{ "id": "R44812", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "number": "R44812", "active": true, "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "versions": [ { "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "id": 607700, "date": "2019-11-12", "retrieved": "2019-12-13T15:25:46.646696", "title": "U.S. Strategy for Engagement in Central America: Policy Issues for Congress", "summary": "Central America has received renewed attention from U.S. policymakers over the past few years as the region has remained a major transit corridor for illicit drugs and has surpassed Mexico as the largest source of irregular migration to the United States. These narcotics and migrant flows are the latest symptoms of deep-rooted challenges in several countries in the region, including widespread insecurity, fragile political and judicial systems, and high levels of poverty and unemployment. The U.S. government has worked more closely with partners in Central America to address those challenges since 2014, making some tentative progress. The region is now at serious risk of backsliding, however, as the Trump Administration has begun to withdraw U.S. diplomatic pressure and foreign aid while some Central American officials have begun to undermine anti-corruption campaigns and other structural reforms.\nU.S. Strategy for Engagement in Central America\nThe Obama Administration determined it was in the national security interests of the United States to work with Central American governments to improve conditions in the region. With congressional support, it launched a new U.S. Strategy for Engagement in Central America and significantly increased aid to the region. The strategy took a more comprehensive approach than previous U.S. initiatives in Central America, based on the premise that efforts to promote prosperity, improve security, and strengthen governance are mutually reinforcing and of equal importance. The strategy focused primarily on the \u201cNorthern Triangle\u201d countries of Central America (El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras), which face the greatest challenges, but it also provided a framework for U.S. engagement with Belize, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Panama. \nAlthough the Trump Administration initially maintained the U.S. Strategy for Engagement in Central America, it has suspended most aid for the Northern Triangle since March 2019 due to the continued northward flow of migrants and asylum-seekers from the region. The Administration has withheld some assistance appropriated for the Northern Triangle in FY2017, reprogrammed nearly all assistance appropriated for the Northern Triangle in FY2018, and has yet to disburse most of the assistance appropriated for the Northern Triangle in FY2019. This aid suspension has forced U.S. agencies to begin closing down projects and canceling planned activities. The Trump Administration\u2019s FY2020 budget proposal\u2014released prior to the aid suspension\u2014requested $445 million for Central America, including at least $180 million for the Northern Triangle.\nCongressional Action\nCongress has taken an active role in shaping U.S. policy toward Central America. It has appropriated nearly $2.6 billion for the region over the past four years, including $527.6 million in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2019 (P.L. 116-6). Congress also has placed strict conditions on the aid, requiring the Northern Triangle governments to address a range of concerns\u2014including border security, corruption, and human rights\u2014to receive assistance.\nThe 116th Congress could play a crucial role in determining the direction of U.S. policy in the region as it responds to the Administration\u2019s aid suspension. Two authorization bills, H.R. 2615 and S. 1445, would authorize $577 million and $1.5 billion of assistance, respectively, for certain activities in Central America in FY2020. S. 1445 also would prohibit the Administration from reprograming any assistance appropriated for the Northern Triangle nations since FY2016. A consolidated appropriations bill, H.R. 2740 (H.Rept. 116-78), passed by the House in June 2019, would appropriate $540.9 million for Central America in FY2020. The FY2020 State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, S. 2583 (S.Rept. 116-126), introduced in September 2019, would provide \u201cnot less than\u201d $515 million for Central America in FY2020. Both appropriations bills also would strengthen the funding directives for aid appropriated for Central America in FY2019. Since Congress has yet to enact either measure, a continuing resolution (P.L. 116-59) is currently funding foreign assistance programs at the FY2019 level until November 21, 2019.