Today, U.S. Congressman Scott Peters (CA-52) slammed President Trump’s announcement that he is considering pulling foreign aid from Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador in response to migrants currently in Mexico making a months-long journey toward the American border:

“I learned U.S. foreign aid is essential to promoting stability, economic growth, and prosperity when I visited Central and South America in August and met with high-ranking Honduran diplomats and members of USAID; it is clear that cuts to U.S. foreign aid will only exacerbate the economic conditions that lead to unemployment and criminal activity that drive people to our borders.

“The president has spent months demanding billions for a border wall, which will not fix our broken immigration system. Instead, we need to address the reasons women and children flee their homes in search of a better life. President Trump doesn’t have the power to unilaterally cut aid; only Congress can make funding decisions. I will continue to fight for the U.S. to support these important investments in the region,” said Rep. Peters.

In Fiscal Year 2017, the United States foreign aid dedicated $538 million to Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala combined. The president’s border wall is estimated to cost upwards of $21.6 billion.