

Media CenterCRS Welcomes Administration's Executive Order on Central America Migration Strategy
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Nikki Gamer
Catholic Relief Services
[email protected]
(978) 884-0003
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, Feb. 3, 2021 – Bill O’Keefe, executive vice president for Mission, Mobilization and Advocacy, released the following statement in response to the administration’s Executive Order on creating a comprehensive regional framework to address the root causes of migration from Central America.
"We welcome the administration's Executive Order that recognizes the need to address the root causes of migration from the northern countries of Central America. Decades of violence, instability, and lack of economic opportunity have devastated communities and livelihoods. What's more, the impacts of climate change have become catastrophic. Five years of recurring droughts have destroyed corn and bean harvests, the mainstay of the Central American diet. In November, two Category 4 hurricanes swept through the region, severely damaging infrastructure and further increasing risks to food security. The COVID-19 pandemic compounds these crises.
Alarmingly, these conditions have forced millions of families to make an inconceivable choice—undertake a dangerous migration north or face dire consequences at home.
As a U.S. government partner and an organization that’s deeply rooted in the region, we look forward to contributing to this strategy. Addressing the root causes of migration will build more opportunities for people to live and thrive in their home communities.”
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Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. The agency alleviates suffering and provides assistance to people in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality. CRS’ relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance and peacebuilding. For more information, visit www.crs.org or www.crsespanol.org and follow Catholic Relief Services on social media in English at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube; and in Spanish at: Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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