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "active": true, "formats": [ { "format": "HTML", "encoding": "utf-8", "url": "https://www.crs.gov/Reports/R44812", "sha1": "e82de34069ba0548027ea957b4224ac5e9913856", "filename": "files/20191112_R44812_e82de34069ba0548027ea957b4224ac5e9913856.html", "images": { "/products/Getimages/?directory=R/html/R44812_files&id=/4.png": "files/20191112_R44812_images_bafd0be278da79a4dacb1fe4d440ca4ca8570e9b.png", "/products/Getimages/?directory=R/html/R44812_files&id=/2.png": "files/20191112_R44812_images_ce3209e6036bb0e71ac075ac1b8a50448e84b792.png", "/products/Getimages/?directory=R/html/R44812_files&id=/5.png": "files/20191112_R44812_images_77f24fac170aee8cc053b42c428fe125be705dc6.png", "/products/Getimages/?directory=R/html/R44812_files&id=/3.png": "files/20191112_R44812_images_240259fac63b572d7feeb7286a57d6fc9c72130d.png", "/products/Getimages/?directory=R/html/R44812_files&id=/1.png": "files/20191112_R44812_images_b1e94f371af8cb1c060115bd90335ac6e9d798b2.png", "/products/Getimages/?directory=R/html/R44812_files&id=/0.png": "files/20191112_R44812_images_c1f9e9c676ca7a0aeac512d16157f7fbaff41091.png", "/products/Getimages/?directory=R/html/R44812_files&id=/6.png": "files/20191112_R44812_images_5b0ad2a957e81a7276f781a86e40dec70be61409.png" } }, { "format": "PDF", "encoding": null, "url": "https://www.crs.gov/Reports/pdf/R44812", "sha1": "41d987addf0d4f3f2bad927a7daf155c14fb3c7e", "filename": "files/20191112_R44812_41d987addf0d4f3f2bad927a7daf155c14fb3c7e.pdf", "images": {} } ], "topics": [ { "source": "IBCList", "id": 4757, "name": "Foreign Assistance" }, { "source": "IBCList", "id": 4847, "name": "Latin America, Caribbean, & Canada" } ] }, { "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "id": 602981, "date": "2019-07-24", "retrieved": "2019-07-30T22:08:11.988734", "title": "U.S. Strategy for Engagement in Central America: Policy Issues for Congress", "summary": "Central America has received renewed attention from U.S. policymakers over the past few years as the region has remained a major transit corridor for illicit drugs and has surpassed Mexico as the largest source of irregular migration to the United States. These narcotics and migrant flows are the latest symptoms of deep-rooted challenges in several countries in the region, including widespread insecurity, fragile political and judicial systems, and high levels of poverty and unemployment. The U.S. government and partners in the region have begun to implement new initiatives intended to address those challenges, but living conditions in Central America have yet to improve significantly.\nU.S. Strategy for Engagement in Central America\nThe Obama Administration determined it was in the national security interests of the United States to work with Central American governments to address their challenges. With congressional support, it launched a new U.S. Strategy for Engagement in Central America and significantly increased aid to the region. The strategy takes a broader, more comprehensive approach than previous U.S. initiatives in Central America and is based on the premise that efforts to promote prosperity, improve security, and strengthen governance are mutually reinforcing and of equal importance. Although the strategy focuses primarily on the \u201cNorthern Triangle\u201d countries of Central America (El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras), which face the greatest challenges, it also provides an overarching framework for U.S. engagement with Belize, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Panama. \nThe Trump Administration initially maintained the U.S. Strategy for Engagement in Central America but adjusted the initiative to place more emphasis on preventing illegal immigration, combating transnational crime, and creating opportunities for U.S. businesses. In March 2019, however, the Administration announced its intention to end U.S. foreign assistance to El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras due to the continued northward flow of migrants and asylum-seekers from the Northern Triangle. The Administration is now withholding some assistance appropriated for the Northern Triangle in FY2017 and reprogramming most of the assistance appropriated for the region in FY2018. It remains unclear whether the Administration intends to withhold assistance appropriated in FY2019 or revise its FY2020 budget request, which includes $445 million for Central America, including at least $180 million for the Northern Triangle.\nCongressional Action\nCongress has taken an active role in shaping U.S. policy toward Central America. It has appropriated nearly $2.6 billion for the region over the past four years, including $527.6 million in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2019 (P.L. 116-6). Congress has also placed strict conditions on the aid, requiring the Northern Triangle governments to address a range of concerns\u2014including border security, corruption, and human rights\u2014to receive assistance.