WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security and a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, this week met with Ambassador Alfonso Quiñonez of Guatemala to discuss the immigration situation at the U.S.-Mexico border and the importance of addressing the root causes of migration. Specifically, Murphy and Ambassador Quiñonez discussed the importance of strong anti-corruption mechanisms and an independent judiciary, including Guatemala’s Constitutional Court and bilateral cooperation on legal migration pathways

“If we want to address immigration at our southern border, we need to tackle root causes that push migrants to make the dangerous trek north in the first place. I had a good conversation with Ambassador Quiñonez about his country’s anticorruption efforts and the reforms needed to create an environment for international investment in Guatemala,” said Murphy. “I look forward to continuing to work with our Guatemalan partners on reforms that make the region more secure.”

Earlier this year, Murphy joined a bipartisan group of U.S. senators and Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas on a trip to El Paso, Texas, to get an update on the situation at the border, including how government agencies are processing and caring for unaccompanied children. Upon returning, Murphy discussed his trip on the U.S. Senate floor.

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