The law has yet to be approved by President Donald Trump and also includes a strategy to improve democracy in the area
The United States Congress passed the Enhanced Northern Triangle Compromise Act, which includes the so-called “Angel List,” a publication of corrupt and undemocratic politicians from El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras to deny them access to US territory.
The ordinance, which has yet to be approved by the president, was presented by Eliot Engel, head of the United States House of Representatives, who is strongly committed to strengthening democracy in Central America.
In addition to publishing that list of corrupt actors to be determined by the US government, the new law includes a five-year strategy to be coordinated by the US Department of States for institution-building. , governance and democracy in these Central American countries.
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“My legislation will support the new Biden-Harris administration as it redoubles efforts to support a safer, more democratic and prosperous Central America,” said Congressman Engel.
For the prominent official, the prosperity and development of Central America’s Northern Triangle will not be possible “without a commitment on the part of the leaders to fight corruption and democratic decline.”
What is the so-called “Angel List”?
The so-called “Angel List” of corrupt and undemocratic actors from the Northern Triangle is an initiative of the US Congress to remove those who have committed certain crimes such as violence, intimidation, threats to people investigating corruption, money laundering, extortion. , to investigate and to punish. or because they were involved in those crimes, a publication of the news portal lahora.gt indicated.
“The main actors to conduct these investigations are the State Department, the White House and the Treasury Department in the North American country, while in Guatemala it will be the embassy because they are there in the country and they be the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. there in Guatemala, ”a conference adviser told the Guatemalan media.
How is the “Angel List” applied?
The source explained to the online newspaper that the President of the United States should send a report to Congress identifying people who he believes have participated in actions that undermine democratic processes or institutions, corruption or hinder corruption investigations in El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras. Then, the suspects will be punished by the Northern Nation government.
The adviser made it clear to the Guatemalan media that the passing of this bill was “neither a republican nor a democratic issue” as there was a two-pronged consensus to combat these plagues in the region.
There will be no investigation process per se to make the decision to revoke visas, but “President Joe-Biden’s administration will have the discretion to list whoever it believes,” the official said.
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