• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • FOX 40
    • Meet Our Team
      • Our Journalists
      • Sales & Programming
    • Red Cross Support
  • Keeping It Real
  • Contest
    • Wild Birds Unlimited Giveaway
  • Programming
    • FOX 40 TV Guide
    • WHAT’S ON FOX
    • WATCH STREAMING NEWS NOW
    • FOX 40 Weekly Sports Lineup
    • CHURCH PROGRAMMING AND DIRECTORY
  • About WDBD
    • Contact Us
    • Job Listings
  • Advertise With Us
  • MS Help Wanted
WDBD FOX 40 Jackson MS Local News, Weather and Sports

WDBD FOX 40 Jackson MS Local News, Weather and Sports

WDBD Television for Jackson, MS

  • Local News
  • National
  • Sports
    • FOX 40 Weekly Sports Lineup
  • FOX 40 Foodies
  • FOX40 Home Improvement
  • American Red Cross
    • Dine For Disaster Relief
    • Red Cross Support
  • More…
    • Lifestyle
      • Realizing DPP
      • Heart Month
    • Weather
    • Politics
    • Health
    • Science
    • Entertainment
      • Technology
      • What’s on TV?

Guatemala President Alejandro Giammattei: What we know

Vice President Kamala Harris is set to depart Sunday for Guatemala, with plans to meet President Alejandro Giammattei amid growing concerns about the migrant crisis at the U.S. southern border.

Harris is the point person to handle the migrant crisis, but she has not yet held a press conference or visited the border with Mexico – some 75 days after President Biden tapped her for the role. 

This week, she will visit Mexico and Guatemala, but she could face a tense meeting with Guatemala’s president.

Giammattei has had a tumultuous career in politics: He served as director of the Guatemalan Penitentiary System starting in 2006, but several conflicts and accusations that he orchestrated prisoner executions led to his own brief incarceration in 2010, Reuters reported.

Guatemala’s President-elect Alejandro Giammattei gives an interview in Guatemala City, Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2019. Giammattei said Tuesday that Guatemala will not be able to hold up its side of an immigration agreement with the United States by serving as a “safe third country” for asylum seekers. (AP Photo/Oliver de Ros)
(AP)

He made three prior runs at the top office, failing in 2007, 2011 and 2015, according to The Global Americans, before finally winning in 2019. He assumed office on Jan. 14, 2020. 

Guatemala faced a political crisis in November 2020 when Giammattei set out a budget that favored privately funded infrastructure improvements over helping with pressing domestic issues, such as poverty and child care. Protests led to the burning of Congress and demands for Giammattei to resign. 

KAMALA HARRIS’ MEXICO, GAUTEMALA VISIT: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW

Giammattei has shown support for the U.S. approach to migration in recent months, but he has made a number of critical statements as well, signaling a complicated relationship ahead between the nations.

Chief among Giammattei’s complaints has been “confusing” messaging from the Biden administration on immigration, which the Guatemalan president blames for fueling the crisis at the border.

Vice President Kamala Harris meets virtually with Guatemala’s President Alejandro Giammattei, seen on screen at left, Monday, April 26, 2021, from her ceremonial office at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the White House complex in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
(AP)

“I believe that in the first few weeks of the Biden administration, messages were confusing,” Giammattei told MSNBC on April 13. “They were compassionate messages that were understood by people in our country, especially the coyotes, to tell families, ‘We’ll take the children.’”

“And children can go, and once children are there, they will call their parents.”

REP. BRADY ON BORDER CRISIS: HARRIS IN DENIAL; INFLUX OF MIGRANT KIDS MAKING FOSTER CARE SYSTEM STRAINED

Giammattei said he has seen coyotes – the smugglers who ferry migrants into the U.S. for a fee – carry out “horrible acts” and criticized the U.S. for not properly responding to the surge of migrants, according to The New York Post.

In the run-up to Harris’ visit this week, Giammattei criticized Special Prosecutor against Impunity Juan Francisco Sandoval for “left-wing politicization” of the fight against corruption in his country – an approach the U.S. has supported, according to Reuters.

Protesters gather outside Congress in Guatemala City, Saturday, Nov. 21, 2020. Hundreds of protesters were protesting in various parts of the country Saturday against Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei and members of Congress for the approval of the 2021 budget that reduced funds for education, health and the fight for human rights. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)
(AP)

“Everybody has a right to their own ideology,” Giammattei said. “The problem is when you transfer that ideology to your actions, and worse when you are in charge of justice.”

Giammattei accused Sandoval of selectively administering justice to suit his agenda. However, U.S. Ambassador to Guatemala William Popp last week said Washington was working to “robustly” support Sandoval.

BIDEN ADMINISTRATION QUIETLY TASKS 6 GROUPS TO PICK ASYLUM-SEEKERS TO ALLOW INTO US

Harris has spoken to Giammattei over the phone and virtually in the past few months, with Harris pledging an additional $310 million to humanitarian relief and food insecurity in Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador.

In response, Guatemala has agreed to increase border security, Politico reported.

Giammattei also planned to open “migrant resource centers” to provide education and assistance in following legal pathways for migration. The first center will appear in Guatemala City, and is meant to be up and running by the time Harris touches down in Guatemala.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP  

These more positive steps occur in contrast to a move by Giammattei to seemingly “pre-empt” talks with Harris after he said Thursday that Guatemala would receive a half-million doses of COVID-19 vaccines from the U.S., seizing on Biden’s promise to share some 80 million doses with struggling nations around the world, USA Today reported. 