\nThe 116th Congress could play a crucial role in determining the direction of U.S. policy in the region as it responds to the Administration\u2019s efforts to suspend assistance to the Northern Triangle. Two authorization bills, H.R. 2615 and S. 1445, would authorize $577 million and $1.5 billion of assistance, respectively, for certain activities in Central America in FY2020. S. 1445 also would prohibit the Administration from reprograming any assistance appropriated for the Northern Triangle nations since FY2016. A consolidated appropriations bill, H.R. 2740 (H.Rept. 116-78), which the House passed in June 2019, would appropriate $540.9 million for Central America in FY2020. The bill would also modify FY2017, FY2018, and FY2019 appropriations legislation to strengthen the funding directives for Central America.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "active": true, "formats": [ { "format": "HTML", "encoding": "utf-8", "url": "https://www.crs.gov/Reports/R44812", "sha1": "ab4ce9b57315fc751c0b78fc6d174549b069ace9", "filename": "files/20190724_R44812_ab4ce9b57315fc751c0b78fc6d174549b069ace9.html", "images": { "/products/Getimages/?directory=R/html/R44812_files&id=/4.png": "files/20190724_R44812_images_bafd0be278da79a4dacb1fe4d440ca4ca8570e9b.png", "/products/Getimages/?directory=R/html/R44812_files&id=/2.png": "files/20190724_R44812_images_ce3209e6036bb0e71ac075ac1b8a50448e84b792.png", "/products/Getimages/?directory=R/html/R44812_files&id=/5.png": "files/20190724_R44812_images_77f24fac170aee8cc053b42c428fe125be705dc6.png", "/products/Getimages/?directory=R/html/R44812_files&id=/3.png": "files/20190724_R44812_images_240259fac63b572d7feeb7286a57d6fc9c72130d.png", "/products/Getimages/?directory=R/html/R44812_files&id=/1.png": "files/20190724_R44812_images_b1e94f371af8cb1c060115bd90335ac6e9d798b2.png", "/products/Getimages/?directory=R/html/R44812_files&id=/0.png": "files/20190724_R44812_images_b6de9afdaba495813d941f594db1345edaa78ab2.png", "/products/Getimages/?directory=R/html/R44812_files&id=/6.png": "files/20190724_R44812_images_5b0ad2a957e81a7276f781a86e40dec70be61409.png" } }, { "format": "PDF", "encoding": null, "url": "https://www.crs.gov/Reports/pdf/R44812", "sha1": "f1f69e25d2cb8d774712347443f6209f7e5b2653", "filename": "files/20190724_R44812_f1f69e25d2cb8d774712347443f6209f7e5b2653.pdf", "images": {} } ], "topics": [ { "source": "IBCList", "id": 4757, "name": "Foreign Assistance" }, { "source": "IBCList", "id": 4847, "name": "Latin America, Caribbean, & Canada" } ] }, { "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "id": 600170, "date": "2019-06-12", "retrieved": "2019-07-02T22:17:04.532046", "title": "U.S. Strategy for Engagement in Central America: Policy Issues for Congress", "summary": "Central America has received renewed attention from U.S. policymakers over the past few years as the region has remained a major transit corridor for illicit drugs and has surpassed Mexico as the largest source of irregular migration to the United States. These narcotics and migrant flows are the latest symptoms of deep-rooted challenges in several countries in the region, including widespread insecurity, fragile political and judicial systems, and high levels of poverty and unemployment. The U.S. government and partners in the region have begun to implement new initiatives intended to address those challenges, but living conditions in Central America have yet to improve significantly.\nU.S. Strategy for Engagement in Central America\nThe Obama Administration determined it was in the national security interests of the United States to work with Central American governments to address their challenges. With congressional support, it launched a new U.S. Strategy for Engagement in Central America and significantly increased aid to the region. The strategy takes a broader, more comprehensive approach than previous U.S. initiatives in Central America and is based on the premise that efforts to promote prosperity, improve security, and strengthen governance are mutually reinforcing and of equal importance. The strategy focuses primarily on the \u201cNorthern Triangle\u201d countries of Central America (El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras), which face the greatest challenges and are carrying out complementary efforts under their Alliance for Prosperity initiative. It also provides an overarching framework for U.S. engagement with the other countries in the region: Belize, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Panama. \nThe Trump Administration initially maintained the U.S. Strategy for Engagement in Central America but adjusted the initiative to place more emphasis on preventing illegal immigration, combating transnational crime, and creating opportunities for U.S. businesses. In March 2019, however, the Administration announced its intention to end U.S. foreign assistance to El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras due to the continued northward flow of migrants and asylum-seekers from the Northern Triangle. It remains unclear how the Administration plans to implement this shift in policy or if it intends to amend its FY2020 budget request, which includes $445 million for Central America, including at least $180 million for the Northern Triangle.