SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador (AP) – California Gov. Gavin Newsom says he hopes to show the people of El Salvador a different side of the United States during his visit to the Central American nation.
The Democratic governor says he wants Salvadorans to know that President Donald Trump’s views do not reflect the entire country. Trump has moved to rescind aid from El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras and has mocked people seeking asylum.
Newsom is in El Salvador for his first international trip to learn about the violence and poverty that is prompting people to flee. California is home to the nation’s largest population of Salvadorans and its busiest border crossing.
Newsom’s visit kicked off Sunday with a visit to the tomb of Saint Oscar Romero. His trip will continue with meetings with the president and president-elect of El Salvador as well as the U.S. ambassador. “California’s past, present and future are linked with Central America. Nearly half of all Salvadoran immigrants to the United States – approximately 680,000 people – live in California,” said Governor Newsom in a news release. “They are central to our state’s story. And while the White House casts families fleeing violence as ‘invaders,’ California is proudly a state of refuge.” “The United States has a unique responsibility to organize a meaningful and humane regional response to the root causes driving families from their homes in Central America. As Washington abdicates its responsibility on the world stage and in the region, California will step up to be part of a multilateral solution,” added Governor Newsom.
