honduras-guatemala-move-to-stop-migrant-caravan-after-trump-threats-idUSKCN1MQ1UX

They just did... Read the report. One could argue the Hondurans would have done this regardless of what Trump said, but I doubt it.

The biggest issue with illegal immigration are the short-sighted views of how to stop it. No one ever looks at the root causes of illegal immigration from these so-called "shit hole" countries. I wonder what would happen if organizations (e.g., The Trump Organization, etc.) decided to invest in those countries, instead of denigrating them all the time? But that's a long term proposition and will probably not make money short term.

https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/immigration-border-crisis/central-america-s-violence-turmoil-keeps-driving-families-u-s-n884956

MSgt Neil Greenfield - That is why the migration is always in waves, when economy is bad in home countries, they come here. When economy his good at home, many of them go back home. The problem is at some point, countries need to be able to take care of their own populations (jobs, homes, etc) and not rely on the US to fill the void. I don' mind that we send economic aid, but there needs to be the mechanisms in place in the country to make sure it benefits the people. Right now, and for most of recorded history (sarcasm), it hasn't. I did a community relation project in a central american country, where we built a school for a village. They did not have the money to even build a school for the kids, but they had a nice, relatively new city hall/police station... it is all about priorities...

CPT Gregory Hafera - I totally agree on the drug use. Did 3 counter drug deployments and it was amazing the amount of crap that we stopped, even though it was probably less than 1% of what actually made it. Interestingly enough, I am working as an advisor to Noriega's money launderer. Turns out he went to high school 3 blocks from my home!

Most of the people in the supposed caravan are trying to escape poverty and especially violent crime. This is the root cause of these people trying to leave for a better life.
https://www.insightcrime.org/guatemala-organized-crime-news/

I am well aware of that. Crime and poverty. Same all over much of LA and SA. Some places have escaped that by not tolerating the crime and by encouraging commerce. Look at Costa Rica. If you don't punish criminals (and in these places, they need to try them and then execute them), they take over like cockroaches.

MSgt Neil Greenfield - Organized crime and poverty does not constitute some kind or right or requirement for them to caravan here or for us to accept them. Russia has a very significant organized crime problem too. Are we expected to allow them to come to the US in droves as well? Also, having lived in Guatemala for three years, I know for a fact that it isn't quite like what you would be led to believe. In fact, I've considered going back for a visit and was even recently invited back by friends for an event.

Don't be fooled by what the media is trying to promote and rationalize for the need to tolerate illegal immigration. It's complete BS. Do they have issues? Sure. Lot's of countries do. That's not our problem.

MSgt Neil Greenfield - You highlight a major problem throughout Central America; drug trafficking. And where are those drugs going? The good old USA.
We will never stop the illegal immigration, the violence in those countries (and here), the corruption, without addressing the drug issues here. The "War on drugs" failed. The "Just say no" idea failed. Our prisons are filled to overflowing.
If we do not seriously address our own drug problems, we will never end our illegal immigration problems.

MSgt Neil Greenfield - Yes I am looking at the root cause. I lived in Central/South America for over 10 years, to include Guatemala. I've also spent time in Honduras as well in an official capacity and spent 3 years at HQ SOUTHCOM. I've VERY familiar with the region.

"Violent and crime ridden" does not equate to a requirement on our part to look the other way when their people choose illegally come to our nation. Even if we were to continue looking the other way, how does that solve the problem? I would prefer that our government have and use our influential economic instrument of power.

Responding to MSG Hutch's comment, using the excuse of "we will never stop illegal immigration" is a cop out. Essentially you are implying that we shouldn't fight it anymore. While we're at it, since we'll never stop terrorism, murder, or crime in general, why bother fighting that too right?

The fact is, we have affected change in the southern hemisphere in the past and we can continue doing by putting the pressure on their governments while working with them to normalize their countries. The problem is, since the 80s we've taken too much of a hands off approach to our neighbors in the South.

Maj Kevin "Mac" McLaughlin - You are taking my comment out of context:
You responded to: "we will never stop illegal immigration"
without including the rest of that sentence: "without addressing the drug issues here."
I firmly believe almost all of the current problem lies with the drug issue. Find a means to stop the illegal drug use here at home and that will go a long way to stopping the illegal immigration problem.

I disagree. A large impact was made against the illegal drugs leaving Colombia through economic assistance and cooperation since the 80s. Today Colombia is a much different nation which still is working to defeat their drug trade issues, but they have significantly increased their economy, reduced the corruption, and negated the influence of the FARC.