\nCongressional Action\nCongress has taken an active role in shaping U.S. policy toward Central America. It has appropriated nearly $2.6 billion for the region over the past four years, including $527.6 million in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2019 (P.L. 116-6). Congress has also placed strict conditions on the aid, requiring the Northern Triangle governments to address a range of concerns\u2014including border security, corruption, and human rights\u2014to receive assistance.\nThe 116th Congress could play a crucial role in determining the direction of U.S. policy in the region as it responds to the Administration\u2019s efforts to cut assistance. Two authorization bills introduced in May 2019, H.R. 2615 and S. 1445, would authorize $577 million and $1.5 billion of assistance, respectively, for certain activities in Central America in FY2020. Both bills would also restrict the Administration\u2019s ability to reprogram the funds for other purposes. Also in May 2019, the House Appropriations Committee reported H.R. 2839 (incorporated into H.R. 2740), which would appropriate $540.9 million for Central America in FY2020 and modify FY2017, FY2018, and FY2019 appropriations legislation to strengthen the funding directives for Central America. Other bills introduced include H.R. 2049, which would tie U.S. assistance to the Northern Triangle to the number of unaccompanied children that arrive at the U.S. border, and H.R. 2347, which would expand in-country refugee processing in the Northern Triangle.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "active": true, "formats": [ { "format": "HTML", "encoding": "utf-8", "url": "https://www.crs.gov/Reports/R44812", "sha1": "ad9bc5c6518e958f7f57c052b1332fe9d7c852f6", "filename": "files/20190612_R44812_ad9bc5c6518e958f7f57c052b1332fe9d7c852f6.html", "images": { "/products/Getimages/?directory=R/html/R44812_files&id=/4.png": "files/20190612_R44812_images_3ec91a15319b767099f6fd598df731276dd87be5.png", "/products/Getimages/?directory=R/html/R44812_files&id=/2.png": "files/20190612_R44812_images_ce3209e6036bb0e71ac075ac1b8a50448e84b792.png", "/products/Getimages/?directory=R/html/R44812_files&id=/5.png": "files/20190612_R44812_images_77f24fac170aee8cc053b42c428fe125be705dc6.png", "/products/Getimages/?directory=R/html/R44812_files&id=/3.png": "files/20190612_R44812_images_240259fac63b572d7feeb7286a57d6fc9c72130d.png", "/products/Getimages/?directory=R/html/R44812_files&id=/1.png": "files/20190612_R44812_images_b1e94f371af8cb1c060115bd90335ac6e9d798b2.png", "/products/Getimages/?directory=R/html/R44812_files&id=/0.png": "files/20190612_R44812_images_c60b351620d29dded8048e3713f367f7a162f21f.png", "/products/Getimages/?directory=R/html/R44812_files&id=/6.png": "files/20190612_R44812_images_5b0ad2a957e81a7276f781a86e40dec70be61409.png" } }, { "format": "PDF", "encoding": null, "url": "https://www.crs.gov/Reports/pdf/R44812", "sha1": "e5674966d7dd7419a7c3009e6fa727e66333ec84", "filename": "files/20190612_R44812_e5674966d7dd7419a7c3009e6fa727e66333ec84.pdf", "images": {} } ], "topics": [ { "source": "IBCList", "id": 4757, "name": "Foreign Assistance" }, { "source": "IBCList", "id": 4847, "name": "Latin America, Caribbean, & Canada" } ] }, { "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "id": 589672, "date": "2019-01-08", "retrieved": "2019-04-17T14:37:50.137128", "title": "U.S. Strategy for Engagement in Central America: Policy Issues for Congress", "summary": "Central America has received renewed attention from U.S. policymakers over the past few years as the region has become a major transit corridor for illicit drugs and has surpassed Mexico as the largest source of irregular migration to the United States. These narcotics and migrant flows are the latest symptoms of deep-rooted challenges in several countries in the region, including widespread insecurity, fragile political and judicial systems, and high levels of poverty and unemployment. The U.S. government and partners in the region have begun to implement new initiatives intended to address those challenges, but living conditions in Central America have yet to improve significantly.