Vice President Mike Pence told leaders of three Central America countries on Thursday they must respect America's borders and stop their people from flooding over the U.S.-Mexico border.
"This exodus must end. Just as we respect your borders and your sovereignty, we insist that you respect ours. Our nation needs your nations to do more," Pence told Jimmy Morales of Guatemala, Sanchez Ceren of El Salvador and Juan Orlando Hernandez of Honduras.
His message came during a powwow in Guatemala City, Guatemala, carried by C-SPAN, in which Pence was joined by Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen.
Specifically, Pence said, the three countries should prohibit advertisements for human traffickers, strengthen their own border security and "renew the fight against corruption, criminal groups, and gang violence."
According to the Associated Press, more than 150,000 Guatemalans, Hondurans and Salvadorans have attempted to cross the U.S.-Mexico border illegally in 2018, as they flee economic strife and gang violence.
In a TV address, Pence told citizens of the three countries: "If you want to come to the United States, come legally, or don't come at all. If someone tells you they can bring you or your children to America outside the law don’t believe them."
"Don’t risk your lives or the lives of your children by trying to come to the United States on the road run by drug smugglers and human traffickers. Hold on to your homes and hold on to your children. Build your lives in your homes."
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