Harris Emphasizes 'Power of Hope' to Keep Latin Americans from Migrating to US

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris emphasized "the power of hope" Monday, along with new efforts to fight corruption to persuade Latin Americans to stay home rather than attempt the dangerous migration north to the United States. 

In her first foreign trip as the U.S. second in command, Harris said at a news conference in Guatemala City that Latin Americans "don't want to leave the country where they grew up."  But she said people in the Northern Triangle countries of Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador, along with Mexico, need economic development that promises a better life than trying to move to the U.S.  Harris said "help is on the way" with Washington aid and private investments encouraged by the U.S. government in agriculture, housing and businesses. "We have reason to believe we can have an impact," she said.