\nU.S. Strategy for Engagement in Central America\nThe Obama Administration determined it was in the national security interests of the United States to work with Central American governments to address their challenges. With congressional support, it launched a new U.S. Strategy for Engagement in Central America and significantly increased aid to the region. The strategy takes a broader, more comprehensive approach than previous U.S. initiatives in Central America and is based on the premise that efforts to promote prosperity, improve security, and strengthen governance are mutually reinforcing and of equal importance. The strategy focuses primarily on the \u201cNorthern Triangle\u201d countries of Central America (El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras), which face the greatest challenges and are carrying out complementary efforts under their Alliance for Prosperity initiative. It also provides an overarching framework for U.S. engagement with the other countries in the region: Belize, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Panama. \nThe Trump Administration has maintained the U.S. Strategy for Engagement in Central America but has adjusted the initiative to place more emphasis on preventing illegal immigration, combating transnational crime, and generating export and investment opportunities for U.S. businesses. The Administration also has sought to scale back U.S. assistance to Central America, but Congress has rejected the majority of the proposed reductions.\nFunding and Conditions\nCongress has appropriated nearly $2.1 billion for the Central America strategy since FY2016. This figure includes $754 million appropriated in FY2016, $700 million appropriated in FY2017, and an estimated $627 million appropriated in FY2018 (through P.L. 114-113, P.L. 115-31, and P.L. 115-141, respectively). Congress has placed strict conditions on the aid, requiring the Northern Triangle governments to address a range of concerns, including border security, corruption, and human rights, to receive assistance. As a result of those legislative requirements, delays in the budget process, and congressional holds, aid has been slow to arrive in the region.\nFuture Appropriations and Other Policy Issues\nThe first session of the 116th Congress will determine the amount of assistance to be appropriated for the Central America strategy for the remainder of FY2019 and consider the Trump Administration\u2019s forthcoming foreign aid budget request for FY2020. As Congress deliberates on the future of the Central America strategy, it may examine a number of policy issues. These issues include the funding levels and strategy necessary to meet U.S. objectives; the extent to which Central American governments are demonstrating the political will to undertake domestic reforms; the utility of the conditions placed on assistance to Central America; and the potential implications of changes to U.S. immigration, trade, and drug control policies for U.S. objectives in the region.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "active": true, "formats": [ { "format": "HTML", "encoding": "utf-8", "url": "https://www.crs.gov/Reports/R44812", "sha1": "8cdc679c7d91d4f7283aa4aeb5151a072889ba83", "filename": "files/20190108_R44812_8cdc679c7d91d4f7283aa4aeb5151a072889ba83.html", "images": { "/products/Getimages/?directory=R/html/R44812_files&id=/4.png": "files/20190108_R44812_images_36965a71c8dbdeb5db85de8992a17216d1a4d00c.png", "/products/Getimages/?directory=R/html/R44812_files&id=/2.png": "files/20190108_R44812_images_802da2f887ecfca83cf6c3a325a321ef8ab58ab7.png", "/products/Getimages/?directory=R/html/R44812_files&id=/5.png": "files/20190108_R44812_images_9898f96215bb3258626b3653048f2380d83646fb.png", "/products/Getimages/?directory=R/html/R44812_files&id=/3.png": "files/20190108_R44812_images_3ec91a15319b767099f6fd598df731276dd87be5.png", "/products/Getimages/?directory=R/html/R44812_files&id=/1.png": "files/20190108_R44812_images_ce3209e6036bb0e71ac075ac1b8a50448e84b792.png", "/products/Getimages/?directory=R/html/R44812_files&id=/0.png": "files/20190108_R44812_images_b1e94f371af8cb1c060115bd90335ac6e9d798b2.png" } }, { "format": "PDF", "encoding": null, "url": "https://www.crs.gov/Reports/pdf/R44812", "sha1": "790948e75ad6bc12bdff6528a1129b9968c1c315", "filename": "files/20190108_R44812_790948e75ad6bc12bdff6528a1129b9968c1c315.pdf", "images": {} } ], "topics": [ { "source": "IBCList", "id": 4757, "name": "Foreign Assistance" }, { "source": "IBCList", "id": 4847, "name": "Latin America, Caribbean, & Canada" } ] }, { "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "id": 461837, "date": "2017-06-08", "retrieved": "2018-05-10T13:14:47.677311", "title": "U.S. Strategy for Engagement in Central America: Policy Issues for Congress", "summary": "Central America has received renewed attention from U.S. policymakers over the past few years as the region has become a major transit corridor for illicit drugs and a significant source of irregular migration to the United States. These narcotics and migrant flows are the latest symptoms of deep-rooted challenges in several countries in the region, including widespread insecurity, fragile political and judicial systems, and high levels of poverty and unemployment. Although the Obama Administration and governments in the region launched new initiatives designed to improve conditions in Central America, the future of those efforts will depend on the decisions of the Trump Administration and the 115th Congress.