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On February 28, the Inter-American Dialogue will host a half-day conference on the two most pressing issues that face the countries of Central America and Mexico—(1) the risk posed by crime and violence to governance, social and economic progress, and the rule of law; and (2) the inability of the United States, Mexico, and the nations of Central America to effectively address the multiple political, social, and security problems that have emerged from the continuation of large illegal, northward flows. The meeting will be co-sponsored by US Senator Tim Kaine; the chair and vice-chair of the House Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, Representatives Matt Salmon and Michael McCaul; and Representatives Earl Blumenauer, Tony Cardenas, Beto O'Rourke, and Jared Polis. It will  take place from 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM in the Rayburn House Office Building, Room B-338 (Independence Avenue & South Capitol Street) in Washington, DC See below for a preliminary agenda. We hope you will join us for a far reaching and stimulating discussion.

 

 

CO-SPONSRED BY

U.S. Senate 


Tim Kaine
D-VA

U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere


Matt Salmon
R-AZ
Chair


Michael McCaul
R-TX
 

U.S. House of Representatives


Earl Blumenauer
D-OR


Tony Cardenas
D-CA


Beto O'Rourke
D-TX


Jared Polis
D-CO

 

AGNEDA

 

8:30 am

Registration

8:45 am

Welcome

9:00 am - 10:30 am

State of Play: Economic and Political Overview of Central America

Introduction:

Jared Polis, US House of Representatives (D-CO)

Moderator:

Michael Shifter, Inter-American Dialogue

Panelists:

Kevin Casas-Zamora, Organization of American States


 Mario Arana, Nicaraguan Foundation for Social and Economic Development (FUNIDES)

 Carlos Dada, El Faro

10:30 am - 12:00 pm

Migration, Deportation, and US Immigration Policy

Moderator:

Manuel Orozco, Inter-American Dialogue

Panelists:

Rubén Zamora, Embassy of El Salvador in Washington, DC


 Rafael Fernández de Castro, Autonomous Technological Institute of Mexico (ITAM)

 Doris Meissner, Migration Policy Institute

12:00 pm - 1:30 pm

Luncheon Keynote Address

Address:

Hugo Martínez, Central American Integration System (SICA)

Moderator:

Michael Shifter, Inter-American Dialogue

1:30 pm - 3:00 pm

International Security Cooperation



Moderator:

Peter Hakim, Inter-American Dialogue

Panelists:

Eduardo Stein, former Vice-President of Guatemala


 Jorge Chabat, Center for Research and Teaching in Economics (CIDE)

 Hector Silva, American University

 SPEAKERS

Mario Arana served as president of Nicaragua's Central Bank from 2006 to 2007, minister of economic development from 2002 to 2004, and minister of finance from 2005 to 2006. He also previously served as executive director of the Nicaraguan Foundation for Economic and Social Development and is currently an independent consultant advising a number of multilateral financial organizations and private businesses.

Kevin Casas-Zamora is secretary for political affairs at the Organization of American States and non-resident senior fellow at the Brookings Institution. He previously served as minister of national planning and economic policy and second vice president of Costa Rica under the administration of Óscar Arias.

Jorge Chabat is professor of international studies at the Center for Research and Teaching in Economics (CIDE) in Mexico City. He speaks and writes widely on Mexico-US relations, drug trafficking, and national security issues.

Carlos Dada is founder and director of El Faro, El Salvador's first online newspaper. He has been praised for his investigative journalism and has reported from various conflict zones around the world.

Rafael Fernández de Castro is the founder and director of the department of international studies of the Autonomous Technological Institute of Mexico (ITAM) as well as the editor of Foreign Affairs en Español. He previously served as advisor to the president of Mexico for international affairs and competitiveness.

Hugo Martínez is secretary general of the Central American Integration System (SICA). He previously served as minister of foreign affairs of El Salvador and as a member of the National Assembly.

Doris Meissner is director of the US immigration policy program of the Migration Policy Institute. From 1993-2000, she served in the administration of US President Bill Clinton as Commissioner of Immigration and Naturalization Service.

Eduardo Stein previously served as vice president and foreign minister of Guatemala. He has since served as an advisor to a number of international organizations and as coordinator of la RED, a Central American network of think tanks.

Hector Silva is a research fellow at American University's Center for Latin American and Latino Studies. He previously served as deputy chief of mission at the embassy of El Salvador in Washington, DC and as an investigative reporter for La Prensa Gráfica.

Rubén Zamora is ambassador of El Salvador in Washington, DC. He previously served as vice president of the National Assembly and as a member of the National Peace Commission.