to work with government to create model communities in locales of the poverty riddled countries where resources like clean water are accessible. Building new communities creates jobs and financial security. Modern communities offer opportunities to take advantage of the latest technology. Constructing a “showroom” model for others to clone and spread throughout the region into countries in need of development, can assist in speeding the conversion from lawlessness to a functioning government. Municipal bonds would perpetuate financing and help create individual wealth in local investors.
The original buildout would require military protection, perhaps NATO troops, to ensure safety from the criminal element which would shortly be snuffed out when human fodder for gangs is eliminated due to broad opportunities to work in legitimate jobs building and serving new communities. The former combatants could be offered retraining and acceptance back into the community like is being done with the Columbian guerilla forces since the early 2000s.
Along with goals come caveats. Along with developing a trade partner and ally, the U.S. has to be wary of overstepping into colonizing. And, along with creating new, technological, ecological safe-havens for families to thrive, caution must be taken not to nurture an oligarchy by creating a “haves” class on the inside of the gates, leaving “have-nots” outside, fostering a caste system.
With the U.S. as hegemon, Columbia’s rebirth was a success story. Conversely, efforts toward improving living conditions in Iraq have, thus far, failed, and Venezuela has proven to be a challenge––even with Columbia’s help. That said, we should not hesitate to try to assist with renewed governmental security; economic and trade stability; and green, cutting-edge infrastructure in Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador. Doing so would greatly relieve today’s U.S. border issues and create solid Western Hemisphere allies.
Mike Robertson says
Perhaps the U.S. can prioritize care/programs for the increasing number of its existing under-served inhabitants (even those currently here that are not yet citizens) before we try to “save” the world’s less fortunate. Maintaining border integrity would allow us an opportunity to get our own house in order – and then perhaps we can reach out to those seeking asylum.
Terry Donnelly says
Mr. Robertson,
Thank you for your thoughtful comments. I do not disagree with your points to a large extent. These are not a zero-sum problems. It will take debate and cooperation to move forward. Thank you again.
Marisa Flury says
Thank you Terry! I agree, the best solutions is to help to create stability and opportunities in Central America, however, I do not
understand, as a mother, how can anyone send their children to a foreign country to fend for themselves. The image of that young boy
crying and abandoned by everyone along the border, is still vivid in my mind, and, it is very hard for me to comprehend that.
I also believe that help with family planning should also be a priority and will curve the overpopulation especially since it is obvious that
many parents do not have the resources to raise a large family.
Terry Donnelly says
I agree that sending kids away from home is a drastic measure. Read “Sons and Soldiers” by Bruce Henderson. It isn’t about refugees at our southern border, but a true story about Jewish families who sent their kids away from Nazis to safety. It will give some insight on how desperate they were.
Christina Balek says
Take care of our vets, the aged and homeless before we offer aid to other countries! We can’t and shouldn’t feel that we have to rescue everyone else when we put our own last.
Mike Stevens says
How is it that this guy who lives in Colorado is still posting to our local Mesquite newspaper???
Mesquite Citizen Journal says
Mr. Stevens,
Because as Publisher and Editor, I refuse to do to Terry Donnelly what the New York Times did to Sen. Tom Cotton.
I do not believe in cancel culture.
I absolutely believe in free speech.
Barbara Ellestad
Publisher/Editor
Mike Stevens says
I absolutely believe in free speech. But this is a local paper, not a national one and certainly not a Colorado publication. He does not work here, pay taxes here, or shop here. Yet he is influencing local politics
Terry Donnelly says
Mr. Stevens, I miss writing about local Mesquite issues. I lived, shopped, and paid taxes in Mesquite for 15 years (I never worked for pay, but did volunteer for several projects like the 2006/07 City Charter proposal, co-offered writing and journalism seminars at the high school, volunteered for several Mesquite fundraiser golf tournaments … ). Many of my favorite columns were about local Mesquite issues: Then Mayor Susan Holechek’s State of the City speech in 2011, cleaning up parks after your dog walks, turning Mesquite Blvd. into an historic sign haven, a plea not to widen the shared use path along Pioneer and use the money to add bike paths (that one worked), and my very first column for Morris Workman in the original “Mesquite Local News” in 2008, evaluating the need for a new library (that a one worked too, but it took a while). My columns today for MCJ deal strictly with national issues for the very reason that I do not want to comment on local stories due to not living in Mesquite any longer. I appreciate Ms. Ellestad giving me an opportunity to expose you, Mr. Stevens, and others, to a point of view you may not ever get without reading this wonderful news source. If my thoughts and sentences make you uncomfortable, I’ve been successful in making you think and evaluate your own feelings. Thank you for being open-minded and taking the time to read my efforts.
Mesquite Citizen Journal says
Mr. Stevens, Mr. Donnelly, and all MCJ readers,
Terry and I have worked together for many, many years. We have become incredible friends and I hope that remains for the rest of our years.
Terry and I have known from the beginning that we are from opposite sides of most issues in our opinions, thoughts, and beliefs. But we both have immense respect for each other’s opinions, thoughts, and beliefs. That is what our society is missing the most these days – in my opinion.
I love having Terry write for the MCJ because he makes me think about issues. But not once in all the years that he’s been a close associate have I ever felt like he’s ‘yelling’ at me or ‘berating’ me for not agreeing with him. That is what makes a true opinion author – in my opinion.
I am constantly amused that those who don’t agree with Terry’s opinions want him fired from the MCJ. I am constantly amused that those who don’t agree with Mike Young’s opinions want him fired from the MCJ.
Let me tell ya’ folks – ain’t gonna happen while I’m in charge.
Barbara Ellestad
Publisher/Editor
Mike Stevens says
You have to be the most delusional man I have even had the pleasure of talking with. Send our money and resources down south to make their lives better??? What about our lives??? Raising my taxes to ship money down to other countries makes ZERO sense. They can make their own countries better, that’s not my job. The border crisis was under control, and this new President ruined that and is DIRECTLY responsible for the kids in cages and the other kids being thrown over the fence. Trying to justify this is asinine to say the least. No one cares when Obama built the cages, outrage when Trump enforced Obama’s rule, and then sympathy when Biden is doing the EXACT SAME THING!!! You are encouraging entire population of criminals to walk right over the border(illegal entry is a crime), or justifying lying as most asylum seekers just want better jobs. When you put 20 people on a 10 person life boat, it sinks
I don’t even know why you are still allowed to post to this local online paper when you don’t live here, other then that you are so far left that the publishers are all to happy to post your liberal fantasies