\nU.S. Strategy for Engagement in Central America\nThe Obama Administration determined it was in the national security interests of the United States to work with Central American governments to address conditions in the region. Accordingly, the Obama Administration launched a new, whole-of-government U.S. Strategy for Engagement in Central America. The new strategy takes a broader and more comprehensive approach than previous U.S. initiatives in the region and is based on the premise that efforts to promote prosperity, improve security, and strengthen governance are mutually reinforcing and of equal importance. The new strategy focuses primarily on the \u201cnorthern triangle\u201d countries of Central America\u2014El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras\u2014which face the greatest challenges. Nevertheless, it also provides an overarching framework for U.S. engagement with the other countries in the region: Belize, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Panama. The new U.S. strategy and the northern triangle governments\u2019 Alliance for Prosperity initiative have similar objectives and fund complementary efforts; however, they have prioritized different activities.\nInitial Funding and Conditions\nCongress has appropriated $1.4 billion to begin implementing the new Central America strategy, dividing the funds relatively equally among efforts to promote prosperity, strengthen governance, and improve security. This figure includes $750 million appropriated in FY2016 and $655 million appropriated in FY2017 (through P.L. 114-113 and P.L. 115-31, respectively). Congress placed strict conditions on the aid, requiring the northern triangle governments to address a range of concerns, including border security, corruption, and human rights, to receive assistance. As a result of those legislative requirements, delays in the budget process, and congressional holds, most of the FY2016 funding did not begin to be delivered to Central America until early 2017. The State Department has yet to certify that any of the northern triangle countries have met the legislative requirements for FY2017.\nFuture Appropriations and Other Policy Issues\nCongress is now considering President Trump\u2019s FY2018 budget request, which would cut funding for the Central America strategy by $195 million, or 30%, compared to the FY2017 estimate. As Congress deliberates on the future of the Central America strategy, it may examine a number of policy issues. These issues include the funding levels and strategy necessary to meet U.S. objectives; the extent to which Central American governments are demonstrating the political will to undertake domestic reforms; the utility of the conditions placed on assistance to Central America; and the potential implications of changes to U.S. immigration, trade, and drug control policies for U.S. objectives in the region.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "active": true, "formats": [ { "format": "HTML", "encoding": "utf-8", "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/R44812", "sha1": "c07ad5e899562ce71d1a41ea33abbc6e78fe90d4", "filename": "files/20170608_R44812_c07ad5e899562ce71d1a41ea33abbc6e78fe90d4.html", "images": { "/products/Getimages/?directory=R/html/R44812_files&id=/4.png": "files/20170608_R44812_images_21602fb4e966ac9a5d9dd27f468ca1626425389b.png", "/products/Getimages/?directory=R/html/R44812_files&id=/2.png": "files/20170608_R44812_images_fa2c73222e6cadf674631f62514c8a9253c2034b.png", "/products/Getimages/?directory=R/html/R44812_files&id=/5.png": "files/20170608_R44812_images_5cb7232511aa2ae16a267596ed34d3acfec1af5d.png", "/products/Getimages/?directory=R/html/R44812_files&id=/1.png": "files/20170608_R44812_images_ce3209e6036bb0e71ac075ac1b8a50448e84b792.png", "/products/Getimages/?directory=R/html/R44812_files&id=/0.png": "files/20170608_R44812_images_b1e94f371af8cb1c060115bd90335ac6e9d798b2.png", "/products/Getimages/?directory=R/html/R44812_files&id=/6.png": "files/20170608_R44812_images_061a407e5429a00dc2a8eae573ffd3178f9f540a.png", "/products/Getimages/?directory=R/html/R44812_files&id=/3.png": "files/20170608_R44812_images_3ec91a15319b767099f6fd598df731276dd87be5.png" } }, { "format": "PDF", "encoding": null, "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/pdf/R44812", "sha1": "0ff0f6a603873fd36fd718ad5f99fe31068dbd3d", "filename": "files/20170608_R44812_0ff0f6a603873fd36fd718ad5f99fe31068dbd3d.pdf", "images": {} } ], "topics": [ { "source": "IBCList", "id": 4757, "name": "Foreign Assistance" }, { "source": "IBCList", "id": 4847, "name": "Latin America, Caribbean, & Canada" } ] }, { "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "id": 