Primary Sidebar


  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter

Follow Us On Facebook


Trending Now

suspect-arrested-after-stealing-$40k-worth-of-boneless-chicken-breasts,-deputies-say

Suspect arrested after stealing $40K worth of boneless chicken breasts, deputies say

peta-to-put-up-memorial-for-chickens-who-died-‘in-agony’-during-wreck-on-i-20

PETA to put up memorial for chickens who died ‘in agony’ during wreck on I-20

new-addition-at-dc-zoo:-baby-gorilla-is-first-to-be-born-in-five-years,-staff-is-‘overjoyed’

New addition at DC zoo: Baby gorilla is first to be born in five years, staff is ‘overjoyed’

woman-makes-plea-on-tiktok-for-$3k-camera-mistakenly-donated-to-goodwill

Woman makes plea on TikTok for $3K camera mistakenly donated to Goodwill

trump-vows-to-end-birthright-citizenship-for-children-of-illegal-immigrants

Trump vows to end birthright citizenship for children of illegal immigrants


LOCAL NEWS HEADLINES

Watermelon vendor dead after being shot in attempted robbery

Things To Know Tuesday, May 30

JPD: Man killed, woman injured in drive-by shooting

Charlie Conerly exemplifies athletic excellence and service to the country in the state of Mississippi

Sheriff: Escaped inmate captured in Hinds County, 1 more remains on the run

More Local News

NATIONAL HEADLINES

blue-jays-pitcher-anthony-bass-appears-to-endorse-target,-bud-light-boycotts

Blue Jays pitcher Anthony Bass appears to endorse Target, Bud Light boycotts

Toronto Blue Jays reliever Anthony Bass seemingly endorsed the massive boycotts against Target and Bud Light over the recent controversies surrounding their LGBTQ merchandising when he shared a video to social media that called on Christians to support the … Read Full Report about Blue Jays pitcher Anthony Bass appears to endorse Target, Bud Light boycotts

hollywood-beach-shooting-suspects-remain-at-large;-2-others-in-custody-on-firearm-charges:-police

Hollywood Beach shooting suspects remain at large; 2 others in custody on firearm charges: police

Police in Hollywood Beach, Florida, are asking the public for help identifying three individuals after a shooting left nine people, including children, with gunshot wounds on a crowded boardwalk Memorial Day. In an update Tuesday, the Hollywood Police … Read Full Report about Hollywood Beach shooting suspects remain at large; 2 others in custody on firearm charges: police

author-calls-out-booksellers-in-israel-for-refusing-to-sell-her-book-opposing-trans-agenda:-‘it’s-shameless’

Author calls out booksellers in Israel for refusing to sell her book opposing trans agenda: ‘It’s shameless’

Conservative author Abigail Shrier exposed what she called "leftist media lies" in a Twitter thread about the narrative surrounding the release of her book, "Irreversible Damage: The Transgender Craze Seducing Our Daughters," in Israel this week. Shrier linked … Read Full Report about Author calls out booksellers in Israel for refusing to sell her book opposing trans agenda: ‘It’s shameless’

cnn-hemorrhaging-viewers-since-irking-liberals-with-trump-town-hall,-hits-several-recent-lows

CNN hemorrhaging viewers since irking liberals with Trump town hall, hits several recent lows

CNN ripped over Trump town hall ‘Reason’ senior editor Robby Soave tells ‘MediaBuzz’ left-wing criticisms over CNN having Donald Trump on is ‘crazy,’ maintaining its journalist’s job to talk to him.Since CNN’s town hall event with former President Trump … Read Full Report about CNN hemorrhaging viewers since irking liberals with Trump town hall, hits several recent lows

watch:-video-of-male-disney-employee-in-dress-causes-outrage

WATCH: Video of male Disney employee in dress causes outrage

A video of a male Disney employee dressed as a "Fairy Godmother apprentice" while ushering children into a dress store is causing a stir on social media."So my name is Nick, I am one of the fairy godmother’s apprentices," the employee says to the children in … Read Full Report about WATCH: Video of male Disney employee in dress causes outrage

Footer

Public File Info

Individuals with disabilities who have questions about the content of our public file or website may contact RaMona Alexander by phone at
601-948-3333 or by email at RaMona.Alexander@fox40tv.com

»WDBD FCC Public File
»EEO Report
»Closed Captioning
»Advertising Terms And Conditions

 

 

  • Local News
  • National
  • Sports
    • FOX 40 Weekly Sports Lineup
  • FOX 40 Foodies
  • FOX40 Home Improvement
  • American Red Cross
    • Dine For Disaster Relief
    • Red Cross Support
  • More…
    • Lifestyle
      • Realizing DPP
      • Heart Month
    • Weather
    • Politics
    • Health
    • Science
    • Entertainment
      • Technology
      • What’s on TV?

CATEGORIES

  • Local News
  • National
  • Sports
    • FOX 40 Weekly Sports Lineup
  • FOX 40 Foodies
  • FOX40 Home Improvement
  • American Red Cross
    • Dine For Disaster Relief
    • Red Cross Support
  • More…
    • Lifestyle
      • Realizing DPP
      • Heart Month
    • Weather
    • Politics
    • Health
    • Science
    • Entertainment
      • Technology
      • What’s on TV?
GRIT TV Logo
Antenna_TV_logo
GRIT-TV Logo
Antenna_TV_logo

Copyright © 2023 · American Spirit Media LLC · WDBD TV · Jackson MS · Terms of Service · Privacy Policy