WASHINGTON/MEXICO CITY, Sept 21 (Reuters) - The UnitedStates and Honduras are discussing how to increase temporarylegal employment opportunities for Hondurans in the UnitedStates, as the governments work to hammer out details of animmigration agreement.
In a joint statement issued Saturday, the governments saidthey would have another round of meetings next week "to ensurethat our enhanced cooperation conforms to each nations’ legalrequirements while also advancing our mutual objectives."
This week in Tegucigalpa, officials also discussed how to"enhance collaboration in the areas of law enforcement andinformation-sharing, bolster regional border security, andstrengthen migration protections."
Acting U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kevin McAleenan haswaged a campaign in recent months to seal immigration deals withthe Northern Triangle countries of Central America - Guatemala,Honduras and El Salvador - from where many immigrants arrivingat the U.S. southern border set out.
Guatemala has signed a so-called "safe third country" dealwith the United States that requires asylum seekers who travelthrough Guatemala on the way to the U.S.-Mexico border to askfor refuge in Guatemala first, instead of in the United States.
The Guatemalan Congress, however, has not ratified the deal.McAleenan announced a deal with El Salvador on Friday tostrengthen the Central American country’s capacity to receiveasylum seekers, though he did not detail what the pact wouldentail.
Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez said this week"we have to construct an agreement across the region, conversingwith Mexico, Guatemala and the United States."
The joint statement said the meetings "demonstrate thecommitment of both governments to work together as trustedallies to address shared regional challenges. They recognizeHonduras’ progress in the areas of security and migration."(Reporting by David Shepardson in Washington and Julia Love inMexico City; Editing by David Gregorio)