460415, "date": "2017-04-12", "retrieved": "2017-04-21T14:57:29.348250", "title": "U.S. Strategy for Engagement in Central America: Policy Issues for Congress", "summary": "Central America has received renewed attention from U.S. policymakers over the past few years as the region has become a major transit corridor for illicit drugs and a significant source of irregular migration to the United States. These narcotics and migrant flows are the latest symptoms of deep-rooted challenges in several countries in the region, including widespread insecurity, fragile political and judicial systems, and high levels of poverty and unemployment. Although the Obama Administration and governments in the region launched new initiatives designed to improve conditions in Central America, the future of those efforts will depend on the decisions of the Trump Administration and the 115th Congress.\nU.S. Strategy for Engagement in Central America\nThe Obama Administration determined it was in the national security interests of the United States to work with Central American governments to address conditions in the region. Accordingly, the Obama Administration launched a new, whole-of-government U.S. Strategy for Engagement in Central America. The new strategy takes a broader and more comprehensive approach than previous U.S. initiatives in the region and is based on the premise that efforts to promote prosperity, improve security, and strengthen governance are mutually reinforcing and of equal importance. The new strategy focuses primarily on the \u201cnorthern triangle\u201d countries of Central America\u2014El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras\u2014which face the greatest challenges. Nevertheless, it also provides an overarching framework for U.S. engagement with the other countries in the region: Belize, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Panama. The new U.S. strategy and the northern triangle governments\u2019 Alliance for Prosperity initiative have similar objectives and fund complementary efforts; however, they have prioritized different activities.\nInitial Funding and Conditions\nCongress has appropriated $1.3 billion to begin implementing the new Central America strategy, dividing the funds relatively equally among efforts to promote prosperity, strengthen governance, and improve security. This figure includes $560 million appropriated in FY2015 and $750 million appropriated in FY2016 (through P.L. 113-235 and P.L. 114-113, respectively). Congress placed strict conditions on the FY2016 aid, requiring the northern triangle governments to address a range of concerns, including border security, corruption, and human rights, to receive assistance. As a result of those legislative requirements and delays in the budget process, most of the FY2016 funding did not begin to be delivered to Central America until early 2017.\nFuture Appropriations and Other Policy Issues\nCongress is still considering FY2017 appropriations and soon will begin deliberating over President Trump\u2019s FY2018 budget request. The Obama Administration requested $750 million for the Central America strategy in FY2017, but assistance for the region currently is being provided through a continuing resolution (P.L. 114-254) that funds foreign aid programs at the FY2016 level minus an across-the-board reduction of 0.1901%, until April 28, 2017. The Trump Administration\u2019s FY2018 budget blueprint proposes deep cuts to foreign aid globally, but does not specify how those cuts would affect Central America.\nCongress may examine a number of policy issues as it deliberates on the future of the Central America strategy. These issues include the extent to which Central American governments are demonstrating the political will to undertake domestic reforms; the utility of the conditions placed on assistance to Central America; and the potential implications of changes to U.S. immigration, trade, and drug control policies for U.S. objectives in the region.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "active": true, "formats": [ { "format": "HTML", "encoding": "utf-8", "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/R44812", "sha1": "b0c2a95bfc17835fd2b0d4df0e55f5ba61aaddb3", "filename": "files/20170412_R44812_b0c2a95bfc17835fd2b0d4df0e55f5ba61aaddb3.html", "images": null }, { "format": "PDF", "encoding": null, "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/pdf/R44812", "sha1": "a472b7ac6f7ace2b6d65301b45957df06724aefd", "filename": "files/20170412_R44812_a472b7ac6f7ace2b6d65301b45957df06724aefd.pdf", "images": null } ], "topics": [ { "source": "IBCList", "id": 4757, "name": "Foreign Assistance" }, { "source": "IBCList", "id": 4847, "name": "Latin America, Caribbean, & Canada" } ] } ], "topics": [ "Appropriations", "Foreign Affairs", "Health Policy", "Latin American Affairs", "National Defense" ] }