Secretary of State Anthony J. Blinken and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mallorcas are in Panama on April 19-20 for the Ministerial Conference on Migration and Protection.
A statement issued by the State Department indicates that twenty countries from the region will be represented at the summit and will discuss cooperation on safe, orderly and humane migration in the hemisphere.
The Ministerial Conference on Migration will take place in the midst of one of the largest migration crises facing the region, and the meeting is expected to result in a step forward in developing the framework for migration management and protection for the Americas.
The United States will also be represented by the Under Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs, Brian Nichols, and the Under Secretary for Population, Refugees, and Migration, Julita Noyes. Homeland Security Under Secretary for International Affairs, Serena Hoy; Under Secretary of Immigration and Border Policy, Department of Homeland Security; Blas Nunez Neto, USAID Deputy Director for Latin America and the Caribbean, Marcela Escobari, and Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director of Cross-Border Security, Catherine Tobin.
During his stay in Panama, Minister Blinken will meet with President Laurentino Cortizo Cohen, Secretary of State Erika Moines, multilateral development banks, international financial institutions, international organizations, and NGOs to discuss economic recovery; migration; protection of refugees, asylum seekers and vulnerable migrants; anti-corruption efforts; The statement said civil society, as well as other regional and bilateral issues of importance to the United States and Panama.
With this visit, the Secretary will draw greater interest and enthusiasm in the region toward the Ninth Summit of the Americas in Los Angeles, California, June 6-10, 2022, as Western Hemisphere leaders will redouble their efforts to address our region’s most pressing problems. The US State Department adds.
“Award-winning alcohol trailblazer. Hipster-friendly internetaholic. Twitter ninja. Infuriatingly humble beer lover. Pop culture nerd.”